Thawed

Chapter Three

        Madden hadn't even waited for me to get out of the car before he'd stormed my home and left me waiting. Seriously, he couldn't open the car door for me at least? In movies that's usually what the body guard does. In movies the body guards aren't Madden, though. I watch the door as he exits, not so subtly tucking the Glock back into the holster at his waistband. He gestures his head as if to say it's safe.
I cautiously step through the threshold of my house and breathe a sigh of relief silently when I realize it hasn't been ransacked. I instantly make my way to my bedroom and start checking if anything's missing. I start with my dresser- specifically the drawer that holds my panties. If the pervert stole those we'd seriously have a problem.
I rustle through them before I settle on the fact that none of them are missing. I hear the front door slam shut and jump before realizing it's probably my new body guard. Speaking of him. I peek my head out of the bedroom and spot him standing casually by my kitchen counter, arms crossed. Biceps fucking bulging. I need to get laid. As if he can sense my eyes on him, he raises his head.
"All your panties secure?" He questions, though I don't miss the humor coating the words. I scowl. "Yes, thankfully. Did you notice anything off when you came in?" He tilts his head. "Other than the thousands of empty whiskey bottles in the trash, no." He says it almost as if he's reprimanding me. I don't like it.
      "There's three, dickhead." I grumble before pushing off the doorframe and approaching him. His striking eyes follow me until I'm standing in front of him.
"So, what's the plan with this?" I question, gesturing between us. He cocks one blonde brow, seemingly confused. Yeah, right. I crack my knuckles and fight to hide my growing irritation. I reiterate my question. "How long will you be here? Where will you be staying? You know, the basics." He stares right through me, like he sees something I don't. It makes me uncomfortable.
"I will be staying in your guest room, per your manager Nicholas's request. I'll be here for however long you need me to be, Ruth." He says it slowly, annunciating every word. I shiver at the way my name rolls off his tongue. "You're staying here?" I hide the slight panicked edge in my voice. I haven't lived with anyone, much less a man, since..
"Yes. Unless you prefer that little stalker of yours dropping by for a play date instead?" I bite back a groan. He has a point and I hate it. I'd rather he deal with my little stalker than me. "Okay, just stay out of my way. Don't bother me." I cross my arms, making sure he sees I mean business. He chuckles before he pushes off the wall and pads away towards my couch. "Wouldn't dream of it, love."
When nighttime rolls around, I'm pleasantly surprised to find I haven't gotten a singular creepy gift or text from my little stalker. Hopefully he saw Madden in all his brawn and decided to back off. As much as I hate to admit it, I did feel more at ease knowing if anything happened I'd have someone to deal with it. Im fine with doing it myself obviously, it's just easier if he does.
When night makes its appearance again, I feel less uneasy than the night before. Maybe I'll even be lucky enough to have a full nights sleep. I shake the thought before preparing for my night routine, which usually consist of a strong enough liquor to knock me out and a movie full volume on the TV.
      Tonight, I'm deciding to watch Twilight. I quickly change into shorts and some old shirt I found laying around before I tiptoe into the kitchen. Why am I tiptoeing? It's my fucking house. I break into my heavy footed walk instead. Once I've retrieved my goods- liquor- I happily make my way back to my room.
"It's a Wednesday." I halt and slowly turn my head over my shoulder. Madden is standing in my living room, cloaked in shadows like some horror movie villain. I bite my cheek. "So?" I deadpan. His eyes trail down to the bottle in my hand. "You're drinking, alone, on a Wednesday?" I try to discern the tone of his voice but fail. I gesture towards the bottle. "You're more than welcome to join." I offer half heartedly. He rakes his eyes down me one last time before disappearing towards the guest room and throwing a "I don't drink on the job." Over his shoulder. Dick.
Sadly, I didn't sleep that night. By the time the sun rises through my window, I'm still awake. No matter how drunk I got or how still I laid, the same voice still creeped into my thought and left me wide awake. This whole stalker situation is getting to me more than I realized. I can't remember the last time my PTSD got so bad I couldn't drink through it. Or the hallucinations so bad I was left talking to thin air.
When I finally emerge from bed, I'm not surprised to discover Madden is an early bird. He's perched on my counter out of one of my mugs happily. He glances up at me as I near and slides me a plate across the counter. Eggs and toast. I sit down across from him and dig in.
      "Rough night?" He asks. Though, instead of the dry humor that caked the question yesterday, a slight hum of concern trickles into it today. I look up to find him already staring at me. I don't bother faking a polite smile. This is my house, if he doesn't like it he can leave.
"Something like that." I say, monotone. He nods slowly before rising to his full height and rounding the counter towards the living room. My eyes follow his back as he retreats. "You shouldn't drink so much. It's not healthy." I throw the bird up at his back. "Im fine. Mind your business, you're not my fucking dad." I snap. Any other day I might've felt a little bad snapping at someone, but today I don't. His eyes find mine seconds after the words leave my mouth.
"You don't look fine. And watch your mouth." I open my mouth, fully intending to say something much more aggressive when I close it again. Im too tired for this. I finish the breakfast he made me and discard the plate in the sink before retreating back to my room. I feel Maddens eyes tracing my every move, so I won't lie and say I don't move a little faster.
When I get in my room, my phone chimes. I freeze. It's as if the whole sound was just broadcasted through the house with the way it bounces off the walls and rings in my ears. I snatch my phone off the nightstand and unlock it with shaking hands. Suddenly I'm not tired anymore. Sure enough, he's back.

