Chapter 8
Chapter Eight: Ryder
Kissing Bella is my new favorite thing. She’s so responsive and eager, not holding back as she gives as good as she gets. And, believe me, I’m giving a helluva lot.
I can’t seem to get enough of her sweet taste or the soft whimpers she’s making.
Everything feels right. And I vow to give her whatever she wants.
Everything she needs. Let’s face it, getting naked with Bella Diamond would hardly be a hardship.
But there’s something more to her than what she allows others to see.
She puts on a good show—brash and bold and confident, a one-woman force to be reckoned with—but I sense the loneliness right beneath the surface.
As much as she tries to hide it, it’s there, and I can relate only too well.
Maybe we can help each other. Ease that lonely ache, even if just for a short time.
Without warning, she jerks away. I instantly release her wrists, and she ducks under my arm. Shit. The last thing I want to do is spook her. We’d been having such a great evening.
“We should go,” she states. I can tell she’s trying to sound brusque, back to business, but she’s still breathy from the fucking amazing kiss we just shared.
Turning around, I try to meet her eyes, but she’s looking everywhere except at me. “If that’s what you want.”
“I do.”
With a nod, I acknowledge she’s probably right.
Making out against the old, stone building where anyone could see us probably isn’t the best idea.
PDA doesn’t seem like Bella’s thing. But with any encouragement, I’d do it again in a heartbeat.
I couldn’t help myself. She’s like a siren, calling to me, and I’m ready to throw myself against the rocks for another taste of her sweetness.
Because that was, hands down, the best kiss I’ve ever had.
Giving my head a shake, knowing I need to keep it screwed on straight, I clench my jaw and don’t say anything else. Things just went from complicated to convoluted. Inwardly, I sigh. We have a job to do, we don’t need distractions. And sleeping together? Big fucking distraction.
Okay, so I’m going to keep my dick in my pants. For now. But once this heist is over, all bets are off. And seducing Bella is going to be at the top of my very naughty to-do list. Because there’s nothing I’d like to do more than Miss Diamond.
I have no delusions about what the future holds.
We have a very small window of time to get things done, and then hopefully experience a night of bliss together.
The moment we step back on that jet and return to Denver, she’s going to disappear on me.
Return to her disguises and dive into her next job.
Without a second thought, she’ll leave me so fast, between blinks, and I’ll have no idea where she’s run off.
Bella remains quiet during the ride back to the country house.
It’s been a long day and we’re both exhausted.
She practically jumps out of the car the moment I park, staying several steps ahead of me as we go inside.
I lock the door behind us and turn to find her already heading to her room.
She hesitates for a brief second, and I don’t want to lose the opportunity to say something, hoping she’ll turn her soulful gaze on me again.
“Rest up,” I tell her. “We have a big day tomorrow.”
She looks over her shoulder. “Thank you for dinner.”
“Any time. I’ll see you bright and early.”
“Goodnight.” A soft wisp of a smile curves her lips, and then she hurries over to her room, shutting the door behind her.
I stare at the closed door for way too long, telling myself it’s for the best. “Goodnight, Bella,” I whisper.
Morning comes far too fast. The first thing I notice is Bella doesn’t bother to hide her accent or her eyes. The gray contacts are gone, and I can’t seem to look away from her true color—a striking blue-green that reminds me of the storm-tossed sea.
“What?” she finally asks, shifting in her seat. We’re almost to Heidenreichstein, the village where the castle is located in the province of Lower Austria.
“That’s your real eye color.” It’s not a question.
She frowns, brushing my observation off with a shrug. “The contacts were drying my eyes out.”
“You shouldn’t cover such a pretty color. Your eyes are gorgeous. Especially with your dark hair.”
A flush rises on her cheeks. “And you should keep your eyes on the road,” she retorts, dismissing my compliment.
I can tell it made her uncomfortable, but she shouldn’t be so modest. The woman is beyond beautiful.
Is it possible she doesn’t realize it? I let it go, not wanting to embarrass her, but that doesn’t mean I’m going to stop complimenting her.
No way. In fact, I intend to start doing it a whole lot more, until she realizes how amazing I think she is.
“There it is.” She points out the windshield at the large, imposing castle in the distance. It’s huge, made of gray stone with several strong, circular towers.
