Emily hurried to catch up with him. “I know I can. But I want my independence, to come and go without worrying.” Why couldn’t she tell him she was just plain scared?
He whirled around, his green eyes flashing with a hint of temper. “What about other men?”
A gasp of surprise escaped before she could censor her reaction. “Men? What do you think I’m going to do?”
“I’m not the only single male in Middlemarch.” Saber’s voice was tightly controlled, but she knew temper lurked below the surface.
“I’m not worried about you so much. It’s the men. They’re going to beat a path to your door.”
That was jealousy she heard in his words, saw in the flash of his eyes. “I’m not interested in racing into a relationship.” And she wasn’t. Michael had soured everything for her. But she wasn’t about to turn down a little recreational sex with Saber. As long as they were circumspect, everything would go swimmingly. Okay, so maybe that wasn’t the entire truth. She needed more time to decide what she really wanted.
“What about going out with a friend?” Saber glared at her so hard, she stopped walking. Even cranky, he was sexy and jumpable.
Emily’s mouth twitched with the need to laugh. “If that friend was you, I think we could come to an arrangement. A date now and then.”
“Humph.” Saber’s glare darkened, and after holding open the door for her, he strode to his vehicle.
Emily stared after him, once again marveling at his tight ass. Very tempting and gropable. Made a girl want to grab. A tiny grin came into play. She got the distinct feeling she hadn’t come out with the correct answer to his questions. Too bad. Her amusement faded. She refused to give up her independence just on his say-so, not when her fear of committing again was so close to the surface. No need to tempt another big mistake when time would put things in better prospective. There was no hurry to come to a decision. Emily sighed as she followed Saber. She needed time to heal.
Chapter Eight
“A place to rent.” The elderly man stroked his bristled chin, his forehead creased in a frown. His brown eyes narrowed. “You’re the second person to want to rent somewhere this week. Found the other woman a place. Ain’t much else available.”
“Nothing at all?” Emily asked.
“Nope.”
“What about a waiting list?”
“Suppose I could put the word out,” the man said, but his whole expression spoke of doubt.
“Thanks,” Emily said. “I’ll ring you in a few days to see if anything has turned up.”
“Greg,” Saber said from behind her. They’d separated outside. Saber had gone to check on an order of farm equipment after pointing her in the direction of the real estate agent. “Any luck with finding somewhere for Emily?”
“Wish I could help. Not much available at the moment.”
Saber placed his hand on her shoulder. “You know you can stay with us until something turns up.”
Emily’s heart did a traitorous pitter-patter. That was the problem. The more time she spent with Saber Mitchell, the more tempted she was to go with the flow and drift into a relationship. The man pulled her, throwing out temptation with every touch, every smile. She could see it happening all too easily. “Thanks. I’ll be in touch.”
Emily walked down the street at Saber’s side. They stopped several times to greet locals, and Saber introduced her to both men and women. Strange the number of people with green eyes. Hardly a common eye color, although Saber had said their ancestors had sailed to Dunedin from Scotland before settling in Middlemarch. Green was obviously a dominant gene.
“How was your first full day at the café?” Saber asked once they had started back to the farm.
“I loved it.” And she had. Her customers were appreciative, and Charlotte was a joy to work for. Ideas of ways she could become more efficient crammed her mind, making her eager for the next day. Almost giddy, she wanted to dance with exuberance in time to the silent music pulsing through her body. Emily hadn’t felt like this for a long, long time.
“It’s my turn to cook dinner,” Saber said when they pulled up outside the house. “Wanna help?”
“Sure.”
Saber switched off the ignition and glanced across at her. “Do you still want to sleep in another bedroom? You can take the one we put all your bags in last night, if you want.”
The bubble of exuberance burst. She stared, trying to read him. What did he want her to do? Emily was torn. She wanted her independence, yet the idea of never touching him intimately again made her want to cry. “I’m happy where I am…unless you want me to move into another bedroom?”
“No.” Saber climbed from the vehicle and slammed the door. He strode toward the house, leaving Emily staring after him.
