by I. T. Lucas
So all in all, he did good.
But it had taken him three hours to reach the nearest mall that had one of the department stores Amanda had listed, and about an hour and a half to complete all of the purchases. He had three more hours of driving to do.
It was getting dark by the time he drove up the steep incline of the private, unpaved road leading up to the cabin.
Dalhu couldn't help the sense of excited anticipation as he imagined Amanda's happy welcome, especially upon discovering the gourmet cheeses he'd bought for her, not to mention the wine the lady at the cheese counter had suggested would accompany them nicely.
He'd bought four bottles. Just in case.
Except, as much as Amanda hated those pink sweats, she might go for the clothes first.
Hopefully, his personal shopper had done a good job with those. After all, he'd chosen her not for her looks, but for how well she'd been dressed.
At first, he'd intended to find a woman that looked wealthy—less chance of her running off with his money. But when his eyes had landed on, what was her name, Judy? he'd known she was exactly what he was looking for. In addition to her expensive looking clothes, she was tall and slim and had Amanda's coloring. Though, that was where the resemblance ended. Where Amanda was a vision of beauty, poor Judy was more of a Plain Jane.
Telling her that she looked a lot like his sister had actually been the pickup line he'd used. And when he'd added that he liked what she was wearing and it was exactly the kind of stuff his sister would love, she had been his. Even before he'd told her to feel free to add to the list.
He hadn't bothered to check what was in the bags. Except one. He just couldn't help himself from going through the pink one from that lingerie store, Victoria's Closet, or something like that. Holding those tiny panties had given him a raging hard on, especially the little white thong with a bow at the back. Picturing Amanda wearing it, with nothing else on, was the stuff of dreams. He imagined, in slow motion, unraveling that little knot and letting the tiny scrap of fabric flutter down to the floor…
Damn. He had no words.
Not that the woman wasn't amazing with whatever she had on—
Yeah…
Tonight was the night. Amanda would be grateful for all the nice things he'd bought her and reward him with at least a kiss. Though hopefully, he'd take that kiss and turn it into more.
As he crested the hill and the Honda's headlights swept over the dark cabin, his eyes immediately went up to the two exposed windows under the gabled roof. They kind of looked like the eyes of a crossed-eyed giant—with the brick chimney being his nose and the slanting roof-gable on each side its brows.
The cabin had only a few light fixtures, and the light coming from those windows was dim. But with nothing else for miles around, even this was a dead giveaway.
Right. There wasn't much he could do about it.
Parking parallel to the porch, he cut the engine, popped the trunk, and shoved the keys into his pocket—all along watching the front door and hoping Amanda would throw it open and come running to greet him…
Or not…
Yeah. Whatever. He'd told her not to open the door… she was just obeying his orders…
Right, in your dreams…
"Amanda, open up!" he gave a holler as he climbed the stairs with a bunch of shopping bags in each hand, then stood by the door, waiting…
Maybe she was in the bathroom…
Or maybe she wasn't there…
As panic fought for dominance with anger, Dalhu was about to kick open the door when she finally deigned to let him in.
"What took you so long?" she accused and sauntered back to the couch, then picked up some damn book she'd been apparently reading.
Jet-fighters?
"The nearest mall is three hours away, and the stuff on your list wasn't exactly something I could find at a 7-Eleven," he bit out as he dropped the bags on the floor and went for another round.
Amanda didn't offer to help or begin putting things away, and she showed no sign of interest in what he'd bought either.
Of all the ungrateful, spoiled… princesses…
He was tempted to use a less flattering word, but even inside his own head, he refused to refer to her in a derogatory way. Their relationship would be built on mutual respect—starting with his choice of language.
"Thanks for all your help," he shot.
"You're welcome," she gritted without lifting her head.
"What's your problem?"
"You have to ask? Really?"
She had a point.
It wasn't like they were a couple on their honeymoon or anything. He'd kidnaped her and was holding her prisoner in an isolated cabin. But that was old news, and she'd been in a much better mood before he'd left. What the hell had gotten into her in his absence?
Well, glancing at the book in her hands, he had to admit that she must've been damn bored during the long hours he'd been gone to be desperate enough to read about the history of jet-fighters.
With that in mind, he switched gears. "I brought brie, and camembert, and gorgonzola, and goat’s-cheese…" he singsonged, watching her expression change as he kept taking one fancy cheese after the other out of the bag and putting them in the refrigerator.
Amanda pretended to be absorbed in the book, but she was practically salivating and trying to swallow without him noticing her do so.
"You don't have to wait until I put everything away, you could come and take a bite right now. I know you want it… come and get it…" he taunted, holding a wedge of Havarti cheese and unwrapping the top.
"Oh, damn." Amanda dropped the book on the coffee table and got up. "I have no willpower. None whatsoever…" she lamented as she got closer to the cheese, her eyes focused on the thing like a hungry cat on a mouse.
But as soon as she reached for it, he lifted his arm up and caught her around the waist with the other, bringing her close for a kiss.
