He kissed her lightly. “You trust me, right?”
She nodded, unwilling to speak again and completely lose control.
“Trust me to keep you safe from my family.” His thumb stroked under her eye, gathering fresh tears and swiping them away. “They will never get through me to you.”
She shut her eyes and felt more wetness slide down her face. “Damn, why can’t I stop crying?” A sob rushed past her lips.
He released her seatbelt and pulled her into his arms. “It’s all right, meli.” He kissed her temple, then shifted so her head rested on his shoulder. “I promise, it’s all right.”
Her breath kept coming in jerky little gasps, and her chest hurt from trying so hard not to cry.
“Let go, Andrea. You’ll feel better after.”
She shook her head, but burrowed her face into his shirt.
One of his big hands rubbed slow circles up and down her spine. “I love you, agaph.” He kissed the top of her head. “Even when you fight with me.”
It was the sweetest thing anyone had ever said to her.
The sobs burst past her lips now, and all she could do was hang on for the duration.
Kallan held on tight, letting her cry until there was nothing left. He murmured into her hair, rubbed her back. And closed his own eyes, wishing he could absorb some of her pain.
Wishing she could let down the last of her barriers and let him into her heart.
He had a terrible feeling that was the source of her pain. And there wasn’t a damned thing he could do about it. Except wait and see.
He wasn’t very good at waiting.
When she finally stopped crying, she lay against his shoulder, hiding. He let her for a while, stroking her hair and her shoulder, while he inhaled her sweet scent. After a few more minutes, she sat up, reluctance etched in the lines of her face, with her red nose and eyes swollen from crying.
She was still gorgeous.
He bent to kiss her lightly, and tasted the salt from her tears. “Do you want to stay here while I get our things and check us out of the hotel?”
She shook her head. “No, I want to wash my face. I’m a wreck.” She swiped the back of one hand over a damp cheek. “And you need a dry shirt.” She didn’t meet his gaze as she touched the wet splotch.
“You can cry all over me, meli,” he said lightly. “I don’t mind.”
“I don’t usually cry.” She shot him a brief, embarrassed glance. “I don’t know why I’m so weepy all of a sudden.”
He didn’t offer his own opinion on that one. “I don’t mind,” he repeated. “But if you insist, we should go in now and get our things together.”
She let him steer her through the lobby to the old-fashioned elevator, and then along the hallway to their room. For a minute, she stood at the window overlooking the street and river below, staring at the castle on the opposite bank. “I used to wish I could live in a castle,” she said at last. “When I was a little girl. I always thought we’d be safe in a castle. That the Harvesters could never get my family if we lived in one.” She glanced back over her shoulder at him. “Pretty stupid, huh?” She pushed off the window frame and moved toward the open suitcase.
“No, it’s not stupid.” He caught her hand when she reached for an unfolded shirt. “If I thought a castle would keep them out, I’d find one for you.”
A little smile curved her mouth. “You’re very sweet. For a Harvester.” Her smile deepened.
He growled and yanked her closer so he could kiss her hard, then released her. “Go on. You wanted to wash your face. I’ll get this.” He gave her a gentle push toward the bathroom.
He heard water running, then splashing for a minute. He folded a pair of jeans into the suitcase.
“Kallan?”
“Yes?” He added the shirt she’d reached for, then her sweater.
“Thank you. For being patient.” She peered around the doorway, her brow creased by faint worry lines. “I promise I’m not usually so high maintenance.”
He dropped the sweater into the case and went to her. He tipped her chin up, studying her reddened eyes—not as swollen now—her nose which was still red, and her mouth, which was also puffy. And held her gaze while he kissed her. Then he released her and went back to the packing, his heart pounding hard.
For a few seconds, she remained where she stood, looking dazed, then she went back into the bathroom, where he heard more water running.
He grinned into the messy suitcase like an idiot.
They had missed the last ferry crossing for the day by half an hour. Andi bit her lip as Kallan’s eyes spit green fire. She wondered if he was willing the boat to return for them.
She touched his back gingerly.
He looked down at her, his expression only softening a little.
“There’s a very cute inn about five minutes back the way we came. We can spend the night there and be back for the first ferry tomorrow.” She rubbed her fingers in a circle on the back of his shoulder. “Relax.”
He let out a long, slow breath. “I’m sorry.”
She lifted one brow as she tipped her head to the side. “We’re on vacation, right? No schedules.” She wished she could really think of this as a vacation and not just a life-or-death flight across the world. But maybe the reminder was what he needed right now.
“Yes, vacation.” His hard mouth softened, and his gaze dropped to her lips. “I think the inn sounds like a good idea. Maybe we can find a place to walk along the shore.”
“But no swimming. That water is too cold,” she teased.
His expression lightened further. “And you with no bathing suit.” His gaze slid lower, eyes darkening.
Andi swallowed. Well.
“Let’s go get a room.” He wrapped his arm around her shoulders and herded her back to the car.
Anticipation made her shiver as he followed the winding coast road back the way they’d come. When he winked at her while checking them into the little inn, she decided to just enjoy the time here. To enjoy Kallan. While she had the chance.
