Fearless Hero_A Military Bodyguard Romance Read online

  Table of Contents

  Fearless Hero

  CHAPTER 1

  CHAPTER 2

  CHAPTER 3

  CHAPTER 4

  CHAPTER 5

  CHAPTER 6

  CHAPTER 7

  CHAPTER 8

  CHAPTER 9

  CHAPTER 10

  CHAPTER 11

  CHAPTER 12

  CHAPTER 13

  CHAPTER 14

  CHAPTER 15

  CHAPTER 16

  CHAPTER 17

  CHAPTER 18

  CHAPTER 18

  Thank you!

  Copyright

  Fearless Hero

  Savage Soldiers Book Three

  By Nicole Elliot

  CHAPTER 1

  Autumn

  One of the things I loved most about spending time with my father was getting the opportunity to explore the world with him. Ever since my mother passed away, he and I became almost inseparable. Even though I had an older sister, I sometimes felt like I was all my father really had, Anna was too busy with her own life to look after him the way I did. So, traveling became my way of bonding with my father. Plus, I knew that having me around helped distract him from his grief.

  Now, it was a regular part of our lives, particularly as my father’s political ambitions grew and evolved.

  Staring out of the window of our limousine, taking in the sights of Turkey, I felt his gaze upon me. I turned toward him and smiled. “What?”

  My father was a handsome older gentleman. Though I got my petite size and most of my looks from my mother, I had inherited his dark eyes and hair.

  He waved his hand around. “What do you think? Do you like it here?”

  I nodded. “Yes, it’s beautiful.”

  He chuckled. “You say that about every country we visit.”

  “Well, I guess I just find beauty in everywhere I go.”

  Dad’s smile faltered just slightly. “That’s exactly the kind of thing your mother would have said. Sometimes it’s scary how much you’re like her.”

  I turned my gaze back to the window, giving my father a moment of privacy as I pretended not to see him quickly wiping a tear from his eye. My mother had been the love of his life, and sometimes I worried he would never recover from her death. I missed her too, but I’d been so young when she passed, that my memories of her had already started to grow scarce as the years went by. While my older sister remembered her a little better than I did, my memories were limited to the stories I’d heard about her.

  Mostly though, I learned to find comfort in knowing she was no longer in pain. Dad, on the other hand, had lost his soul-mate, which was much harder to deal with. I often hoped he would eventually find love again, but he typically carried on as if such a thing wasn’t even possible. Instead, he poured all his energy into his career, especially now that he was being considered for Vice President of the United States. Due to the success he’d had as Speaker of the House of Representatives, most insiders believed the vice-presidency could easily be his if he really wanted it.

  “I really appreciate you keeping an old man company, taking all these trips with me,” he said once he’d collected himself.

  I smiled. “There’s no other place I’d rather be.”

  He laughed and shook his head. “Well, that’s a problem! You’re still young—you should be out living life and having fun.”

  “But I like traveling the world with you. It is fun.”

  Dad shook his head. “I mean fun with people your own age, Autumn. What are you doing tonight?”

  I shrugged my shoulders.

  “You see? That’s precisely what I mean.”

  I sighed, knowing he had a point. I hated to admit it, but I spent so much time trailing behind him that I had practically given up on maintaining the kind of social life normal for a woman my age. This was something Anna regularly chastised me about as well. And if I was honest with myself, it definitely took a toll on me. Sometimes, I desperately wished for a chance to unwind with some careless fun, but I hardly ever allowed myself to get away like that. It just wasn’t the way things were for me right now.

  “Why don’t you call Senator Stokes’s daughter?” Dad suggested. “She’s out this way too, you know. Maybe the two of you could catch a movie or something.”

  I nodded, thinking it actually sounded like a good idea, although I was pretty sure we could find something better to do than catch a movie. “You know what? I just might do that.”

