I felt somewhat smug as I took her by the arm, guiding her the rest of the way out of the building. We slipped outside, fortunate enough to find no guards waiting at the back entrance. Deciding to take the back way to my car, I led her away from the apartment complex, ducking behind some bushes and dashing out of sight as soon as possible.
“That was a close one,” I breathed, releasing her arm.
At that point, it seemed a given that she would just trail behind me. It wasn’t as if she had anywhere else to go, and I was her ticket out of her gilded cage. She jogged to keep up with me, her cheeks still a pleasant shade of pink as she glanced towards me with a curious expression.
“That was the only diversion you could think of?” she asked innocently, and I barely managed to keep myself from smirking.
“The best one I could put together on short notice,” I replied, guiding her through the back alleyways until we reached my unmarked SUV.
I unlocked it manually, not wanting the horn to alert anyone to our presence. Opening the passenger door, I helped Emily step up into the car. She settled into the passenger seat, fastening her seatbelt as I quietly and slowly closed her door.
I swore my heart would burst free from my chest at any given moment. Though Emily was an attractive girl, I’d not expected to get such a rush from feeling her lips against my own. It was enough to kiss the girl, but to find out that I was her first and only kiss? It lit a fire inside me that I had never felt before, one that I wasn’t quite sure how to cope with.
Deciding to play it cool, I breathed slowly before edging into the driver’s seat. She smiled a radiant smile as I got in the car, and my heart began to hammer away once more. I managed a confident smirk in turn, starting the ignition.
It should have been smooth sailing from there. ‘Should have’ being the operative words.
Chapter 9
Emily
My first kiss turned out to be nothing like I’d expected. Then again, I wasn’t sure if it would count, considering it was under duress.
I touched a finger to my lips, glancing towards Owen as we made our way down the highway. The apartment complex was but a speck on the horizon, and I was struck by the reality of the situation. I had escaped. I was leaving my father’s supervision, pursuing a life of my own. No one could stop me; no one could hope to get in my way.
Owen remained silent in the driver’s seat. He seemed determined to keep his eyes focused on the road as I fidgeted beside him. There was so much I wanted to ask him, so much I wanted to learn about this mysterious mission he’d been sent on.
Perhaps foolishly, I considered him something of a savior. I knew there had to be much more to his presence than just getting me out of my boring old apartment complex.
It occurred to me belatedly that it probably had something to do with my father. Were they planning to try to get information out of me? More importantly, would I provide it? I couldn’t imagine betraying my father in that way, even though this stranger had essentially saved my life.
Perhaps that was an exaggeration, saying he had saved my life. It wasn’t as if I were in any danger. I suppose it was more of a matter of being saved from mediocrity, but that didn’t really seem to fit either. Being the daughter of a wanted criminal was probably one of the more exciting experiences in the world, though there was a price.
“Owen,” I began, focusing my attention on him in an attempt to tame my frenzied thoughts.
He seemed to be ignoring me, though I wasn’t sure why. Maybe he hadn’t heard me.
“Owen, what’s this all about?” I tried again, reaching out to touch his shoulder.
He chewed on the inside of his cheek, and it was obvious he wasn’t going to be forthcoming with his answers.
“You should try and get some rest while you can,” he mumbled, reaching out to switch on the radio.
I pouted, resigning myself to fiddling with the knob to change the station. I almost expected to be chastised, but he seemed intent upon playing it cool.
“I’m not tired. Is Owen even your real name?” I continued to press, still not entirely sure how I should feel about the situation. Though the man’s intervention had made my escape all the easier, I still felt strange about being taken from my apartment in the middle of the night. I wondered if I should be afraid, but he did say he was with the government.
Unless that was a lie…
“Are you really with the government? Are you going to take me to some sort of…sex cave and have your wicked way with me?” I demanded, ignoring the excitement that fluttered in my chest at the sheer thought of it.
He glanced at me from the corner of his eye, his lips curling up at the corners.
“Seems like you’ve read a lot of romance novels. Just how repressed are you, Emily?” he teased, and I felt my face heat up.
He seemed all too aware of the effect he was having on me, obviously enjoying himself a little too much.
I pouted, crossing my arms and staring out the window. I couldn’t decide if I liked this guy, or if he grated on my nerves.
At the very least, he was handsome. If I had to be kidnapped and possibly taken to a sex cave, I’d rather it be with someone like Owen than…well, I shuddered to think of the possible alternatives.
“You didn’t really give me an answer. Is there a brothel in my future?” I asked, though there was a teasing lilt to my voice this time.
He chuckled throatily, but didn’t even glance in my direction. It was like riding with a statue! I wasn’t used to being ignored, and I was sure I didn’t like the feeling.
“Come on. You can’t just ignore me the whole time,” I whined.
He sighed, switching the radio station while keeping one hand on the steering wheel.
“I was listening to that,” I huffed.
“No you weren’t. It was in Spanish,” he muttered, calling my bluff.
I frowned, crossing my arms petulantly.
“I might speak Spanish. You don’t know me all that well,” I argued, mostly just eager to keep the conversation going.
