The Billionaire's Prize: Taken & Tempted: (Book 3 Billionaire Bodyguard Series)

by Kristi Avalon

  One month—that’s all she had left before she completed her final exams and began her internship at the county courthouse for her final semester of college. Cade presented a sexy distraction. One she couldn’t afford.

  Remembering his show and tell instructions from the night before, she turned on the shower, set at the same perfect temperature as last night. She let the water wash away memories of his hands stroking her body. The droplets of water that had clung to his lashes, his eyes closed as he’d kissed her deeply. The combination of warm water splashing on her skin and her inner dampness coating his finger. She shivered.

  Stop. Seriously.

  Annoyed by the visceral recall of his shower seduction, and how damn fine his muscular body looked dripping wet, she hurried through the motions of bathing and shaving all pertinent places. Just in case…

  She blow-dried her hair then retrieved the makeup pouch. Riffling through it, she wondered if Mindy had purchased half the Sephora store. The collection looked like a bag of hard candies bursting with colors and flavors.

  First, she decided to choose what to wear. She opened the walk-in closet doors and breathed in the scent of expensive clothes. No wonder wealthy people hired others to shop and put outfits together for them. With so many options, she didn’t know where to begin. Life’s difficult dilemmas.

  Grinning, she reached for a Bloomingdale skirt suit. A tweed number with dragonfly colors of turquoise, black, plum and dark golden threads, paired with a bronze silk shell underneath. Hello, heaven.

  The warm, comfortable fabric draped perfectly over her curves. A fit she’d always struggled to find. Why didn’t regular stores make clothes that buttoned normally over a woman’s breasts, especially curvier girls like her who were larger than a B cup? She appreciated the way the flowing swag of the lapels draped over her front and the thin black belt cinched her waist. She felt like a feminine powerhouse and wondered if Cade might let her keep the suit.

  Looking in the full-length mirror, she pictured herself walking into an executive law office at some downtown firm for an interview and landing the job on the first try. She really liked the mental image and the confidence this suit gave her. She’d never been a fashionista, into brand name labels or pricey clothing, but after this experience she might be a changed woman.

  As she applied her makeup and then stepped into black stiletto heels, she almost didn’t recognize herself. After only twelve hours of living in Cade’s world, he’d already impacted her. Physically, aesthetically and sexually. Good God.

  Rolling her tense shoulders she reaffirmed she was still her practical down-to-earth self. Everything in Cade’s life was pretty to look at and lovely to touch—including him—but it all seemed like a lot of effort. She didn’t have that kind of time. And honestly didn’t care about superficial luxuries. Unlike her mother.

  Wincing, the thought delivered a sharp reminder why she didn’t like the glittering mirage of wealth. It had destroyed her family when her mother left them for a man exactly like Cade.

  No amount of money would ever cause Kylie to make the same mistake. No matter how appealing it seemed, the price wasn’t worth the cost. And she was pretty sure her father would turn in his grave if she repeated Mom’s choice in men. What mother abandoned her devoted husband and two little girls to become arm candy for a rich, shallow guy? A guy who’d grown bored with her soon enough and ended her life so he could begin his hunt all over again?

  Long ago she’d given up searching for reasons or coming up with excuses. Regardless, her father had raised her better than that.

  She decided Cade could keep the suit. After a solid year of working at a firm, she’d save up to buy her own nice clothes. Maybe not from Bloomingdale’s or Bergdorf’s, but Macys was more her style anyway.

  The second she stepped into the bedroom she stopped and stared at the stunning panoramic scenery out the windows. Snowcapped mountains. Whisper blue sky. Dawn cresting across the Rockies. Building spires glittering below.

  Breathtaking.

  Now this was a penthouse view!

  Wait. Earlier the integral blinds encased within tempered glass were closed. Did Cade have them set on a timer? Or did they operate with a sensor and open automatically when the sun hit them? A nice little luxury.

  Then a flutter of nervousness tickled her ribs, thinking about facing him in broad daylight. His seduction last night seemed to blur into a hazy fantasy. Which she wouldn’t repeat, despite his invitation. Still, the idea of staring into his intense blue eyes after he’d seen her body in wet underwear, leaving little to his imagination, filled her with apprehension.

