Just After Midnight: Historical Romance

by Lori Handeland

  The next time he awoke, the room was dark, but a presence waited nearby. He shifted then moaned as pain shot behind his eyes. Immediately, Megan materialized next to his bed. “How do you feel?”

  “Like I had a run in with a bottle of whiskey and my head lost.”

  “Would you like some water?” At his nod, she held a glass to his lips.

  “How long have I been asleep?”

  Megan sat on the edge of his bed. She wore a virginal white gown buttoned up to her neck. For some odd reason, the contrast excited him. Her hip brushed his thigh, and he gritted his teeth. He may have been half-dead for a while, but he was definitely alive now, as his body was making him painfully aware.

  “You slept through the rest of last night and the morning. It’s afternoon now. Everyone’s asleep.”

  “Everyone but us.” He took her hand.

  Megan’s eyes darted to his, unsure, a bit frightened. He smiled reassuringly, and she returned the smile, squeezing his hand as though he were a sick child.

  “Dan said you’d be all right now. He figures that you only took in enough of the poison to make you ill but not enough to kill you. Colonel Steele is questioning everyone at the dance. So far, he’s discovered nothing. Have you remembered who you saw after you were given the drink?”

  “Hmm?” Alex had been studying her lips, enjoying the way they formed words as her teeth and tongue made rapid appearances and disappearances. “Ah, let me think.” He concentrated, remembering the dance, Megan’s laugh, the bitter taste of the punch, and his glance around the crowded room. “Damn. Ian.” He sat up, his hand going to his head at the sudden movement. “I should have known. Who else would have the gall to poison a Mountie?”

  “Ian? Are you sure? He hasn’t been seen in town for several weeks.”

  “I’m sure.”

  Megan stood. “I’d better send word to Colonel Steele.”

  Alex grabbed her hand and pulled her back down next to him. “Not yet,” he said and kissed her.

  As his lips moved over hers, she gave in to the embrace and, after an initial resistance, melted against him, her hands caressing his bare chest.

  He opened the top buttons of her nightgown and slipped his hands inside, running his fingertips down her long, smooth neck. Megan moaned into his mouth and deepened their kiss. She was all softness and womanly flesh as his hands roamed over her back and shoulders. No corsets or bustles inhibited his exploration as they had in the past. Though his head pounded in reaction to his ordeal, his body throbbed with need for her.

  “No, Alex.” Megan tore herself from his grip and moved out of his reach, her fingers unconsciously touching her mouth, then quickly rebuttoning the buttons he had just undone. “You nearly died and now … We can’t.”

  “I didn’t die, Megan. I’m very much alive as I’ll show you if you come back here.”

  “No. I’m going to send a message to Colonel Steele and then have Dan look at you again.”

  “I don’t want Dan looking at me. I want you.”

  “You may think you’re strong enough, but you’re not. I won’t be party to making you ill.” She turned and went to the door.

  “You can run away if you want. But we both know what’s between us is too strong to ignore. Next time we kiss, you won’t be able to put off the inevitable. I’ll make sure you won’t want to.”

  Megan paused, and for a moment Alex thought she might return to his bed. Instead, she opened the door and disappeared into the darkened hallway without a word.

  Megan had succeeded in avoiding Alex for a week, but the confrontation between them was long past due. His strength had returned, and he would be moving back to the barracks tomorrow. Then he planned to join the hunt for Ian McMurphy, which had gone on in his absence. The mounted police had scoured the town and surrounding area and had plans to carry the search further afield on the morrow.

  As Megan climbed the stairs to her room, the exhaustion that had weighted her for the last week became even more pronounced. She had worked herself doubly hard in an attempt to gain the relief of sleep when she reached her room. But every night she lay awake, remembering the times Alex had kissed her, touched her, whispered her name, passion making the slight lilt of England in his voice all the more pronounced. After so many nights of those memories, the tension inside her was at an almost unbearable level.