"Im sorry you had a rough night, my Ruth. I have to remind you though, I don't like sharing."

Unable to resist the urge anymore, I type back an angry message.

"Leave me the fuck alone you limp dick pervert."

He replies almost instantly, and I grind my teeth.

"No way to speak to someone who cares for you."

I almost chuck my phone at the wall, but I stop myself at the thought of having to go out to buy a new one. My phone dings again. I ignore it. And again. I ignore it. Suddenly, my phone is blowing up. I hear Maddens feet gracing the earth before I see him. He swings my door open without knocking and holds his hand out expectantly.
"Give it here." To my surprise, I do so wordlessly. He scrolls through the messages on my phone before pulling his own out and snapping a picture. I follow him into the living room when he leaves and sit across from him. Im annoyed that I feel nervous. Feeling defensive, I go to snatch my phone that's still in his hand away, but he dodges me. He clicks on the screen and then gives it back.
Im annoyed to find he blocked the number before I could see what my little stalker was saying. I glare up at him. "What did he say?" Madden leans back against the couch, splaying his arms behind his head. I trail my eyes down the length of his biceps and resist the urge to lick my lips. Hot damn. I need to get laid. When I meet Maddens eyes again he's looking at me so intensely I bulk. He blinks and it's gone.
"He doesn't like being ignored." Is all he says. I scoff. "And I don't like being stalked." I mutter. Madden straightens suddenly, locking me in place with a serious and intense stare. The air seems to go cold around us, and I fight the shiver that travels up my spine.
     "Next time he messages you, come to me. I'll handle it." He obviously means it, and I can't help the laughter that bubbles out of me.
"Madden, all jokes aside, what can you do? You're the brawn here. Im the brains. You're just a body guard. No offense." I gesture between us as if to emphasize the difference. Brawn and brains. So obvious. Maddens jaw ticks. He leans forward so his elbows are resting on his haunches. I bite at my cheek, suddenly nervous.
"You don't know who I am, do you?" He questions quietly, with surprisingly no hostility. Just guarded curiosity and annoyance. I raise a brow. "You're...Madden. My bodyguard." He shakes his head slowly. "Okay. Let me introduce myself. I'm Madden Bennet. I own Safeguard." I furrow my brows. What the fuck is safe guard. Madden inhales slowly, evidently annoyed.
       "Safeguard. The company your manager hired. I run it." He deadpans. I hold up a finger and quickly open Google on my phone to Google it. When the results pop up, I have to physically stop my jaw from dropping. Safeguard. The top security detail in the fucking country. I glance at him. A small, smug smirk rests on his lips as he leans back. I look back down at my phone and google his name. Madden Bennet. Instantly, I have thousands of hits. Article after article.
        "If you run Safeguard, why the hell are you guarding me? Personally?" The shock is evident in my voice. He does that thing where he stares through me again, seemingly seeing something I don't, before replying.

        "Because I wanted to."

(A/N: this chapter was mostly a filler chapter and a chance for you to feel out both characters more. hope you enjoyed, and do let me know your opinion on Madden!! Thank you for reading)