Whisper In The Dark (The McKinnon Legends-- The American Men Book One)

by James, Ranay

  This was a very grown-up emotion.

  He knew he had been very protective of her when she was a child and had cared for her even when he was a teenager. It had not been one of those weird ways that a man in his twenties lusts after a girl of thirteen, but it was something more than a brotherly feeling. It was different and he had respected her, never once daring to examine the attraction he felt for her even then. He had simply stayed away, gone off to college, got engaged to a wonderful girl, and started his career. She had moved to New York and he had not seen her again until he called her home. She was out of sight, but not necessarily out of his mind or heart.

  He had wondered and asked about her over the years. Kyle joked that someday he would marry his baby sister and be forced to put up with George on a full time basis. He always figured it was Kyle’s way of getting back at him for some unknown reason with the threat of having to deal with George. Well, that much had come to pass because either way this treasure hunt ended, George was his responsibility and if he failed George, Kate would have his head, or worse.

  However, he wanted to be sure what he felt was not just because she needed him so desperately. He certainly did not want her because of his compassion for her suffering over Kyle’s death. She was a true damsel in distress, triggering his protective instincts that had jumped into hyper-drive the moment he discovered she was living in a hovel in Brooklyn, where every day was a fight for survival and not much more was in the offering. She needed him for her continued existence in this immediate timeframe, and his alpha male genes were pushing him forward to protect his own.

  Kyle had made him promise, years ago, to look out for her should anything ever happen. When his friend died she had become his responsibility, and he was shouldering that burden gladly. Therefore, he needed to be positive he wanted her not because he owed it to Kyle and not because she was in deep financial straits and her life was in danger. He wanted to be sure he wanted her because she was the woman destined for him as a mate.

  Somehow he felt the longer he was with her there was something at a molecular level crying out to be with her, and it was beginning to alarm him as realization dawned. She was a fiercely independent woman, and one way or the other he could lose her in less than twenty-one days.

  “I won’t lose you,” he vowed softly, holding her close.

  “What?”

  “I said I miss Kyle, too. He was as much brother to me as Chase and Mason, but his death is not your fault any more than it is mine, and not everything you touch turns to crap, Kate. If that were the case I would never, ever dare to do this.”

  He leaned in and she took his mouth to hers welcoming him. Softly kissing her, it was gentle, reverent, chaste. It was not a passionate kiss. Actually, it was far from passionate, but with deep feeling just the same. Surprising them both, it was something going well beyond passion and seemed closer to a bonding, an understanding of souls meeting on a plane more meaningful and deeper than the physical.

  He let his head lull back eyes still closed. He took in a deep breath and let it out slowly as if breathing for the first time in his life.

  Her eyes fluttered open.

  “Wow, no wonder you McKinnon men have such big egos where women are concerned. It is definitely warranted,” she breathed. “Crap…did I say that out loud?”

  He smiled, nodding.

  There was a feeling rushing through her veins warming her inside and out. It felt like a drug high as it scorched through her body settling in the pleasure center of her brain.

  So she had felt it too, he thought.

  That kiss had started a chain reaction, and now he felt a connection to her that had not been there moments earlier. It was faint, but there nonetheless. He could feel her confusion and hurt. He could feel her desire and it matched his own. However, more deeply he could feel her exhaustion. Pure weariness flooded her mind, body, and spirit.

  His instincts were to protect her, and if she would allow him to, he would take care of her as long as he drew breath. After that kiss she belonged to him.

  Or maybe it was the other way around?

  Had she marked him? It was possible. There had been other cases in McKinnon history where all it took was a single kiss to complete the bonding circle between two destined to be mates. He never dreamed he carried the same gene that produced the eternal bonding between a couple. He was very far removed, by scores of generations in fact, from the original source of that DNA.

  “Mine!” he heard his inner male claim her. He heard the voice from beyond his own consciousness, spanning space and time.

  “Mine!” the voice repeated.

  It took him back a step or two. Perhaps the source of that DNA was not far enough removed after all.

  He was not ready for such a commitment, yet that choice was already being made for him by Fate. He was sure, now more than ever, she belonged to him and she belonged with him.

  Only problem he saw with that was he was not in love with her, at least not yet.

  He cared, without a doubt, but regardless of what he may or may not feel he had no choice. It was now his privilege and responsibility to care for her every need.

  God, Chase is going to love this, he thought.

  His days of professed bachelorhood were most definitely at an end. He was going to marry this woman. It was just a question of would she accept and when. He liked her immensely. She was funny, smart, and physically appealing. There were weaker bases on which to build a good marriage, he supposed. But would she require love?

  “How much sleep are you getting?” He noticed for the first time the deep circles under her eyes. He felt her muscles struggle for strength.

  She shrugged at his question of her sleeping patterns.

  "I think you already know,” she quipped, weary to the bone.

  She felt quite sure Chase reported and mapped her every move. Either way she was exhausted as she leaned into him breathing in his strength. Then realizing what she was doing, she stepped back.

  “I have a deadline of less than twenty days, Robert. Sleep is not an option or luxury I can afford. I sleep as I can.”