Taken by surprise, she didn't have time to erect her defenses, giving in to the sensation for a moment. Only for a moment, though, and then he was shoved away and pinned with the blue stare of a hungry predator. A hissing, growling, angry jungle cat that was about to scratch his eyes out if he dared taunt her even a moment longer.
"Here you are, sweetheart. It's all yours." He quickly gave her the wedge.
With another hiss, she grabbed it, pivoted on her heel, and went back to sit on the couch with her prize. She peeled away the wrap, took a big bite, and began chewing.
The expression of bliss on her face was priceless.
"Aren't you curious to see all the nice things I've got for you? I know you don't want to spend another minute wearing those sweats…"
Her eyes darted to the Macy's bags piled next to the stairs, and he knew she was fighting the urge to go and check them out.
Slowly but surely he was chipping away at her defenses.
"Well?" He arched a brow.
"Stuff from Macy's is nothing to get excited about," she finally said over a mouthful of cheese.
Maybe so, but still, he knew she was dying to dive into those bags. "As you wish… I also brought some DVDs so we could watch a movie tonight," he threw over his shoulder as he pulled a bunch of thin cases from a supermarket bag.
"And how do you propose we watch them, Sherlock? There is no TV."
"On my laptop."
That shut her up. But only momentarily.
"That's right, I forgot you had one. Not that it crossed your mind that I might have used it to entertain myself while you were gone for most of the day."
"To do what? There is no Internet here. And if there was, you think I'd be stupid enough to let you use it?"
CHAPTER 16: AMANDA
Amanda shrugged and took another bite of the cheese.
Damn, it was hard to keep all of that anger going on. Why did Dalhu have to be so amiable all of the sudden?
Where was all that rage he had simmering just below the surface?
D
id his new pleasant predisposition have anything to do with him getting lucky with some chippie at the mall?
Well, that thought seemed to do the job—getting her good and angry as she imagined him pleasuring some slut with that amazing body of his…
Never mind that it proved that she was completely nuts…
Whatever, it didn't matter what caused it as long as it worked. She needed to keep up the anger for its pungent aroma to mask the scents of her anxiety and guilt. If Dalhu got a whiff of those, he might suspect something was up… as in up the stairs and under the bed…
Yep. She had lost it. Why the hell was she getting a knot in her gut every time she thought about that shovel she'd stashed upstairs?
Well, she wasn't a murderous bitch, that's why.
Not that a shovel to the head would kill Dalhu, but still, imagining his handsome face broken and bloody…
Oh, fates, there is no way I could do it… no way!
"What's the matter?" Dalhu shot her a worried glance.
Great, now she'd given herself away.
"Nothing, I'm just antsy." She glared at him, trying to get herself angry again by imagining some other female's hands on him… unbuttoning his designer shirt, parting it to reveal his powerful chest… the tanned skin contrasting enticingly with the white fabric…
Shit. This was so not what she was going for…
"I can help with that.” Dalhu's voice dropped to a growl as he breathed in, getting a lungful of the pheromones she'd just cast his way.
"No, you stay where you are… don't get any closer. I want none of that." Amanda shooed him away as he moved toward her.
"I beg to differ." Dalhu took another step, but then the panic in her eyes gave him pause, and he stopped, wiping a shaky hand over his mouth. "It's okay. I get it. Your body wants me, but your mind is still fighting it. I can wait. If what you've told me about immortal females is true, then you wouldn't be able to hold off for much longer anyway." Dalhu swung around and began organizing the food supplies with deadly deliberation.
Unfortunately, he was right. And that was exactly why she needed to implement her plan.
Tonight.
Dalhu turned to look at her and frowned. "Why don't you take the stuff I bought you upstairs, relax with a nice bubblebath, and change into something pretty? I'm sure it would make you feel better. And by the time you're done, I'll have dinner ready."
Who was that man, and what had he done with Dalhu? Amanda shook her head in disbelief as she took a last bite of the cheese and got up. Leaving what was left of the wedge on the dining table, she grabbed as many shopping bags as she could carry and took them upstairs.
Instead of the misogynistic brute that she could easily hate, Dalhu was proving—against all odds—to be patient, respectful, and accommodating. If anyone had told her a Doomer was capable of this, she would've laughed in their faces and called them all kinds of stupid.
As she started the water for the tub, she glanced at the counter, making sure that there were a couple of fresh towels on hand.
Check her out, she was learning to be like a regular person. Yay!
And on that note, she even emptied the dryer, which had finished its cycle hours ago, and dumped the clothes on the bed. Her blouse had shrunk to something that wouldn't fit a ten-year-old, and although her pants looked fine, they were in desperate need of ironing…
She wondered if Dalhu knew how to do that.
Amanda wasn't sure she could manage even the folding. But that would wait for later. By now the tub was probably full.
Taking off the sweats, she debated between shoving them in the washing machine and dumping them in the trash, but in an uncharacteristic stroke of practicality, she decided on the machine. Who knew what Dalhu had in those bags, she thought as she slowly lowered her body into the water.
