by Wood, Vivian
As he hit the top step of her porch, the deep ocean blue of his eyes ensnared her, almost stealing the breath from her lungs. In the last year she’d refrained from sex, uncertain of her future, but now her appetite returned with a vengeance. Looking at Elijah made her mouth water.
Whoa. Slow down. You’re looking for more than a pretty face, girl. Get a grip!
“Hi,” she said, standing up to meet him.
“Hi,” he said, coming to a stop next to the bench. His hands were stuffed into his pockets, and truth be told, he looked a little nervous.
“Um, come inside,” Ivy said, turning and leading him into the main room and toward the kitchen. “Would you like some wine? I opened a bottle of Shiraz, but I have others.”
“Sounds fantastic,” he said, the deep burr of his accent making her shiver.
“I love your accent,” she blurted out, turning away to hide her blush. She grabbed a wine glass and poured him some of the Shiraz, steadying herself before turning back to him.
“Thanks,” he said with a shrug. “I don’t think about it too much, I guess. Americans seem to love it, though.”
Ivy raised a brow, wondering if he meant American women, specifically.
“It’s exotic, I guess,” she said, leading him over to the couch. She sat on one end, trying not to feel nervous when he settled down right beside her. She sucked in a deep breath, trying not to be conspicuous, but he just smelled so damned good. Very masculine. Like a wolf’s fur and pine and soap. Her wolf loved it, reveled in the smell of him.
“Can I suggest something?” he said. “Can we just talk about the awkward parts first, so that we can both both relax a little?”
“Sure,” she said, taking a huge gulp of her wine.
“You want a mate, and children, right away. That’s the gist of it, right?” he asked, his eyes on her face.
Ivy went a deep shade of red, every inch of skin aflame, but she nodded.
“Yes,” she agreed.
“Is there more to know?” he asked.
She swallowed, trying to ignore the frantic beat of her heart and the fact that he was so close that she could almost feel the heat of his body.
“No,” she said, shaking her head.
“You’ve wealth and time,” he said, waving his hand to indicate the house. “Why not get a sperm donor, a nanny, all that?”
“I don’t want that. I want a family, even if it’s not a traditional one. I want at least two children, and I want them to grow up with more than just me. Like I said, a family.”
“But you’re not looking for a mate,” he said, cocking his head.
Tears pricked her eyes. She couldn’t explain why she wasn’t asking for more, why she didn’t have that right to tie someone down. She might be selfish enough to start a family, but she wouldn’t tie a man down with a dying mate. It was too cruel.
“I wouldn’t ask that. I can offer— I have money, I have this house. I can offer whatever’s needed. I’m not asking for much,” she finished, her voice growing a bit ragged.
“It’s okay,” Elijah said, reaching out and covering her hand with his. She squirmed, almost pulling away, but she stopped herself. The whole point of this exercise was to get closer to someone. Elijah was handsome, and kind, and her wolf already adored him. So she let him console her, though he didn’t know the half of it all.
“I’m not interested in taking anything,” Elijah told her after a moment. “I think we have similar desires, though. I have a family back in Scotland, a big family. My father is the Alpha of our clan, and I’m the only descendant. For our line to continue, I need an heir.”
Ivy took a deep breath, working up the courage to ask the question that was burning in her mind.
“I don’t want to offend you, but I have to ask. Why are you single?”
Elijah chuckled, squeezing her hand before withdrawing.
“Garrett and I have both worked nonstop the last three years, getting our private security firm off the ground. The last six months in particular, we worked to solve a human trafficking case. We were both putting in eighty hour weeks, barely sleeping. Garrett burned out first. He and Kiley found each other again a few months ago, just before that case ended. So I guess what I’m saying is, I haven’t had time for anything other than work.”
“But you do now?” she asked, curious.
Elijah gave her a quick grin, dimples flashing.