  “Screw the deadline, Kate,” he said slashing the air with his hand as if to cut the agreement in two. “We are partners and I’m not Dallas Langston. If it takes longer, then it just takes longer.” He shrugged his shoulders. It really was not a big deal for him. “You must get some sleep before it ends up breaking you down.”

  Chase’s reports were very detailed, and Robert knew she wandered the house most every night going through closets and drawers as if she were looking for something. He would eventually ask, but not tonight. She usually crawled into bed in the very early morning hours. Then she would rise just a few short hours later to do it all again.

  It was getting late and she needed to sleep.

  Wordlessly, he scooped her up and in spite her mild protests carried her up the stairs. He knew which room she had taken as her own and placing her on her feet just outside the doorway, he dared not pass over the threshold.

  Outside the door she leaned in seeking comfort, wrapping around him as a drowning woman would a life preserver. He felt her desperation and he did feel her going under the surface. She was drowning in debt, grief, and sorrow. He felt her pulling at his heartstrings.

  “Stay with me tonight, Robert. No strings attached, I promise. All I ask is to have the security of knowing someone is lying there beside me and has my back.”

  He knew that was not possible now.

  Any physical contact with her would only increase the already growing bond. His McKinnon blood was recognizing his true mate, but he wanted no clouds of suspicion hanging over what they could share. There was a substantial amount of money standing between her and him, and the agreement would be settled one way or the other before he had sex with her.

  Shaking his head in the negative he knew it was a mistake to leave, but a bigger mistake to stay. Deep down he knew he needed to stake his claim because until he did she was still
fair game. Yet, it was the wisest course of action. She was still vulnerable and worn out physically and spent emotionally.

  She needed sleep, but that precious commodity had been about as elusive as beautiful dreams at dawn. He knew how she felt. He had not slept much either since Kyle’s death. Yet, sleeping with her was not the answer either. That would just complicate matters. They were business partners first. Once the hunt was done, then he would pursue her romantically. After that, if she invited him into her bed he would gladly oblige, however, not at the moment. He had his doubts he could sleep next to her and not make love to her if the bulge in his jeans was any evidence. He was not a saint, and she was doing things to his insides that he was just beginning to understand. The longer he was with her, the more the need grew to claim her, and if she thought for one minute she was going to let him into her bed and him play the well-mannered knight, she was mistaken. She needed rest, not sex, and sex was what he had on his mind.

  “Robert, are you listening?”

  She had asked if he would stay long enough for her to take a bath. The house was too creepy to bathe this late at night.

  “Sure, I’ll be happy to stay. I’ll be downstairs. Just let me know when you are ready to lock the house down, and I’ll see you off to bed,” he said kissing her forehead.

  Chapter 20

  Half an hour passed, then forty-five minutes. He had spoken with the night watchman and had secured the lower floors and all the rooms on the second and third floors including hers.

  Stopping at the bathroom door he listened. It was quiet, too quiet. Lightly he tapped and the door cracked open ever so slightly.

  “Kate?” He waited for a response.

  “Kate, are you all right in there?”

  When he did not hear anything he cracked the door open wider. “Katherine?”

  “Hmm?” came the sleepy reply.

  “Kate, Baby, time to get out and get dressed for bed.”

  He waited for her reply. None came.

  “Damn,” he mumbled under his breath as he pushed the door open and peeked inside. She was sound asleep, her head lulled over to the side, soft music playing in the background.

  He kneeled down beside the old claw foot tub that was filled to the rim with bubble bath, lukewarm water, and one very beautiful mermaid who at present was passed completely out.

  Brushing the hair away from her forehead, he kissed her gently and smiled. She was beautiful when she was awake, but when she slept the lines of worry disappeared, and she looked so much younger and carefree. If it was the last thing he ever did, he would see to it those lines of worry were gone forever and replaced by lines of laughter.

  Could he be the man to make her happy? He wanted to be. He was already accepting it.

  Could she be the woman to fill his nights with passion and his days with friendship and fun?

  “I promise, Kate. It will get better,” he vowed.

  He went back into her room, turned the bed down and laying out extra towels on the sheets, he hoped it would be enough. Then going back to the bathroom, he draped several towels over his chest and shoulders to absorb as much water as possible and to give her coverage. Rolling his sleeves to his elbows and leaning over the edge, he closed his eyes and scooped her up behind the shoulder and knees.

  “Come on Bathing Beauty. Up you come.”

  The water trained off in waves, sloshing down the front of his jeans and soaking the tops of his expensive custom made calfskin boots.

  She woke briefly and mumbled something about swimming in the pond as he let the worst of the bathwater run in rivulets off her long limbs. Then wrapping her in the cocoon of towels he had over his shoulders, he took her to her room. Gently laying her in the antique bed, he covered her up and kissed her gently on the lips lingering briefly, savoring the taste of her.

  “Umm,” she sighed.

  “I guess I am the well-behaved knight after all. Man, I could just so take advantage of this. Ok, I get a gold star here, right?” he said to no one in particular.

