by Zoe Chant
“I thought the universe must be playing some sort of joke. I finally track down the guy who’d been causing so much trouble and he turns out to be a gorgeous, half-naked man.” Meaghan tried to make it sound like a grumble, but her voice kept hitching as Caine’s kisses grazed down her neck. “And then you kept being so nice… I thought it had to be a trick.”
“I thought you hated me.” Caine kissed her collarbone.
“I hated how goddamn gorgeous you were. And how you kept being helpful when I was acting like you were the spawn of Satan. And how much the dogs liked you. And—” Meaghan’s heart began to pound. Stop talking stop talking stop talking. “—and when it turned out I’d gotten it all wrong and you didn’t run for the hills, I thought you had to be sticking around to get back at me somehow and—”
Caine cut her off with a kiss. When he spoke there was a protective growl in his voice.
“I stuck around because I wanted to spend more time with you.” His tongue teased her lower lip. “I would have admitted to being the whole ghost gang if I thought it meant you’d keep me tied up in your truck.”
Laughter bubbled out of her. “You’d have been tied up in Jackson’s truck, not mine.”
“Nope.” Caine slipped one hand behind her head as he kissed her again, slowly and gently. “I would have run out of there, set a false trail to put the rest of them off the scent, and waited for you to find me.”
“Because I would have raced after you, even if the police were already on it?”
“No doubt.” Caine smiled conspiratorially. “And you would have done a better job of it.”
Meaghan half-groaned, half-sighed. “Again. No one’s going to thank you for encouraging me to always be throwing myself into other people’s business.”
“They’re lucky to have you around.” Caine’s voice dropped. “I’m lucky. Lucky you dragged me back to town and lucky you didn’t throw me out on my ass when you had to pay for dinner. And extremely lucky that your truck broke down.”
He took Meaghan’s hand. “I’ve had too much—work—breathing down my neck this year. Hell, I’m here, alone in the most festive town in America, at Christmas, because of a—a project.” His fingers tightened around hers, jerkily, as though they were reflecting his hesitant voice. “It took being kidnapped by a gorgeous woman to make me realize what I’ve been missing out on.”
Meaghan’s heart pounded so hard she was sure her whole body must be shaking. Caine’s eyes were burning into hers through the white vapor of their mingled breath and the steam coming off the water. The expression in them warmed her deep inside.
“I, um,” she said, her tongue tripping over feelings she couldn’t put words to. “I don’t have any Christmas plans, either?”
Caine’s expression cleared. Something like firelight danced in his eyes, and then he put his hands on either side of her face and kissed her. Water sloshed over the sides of the tub, but Meaghan hardly noticed. There were more important things to pay attention too. Like his lips. And the teasing flicker of his tongue. And his hands. And the things he was doing with his hands. Holding her. Caressing her. Sliding down…
Meaghan lost her balance. There was a moment of splashing, and water up her nose, and then Caine’s arms were around her. He pulled her up, crushing her against his chest.
And other parts of his anatomy.
“Sorry,” he said, his voice rough. “If I’m moving too fast…”
Meaghan caught her breath. Droplets of water beaded on her eyelashes, splitting the light into rainbows that lit up the shadows of the balcony. She blinked, and the world spun into focus again.
Her breasts were pressed against Caine’s chest. When she breathed, her nipples brushed against him. Lower, his abs were hard against the rounded softness of her own belly, and something even harder was jutting against her hip.
Meaghan licked her lips. Caine’s eyes tracked the movement, and she got the impression that if his voice hadn’t already trailed off, that would have sent it completely off-track. Her insides shivered with excitement.
“I don’t want to slow down,” she said, and Caine’s eyes went pitch black with desire. “But maybe we should get out of the tub before you try that again.”
He stood up with her in his arms so quickly that all the breath left her lungs. She didn’t even have time to worry about him seeing her body before he’d leapt—actually leapt, that couldn’t be safe—out of the tub. He landed on the balcony with animal grace and before Meaghan could so much as draw breath to complain about the cold, whipped her inside and closed the door behind them.