So what was his story? Was it all a very convincing act? But to what end? If he wanted to have sex with her, he could've done it already. And although she might've resisted initially, they both knew she would've quickly succumbed to her own need.
And besides, Dalhu didn't strike her as such a good actor.
But then, how the hell this walking-bomb-waiting-to-explode had managed to withstand her obnoxious act was baffling. And it wasn't as if this was all a show of admirable control either. She'd sensed only a mild surge of annoyance and disappointment when she hadn't greeted him with the excitement he'd been obviously hoping for, and then the familiar scent of determination she was starting to associate with him had quickly replaced even that.
Such a sexy combination.
A guy that was a tower of strength, physically and otherwise, and at the same time committed to making her happy in any way he could.
Except for letting her go, that is.
Shit. If he weren't a Doomer, he would've been the perfect male for her. How many guys out there would've tolerated her penchant for drama, the fact that she was a spoiled princess and was used to getting her way—always, and had a runaway mouth with no brakes.
Not to mention a history of partners as long as the list of animators in a Pixar movie.
Though be that as it may, it didn't mean she was willing to go along with his crazy plan. Staying with Dalhu meant never seeing her family again, and even if that weren’t a line she drew in the sand, which of course it was, she couldn't spend her long life just as someone's mate and nothing more. She loved her job—the research, the teaching, the daily contact with minds that were hungry for knowledge… and other things…
All of that would not be possible on the run.
Unfortunately, if Dalhu were to keep his head attached to his shoulders, he had to keep running and hiding. If he were ever caught, his people would execute him for desertion, and she had no doubt Kian would tear him limb from limb for abducting her.
Her brother's deep-seated hatred for Doomers was well known.
Not that she could blame him when she felt the same…
Well, except for Dalhu.
With a sad sigh, Amanda reached for the soap.
Maybe she should have sex with the poor guy, as a way to atone for later bashing his head with a shovel as he slept. And maybe she could even leave him a note, explaining why she had to do it.
In the end, he would understand it was for the best… after healing from the injury, that is… and after reading her note.
With her gone, he would have no trouble disappearing somewhere where there was no chance of him accidentally bumping into his people. And she wasn't planning on telling Kian where she left Dalhu either, ensuring he was safe from her brother's wrath as well.
Finishing her bath in a hurry, she got out and wrapped herself in a towel, then tiptoed into the bedroom and lifted one of the paper bags.
Back in the bathroom, she tore off a good sized piece, then dropped her towel on the floor and pushed it with her foot, wedging it against the door to keep the thing closed.
Naked, she sat on the toilet to write the note. Her first attempt and the second got flushed down the drain. The third one, she wrote standing up with the piece of paper lying flat against the hard surface of the counter so it would come out legible this time.
Dear Dalhu,
If you're reading this note, then my plan worked and I'm back home with my family.
Please forgive me for what I've done, and know that I'll always remember you fondly, regardless of how it all started and how it had to end.
You were nothing but kind and respectful, and it was with heavy heart that I've devised this plan to hurt you. But if you think it through, rationally, you'll realize that I did us both a service. Your plans for us, though sweet and romantic, were unrealistic.
I cannot live on the run and abandon my family and my work to be with you. I could never be happy with just being your mate, even if there were no ancient feud and hatred between our people.
You'll be safer without me and could start a new life somewhere far removed from the conflict.
Having to always loo
k behind your back, waiting to be caught, is no way to live.
I'm not going to tell anyone about this cabin, so you have nothing to fear from my side. I'm going to invent a story of getting lost and confused and take them on a wild goose hunt, giving you the time you need to heal and disappear.
Stay safe and live your life.
Wishing you the best of luck,
Amanda.
After reading it over, she folded the note several times and placed it under the pack of band-aids in the first aid kit.
This way, when Dalhu regained consciousness and went for the kit to treat his injuries, he'd find it.
Wasn't she a clever girl?
CHAPTER 17: DALHU
Amanda came down in a pair of skin-tight jeans, a fitted, long-sleeved black T-shirt, and no bra, her beautiful breasts bouncing enticingly with each step she took. They weren't large, but like the rest of her, they were perfectly shaped—firm and yet soft, the hard little tips at their tops absolutely mouthwatering.
Damn. Dalhu swallowed hard. The woman was fine.
She took a seat next to the table he'd set up for their dinner and flashed him that gorgeous smile of hers.
"Thank you, Dalhu."
It seemed his efforts were well worth it.
"You're welcome," he said without sarcasm.
To see her smile at him with genuine affection in her eyes, he was willing to do much more than just put the groceries away and set a table.
What a shame there were no more dragons for him to slay or evil sorcerers to outsmart, and as it was, he was one of the not so imaginary bad guys.
Was, being the imperative word.
But yeah…
Sitting across from Amanda, he watched with satisfaction as she piled her plate with chunks of assorted cheeses, crackers and some grapes, and then got to work.
A bunch of stinky cheeses wasn't what he would call a great meal—a juicy steak with some fries on the side would hit the spot for him—but for Amanda he was willing to turn off his sense of smell and even try to enjoy them.