Captured by the Bodyguard (7 page)

Maybe it was best to keep him at arm’s length the way he did her, thought Alexandra. That way, he could focus on his job and she could pretend she didn’t care either way.

Shoving him firmly from her mind, Alexandra stared at her reflection in the bedroom mirror, the product of more than an hour of primping. Yep, now she looked and felt ready for some after-dark excitement. She’d had to tone down her social activities ever since that mess with the intruder whom they still hadn’t caught or identified. But tonight was Malia’s night and it was happening in the trendiest nightclub in the city, Club Déjà vu. She’d been there a few times and it was definitely an A-lister late-night playground with state-of-the-art everything.

Malia’s fantastic boyfriend Carl, who worked in the entertainment industry as some kind of talent agent, had been great about fixing a few live performances with some major hip-hop star to go with the club’s cutting-edge DJ who’d be providing all the R & B, rock, hip hop, house and mash up music they’d need to really get down.

Alexandra for one was looking forward to the flowing cocktails as well as the chance to soak in the exhilarating ambience that came from being part of an energized crowd. She was sick of being cooped up like a frightened chicken, anxious about her own shadow and unable to have any real fun. Well, none of that tonight. She was going to go wild for the next few hours and nothing had better stand in her way…

***

When Alexandra finally emerged from her bedroom, Cane took one look at her and said in a carefully schooled tone, “No way you’re going out like that.”

Alexandra glanced down at her tight-fitting white halter mini dress with its deep low plunge cowl neck. It featured an entirely backless design with a hem which barely skimmed underneath her bum. She’d been gunning for her club dress to have a risqué factor to it and she felt sure it wasn’t that bad as to elicit that terrible scowl Cane had on his face. Rihanna had worn the exact same thing just last week to go clubbing in London after her last concert. It had cost a pretty penny with its designer price tag but Alexandra had been in the mood to pamper herself which she didn’t always do. And in her opinion, she was pulling off the
freakum
dress look quite well tonight.

Ignoring Cane’s dark stare, Alexandra twirled and tossed her sleek hair over her shoulder, giving him a view of her exposed back, the dress held up by its halter necktie. She knew how much skin she was displaying and how little was left to the imagination especially since the dress obviously allowed for no bra. Alexandra had nothing to be ashamed of when it came to her body and if she wanted to flaunt it tonight, then Cane or no one could tell her differently, she fumed to herself.

“Please be reminded that you’re just my bodyguard, not my fashion advisor,” she told him primly as she turned back to face him. “I’m sure I look good.”

“Oh, not simply good,” Cane told her in a mild tone that contrasted with his thunderous gaze, adding, “More like whorish and extremely fuckable.”

Alexandra flinched as if slapped. It took a few moments before she could find her voice. “How dare you speak to me that way?” she breathed in anger.

He shrugged his broad shoulders. “I’m only saying what I’m thinking. And if you were to go anywhere dressed like that, men would be thinking the exact same thing. The last thing you want is to come across cheap especially not at your best friend’s party. So why don’t you choose something more appropriate?”

Alexandra stared at him in helpless fury. Oh man, he was pushing it. She didn’t care how fucking tough he was. She was so ready to scratch his eyes out for talking to her like she was a dumb seventeen year old trying to sneak out to an 18 to 21 club. She knew if she searched deep down, she’d admit to herself that she’d worn the dress to get his attention. She’d wanted to blow his mind with her sexy outfit and ready-to-fuck heels. Okay, so she knew that on a celeb who normally got away with wearing the raciest attires in public, this dress might look quite the thing, but on someone like Alexandra... Still, she didn’t think he had the right to say she looked cheap because she knew she didn’t.

He, on the other hand, looked the freaking bomb. No surprise there, thought Alexandra with grudging approval. Faultlessly neat as ever, he looked breathtakingly stylish in his smart shoes, collared shirt and trousers topped with a matching jacket. She felt struck down by such effortless brawn blended in with so much masculine appeal it actually hurt to look at him.
Damn
he was fine.

But she’d still maul him if he didn’t stop talking to her like she was some bug squirming underneath his thumb.

