by Terry Spear
“My uncles had mentioned the goods and where they were hidden in a roundabout way, in case anything ever happened to them. They didn’t give me sufficient information to know what the treasure was or where it was kept. For two years, Robert had tried to locate me to see if I knew anything about where the treasure was hidden, or if I at least had the other half of the puzzle.”
She offered Cearnach a wicked smile. “He tried to learn what information I might have without giving up the fact that he knew something of the matter. If he’d gotten the rest of the clues from me, I wouldn’t be here today. I had the impression that his kin knew nothing about what he had discovered. That he was keeping the treasure secret from them so he could have the spoils and not have to share them with the others. Especially when he planned to meet me at the castle ruins two hours before Calla’s wedding. I assumed he didn’t want the McKinleys to know what he was up to. Or maybe even his own brother.”
Cearnach could see Kilpatrick doing that. “If you hadn’t come to Scotland, that would have been my great loss.” He couldn’t imagine not having met her again today. He would never return to Senton Castle’s ruins without remembering how she had looked there earlier this afternoon, first as a human, observing the castle with such awe and reverence, then exploring it like a wolf—eager, excited, loving it.
Elaine turned to him. “So, all I have to do is mate you, and we can go on a treasure hunt. For your peace of mind, I’m not mating you. You can let your mother know that, too.”
He loved her pragmatism and fighting spirit. He also saw the challenge in her eyes. He was certain she was waiting for him to contradict her, to say he wanted her. She had to know he did. That he recognized she wanted him also.
He cast her a predatory grin, tilted his chin down, and reached under the table to take her hand from where it was resting in her lap. Her gaze latched on to his, and he knew she could see the desire he had for her as plain as he could see the interest in hers. “We’ll see about that.”
He was named “victorious” for a reason. He was often victorious in anything he set his mind to accomplish. And he was determined to have her.
He released her hand and finished his stew.
“All these years, you’ve never been mated?” Cearnach asked, not believing Kelly Rafferty could have been the only one she’d mated with.
“Oh, sure, several times… nearly.”
The inference that she’d been mated several times got to him, until she clarified with nearly. As beautiful and fun to be with as she was, he wasn’t surprised she could have been mated many times over, although hearing it bothered him deep down. He couldn’t fathom why any wolf wouldn’t have followed through.
She took a deep breath, then said brightly, her tone incongruent with her body posture, “A lot of wolves took interest in me over the years. They just always vanished before anything could come of the relationship.”
“That’s hard to believe.” He meant it. Why would any of them show interest and then quit the relationship? Not when she was as intriguing as she was.
She smiled a sad kind of smile. “Maybe so, but it’s true. I began to believe I could easily attract attention, but no one was interested in mating me for a lifetime.”
That’s why she thought he couldn’t want her? Because the others had skipped out on her?
Why would they change their minds overnight like that? He pondered that for a moment more, then a realization dawned. “They were betas.”
“How… did you know?”
“No alpha who wanted you would vanish without making you his. So they had to be betas, unsure whether being mated to an alpha would work out. Why your interest in betas? You need an alpha.”
Like me, he wanted to say.
She gave him a ghost of a smile. “An alpha would have been like Kelly Rafferty—in charge, beating me when I didn’t do as he wished, in control of my money.” She gave a half shrug. “I didn’t need a mate for that.”
Cearnach clenched his fists and wanted to kill the wolf himself for hurting Elaine. “You’re certain he’s dead?”
Though the point was moot. No alpha who had taken her to mate would have left her alone all these years. Not one as controlling as Rafferty had been.
He would change her mind. Not all alpha males were like that bastard.
“Yes, he’s dead. His men wouldn’t have come for me if he hadn’t been dead. They’d know he would have killed them.”
She looked so tired, her eyelids drooping, the swelling and bruising on her face from where Vardon had hit her making her look all the more done in. Cearnach took her hand again and rubbed his thumb over her soft skin. “We can talk more tomorrow. Did you want to eat any of the stew?”
She shook her head. “Too tired.”
“All right.” Then he made his claim, unwilling to put it off any longer. “You need a mate.” He kissed her cheek, deciding this once and for all. “And a family. You’ll have both with me.”
Her eyes widened and her lips parted.
He knew she would disagree with him for now, but he would sway her one way or another. She needed a family, a pack, him.
She said softly, tears glittering in her eyes, “You’ll vanish before we do it. That’s the way it always happens. A wolf promises me the moon, and then he disappears as if he didn’t have the courage to tell me to my face that it wouldn’t work out between us.”
His jaw dropped. He couldn’t conceal his surprise. She was agreeing to be his mate? He was expecting to work a lot harder at it than that. He was ready.
He had to be sure that she was.
He stood, then pulled her from her chair and into his arms, and hugged her with all his might, relieved as hell that she wanted him as much as he wanted her. At least he believed so. “Not this time, lass. You’re exhausted. I’ll take you up to your guest chamber. I’m not losing you again.”
