A full-blown grin spread across his face as his eyes twinkled with a flash of decadence. “I like the sound of that.”
There she went with those blasted double sounding entendres again. What was wrong with her?
“That’s not what I mean, Seth.” She flushed once and focused her attention on the sofa bed. “Help me fold this back up, please.”
A bit of regret swept through her as she put the bed away. That might be the last night he stayed here with her. She had to find a way to keep him around longer.
CHAPTER SIX
Seth eyed Hailey with her hair ruffled from sleep. His wolf wagged his tail, pushing Seth to move in closer. She wore a pink robe, wrapped tight around herself. An adorable sight, one he’d imprint to memory. He’d add that image as well as the brilliant sunrise earlier that morning. He’d returned to the cottage after expelling that restless energy and had woken when the sun warmed his face. Light had drifted through slats on blinds. It had taken him a moment to remember where he was. He’d scanned his surroundings, an open space with a kitchen on the opposite wall with framed photographs of mountains and forests. Hailey’s cottage. When he glanced at her bedroom door and it was still closed, he’d gone outside to watch the sun rise above the mist-covered forests. Pinks, purples, oranges, and yellows had peered through the drifts until they burst above the clouds, caressing the shades of green below with a vibrant glow while lending a more ethereal sheen over the mountains in the distance. The image had been striking—and soothing. Vastly different from the wildness that had spiked within in him last night stirred by the rising moon.
Although he wouldn’t be here long, he’d remember that sunrise.
And Hailey.
What a difference from the morning before, when he’d woken up in a cage.
She jarred him from his thoughts. “When I woke up, I wondered if you’d still be here, or would have taken off during the night.”
He’d gone for a run in wolf form, but not to leave. He tilted his head. “Would you miss me?”
She grunted. “Someone’s early with the flirty banter this morning. I can’t even come up with a comeback until I have something to eat.” She opened a cabinet and pulled out pancake mix. “How about a hearty breakfast?”
“I like the sound of that.” He raised a finger. “Careful. Treat me like this and I’ll never want to leave.”
He was teasing, but when she met his gaze, the mood shifted, turning serious. His heart hammered and his hands turned clammy.
She broke the connection. “We can walk toward the loch this morning. It’s at the opposite side of the estate.”
“You own a lot of land.”
“Yes. We plan to build a few more cottages, starting construction in the spring.”
“What for?”
“We’d rent them out, welcoming families and young, adventurous, backpacker types. One of the things I loved about living near Yellowstone was all the experiences I had outdoors, which I think is beneficial at any age. Not only would we raise some funds to help with the costs, but educate and encourage guests on rewilding and conservation. A win-win for all—the animals, the forests, and perhaps even the local economy.”
Money, always money when it came to humans. “How so?”
“Since wolves were reintroduced to Yellowstone National Park, they’ve estimated tourism has brought in over $35 million dollars to the local economies. That helps our argument here, with the benefit of rewilding Scotland.”
At least, she didn’t seem to be driven by the money aspect. “You have big dreams, Hailey.”
“You know what they say about aiming for the moon.”
“No, I don’t, actually.”
“If you miss, you’ll still end up among the stars.”
He laughed at that one. Humans had quite a different perception of the moon than shifters. Now that the sun was out, he wasn’t so rattled about being near her as he was last night. It was safe to be alone with her without him losing control and humping her leg while howling at the moon.
“I’ll show you this TED talk on YouTube. It will explain it better than I can.”
She was speaking a language he didn’t know. “A what?”
With a shake of her head, she said, “What am I saying? Of course you don’t know what I’m talking about. These experts give talks on various topics and post videos so anyone can watch them. Watch this while I make the pancakes.”
She pulled out a laptop. Seth knew of computers but had had little interest in using one. Technology baffled him—he was still trying to process the horrid news he’d watched on the television earlier. Humans blowing up strangers for no apparent reason. Mind-boggling.