If he realized what I was doing, he seemed content enough to let me have my fun. He rolled his eyes, turning the radio up as some punk rock song blasted through the speakers.
“It’s not in your records. I would know. Listen to some teen angst anthems and enjoy your new streak of rebellion,” he said dismissively.
I frowned, though I couldn’t deny the song was catchy. It wasn’t as if I’d ever had the opportunity to enjoy a proper rebellious phase. 21 years old seemed a bit old for that, but you had to take the hand life dealt you.
“What would you know about being rebellious? You work for the government. That’s not very punk rock of you,” I said with a smirk.
That seemed to get to him, and he glared at me for a moment before turning his attention back to the road.
“Joining the military was my rebellious streak. My Dad wasn’t happy,” he huffed, turning the radio up.
I parted my lips to speak, but he kept increasing the volume until I was entirely drowned out. Taking the hint to be quiet, I settled unhappily in my seat and stared out the window. I could feel him glancing at me from time to time and made a point to sigh dramatically every time.
Several sighs later, he reached out to turn the radio down.
“Are you going to do that for the whole ride?” he inquired plaintively.
“Yes. You don’t want to talk to me, so I have to entertain myself somehow,” I said coolly.
“That’s not very punk rock of you,” he muttered, almost too quietly for me to hear him. He glanced towards me with a slight quirk of his lips as I began to giggle. “Well, it’s not,” he continued, reaching out to give my shoulder a slight shove.
I buried my face in my hands and tried to stifle my laughter, but it seemed to be a lost cause.
“You wouldn’t know punk rock if it bit you on the ass,” I teased.
Owen smirked to himself, keeping his eyes straight ahead.
“A
re you offering?” he asked slyly.
I felt my face grow red, heat blooming in my cheeks. He chuckled at my obvious inexperience, but I was certain I could outdo him in this little battle of wits.
“Maybe. Depends on how nice you are to me. I can show you what rebellion really is.”
He laughed, a loud and uproarious sound that seemed to have no shame. I didn’t think what I’d said was all that funny, but he seemed to think it was the most hilarious thing he’d ever heard. I scowled at him, and he peeked at me before laughing even harder.
“You’d never even been kissed before tonight. Big words, don’t you think?” he teased.
My eyes widened, and I sputtered incoherently for a moment before turning up the radio volume to drown him out. He laughed loud enough to hear over the volume, but I found that I rather liked his laughter. I kept that thought to myself, however, as the radio blasted through the car and we made our way to some unknown destination.
Unknown to me, at least.
I found myself watching his expression as he drove the streets that seemed all too familiar to him even though I was certain he hadn’t been there before. I suppose if you drove one highway, you’ve driven them all. Still, I felt a certain tingle between my thighs every time he glanced over at me, his eyes alight with mirth. I liked the fact that I could be the source of that amusement, even if it was at my expense.
“You stole my first kiss, you know. I don’t know if it should count, considering,” I said, with no small amount of sass in my tone.
He frowned, pulling the car to the side of the road, much to my surprise. He came to a sudden stop, turning to face me head on.
“What, would you rather have a more romantic scenario?” he inquired huskily.
I stammered, feeling my cheeks grow warm.
“On a back street, alone, with only the stars and the moon to watch? Is that what you’d like, Miss Madden?” he continued to press, and I found my lips parting of their own accord.
“Something like that. I don’t suppose you’d be able to provide such a specific service? After all, it wouldn’t do well for your superiors to find out,” I purred.
He hesitated, looking as if he were considering my words. He leaned in slightly, and I made to close the distance between us.
Disappointingly, he simply kissed me on the cheek before pulling back out onto the road. I stared at him, mouth agape, as we continued down the highway. He paid me little mind, or at least pretended to.
“Oh, well, I’ll be sure to let any future suitors know about your requirements, just to avoid any missteps. I wouldn’t want your second kiss to be anything less than perfect,” he said calmly.
I gritted my teeth, internally cursing him while pleading for him to make some kind of move. I returned to my sulky staring out the window, crossing my arms and exhaling a dramatic sigh.
“Be sure that you do. I’d hate to lead a poor boy astray,” I drawled.
God, what had I gotten myself into?
I couldn’t wait to find out.
Chapter 10
Emily
As we got closer to our destination—or what I could only assume was our destination—Owen seemed to retract further into his shell. As difficult as he was to get along with, I found myself attracted to the mysterious man. When he was in a good mood, he was a riot to be around. When he retreated into his mind, however, it was another story altogether.
“So, are we almost…wherever it is we’re going?” I asked quietly, watching the scenery race past us.
He remained silent, tapping his fingers on the steering wheel. I rolled my eyes, determining that he seemed to be intent upon brooding.
“I’ve never actually been this way, before. I think we’re getting there,” he said, not sounding entirely sure of himself.
I squinted at him, but he played oblivious to my stare, keeping his eyes straight ahead. I didn’t know why I’d assumed he knew his way around the area, as that clearly didn’t seem to be the case. I guess he was just good at keeping cool under pressure. I clicked my tongue against my teeth, trying to gauge how far we were from my apartment complex.