  Would he make a comment about it, about her? Would he assume she did that sort of thing all the time? Because she didn’t.

  Then again, why should she care what he thought? A onetime thrill shouldn’t make her dissolve into embarrassment. Just cautious.

  Very, very cautious.

  When she walked into the living room, Slone stood and dropped his magazine onto the coffee table. “Sleep well?” he asked.

  “Sort of,” she admitted. “Did Cade already leave?”

  “An hour ago. It’s not easy sleeping in a strange place. You get used to it.”

  That phrase seemed to be his all-purpose response, yet still encouraging. She noticed he looked refreshed and unwrinkled, especially after fifteen hours on the clock.

  She froze. Oh, no. Had Slone spent the night? “Um, so, did you stay here all night?”

  “Yep.”

  Crap. “Did you happen to hear anything… ?”

  “Nope.”

  Now she wanted to dissolve in embarrassment. “Thanks for lying. I appreciate it.”

  With a small quirk of his lips, he nodded. “No problem.”

  God, how did celebrities handle it? Bodyguards surrounding them night and day, privy to their most private…moments? That was definitely not the life for her. She was perfectly happy being anonymous, coming and going as she pleased. No one shadowing her every move.

  Except for Bruno Ramos.

  Tension tightened around her throat, restricting her airway. She took a few deep breaths. “Are we going back to the Soren’s headquarters this morning?”

  “That’s the plan. Limo’s waiting out front.”

  Another thing she’d never get used to, someone driving her around. It seemed so over the top and unnecessary.

  With a sigh of reluctant acceptance, she left the penthouse with Slone. Pausing, he checked to ensure the door locked behind them. Then they rode the elevator down to the lobby.

  The spacious atrium looked even more sleek and impressive during the day. Sunlight poured through three stories of glass, glinting off the chandeliers, almost blinding her as her heels clicked across the black marble floors. Several concierges wearing identical suits bustled back and forth, stern looks on their faces as if they all had vital tasks to perform. Businessmen and women carrying briefcases rushed past her toward the front doors. She wondered what the rent cost in a high rise like this, let alone a penthouse suite, then decided she didn’t want to know.

  They walked out into the sunshine, and she made a mental note to stop somewhere and purchase sunglasses. She hadn’t realized how powerful the sun could be at this elevation. Her eyes watered at the intensity and she could barely see.

  “The fourth limo,” Slone said, and when she squinted she recognized the word BODYGUARDS on the personalized license plate.

  “I see it. Thanks.”

  The Soren men had their own jet, their own limousines, their own bodyguards, their own building. The perks never ended. She wondered, though, if Cade’s brother and cousins lived as lavishly as he did. Cade seemed totally comfortable riding in a limo, whereas she could picture Adam and Liam more at home on motorcycles. Though not in this weather.

  A crisp bite in the air made her looked forward to the heated seats in the transportation awaiting them. The thought of driving through a blizzard gave her heart palpitations, she didn’t like skiing, and
she hated cold weather.

  Give me the desert any day over snow. No matter how pretty it looked from a distance. She tried to hurry along the sidewalk but her stilettos slowed her down.

  Slone kept pace with her. When they reached their designated ride, he opened the door for her and she crouched to enter the car.

  Then she heard the strangest sound. Like a pipe rattling over the pavement right under her.

  “Fuck!” The curse ripped from Slone.

  He grabbed her arm and yanked her out of the warm interior. He dragged her away from the vehicle, shoved her to the ground and dove on top of her.

  An explosion battered her eardrums. Black smoke shrouded her vision.

  Oh, my God, what’s happening?

  With Slone’s heavy weight on top of her, she could barely breathe. She choked and coughed, fighting for air.

  Slone!

  Eyes burning, she peered through the billowing smoke. Her vision blurred.

  Slone, she shouted again.

  Then she realized she couldn’t hear her own cries. Only muted shouts coming from all directions. She couldn’t distinguish anyone or anything.

