Gilded Cage (Harbour Bay Book 6)

by Camille Taylor

  She focused back on her target—an old eucalyptus tree. He was pleased to note she took her time, ensuring her stance was correct before lining up the shot. Keeping his hand on the barrel of the Glock he was ready. He jerked it up when Beth compressed the trigger and it clicked.

  She let out a grunt of annoyance.

  “You just shot the leaves. Keep going. We’re not leaving until you get it right.” His breath had a strand of hair dancing in the air before once again settling against her cheek. “This isn’t a punishment.”

  Bethany let a deep breath. “I know. It may save my life. I get it, Declan. No sweat.”

  Strange how those innocent eyes looked so world-weary. He just wanted to wrap his arms around her and heal her wounded heart. But it wasn’t his job and there wasn’t a future for them.

  It took her twenty minutes to keep her arm steady. Though it would only help if she could aim and hit her target. Maybe he could use foam bullets. It would be something at least. Unease curdled his stomach thinking at some point she may be unprotected. When he left her, he needed to know she could take care of herself or he’d go mad.

  ***

  Hours later, they’d both gravitated to the media room. In the house, they’d agreed she was free to do whatever without his company though he’d requested she inform where she’d be. So far, the arrangement worked. Now, he had some free time, at least the illusion of it. He didn’t really think bodyguards had downtime. While he appeared relaxed, he’d be prepared for action in a second.

  Stretched out, he watched an NRL game on the television, Bethany curled up beside him on the sofa, her head stuck in her e-reader.

  He rotated his shoulder. The muscles screamed. He’d given it plenty of abuse over the past few days. A wince escaped his clenched teeth.

  From beside him, Bethany’s head jerked up.

  “What’s wrong?”

  “Nothing.” He kept his eyes on the show. He’d kill for a beer, something to take the edge off.

  “It’s your shoulder, isn’t it?

  After placing her e-reader on the coffee table, she moved closer, one denim leg tucked beneath her, the other foot resting on the floor. A coconut scent tickled his nostrils.

  Not waiting for permission, Bethany’s palms flattened against his shoulder. Her fingertips probed his muscles until he sucked in a breath. Shit, that burned.

  Using his indicator, Bethany circled the area. A fire erupted when her fingers dug in, massaging out the knots. He almost came off the couch.

  A grunt of annoyance from Bethany had his gaze focusing on her face and the furrow of her brow. Her lips were pursed as she ironed out the fabric of his shirt which had bunched beneath her ministrations.

  She applied pressure once more before abruptly stopping.

  “Take off your shirt.” She tugged on it.

  He didn’t think it would be a good idea but then her fingertips were feathering along his abdomen. More muscles tensed and bunched.

  Leaning forward, he yanked the shirt over his head and dropped it beside him on the couch.

  Beth continued her competent massage on his bare skin. He slowly began to feel better. The pain was still there but it wasn’t as bad.

  He focused on his breathing, trying to relax so she wouldn’t have to fight his body.

  The only problem with a relaxed state was the appearance of his untimely erection. He swallowed hard. He couldn’t be in a sweeter hell.

  “Beth, I think it’s good now.”

  Her gaze flicked to his face. “You sure? I can still feel the knot.”

  Better she felt that than saw something else.

  “Really, I’m fine.”

  “Oh, okay.” Her gaze dropped and he cursed his luck when it fell upon his lap. Her eyes widened and her lips parted. “Oh.” A smile he’d never seen before tilted her lips.

  “I can ease that too.” Moving as she spoke, she’d mounted his lap before the last word left her mouth.

  His whole body tensed as Bethany settled against him. Her lips pressed against his, a slight pressure. She tasted sweet, like chocolate. Probably the evening’s dessert. He drank from her, opening his mouth to allow her entrance. She stroked his tongue, looping her arms around his neck and playing with his hair, pulling on the strands to move his head, allowing her deeper.

