The Bodyguard

by Adair, Cherry; Showalter, Gena; O'Clare, Lorie

  She stroked his cheeks. “Ditto.”

  He kissed her navel, his hand gliding up the smooth skin on her inner thigh. “You stopped and started my heart.”

  She wrapped her slender arms about his neck. “I couldn’t stop looking at you.”

  “What about now?”

  She gave him a lazy smile, eyes wicked. “I can’t stop touching you.”

  “Works for me. I wanted you beyond reason two years ago. Now I have a million reasons to love you.” He lifted his head to look up at her. “We have a lot to talk about. . . .” Looking into her velvety eyes, he saw they were filled with love and promises. “We’ve never discussed kids, but I’d like four—”

  Her eyebrows went up, and her eyes sparkled. “Two,” she said firmly, her fingers combing through his damp hair.

  Ah, man. Did he know her, or what? Two was— “Perfect.” God, he loved this woman. “I want to grow old with you. What do you say?” Not giving her a chance to answer, he kissed her long and slowly, only letting her up for air when she shoved at his shoulder.

  “Was there a question buried in there somewhere?”

  Sebastian gathered her beneath him, the healing sun on his back and the woman he loved in his arms. With a shout of laughter, he rolled her off the dock. They landed with a splash in the sensually warm water. With a shriek Michaela took off, arms and legs slicing through the crystalline water as she swam to shore.

  With lazy strokes, Sebastian tagged behind her, knowing she’d allow him to chase her until she caught him.

  TEMPTATION IN

  SHADOWS

  Gena Showalter

  CHAPTER ONE

  Gabrielle Huit blinked open her heavy eyelids and moaned. Her temples throbbed as if her brain was hooked to a generator and every few seconds the switch was thrown, electric shocks traveling from one side of her skull to the other.

  Moaning again, she scanned her surroundings. She could see . . . nothing. Her vision was blurred from the pain, and the shadows around her were too thick. But she wasn’t home; that much she knew. The air was too dusty, too cold; she kept her place clean and warm.

  She tried to shift to her side, hoping a different angle would elicit different results. Metal rattled and a hard weight pulled at her wrists, keeping her still. Metal—chains?

  Don’t panic. Yet. Where was she? How had she gotten here? Last thing she remembered, she’d been outside, holding a gun and fighting the urge to commit murder. Something had knocked out her targets and a second later a dark cloud had enveloped her. Then a sharp sting had torn through her neck, shooting fire and weakness through her entire body.

  “I’m sorry,” a deep voice had whispered. “So sorry.”

  She’d focused on that voice as if it were a lifeline—until she’d been unable to focus anymore. Though she hadn’t seen anyone nearby, strong arms had banded around her, lifting her up and preventing her from falling as her trembling knees collapsed.

  Now, she was trapped inside a . . . room? A cell? She still couldn’t tell. Her own panting breaths filled her ears as she tugged more forcefully at the metal. Again, the links around her wrists remained steady. She really was chained. Oh, God. Someone had knocked her out and abducted her. Someone had freaking knocked her out and abducted her.

  She’d told herself not to panic, but a knot began to grow in her throat, cutting off her air supply. Someone had managed to bypass her security, both external and internal, and overpower her completely. She was now trapped. Helpless.

  Calm down. Figure this out. Yes. Yes, she could figure this out. She just had to breathe. To do so, she just had to swallow the knot. Gabby forced herself to gulp, to slowly breathe in, out. In, out. Better, she thought, her lungs filling. Okay. Time to think rationally. Who would have done this? The government, maybe?

  The men she’d wanted to shoot had certainly looked the part. Dark suits, sunglasses, and shiny Glocks. More, they’d known what she was capable of and had prepared for the worst. But how had they drugged her? They’d never even approached her. Someone else was responsible, then.

  So . . . who else had been there?

  No one that she had seen, and that terrified her more than anything else. She barely managed to stop another knot from growing. Being taken like this—again—was what she’d feared her entire life. The first time, she had been studied, used. Hurt. She’d woken up strapped to a table, her head split open by a rogue agency scientist suddenly able to download computer files straight into her brain. If the government were responsible this time, how much worse would it be for her?

