BodyGuard (Butterscotch Martini Shots Book 2)

by Jennifer Ashley

  He was also attracted to her. No missing that. He’d reacted strongly to her injuries, sure. But being so close to her did things to him. His features hardened, his breathing picked up and primitive heat rolled off him in waves.

  Although his touch had not wavered when he’d treated her back, and he’d demonstrated a wealth of strength in body and mind as he’d kept her from falling apart when the pain was amplified by the cleansing and the antibiotic, she sensed both his disconcertion over her agony and his arousal at her nearness.

  Her breasts brushing against his bare skin… That had sent a jolt through her that she knew was likely passed off as suffering while he tended to her. But she’d also felt the jarring within him. And the constant clenching of his jaw made her wonder if he still felt the aftershocks.

  Lord knew she did. Her insides thrummed and there was a distinct tickle along her clit that wouldn’t subside, causing the involuntary contracting and releasing of her inner muscles.

  Yet she experienced so much more than that. He was a dark force, a commanding presence that drew her to him like a magnet to steel.

  Taelyn wanted to feel his strong hands on her body. Wanted his naked flesh pressed to hers, his muscles flexing under her touch. She craved his mouth on every inch of her and his cock buried inside her. That was overwhelming enough. But the way his eyes bore into her…that excited her even more.

  As though he were willing her to see something beyond her comprehension. Like he was taunting her with a bigger picture she wasn’t envisioning. And conversely…he appeared just protective enough to perhaps prefer that she not see the big picture.

  Taelyn shook her head again to clear her disjointed thoughts. She was totally losing it here. Getting lost in his penetrating gaze and the roguish handsomeness of him. His resolute constitution and virility. His intimate sensuality.

  She swallowed down more wine. It helped to take the edge off her jangled nerves and the pain, but it also offered a blissful step away from that horrific scene at her house.

  It occurred to her that Kage had neither described the claw marks on her back nor shown them to her. As though he wanted to keep her from the insidious reality of what she’d witnessed and experienced.

  Still, there remained that undercurrent of insistency. The imploring look she couldn’t deny.

  There was something he wanted her to know, but what the hell was it?

  With a low groan, she said, “My mind is running in circles here. I need to—”

  “Rest.”

  “Yes.”

  He pulled an individual packet of ibuprofen from the front pocket of his jeans and handed it over. “I thought you should wait for this until you had some food in your stomach.”

  “Thank you. I do tend to react adversely when I don’t eat first.” She opened the packet and downed the pills.

  Kage told her, “Take my bed. There are fresh sheets on it. I’ll sleep on the sofa.”

  “Sorry to put you out,” she said. “But I really can’t imagine going home tonight. The nightmares alone will be a bitch to contend with. Every snapping of a branch or sweep of leaves against the outside walls or windows will have me jumping out of my skin.”

  “I swear you’re safe, Taelyn. No one will harm you here. Definitely not me. And I won’t leave you.”

  “Kage.” Her heart twisted. She stood and crossed to where he was rooted in front of the stone-trimmed fireplace, having kept notable distance between them. She flattened a palm against his bulging biceps and stared up at him. “You’ve done nothing since I met you but rescue me. Take care of me. I do trust you. Please know that.”

  His grin was a tight one. “I have no problem protecting you. But I need you to accept that you have incredible instincts and a steel will. Whatever you face, do it with the knowledge that deep in your soul, you have the skill to save yourself. Like you did what that shifter.”

  “I can’t even fathom how I took him on, let alone struck him so hard that I sent him colliding with a tree trunk.”

  Kage’s gaze dropped to her hand on his upper arm. He said, “You exude strength. You just don’t know it yet.” Then his eyes lifted to meet hers once more. “You impressed the hell out of me today. As you alw—” He let out a low grunt. “Just try to get some sleep. Know that nothing can breach these walls or windows or roof. Not even the foundation.”

