The Taming of the Wolf

by Dare, Lydia

  His wife stepped from his embrace and walked toward the other man, her hand outstretched in greeting. “Lord Radbourne, I am sorry ta keep ye waitin’. I was just on my way ta meet ye.”

  “Am I to assume you’re Lady Eynsford, then?” the man asked, raising Cait’s fingers to his lips.

  Dash had never felt such a flash of jealousy is his entire life. His hands were actually shaking with the intense desire to physically toss his brother from his home when his lips lingered a bit too long on Caitrin’s skin.

  Cait glanced over her shoulder at Dash, a warning in her eyes. “Indeed.” She turned back to the man. “Thank ye for payin’ us a visit.”

  “Well, I must say,” the man shot an inquisitive look at Dash, “your letter was most intriguing.”

  Letter? What the devil had she said in this letter? A low growl escaped Dash’s throat. He wasn’t ready for this interview. He might not ever be ready. Blast Caitrin for forcing it on him.

  “How ill-mannered of me ta keep ye waitin’ in the hallway. Please, my lord, let us retire ta the parlor.”

  Dash swallowed. Though he wasn’t prepared for this conversation, he’d be damned if he would let Cait conduct it without him. He quickly made his way to her side, possessively dropping his hand to her shoulder. “After you, my dear.”

  Cait looked up at him, smiling sweetly, before preceding the men into the green parlor. Radbourne’s eyes dropped to watch her tempting backside until Dash’s growl made his gaze rise once again. Brother or not, if the man glanced in Cait’s direction one more time, he’d tear his damned head off.

  Dash looked his brother over. Aside from their hair color, they did look similar. The same aristocratic nose, same strong chin. Their eyes were nearly identical. Dash gestured him inside the parlor. “Please, Radbourne.”

  Once inside, Dash claimed the spot beside Caitrin on a dark, damask settee. His eyes flashed to hers. “When this is over, I’m going to toss you over my knee,” he whispered, though the quirk on Radbourne’s lips confirmed he’d overheard the threat.

  His half brother settled into a high-backed chair across from them, and he smiled charmingly at Cait. “It is a pleasure to meet you, Lady Eynsford. Your correspondence captured my interest right away.”

  She didn’t even have the good sense to look ashamed for ignoring Dash’s wishes. Instead, she sat forward in her seat and graced Radbourne with a very pretty smile. “Thank ye, sir. And this brutish man beside me is, of course, the Marquess of Eynsford. I do hope ye’ll consider remainin’ here as our guest as we negotiate the details.”

  Negotiate what details? Dash was certain his face was on fire. What exactly was she doing? “Cait,” he grumbled softly.

  “I assume ye did bring the sketches with ye, my lord,” she continued, completely ignoring Dash.

  “Cait,” he said louder. “I would like to know exactly what is going on.”

  Finally, she tilted her head to see him. “It was supposed ta be a surprise, but ye canna bear for me ta keep any secrets from ye.” She gestured to Radbourne with a sweep of her hand. “The viscount is sellin’ a patch of land in Lancashire. I’d planned ta acquire it for yer birthday, Dash.”

  More like she’d planned to bring him face-to-face with his brother, and his birthday wasn’t for another month. “How sweet of you to think of me, lass.”

  Radbourne chuckled to himself. “I wasn’t sure what I’d find here, but this certainly wasn’t it.”

  Dash frowned at the man. “What does that mean?”

  His brother shrugged and then sank back in his chair. “When I received word from Lady Eynsford about the property in question and mentioned it to my mother, I thought she would faint dead away. She told me who you are, Eynsford.”

  “Who I am?” Dash echoed.

  Radbourne folded his hands in his lap. “What I don’t know is what you want. That’s why I’ve come.”

  Dash’s mouth went dry. What was he to say to that? He didn’t want anything from Radbourne. Now that he truly examined the man, he noted that the viscount’s clothes were a few years out of fashion and his boots were scuffed terribly. “May I ask why you’re selling this property?” he asked, though somehow he knew in the pit of his stomach.

  “The same reason any noble family sells off unentailed land, Eynsford—for the money. Now are we going to continue playing games, sir? Or will you tell me what you want with me?”

  Cait rose from her seat. “I’ll just leave ye.”

  “Oh, no, you don’t,” Dash said, tugging her skirt until she sat back down. “You got me into this mess.” Then he turned his glare back to Radbourne. “Until a month ago, I’d never heard your name. I want nothing from you.”

  “Then why the pretense of bringing me here?”

  Cait sighed beside him. “Because it was the perfect excuse ta bring ye here. My husband would never have sought ye out on his own.”

  Radbourne scratched his chin. “So, I’m here. Now what?”

  Cait squeezed Dash’s hand and, though he was thoroughly annoyed with her, the pressure reminded him of her love. “Tell us everythin’ about him, your father. Doona spare any details.”

  But Dash spoke at the same time. “How bad is your financial situation?”

  “Dashiel!” Cait scolded, her brow furrowing at him.