“Well,” Emily muttered, “I’m glad we got that settled.” She jumped out of the SUV and hurried up the path. She stormed inside. “Saber! Saber, you can’t walk away like that.” She burst into the lounge where Leo and Felix were working on the computer. A mess of checkbooks, bank statements and invoices covered the top of the dining table. “Where did Saber go?”
“I’m here. There’s no need to shout.” He carried a bottle of wine and two glasses. “I’m switching my cooking night to tomorrow night.”
Felix straightened at the computer. “Why?”
Saber glanced over at her, the sensual heat in his green eyes so hot, she trembled. “Emily and I are going to be busy. We’ll cook tomorrow.”
“Aw, bro. I cooked last night,” Leo said. “It’s your turn.”
“Too bad.” Saber winked at her.
“Please tell us you’re not going to make noise,” Felix said, rolling his eyes in a dramatic manner. “We’re too young to be exposed to that sort of activity.”
Saber’s gaze never left her. “Oh, I guarantee we’ll make noise.”
“Saber!” Emily finally found her voice. Self-conscious color seeped to her face and she couldn’t look at Felix or Leo for fear of what she might see.
“You’re embarrassing her,” Leo said. “She’s gone the color of my favorite shirt.”
“Perhaps you and Felix should go down to the pub. Have dinner down there,” Emily blurted.
Saber nodded in approval. “Good idea.”
“It’s too early for dinner,” Felix said, glancing at his watch.
“Try afternoon tea.” Saber herded Emily from the lounge and down the passage.
Not that she needed much encouragement. Her heart raced with excitement from the promise she’d seen in his eyes. Her hand trembled when she reached for the doorknob of his bedroom door and twisted it. The door creaked open. Saber strode inside, set the wine and glasses down on the bedside cabinet before going back to shut the door.
“I’m glad you’re staying in Middlemarch.”
Emily was glad, too. A new beginning. Challenges.
“You know I want more than friendship.”
Emily closed her eyes for a brief moment, fighting the sudden panic inside. She inhaled slowly, her eyes flicking open. “I don’t… I can’t give more.” Not at the moment. Please, understand.
Saber prowled across the room. He smoothed his hand across her cheek. “We won’t discuss it now. Maybe later.” A slow smile crawled across his lips, turning decidedly carnal. Emily let her worry escape along with her held breath. She melted inside as his eyes caressed her face and wandered down her body over her plain blue cotton shirt and her straight black skirt, down her legs to her black leather shoes. X-ray vision. Emily could have sworn he possessed the power. Every inch of her skin tingled with heat and awareness. Her nipples tightened beneath the cups of her lacy bra. Desire stirred and he hadn’t touched her.
“What do you mean telling your brothers that you’re going to make me scream?”
“I believe I said we’d make noise. I didn’t specify exactly.” Saber grinned lazily and brushed a tendril of hair off her forehead. “But I spoke the truth.” His fingers entwined in her hair befor
e he lowered his mouth to hers. Their gazes met. Held. Then he tasted her mouth, gently biting at her lips, cradling her head. Tiny kisses, tantalizingly brief. Saber lifted his head, his eyes a deep green with gold flecks that shone in the light. “I am going to make love to you, and you will scream.”
He slipped a hand beneath the neckline of her blouse and traced the edge of her lacy bra. Stealthy fingers crept lower to touch the fragrant flesh below. A low moan built at the back of her throat. He’d barely touched her, yet his words had all but seduced her already.
Emily removed her glasses and placed them on the dresser. “Saber. Yes.”
“Yes, what?” Saber whispered, strumming his thumb across her nipple.
“Yes, you can make love to me, with me,” Emily murmured. “But I’m not a screamer. You won’t make me scream.”
“Ah.” Saber removed his hand and deftly undid the buttons on her shirt. He bent his head and pressed a kiss in her cleavage. “A challenge.”
His warm breath brought a shiver. Anticipation. “Perhaps I can make you shout out with pleasure,” she purred.