  He finally gave her a less strained grin. A sexy one that turned her blood to liquid fire. And made her perfectly aware that if she spoke at that moment, her voice would be breathy and laced with desire.

  Because she wanted him.

  In the most soul-gripping, desperate-needing kind of way. Which had to be fueled by adrenaline over the day’s events, she rationalized. She couldn’t possibly be this deeply in lust, this quickly.

  Although, admittedly, Kage Deville was pretty damn potent. As she’d ascertained from the moment he’d entered her shop.

  Something about him spoke innately to her…called to her. It was primal and instinctual and like nothing she’d ever known before.

  But again…that could be the result of sharing a life-threatening situation with the man.

  Of course…they hadn’t been in danger the moment they’d met, when her brain had stalled out and her body had gone up in flames.

  Oh, Christ.

  What was going on with her?

  “I for sure need to rest,” she mumbled as she backed away from the searing heat that had nothing to do with the blaze in the hearth. And everything to do with Kage Deville.

  Taelyn went into the bedroom. She peeled back the thick bronze- and gold-scrolled decorative comforter and ecru-colored sateen sheet and slipped into bed, lying on her stomach. Her feet and legs were tucked beneath the covers, but she didn’t want even the slightest bit of extra weight on her wounds. Not even her hair, which she whisked over one shoulder.

  Her eyelids dipped. She was exhausted. Mentally and physically. Confused beyond all belief at what she’d witnessed this evening. What she now knew to be fact rather than fiction.

  What the hell was she supposed to do with everything she’d learned tonight?

  For that matter, what was she supposed to do about all these wicked zings through her body and the humming in her veins because of the devilishly handsome stranger who’d saved her?

  Technically, she didn’t yet belong to another man. Van had never declared exclusivity. That he intended to propose to her was something to consider, yes. But he hadn’t actually done it. If or when he ever would remained to be seen. He wasn’t the settling down type. Putting a ring on her finger wouldn’t keep him from roaming the world at will.

  Taelyn sighed. Tried to shut down her mind. She had no answers and wouldn’t come up with any while she was still processing everything that had happened today, from the moment she’d woken up. So she focused on the raindrops splashing against the windows and the rumble of thunder in the distance. The howl of the wind through the trees. Or were those more wolves?

  She squeezed her eyes closed. Tight.

  I will not let my imagination get the best of me.

  I will not let my imagination get the best of me.

  I will not—

  Fuck!

  Who was she kidding?

  Her imagination wasn’t running wild. She’d seen it all for herself.

  There was no way to keep from obsessing over this until fatigue consumed her. Though her dreams were haunted by predators and one seriously gorgeous and magnetic man.

  And he wasn’t Vander Cari.

  A loud crash of thunder jerked Taelyn awake in the middle of the night. The flash of purple and gold lightning rods streaked through the partially opened drapes in the spacious bedroom and the rain fell relentlessly, sluicing down the glass panes.

  She shifted ever so slightly in the bed and had to bite back a cry of sheer agony. Her entire body ached, as though she’d been sat on by a Sumo wrestler who’d shown no mercy. Her head pounded and her wounds burned.

  Very care
fully, she eased out of bed and quietly exited the room. She made her way to the kitchen and found a glass of water and another packet of ibuprofen and some saltines already set out for her on the counter.

  She took the pills and then carried the glass of water into the living room. All of the lights were off, but the fire still roared. Kage was sitting on the sofa, his ankles and bare feet propped on the ledge of the sturdy wooden coffee table as he read a book.

  Taelyn crossed to the fireplace to warm herself since she hadn’t been able to take advantage of the thick covers in the bedroom.

  “What are you reading?” she asked in a low voice, so as to not break his tranquility too much. The sounds of the storm were a violent backdrop, but the crackling from the hearth and the flickering of flames were soothing.

  Kage folded over the cover and showed it to her.

  Taelyn gave a nod of approval. “Great Expectations. You like the classics. So do I.”

  He placed the book on the end table beside him. “Having trouble sleeping?”

