Colin the Conqueror

by Rhiannon Neeley

  Chapter Six

  Colin entered his wing of Ravencrest, intent on getting some paperwork done. He’d let things slide a bit with the disappearance of Ramsey and the ensuing search, but now he needed to get caught up. The first thing that needed his attention was the set of insurance matters that were quickly coming due. When it came to the Unkindness of Ravens and Ravencrest, the amount of paperwork involved was astounding just to keep everyone and everything covered against any sort of legal action. Now that Ramsey was back under their watchful eyes, Colin could get down to business. Plus, he wanted to try to get caught up so he could spend every evening doing something pleasurable with Heather.

  Colin walked into the living room of his and Rogue’s wing, his thoughts on the meaning of the word ‘pleasurable’.

  “Well, hell, you look like a man with sex on his mind,” Rogue said from the couch.

  “Rogue,” Colin said, stopping short. “I didn’t see you there.” He crossed to the couch and sat down on the opposite end.

  “So,” Rogue said with a wry smile, “how’d your date go last night?”

  Colin couldn’t keep the smile from his face. “Spectacular. I think I can safely say that Heather and I are now a couple.”

  Rogue winked and pointed a finger. “I knew it. I knew you two would get together.”

  Colin braced one arm on the back of the couch. “So, how are you and Kaitlyn doing? Have you set a date yet?”

  “We’re doing as fine as peach fuzz. Kaitlyn wants to wait until spring to get married though.” He shrugged a shoulder. “Some sort of woman thing about wanting to be a spring bride. Far as I’m concerned, we’re already married.”

  Colin watched Rogue’s face as he spoke. His eyes had been sparkling with excitement but now, it was as if a cloud had passed over them. “If everything is going so good, what’s troubling you?”

  Rogue looked surprised. “Nothing. Why would you ask me that?”

  Colin narrowed his eyes. “I know you better than that, Rogue.”

  Their eyes locked for a moment. Rogue was the first to look away. He sighed heavily and tucked his long blond hair behind his ear. “You know, all I used to care about was having a good time. The wilder, the better. I just didn’t give a damn. But now—Kaitlyn is my world.” He looked at Colin. “I love her more than anything,” he said, his voice thick with conviction. “But I want kids and I don’t think it would be a smart thing to do if we tried to have them.”

  Colin’s heart tightened at the pain in Rogue’s eyes. “Because of her medical issues.”

  Rogue nodded. “Colin, Kaitlyn was dead. Her body moved, her mind thought, she could speak … perfectly alive except for the fact that her heart didn’t beat and she was a vampire.” He let out a sad laugh. “We brought her back from hell. Gave her back her humanity with Lydia’s antidote. Kaitlyn is completely human again, but still—I don’t know what changes might have happened inside her body.” He shook his head slowly. “She can’t have a baby. We can’t take that chance.”

  Colin’s mind searched for answers. He could see the reasoning in Rogue’s decision not to have a child with Kaitlyn. There were just too many unknown variables. Colin wouldn’t take that chance himself. To bring a child into this world with the possibility of that child being damaged in some way due to Kaitlyn’s previous vampiric state would be the worst kind of hell. “Have you thought about adoption?” Colin asked.

  “Yes. But do you think we would pass a background check? Sure, look at where we live. The place is huge and we have a great extended family but then, what would I tell the adoption agency that I do for a living?”

  Colin nodded. “You’ve got a point.” Even if Colin handled the paperwork himself as their lawyer, adoption agencies could dig pretty deep into someone’s background. Colin didn’t think the occupation of vampire hunter would go over very well on the application. Even if Rogue put down that he was independently wealthy, it could take years to set up all of the false accounts that would need to be in place for a long enough length of time so that they wouldn’t be questioned. Another thought struck him. “What about a surrogate?”

  “A surrogate?” Rogue’s eyes sparked.

  “What if you took your ‘donation’ and impregnated a surrogate mother? The child would be yours but the egg would come from a normal woman. Do you think Kaitlyn would agree to that?”