And then, she chanced a look at him only to briefly catch a peek of raw, stormy lust streaking across his gorgeous face before it got iced over almost immediately, replaced by that irritably dispassionate look he favored. Hmm, no doubt the dress was doing
something
for him, Alexandra decided smugly as she pinned him with her darkening gaze.

“Maybe you’re right and the dress is a bit over-the-top for a friend’s birthday bash,” she said with a careless shrug. Her arms lifted as she worked on the fastenings at the back of her neck. “So fine, I’ll just take it off then.”

“Don’t,” Cane rapped out sharply, causing her fingers to still, her eyes wide with innocent surprise. Her body was thrust forward by her raised arms, and she felt her breasts grow heavier beneath her skimpy bodice, the nipples tautening to buds as she felt his gaze seem to sear a laser beam through her clothes. “Alexandra, don’t fucking push me.”

Alexandra loved the sound of his voice getting so gruff and thick that it was almost unrecognizable. Biting sensually on her bottom lip, she advanced on Cane, her eyes never leaving his face. She came to a stop in front of him till her face was just a whisper from his, and she could feel him staring down at her parted lips, which she licked to an inviting level of moistness that seemed to turn his green eyes almost black.

“Or what?” she crooned, her hands resting on his broad chest for a moment. She felt the harsh breath he drew in at her touch, and she fluttered her eyelashes as she walked her fingers down his impressively padded pecs till she was brushing the front of his pants. “Does it excite you to have me shivering in fear, Mr. Hutchinson? You really think I should be afraid of you?”

Her eyes teased him, taunted him as much as her playful words did. He caught her wrists in hard fists before she could venture any lower, and she pouted at being thwarted as he tugged her arms up out of temptation’s way.

“If you were wise, you would be afraid – very afraid,” he said huskily. He flicked his eyes over her face with her invitingly parted lips, and then down at her equally tempting body which he had to know was melting for him. Alexandra shivered with longing for him to finally snap, lose that grip on his control that held him back from giving them what they both wanted.

“Maybe if I’m lucky, you’ll spank me really hard for being bad,” she said hopefully, her eyes glittering as they held his. “I think you know you can make me do whatever you want…if you use the right kind of persuasion.”

His grip on her wrists tightened and Alexandra felt heady from being this close to him, their chests almost touching. She could see every detail of his face; his deliciously smooth, tanned jaw, the golden flecks in his eyes, the strong point in his nostrils and the manly curve of his lips. She couldn’t understand what came over her when she was around him. Maybe she was
obsessed
. She needed to get him out of her system somehow and if that meant having to lure him into doing what they both knew they shouldn’t, then so be it.

Cane was shaking his head at her, his smile somewhat mocking. “You like playing with fire, don’t you? You like to think this is a game…something you can do to pass the time. After all, we’re stuck together, right?”

He let out a grunt of anger as he let her go abruptly, almost making her stumble. “You’re just doing this for fun, Alexandra. You don’t really know what you want. You enjoy the thrill you get from being desired by me but I don’t think you’re ready for the reality of being fucked by your bodyguard.”

Alexandra’s cheeks stung as she involuntarily rubbed at her aching wrists, only just realizing how strong his grip had been. “Oh, I’m sure it wouldn’t be so bad,” she murmured with a careless shrug of one shoulder. “I mean, I’ve always been one for trying new experiences. I know we may not have much in common but something tells me we can find a mutual…satisfaction in giving in to what we both want.”

“You could be right,” he said lightly, which caused Alexandra’s heart to lift for a moment before he added in a firm tone, “But I still say it’s too much of a distraction. And that’s dangerous for a man in my position. I can’t let anything happen to you, Alexandra. That’s why I have to stay focused on the purpose of why I’m here. Your father entrusted you to my care and I’m not about to betray that trust. Any other circumstances and believe me nothing will stop me from taking you so hard, again and again until walking normally will be a problem for you for the foreseeable future.”