A video played and a man appeared on the stage. He presented slides of Yellowstone Park, showing photos of how it looked before and after the wolves were reintroduced. In the after photos the land appeared to flourish. The change was remarkable. Hailey was right; the wolves had reshaped the landscape for the better by reducing the number of deer.
Seth turned and peered at her, fascinated. “Sure, we hunt deer to eat. I had no idea of the benefits.”
The scent of pancakes wafted over, making his stomach growl, but he ignored it.
Hailey turned from the stove, spatula in hand. “Very beneficial. We can do that here in the Highlands. I’m sure we can.”
“Bring back the wolves?”
“And bears, lynx—all the creatures we’d driven away or destroyed. We need them as much as they need us.”
“You lived near the wolves at the park?” he said.
“Yellowstone is huge so it’s not like they were in my back yard, but I did live near the park for many years,” she replied.
“That change is—is brilliant,” he replied with some awe. “I had no idea that we—that wolves—could be regarded favorably in the human world.”
She furrowed her brow. “Too many people think of them as the big, bad wolf. It’s unfortunate and unfounded.”
She carried over two plates of pancakes and sat across from him, continuing the conversation. As they ate, he asked her more questions that stemmed from that video. After breakfast, she found him more clothes, the similar style of trousers and button-down shirt as yesterday since they fit him well. She put on a pair of jeans that hugged her curves and a pale blue shirt that brought out the blue in her eyes.
When they walked the grounds, he barely noticed the discomfort in his leg as he was engrossed with Hailey’s descriptions of the land. They meandered through the meadows and into the woods.
Hailey pointed out some saplings. “We’ve planted hundreds of tree seeds. It’s gratifying to see them grow.” Her eyes widened, brimming with excitement. “Imagine what this area will look like in ten years. Or twenty.”
Seth observed her. Aye, he could understand humans destroying the land, something they were skilled at. Yet he didn’t expect to meet one who was not only against what they’d done, but taking an effort to reverse it.
Hailey expressed so much passion in her eyes, her voice, a part of him was swept away with her words. Every hour with her shattered his expectations of what he thought all humans to be like. She wanted to bring back nature, not destroy it for “advancement” or “technology” the way humans were prone to do. With all that fervor inside her, what would it be like to make love to her? Would she unleash her passion on him? He inhaled the scent from her hair, as he visualized it.
She stopped, midsentence. “Why are you sniffing me?”
“You smell good.”
“And you keep looking at me like that.”
“Like what?”
She glanced away and back at him. “Like you—want something.”
With reluctance, he shoved the sordid thoughts from his mind. “Does it make you uncomfortable?”
“Yes,” she stammered. “I mean no. It just—”
When she didn’t finish the thought, he said, “Don’t worry, I’m looking elsewhere now.” He gazed out at the wildlands and whistled
nonchalantly. “Plenty to see out here. I don’t even notice the beautiful woman next to me.”
She laughed and swatted his arm.
After they meandered in silence for several moments, a loch appeared before them, shimmering under the mid-morning sun. He froze as a strange tightness shaped in his gut. He loved the water, but after the last time he swam…
“What is it?” Hailey asked.
Taking a deep breath, he forced the tension away on the exhale. No way would he let that one incident hold him back. He wasn’t about to develop a fear of water—he wouldn’t tolerate that weakness.
“Nothing.” He continued walking as if everything was fine. “Why would anything be wrong? It’s a beautiful, peaceful morning.”
“I can sense the tension. Even your voice sounds strained.” With a softer tone, she added, “It reminds you of what happened, doesn’t it?”
She read right through his flimsy cover up. “Aye. But I’m not going to let it change me. I’ve always been an excellent swimmer. Just encountered a wee bit of bad luck out in the ocean.” He grinned at her. “Or perhaps good luck. You rescued me.”
She eyed him with concern. “Do you want to go back to my cottage?”