  She nodded. “Um’hm.” Never once did she awaken.

  He sat on the side of the bed for a few minutes watching her sleep, thinking about his life. He was not unhappy, but he could not emphatically say he was happy with his bachelor lifestyle, not any longer. He was successful in his career, but it just was not enough any more. He wanted someone to share his success and to travel with him to exotic places. He wanted children. Yes, he wanted children, lots of children, the mini van, the dog, the toys all over the house, and he wanted Kate.

  “Good night my sweet Katherine,” his said softly just before kissing her good night.

  “Good night,” she mumbled before rolling over.

  Chapter 21

  Kate rolled over and stretched. Her room was flooded with daylight. How long had she slept, she wondered? She actually felt refreshed in spite of the fact she had slept naked and in a cocoon of wet towels. That fact was dawning and with it the mortification of how she must have gotten here. The last thing she remembered was soaking in the tub.

  Throwing back the covers she pulled on a clean pair of jeans, socks, and a spaghetti tee. Her boots were still by the back door. She needed to feed the livestock and then come back and change. George was coming home today, and she still needed to get a room in the Big House ready for him. He was not sleeping in the bunkhouse until she was sure he was truly on the mend and out of any physical danger.

  As she came to the bottom of the stairs, she heard activity in the kitchen as water ran in the sink and bacon sizzled, smelling delicious in the old cast iron skillet. However, even more delicious then the bacon was the scenery. She just had to stop and admire from the doorway.

  God in heaven, did it get any better than this, she asked silently.

  Robert was there looking mouth-watering in a pair of dark blue jeans, a black muscle shirt stretching tightly across very broad shoulders, and barefooted. That was somehow very intimate, making her tighten in places she had forgotten existed.

  “Morning, Sunshine. Juice?” Robert offered as she came into the kitchen.

  “Yeah, that would be good. Sorry, I slept in. Did you make coffee?” she asked picking up the empty pot, giving it a disappointing shake.

  He cocked his head sideways just looking at her, wondering how she could possibly ask such a question after the confession from the night before. Making coffee, no, he mentally corrected himself, making good coffee, eluded him. Making swill was a piece of cake.

  All right, she thought, so no coffee.

  However, the pancakes he had cooked for his men smelled wonderful. Looking around the kitchen, which was nothing short of a disaster, she supposed the ends justified the mess.

  “You cook?” she asked trying unsuccessfully to get the thought of Robert barefooted, at the very least, off her mind by taking a bit of the perfectly prepared bacon which she had found still warm and sitting on the table wrapped in a paper towel.

  “Don’t look so stunned,” he laughed at the look of surprise on her face. “I’m a bachelor. Of course I cook. Mom made sure we all could take care of ourselves. I just cannot make a good cup of coffee.”

  “Then our friendship is over,” she said with a dramatic flair.

  He laughed again. “So I have but a single fatal flaw. I have finally joined the human race.” He shrugged one of those broad shoulders which she could not seem to take her eyes off of considering good shoulders and biceps did it for her. The rest of him was doing it for her as well.

  Easy, girl, she thought to herself wondering how he could make her crazy with desire just by looking at her. She wanted to completely kiss off that crooked little smile he had on his face.

  “All right, Einstein, here is the formula. Watch, listen, and learn, my young apprentice.”

  “Yes, Master,” he smiled and then bowing humbly from the waist.

  “Fill the pot to here,” she said noting a line inside the old percolator pot as he stood over her shoulder watching intently.
“Liner goes in like this. Not rocket science, Robert.”

  “Um, huh. Got it. Filter in there,” he said pushing aside her hair, giving in to the urge to suck lightly on her neck.

  “Stop that and pay close attention. This is where most people screw the pooch,” she said playfully.

  “Screw the pooch..uh’huh,” he said half listening as he nibbled some more.

  “Four scoops, level, not heaping.”

  “Level, got it,” he said kissing the other side and running his tongue up to her ear, nipping her lobe. “Mmm, you smell good.”

  Following his mischievous lead, she leaned back into him pressing her behind tightly to his crotch. “And plug it in,” she said breathily, playfully. “Twenty minutes later you have a hot.. steaming.. mouth watering.. eye popping.. delicious..” She looked back over her shoulder giving him a look as hot as the griddle.

  “Oh, God Kate, you’re killing me,” he confessed.

  “…cup of coffee.”

  He cleared his throat stepping away before he gave in to the desire to kiss her breathless just for starters. The thoughts he had racing through his mind involved at least one horizontal surface and maybe even the jar of the strawberry jelly.

  “Thanks for tucking me in last night,” she said reaching past him for one of the silver dollar pancakes, taking a bite.

  “Not a problem. In case you were wondering, I closed my eyes.”

  “Robert, I appreciate the sentiment, but I was raised on a farm. I’m not a prude. If you happened to see a little skin,” she shrugged, “well it would not be the end of the world.”

  He cleared his throat again uncomfortable. “Kate, can we change the subject?” thinking how uncomfortable his jeans were quickly becoming. Man, she was smoking hot, he thought and she did not even realize it.