  “I was out for a little while. But I was getting stiff. Needed to move around a bit—and take something for the pain. Thanks, by the way.” She lifted the glass.

  “You’re welcome.”

  “It’s also a lot warmer out here.”

  “Then take the sofa.”

  There were two pillows on top of a down comforter, folded in the opposite corner of the couch.

  He dropped his feet to the floor and started to stand.

  “Wait, don’t,” she was quick to say. “I didn’t mean to disturb you. Keep reading.”

  “I’ll move to the chair.”

  “No. It’s fine. If you don’t mind…” She set her glass on the coffee table, rounded it and reached for one of the pillows. She pressed it against the side of his powerful thigh. He didn’t balk. She hadn’t thought he would.

  Taelyn settled on the sofa, curled up with her back to the fire again. She dragged the comforter up her body, hugging it to the front of her while keeping the material from touching her cuts. She snuggled in and let the nearness of Kage seep through her veins. Reveled in the sanctuary he created and the sense of his body shielding her from harm.

  As much as he excited her, he also comforted her.

  He returned his feet to the coffee table and reached for his book. He held it with one hand and draped his other arm along the top of the sofa. Taelyn inhaled his earthy, masculine scent and felt the calming effects straight to her soul.

  Her eyelids fluttered closed and she slept soundly the rest of the night.

  CHAPTER FOUR

  Kage would have closed his own eyes and found some measure of peace in sleeping with Taelyn cozied up next to him, but his cell phone vibrated on the end table and he knew duty called.

  With his arm still slung along the back of the sofa, he set the book on the table once more and reached for his iPhone. He hit the icon for the incoming text message and fought the groan.

  Did you find them?

  This from his colleague on the council, Marcus.

  The woman, he deftly tapped out with his thumb. Not the sword.

  Damn it. We need them both—NOW. Davian is advancing on Capitol Hill. We know his strategy, his intentions. He’ll take the White House, the Hill and the Pentagon. Nothing will stop him after that.

  Demon terrorism.

  Kage’s arm along the sofa bent and he pinched the corners of his eyes. He typed: This is ahead of schedule. Thought I had a couple more days.

  We all did. That’s why he’s striking sooner. Where the bloody hell is that sword?

  Kage’s gaze slid to Taelyn, still sleeping serenely.

  I believe she has it, he reported. I just need a little more time.

  We don’t have more time. Find it, Kage. This is mission-critical. Not just for her sake when Laoghaire challenges her, but for all our sakes.

  His teeth ground. I’m perfectly aware of that.

  Keep searching, Kage.

  He tossed his phone on top of the book.

  A vicious, take-no-prisoners immortal was coming after Taelyn. Same shit, different century.

  The new-age twist, however, was that this was occurring while an army of demons converged on the goddamn White House. The Pentagon.

  Fuck.

  They’d be like ants under command to build a cathedral, only this monumental undertaking wouldn’t require tens of thousands. Just a band of the deadliest, stealthiest soldiers—wraiths and vampires.

  Word from the council was that Davian’s alliance would simultaneously infiltrate the Defense Department, Homeland Security and every other federal agency and military bases. He had the numbers and the leadership skills to mobilize such a force.

  It wouldn’t be the first uprising of the damned, but it certainly held the most potential in the history of demon warfare to prove successful.

  A daunting notion. Yet at the moment, Kage’s main concern was locating the sword. And keeping a ruthless immortal from running Taelyn through with his sword.

  It took all the willpower Kage possessed not to wake her. She needed her strength. She needed to recover as much as possible from her injuries before she faced this new threat. But he literally felt the sand pouring from the hourglass too damn fast.

  The sense of urgency sliced through him. Conversely, Kage couldn’t bring himself to rouse her. Not yet.

  If he could just slip out and drive to her house… He was certain the sword was there somewhere. Taelyn was the keeper of it in any century. Even if she had no idea of its true meaning, its purpose. Or hers.

  But he’d told her he wouldn’t leave her.