It had been mere minutes since we’d made the great escape, and while he wasn’t dawdling by any means, I hadn’t exactly been tracking the speedometer. Guam wasn’t a large island by any means, but I would guess we were about ten miles away from my complex.
The only thing I really knew that existed in this direction was an American military base, and…well, that made sense. He did mention being in the military.
“Well, I’m sure you’ll get us there in one piece,” I said, not intending to sound as dismissive as I did.
He seemed nonplussed, even seeming to cheer up a bit at the comment.
“I’m glad for your vote of confidence, Miss Madden. I do see that my passengers receive their due luxury in service,” he said in a haughty tone.
I snickered, hiding my mouth behind my hand by force of habit before a short gasp spilled past my lips as he made a sharp turn down a side road I’d never really paid any mind to. I squeaked, gripping the sides of my seat as I was nearly thrown to the side of the car.
“If this is your idea of luxury, I have some disappointing news for you,” I griped, waiting for an apology.
When it didn’t come, I caught him trying to keep a straight face.
“How is that funny? You could have damaged me! You could have damaged a priceless package, and you’re laughing,” I demanded, rather dramatically.
I couldn’t be too chagrined when he began to laugh even harder, though I did huff a bit.
“Priceless, are you? You seem to have a high opinion of yourself, Miss Madden,” he chuckled.
I smirked, dancing my fingertips across his arm.
“I recognize quality when I see it. I’ve been around exorbitant wealth for most of my life, you understand. I know you couldn’t begin to fathom what it’s like to be a shining star in a sea of mediocrity. It’s all right. I understand your point of view—truly, I do,” I teased, smiling daringly.
He grunted, and I thought that may have been the only way he would acknowledge me. When he began to swing from one side of the road to the other in snake-like motions, throwing me to and fro in the car, I had to swallow a squeal.
“You’re too much, you know that? I’m going to show you damaged goods, princess,” he said, laughing.
“I’m going to barf in your nice little car,” I warned.
“That’s attractive,” he said without missing a beat.
Suddenly, we came to a stop in front of a sprawling military base, and he winked before getting out of the car. I hesitated, considering being petulant for a moment longer.
Deciding to be agreeable, I got out of the car, screeching as he flung my bag at me. I barely managed to catch it, glaring in his direction before I checked to make sure my photo album was in one piece.
“How gentlemanly of you,” I said drolly, but he simply smiled like he was entirely too pleased with himself.
He grabbed his own bags, gesturing for me to follow him. I obliged, trudging the path he led until he came face to face with another large, muscular man, though this was clearly the older of the two.
“Commander Parks, just checking in to let you know I’ll be taking one of your planes for a time. My commander at the Hawaii base should have gotten in touch with you. Commander Gomez?” Owen prompted, receiving a smile and a nod from the other man.
“We have one waiting for you. I take it the mission was a success?” he asked Owen, glancing at me with a toothy grin.
“So far. Just got the last leg of the trip to make,” he replied, receiving a swift salute that he answered with one of his own.
“Be on your way, then. Godspeed,” the commander called over his shoulder as he walked away.
I watched the two with a frown, glancing towards Owen, who tilted his head for me to follow him. I sighed, but played the part of a good captive, trailing behind the man.
“So, where are we
going from here? The last leg, as you said,” I asked, watching as he hoisted one of his bags a little higher.
“You’ll find out when we get there, Miss Priceless Package,” he replied simply.
I growled, rushing to fall into place beside him.
“I didn’t come along with you to be left in the dark. This is my future we’re talking about, Owen! I didn’t leave my cage just to find myself with another captor,” I hissed.
He paused, looking me up and down before beginning to load up the plane he’d chosen.
“Listen, Emily. I don’t know what you were expecting, but there are rules. I can’t just let you run around willy-nilly when there’s a reason we got you out of there to begin with. It wasn’t just out of the kindness of our hearts,” he said harshly, grabbing my bag from my hands and stuffing it in the cargo area as well.
I tried not to let his words get to me, didn’t want to allow him the satisfaction of seeing that he’d wounded me. I hadn’t really entertained the idea that this was anything more than a job for him, but the confirmation hurt just the same.
“I understand,” I said, my voice cracking cursedly. Owen seemed to sense that he’d gone too far, offering me an apologetic look. “Let’s just go,” I continued coolly, allowing him to help me up into the plane.
He hopped in as well, checking the gauges while occasionally glancing towards me as if he expected it to escape my notice. The casual banter we’d shared in the car was absent, and truthfully, all I wanted was to relax for the first time since our great escape.
“You have to understand, Emily,” he began, but I turned away and resolved to ignore him.
I could feel his eyes on me for a moment longer, but he seemed to take the hint.
Just a few minutes later, we were taking off. The view was beautiful, and I only wished I could be enjoying it with someone who actually wanted to be in my company.
“We’re going to California. I’m taking you to a safe house before handing you over to the FBI. I know it’s probably the last thing you want to hear, but…you deserve to know,” he told me quietly.
Protect Me - A Steamy Bodyguard Romance (You Can't Resist a Bad Boy Book 5) Page 70