“Wow. I can see why no enemy ever breached it.”
“We’ll be the first.” She tosses me a saucy smile, and a deep warmth spreads through my chest.
No time to analyze it. Right now, we’re on a mission—and that means discovering everything we possibly can on our tour.
Once we’re parked, we pull out our phones and throw on our backpacks, thoroughly embracing a tourist facade.
I have a feeling people might think we’re newlyweds on our honeymoon.
There’s no denying we look damn good together.
I’ve never thought that before with anyone.
But last night, I caught a glimpse of us in a shop window and, yeah, total eye candy.
Of course, she’s way better looking than me, but I’m not too shabby when I polish up and get my spiff on.
The castle has two gate buildings, each with its own drawbridge. As we cross the moat, I stop and look over the side. Just as I’d hoped, the water’s visibility isn’t awful. Not crystal clear, but not murky and muddy. It’ll work for what I’m planning.
We step into a mighty square keep where employees greet us and check our reservation. I’m constantly sweeping the area for cams and making mental notations on their positions. All with the utmost discretion, of course. I also type in some notes on my phone as I take pictures.
An employee puts us with a small group of tourists and introduces us all to our guide. Then we’re off, being led through the courtyard.
“From 1348 until 1641, the castle was owned by the powerful Puchheim family,” our guide begins. I’m not here for the history lesson, so I tune him out and continue my recon. Bella and I need to observe every single detail, from entrance and exit points to the security in place.
The guide leads us through several rooms in the castle, avoiding a few spots that are cordoned off with rope or stanchions.
I add more notes on each of the places that are closed to the public.
Eventually, he takes us down to the dungeon, supposedly the lowest level.
But if Bella’s map is accurate, there’s one more subterranean level beneath us.
“There’s a river below us that keeps the moat full,” the guide states.
Bingo! Exactly what I wanted to hear.
I spot a wooden door, practically hidden in the corner, and grab her arm.
Squeezing lightly, I nod toward it. She subtly tilts her chin in response.
“I think that leads down to the moat… and your tunnels,” I whisper.
Because, yeah, my plan involves swimming in.
With the right equipment—and I always have the best—we should have no problem sneaking in that way.
We hurry to catch up with our group. “From 1684 until 1947, the castle was owned by the family of Prince Pálffy,” our guide is telling us, and Bella sends me an excited look.
“During World War II, there was no reigning royalty in Austria, as the monarchy was abolished in 1918. The former imperial family, the House of Habsburg, was in exile, with Archduke Otto von Habsburg acting as the head of the house and strongly opposing the Nazi occupation of Austria.”
For the next forty-five minutes, the guide takes us room to room in the castle, pointing out furnishings and details from multiple periods of history.
We end the tour back in the courtyard. A few people ask questions, but I have all the answers and intel I need.
Wrapping an arm around Bella’s shoulders, I steer her toward the exit, leaning close as I mischievously whisper, “Was it as good for you as it was for me?”
“Sooo good,” she drawls, leaning closer. To anyone watching, we look like a couple rather than a pair of fleeing thieves.
The moment we’re back in the car, Bella bursts, full of excitement. “Did you see that closed-off stairwell? I know there are tunnels under that place. I can feel it!”
I chuckle. “It’s definitely possible,” I agree, “but we won’t know until we get down there. Are you thinking what I’m thinking?”
“We go in through the moat.” She sends me a dazzling smile, and its brightness tilts my world in the best possible way.
“Exactly.” I pull my attention off her and tap my index finger against the steering wheel. “The underground river feeds into the moat. We just need to find out where and follow it inside.”
“Tonight?” she asks, hands tightening on her purse.
“We don’t want to rush anything,” I warn her. “Let’s go over everything we learned today and plan to go in tomorrow night after dark.”
She lets out a small, disappointed sigh, but then nods. “That makes sense. I’m just anxious. Especially if someone else found out about those tunnels.”
“You mean whoever broke into your safehouse.”
“Yeah. It’s too much of a coincidence.” She wrings her hands, knee bouncing.
“Hey.” I reach over the console and place a hand on her knee to stop its movement, feeling her entire body tense at my touch. “We’ve got this.” Then I pull my hand back, not wanting to freak her out.
“There’s no other alternative,” she says firmly.
“Phantom Orchid or bust,” I tease.