BY THE BOUND : I FALL

CHAPTER 6

Your place is in the back,” nop muttered, already starting the engine.

“I feel like riding in the front today.”

He floored the gas. I was pressed into the seat and had trouble putting on my belt as he took the first corner.

I watched his profile. The only thing missing was fume rising out of his ears, he looked so majorly pissed. I had to stifle a grin.

He shot me a scowl. “Don’t look so fucking pleased with yourself.”

“You got mad because I kissed Clifford.”

“I protected you. If your brother finds out that you tongue-wrestled Cliffy on my watch, he won’t be pleased, fiancé or not.”

I rolled my eyes. “You protected me from Clifford?”

The hint of amusement crossed nop’s face. “His wandering hands are a danger to your virtue.”

“When you say virtue, it sounds so weird. You are the least virtuous person I know. You banged a married woman.”

“Don’t talk like that, and that’s none of your business. You should be worried about your virtue, not mine.”

“Clifford doesn’t care about virtue or our rules. He told me himself that he doesn’t care if I’m with other guys before our marriage.”

Nop shook his head with a look of disgust. “Fucking idiot.”

“Why?”

Nop stopped at a red light and turned to me. “Because if you were promised to me, I’d make sure no other guy would get within a mile of you.”

“So that’s why you attacked Clifford? Because you were jealous?”

“Why should I be jealous, macau? You are my ward. Your protection is my concern.”

“You could have been the first to kiss me, but you didn’t want to.”

Nop hit the gas. “I’m your bodyguard and you’re not of age.”

“I’ll be of age in a few months, noppy. Don’t be more Catholic than the Pope.”

“Why the fuck are we discussing this? I won’t kiss you. Not now, not ever. You are a job, macau.”

He said one thing, but his eyes told another story. I’d been cracking his stony exterior brick by brick in the last few months. I’d have to use my chance before nop rebuild his walls.

“You should be more careful around Cliffy. His father is a snake, and even if he still seems like a likable, sappy idiot, this could be an act. The apple doesn’t fall far from the tree. So even if he doesn’t care about our rules and traditions, that doesn’t mean he won’t use them against you. If he starts bragging about kissing you, our people will hear it eventually, and they’ll judge you by our standards and not Cliffy’s.”

“He’s too terrified of you to ever mention the kiss to anyone.”

Nop smirked.