  “Good.” Dad settled back into his seat and closed his eyes. We had a long ride ahead and once we made it back to the hotel, he would be bombarded with phone calls, emails, and meetings.

  I pulled my cell from my purse and scrolled through it to find Elise Stokes’s number. I shot off a text message reading: U busy tonight?

  She responded instantly: Nope. What’s up?

  How about we go out? Dancing and drinks?

  Sounds good! Count me in!

  I returned my phone to my purse and then leaned back in my seat as well, deciding that maybe a pregame nap would be good for me too.

  * * *

  By the time I got back to my hotel room, Elise had already done some research and found a club in the area that was supposedly the place to be for anyone looking for a good time. I should have known that would be the case though. My father and Senator Stokes had been friends for decades and thus, Elise and I grew up knowing each other. In her college years, Elise had been infamously known as a party-girl, much to her father’s chagrin. He had spent too much time answering and confronting reporters about his daughter’s wild antics. Since graduating, however, she had calmed down considerably, becoming the more responsible and respectable kind of daughter better suited for the public eye. Still, she knew how to let her hair down, and tonight would be one of those nights.

  Thank God. Because Dad was right, I needed it.

  After styling my hair and applying holding-spray to my curls, I put on my makeup and slid into my dress—a slinky black number that hugged my figure in all the right places, and even helped give the illusion that I had longer legs. When I was younger, I had often resented my short height since it often made people think I was younger. As I grew into my late teens and twenties though, I developed enviable curves that made more than a few representative’s sons look at me differently at political gatherings.

  Satisfied with my dress and hair, I stepped into a pair of black sparkly open-toed heels and then studied myself in the mirror, trying to determine what else I needed to complete my look. I decided on a pair of sparkly earrings and a bracelet rather than my usual watch; I didn’t want to bother with keeping track of time tonight.

  By eight o’clock, I headed out the door, ready for some fun and mischief after the long and tiring hours I’d spent keeping my father company at his business meetings.

  CHAPTER 2

  Autumn

  After Elise texted me the address of the club, I took a cab to get there. When the driver pulled into the parking lot, I could already tell the place had a large crowd for the night. I glanced around apprehensively, hoping there were no hidden news cameras trying to catch a couple of politicians’ daughters in compromising positions. But then I reminded myself that this visit to Turkey hadn’t been widely publicized, which was why Elise had agreed to go out in the first place.

  “Thanks,” I said, paying the taxi driver.

  He pocketed the money. “Have a good night.”

  Before I even stepped completely out of the cab, someone whistled at me. I grinned, shutting the cab door and turning around to see none other than Elise Stokes coming my way. She wore a wide smile, a short red dress that co
mplemented her auburn hair, and heels so high that I would have fallen flat on my face if I wore them.

  “Hello, gorgeous,” she said, skipping over to me. She stooped down to give me a hug, having to bend more than normal since her heels made her tower over me even more than usual.

  I hugged her back. “Hey yourself, beautiful. Looks like you’re ready for some fun.”

  “And you know it!”

  We looped our arms together and headed into the club, ready to drink and dance the night away.

  * * *

  By the time we were on our third drink, we had been on the dance floor for at least forty minutes straight with various guys who couldn’t seem to take their eyes off us. They offered drinks and pretty promises that we laughed off, perfectly happy to tease them without getting too serious.

  “Damn, sexy. Let me get you a drink—or something better, if you know what I mean.”

  I turned around on the dance floor, instantly feeling repulsed by the guy standing behind me. He wasn’t bad-looking, but there was something predatory in his gaze that immediately revolted me. He stared at me, biting his bottom lip.

  “No, thank you,” I said, trying to be polite nonetheless. Even if the guy hadn’t been such a creep, I knew that I was reaching my limit and didn’t need another drink unless I wanted to risk ending the night passed out on the bathroom floor.

  “Ah, come on. Don’t be like that,” he said, trying to touch me. I quickly dodged his grasp.

