by S. K. Yule
He opened the door to the extended cab, found a blanket and pillow, and then rearranged them on the back seat before returning.
She shivered, praying that the leather would heat up soon. “I’m freezing.” Her teeth clattered.
“It won’t take long for the cab to warm up.” He leaned over her lap and reached between the door and seat and clicked something. “There. You do know the seats are heated, right?”
For the instant he’d been draped over her lap and his body heat seeped into her, she hadn’t cared about the blizzard or heated seats.
“Why didn’t I know that?” she said after recovering from his touch.
He shrugged. “I think you are the coldest natured lynx I’ve ever met. It’s a good thing we didn’t get stranded somewhere and had to walk.”
She clenched her clattering teeth together. “You know, I’m not completely useless. Believe it or not, I do have survival skills, and Brady taught me how to defend myself. I could probably kick your ass.”
When he had the audacity to laugh, she shot him a venomous glare that promptly sobered him.
He held his hands palm up in surrender. “Okay. You could probably kick my ass. But only if I let you,” he muttered.
“I heard that! So I couldn’t possibly get the better of you unless you let me?” She was being silly, but she didn’t care. She was fully aware that he’d probably take her in a fight. He was older, stronger, more experienced, much bigger, but she refused to give up the ship just yet.
“No.”
“You are telling me that I couldn’t best you under any circumstance?” She unzipped her coat, climbed on the seat and crawled toward him, letting the desire for him she usually hid show in her eyes. She crept closer to him, leaning forward to make sure he’d get a good eyeful of cleavage.
He looked down then sucked in a sharp breath. “Correct.”
She placed her hand on one of his thick thighs, and slinked up his chest until they were nose to nose. His breaths quickened and butterflies danced in her belly at the knowledge that he was, indeed, affected by her. Hormones never lied.
She splayed her hand over his wide chest, trying not to purr at the play of hard muscles under her fingertips. Her lynx was clawing to get out, to rub all over him, to wallow in Landon’s spicy, provocative scent. Leaning closer, she took the lobe of his ear between her teeth, tugged at it, then whispered, “You are one sexy beast.”
He grunted in response, and she knew now was the time to make her move. Brady taught her that distraction, especially of a sexual nature, was a plausible choice that may buy her time enough to get out of an otherwise impossible situation. Sliding her hand into her pocket, she eased out the pocket knife she always carried, flipped it open, then placed it against Landon’s exposed throat.
“You sure I could never best you?”
His eyes widened then narrowed, honing in on her like a predator. If she didn’t know he would never hurt her, she might be a bit afraid right now. His lips thinned in a straight line, and before she could blink, the knife was on the floorboard, and he had her pinned to the seat under his hulking frame.
“Yeah. I’m pretty sure you couldn’t.”
A mixture of anger and desire heated her cheeks. The warmth of his body radiated through her, and she shivered in delight of his weight. His cock began to harden against her thigh, and a shot of longing rushed her.
The hunger shining in his eyes matched her own, and she held her breath, hoping he’d kiss her. He has to kiss me, doesn’t he? She’d waited so long. His mouth began to descend, and her stomach clenched. At the last second, he retreated. No! Not this time, big guy, she thought. He’d evaded her advances too many times, and she wouldn’t allow his escape now.
Reaching up, she entwined her hands behind his neck and pulled him down. When their lips finally touched, her blood sang. At first, he froze as though his mind and body were waging a war with one another, and she wondered which would win. He growled then slipped his tongue inside her mouth, answering her question.
His intoxicating taste wrung a gasp from her lips. Kissing Landon was everything she’d fantasized about. The lazy exploration of his tongue stoked her to a peak she had never known, and she trembled. Spearing his fingers into her hair, he deepened the kiss.
Every cell, every fiber of her being relaxed as ecstasy crawled through her, lighting a path of fire along the way. Finally. The word whispered through her brain.
The hand that wasn’t entwined in her hair rested on her waist, fingers stroking back and forth until they breached the hem of her shirt. He came in contact with bare skin, and he began the journey upward, the anticipation of his big hand cupping her breast was nearly more than she could stand. She whimpered, but an instant before he reached the goal, something vibrated against her leg.
He broke the kiss and scrambled off her. “Son of a bitch,” he muttered, as he dug the phone from his pocket. When he looked at the screen, he frowned before hitting the button to accept the call. “Yeah.”
Exasperated, needy, and pissed at the interruption, she blew out a long breath and sat up. Bending one leg and resting her foot on the edge of the seat, she rested her chin on her knee as she listened to Landon’s conversation.
“We’re both fine, Brady. Yes. The storm is bad. We had to stop at a truck stop. It’s not supposed to let up for some time.”
“We are fine, Brady,” she said loud enough for her brother to hear.
“No hotels for miles. I could probably make it, but I didn’t think you’d want me to chance it with your sister on board,” Landon said. “Yep. I’ll let you know when we’re back on the road. Okay.” Landon handed Krista the phone. “He wants to talk to you.”
“Just put it on speaker.” She straightened the leg she’d been resting her chin on.
