His cologne filled my nostrils. It was strong, like he had bathed in the bottle instead of a shower, and sickeningly sweet. I wanted to throw up. I wanted to be anywhere but here, with anyone but him.
"Please, don't," I whispered, struggling against him. He just laughed, the sound striking fear deep into my bones. Where was Dean?
"Just relax, Kaylee. You'll enjoy this so much more if you just relax," he said softly, his breath giving me unpleasant chills. The calmness and surety in the way he moved told me this wasn't the first time he had done this.
"Get away from her." A commanding voice boomed from across the room. I felt my knees go weak with relief as the door slammed behind Dean. Roger turned his head to glance at him, but didn't let me go.
"This isn't your problem, man. Beat it." Roger turned back, leering at me. He wasn't afraid of Dean.
Before I could move, Roger was ripped off of me like an old band-aid and thrown to the ground. He lay on his back, a dazed expression on his face as Dean stood over him like a tiger about to pounce.
With a shake of his head, Roger rolled to his side, then up to his feet. Dean moved around to stand between me and Roger, gliding along the floor like a big cat. I rubbed my wrists, trying to keep my panic under control.
"Get out." Dean's voice was like ice.
"She wanted it, man," Roger said, trying to appeal to Dean. "Just wait until my father hears about this." Dean's face only hardened. Roger swallowed and started backing up toward the exit. He stopped and gave me a wink and an evil smile. "I own this city. There isn't anywhere you can go to escape me, so I'll see you later, Kaylee."
I shuddered, then looked back at Dean. When I first met Dean, I didn't understand how he was a bodyguard to the billionaires. He was tall and in shape, but he just wasn't physically imposing. Now, watching as he strode toward Rashid, his eyes gleaming violence, I understood. I would willingly take on ten muscle-men bodybuilders before I even thought about messing with Dean.
In one fluid motion, Dean had Roger pressed against the wall, his hands wrapped in the front of Roger's shirt. Roger started spluttering, the whites of his eyes growing bigger until he looked like a scared rabbit. Dean held him there, then leaned in and whispered something. I couldn't hear it, but somehow Roger's eyes grew even bigger. His hand started scratching at the wall, desperately looking for the door handle to make his escape.
Dean let him go, pushing off of him like he didn't want the stench of Roger on his hands. Roger scrambled for the door, running like a beaten dog with his tail between his legs. The door slammed shut behind him as he scampered down the hallway.
"Are you okay?" Dean asked, turning to me. He grabbed my wrists and looked them over, checking for any sign of damage. A single tear rolled down my cheek.
"He was gonna... he was gonna.." I couldn't get the words out. They were too horrific. Dean wrapped me up in his arms, protecting me from the world. He touched my hair softly and made a soft soothing shush noise as I broke down in tears.
I sank to the floor, and Dean followed me, still holding me. I cried into his shoulder, letting the terror and frustration work itself out. He just kept quietly comforting me, keeping me safe until I was ready to talk. Finally, the tears wouldn't come anymore and my ragged sobs slowed to where I could speak.
"Are you okay?" Dean asked again, concern showing in every word. I nodded.
"How did he get in here, Dean? I didn't let him in. I was in the kitchen, and then he was just there."
"I don't know, but I'll find out. I'm sure he just bribed someone or stole a key from housekeeping. I'm so sorry, Kaylee. This never should have happened."
I looked up at him, not wanting him to feel guilty for this. This was Roger's fault and no one else's. "There is no way you could have known he was going to do this. I should have been safe here."
Dean sighed and pulled me closer. I liked how secure he made me feel, like the way I did when my dad would keep me safe from monsters. "I still feel bad. It's my job to keep you safe."
"You did. You saved me."
Dean gave me another squeeze, my body still shaking from fear and adrenaline. I felt like I would never stop shaking.
"How did you get here in time? I thought you were still going to be gone for a while," I asked glancing at the clock. My water in the kitchen was boiling. I should turn it off before all the water evaporated.
"There was a sandstorm coming, so I hurried back. I'm afraid I didn't get your cilantro."
I felt a smile crack my face. The cilantro didn't seem so important anymore.
My phone chirped across the room, a text coming in from Owen. Dean and I both looked at it, knowing that we were going to have to tell him. Neither of us moved. If I didn't tell him, maybe I could convince myself it didn't happen. If Owen didn't know, then it was all just a bad dream.
My phone chirped again and Dean released me, standing up and retrieving my phone. I clicked on the message, not quite brave enough yet to call him.
We've been invited to go deep sea fishing on Rashid's yacht. If things kept going this way, Roger and his father would be permanent fixtures in our lives.
My phone slipped from my fingers and clattered to the floor. I didn't even bother picking it up. In my head I could see exactly what was going to happen. The sheik
was going to ask Owen for a last minute business meeting, and I would be on the boat alone with Roger. He would come at me again, and this time, there would be no Dean or Owen to save me. I started to cry again at the memory of him touching me, the smell of his cologne, the sick feeling in the pit of my stomach.