The way her sweet body called to his, if she hadn’t been so fatigued, he knew they would do a hell of a lot more than talk. Just a touch and his pheromones were stirring, and so were hers, communicating with one another, saying it was way past time to get on with the more primal—and pleasurable—side of wolf business.
“Are you going to prove to me why I should mate you?” She looked at him with such a sweetly devilish look that he wondered if the wine was doing the talking. Yet the challenge was there again: Prove to me you truly want me. Make it happen.
He decided she was being wholly truthful with him, and he was going to ensure she agreed to a mating… when she was well rested in the morning.
He would prove to her that he meant what he said. He was no damned beta wolf. Nor was he an alpha like Rafferty. He would give her all that she deserved and more.
***
Unable to help herself, Elaine yawned, then smiled at Cearnach. She could tell he wasn’t sure if she was ready to be his. She wasn’t. Not until she was feeling more clearheaded. “Sorry.”
After that, no holds barred.
“You’re tired, lass. We’ll decide a course of action tomorrow, once you tell me more about this business transaction between you and your cousin Robert Kilpatrick.”
Hoping to come up with a solution for the situation with her cousins after she had a good night’s sleep and she could think more clearly, Elaine agreed.
Gallant man that he was, and without waiting for her to agree, Cearnach slipped his arms underneath Elaine and lifted her. She let out a little gasp of surprise. As wobbly as she felt from drinking too much wine, she didn’t think she could have stumbled all the way to the castle on her own two feet.
Having told Cearnach so much of her past, she felt drained. She didn’t feel cleansed, as she’d thought she might by finally telling him what had happened to her so long ago. She felt weary.
Some of the tiredness was due to the jet lag a
nd the stress of the day; some of it was the wine. She couldn’t believe she wasn’t staying at the bed and breakfast owned by the Kilpatricks and instead was sleeping in a stone castle owned by an enemy clan.
Yet, Cearnach wasn’t the enemy. He was someone who cheered her even when the situation was dire, gave her hope so she felt she had a new lease on life. Odd thing, that. She hadn’t thought about Kelly for a long time now, but returning to Scotland had brought the memories all back.
She gave in to her fatigue and rested her head against Cearnach’s hard chest as he carried her back to the castle—her braw Highland warrior in a soft lamb’s wool sweater and jeans. She felt more than saw a few people stare in their direction as they entered the castle and made their way to the stairs.
Cearnach nodded at a knot of people seated next to the fire that she noticed out of her peripheral vision.
Was Ian there? His mother?
She had never been the focus of so much attention, and it was somewhat overwhelming. Yet on another level, she felt special.
“Sorry,” she said softly again, snuggling closer to Cearnach as he carried her through the castle.
“For what?” He kissed the top of her head and made his way up the stairs.
“For all the grief you’re going to get over having brought me here.”
“I’ve had worse, lass.”
She laughed at him. She had expected him to disagree.
He smiled down at her, but he didn’t say anything, and she let the issue go.
Cearnach carried Elaine into a guest bedchamber where clothes were stacked on top of a light oak dresser for her use. He set her on her feet, but she still felt a little shaky, gripping his arm to keep her balance. The immense bed sitting center stage immediately captured her attention. Surrounding the bed were heavy burgundy curtains made of velvet and embellished with swirls of gold thread. She walked over to the bed and ran her hand over the soft curtains.
Glancing back at him, she witnessed the curve to his mouth, one raised brow, and his arms folded across his broad chest as he watched her. The sweater was nice, but she kept thinking of his beautiful naked chest when he was wearing only a kilt, and she smiled warmly at the memory.
With such a predatory look on his face, was he envisioning her in the bed? Maybe with him in it while he lay beside her… or on top of her? She thought his smile was more wicked than sweet.
Her cheeks instantly blossomed with heat. “Thank you for everything, Cearnach.” She was drained of all energy after having run and swum as a wolf, not to mention fighting jet lag. She felt she could just as easily curl up on the lovely gold-and-burgundy Turkish hand-knotted rugs covering the floor and fall asleep.
At first Cearnach didn’t move. Then, as if he’d made up his mind about something, he closed the distance between them, and she knew he’d give her another kiss. She wasn’t sure she could handle another of his kisses while she was alone with him in a bedroom.
His large hands took hold of her shoulders, the heat seeping through her shirt, the power of his touch drugging her. He leaned down and said in a wickedly husky voice, “A kiss before you sleep to give you pleasant dreams. I promise you more tomorrow.”
He didn’t ask permission, although at this point, she wouldn’t let him get away before he fulfilled his promise.
He kissed her, leaning against her, sharing his heat and power and interest. His tongue plundered her like a pirate taking possession—and as she devoured him in the same way, she knew this exchange was taking another step closer to making their relationship something more. Permanent. Forever. Giving in to the lust, the sexiness, the wolfish fascination for another of her kind was something new for her.
She was already wet for him, her breasts heavy and achy for his touch, her nipples taut peaks of desire. Needy, craving his mouth, his fingers, his caress.
“I want you.” His voice was dark and fathomless, husky with craving.