“Krista?” Brady’s voice came over the speaker.
“I’m here, big brother.”
“You okay?”
“Stop being paranoid. Landon just told you we were both fine.” She huffed.
“I can hear you are in fine, bratty form as usual,” Brady said. “And I’m not paranoid.”
“Yep. That’s me. The bratty child.” She raised her brows at Landon.
“Keep acting like that, and I’ll give Landon permission to spank you,” Brady said.
Krista smirked, and Landon’s cheeks turned beet red. “Go ahead. Give him permission, but I’ll probably like it.”
Landon groaned, and she suppressed the urge to giggle. When she imagined Landon spanking her, a sudden rush of heat in her lower belly forced the playful banter to take a backseat. “All right. I’m done.” Brady sighed. “Call me tomorrow when you two are back on the road.”
“Again, Landon just told you he would.” She rolled her eyes. “Sheesh, Brady. You do remember what I told you about being overprotective? Besides, shouldn’t you be busy having sexy time right now with Nyssa?”
“I’m not talking about sexy time with my baby sister. You know I love you and worry about you.”
“I know. I love you too, but don’t worry. I’m fine. Landon is taking very good care of me.”
“Talk to you tomorrow, sis,” Brady said before hanging up.
Landon put the phone on the dash and stared at her.
“What? I’m game if you are.” She smiled.
“Game?”
“You heard my brother. He just gave you permission to spank me.” She barely kept from squirming in her seat when another round of heat rushed her body.
He blew out a long breath, and rubbed his face with his hand. “We can’t go there again.”
“Go where, exactly?”
“Where we were before your brother called.”
“Oh. You mean me on the seat pinned under you while we made out?”
“Do you have to be so blunt about everything?” he grumbled.
“Do you have to tiptoe around everything?” She shook her head when he didn’t answer. “Look. We’re both adults. You didn’t do a
nything I didn’t want you to. You should know by now I have a strong personality. I’d speak up if you did anything that offended me. Believe me, offending me was not on the list of things you were doing.”
“You are going to be my sister-in-law soon. Brady trusts me with you. We can’t do this again,” Landon said through tight lips.
“Kiss? More?” she blurted.
“All of it. I just got Nyssa back in my life. I have a long way to go to earn your brother’s respect. Mauling his sister will not earn me any points.”
“Points? Really? You’re telling me that earning points with my brother is more important than what we just shared?”
“It was only a kiss,” Landon muttered.
“No. It wasn’t,” she fumed. “I’m going to lay it all out here. You know I like you.” She threw her hands up in the air. “Hell, I’ve told you as much. In fact, I’ve liked you since we first met. And don’t pretend you aren’t attracted to me. You try hard to act as if you don’t feel the chemistry we have, but you’re a bad liar. You did not kiss me like someone who isn’t interested. No one is that good of an actor.”
“It doesn’t fucking matter. We can’t be together,” he thundered. When her eyes widened, he paused for a moment. “I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to yell. I’m mad at myself, not you. I should have had more control.”
“You are really pissing me off right now. This isn’t about impressing my brother or control or what the hell ever. This is about me and you.”
“There is no me and you,” he said.
“No, because you are the biggest stubborn-ass I’ve ever met.” She rolled her eyes. Men. How could they be so freakin’ clueless? “Answer me a question, okay?”
“Why do I feel like I’m about to be ambushed?” He scrubbed his hand over his face.
“Are you attracted to me at all, or have I imagined every heated gaze you’ve pinned on me when you thought I wasn’t watching? Have I imagined the way your breathing quickens when I get close to you or the way the heat dances in your eyes when we brush hands?”
He stared at her for several minutes before answering. “No, but we still can’t be together.”
“Why?” She turned her palms up.
“Have you ever thought what it might do to our families if we were to get together and it didn’t work out? Things are strained enough already. Have you thought about how much younger you are than me? What about the fact that I am not the settling-down type?”
“I am an adult woman, not a child despite popular belief. And why do you always have to read so much into things? It doesn’t have to be that complicated. If we didn’t work out, we could remain friends.” It would so work out with them if he’d ever loosen up.
“And not everything is easy and rose-colored.” He shook his head.
“Fine. But just remember, if you take too long to realize I’m an adult and can make my own decisions, it may be too late. I’m not going to wait for you forever.”
She so would wait for him forever.
Chapter Three
It had been several hours since Krista climbed into the makeshift bed Landon made in the backseat. He’d only dozed a couple of times, but fed-up with the images of kissing Krista his mind was determined to re-play over and over every time he closed his eyes, he gave up on sleeping.
Until their chat, he hadn’t been one hundred percent sure she was attracted to him. She was flirty and beautiful, seldom held her tongue where her thoughts were concerned, and loved to tease. She hadn’t been sure about his feelings for her, either. Although, he didn’t know how it was possible for a woman as beautiful as she was to not know a man would have to be dead to not notice her.
The memory of the way her soft lips tasted sent a shiver of need down his spine. Now that he’d kissed her, how could he keep his hands off her? You will do it for her and Nyssa’s sake. He blew out an agitated breath. The only two women he’d selflessly and completely loved his entire life were his mother and sister. Look how well that turned out for you.