“That—” Meaghan wrapped her arms around herself as Caine set her on her feet. “—was—” He darted away, and she turned to follow him just as he reappeared, carrying a fluffy towel. “—wow.”
Caine wrapped the towel around her and pulled her close for a kiss. Meaghan laughed.
“When I said I didn’t want you to slow down, I wasn’t meaning to go superhuman fast,” she joked.
A shadow passed across Caine’s face. “Super—?” he began, then shook his head. “I didn’t mean to scare you.”
“You didn’t scare me.” Meaghan shuffled closer to him. “If I’d had to haul myself out of that tub, I’d have frozen solid before I got halfway across the balcony.”
“It’s hardly warmer in here.” Caine frowned and ran the back of his hand over Meaghan’s arm. Despite the heat pooling inside her, her skin had goose bumps. “I can check the thermostat—”
“No.” Meaghan was still soaring, but that was the problem with flying: the longer you stayed up, the further there was to fall. She shoved the thought away. Maybe this time the risk will be worth it. “Can’t you warm me up right here?”
A wicked smile crept onto Caine’s face. “I can certainly try.”
He tipped her head back and kissed her, then moved down her neck, teasing her with his lips until she thought her legs would give out.
One hand behind her head, the other around her waist, he led her slowly backwards until she bumped into the bed.
“May I?”
Meaghan almost laughed. He was the one who’d wrapped her up in the towel—after picking her up butt-naked and carrying her in here—and he was asking her permission to take it off her again? Then she looked into his eyes and her laughter turned into a gulp of fluttering nerves.
“Please,” she whispered.
Caine unwrapped her carefully, like she might break if he touched her too hard. The opposite was true. Every light brush of his fingers against her skin sent tremors through her.
If he even breathes on me now I think I’ll crack into a thousand pieces, she thought as Caine pulled the towel away from her body.
“You’re gorgeous,” he said, his eyes black as night.
Meaghan wriggled, her shoulders driving up towards her ears. Caine’s gaze sharpened. He put one finger over her lips just as she opened them.
“Don’t argue.” His voice was firm, but the corner of his mouth curled up. “Not about this. You won’t win.”
Meaghan shut her mouth. Caine kept his finger pressed to her lips as he ran the towel over her arms one at a time.
“You won’t warm up if you’re all wet,” he explained, dragging the towel down her back. She shivered and he smirked, replacing his finger on her lips with his own mouth. “Not that sort of wet, anyway.”
“Hey!” Meaghan yelped. He laughed, his teeth bumping against hers, and the shivery-breaky feeling inside her exploded into a need that was stronger and more full of joy than anything she’d felt for anyone in her life. “Rude,” she gasped as he knelt, drying her legs. “You’re the one who’s still soaking wet.”
Caine’s back was glistening with water. Rivulets ran down his chest as he straightened. “Am I?”
“So much for warm and dry.” Meaghan traced a pattern through the droplets on Caine’s chest, and he shivered. “You’re freezing. Again.” Except he wasn’t really; his skin was furnace-hot.
“I g
uess there’s something about you that makes me forget about the cold.” Caine tipped her slowly back onto the bed.
Meaghan laughed as water dripped from his chest onto her. Caine pulled the towel up to dry her off again and she wrestled it off him, slung it around his shoulders and then somehow he was kissing her again and forget the towel, she wanted to touch him the way he was touching her, like she’d die if every inch of her wasn’t touching every inch of him…
They broke apart, both gasping for breath. Meaghan’s mouth felt bruised. The rest of her was a throbbing pulse of want.
Oh, shit.
Caine rolled on top of her, cupping her face in his hands. He kissed her, almost long enough for her to forget what she’d just realized, but when he lifted his head again she couldn’t stop herself from grimacing.
“I’m not on anything,” she explained.
“Not on—?“ Caine’s look of confusion faded and he groaned. “And I didn’t exactly come prepared for anything like this.”
“Really?” Meaghan’s eyebrows shot up.