  Radbourne just lifted one eyebrow, looking as though he found amusement in their questions.

  “Your father died when you were young?” Dash continued.

  “Our father died when I was young, yes,” Radbourne corrected him.

  Cait opened her mouth to speak, but Dash reached over and squeezed her knee, wordlessly warning her to stay quiet.

  “Your wife is delightful,” Radbourne said quietly, his amber eyes skimming over her.

  “Perhaps you’ll find one of your own some day,” Dash warned the man subtly. Then he reached for the sketches Radbourne had brought. “My wife is meddlesome. But I love her, despite that fact.” He opened the parchment to take a look at the drawings. “This is a large parcel of land.”

  Radbourne just nodded.

  “Let’s adjourn to my study, shall we, so we can discuss your situation? I believe I can help without you having to sell your holdings.”

  The men rose, and Caitrin stood up to follow. “We’ll see you later, angel,” Dash said as he kissed her forehead.

  Cait protested, “But—”

  “I promise I’ll tell you everything.” He couldn’t help but chuckle at her crestfallen expression.

  When they reached the end of the corridor, he heard her say softly, “Beast.”

  “I heard that,” he called back.

  “I meant for ye ta hear it!” she returned loudly. Then she whispered, “And I love ye.”

  “I heard that, too,” he called again, happy when her laughter reached his ears.

  Epilogue

  “Yer brothers are delightful.” Caitrin smiled over her shoulder at Dash as he unbuttoned the back of her dress.

  He scowled in response. “They’re a pack of hellions.”

  “They’re a pack of Lycans,” she corrected, slipping out of her dinner gown. “And it is very obvious they’ve been lookin’ for a pack leader.”

  Dash groaned. “I didn’t sign on for that role.” He tugged at his cravat and then threw it across the room. His jacket followed a moment later.

  Cait felt his eyes land on her, searing her through her chemise, and she couldn’t help but grin. He was adorable in his shirt sleeves. She loved seeing him so relaxed. Finding his brothers had done that for him, no matter how he protested otherwise. “It is also very obvious how much ye adore them.”

  A smile tugged at his lips. “I do,” he admitted.

  Indeed the trip to Hadley Manor had been healing for Dash. He seemed to have found a purpose he’d been missing before. He was no longer a lone wolf, a wild Lycan. He was part of the Hadley horde in more ways than one. In addition to his three half brothers accepting him without question into their ranks,
even Lady Radbourne adored him.

  Cait retrieved a gossamer nightrail from the wardrobe, only to have it snatched away from her grasp. She spun around to see Dash toss it across the room. “I’m only going to rip it off you in a few minutes, Caitie. It’s best not to even put it on.”

  “Ye are very sure of yerself, Dashiel.”

  “With reason. You can’t keep your hands off me.”

  She rolled her eyes to keep from encouraging her husband. Then Cait walked around him toward the bed and picked up his discarded jacket from the floor. It was heavier than it should have been. “Have ye taken ta hidin’ rocks in yer pocket like a young lad?”

  His expression dropped, and he reached for the jacket. “Let me have it, Caitie.”

  Well, he was certainly hiding something. She slipped under his arm and scooted to the far end of the room. “What are ye keepin’ from me, Dash?” She reached into his pocket and her fingers found a little leather book. Cait slid it from the jacket and her mouth fell open. His journal of debauchery? She frowned at him. “Ye told me ye burned it.”

  “I did,” he rasped. “It’s not the same book. Let me have it.”

  Cait glared at him. “Dashiel Thorpe, do ye think I’m daft. This is the same book!”

  His face turned bright red. “Open it, then.”

  “I’ve already read it cover to cover.”

  His blush deepened, which she didn’t even know was possible. Dash snatched the journal from her and opened it, then began to read.

  “I am not sure what I ever did to deserve Caitrin. She is my angel, my salvation…”

  Cait’s mouth fell open. He’d written about her?

  “…I’ll spend the rest of my life trying to be worthy of her love…”

  Cait threw her arms around him and kissed his chest and his jaw and his lips, hoping to show him that he didn’t need to prove his worth.

  “…And when she takes me into her body, it’s magical.” Dash grinned at her. “Particularly when she’s on top.”

  Cait smacked his chest and snatched the book from his hand, proceeding to read a few more lines to herself before she slammed it shut.

  “You’re blushing all the way to the roots of your hair, angel,” Dash teased.

  Cait hid her embarrassment by tucking her face into his chest. Then Dash tossed the book to the bed and enveloped her in his arms. “It’s not the same book, Cait. I did burn the other one. There’s only one woman I want to remember.”

  About the Author

  Lydia Dare is a pseudonym for the writing team of Tammy Falkner and Jodie Pearson. Both are active members of the Heart of Carolina Romance Writers and have sat on the organization’s Board of Directors. Their writing process involves passing a manuscript back and forth, each one writing 1500 words after editing the other’s previous installment—Jodie specializes in writing the history and Tammy in writing the paranormal. They live near Raleigh, North Carolina.