“You’re very clever,” he said, giving her a considering look. “We’ve hired enough trustworthy people now that Garrett and I can take a step back from daily operations. We’ll be doing more of the business meetings and sales aspects. I wouldn’t be willing to consider starting a family, otherwise. The missions are too dangerous for family men.”
“I see,” she said, nodding. “I guess I’ll ask you the same thing, then. Is there more to know?”
His eyes darkened for an instant, but just as quickly he laughed, reaching out to touch her hand once more.
“Nothing of importance,” he said. “I can see that you’ve got this whole thing laid out and planned. Do I pass the first test, then?”
Ivy’s lips curled in a smile, and she nodded.
“I guess you do. I have to admit, I don’t know what the next step should be. I planned everything up until this point.”
Elijah gave her a winning smile, leaning a little closer as he spoke.
“I know what the next step should be,” he intoned. “We have to test the chemistry.”
“Test the chemistry?” she repeated, confused.
“Aye, between the two of us. Make sure we’re a not just a good match on paper, you ken?”
“Ah. Um,” she mumbled.
“Just a kiss will do it, I think,” he said.
He was already only inches away, but he reached out for her and put his hand on her waist, drawing her nearer. Ivy’s head fell back as she gazed up at him, the softness of her body pressing up against the hard length of him. His heat sunk into her skin, mesmerizing her, making her wolf growl with fierce pleasure.
Her lips parted as Elijah’s face dropped to hers, his warm, full, firm lips brushing hers in a teasing motion. Ivy’s hands found his broad, muscular shoulders as she sighed against his mouth. He kissed her fully, lips meshing with hers, and she went strangely blank.
It began slowly. He pressed his lips to hers, and she met him, savoring the sharp, clean scent of him. She measured the strength of him under her hands, found him exciting. Felt the size of him next to her body, compared him to herself, and liked what she felt. Her brain whirred, calculating, but all the while her heart beat faster and faster. Her wolf came fully awake, reveling in Elijah’s strength and virility. He filled her senses as he kissed and nipped and licked at her lips, bringing her to life, lighting a flame long dormant.
Suddenly she was so hot, so tense, so needy. She leaned up into the kiss, a strange noise escaping her throat, her fingers curling to dig into his shoulders. Elijah’s kiss was demanding, and she gave. She opened her mouth, allowing him within. When his tongue stroked hers, she met his every thrust. She pressed her breasts against him, angling to be closer to him, and she would have moved closer to straddle his lap had his hands not come up to stop her.
He pulled back, his motion gentle. Wide-eyed, gasping for breath, Ivy stared up at him in confusion.
“I’m so sorry. I didn’t mean—” she started, blushing to the roots of her hair.
“Don’ apologize, Ivy,” Elijah uttered. She liked the way he said her name, like Ey-vay. “It just means we suit, is all.”
“I just didn’t mean to go rubbing all over you like some kind of pervert,” she said, unable to hold back a chuckle.
“Aye, I’m very offended,” he said, grinning.
“You look offended,” she said, laughing. She felt all aflutter, somehow.
“I was about three seconds from trying to get you out of your pretty dress,” he admitted. “But I thought it might be rude to do that before dinner. I’m not sure
what the rules are in this situation.”
Ivy threw her head back and howled with laugher, the tight feeling in her chest finally loosening up a bit. When she regained her composure, she stood and grabbed his hand, guiding him to the dining room.
“I don’t know what the rules are, either, but I do know that I made quite a nice dinner for us. I don’t want it to go to waste.”
“Nor the wine,” he agreed, following her like a docile puppy despite his size and strength.
“No, certainly not,” Ivy said, giving him a happy grin. Maybe, just maybe, things were starting to go her way again. For the first time in a long time, she felt that perhaps it wasn’t too much to hope.
