by Nancy Gideon
Kendra arched into him, encouraging him to pull her closer, to reach deeper, now begging him to meet and satisfy the raw need clawing through her for something just out of reach. And she was there, one instant on the agonizing edge, then tumbling, falling hard and fast to shatter into bliss.
She was still panting wildly through those savage shudders when Cale took her down to the forest floor on hands and knees, where he planted himself deep and continued that hard, pounding rhythm. His hands were on her shoulders, holding her still to receive him. That grip tightened, sharpened, piercing tender skin as he began to transform. Harsh breaths lowered into a preternatural rumbling against the back of her neck. She felt his body alter in shape and size, bulking up, growing thicker, more powerful. The drawing, stretching pain returned, but it wasn’t more than she could stand to have this, to have him.
The force of his aggressive strokes knocked her down onto her forearms, her face close to the scent of loamy earth that made her remember the garden shed as her fingers dug deep in the cool soil. Her body began a helpless, urgent trembling.
Cale’s huge hand tangled in her hair, twisting it away from where he would mark her. There was no panic now, just a frantic sense of need. Yes! Do it now! Cale, do it now! Make me yours. Climax hit so sudden and strong that it tore a keening cry from Kendra. And as her body clutched and spasmed, she heard Cale’s roar of frustration trickle down into deep, satisfied groans as he came spontaneously, endlessly, within her. His grip lessened as he sagged over her back, hoarse breaths scorching unbroken skin until he resumed his regular form.
Then, without a word, he withdrew from her and stood to restore his jeans, pick up his jacket . . . and walk back to where they’d parked, leaving her shivering and gasping on the ground. Mated but not yet marked.
It hit her then as an achy exhaustion settled in.
Sizzle. Boom. Done.
No kisses. No tender words. No lingering touch.
In a daze, Kendra cleaned herself as best she could with her wadded underwear, dressed, and tottered to where Cale waited, bike purring, helmeted head turned toward the road. She could tell he was aware of her approach by the stiffening of his posture, but he didn’t acknowledge her.
Her first coherent thought was to grab something to hit him with while she screamed and sobbed for him to take him back to that peaceful condo and never, ever come back for her. But she didn’t. She climbed on behind him, making as little contact as possible, as they sped toward her elegant prison.
Tony was waiting on the front steps for them. Kendra hurried past him into the house while Cale lingered to receive news he didn’t want to hear.
Tony looked after Kendra’s rapidly disappearing figure, then frowned at Cale. “Is she all right?”
“She’s my concern, not yours,” Cale responded in a curt voice. To the shrewd insight in the other man’s eyes, his narrowed glare conveyed, Mind your own damned business. “What’s going on?”
“Meeting up at the lodge in five. Was afraid you weren’t gonna be back in time.” He shook his head before Cale could ask. “Didn’t say what it was about.”
Cale’s intention to grab a quick shower was interrupted by the sight of Kendra in the bathroom. She stood before the mirror, wearing only her bra. The tender flesh of her arms and shoulders was marred by telling bruises and scratches but not by the sign of permanent possession. Smears of dried blood streaked her inner thighs.
His mate.
This wasn’t what he’d planned. Not this way. Cale took a step forward, needing to hold her close, desperate to speak quiet words to express the cherished importance of what had happened between them. His regret, his gratitude, his deep though shaken devotion.
Their gazes met, first in the reflective glass, then, as she turned toward him, her stare as bruised as her body.
He would crawl if he had to in order to erase that anguish.
“Kendra,” he began.
And that damning buzz sounded from the bag resting beside her on the sink. Her gaze widened with dismay before darting guiltily to the case.
In a fierce movement, Cale brushed her aside and tore open the bag, keeping her back with the brace of his forearm as he came up with her phone to answer it. “What do you want?” he snarled.
Silence, then a cold “Who is this?”
Cale’s tone lowered into a deadly rumble. “She can’t come to the phone. Not now, not ever. Don’t call again.”
