Free A Bodyguard For The Princess (A Bad Boy Romance) by Mia Carson

touching of any kind. He’d let himself enjoy the view and keep her safe, her silent guard.
    Nothing more than that.

Chapter 6
     
    Marie called out for Daphne as she bustled around her living room, but the princess was in no mood to get out of bed. All night, she’d dreamt of Matt kissing her, his hands all over her body as he stripped her bare and did things to her she never thought possible.
    Every inch of her body cried out for him, and her thighs clamped tightly shut to stop the powerful throbbing happening again. She kept the covers pulled up over her face when the bedroom door was thrown open and heeled steps clicked across the floor. Marie hummed as she scurried about the room, and Daphne listened as she threw the curtains open.
    “Come on now, princess, the king and queen have requested to meet with you.” Daphne mumbled a reply into her pillow and burrowed deeper. “Princess? Are you ill?”
    “Yes,” she said quickly. “I’m ill. I don’t think I’ll be getting out of bed today.”
    “Unless you’re dying, I fear the queen will not allow you to have a sick day,” Marie warned her. “Why don’t I bring you breakfast in bed? Give you a little more time to rest before you’re needed.”
    She hated that she couldn’t do what she wanted for a change, but Daphne threw the blanket off her head and sat up, her arms crossed with a huff over her chest. “That would be fine, thank you, Marie.”
    She nodded and turned for the door until she stopped and hurried back to Daphne’s side. “And I have the file. Managed to snag it last night,” she whispered with a wink. “I’ll bring it for you this evening.”
    Daphne smiled her thanks and perked up a little bit. If Matt thought he could just kiss her the way he did, leaving her panting for more, and expect her not to attempt to figure out what made him tick, he didn’t know her at all. She moved her pillows more comfortably behind her and told herself today would be better on all counts. Somehow, she’d find a way to make it through without feeling as if the walls were closing in around her. Last night on the rooftop, during that brief moment before she’d taken a chance and kissed Matt, she sensed a connection with him. He saw she was more than the naïve princess he accused her of being.
    Instead, he melted her with that damn kiss, driving her crazy with need. All she heard about him being a womanizer rushed back at her. Was he using her as he used those other women? Was this just an opportunity to put another notch in his belt—and with a princess? Her mind raced, running through their brief days together, and realized it was highly possible that’s all it was. Her anger rose at his actions, at making her lust for a man she knew she couldn’t have, when said man cleared his throat from the doorway.
    Matt held the tray of scones and a steaming cup of coffee in his hands. “Princess? Marie says you are unwell this morning.”
    Daphne’s heart jumped as every image from her dreams rushed forward. Her cheeks reddened, and she gripped the blanket to stop herself from leaping out of the bed and right into his arms.
    “Yes, I think it’s… It’s just a cold,” she muttered and motioned for him to enter. “Where’s Marie?”
    “She was called away to attend the queen. Seems her servant has fallen ill, too.”
    “It happens this time of year,” she claimed lamely, watching him as he moved closer and set the tray on the nightstand. She reached for the coffee, but he scooted it out of her reach and handed her a scone instead. “I would like my coffee.”
    His eyes smoldered, and her breath caught in her throat. “I’m sure you would, princess, but you should eat first.”
    “I’ll eat when I damn well please,” she muttered, but he didn’t move.
    “You’ll eat because you need to take better care of yourself.”
    “I do just fine, thank you very much,” she snapped. “Not that you care what condition I’m in anyway.” She shifted