  Her moan vibrated through him and his self-control snapped. Catching her neck with his hand he dragged her closer, taking over. He took and he gave. He sucked. He stroked.

  Bethany rocked her hips, each rise and drop grazing against him. Whether unwittingly or not, she teased him, his erection now raging. Pressing his free hand over her right arse cheek, he aligned them better.

  “Ah…” He met her hips, ensuring he hit her sweet spot and heard another cry of pleasure.

  His world narrowed, intent on only one thing and how much he needed it.

  “Yes.” Her breathy plea had reality slapping him the face, reminding him who she was and where they were.

  It was wrong on so many levels. Least of all their working relationship, not to mention their age difference.

  He couldn’t believe how close they’d gone. What they’d almost done. What he’d almost done. He took full responsibility. He should’ve put a stop to it long before now. He should’ve made it clear the moment he’d seen the interest in her eyes.

  Pulling away, he quickly set her aside. Her glazed eyes stared at him, a crease marring her forehead. She breathed heavily, catching her breath.

  “No.”

  “No?” Her body twitched, a quivering mass of nerves. It wouldn’t take much to finish her off. Which only highlighted how much he’d allowed the situation to get away from him. He didn’t think he could’ve stopped hearing her cry out his name as she orgasmed. Just thinking about it now made him want to forget all the reasons he shouldn’t and bury himself deep within her.

  He had to get away from her. She was far too tempting sitting beside him, breasts rising and falling with each shuddering breath. Her cheeks were rosy and her lips plump from his sensual attack.

  Standing, he took several steps away.

  His gaze ran over her body. She leaned against the couch cushions in the same position as he’d tossed her. It wasn’t seductive and yet he felt an insane pull wanting him to gravitate closer.

  He ran a hand over his head and tried to clear his thoughts. The wood he still sported made the task extremely difficult.

  “No. It’s not ethical.”

  “Ethical? You mean more to me than my bodyguard. I want you.”

  “And you need to stop thinking like that. When this is over we’ll go our separate ways.”

  She leaned forward. “You can’t kiss me like that and say I mean nothing to you.”

  This wasn’t going well. He needed to hurt her. Something he absolutely abhorred, but he didn’t see any other way. If he didn’t make a clean break now it would only come back to haunt them later.

  “Your experience with men mustn’t be broad if you think that. Men can fuck without emotions. They do it all the time. Another reason we can’t pursue this. There is no future.”

  He’d purposely used the crude word yet it didn’t have the desired effect. Bethany took a shaky breath.

  “You’re much too young. I’m almost ten years older. It wouldn’t be right. I’m also in a position of power. I won’t take advantage of you. You don’t know what you want right now.”

  “Don’t tell me I don’t know. I do. Age means nothing to me.”

  Fuck, she was going to make him slice her open.

  “I’m sorry, Bethany but I need a woman to satisfy my needs.”

  Hurt slashed across her face, her eyes dampening.

  “I see. Well, I certainly don’t want to hold you up.”

  He caught her arm as she moved past him. “Are you okay?”

  He hated causing her pain but he still stood by his decision. She shrugged him off.

  “I’ll get it over it.”

  He waited unti
l the bedroom door closed behind her before collapsing back onto the sofa. Resting his arms on his legs, his hands dangling down between his thighs, he allowed his shoulders to hunch. He hated himself. Probably more than she did right now. Didn’t matter that he’d done the right thing. The damage was irreparable.

  Chapter 23

  The perimeter sensor went off. Declan rose to his feet, simultaneously drawing his weapon. He quickly surveyed each separate feed on his tablet until he pinpointed the location of the intruder. Directing the barrel of the Glock to the floor as a safety measure, he made his way through the mansion.

  Bethany halted on the staircase mid-descent, her fingers gripping the railing as she caught his gaze. Her body stiffened.

  “What is it?” Even though she shouted to be heard above the shrilling alarm he heard the quiver in her voice.

  “Don’t move.”