“I’m sure you can, kitten.” He grinned and stepped away to calmly unbutton his dark green shirt. The soft cotton peeled away from his chest, revealing his beautifully sculpted chest. The shirt settled on the floor in the corner of the bedroom. Saber removed his faded jeans and cast them aside. He stood proudly naked in front of her, his erection proclaiming his readiness to make love.
Emily studied his body and licked her lips to ease the dry sensation.
“Would you like a glass of red wine?”
Emily nodded and watched him stride across the room to where he’d left it. He deftly opened the bottle and poured the ruby liquid into the two glasses. She inhaled deeply and let out her breath with a soft whoosh. If there was ever a man sent to tempt her, it was Saber. But the idea of going through the same pain that Michael had put her through… The betrayal cut deep, and he was still reaching out from the grave to hurt her, driving a wedge between her and Maggie. Forget Michael, she told herself sternly. He was gone.
Saber returned and handed her a glass. “A toast. To the future and friendship.”
Emily lifted her glass. “To the future and friendship.” She took a mouthful of the red wine and let it trickle down her throat. It wasn’t possible to control the future, but she could control her present. Live each day as it came and wring everything from it. She lifted her glass again. “To all our todays.”
Saber set his glass down, propped a pillow up against the headboard and sprawled comfortably on the bed, at ease with his nakedness and his raging erection. “You ready to scream?”
“I’m ready for some of the hot sex you’ve promised me.” What would it be like waking up beside this man every morning? Having his baby? Emily froze in horror, her hand tightening around the wine glass. Where had that come from? She wasn’t ready to trust again. She couldn’t. But once the idea had slid stealthily into her mind, it wasn’t so easy to dislodge. Emily took a healthy swig of wine, gulping it down before drinking another mouthful. A baby. Their baby.
Saber jumped up off the bed in one lithe move. He took the almost empty glass from her and set it aside. “What’s wrong?”
Emily’s chin shot upward. “I don’t want to talk about it.” And she didn’t. The way her thoughts were running would scare him to death. He might think he wanted her to live with him, but they hadn’t known each other long enough. No, it was best she set up her own base and maintain her autonomy while she came to inner peace with herself. Conscious she was killing the mood, Emily forced a smile. Her fingers wandered across his chest, down his belly and curled around his engorged cock. The faint worry left his face, replaced by intense awareness. Emily glanced down. She loosened her grip, running one finger from the thick base to the purplish tip. “You’re very big.”
“Tell me more,” Saber said, his tone lazy and all male. “It’s good for my ego.”
A snort escaped. She’d never met a more secure male. Her thumb massaged the crown while her other hand fondled his balls, testing their weight. She squeezed lightly, enjoying the intimacy and the soft groan she wrung from him. When she repeated the move, he clasped her hands, holding them still.
“I like that very much, but I want to touch you, too.” He removed her shirt and reached behind to flick the clasp of her bra. Emily toed off her shoes while Saber unzipped her skirt, skimming it down her hips with an expertise that made her blink. Her lacy panties were next. Leaving her clothes where they fell, he scooped her off her feet and laid her on the bed, following her down. He trailed his hand from her collarbone to her pelvis in one long, uninterrupted move.
Emily sighed and parted her legs without being asked. Saber kissed his way across her stomach. He skimmed his lips over her hipbone and nipped her thigh. His stubble rasped against the delicate skin of her inner thighs, his breath moist and arousing as it washed across her sensitive vulva. Heat arrowed through her body. “Kiss me, Saber.”
“Where would you like me to kiss you?” A waft of warm air accompanied each word, puffing against her feminine folds.
“Don’t tease,” she pleaded.
In response, Saber parted her folds and ran his tongue against her swollen flesh. He pressed a gentle kiss on her clitoris and the tiny bundle of nerves jumped. “Like that?”