  A moan suddenly echoed—and it wasn’t hers.

  Gabby scrambled backward until a wall stopped her. The erratic pounding of her heartbeat seemed loud, like a beckon to whoever lurked on the other side of the chamber.

  “Hello,” a male rasped groggily. Chains scraped the floor—but she hadn’t moved. He was bound, too? “Anyone there?”

  Her panic receded. Somewhat. “I’m here,” she said, voice shaking.

  There was a pause. Then a shocked, “Gabby? Is that you?”

  Her jaw dropped as recognition took hold. “Sean?”

  “Where are we? What’s going on?” The more he spoke, the more substance his words had and the better she could hear the deep, sexy rumble that had fueled her fantasies the last few weeks. Best forgotten fantasies.

  “I’m chained to the wall,” she told him. “You?”

  “Yeah. Me, too.”

  Why would someone take them both? And how terrible of a person was she, to be relieved that they were in this together?

  “Do you know who has us?” she asked.

  “No, sorry. Last thing I remember, I was walking out of my apartment and some guy was asking me for the time.”

  Okay. So. There went her government theory. Sean was the bodyguard of a nightclub owner—a nightclub owner she, too, worked for—but Sean was normal. Moody, yes, and hot as hell, but still normal. There was no reason for the government to abduct and study him.

  Unless . . . what if they knew how much she desired him and thought to use him against her? They could threaten to hurt him if she failed to cooperate. She groaned.

  “You hurt?” he demanded in a tone mixed with equal measures of concern and anger.

  Not yet, she thought, but couldn’t deny that his concern warmed her. “I’m fine.”

  His image flashed inside her mind. He was tall, lean but muscled. His skin was sun-kissed, his chopped hair dark, and his eyes so electric a blue they shocked her every time she looked into them. Even with the black, swirling tattoos that curved around his temples, he epitomized perfection.

  She’d often wondered why he’d marked himself that way, what it meant to him.

  “Maybe we’re going to be ransomed,” he said. The prospect didn’t sound like it bothered him. “I mean, we work for the same wealthy man.”

  “They should have taken him, then, ’cause I doubt Rowan Patrick cares about getting me back.” She’d met with Mr. Patrick a few weeks ago, shortly after he’d bought the club where she worked. The next day, he’d asked her out. She’d said no. She’d already been fascinated by Sean. Then, a few days later, Mr. Patrick had asked her out again. Again, she’d said no. His frustration with her had been very clear.

  “True,” Sean finally replied. “You aren’t his favorite person.”

  Was Mr. Patrick coldhearted enough to have planned this out of revenge? “Would he have done this . . .”

  “No. I’ve known him a long time and that’s not his style.” Sean sighed. “You wouldn’t happen to be loaded, would you?”

  “No.” Oh, she could make money. Plenty of money. She had the means to acquire any amount of cash she desired, at any time, but she’d never done so. There was too much risk.

  So what motive did that leave?

  The man who’d . . . enhanced her had let her go. Could he have decided he wanted her back and then hunted her down? But again, why bring Sean into it?

  “We have to get ou
t of here,” she said, pulling at her chains. Her wrists were already abraded, and she winced as metal cut past skin and warm blood beaded. “Preferably before our abductor realizes we’ve woken up.”

  “Stupid asshole didn’t frisk me.” There was a twinge of satisfaction in his voice. “My blade is still pressed against my ankle.”

  Thank God for stupid assholes. “Do you know how to pick a lock?” she asked. She did, but as dark as the room was, Sean couldn’t toss her the knife without the possibility of losing it.

  “Oh yeah. During my misspent youth, I learned a lot of naughty skills I shouldn’t have.”

  She heard the rustle of clothes, the slide of chain against wood, an angered, “Shit! Cut myself,” then finally the clink of metal.

  “One down,” he muttered.

  “Hurry.”

  “Am.” Another muttered curse, then another clink. “I’m going to kill whoever did this.”

  “Ladies first.”