Chapter Thirty-Two
At the end of the night, Elijah opted to return to Garrett and Kiley’s house instead of staying the night with Ivy. It wasn’t what he’d wanted, exactly; Ivy was gorgeous, intelligent, and intriguing, and she’d definitely gained his wolf’s interest. Still, Elijah had needed a few hours to process everything, and he wanted to say goodbye to Kiley and Garrett before they left for Asheville, off to visit Garrett’s brother Lucas and his new mate.
Pulling out his phone, he decided to bite the bullet and call his father right away. If he called now, he’d have several days of peace and quiet to figure things out with Ivy. Otherwise his father would have every blood relative in the whole bloody family tree calling to check in on him, to see if he was accepting his father’s ultimatum.
Ignoring the gnawing irritation he felt at the thought of his father’s demands, he called Castle Buchanan’s single landline. He sighed as it rang a good fifteen times, and then scowled when a younger cousin picked up the phone and started jabbering about the Scottish weather.
“Put my ma phone, Alain,” Elijah growled.
He pulled into Garrett and Kiley’s driveway but sat in the car, wanting to finish his phone call first. After several more minutes, he finally got his mother on the phone. She took all his father’s messages and correspondence, and was generally more amiable in conversation anyway.
“Hallo?” his mother asked, seeming confused.
“Ma, I’ve got a lass,” Elijah told her.
“Eli?” she said. “I’d no idea you were going to phone us!”
“I didn’t know meself,” he admitted. “I can’t really talk right now, Ma. I just wanted ye to get the message to Da.”
“What message is that, now?”
“He can call off giving the castle and the birthright away, and all that goes with it. I found a lass, and she’s agreed that we’ll start trying for little ones right away.”
“A lass? Are you taking a mate then, Eli?”
“Not exactly…” he admitted.
“Oh, Eli. You can’t just do that to a lass. They’re verra tender, you know,” his mother advised.
“It’s not— Listen, Ma. Don’t worry about it. Just tell Da what I said, and I’ll ring you next week.”
“Well, get a picture of the girl for me, will you? I like to know who the mother of my grandchildren might be.”
“Will be, Ma. It’s decided. I love you, and I’ll ring you later.”
“Well, alright,” his mother said. He could hear the disapproving frown in her voice, but he hung up anyway.
“Right,” he said to himself. “Now just Kiley and Garrett.”
Hopefully his friends would be a little happier for his news than his mother had been.
Chapter Thirty-Three
The next evening, Elijah felt that he’d been moderately successful smoothing things over with Kiley and Garrett. Not that Garrett cared in the least, of course. But Kiley had more than made up for over the course of the day, interrogating Elijah relentlessly and insisting that he keep her ‘in the loop’ about everything Ivy-related.
Elijah knew that Kiley meant well, and he supposed it was nice that she had such a caring friend…
“You’ll be good to Ivy, won’t you?” Kiley asked, for about the seventh time. Elijah grunted as he hefted one of her suitcases into the back of Garrett’s black SUV.
“I promise,” Elijah said, trying not to seem testy. She was just trying to look after her friend, after all.
“She’s had a difficult time the last few months. Actually, most of her life. She’s never had anybody. So if you’re going to leave her high and dry, you’d better tell her up front.”
“Kiley,” Elijah sighed. “I’ll do my best, okay?”
“Okay,” Kiley replied, her shoulders sagging. It was obvious that he hadn’t said the right thing, but damned if Elijah could figure out what that might be.
“Ready to hit the road?” Garrett called, coming around the car. The big blond man clapped Elijah on the shoulder, leaned down to kiss his petite brunette mate, and grinned at them both.
“Sure,” Kiley said, brightening. If Elijah were honest, it was a little disgusting how happy Garrett and Kiley made each other.
“I know Eli’s got some business to attend to,” Garrett teased, arching a brow.
“Jesus. Get on with you both,” Elijah said, shooing them.
“You got the keys? You got instructions for taking care of the wolf pups? They need care for another week still,” Kiley said, her worry evident.