One was dead and the other he’d turned his back on. He couldn’t go through that again. He’d rather die than be burdened with more guilt for letting down someone he loved. True, he hadn’t known Nyssa’s predicament, but he should have seen through Clay’s lies. Clay had always been trouble, and his sister deserved better.
Soft moans from the backseat prompted him to look in the mirror. The coppery highlights in Krista’s brown hair were shining in the dull light of dawn filtering through the windows. The snow had let up about an hour earlier, and he was hopeful about getting back on the road soon. He frowned when she let out another moan. He turned around and climbed into the back, a difficult feat for a man of his size despite the roomy truck cab.
Not wanting to startle her, he whispered her name, but the moaning only intensified, and her head began to thrash back and forth.
“No. No. No,” she whispered.
The tone of the plea was haunting and sent a dull ache through his chest. The thought of something causing her pain, even a dream, unsettled him in ways he could not explain.
“Krista,” he said a bit louder.
“Please. No!”
Unable to stand her suffering one second longer, he placed his hand on her shoulder. Her lids flew wide open, and a haunting whimper escaped from her lips. Her unfocused gaze told him she was still not fully awake.
“It’s me,” he said. You were having a bad dream.”
When her eyes cleared, and she came back to reality, he breathed a sigh of relief. But the tears that began streaming her cheeks washed away the relief.
She swiped the tears from her face then launched herself at him. She snuggled against him, and he had no choice but to wrap her in a bear hug. This was a side of Krista he had never witnessed. Vulnerable.
“What’s wrong, sugar?” He began stroking her hair.
“I haven’t had one of those nightmares for a long time. I hate them.” She hiccupped.
“Do you want to tell me about it?”
“No. I just hate them,” she said.
He leaned back and gazed down at her. “Hate who?”
“The stupid rogue lycans who kidnapped me. The ones Brady was going to give Georgia to in exchange for me.” She sniffled.
He’d heard the story. Brady couldn’t go through with it in the end, which was a good thing because Kish, Georgia’s mate and an ancient lycan, would have killed Brady. In the end, Kish had helped Brady get Krista back.
“Did they...” He couldn’t even finish the question.
“They didn’t rape me, but they threatened it more than once. I felt helpless. They were scarier than shit. And now...i-it makes me angry.” She wiped at the tears again.
Anger burned through him, and he wished he could get a hold of the assholes who’d put her through that, even though Kish and Brady had already dealt with them.
“Is there anything I can do?” He wanted to stop the pain for her, but he didn’t know how.
She nodded.
“Anything. Just tell me, and it’s yours.”
“Kiss me.”
“Krista—”
“I know you don’t want us to be together, but it would make me feel better if you kissed me.” She smiled up at him then sniffled again. “You did say anything.”
“You know it’s not a matter of me not wanting us to be together.”
“That was unfair. Even if I don’t agree with your reasons, I should respect them, but one kiss won’t hurt anything,” she said.
He framed her face with his hands. He already knew how she’d taste, and his lips tingled in anticipation. She tipped her head up, closed her eyes, and he breached some of the distance between them, but as a sigh fell from her lips, the warmth of her breath fanning over his chin, he stopped.
He leaned his forehead against hers. “I can’t do this.”
“It’s just a kiss,” she whispered.
He shook his head. “If I kiss you, I’m not sure I’ll be able to stop.�
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“I’m sure I wouldn’t mind.”
Her breathy words made his cock jump. He wanted her more than anything, and the grasp he was losing on control scared the hell out of him. “This can’t happen, damn it.”
“Your age doesn’t matter. Neither does my brother or your sister. Brady might act all mad at first, but they’d both be content for us as long as we are happy.”
“I can’t.” Why couldn’t he have met her under different circumstances?
“I don’t understand.”
“Both of the women I loved in my life, the two women who counted on me, I let down. I can’t do that to you, too. I can’t go through that again.” He began to pull away, but she placed a small hand on his forearm, staying him.
“Are these girlfriends we’re talking about?”
“No. My sister and my mother,” he said.
She brushed her fingers over his jaw. “You have to quit beating yourself up over that. You had no way of stopping what happened to your mother. It wasn’t your fault. And as far as Nyssa goes? She’s forgiven you and your brothers. You have to stop living in the past. Sometimes bad things happen to good people. You have a second chance. Don’t ruin it by letting guilt control you.”
“I’ve made too many big mistakes in my life. I won’t add you to the list,” he said. His heart thudded painfully in his chest, shattering into tiny pieces.
“What if the mistake is ignoring what is between us? Have you ever thought of that?”
“I care for you. I’ll always protect you and be there for you if you need me, but—”
“Okay. I get it.” She rubbed at her red eyes. “When can we get out of here?”
Great. Now she didn’t want anything to do with him. That’s what you wanted though, right? The problem was? That isn’t what he wanted. It’s what had to be.
“We can be on our way as soon as I fuel the truck.”
He climbed into the front seat. He put the truck in gear then drove across the lot to the pumps.
