She worried at her lower lip. Perhaps she should just leave. She shouldn’t have come inside when she knew he was all alone. She needed to start being more cautious and less trusting. Then maybe she wouldn’t find herself in these situations.
Before she could make up her mind, he was back with a glass of water and some pain killers.
“Thank you,” she told him, reaching out for both.
“Who gave you those bruises?”
“That’s none of your business,” she told him primly as she shook out a couple of pills onto the palm of her hand and then swallowed them with the water. She gagged a little; she hated taking pills, but forced them down.
“I want to know who it was.”
“Then you’re heading for disappointment because I’m not telling you. Thank you for the pain killers. Next time I faint, please leave my clothes on.” There, that was as polite as she could manage to be.
She tried to stand, swayed and felt herself start to fall. He swept an arm around her waist and pulled her up into his arms. She was cradled against his chest. His very firm, muscular chest. Her breath caught, her heart raced, and for a moment all she could register was how close he was. How amazing he smelled.
Then her brain kicked into gear again. Thank God for that.
Except maybe her body would have liked her mind to have a vacation for a bit longer. She really did like being held in his arms. Even if there was a possibility that he enjoyed undressing unconscious women so he could perv at them.
“Did you touch me?”
“I am touching you right now.”
“No, I mean while I was unconscious.”
“Of course I touched you.”
She started to struggle. She didn’t care about her headache. She needed to get away from him. Now. “Put me down.”
“I had to touch you to take off your blouse. Then I checked you for bruises in case there was an injury that caused you to faint. Then I picked you up and placed you on the sofa. Female, stay still. You are only hurting yourself.”
“Put me down.”
“You will fall over.”
“On the sofa.”
He immediately set her down. She took one calming breath. Then another. All right, so perhaps he was telling the truth. Perhaps she was overreacting slightly. But wasn’t that expected after what she’d been through?
“You are a very strange female.”
“I am not! You’re the odd one. Look, even though it seems that you took my top off so you could check I wasn’t hurt, surely you have to understand how it felt to wake up and find it gone. I was out of it. Completely vulnerable. You could have done anything to me.”
He tilted his head. Then his eyes widened as he seemed to understand what she was thinking.
“You think I would molest you? While you were unconscious?”
“No,” she told him. She actually believed him. He didn’t strike her as a creep or a liar. If anything, he was almost too honest most of the time.
He looked disgusted, taking a few steps away from her. “I would never harm a female. I was only trying to help you.”
“Okay, I’m sorry if I overreacted. It’s just been a crazy few days and I’m a little unsettled.”
That was understating it.
“Because of those bruises.” Understanding filled his face. “Someone abused you and you thought I might do the same.”
She licked her lips. “It was just a bit of a shock to wake up that way, okay?”
“I would not touch you like that.”
Ever?
Okay, she shouldn’t feel disappointed at that. She should be relieved. Happy.
Not wondering what it would feel like to have him undress me while I’m awake.
“A girl just likes to be awake for these things.” Fuck. Why did she say that?
His gaze narrowed. “So you wish me to undress you when you are awake?”
“No,” she said quickly. “I just meant…sorry, I’m a little muddled due to my headache. I’ll just go and get out of your way. I’m sure you have things to do. Like fixing the air conditioner. And I have to go back to work.”
It was hotter than hell in here, the drawn drapes didn’t seem to be doing much to keep the room cool. She could feel a trickle of sweat traveling down her spine. No wonder he looked so disgusted at the idea of touching her.
“You are not going anywhere.”
She looked up at him, that fear trickling through her body again.
He grimaced. “Do not look at me like that.”
“Like what?” she whispered. Like he was some sort of nut job? Sorry, she couldn’t help it. The ship had sailed on that one. He was definitely on the weird side.
“Like you believe I might hurt you. I did not harm you while you were unconscious. I did not touch you other than to check you were not injured. And I will not harm you now.”
“Right. Well, thank you for, uh, caring for me while I wasn’t feeling well. But I really do have to go. I’ll return when your brothers are here.”
Or maybe she could just send them an email or something.
Perhaps you need to ensure that they become unhappy living there.
She really needed a new job.
“Female, someone harmed you. You have a bruise on your cheek and arm.” He nodded down at her arm. She covered it with her other hand then realized the futility of doing that. She swallowed heavily then raised her chin.
“You are injured and jumpy. Obviously afraid. I would know who harmed you.”
“And I’m telling you that it’s none of your business. You’re a client.” And because of that she couldn’t tell him to butt out the way she wanted to. “I appreciate the fact that you’re concerned about me. But I’m fine.”