“I’ve had other things on my mind.” Caine groaned again, burying his head in her shoulder. “Of course, at the moment I have nothing else on my mind…”
The hot weight of his cock pressing into Meaghan’s thigh was evidence of that. She bit down on her lower lip as her core throbbed with need.
She’d never expected things to get this far. But now that they had…
“All or nothing, right?” she muttered.
“Meaghan.” Caine propped himself up on his elbows and gazed down at her, desire and humor mingling in his gaze. “Tomorrow I’ll go shopping. Tonight… I have a better idea.”
He moved slowly down her body, kissing and grazing his teeth over her skin until she was writhing with anticipation. When he finally dipped between her legs she almost screamed.
Caine lifted his head. “What was that?”
“Don’t stop!” Meaghan gasped. “I—mmf!”
Stars exploded behind her eyes. She gave up on speaking and let her head hang back. Caine was—incredible. There was no other word for it. This, what he was doing, was actually happening and she could still hardly believe it. His tongue—his fingers—
Pleasure spiraled into a sudden sharp jolt of sensation inside her and Meaghan cried out, her legs kicking automatically. Caine mumbled something, and even though she couldn’t make out the words, his voice sent shockwaves up her spine.
“What?” Meaghan raised her head and immediately regretted it. The sight of Caine between her legs—her legs—was almost enough to make her brain explode.
Caine kissed her inner thigh. “Is kicking me off your way of telling me to slow down?”
“Never.” Meaghan looped one leg over his shoulders, amazed at herself. “The opposite.”
Caine’s grin was wolfish. He lowered his head and Meaghan gasped as he slid his fingers into her. He kissed her and his tongue flicked out, circling her clit, drawing out ribbons of pleasure that wound together, tighter and tighter until her whole body was a taut cord of anticipation.
He’s so good at this, Meaghan thought, fighting her body’s need to writhe helplessly as Caine pleasured her. It’s like he knows every spot that—oh-h-h—
Meaghan gasped as Caine curled his fingers inside her. She pushed herself up until she could see him and something about the sight of him so intent on pleasing her pushed her over the edge.
Her whole body tightened as pleasure exploded through her, a lightning blast with aftershocks that left her panting and weak. Her foot dug down into Caine’s back as she twisted, but he didn’t let her move. He kept her locked in place, licking and stroking her until she was too dizzy with orgasm to think straight.
Caine kissed his way back up her trembling body and lay beside her. Meaghan curled into his side, her head spinning.
Her whole body felt… right. Like this was exactly where she was meant to be. She ran one hand up Caine’s chest, losing herself in how firm his muscles were, and the heavy thud of his heartbeat.
Caine caught her wandering hand and gently bit her fingertips.
Even through her happy fog, Meaghan felt desire tighten inside her. She pulled her hand out of Caine’s grasp… and let it slide downwards.
Caine’s gasp as she took hold of his cock made Meaghan’s soul sing. She tugged on it, gently, exploring its girth and weight… and length. The thought of having that inside her made her bones turn liquid.
“Oh God,” Caine groaned as she tightened her grip. “Meaghan—”
She let go, trailing her fingers along his length. This slow, teasing exploration was unlike anything she’d ever done before. When she reached the base of his cock, she traced the outline of the deep V at the tops of his thighs, then laid her palm flat on his powerful quads. The muscle flexed under her touch.
She wasn’t even touching his cock anymore but the knowledge that it was there, inches away from her fingertips, made her ache inside.
Meaghan slid her hand lower down Caine’s thigh. Her fingertips grazed a patch of rough raised skin like scar tissue.
Caine’s hand closed around her wrist before she could explore any further. “Stop there,” he muttered, his voice rough.
Meaghan stared at him, confused, and his cheeks went dark.
“I mean, you don’t need to do that,” he murmured after a moment. “If you do, I don’t think I’d be able to stop myself wanting more.”
“Me either,” Meaghan admitted in a whisper. She waited for his response, not daring to breathe.
Caine rested his forehead against hers. “Tomorrow.”