  “I don’t know.” Rogue looked a bit perplexed. “I’m not sure how she’d feel about me fathering a child that wasn’t hers too.”

  “Maybe you should ask her. You don’t have a problem telling her how you feel, do you?”

  “No.”

  “Then, here’s how you could tell her. Tell her about the advantages of a surrogate over adoption. Number one,” Colin said, raising a finger, “there won’t be any background checks that would reveal anything that shouldn’t be brought into the public eye. Especially if you could find a woman whom you know well enough to do this for you. Number two,” he added another finger, “a child by a surrogate would at least be of your blood. Number three,” another finger went up, “I could handle all of the legal paperwork so that you wouldn’t have to bring in an attorney from outside Ravencrest and number four—Kaitlyn could be involved in the pregnancy, if you find the right person. Which I’m sure you will.”

  By the time Colin was finished listing off the reasons why Kaitlyn should agree to having a child by a surrogate mother, Rogue was grinning. “I don’t suppose I could get you to talk to her for me, could I?” he asked.

  Colin smiled back at him. “Not to be funny but—this subject is your baby.”

  Rogue pushed off the couch and stood. “I think I’ll go see if I can pry her away from Lydia and the lab right now.”

  Colin stood, feeling better about Rogue’s dilemma now that he knew what it was. “If she has any questions, I’ll be happy to get the answers for you.”

  Rogue put out his right hand.

  Colin grasped his friend’s hand and they shook.

  “Thanks,” Rogue said quietly.

  “No thanks needed.”

  Rogue headed for the door.

  Colin sighed and again started for his office that was just down the hall from his bedroom. His thoughts weren’t on the stack of papers that awaited him.

  “I wonder how Heather feels about children,” he said to himself as he opened the office door.

  As he began sorting through the files, he made a mental note to ask Heather about it.

  * * * *

  At five o’clock, Heather drew the duty of taking Ramsey his dinner. As she moved about the main kitchen preparing his tray, she fought the frustration of having to do anything for Ramsey.

  Shredding lettuce for a salad, Heather’s fingers viciously attacked the chore, ripping the leaves and tossing them into a bowl. John had made the decision to keep Ramsey locked in his room so that they could watch him closely until they figured out exactly what he had done and where he had gone. Heather didn’t like the fact that he was here at all. She poured some dressing over the lettuce, then dropped a few cherry tomatoes on top just so it would look like she had tried to make the salad appealing. She placed the salad on the tray beside the grilled chicken breast and baked potato. Snatching a can of cola from the refrigerator, she declared the meal complete.

  “If he doesn’t like it—tough,” she grumbled and picked up the tray.

  She was anxious to get this chore finished. As soon as she gave Ramsey his meal, Heather was going straight to Colin’s wing.

  She pictured his warm brown-flecked hazel green eyes that turned almost emerald when he was all hot and bothered. Warmth began spreading through her at the thought of him. Taking her.

  Conquering her.

  Heather quickened her pace.

  * * * *

  Ramsey heard the key in the lock and came instantly alert while still keeping his expression as one who was still drugged with sleep. He turned onto his side as the door opened and Heather flounced in carrying a tray
with food.

  Ramsey took deep breath, smelling chicken. “Dinnertime already?” he asked, sitting up and swinging his legs over the edge of the bed.

  Heather stood beside the small desk that sat against the other wall. “Think you could get off your lazy butt and clear a place so that I could set this tray down?” she asked.

  Ramsey feigned being offended. He stood, stretching his arms above his head. “I’ll have you know that I am not lazy.”

  She looked him up and down, from head to toe. “Could’ve fooled me.”

  Ramsey dropped his arms to his sides. “You’ve become awfully mouthy,” he said, moving toward where she stood. Already he felt the familiar stirrings in his groin whenever he looked at her. Ramsey had missed his chance to sample her firm young body while they were both onboard Bloody Hell. The Ravens had come too soon. If they would have waited just one more day, he would have had the opportunity to explore every part of that compact, firm body. He began to grow hard at the thought of Heather writhing beneath him.