“No.” He wasn’t a coward. And he wouldn’t stand for appearing weak in her eyes. He stepped toward it. “I’m going for a swim.”
“What?” Her eyes widened. “But, but, your leg.”
“The wound is practically gone. The water will help it.”
She grabbed his forearm. “What are you doing, Seth?”
“You can come with me if you want.” When he began to undress, she removed her arm and eyed him with incredulity.
“You’re going to get undressed?”
He raised his chin. “Is that a problem? You’ve already seen me naked.”
Her mouth dropped as he removed the shirt and followed up with the pants. Once he’d removed the borrowed clothing, he strode to the water and toed it. It was far from warm but warmer than the ocean had been. He rolled on his toes three times, his usual pre-swim ritual, and then stepped in. He strode forward until the water reached his upper thighs, pausing when the water touched his wound. Nothing. No pain or discomfort where he’d been stung.
With his quick recovery, it meant he had no reason to stay and he’d be moving on soon. Where to, he still had no idea. A flicker of regret swept through him. He didn’t want to leave just yet.
He didn’t want to leave her just yet.
Shite. He’d figure that out later. For now, he had to thwart this uneasiness before it developed into a full-blown phobia. He dove forward, under the surface of the water.
A flash of the incident returned, the sharp pain followed by the panic when he knew he was in trouble. His wolf bristled, unhappy with this mad endeavor. Seth’s muscles tightened and he fought to break through the surface and gasp for air.
Fuck.
Don’t let it conquer you.
He closed his eyes and counted slowly until the flash of anxiety lessened. When he reopened them, he focused on the calm, verdant braes in the distance. With a resolute push, he dove underneath the surface and swam through the dark blue waters. Pushing his fears aside, he focused on his strokes as he swam toward the center. When he accomplished his goal, he turned back. Hailey wasn’t on the shore, but a pile of clothing stood next to his. Where had she gone?
A moment later, she pierced the surface of the water, her wet hair now dark and sleek as it flowed behind her.
A current of excitement rippled through him as he treaded the water. She was swimming his way. He dove beneath to meet her, as his wolf bounced around with eagerness to reach her, excited as a pup. Her limbs shimmied before him, all wet and sinewy. With only blue panties and a bra, she was almost naked. His cock twitched, and Seth quickened his stroke to reach her.
He broke the surface a couple of feet from her. “You came. I didn’t think you would.”
She floated on her back. With her hair spreading like a fan around her, shining like a mirror under the sun, she looked like a siren or mermaid. Her skin glowed, wet and sun-kissed, and water dripped from her eyelashes. “Couldn’t let you come out here alone.” Her expression conveyed her concern.
“I was hoping it meant you missed me and couldn’t stay away another moment,” he replied with a teasing grin. “Not that you were afraid I might drown.”
“Wouldn’t be the first time I had to save your sorry ass,” she volleyed back with a knowing smile.
A laugh burst out of him. “Funny, aren’t you?” Swimming closer so she was only a couple of feet away, an awareness of her presence rushed through him, shooting sparks all through him. If he reached out, he’d touch her skin. It might feel so soft and wet, caressed by the water…
“You’re doing it again,” she interrupted his thoughts.
“Doing what?”
“Staring at me like you want something.”
His wolf stood still, on edge and waiting, spurring him to take a damn chance. “I do want something, quite badly.”
She swallowed. “What?”
“What I’ve wanted to do since yesterday.” His gaze dropped to her mouth. “Touch those soft lips. Taste how sweet they are.”
Her lips parted. “You do?” Her voice lost that teasing edge as her breath caught in her throat.
Swimming the final inches, he reeled her in slowly by the waist. He inhaled, basking in the intoxicating impact of her scent. All the buildup from last night had him desperate to do something to ease the ache. Glancing down at her, he murmured, “More than you can imagine.”