Before she was ready to end the kiss or think of where this might lead, he hugged her tight—wrapping his muscled arms around her body, keeping her close as if she was the most precious thing to him—and rested his cheek on the top of her head. She loved the way his body surrounded her, wishing they could take this further.
Then he groaned.
A lusty groan of unfulfilled passion, of regrets and desires that she could so relate to. He was holding back.
Appreciating him and his family, loving that she’d have a chance to sleep in a medieval castle, she hugged him back. She felt the hardness of his erection pressed against her belly, knew he needed release as much as she did, knew he desired more. Yet despite knowing what a mistake that could be if they gave into their primal urges… she wasn’t ready to let him go. She wasn’t thinking clearly, either. She’d had too much wine.
Curbing her own wolfish needs, she finally said, “Good night, Highlander. Until tomorrow, then.”
He sighed deeply and looked into her eyes, his own simmering with lust.
“’Night, lass.” His voice was rough with restrained need. He kissed the top of her head, then moved away from her and winked before he shut the door. When he closed it on his departure, she suddenly felt bereft. She hadn’t realized how seeing a family, a working pack, would affect her. She’d always thought being part of a family was someone else’s dream. Not her own. Not since her parents and uncles had died.
She never felt that way about human families, considering them something different, alien to her. After the disaster with Kelly Rafferty, she’d struck out on her own, avoiding wolf packs wherever she went. What if she’d ended up in another abusive relationship?
Yet unexpectedly, she felt she was missing out after seeing the teasing between members of Cearnach’s clan, the anxiety on the brothers’ faces, the worry for Cearnach, and the concern for her. The gathering of the family to take her in, to counsel her about the apprehension they had about her dealings with her kin. Even his mother’s telling him he should mate Elaine. How Cearnach’s family had treated her like she was one of their pack, their clan.
She couldn’t help being surprised to be accepted into a wolf pack of perfect strangers, when in a human’s world she had kept herself apart. Friendly, but not too much so.
No matter how much she had behaved as a human among their kind, she was always well aware that she wasn’t one. That her senses were so much more attuned, that she could detect emotions and feelings just from their scents. That the wolfish side of her had to be controlled when she got angry, and she’d want to shift and show them her teeth.
That she had to run as a wolf from time to time, to enjoy nature as her other half. The halves were what made her whole—one didn’t exist without the other. She was wolf and human all in one. For the first time in a very long time, she enjoyed being with others of her kind who could understand just how she felt, who could look deep into her soul like she could into theirs. They were equals, not all that different from her.
Even his mother—what a surprise it was that she wanted Elaine to become part of their pack. She knew the woman hadn’t said so lightly. That felt comforting in an odd way.
Yet, Elaine had to keep herself from falling into a false sense of security, remembering that they were family and she was still an outsider, kin to an enemy clan.
Sighing deeply, she removed her clothes and slipped into the borrowed, silky, pale blue nightgown sitting atop the dresser that made her feel like a fairy princess. A lace-trimmed bodice dipped low, showing the swell of her breasts. Long flowing sleeves trimmed with lace tickled her knuckles. An ankle-length edging trimmed with lace swished as she walked.
The fabric was opaque enough for modesty, although when she glimpsed herself in a gold-gilded mirror, she noted that her nipples stood out against the material. She swirled around, loving the luxurious, silky feel of the gown, feeling sexier than if she’d just cli
mbed into bed naked, which was how she usually slept—like most wolves did.
The fatigue catching up to her again, she climbed onto the bed and pulled the bed curtains closed, then slipped underneath the burgundy covers. The comforter was velvety soft, covered in rich, gold floral embroidery, warm and comforting as she burrowed beneath it. The sheets smelled like they had been washed in sweet fragrant roses, and she breathed in deeply to enjoy the scent.
She felt small and pretty and at home in this huge bed. What would have made it even better was Cearnach sleeping with her here. Not sleeping. Making love.
Then her thoughts turned to meeting Cearnach again after all these years, how she’d felt about his offer of assistance so long ago, wishing he could have helped her, and wondering what would have happened had she accepted it. How different might her life have been if she had stayed with Cearnach back then?
Now he was offering to assist her again, protecting her against her kin while attempting to help her locate the goods her uncles had hidden away.
She couldn’t avoid thinking about the heat that had erupted between them and the desire to do something about it.
She sighed and closed her eyes in the dark room, needing to sleep, not believing she could shut off thoughts of Cearnach kissing her in the car… how his tongue had danced with hers, the way he let her set the boundaries yet was so enraptured in the kiss that he’d quickly become the aggressor—passionate, craving more, just like she had.
Now tonight, kissing him again had felt just as right. She knew he was having as difficult a time reeling in his desire as she had with him. She suspected they would become mates sooner rather than later. As long as he didn’t change his mind, or someone or something didn’t change it for him.
With a heavy sigh and forcing herself to push away the images of Cearnach and what she had to do concerning her cousins, she finally succumbed to sleep.
Only to be awakened a couple of hours later by a soft, whispered breath touching her cheek. She tried to ignore the sensation. Tried to tell herself she was dreaming.