  “You weren’t so mouthy onboard the yacht,” he said, stopping in front of her.

  She kept the tray of food between them like a barrier. “Things have changed. I’m not under anyone’s influence now. I can be myself.”

  “Mm—feisty,” he said, reaching around her to place his hand on the desk. His move caused her to lean backward slightly.

  Her eyes narrowed and she stepped sideways. “I’ll show you feisty if you try anything,” she warned.

  Ramsey smiled and began to clear a place on the desk. While picking things up, he distracted her with his words. “I’ll bet you really like it here, don’t you?” he asked, picking up a roll of tape. While he worked the tape with his fingers, he continued. “Yeah, that Colin sure pays you quite a bit of attention.”

  “Shut up,” she said.

  He smiled and moved a cup that held pens while the hand that held the tape deftly ripped off a piece. “Do you enjoy his attention as much as all the attention you received on Bloody Hell? I’ll bet you do, don’t you?” He knew he was baiting her. That was exactly what he intended to do.

  Heather slammed the tray down on the desk. The can of cola fell, rolling across the floor. Without thinking, Heather bent to catch it.

  With quick movements, Ramsey checked the piece of tape that was dangling from one finger, judged it sufficient, then reached out his other hand and stroked it across the round globe of her bottom.

  She shot up and whirled, hitting him in the chest with the can.

  “Ow!” he said, grabbing the can from her. “That hurt.”

  Heather’s face was livid with rage. “Don’t you ever—EVER—touch me again.” Then she drew back and kicked him in the shin.

  “Damn, woman,” he said, hopping to the side so that she couldn’t connect again. He hobbled in the direction of the door. If she kept hurting him, his plan was going to fall through because he’d be too injured to make it to the door. “Lay off, will you?” he said.

  Heather huffed and started for the door. “I hope you choke on your chicken.”

  Ramsey struggled to follow her. He had to be at that door when she opened it. “Hey, I’m sorry, okay? I just think you’re hot, that’s all.”

  Heather opened the door and put one foot in the hall.

  Ramsey grasped the doorknob on the inside door.

  “From now on—consider me the Ice Maiden,” she said. She turned.

  Ramsey took the opportunity and turned the doorknob. The latch pulled in and he slapped the tape over it, hoping it would hold. Hoping that Heather was too distracted to notice when she closed the door on her way out that it didn’t latch.

  “Don’t go away mad,” Ramsey said.

  Heather shot him a look that spoke of venom, then without another word, she went through the door pulling it shut behind her.

  He leaned his forehead against the door and crossed his fingers. He heard the scrape of metal as the key slid in the lock, thankful that the lock was located in the knob itself and not a deadbolt. Still … he held his breath, listening as Heather’s footsteps faded away.

  Ramsey blew out the breath he was holding and straightened. He uncurled the fingers of his fist and gently laid them on the doorknob. Ever so slowly, without turning it, he pulled the door toward him. It moved, opening a fraction of an inch. Ramsey grinned widely and held in the laugh of triumph that threatened to burst from him. He quickly located the roll of tape and ripped off another piece.

  Easing the door open a few inches, he peered out into the hall. It was silent and empty. Quickly he added the second piece of tape, just for insurance.

  After carefully closing the door so that no one would notice that he was basically free again, he sat down at the desk and calmly began to eat his dinner.

  He chewed a bite of chicken and glanced at the small window. It would be dark soon.

  *

  Heather could not believe the gall Ramsey had.

  Petting her ass!

  She gritted her teeth and forced herself to think about something else. Ramsey wasn’t worth her time.

  Back in the main kitchen, she quickly slapped together a ham sandwich then headed for her room. Munching on the way, she thought about the outfit she was going to wear tonight when she went to Colin’s wing.

  A flicker of heat started low in her belly just thinking about the plans she had for the two of them tonight. She had ‘borrowed’ a few things from Ivy. Heather chuckled. She never would have thought her mouthy sister Ivy, who always seemed to demand control of the world, would be into relinquishing that control in the bedroom in the most subservient way. Heather entered the wing that she shared with Ivy and Holt, thinking about the black leather peek-a-boo bra and garter belt that she had borrowed, along with a pair of handcuffs that were lined with black fur. She could see Holt Raven, Ivy’s main man, dominating almost anyone but it surprised Heather to no end that Ivy would not only allow it, but also actually enjoy it.