  Heat rolled beneath his skin as she ignored his order, instead, following him into the foyer. His jaw tightened. He’d deal with her later. The alarm silenced. His ears continued to ring.

  Bethany’s feet shuffled against the hardwood floor, and when she got too close, he hissed his warning. “Stay back.”

  She inhaled sharply from behind his left shoulder as a man’s figure crossed past a window moving towards the next. Declan raised his weapon, repositioning his finger closer to the trigger. The release of the safety echoed through the vast open area of the foyer.

  Declan steadied his breathing, his heart steady in his chest. The heat from Bethany’s body seeped into his as she stood close, reminding him of earlier and how he’d almost crossed the line. Even now his body still wanted her, craved her taste, their previous encounter a mere tease.

  A curse came on the wind as the intruder stumbled. The dark figure approached the window north of him. Again, Declan waited. If this man belonged to Hunter, he wanted to capture then interrogate.

  Behind him, the occasional whisper of fabric told him Bethany readjusted her weight. He had to say he was extremely proud of her thus far. She had to be scared, had every reason to be and still, she was supporting him by just being there with him.

  The figure arrived at the window and peered in. With the foyer cloaked in darkness and his eyes adjusted, he could see more than their intruder. The man touched the glass, pressing his face up against it and knocked politely.

  What the hell?

  He took a step forward.

  “No, don’t shoot!” Bethany grabbed his arm, halting him.

  “Beth?”

  “I know him.” She disarmed the newly installed alarm system and opened the door, much to his disapproval. As she exited the house she switched on the light and he growled, going after her.

  He caught her arm and yanked her back inside the mansion. She started to protest but he made a sign to be quiet. She narrowed her eyes, clearly annoyed. He flicked the light off again, silently cursing the loss of his night vision.

  “He might not be alone.”

  “It’s all right, it’s Jesse. He’s not a threat.”

  Declan stared into her stubborn eyes. Damn, of course, he had to be the one she tested her new-found tenacity on. He gritted his teeth and wondered at the idea of throwing her over his knee and giving her a right ole spanking that neither she, nor he will ever forget.

  “You said you know him?”

  Bethany nodded.

  He leaned against the closed front door. “Well, what better distraction?”

  “Jesse wouldn’t go along with that.”

  “He may not know.”

  She mulled that over and obviously having found his cautiousness had merit, stepped back and allowed him to do his job. Declan gently pushed her aside, out of the line of fire should someone be waiting just outside to open up a round on them. He cracked open the door and surveyed all that he could see. Not finding his target nor a troop outside ready to take them out, he opened the door wider and stepped out at the exact same time as Bethany’s friend, Jesse emerged from the ferns beside the door.

  Bethany screamed and Declan grabbed the newcomer’s arm and twisted it behind him whilst pushing him into the nearest wall.

  “You’re not Beth.”

  Great the kid was drunk.

  He grabbed the kid’s neck and not so politely directed him into the safety of the mansion where he patted him down before pushing him into a waiting Bethany.

  Davies slid on the floorboards as he joined them, dressed in his flannel pyjamas, Greta a few hurried steps behind him, her hair wild.

  “I’m going to secure the area.” He exited the house without looking back and scanned the perimeter. With his gun at the ready, he took off into the concealing brush and sought out signs of other possible intruders. Finding the area clear and undisturbed he returned to the house to deal with their problem.

  He found Bethany exactly where he left her except now she was trying to keep her friend on his feet.

  “It’s all clear out there.”

  Bethany’s face changed as she laid eyes on him, fear and worry dissipated and relief softened her features. Declan savoured the vision she made for a moment before turning to their more pressing issue.

  “Beth,” the kid’s words were slurred. “What’s going on?”

  “You almost got shot is what’s going on.”

  Jesse’s bloodshot eyes bulged and he looked over at Declan. “Who’s that, your boyfriend?”

  “I’m her security, how’d you get in?”

  “I used my key.”

  Declan glared at Bethany who shrugged.