Oh heavens, yes please, thought Alexandra as her belly flipped and flopped. Alexandra felt like moaning out loud even though she knew he was only speaking hypothetically. But at least now she knew that if it wasn’t for the situation, then he wouldn’t even be hesitating. He wanted her very, very much and was only holding back because of how it might possibly disrupt his function as her bodyguard. She’d just have to convince him that nothing could be further from the truth, but for now, she was mollified enough to remember she had a birthday party to go to.

“I guess I can be good – for now,” she finally said with a small, wicked smile that warned him that in her heart, she was still much too intent on being very bad. Spinning on her heels, she went back to her wardrobe and picked out one of her favorite club outfits, this time in black. It was a leather and mesh mini dress which she knew flattered her hips with its girly flared skirt which was leather while the mesh upper gave a super-sexy contrast. It was stretchy and flirty with the hint of black bra just underneath. When she reappeared Cane had an approving glint in his green eyes.

“Black leather, Ms. Duke?” he murmured with a small smile as he crooked his arm for her to place hers within. “How very Kim Kardashian.”

Alexandra laughed deeply, slipping her arm through his offered arm and trying not to feel too pleased about the gesture. It almost felt like he was acting as her escort for the night. Wouldn’t that be sweet? But she knew he’d keep to the background as usual once they were in public. She’d have to devise a way to get him out of his shell to really have some fun. After all, it was Malia’s party and he might not know it but her best pal had a really bad crush on him.

“You know, that’s actually a compliment, Mr. Hutchinson,” she told him daintily. “Thank you. Now shall we go?”

Chapter Eight

Cane had to keep reminding himself, like a mantra in his head, just why the sexy woman he couldn’t take his eyes off, was out of bounds.

Stay focused, Cane.
Focus
, he kept saying over and over as he watched Alexandra have fun at Malia’s party. Despite what he’d told her the other night, he did like to have a good time once in a while. But his idea of that was leaning more to mountain hiking or deep sea fishing whenever he had some free days off work. And yes, he wasn’t averse to a bar crawl with a few of his Marine buddies, but he wouldn’t say he was much for the club scene.

He had to admit though that if he was, then this club would be a good spot to hang out. From the sound and lighting systems, to the aerialists and dancers doing their thing in different sections of the cavernous club, the whole atmosphere felt alive and pumping. Even the music wasn’t so bad, and the hip hop star hired to ramp things up gave some good live performances that got the crowd jumping. There were loads of pretty women in hot little mini club dresses and sexy heels, gyrating and screaming at the handsome star with his corn rows and diamond chains that looked heavy enough to give his tatted neck a crick.

But for all the excitement, all Cane really had eyes for was Alexandra. She was more than popular, a regular social butterfly and seemed to know everyone in the club. Cane had caught sight of her talking with a couple of stars whom even he recognized, and then that other young buck singer/rapper whose popular dance moves reminded Cane of Michael Jackson and whose last name was Brown or something. Cane couldn’t remember, but from the stars in Alexandra’s eyes when the cute light-skinned star leaned forward to say something in her ear, he could tell that Alexandra was flattered by all the attention. Cane wondered how come the party seemed to be crawling with music stars till he remembered that Malia’s boyfriend had a job in the industry.

Cane knew because of all the background checks done on Alexandra’s bosom friends and anyone close to them. Her father’s orders, especially since Malia was having this big birthday party that seemed to have the whole club shut down. There was even the tiered cake as well as the specially reserved VIP tables with raised leather banquettes which seemed perfect for watching the scene and of course, getting to be seen.

A part of him was glad that Alexandra seemed to be having the time of her life, dancing with every man there and being the center of attention – but soon he’d just about had enough of it. Just then, he could see a tall, well-built African-American guy with a clean-shaven head suddenly grip her arm and spin her round. She looked up in recognition at the darkly handsome man who was dressed in a fashionable purplish suit and black shirt that set off his equally dusky skin tone. He was smiling cockily as he ground against her, saying something in her ear that made Alexandra’s eyes snap. Cane watched from across the room and felt his control almost crack as he ground his teeth. Dumping the mocktail he’d been nursing on a nearby surface, he strode across the room with purposeful steps.