  Heather entered the living room of the wing, her mind on what Colin’s expression would be when she stripped down to her ‘outfit’.

  “Hey, what’s with you?” Ivy asked.

  Heather glanced in the direction of the large recliner—a chair and a half, they called it—and saw Ivy curled up on Holt’s lap. There was some old black and white movie on the TV with the sound down low. It looked like they were going to be having a romantic evening in. Smiling, Heather waved her half-eaten sandwich. “No time to talk. Busy, busy.” She kept walking, though she heard Ivy speaking to Holt.

  “She sure has sparked up since we brought her here,” Ivy said. “Do you think Colin has anything to do with it?”

  Holt let out a ‘humph’.

  Heather took another bite of her sandwich as she entered the hall that led to her own bedroom. ‘Oh yeah, Colin has something to do with it,’ she thought. Colin has everything to do with it.

  Heather hurried through her shower, lotioning and scenting herself after drying off. As she applied her makeup—heavier than normal with dark black eyeliner and red lipstick to go with her outfit—she thought about the night she had planned.

  She thought about the black leather. Though they hadn’t shared secrets in years, Ivy had confessed to Heather one of the things she loved about Holt was how much of a man he was in the bedroom. Heather had kept her shock to herself when Ivy had admitted that she liked being submissive to him. She hadn’t gone into detail and Heather didn’t dare ask. She and Ivy were just regaining the closeness they used to have when they were young and Heather didn’t want to damage that delicate balance by being too nosey when it came to Ivy’s sex life.

  Heather left the bathroom that adjoined her bedroom. Already growing hot from the fantasies that were occurring in the back of her mind, Heather sat on the edge of the bed and drew on one fishnet stocking up her leg. She fastened it to the black leather garter belt.

  Though Ivy used this leather and lace outfit to play a submissive role, Heather had quite different p
lans.

  Last night, Colin had conquered her.

  Tonight—she would conquer him.

  * * * *

  Ramsey paced the floor of his room.

  He was beginning to get nervous. An hour has passed since Heather had brought him his meal and no sign of Nicolas yet. Ramsey was afraid that one of the others would come for the tray and find that the door wasn’t properly locked. Then—shit would hit the fan. Another reason he was beginning to get nervous was that he knew at nine o’clock sharp, the security system would kick in. If he tried to let Nicolas in through the window after that, an alarm would sound.

  And all of them would come running straight for this room.

  “Dammit,” he grumbled, glancing at the window again. “Where the hell is he?”

  “I am here,” a deep voice said from the window.

  Ramsey jumped then rushed over to stand beneath the window. “What the hell took you so long?” Ramsey could see Nicolas’ black eyes flash in the darkness.

  “You do not have status enough to question me,” he replied in warning.

  Ramsey caught the edge in his voice. “Alright. Okay. Sorry.” Ramsey glanced toward the door then back at the window. “You need to change. It’s the only way you’ll fit through,” Ramsey said.

  In the blink of an eye, he heard a ruffle of feathers. A black beak picked at the screen.

  Ramsey reached up and unlatched the screen, tilting it, then lowered it to the floor. Next he raised his hand up to the opening.

  The raven hopped through the window, its claws grasping Ramsey’s hand as it found its balance. Ramsey gritted his teeth against the pain of the talons digging into his skin and moved to the bed. He lowered his hand. The raven hopped onto the bed, then immediately the air in front of Ramsey seemed to shiver.

  Before he could think, Nicolas stood before him looking every bit like a powerful vampire. Ramsey took a step back, taking note of the fierceness in the coal black eyes that regarded him as if he were no more than an insect. Ramsey wasn’t stupid. Though Nicolas could not turn Ramsey into a vampire, he could snap Ramsey’s neck like a twig.