  Shaking with fear, she sank her nails into Slone’s arm. The leather slipped from her desperate grasp.

  Two huge hands hauled her to her feet. “Come on!” he shouted, half-walking, half-carrying her back into the lobby. “We have to get you out of here!”

  She read his lips and nodded.

  He rushed inside with her, shouldering past the hordes racing toward the catastrophe instead of away from it.

  “Where are we going?”

  “Out the back door.”

  “What happened?” she croaked.

  “A bomb.” Slone’s face was as hard as granite. “Ramos found you.”

  Chapter 5

  Kylie believed nothing would ever thaw the icy chill in her bones.

  A bomb.

  An explosion that would’ve killed her.

  I should be dead.

  Warm liquid trickled down her forehead into her eye. Her lungs ached and she collapsed against Slone in a fit of coughing.

  “Just hang onto me and keeping moving,” he said.

  The deep timbre and absolute calm of his voice coaxed her courage out of hiding. She felt her shoes strike the ground, sending shocks of sensation up her legs. Trying to keep up with his strides, she shifted her weight from him onto her own two feet. Still, she clung to his waist in case her knees buckled without warning. She was far from steady, grateful for his support.

  As her deafness wore off, she heard sirens screaming in the distance. Horns blared. A helicopter soared loudly overhead.

  I should be dead.

  Slone shouted over the noise into his cell phone, barking orders. Then he shoved his phone in his pocket and repositioned his arm around her. Something slick and wet threatened her tight grip on his coat.

  I should be dead.

  Tears made stinging trails down her cheeks. She ignored them. She needed to stay strong. She’d done this before. Not physically, but she’d held her fragile family—and herself—together before in the face of death, and the aftermath of desperation.

  I’m okay.

  The weight in her lungs lifted. Her breathing came easier. She barely needed her bodyguard’s assistance now.

  I’m okay.

  Slone had protected her from harm. And Cade’s intervention since yesterday had saved her life. Her inner fortitude formed a steel resolve. She wasn’t going to die. She’d make it through this. She refused to let an external threat destroy her when her own devastating heartbreak hadn’t defeated her.

  I’m okay.

  The next time she looked up she saw a black SUV barreling toward them. Trash and debris kicked up behind the speeding vehicle. It screeched to a halt beside them.

  Bruno? A tremor of fear went through her. Please, God, no.

  The rear door burst opened. “Get in.”

  When she recognized Cade’s voice, light broke through the dark clouds of her dread. Slone hoisted her into the back seat then climbed into the front.

  Cade crushed her against his chest, pressed his lips into her hair. “You okay?”

  It felt so good to be in his arms. “I am. I’m okay.”

  “Good.” He kissed her forehead. “Good.” He kissed her lips. “Thank God. I was terrified when I heard…” He gaze shifted to her hairline. “Jesus. Here,” he said, whipping the silk pocket square from his suit jacket and dabbed it along her hairline.

  She winced.

  “Sorry, honey. You’re bleeding. You sure you’re okay?”

  Overwhelmed by his display of affection, his attentiveness, she nodded. No one had ever taken care of her like this. Dropped everything and came to her side. Just to check on her, to see if she was all right. She’d always been the strong one.

  “Hold this.” He lifted her hand and pressed her fingers against the silk cloth. “It’ll stop the bleeding.” He cupped her cheek and stared at her with an unexpected depth of emotion in his eyes. “I need to make some calls.”

  “Okay,” she mumbled, inundated with a tumult of thoughts, feelings, and fresh fears.

  As Cade tended to whatever business required his immediate attention, she thought back on the events of the past ten minutes. She shut her eyes, remembering the shattered glass raining down around her. What about the driver of the limo? Did he make it out? What if he had a family? What had happened to him?

  She reached into the front seat and gripped Slone’s shoulder. “What about the limo driver?”

  Slone hissed a breath. “No idea. Can you let go so the glass doesn’t dig deeper into my back?”

  She sprang into the opening at the center console. “Are you hurt?”

  “Depends what you mean by hurt.”