“Cale?” He could hear a quickly drawn breath, followed by a blunt warning: “Tell her I’m on my way. Get ready.”
With a furious yell, Cale smashed the phone to the tiled floor and crushed it beneath his heel. Then he turned to Kendra, not looking for an answer—he already had that—but to tell her succinctly, “Don’t bother to pack. You’re not going anywhere.”
He left her without any other explanation, slamming out the front door, pausing only briefly to tell Tony, “She doesn’t leave here,” before jogging up to the lodge.
His father and his immaculately dressed brothers were seated in the great hall. All eyes were on him as he strode across the room like a brawler, clothing rumpled, smelling of rage and feral sex. His brothers took in the scratches on his neck and his raw temper and smirked knowingly. Cale Terriot was a mated man.
“MacCreedy’s on his way,” Cale announced without preamble.
Bram regarded him narrowly. “Since you’re already late, you might have put some thought into looking presentable.”
“I’m not late,” Cale snapped back, earning some raised brows from his siblings. “I’ve been finishing other business you sent me to attend to. What are we going to do about MacCreedy?”
“Sit down.”
Contrarily, Cale bypassed the cluster of chairs to stand at the window, balled fists resting against the cool glass, back to the others. His breathing, his thoughts, his mood were ungoverned, and for the moment he didn’t care.
“How did you hear of it?” Bram asked, his voice terse.
“He’s been trying to reach my mate.” Again that blinding fury surged in Cale, to think that another would intrude between him and his female. Especially this dangerous other. “I just spoke to him. When he gets here, I’m going to kill him.”
“That’s not going to happen.” When Cale whirled toward him, Bram amended coolly, “At least not right away.”
“Why not?”
“Back down your attitude, boy, or it’ll be done for you.”
Cale took a deep breath and managed a rigid outward stance. Inside, he was shaking apart, his restraint weakened by stress cracks. He couldn’t force an apology, but Bram seemed to accept his silence as a sign of obedience.
“I’ve spoken to MacCreedy myself.”
Cale’s attention snapped taut. “When?”
“This morning. He’s on his way here at my invitation, so you will do nothing without my instructions. Is that clear?”
Cale swallowed hard and managed a strained “Yes, my king” through gritted teeth.
“It seems our men got tangled up in some local difficulties. Davis had the bad fortune to fall into their hands alive. MacCreedy is bringing him back to us. I believe he expects an apology and perhaps some concessions.”
Cale’s blood went cold. Kendra. Silas was coming here to demand his cousin in exchange for continued peace between them.
Over his dead body!
“What are we going to do?” he asked in an unemotional tone.
“That depends on you and what you’re willing to surrender.”
“I surrender nothing. He won’t take what belongs to me.”
Those arrogant words struck against the wall of fear surrounding his heart but scarcely made a dent. All the posturing sentiments in the world couldn’t overcome the cold panic of losing her. Because Kendra’s vow wasn’t born of love. It was forged by desperation. And now she had another option in play.
Knowing that, he’d fiercely placed his claim upon her, within her, to take what he hadn’t earned.
He was a Terriot, so he held tight to what he’d managed to acquire, though it wasn’t truly his. That truth undercut his confidence with shame. Because he was too weak to let her go, to trust her to choose.
“I can’t demand that my clan stand behind my rights, but I’ll fight to the death to protect them.” Because he was a prince in the House of Terriot, and he didn’t surrender.
There was movement off to the side. Turow rose from his seat. “I’ll stand with you, brother.”
Before Cale could express surprise, Colin and Kip also stood.
“I’m in,” Rico announced, pushing at Adam and Lee on either side of him to get them to rise as well.
Slowly, Wesley got to his feet, then James and Stephen.
Bram surveyed the united front made by his sons with a touch of uneasiness rather than pride. “Sit down, all of you. No need for dramatics. Our House allows no transgressions against one of our own. You insult us to expect less, Cale.”