They carted their things into the room, which was farthest from the lobby, in the back of the inn, and with a door of its own leading directly onto the rocky shore. Andi opened that one and stared out at the gray waves for a long time, smiling at the birds that dove low over the rocks and water, calling to one another. She wondered how her deer were faring with her gone. Or if the moose had made an appearance in the last few days.
“Shall we take a walk?” Kallan’s big hand settled at her nape, thumb sliding along the side of her throat and making her shiver, warmth oozing along her veins and distracting her from her thoughts.
“Okay.” She gave him a smile over her shoulder before she moved away, outside, where she dashed over rocks, between clumps of scrubby grass that waved in the breeze.
Behind her, she heard his heavier footfalls, and she laughed, running faster.
He caught her before she reached the water, his hands grabbing her waist and swinging her into the air so she shrieked with laughter.
When he set her on her feet, a dangerous light glinted in his eyes, and she felt her pulse leap in anticipation.
She backed away a step, then another, and he stalked her, his steps eating up more space than hers did. Another step and her heel caught on a rock.
Kallan grabbed her before she fell on her ass into the water, then hoisted her over his shoulder while she giggled, pounding on his back.
“Put me down.”
He patted her butt just hard enough to make her belly flutter in anticipation. “Soon enough.” He strode over the rocks, away from the inn.
“Where are we going?” She put her head up to see the inn getting smaller.
“For a walk.” He squeezed her rear.
Her pulse jumped crazily, and she swallowed back a squeak. “Where to?”
“When we get there, you’ll see.” Another firm pat on her butt, followed by a squeeze—lower this time, high on the back of her thigh.
Her panties were damp already, she realized, closing her eyes. “Oh Gods,” she whispered.
His long legs carried them around a curve of shore until the inn was out of sight, and they were in a sheltered cove. When he stopped walking and eased her off his shoulder, letting her slide down the front of him, she inhaled unsteadily. His erection teased her, nudging at her belly as her feet hit the ground.
“Have you ever made love out in the open?” he asked gruffly, keeping her in the circle of his arms.
She shook her head. Her brain obliged her, though, by creating all kinds of enticing images of doing just that with Kallan.
A faint smile curved his lips. “Are you game?”
In reply, she stretched up on tiptoe to kiss him.
Instead of letting her tease him, his mouth opened over hers, his tongue plunging into her warmth as he lifted her nearer, pressing his cock into the space between her thighs.
She wrapped one leg around his waist, felt how wet her panties were and rocked her hips against him.
He grunted, yanking her shirt free of her jeans, then slid his hand up to catch her breast. He teased the puckered tip until she moaned into his kiss.
It was as if the wild setting had set loose something primitive in them both. They couldn’t get their clothing off quickly enough, couldn’t bear to stop kissing to breathe, couldn’t stop touching, couldn’t touch enough, and when he thrust up into her wet sheath, they both cried out.
She clung to his shoulders, arching her hips against his while her head dropped back. He took the opportunity to drag his open mouth along the column of her throat—nipping, then soothing with lips and tongue.
And all the while, their hips swayed, together, then away, harder and faster, until they both came apart. Andi realized that scream she’d just heard had come from her own throat, and his shout of triumph made her body clench tighter around his.
He nuzzled his way along her collarbone, breathing hard. “Are you all right, meli?” He licked over the spot where her pulse beat crazily at the hollow of her throat.
“Fabulous. You?”
She felt his grin against her neck. “The same.”
She gave her inner muscles one last clench around him, and enjoyed his drawn out groan that raised goosebumps on her skin.
“Tease.” He dragged the edge of his teeth along the side of her throat.
“Not apologizing.” She threaded her fingers into his hair, feeling how damp with sweat it was at his nape.
He slid one hand along her back, touching each knob of her spine as he went, before slipping over toward her hip.
Heat burst along her back, and she realized he’d touched the cup in her tattoo. “Ow.”
His fingers moved away. “Sorry.” He kissed the side of her neck, then lifted his head. “Are you hungry?”
She cupped his face, stroking her thumb along his stubbled jaw. “You know, I’m suddenly starving.”
“I hate to do this.” He held her hips, then lifted her up, off him.
She liked his wince as it matched her own. When he set her on her feet, she took a moment to steady herself as he moved away a little. Her legs still quivered with the aftershocks of pleasure.
“Andrea.”
She glanced over her shoulder and found him standing a foot away with his jeans in one hand, his gaze on her lower back, eyes wide with surprise. “What?” She looked over her shoulder, twisting to see what he was looking at and failing.
“The cup. It’s changed colors.”
“What?”
“It’s silver.”
She shook her head. “It’s gold. It’s been gold since it came to me.”
His dark head moved from side to side, very slowly. “Definitely not gold now.”
She grabbed her clothing, tugged on her jeans and shirt, then balled her undergarments in one hand while she slipped her feet into her shoes. She needed to see.
Kallan stepped into his jeans and picked up his own shirt before he stepped into his sneakers. “Come. I’ll show you.” He held out one hand to her.