  She reached the top of the staircase and opened the door to her room. Stepping inside, she locked it behind her. Without bothering to turn on the lights she disrobed, then put on her dressing gown. As she fastened the row of tiny white buttons up the gown’s front she walked across the room to her bed.

  “Working hard this week?”

  Megan shrieked and jumped away from the bed as a voice came from the darkness. Hurrying across the room, she turned on the lights and stared at Alex Carson reclining on her bed in nothing but his black pants. Damon lay at his feet, blinking in confusion at the sudden light in his eyes. After fixing an annoyed yellow glare upon her, the wolf jumped from the bed and went to curl up behind her dressing screen.

  “What are you doing here?” Megan asked.

  “You might have been able to avoid me all week, but not anymore.”

  “Avoid you? Why would I do that? I’ve been working.”

  “I’m sure you have. But now The Celebration is closed and it’s just you and me.”

  Alex stood and crossed the room to stand before her. “If you really want me to leave,” he said softly and pulled the pins from her hair, one by one, “I will.”

  Her elaborate hairstyle collapsed like a tent in the midst of a storm, and Megan’s hair tumbled around her shoulders. She looked into Alex’s blue eyes. She wanted him in her room and in her bed more than she’d wanted anything in her life. With a sigh of surrender, she tilted her lips to meet his.

  They had kissed before, but never with the knowledge that they would soon be as one. That knowledge added a hunger to their embrace that soon had her moaning with need. No man had ever affected her in this way, and she wondered briefly what her life would have been like if one had. She had always been able to remain aloof before because her emotions had never been involved. That time was past.

  He pressed her back against the door, his lips traveling over her face then down to her neck. As he nipped her sensitive flesh, his broad, callused fingers learned the curves and valleys of her breasts through the fabric of her nightdress. His thumbs teased her hardened nipples then his head dipped, and he captured one bud and drew it into his mouth, the stroke of his tongue through the cotton adding an extra dimension of sensation. Her hands grabbed for his shoulders as her knees threatened to buckle.

  He moved closer, his body pinning hers against the cold wood, and she walked her fingers over his shoulders and down his back, testing and pressing against the solid muscle and bone as he turned his attentions to her other nipple. She could feel the part of him that pulsed with life pressing at the juncture of her thighs, and her hips moved of their own volition to press against him.

  At the movement, he gasped her name, and his hands went to the buttons of her gown. He fumbled there for a moment before cursing, then rending the material in two to expose her nakedness. The cool air on her heated flesh made her shiver. He lifted her into his arms as he had once before in that very room, but this time there would be no interruptions.

  He placed her on the bed and lay next to her on his side, one arm supporting his head. She watched his face as he examined her, his fingers trailing the path of his eyes. He caressed her neck, a finger outlining the path of her collarbone and then dipping into the valley between her breasts. He continued downward, fingers splaying across her belly and then tangling in the red curls below. She arched as a finger touched the bud of her womanhood, then entered. Stroking, probing until she bit her lip to keep from screaming.

  “Do you like that?” His breath caressed her cheek.

  She nodded, eyes closed, and bit back a guttural moan as his lips and teeth pulled a
t her breast, harder and more urgent than before.

  “I’ve wanted this from the first moment I saw you. Tell me you want me, too.”

  “You know I do.” She gasped as his fingers teased and his mouth promised.

  “Tell me.”

  Somehow he removed his pants, and his burning arousal pressed against her thigh. She should have been frightened; instead, she felt bold and reached down to grasp him in her hand, surprised at the heat and the strength she found there.

  Opening her eyes, she met his hooded gaze. “I want you, Alex.”

  He moved above her, rubbing his shaft against her swollen core, prolonging the moment until her hands grasped at his buttocks, silently pleading with him to end the torment. With the whisper of her name on his lips, he entered her.

  His face clouded with confusion when he encountered her innocence and he froze. Frightened he might withdraw and end the exquisite sensations she was just beginning to understand, she arched against him and the thin membrane broke. Her gasp of pain was swallowed as his lips devoured hers, and soon pleasure overrode every other sensation as they strained together toward their ultimate goal.