Cale turned a humbled face to his brothers as he muttered, “I spoke foolishly.” Then he added, “And I thank you.”
“We’ll hear what MacCreedy has to say and discuss whatever he suggests before I make a decision. Is that understood?”
“Yes, my king.”
“No one acts on his own when those actions affect us all. Is that clear?”
“Yes, my king.”
Talk turned to matters of readiness in case things soured with MacCreedy, giving Cale time to consider his bold words.
How was he going to hold on to a woman who didn’t want him and had lied about her desire to share his life? By locking her in their rooms under guard? By keeping her under his constant surveillance? By beating all thoughts of betrayal out of her, as his father would have?
Kendra would never make a rash move to endanger their position, if not to save him, then to save her cousin—or whatever else he might be to her. She was smart, used to protecting those she cared about. Or so Cale believed until he glanced up and saw her trying to force her way into the room.
Kendra knelt on the tiled floor of the bathroom, clutching her crushed cell phone in a panic. Silas was on his way, and she couldn’t intercept him. She needed more time. Time to heal the wounds between her past and Cale’s House. Time to mend the tenuous trust she’d broken with her failure to recognize where her desires led. Time to make a stand for the startling truths she’d recognized in the past few hours.
She was mated to the heir of the beast who’d destroyed her family. Despite the confusions and conflicts that made the situation less than ideal, she was exactly where she wanted to be. Hurt feelings and disappointed hopes had no place next to that revelation. They needed to be quickly addressed so she could concentrate upon the one thing that mattered: building a future with her prince. But that future wouldn’t stand if things escalated to war between hearts and households.
There was no more time for reflection. Only time to act.
After washing up quickly at the sink, Kendra pushed through her wardrobe, impatient with the drab and nondescript that no longer suited someone who’d been taken on her hands and knees in the woods, and had delighted in the wildness of it. She found a deep crimson dress with a fitted bodice and a flowing skirt that would sweep the top of her lace-up boots. The gravity of the moment required jewelry, so she pulled down her case.
And was ready to claim her prince.
“Where is he?”
Tony straightened away from the side of the Escalade where he was leaning. “Up at the lodge.”
Kendra rushed by him, raising her hand when he started to speak. “Don’t try to stop me. Keep up if you’re coming along.”
“Princess, he’s in a meeting with his family. You can’t interrupt them.” He fell in beside her, making no attempt to slow her down. Was he trying to hide a smile?
“I’m the topic of their discussion. Trust me, Tony. I need to be there. He needs me to be there.” Before disaster struck.
She refused to be waylaid outside the great hall by Bram’s mammoth bodyguard. While Tony ran interference for her, Kendra slipped through and had started across the vast open space when Bull’s meaty hand clamped her elbow, pulling her up sharply.
“Take your hand off her, or I will remove it permanently.”
Cale’s command boomed like thunder through the cavernous room. He moved to his father’s side but didn’t need that position to give weight to his words. He was all bristling hostility wrapped in a dangerously compressed package.
Bull looked to the Terriot leader and, at his faint nod, released her.
Kendra continued to where Cale stood at the far side of the room, aware of the disapproving stares that followed her. Females had no place in their business dealings, and her presence was as unwanted as it was unprecedented. She paid no attention to their glowers. Her focus was on Cale.
He betrayed nothing of his thoughts, his posture tense. His greeting was cool. “This is no place for you. What are you doing here?”
Kendra sank to her knees at his feet, his hand clutched between hers. She spoke softly, but her words were clear enough to be heard by those close by.
“Forgive me, my prince. I couldn’t let you think I’d purposefully deceived you, not with so much in the balance. I spoke to my cousin Brigit. Perhaps I shouldn’t have, but I didn’t try to hide it.”
A muscle ticked in his jaw. “That’s true.”