  When he sat forward, she saw blood smeared across the tan leather seat. “Oh, Slone.” Times like this she wished she’d gone into the medical field instead of law. “Do you want me to take out the shards?”

  He huffed. “They’re what keep me from bleeding worse. Let nature do its job. The coagulation should be setting about now.”

  “But won’t that hurt worse when they’re removed later?”

  “Yep.”

  “So can I pick them out?”

  “Nope.”

  She exhaled. His one syllable answers were starting to get on her nerves. “Seriously?”

  “Trust me, shrapnel is worse. Doesn’t matter. What’s a few more scars?”

  She slapped the seat. “Slone.”

  His jaw clenched. “Yeah, don’t do that again. The vibration’s a bitch.”

  “They’re scars from me. No one should suffer when it’s someone else’s fault.”

  “Happens all the time. Every day. People do worse to each other.” His jaw clenched harder. “I see it all. This is nothing.”

  Tears filled her eyes. “It’s not nothing.”

  “Save your breath, Kylie. I’m not interested in your concern.”

  The stubborn idiot, she was trying to help him. After what he’d done for her, she owed him that much.

  “You don’t owe me anything,” Slone said.

  Wary, she sat back in her seat and stared at him. “It kind of creeps me out when you do that.”

  “Yeah, well, creeping you out is the least of my problems.”

  She blinked. “Can’t argue with that.”

  “Finally.”

  She huffed. “You know, you—”

  “You will be an awesome paralegal someday. Right now, give me some peace and quiet.”

  Point taken, she settled against the backseat. Cade wrapped his hand around her knee and squeezed as he continued his cell phone conversation in low tones. The gentle pressure comforted her.

  But what would happen now? Would she ever escape Bruno’s reach?

  Would her life ever be the same?

  Fretting in silence, she thought of all she’d left behind. Her studies. Her cold cases. Her best friend.

&
nbsp; Dominique. In a rush to reach her friend and warn her, she riffled through her purse and found her cell phone. She scrolled through her contacts and pressed the call button.

  Cade ended his call abruptly and grabbed her cell. He hit End, turned off her phone, and slid it into his suit jacket. “No phone calls.”

  Frustrated, she gaped at Cade. “I have to tell Dominique what happened. I have to warn her.”

  “If Ramos found you, he could have a trace on your cell.” He leaned toward the front seat. “Slone, when you get to the next location, buy a burner phone for Kylie.”

  “Yes, sir.”

  She blinked. “What’s a burner phone?”

  “It’s untraceable and disposable,” Cade said, and then continued giving directions to Slone. “Get a burner phone for yourself and call me on my work line so I have the number. I’ve arranged for the jet to take you to Miami. I’ll meet you shortly after you land.”

  “Miami? Why?” she asked.

  “I chartered a yacht that leaves the port at noon.” Cade squeezed her leg again, but his touch was less reassuring. “We’ll head for the Caribbean. I own shares in a hotel chain throughout the Virgin Islands. We’ll hole up on St. Thomas Island until Ramos is found and taken into custody.”

  “For how long?” she asked, shaken by him making all these decisions for her. Didn’t she have a say? “I have a life, Cade. I can’t just pick up and set sail indefinitely.” Her heart started to race. “What about my classes? I need to email my professors, I have final exams to study for, and—”

  “I’ll bring a laptop,” Cade interrupted. “My tech team will scramble the IP address so it can’t be traced to me. To us. You can send your emails from that.”

  “But…” She felt the control she prized so dearly slipping from her grasp. Here she was in a city she’d arrived in yesterday, leaving for yet another city on the opposite coast. Only to board some yacht bound for an island outside the laws and jurisdiction of the United States. Dependent on other people’s good intentions. The detective in her warned this was a bad idea. The kind of bad idea that resulted in a body floating in the ocean. Most likely hers. “Cade, I barely know you. Now you expect me to sail off into the sunset like it’s no big deal? While you make all the decisions for me without even asking? I’m just supposed to trust you, but I’m not allowed to tell anyone where I’m going? Do you know how insane that sounds?”