  He stiffened, then plunged into her a final time. At the movement, the tension that had built inside her since the first time he had kissed her crested, then broke and shattered within her.

  When they were still and their breathing had slowed, he shifted to the side and glanced down at the bed beneath them. She followed his gaze and saw the telltale mark of blood. She met his puzzled gaze.

  “Why didn’t you tell me? I would have been more gentle.”

  “I did tell you.” She pulled the covers over her nakedness, suddenly feeling exposed. “You refused to believe me.”

  “What was I supposed to think, Megan? The way you dress, the life you’ve led, this place. You’ve got to be the last virgin in the Yukon.”

  “Not anymore,” she said quietly.

  “No. I’m sorry.”

  Her gaze flew up to meet his and she could see that he was, indeed, sorry. Her heart ached. She had given him an incredible gift, and his only reaction was regret. A sudden anger filled her. “Get out.”

  “What?”

  “You heard me. Get out.”

  “Why?” he asked, but he was already picking up his pants.

  “This is my room and my place. I don’t have to explain myself. Just get out.”

  With a last confused look over his shoulder, Alex left the room. Megan picked up a glass from her bedside table and heaved it at the door.

  The thump against the door was followed by the shattering of glass. Alex hesitated, wondering if he should go back in and make her explain herself. The sound of another glass breaking made up his mind. He would talk to her tomorrow.

  How was he to have known she was a virgin? Sure, she’d said she was no whore, but that didn’t mean she was untouched. He felt guilty for having been so rough with her when it was her first time, although she hadn’t complained and he could swear she’d enjoyed herself as much as he had.

  “Late night, Lieutenant?”

  Alex looked up to see Queen lounging in the doorway to her room. She smirked. She must have seen him leave Megan’s room. In his nearly unclothed state, it was obvious what he’d been doing there.

  “Shouldn’t you be asleep?”

  “Too much noise out here.” She glanced behind him toward Megan’s room as another thump and shatter resounded from inside. “Never thought our Meggie had such a temper. What’d you do? Go too fast for the girl?”

  “Shut up, Queen. I’m not in the mood,” Alex said and entered his own room, closing the door to prevent any further discussion.

  Nevertheless, Queen’s high-pitched cackle came to him loud and clear.

  CHAPTER FOURTEEN

  Three weeks passed and Alex avoided The Celebration. He hoped, given enough time, Megan would allow him to apologize without throwing something at him. After going over their encounter in his mind, he realized his shock over her virginity had hurt her feelings. She had given him a gift no other could ever possess. She had trusted him with herself, and he had not trusted her word. He had spent much of his time in the last few weeks berating himself for his stupidity and trying to think of a way to get her to forgive him.

  The day was cold and dark, typical for October in the Yukon. Alex walked down the street, nodding to those he passed, though it was hard to tell who anyone was amidst the muffle of their coats and hats. No sign of Ian McMurphy had been found, though guards were posted at his home and major places of business.

  Alex stopped. His steps had led him to The Celebration. Well, maybe now was as good a time as any to confront Megan. She should be in her room resting for the evening to come. He entered the saloon.

  “Hey, Lieutenant,” Zechariah called from his room near the door. “If you’re lookin’ for Meggie, she ain’t here.”

  Alex frowned. Just his luck. He’d come to make peace and she was off God knew where. “When will she be back?”

  Zechariah scratched his head. “Don’t rightly know. She took her wolf and said she was goin’ for a walk. She usually goes out past the stables by the hill overlooking town. Crazy gal. It’s too cold for that nonsense. Anyways, she didn’t leave more than a few minutes ago. You can catch her.”

  Alex nodded and hurried out the door. It didn’t take him long to locate Megan. He watched her walk up ahead, arms clasped around her sides for warmth. The wolf ran in front of her, pausing to sniff at points of interest then racing to catch up.

  She looked sad, Alex thought, and knew he must be the cause. He quickened his steps, determined to put an end to their estrangement.