“I didn’t know Silas was trying to contact me. I haven’t spoken to him. I promised you I wouldn’t, and I haven’t. I would never disrespect you that way. I’ve chosen you. I’m yours, my prince, now and forever.” She pressed his hand to her cheek, intending a gesture of faithfulness until his scent and heat shivered through her in an unexpected rush. Her grip tightened. Her lips moved against his palm, tongue restlessly stroking.
Cale pulled her to her feet with a harsh “Don’t do that. I will not have you on your knees unless the purpose suits us both. You shouldn’t have come here.” His stare grew dark and stormy. “What’s between us, stays between us.”
She corrected him softly. “Not when it endangers our future. If I wasn’t clear before, let me say it again. I’ve made my choice. I stand with you.”
Kendra stroked her hair back, and he simply stared at the diamond in her ear. For an instant, his eyes were just as brilliant before he lowered his head, resting his brow upon her shoulder. “You emasculate me in front of my brothers,” he murmured gruffly as her breath blew lightly against his ear.
“I think they all wish they were you, my prince.” She touched his hair and didn’t want to stop. All that pent-up longing roughened her voice as she repeated, “I am yours.”
His hands settled at her hips, briefly kneading the fabric of her dress before going very still. His words were quiet but concentrated. “Well played, Princess.”
He didn’t believe her.
He stepped back, his expression cautious once more.
Seeing that there was nothing she could do in this public venue to convince him of her sincerity, Kendra turned to sink down at Bram’s feet. With her head lowered so he wouldn’t see how difficult it was for her to make that humbling move, she murmured, “I beg your forgiveness, too, my king. I shouldn’t have trespassed, but I was concerned my actions might have been seen as disloyalty.”
“A very pretty apology, my dear. You honor us in your acceptance of my son. But you’re not yet bonded. What’s to keep your cousin from demanding your return?”
She lifted her head, meeting his suspicion with unblinking directness. “I’ve given my word and pledged my allegiance. That’s always meant something . . . in my family.”
He put out his hand, giving her no choice but to place hers within it. His fingers were cold and closed with cruel pressure about hers.
“You’d do well to listen to Cale and obey him. You could be a great asset to our House or become a liability, as members of your family have before you. Would you fail to serve your king, as they did, and force Cale to deal with you as
I did them?”
The very thought made her pale, but her voice was steady. “I serve my prince in all things.”
Bram’s stare widened. He glanced at Cale, then back to her. “Where did you get that diamond?”
“Cale gave it to me. I wear it as his mate.”
“When did he give it to you?”
“A long time ago, my king. I had no reason to wear it until now.” She looked quickly at Cale, who was watching them with an uneasy frown. The painful squeeze to her fingers returned her attention to his father. She struggled not to betray a discomfort that would cause Cale to intercede and put them both in greater danger than her words obviously had.
“Embrace me, child, as my daughter.”
Kendra obeyed, suffocated by the smell of sickness, of both body and soul, as his arms banded uncomfortably tight.
“Give me the diamond,” Bram demanded against her ear, his breath as hot as his temper. “Now.”
“No. Respectfully, my king.” She lowered her voice humbly. “He’s my prince. I could only return it to him if he asked.”
“And if I were to order my man to bring your cousin’s head to me on a plate, would you answer differently?”
Her reply rumbled with intensity. “You wouldn’t dare.”
Seething at her rebellious tone, Bram leaned closer to growl, “And what would stop me, little girl?”
“Your rightful heir. I’m not afraid of you, but you’d be wise to fear the truth. If Cale learns of it, it’ll be your head on that plate. Now let go of me and never threaten to harm me or my family or my prince again.”
A dangerously silent Bram released her.
Kendra rose to her feet and inclined her head graciously to her king. She went up on her toes to rub her cheek against her mate’s. Her whisper brushed his ear. “I love you, Cale.”
His footing wobbled. A quick swallow jerked along his throat, but otherwise, his expression didn’t change as she stepped back and quickly left the assembly.