  “Come on Jesse, let’s get you cleaned up.”

  Bethany wrapped her arm around his waist and with the help of Davies and Greta, ascended with difficulty, due to Jesse swaying, to the first floor.

  ***

  Jesse slept soundly, tucked securely in the guest bed. His head had barely hit the pillow before he’d began snoring. She’d sent Quinn and Greta back to bed the moment they had him on the mattress.

  She shook her head. He reeked of alcohol and had scared the crap out of her. But he was a good friend, one of the few who still came around.

  The Copeland family—Jesse’s, made up seventy percent of her friends. His sister Ashley always pushing her to do things she would not normally do and Bethany hadn’t regretted a single thing. With Jesse and Ashley, she was able to leave Bethany Bennett behind and be a different person, one who constantly surprised her.

  Switching off the light, she closed the bedroom door behind her. Hopefully, Jesse wouldn’t get sick during the night. She hadn’t had a lot of experience with drunk men—or women for that matter and frankly she wasn’t interested in obtaining any experience either.

  Bethany leaned against the closed door and shut her eyes. It had been a long day. Who was she kidding? It had been a long week, and a long month and a long year and wasn’t getting any easier. She opened her eyes, took a deep breath and pushed herself away from the door and took a step only to freeze as a dark figure came out of the darkness towards her.

  She gasped and took an involuntary step back, clutching at her heart.

  A second later, she recognised the silhouette as Declan. It was strange that she knew it was him. Of course, there weren’t a lot of options as to who else it might have been but even in a crowded room, she knew she would be able to pick him out, would sense his presence, smell his unique scent or just plain know by the way he walked. He had a very nice walk, one filled with confidence.

  “Are you okay?” His gaze raked over her face.

  Her hand slid from over her heart. “I think I’ve had too much excitement for one day.”

  “Anybody else have a key?”

  Bethany glared at him in the darkness and realised then the intimacy of the moment. They were only a few feet away and could only just make out his face and knew he could only do the same but for some reason, she felt naked. She still smarted from his earlier rejection. She could still taste him in her mouth, feel his hands on her hypersensitive skin. W
orse, she still wanted him.

  She stepped aside, putting some distance between them. Embarrassment warmed her cheeks.

  “Only my friends. He’s asleep by the way, so you don’t need to worry about him anymore.”

  “I’m not worried about him, I’m worried about you. He shouldn’t be staying here.”

  She shot him a look. “Jesse’s fine. I’ve known him forever.”

  “Everyone is a danger.”

  “I have enough issues in my life without adding trusting people to the list.”

  “Sometimes it’s necessary.”

  For him maybe but not her. Declan would never understand. Nor, did he try to. She would never give up her friends. She had so few people in her life. She held onto the ones she had.

  “Goodnight, Declan.”

  She left him standing them as she headed back to bed.

  Chapter 24

  Christian Jackson shivered in his car. He gritted his teeth and told himself to suck it up. So, it was a little cold. Nothing a real man couldn’t handle. It would also be a death wish if he turned the ignition and started the heat. The condensation on the windows, the smoke from the muffler and roar of the engine would announce his location to one and all. So far, he had been lucky. No one had questioned him as to why he was there. No one had driven past him. He had found the perfect location, hidden away in the tree lines just past the turnoff to the Bennett mansion. Here he could monitor the estate, check times of possible ambushes and learn the routines of those allowed past the unwelcome gates.

  So far, he had only seen the staff. Two old men and a woman. He would have to learn more about them. They might become useful at a later date. He had to be careful, take his time, no more rushing in and bungling the job.

  He couldn’t afford to make another mistake. Hunter was growing impatient. He wanted the girl dead—now so that Jackson could focus his attention on retrieving the container. Hunter had a bug up his arse about that container. The contents somehow linked to Hunter’s power. Whatever it was Hunter wanted it back and was fully prepared to lay siege on the terminal and forcibly remove the container from the cop’s grasp.