He lowered his mouth and brushed his lips against hers, and she emitted the softest of sighs. That briefest of touches shot tremors pulsing through him, blazing hot, even though they were floating in cool water. His wolf pressed on, wanting him to take more. As if he needed any more encouragement.
He took hold of the back of her neck and kissed her harder. She responded instantly, opening up to him and welcoming him in. She tasted warm and inviting, like a sunny day on the moors. Their legs fluttered under the water to keep them afloat, sending currents of water swirling, and occasionally rubbing against each other. He wanted to moan at the touch of her wet, smooth flesh.
She wrapped her arms around his neck, letting her fingers trail down, showing how she wanted this as much as he did. A bolt of possessiveness shot through him. He wanted more, his wolf wanted to claim her. He deepened the kiss with a sense of urgency pounding through him. She responded with an intensity that matched his own, grasping at his shoulder blades. His already growing erection turned achingly hard.
Crushing her in a tighter embrace so her rounded breasts touched his chest, her body then softened in response, as if submitting. Whether to him or to her own desires, he didn’t know, but it sent a fresh surge of excitement through him.
Her nipples teased him with those hardened peaks. He needed his hands on them. His mouth. He released the possessive grip on her waist and reached for her breasts. Touching the side of one, barely covered by the thin fabric of her bra, increased his hunger. It was so soft and full, it made him ache with longing. He broke their connected bodies so he could touch more, but the absence of her flesh on his drove him half mad—he needed to touch all of her. Cupping her breast, he rubbed his thumb over the exquisite, tight nipple.
He reached behind to unfasten the bra.
She pulled away. “Not here.”
His body coiled in protest. “Why not?”
“Anyone could come by and see us. Those who work the grounds.” She pursed her lips before adding, “Anyone.”
He released her with reluctance and glimpsed the frustration he felt reflected in her eyes. “All right.” His erection ached. He couldn’t climb out of the water like that. “I’m a wee bit overheated. I’m going to swim a few laps to cool off.”
She nodded. “I’ll get some towels and meet you on the shore.”
After she turned to swim toward the shore, he sliced through the water
. With each stroke, he tried to break through the desperate need to return to her and continue where they’d left off. That momentary alarm on being back in the water was gone; the kiss was a good distraction in that way. He focused on how good she’d felt in his arms, how right it felt to hold her, kiss her. After several laps, he reached a state of relaxation where both he and his wolf weren’t clawing to get close to her again.
That state was almost shattered as he swam back to the shore. She lay on her back on an oversized towel wearing nothing but the tiny bra and panties. Her skin glistened under the sun, still wet with droplets. He traced the feminine curves of her body with his gaze and groaned. That was a bad idea; it would give him too much fodder for new fantasies. How could he sleep at night with those dizzying images of her in his head?
He swam under the water to clear his head.
She’s a human. You’re moving on soon. Stop whatever this is that you’re doing.
He inhaled when he broke the surface. Then he swam back toward her, hoping his erection died down before he reached the shore.
***
Hailey sat up when she heard Seth breaking through the water. Damn, he was a fine specimen. She hadn’t planned on kissing him—hadn’t planned not to kiss him, if she was being honest with herself—but it added another layer of complications to the situation.
He pushed forward like Poseidon striding out of the water, on the powerful legs of a god. She doubted she’d ever seen any man convey such power, even at the Highland Games. Every inch of him attested to that strength. Broad chest, sculpted shoulders, ripped abs—and farther down… Why didn’t he wear any clothes, damn it? He might have found it natural to strut around stark naked, but it was downright distracting. His package was as impressive as the rest of him. How was she not supposed to have sexual thoughts with him striding like that before her?
She turned away. If he wasn’t embarrassed by his nudity, she was.
If it was merely sexual, that would be one thing. Who didn’t appreciate a decadent piece of eye candy? The attraction went much deeper on her end. When she’d told him about the rewilding efforts, he listened with intense interest. Only those who were involved in the project had that look; others often drifted off with glazed expressions after a few minutes.
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