She took his hand, and they hurried back to the inn. While he closed the door, she almost ran into the bathroom. She unfastened her jeans with shaking fingers, shoved them down and pulled the back of her shirt up.
The cup was silver, though the edges still had a faintly gold tint to them.
She stared at her tattoo.
What the hell did that mean?
Kallan stepped into the room and met her shocked gaze in the mirror. Seeing the question in her eyes, he shook his head.
Andi touched the cup with one finger. It felt exactly the same as it always had. Nothing else about the tattoo had changed, except the color.
“I need to email my cousin,” she said, noting her voice was unsteady, probably to match the galloping of her heart in her chest. “Or one of my aunts.”
Concern darkened his eyes. “Let me boot up.” He hesitated a moment longer in the doorway, watching her as she turned her gaze back to the tattoo, before he left the smaller room.
She stared at her reflection, studying the rest of her tattoo. The snake still coiled around the goblet, its scales shiny green and black. The flowers still surrounded both, the bright reds and pinks unchanged.
She didn’t understand why the color had changed. Or how.
Tearing her gaze from the mirror, she tugged her jeans back up and fastened them with shaky fingers, and let her shirt fall back into place, concentrating the whole time on breathing steadily.
Kallan was waiting in the other room with his laptop on the foot of the bed.
She pulled up her email server, tapping her fingers over the keys to compose an email to Aunt Lydia. She stopped typing after she finished her initial greeting. How was she supposed to explain this without telling her aunt about Kallan? She started to type again hesitantly, then deleted everything she’d written. Back to the beginning.
He sat down behind her, rubbing her shoulders so she realized how much tension had gathered in them in just a few minutes. “Take a breath, agaph.” His warm breath ruffled the hair over her ear.
She did, then another, feeling some of the tension leave her between the breathing and his massage. “Okay.” She shut her eyes for a second, then refocused on the computer screen. Simple was usually best. “Dear Aunt Lydia, I hope you’re doing well. I wonder if you’ve heard any lore that might explain a color change in part of my tattoo. I’ve learned recently the cup in my tattoo is an amulet.” She paused, wondering how that would sound.
“You don’t need to go into detail, meli,” he said quietly. “If she knows or has ever heard anything, you won’t have to explain it all.”
He was right, of course. She shot him a quick smile and went back to her email. “The cup has always been gold, but recently changed to silver, and I’m wondering if you can tell me anything about what that means.” She bit her lip, rereading what she’d written. It would have to do. She signed it and hit the send button with a still-trembling finger.
Kallan wrapped his arms around her, drawing her back against his bare chest.
She shut her eyes and enjoyed the warmth he shared with her. The last of her shaking eased. “She won’t see it till later.” She opened her eyes, twisting to look up him.
“Is there anyone else who might know?”
She considered that for a moment, then slowly shook her head. “Aunt Lydia has been sort of the family matriarch since her mother died. If anyone knows, it’ll be her.”
“Then we should get our supper before they stop serving food.” He kissed her lightly.
Andi pushed to her feet, though her appetite had fled.
He touched her chin when he rose. “We’ll figure it out.”
She wanted to believe him. But it was just one more thing on top of so many things that were wrong in her life right now.
It seemed the only good thing she had was Kallan.
That thought startled her as she walked with him out of their room.
>
The man who’d come to kill her was now the best thing she had in her life.
How screwed up was that?
Chapter Ten
Kallan didn’t try to settle Andrea down as she paced their room. Not after the first attempt, anyway.
She kept looking at the computer as if willing her aunt to reply to her email. And it wasn’t working.
He glanced at the clock on the bedside table—one-thirty. A.M. Andrea should be exhausted by now after the day they’d had. But he could feel the nervous energy stirring around her, flowing from her into the room.
It was starting to make him feel unsettled. Add to that his own lingering unease about their brush at Culloden with one of his cousins… He wished he knew who it had been, and why they were there. It had to be a coincidence, but he didn’t like it.
When her email program finally chimed out that she had mail, she practically jumped onto the bed.
He stifled a smile, sitting up from his spot against the headboard to look.
Dearest Andi,
I’m doing just fine here. And I have to guess you’re doing the same wherever it is you’ve got off to. That relieves me greatly.
As for your earlier question, I’m afraid I don’t have any concrete answers for you, only guesses and none based on close personal experience or even family rumors.
The cup has been discussed as Medusa’s Goblet, a possible amulet, for many years, but no one has come right out and said so, at least not that I’ve heard about. Silly, if you ask me. Our Mother clearly knew what she was doing when she crafted her protection for us all those years ago. I have never heard of it changing colors before, though I can offer you some suggestions as to the meaning. Keep in mind, these are just supposition on my part.
The color could change as an indication of danger, though I’d imagine it might have changed color before now if that were the case. So I think you can rule that out.
I suppose it could change color after one has it in one’s possession a certain amount of time. Again, I’ve never heard of this happening, so who really knows? Annis never mentioned the cup at all after the initial discussion of her tattoo. I feel certain, however, that she would have said something if it had ever changed colors while she was alive, because she was horrified enough when she got it. I don’t believe ‘tenure’ would change the color.
Hunting Medusa Page 17