  For nearly a millennium, Kage had never broken a promise to her. He wouldn’t start now.

  So he went back to reading in order to distract himself as much as possible and try to calm his mind some. Yet when she finally stirred beside him in the late afternoon, he was raring to go.

  They both tidied up. Then he ushered her out the door.

  “Where are we going?” she asked.

  “Your house.”

  “Good. I need some clothes that actually fit.” She climbed into the partially mangled vehicle and settled in the passenger seat. Glancing over at him as he shoved the key in the ignition, she ventured, “Then what? I mean…what am I supposed to do? Hope the wolves don’t return?”

  “You’re not staying there. I’m just giving you the chance to grab some necessities. The way this bodyguard thing works,” he told her, “is that I shadow you and keep you safe.”

  “Bodyguard?” She tried the word out in a tentative voice.

  “Yes. You’re in mortal danger, Taelyn.”

  Again.

  Her gaze narrowed on him. “From those who want the sword?”

  “They’ll do anything to keep it out of the slayer’s hands.”

  “Shit.” Her stomach roiled and her mind reeled.

  Her safety was now predicated on a material possession?

  Sure, she’d dealt with plenty of underhanded and shady seekers of antiquities that were willing to double-cross or lowball her. She had the steel nerve to hold her own against them. Had surveillance cameras in her house and insurance in the event anyone broke in and stole her valuables. She took plenty of precautionary measures. Not that this remote part of Rhode Island attracted a bad element as a rule. But collectors could be cutthroat when procuring items of interest.

  That reality was solidified when Kage pulled up to her house, they entered through the partially opened door and she scanned the immediate area.

  “Son of a bitch,” she whispered as her heart plummeted to her knees and she inspected the damage before her. The overturned and destroyed furniture. The shattered display cases. The broken vases and statues. The slashed paintings.

  Tears stung her eyes. Taelyn had put extensive work and countless hours into acquiring the antiques she brokered. This was more than her livelihood—it was her life.

  “Hey,” Kage said as he swept his fingers over her cheek
. “Try to breathe.”

  She shook her head. A few drops fell. “You can’t replace stuff like this, Kage. It’s historical. One of a kind.” She groaned. “I can’t fucking believe this.”

  Anger flashed through her now. All of this destruction for a goddamn sword?

  Taelyn spun around on her boot heels and stormed off. She charged up the stairs and threw open the door to her apartment. Rushing down the hallway, she burst into her bedroom—just about everything upstairs had been decimated as well. Fueled by her fury, she surged forward, her arms shooting out and her body weight shoving the bed from its place in the center of the room.

  With her pulse raging and the adrenaline pumping, she yanked back the area rug and slammed her heel to a floorboard. It popped up. Taelyn sank to her knees and peeled away several long boards. Then she lifted a narrow, flat box from its hiding place, stood and laid it on the bed.

  Kage was instantly at her side.

  She released the latches and flipped the lid. Her fingers whisked over the folds of royal-blue velvet, revealing a stunning gilded and bejeweled sword forged from the finest steel…

  Just as Kage had said it would be.

  “This is what you came for, right?” she demanded. “What my world has been turned upside down for?”

  “Taelyn.”

  She heard the anguish and the remorse in his tone. Taelyn didn’t care, didn’t let it appease her.

  “It’s all yours,” she told him. “I don’t know why the hell I have it to begin with. I was told it’s a family heirloom. Priceless. Never to be sold, never to be spoken of. My responsibility has been to keep it safeguarded and ensure no one knows I own it.”

  “All of that is true,” he said with conviction.

  “How do you know that?”

  Kage let out a low growl. “I can’t explain this to you. You have to remember it for yourself.”

  “There’s nothing to remember,” she insisted. “I’ve told you everything I know about the sword.”

  “Yet there’s more… Hold the sword, Taelyn,” he urged with the same grave expression on his perfectly chiseled face that he’d had yesterday, when the wolves had invaded her property. “Use both hands.”