“Yeah.” Emily trembled when he added a finger to the equation, stroking her flesh, teasing with light, flicking movements, pushing her higher. Saber sucked lightly, brushing his tongue across her sensitive bud. Emily squeezed her eyes closed to concentrate on the building pleasure. A surge of wetness spoke of her arousal. Sensation shimmered just beyond her grasp.
“Come for me, kitten.” Saber licked, fingers pumping into her pussy, then he removed his finger and used his tongue. The rasp of his tongue when it traveled the length of her cleft brought a shiver.
“Do that again,” she pleaded, loving the contrasting roughness and wet suction of his mouth. His tongue brushed against her clit and curled around the base in that strange way he had. His mouth caressed the top and without warning, she exploded, the exquisite sensation pulling her breasts tight and sending the blush of pleasure through every inch of her body.
Finally, Saber lifted his head. His green eyes glittered as he swiped his tongue across his lips. “Like that?”
“Yeah. Exactly like that.” Saber moved up the bed and kissed her deeply. Emily tasted her juices on his mouth when their tongues swirled together. Her hands laced in his short, dark hair.
Saber loved the way she responded to him—openly and without reserve. As always, the feline part of him jostled for control, but Saber wasn’t worried about starting to shift as he had the first time they were together. Just being with her helped him to focus. The worst that might happen would be the change of his teeth for the enzyme exchange. Saliva to blood. Craving for his mate rippled through him, but Saber wanted a willing mate. A little more time…
He feasted on her mouth and pushed his shaft into her tight, silken sheath. She clasped him with warm, comforting heat. His mate. Saber thrust again, taking them both higher. Hunger lengthened his teeth, but he kept his mouth closed, concentrating instead on pounding into her receptive body and the clinging heat that drove him into a frenzy. Then suddenly, Emily groaned. He felt the wave of rhythmic pulses deep in her womb. He angled the stroke, thrusting hard and deep. Emily gripped his shoulders tightly, arching into his thrust. Without warning she screamed. Loudly. A clear scream that his brothers would hear since they hadn’t left yet. Not bothering to hide his victorious grin, Saber pistoned his hips, fought the need to bite then convulsed with the force of his own release. Damned if he didn’t feel like shouting too, but he kept the need bottled deep in his chest, grunting instead. Saber took her mouth in a hungry kiss, guaranteed to keep their pulse rates high. Finally, he gentled the kiss and propped up on his elbows to stare down at her. Her swollen lips and sensual glow gave him a great deal of satisfaction. Knowledge th
at he could make her scream made him feel like a king. A smug king. “I made you scream.”
“Did not,” she said with quiet dignity.
“Hmm, must need my hearing checked.”
“Good idea. Get the doctor to prick your ego while you’re there.”
Saber chuckled, loving her feistiness even if he didn’t appreciate her stubbornness quite as much.
They lay quietly together, neither speaking. Cuddled against each other. Exactly where he wanted her—at his side. Saber gave a wry smile. Maybe that was the way to ensure she stayed. Keep her very busy in his bed.
* * * * *
The days passed, autumn sliding stealthily away to give way to the approaching winter. The bright orange and yellow leaves on the poplar trees near the café were almost gone, leaving skeleton fingers brushing the sky.
Emily breathed deeply, inhaling the crisp, cool air as she studied the fresh coating of snow on the distant mountains and hills. She took a sip of her coffee, enjoying the slice of peace and quiet before the lunch rush started. She loved living at Middlemarch, enjoyed her job and had made lots of new friends. Michael’s parents seemed okay with her decision to stay in Middlemarch, and although Maggie wasn’t talking to her yet, Emily was confident she would soon. They both needed time and space to put things in perspective. She’d even purchased a small car to travel to and from work. Things were going well with Saber, too.
Emily grimaced. Or they would be until she imparted her news tonight. Greg had contacted her today about a house available for rent. She’d told him she’d take it and had signed a contract for six months. For the first time, she wasn’t looking forward to seeing Saber.
* * * * *
“You’re doing what?” Saber roared.
His brothers stared at her with clear horror before, almost as one, the four of them leapt to their feet.
“I’m going to the pub,” Leo said.
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