  “Back off,” I said, turning away from him. He muttered, calling me some ridiculous name before moving along in search of his next target.

  I shuddered and glanced around in search of Elise. Yet, as my eyes roamed the club, something else entirely caught my attention. I froze on the spot, sensing a penetrating stare coming from the bar area. My breath hitched in my throat for a second, and a quiver went through my entire body.

  The handsome stranger lifted his head just slightly, acknowledging me from afar.

  My heart pounding, I averted my gaze in search of Elise again. I spotted her a short distance away, her arms wrapped around some guy’s neck as she twirled her hips to the beat of the music, keeping the guy completely riveted.

  I headed their way. Thanks to my short stature, I dipped under their arms and squeezed myself between them. The guy looked down at me, startled at first, and then amused. A grin spread across his face as if he had just hit the jackpot, likely under the impression he was getting a two-for-one special.

  “What’s going on?” Elise asked.

  “Do you see that guy over there at the bar? Hey, don’t look! I mean, you can look, just don’t be obvious about it. You know—sneak a look.”

  Elise continued dancing, swirling around to disguise the direction of her gaze until she managed to glance toward the bar. She swirled around again, wrapping an arm around me and forgetting about the guy she’d been dancing with.

  “Are you referring to that super-hot guy standing at the bar, scoping you out?”

  “Yes. Oh…my…God. He is gorgeous.”

  “Well, why are you over here with me? Go over there to him!”

  I shook my head, my stomach knotting nervously just at the thought. “No, I can’t…”

  “So what are you going to do, Autumn? Just stare at him all night?”

  “Yes. I think that’s about all I can handle.”

  “Well that’s just not acceptable and you know it.” To my horror, before I could protest, she grabbed my arm. Under the pretenses of leading me through some sort of line-dance, she began pulling me toward the bar.

  Towards him.

  She gave a fake cough. “I think I need to make a trip to the lady’s room. I’ll be back…eventually.” She winked and wiggled her eyebrows, and then disappeared around the corner, leaving me mere feet away from the handsome stranger, who was even more good-looking up close.

  I stood there, not knowing whether I wanted to kill Elise or thank her; I supposed it would depend on how the rest of the night went.

  My heart pounding, I slowly approached the bar, coming to a stop at the guy’s side, all the while trying to pretend he wasn’t the reason I was there in the first place. Yet, I could feel the flush coming over my face as I felt him watching me.

  Lord knows I didn’t need another drink, but now that I was at the bar, I had no choice but to order one.

  I decided to just order something light to sip slowly. The bartender was busy with other customers though, so I had a bit of a wait before me.

  In my periphery, I saw the handsome stranger gradually sliding closer to me. Unable to resist, I glanced sideways at him. My knees almost buckled.

  Tall with broad shoulders, he had the body of a god. His hair was short and black, creating a stunning contrast to his bright blue eyes. A tattoo peeked from under the sleeve of his shirt.

  “Hello,” he said, his voice smooth as butter.

  “Hi…”

  A slow smirk spread across his face and in that instant, I knew he was the finest man I had ever seen. And judging from the cockiness lurking beneath his expression, he knew precisely the effect he was having on me.

  “What’s your name?” he asked.

  “Autumn.”

  He held out his hand. “Nice to meet you, Autumn. I’m Brady. Can I buy you a drink?”

  I stretched out my hand, letting him take it in his. He raised it to his lips and kissed it with incredibly soft lips.

  “Sure,” I said, somewhat breathless already.

  CHAPTER 3

  Brady

  I’d expected the night to be a dull and uneventful, but I knew that was about to change the very moment I laid eyes on her.

  The week had been long and tiring, and even though clubbing wasn’t really my thing, I needed a distraction. I figured a few drinks and a couple of women would be enough to alleviate some stress before I went home, but after spotting her, I knew that she alone was what I needed for the night.