“I’m not gonna burn the place down. Go have your holiday,” Elijah said, already heading for his own vehicle.
In moments he’d left the big ranch house behind. He’d packed a few of his belongings into a suitcase, and he had several brown paper bags of groceries and other goodies from when he’d run to town earlier. He checked his watch. Seven o’clock, right on time.
He pulled his SUV up in front of Ivy’s austere wood-and-glass cabin, the house seeming as though imported directly from the Swiss Alps. He smiled, thinking of how she’d lit up last night as she’d told him all about the design and construction of the house. It was clear that she cherished her home, and that she’d planned it with a family in mind.
His smile dropped at the word family, but he shook it off. Ivy hadn’t said that she didn’t want a mate, only that she wasn’t expecting one. Elijah shook his head, knowing that he was getting ahead of himself.
He hadn’t even done more than kiss Ivy yet, as his ravenously horny wolf had been reminding him all day. Rolling his eyes at himself, Elijah pulled his suitcase and the grocery bags from the back of the SUV and closed the trunk, heading up the stairs.
He put down his bags, surprised that Ivy hadn’t already heard him and come to open the door. Just as he raised his hand to knock, he heard the sound of glass shattering. His military training burst to life, urging him to rescue Ivy from… well, his brain didn’t get that far.
He tried the door knob and found it unlocked, flinging the front door wide open and rushing inside. He saw Ivy kneeling on the floor across the living room.
She turned and flashed him a surprised look as he dashed to her, dropping to his knees next to where she sat, hunched over something. A photo frame lay on the floor, face down in a pile of shattered glass.
“I— I dropped it,” she said, raising a hand to wipe at her tear-stained face. It was clear that she’d been crying for some time, but Elijah didn’t mention that.
“Here, let me help,” he said. “Did you cut yourself?”
She shook her head, looking embarrassed.
“No. I’m not hurt, just clumsy. I feel stupid,” she said.
“Let’s get you over to the couch, and you can just tell me where the broom is, alright?”
Taking her hands, Elijah pulled Ivy to her feet and gently moved her over to the couch. She pointed him to a small closet off the kitchen, and he grabbed the broom and dustpan. After sweeping up all the broken glass, he went over it with a wet cloth, just to be certain that he got every last shard.
He picked up the photo frame, checking to make sure that there were no bits of glass clinging to it. When he turned it over, he saw that it was an older photo of a woman that looked very much like Ivy, but with darker hair.
He lo
oked at Ivy, with her long sweep of blonde hair, those big gray eyes just the color of a summer storm, the tightly fitted navy pencil skirt and tailored white cashmere sleeveless top she wore. She was an absolute knockout, and the woman in the photo was no less.
“Is this your mother?” Elijah asked, heading over to the couch and sitting next to her.
Ivy nodded, reaching over and taking the frame from him. She gazed down at it for several beats, seeming on the verge of explaining her reaction. With her petite frame, those big gray eyes, and the longing in her expression, she seemed younger than before. Yesterday she’d been setting her own path, making the rules. Today, she seemed delicate, vulnerable.
Something in Elijah’s stomach twisted. He felt the need to comfort her, but he didn’t know what to say.
“She passed away when I was young,” Ivy said at last, saving him the trouble.
“I’m sorry,” he said. “That must have been terrible.”
He reached out and covered one of her hands in his own, his wolf giving a rumbling growl of pleasure at the contact, no matter the context. Ivy looked up at him, her cloud-colored eyes luminous. Again, she seemed on the verge of speaking, of confessing something, but at the last second she bit her lip and nodded.
“It was,” she said, clearing her throat. “Today isn’t a day for mourning, though. I just got flustered when I dropped the photo. It’s one of the few things I have left of her. I didn’t mean to get all sappy.”
Elijah chuckled, shaking his head.
“I find I rarely have much control over what makes me emotional,” he said. “As a silver lining, I do have a couple of steaks for dinner that might brighten you up.”