  He chuckled. “Bloodthirsty, are you?” One moment he was across the room; the next his big, strong hands were on her, patting her down as he searched for her wrists. Despite the danger, she shivered. He was hot, callused . . . a temptation she couldn’t afford.

  “Okay?” he asked.

  “Yeah.” Barely.

  “I can’t see anything and might cut you. If I do—”

  “I’ll live. Promise. Just get these things off me.” How long did they have before their abductor checked on them?

  One of Sean’s hands slid the length of her arm and stopped at the chain. He leaned in, warm breath trekking over her face, the scent of whiskey filling her nose. Thankfully he didn’t cut her as he’d feared. He was infinitely gentle as he freed one wrist, then the other before clasping her hand and tugging her upright.

  Her knees proved to be weak and buckled—damn drugs—but she never hit the ground. Sean’s arm snaked around her waist and held her up.

  “I’ve got you.”

  She shivered. “There’s got to be an exit.”

  “There is. Look.” He spun her around.

  Gabby fought a wave of dizziness as she did as commanded. As thick as the shadows were, she saw only darkness. “I don’t—” Wait. There, at the floor where she’d been sitting, was a thin slit of light. Once again her heartbeat sped into a gallop, this time from excitement. “A doorway!”

  “Yep. Wait here.”

  He released her, and she stifled a whimper, already missing his strength. At least she managed to remain upright on her own this time. A moment later, the sound of metal sinking into wood reverberated. She knew the sound all too well.

  “Why aren’t you jimmying the lock?” That would have been quieter.

  “Blade’s too big to fit inside the cylinder. I’m having to detach the hinges.” As he worked, he said, “Did you get a look at the person who grabbed you?”

  “No. He said he was sorry, but never showed his face.”

  “Damn. I didn’t see him, either.”

  She wrapped her arms around her middle. “I’m sorry you were dragged into this. I mean, this is all my fault.” It had to be.

  “What do you mean?”

  “I don’t think we’re meant to be ransomed. I think—” God. Should she tell him? He deserved to know. After all, if they failed to escape, he might be tortured for information about her. Or worse, experimented on. And going into that sort of situation blind was a lot worse than knowing what to expect and why. That she knew firsthand.

  Still, years of silence, of secrets and running, of hiding to stay alive, kept the truth bottled inside her. If she told him and they got out of this, she’d have to always wonder who he told.

  “Nothing,” she said. “I think nothing.”

  “No. You think something, but we’ll talk about it later.” The door separated from the wall, and welcome light flooded the room.

  Gabby blinked against the sudden brightness, her eyes filling with burning tears. To compose herself, she turned and studied her prison. It was a small bedroom, of a type probably found in every suburban neighborhood. The walls were beige, and there was a dresser pushed against the far right. A twin-sized bed rested beside it. Only, there were no pictures, no knickknacks.

  Sean peeked out. “Clear,” he said. “Come on.” He grabbed her arm and ushered her into the hall. Like the bedroom, it was devoid of personal effects.

  Again, her government theory was shaken. She would not have been locked inside a bedroom, inside a home, with no guard posted at her door. “Is there a computer in this place?”

  “I don’t know, and I don’t want to take the time to find out.” He kept his blade at his side and tugged her around a corner, stopping to glance inside the other doorways—two bedrooms—along the way. “Clear.”

  “You don’t understand.” She dug her heels into the wood planks, bringing him to a quick halt. “I might be able to learn who abducted us and why.”

  “There’s no time.”

  “Please.”

  He faced her, expression hard as granite. “You a hacker?”

  “Something like that,” she said, and licked her lips nervously.

  He tangled a hand through his hair. “How long do you need?”

  “No more than a few minutes.”

  His brows furrowed together. “That quickly? How is that—”

  A pained moan sounded from another room. Sean whipped around—but not before she glimpsed the murderous light in his eyes. Though she couldn’t see an intruder, she prepared to attack as well. Then the shadows painted over the hallway walls seemed to suck inward, surrounding them, keeping them hidden, and she frowned. Something similar had happened a few times before. She didn’t know how—unless her abilities were changing?

  “This way,” he whispered, and hooked her finger around his belt loop so that both of his hands could remain free. “And be quiet.”