Meaghan sighed, but knew he was right. Caine kissed her and she kissed him back.
“Tonight has been perfect,” Caine whispered against her lips. “Don’t doubt that.”
“And tomorrow will be even better?”
Caine chuckled and nuzzled under her ear. “Less crazy. Less frustrating. But just as wonderful. I promise.”
Meaghan kissed him one more time, then lay down on Caine’s shoulder. He kept his arms around her, holding her close as his breathing slowed.
Meaghan was exhausted, but she didn’t fall asleep as easily.
She’d run. Jumped. Thrown herself all-in, like she always did. And things had turned out fine.
But she knew this was only the first hurdle.
Don’t let me ruin this, she begged herself. Don’t push him too far.
Don’t make him end up hating you like everyone else in your life.
11
Caine
DECEMBER 21
(CHRISTMAS EVE EVE EVE EVE)
The first thing he was aware of was the warm weight of Meaghan’s body curled into his. Her back was pressed against his chest and her shoulders were rising and falling with slow, steady breaths. His arm was draped over her and sometime in the night she’d taken his hand, tangling her fingers between his, and tucked it close against her chest.
Half asleep and more than half convinced he was dreaming, Caine tried to free his hand. One sleepy grumble from Meaghan stopped him in his tracks, and then her grumble turned into a contented sigh and she rolled onto her back, still holding onto his hand.
Caine’s heart thudded. Yes, she was naked—gloriously naked, and holding his hand firmly between her incredible breasts—but that wasn’t the reason his blood was singing in his veins. And the silence inside him, the blessed absence of the creature that had cursed his every step for the last year, wasn’t the reason either.
She was in his bed. She’d slept here, warm and safe beside him, and even asleep she didn’t want to let him go.
Meaghan was more than he’d ever dreamed of. More than he deserved. She was perfect.
See! I knew she was the one for us!
Cold sweat broke out on Caine’s back. “Who said that?” he demanded.
Meaghan murmured sleepily, oblivious to the horror curling in Caine’s gut. Whoever had spoken, it hadn’t been out loud.
Whatever had spoken.
Movement stirred in the shadows of his soul, and suddenly the creature was there, so close Caine could feel its thorny hairs pricking beneath his skin. He braced himself, but the attack he expected never came. The monster was back, but it wasn’t trying to take form.
It was stiff-legged, trembling with restrained energy. Like a kid on Christmas morning. Caine’s stomach churned.
Are you pleased now? The disembodied voice shivered with glee. Our mate. Our mate! You were right. You caught her on your own. And now she’s ours.
Flames crackled at the edges of Caine’s vision.
Caine felt sick. How could he have been so careless? The monster wasn’t gone. It had just been waiting. Lurking out of sight until…
Meaghan.
I stayed out of the way! Secret. Stealthy. And you won her! The monster leapt with excitement, and Caine’s arms jerked with the movement. Smoke poured from his skin. And now she’s ours!
“No!”
“Caine?”
Meaghan’s eyes fluttered open. Her gaze was fuzzy with sleep, eyelids heavy, lips turning up in a lazy smile.
Our mate!
Caine wrenched his hand away, and the sleepy warmth in Meaghan’s eyes sharpened.
“What’s wrong?” She sat up.
Caine backed off the bed, almost tripping over the sheets in his hurry. “Nothing’s wrong,” he said quickly, and the sharpness in Meaghan’s eyes turned hard. She pulled the blankets up over herself.
“Nothing’s wrong,” Caine repeated, the lie clanging in his ears. “I just have to—”
His throat went dry. Leave. Run. It was the truth, but he couldn’t say it, not without making the hard look in Meaghan’s eyes shatter.
He had to go. It was the only way he could protect her.
Protect her? We will protect her! She is our mate!
The monster’s voice thundered against Caine’s skull. He winced, gripping the doorframe.
Meaghan’s eyebrows drew together. “Well, good morning to you, too.”
“I wish it was.” The words were out before he could stop them. Meaghan’s face dropped. “Meaghan, I—”