  Megan bent to look at something along the path, and Damon trotted over to join her. At the same moment, a shot rang out and the wolf started with a yelp.

  Alex sprinted the remaining distance between him and Megan, pulling her behind a rock and pushing her down beneath him as he drew his revolver.

  Megan struggled, one of her elbows connecting to his midsection, and his breath whooshed out. “Stay down,” he croaked and peered around the rock.

  Damon lay on the path, and Alex could see he still lived. The animal was attempting to crawl after Megan, leaving a trail of blood on the frozen ground. Alex scouted the surrounding area, but it was too dark to see very far. In fact, it was so dark, whoever had fired the shot must have been close.

  “Do you see anyone?” Megan whispered.

  “I think he’s gone.”

  He fired a shot into the air, hoping to draw the assailant’s fire, but no gunshot echoed his.

  “Lieutenant? Meggie?” a voice called.

  “Who’s there?” Alex demanded.

  “Dan.” The doctor ran into view, stopping next to Damon. “I was at the stable and heard shots. You two all right?”

  “We’re fine; but as you can see, Damon needs your attention. I want you to take him and Megan back to The Celebration.”

  “Where are you going?” Megan asked as Alex helped her to her feet.

  “I’m going after whoever’s out there. There’ve been too many ‘accidents’ where you’re concerned. If you hadn’t bent down and Damon hadn’t gotten in the way, I think you’d be the one on the ground right now. I don’t plan to give him a second chance.”

  Grabbing her by the shoulders, he planted a hard kiss on her mouth. “We’ve got things to discuss when I get back, Megan, and you’re going to listen to me.”

  He turned and headed into the wild countryside. Megan’s voice followed him into the darkness. “Be careful, Alex.”

  He made good progress for the next hour. Luckily for him, the weather had been unseasonably warm the previous day, softening the top layer of snow. Clear footprints led away from town. Whoever he followed was big, judging by the size of the boots, and quick, since Alex moved fast but was unable to gain much ground. He was hindered by the fact that he had to pause in the darkness to check for the trail.

  Over the next two hours he gained o
n his quarry. When he entered a cove of trees he recognized from previous visits to Brian Daily’s claim, he proceeded cautiously. The trail led through the midst of the pines, and he followed, keeping a close watch for an ambush. He had nearly reached the end of the trees when the footprints in front of him suddenly stopped. Puzzled, he bent down and examined the ground, then peered around the area, eyes straining against the darkness. The pine trees surrounding him were merely shadows, and the slight wind that had sprung up whistled eerily through their branches.

  He wasn’t mistaken. The prints had stopped, as though the wearer of the boots had vanished into thin air.

  Thin air? Aw hell. He looked up.

  A dark figure leapt from the tree above and pain exploded in Alex’s head before his world went black.

  “Looks like he’s going to be fine. We’ll just have to try and get him to rest for a few days.”

  Megan heaved a sigh of relief at Dan’s words and smoothed the coarse, black fur on Damon’s head. When they had carried him back to the dance hall and up to her room, she had been horrified at the amount of blood soaking the fur of his shoulder. But after examination, Dan declared the bullet had only grazed the wolf, creating a cut in need of stitching but no permanent damage.

  When Dan left, Megan began to shake. The thought of what might have happened if she had not bent down at that particular moment or if Damon had not come between her and the bullet terrified her. She wished Alex would return and bring the sense of safety his presence gave her. She longed for the warmth of his arms and the sound of his deep voice whispering into her hair that everything would be all right.

  Evening came and she went to work, listening to her customers with half her attention, the other half focused on the door as she prayed for Alex’s return. The night seemed endless as her nerves stretched to the breaking point. More than once she lost a hand of cards through inattention, and she ruined her dress when her unsteady fingers knocked a drink into her lap. She told herself he must have come back exhausted and gone straight to bed. He would come to her in the morning and then her night fears would be so much foolishness. But when morning came and he still had not arrived, she grabbed her coat and trudged through the snow to the offices of the mounted police.