  Forever they seemed to walk but she couldn’t see where they were going or even what surrounded them. Odd. Still, Gabby knew how to take care of herself but couldn’t deny she liked being guarded like this.

  Over the years she’d taken hundreds of self-defense lessons and learned to fight as dirty as possible. She’d had to. She’d grown up on the streets, a target for every pimp in need of a fresh-faced little girl and every junkie desperate enough to steal from a starving kid.

  “Bill?” Sean said, and there was a mix of confusion, anger, and upset in his voice. He crouched down.

  As the shadows cleared, Gabby pulled herself from her musings and gasped. A man lay on the floor, blood pooling around him.

  Sean worked frantically at the man’s clothes, revealing a gunshot wound to the stomach. “What the hell happened?” Sean demanded, pressing the heel of his hand against the hole to staunch the crimson flow.

  The man—Bill—grimaced. He was average height, probably late forties, with mocha skin and dark eyes that were glazed with pain.

  Intending to help, Gabby rushed to the duffel bag resting on the other side of him. If medical supplies were inside . . . please be inside. Her fingers shook as she unzipped it, the blood splattered across the handles smearing on her palms. This man couldn’t be their abductor—could he? Sean knew him, was concerned for him. But how else would the man have known they were here?

  Damn it. Only clothes rested inside the bag.

  “Be . . . trayed,” she heard him rasp. “Came here . . . free you . . . run.” The man’s head lolled to the side. His chest ceased its shallow movements as breath escaped his cut and parted lips on a final gasp.

  “Motherfucker!” Sean growled.

  “I’m sorry,” she whispered as she faced him, and she meant it. Losing a friend was tough. Losing a friend to violence was tougher. “You can mourn him. Later.” Forget the computer. “Right now, we have to get out of here.”

  The anger drained from Sean’s expression, leaving something hard and unreadable. “This wasn’t supposed to happen. Bill wasn’t supposed to die.”

  She opened her mo
uth to respond. None of this was supposed to have happened. Before she could utter a single word, however, a loud crash reverberated from around the corner.

  Sean jumped to his feet. Blood coated his hands and shirt as he gazed around wildly.

  “Bill’s tracks end here,” a new voice said from another room. Male, harsh. Determined. “Check every room. If you find the other two, you know what to do.”

  Footsteps pounded.

  Sean muttered another curse under his breath and grabbed hold of her. Shadows once again seemed to suck inward, surrounding them, as he jerked her forward, to the back door.

  She couldn’t see anything but Sean and gloom. But she could hear hinges squeaking, feet pounding. Gabby bit her lip to keep her cry of surprise and fear inside, when Sean suddenly yanked her against his chest and stopped. More footsteps pounded, blending with the rasp of breath. From multiple people. Still, she couldn’t see them. What the hell was going on?

  Without a word, Sean started forward again. He kept a tight hold on her hand, and she was glad. She was still reeling. That had to be it. She’d just watched a man die, and now her mind wouldn’t let her see the men hunting her.

  Outside, she thought a few seconds later. She had to be outside now. Cool, crisp air caressed her. Why couldn’t she at least see sunlight? Moonlight? Something? And how was Sean navigating through this?

  Gabby managed to maintain his quick pace for several miles, rocks and twigs cutting into her shoes. But by then she was sweating, fighting for every burning breath, trembling. “I . . . can’t . . .”

  “Just a little further.” Sean didn’t even seem winded, the bastard. “You can do it.”

  An eternity later, he stopped and the shadows disappeared completely, revealing amber moonlight, a forest bursting with thick, lush trees and a—a car? Sure enough, he removed a leafy canopy from the frame of a two-door sedan.

  “How did you know—”

  “Just get in,” he commanded.

  She obeyed as if her feet were on fire. Now wasn’t the time to chat. No one had followed them—to her knowledge—but it was better to be safe than sorry. Except when she and Sean were inside the car, he pulled a key from his pocket and used it. And it worked, the engine roaring to life. A thousand questions seemed to rush through her mind. Only one continued to echo, though. What. The. Hell?