  I was pleased to see she didn’t have a man with her; she had come to the club with a friend—a hot and feisty redhead. I saw them both when they first walked through the door, and although they both were attractive, she was the one I immediately wanted. Her flowing raven-black hair and those deep brown eyes gave her an exotic look that I just couldn’t turn away from.

  I was surprised she hadn’t sensed me staring sooner, but I guess that was a good thing. I didn’t want her thinking I was some kind of creep, especially after seeing the way she had shut down that other guy. I was glad to see she could handle herself though, otherwise I would have had to intervene, and I didn’t feel like fighting tonight. Being a Savage Soldier, I typically had to get my hands dirty far more than I wanted to.

  When she finally noticed me though, I could tell the attraction was mutual.

  As she stood beside me at the bar, trying to play nonchalant, I knew it was time to make my move. I offered to buy her a drink, and after a brief pause, she accepted my offer.

  “So—are you from around here?” I asked as she sipped her strawberry daiquiri from a straw. Her lips curved into a flirtatious smile when she caught me staring at them.

  Damn, those lips wrapped around my cock would be better than that straw…

  She shook her head. “No. I guess you can say I’m here for business, sort of.”

  “Oh yeah? What kind of business?”

  The playful grin slipped off her face and she finished the rest of her drink.

  “I’m sorry. Forget I asked. I’m here to escape work stress myself, so I know what that’s like.”

  She glanced my way. “Oh yeah? What kind of stress?”

  I shrugged. “Just business,” I said, not wanting to bother with details. “So how do you like Turkey so far?”

  She gave a dazzling smile. “I love it. I’m having a great time, especially now that I’m next to a gorgeous guy like you.”

  Nice. This evening was getting better and better. I let my hand roam over hers, watching the goosebumps on her skin that fol
lowed my touch. “Well, you’re not the first to say that,” I whispered in her ear. “I can have that effect on women.” I winked and threw on my panty-dropping smile. “You’re pretty hot yourself. I couldn’t take my eyes off you from the moment I saw you.”

  Her breathing quickened, which made my blood boil in returned. She smelled so sweet, I couldn’t resist the urge to move her hair aside, while imagining kissing her neck.

  “Brady,” she murmured, as if sensing my thoughts. She sounded so sexy.

  Seeing that she was still gripping her empty glass, I took it from her, making sure our hands brushed against each other’s in the process. “Let’s dance,” I said.

  She gave me a sly grin and I slid my hand down her arm until our hands met. Then led her to the dance floor.

  From the corner of my eye, I saw that her friend had managed to sneak back onto the dance floor unnoticed, likely at some point when we’d been talking at the bar. She winked in our direction.

  When we’d found a spot to occupy, Autumn smiled, released my hand, and began swaying her hips to the beat. For a moment, all I could do was watch, memorized. That’s when it dawned on me that her shyness had just been an act; she was an absolute tease and knew exactly what she was doing.

  I was a fucking winner.

  She turned around, pressing her back against me. I gripped her hips, loving the way they felt moving to the music. The more she pressed against me, the more difficult it became to contain myself and I knew that at any moment, she would feel it. Beside myself, I took a chance and kissed her neck, wondering how she would react to it. When she didn’t snap at me like she’d done to that other guy, I knew that she was all right with it. I kissed her neck again. She was so delicious.

  Just when I couldn’t take it anymore, she spun around to face me and wrapped her arms around my neck as best as she could due to our height difference. I slinked my arms around her waist as we continued dancing, falling into an easy sway as the next song started.

  The playful grin returning to her face, she began to shimmy her shoulders and then leaned backwards, tightening her grip around me as she dipped. I wrapped my arms more securely around her and leaned over, unable to resist pressing my face into her neck and smelling her sweet perfume. A giggle rose from her throat and she lifted one leg, hitching it at my hip. I removed one hand from her waist and gripped the back of her knee, feeling the soft skin there as our hips moved in unison to the beat.