He leaned down, placing one hand down on the arm of the sofa.
“You seem to misunderstand me, female. This is not a choice I give you. Who. Harmed. You.”
The blonde female seemed to grow even more pale at his words. The rational part of his brain whispered to him that scaring her into a confession probably wasn’t the way to go, but he was riding the edge of his temper.
Had she really thought he was capable of harming her? Of touching her intimately while she was unconscious? The thought made his stomach churn. Her low opinion of him grated. But he could understand her being fearful after having someone else harm her.
He felt almost murderous with anger over the idea of her being harmed.
He didn’t know what it was about her. He was in turns irritated at her and aroused by her, which irritated him even further.
It was a vicious cycle.
But he did know he could not abide the idea of her being harmed.
“Female, I am not certain if I have given you the impression that I have a lot of patience. I do not. You would do well to answer me.”
“Yeah, you’ve never given me that impression. At all. But I’m not sure why you think I should tell you. We barely know each other. It’s none of your business.”
“It is if someone is threatening you. Is that why you will not tell me? Are you concerned about retaliation? If you tell me who it is, that will not worry you any longer.”
She gasped in a sharp breath. “Did you…are you saying that you’d get rid of them?”
That was exactly what he was saying. But judging by the mix of fear and horror on her face, that wasn’t the correct response. Humans. They had all these weird rules and morals. Whoever had put those bruises on her deserved to die.
It was simple.
“Why will you not just tell me?”
“Maybe because I don’t want you to go out and kill them.”
His gaze narrowed. Anger stirred. “You would defend them?”
“No, I would defend you.”
What?
She blushed and dropped her gaze. What did she mean, she would defend him? He did not need protection.
“You think this male could harm me?” He let out a bark of laughter. “Female, you have
no idea of my abilities. And you insult me with the belief that I am in need of your protection. I am not.”
“Jeez, you’re so modest.”
“I speak the truth. Who?”
She let out a breath. “All right, I’ll tell you. But you have got to promise you’re not going to do something stupid.”
“I never do anything stupid.” Right. Because letting her into the house had been a good move. Same as undressing her. Yeah, he was making all smart choices here.
He made an irritated noise and she drew back slightly.
“Stop fearing me.”
She looked worried for a moment before she drew her shoulders back and glared at him. “Stop telling me how I should feel.”
He growled. “You are an infuriating female. I am unsure why I care what happens to you.”
Her gaze narrowed, her bright blue eyes glaring up at him with ire. His rod stirred. The effect she had him was unnerving to say the least.
“Let me make this easier on you then. Don’t.”
“I wish it were that easy.”
She looked surprised. He understood, he was pretty shocked he had voiced that thought aloud.
“I do not like to see females harmed.” That was the truth. He might not always understand them or particularly want one in his life. Things would have been easier had the whole pack found just one mate. Then Nax could have handed over certain issues to other pack members. Tecan understood the female mind much better. He was more equipped to deal with tears and that time of the month.
He grimaced. He had learned to steer clear of mentioning that time at all. It was safer that way.
Speaking to a female, soothing her, taking care of her during those times when she needed more than sex or protection was not something he was equipped to handle.
That did not mean he did not wish for a mate. He did. But he would require that his mate be low maintenance. Someone rational. Less emotional. Obedient. Quiet.
Surely that could not be hard. In fact, he had seen an advertisement for a matchmaking service where you were matched with your perfect mate by experts. It seemed to him that would be a reliable, sensible way to meet a mate. There would be no mistakes made if you used a rational method to finding a mate and did not allow emotions to enter into things.
His attraction to this female had to simply be about need. His body wanted her. His mind screamed at him to stay away.
But all of this did not mean that he wished to see her harmed or that he could stand by and do nothing.
“I want your word you won’t go after them.”
“Them?” he yelled, making her flinch. “There was more than one?”
She nodded. “Yes. Well, no.”
“Which is it?”
“Only one of them touched me, bruised me.” She lightly touched the bruise on her arm. Her eyes looked haunted. His hands clenched into fists. “But there were two others with him.”
“What happened?” He tried to keep his voice calm, not wishing to frighten her.
She licked her lips. “Two nights ago, I was out searching for…something and I wasn’t paying attention the way I should have been.”
“Because you were searching for something?” What did that mean? What exactly had she been searching for?
“Yes,” she replied. Not elaborating. “I turned to run but one of them grabbed me, slammed me up against the wall, and put his hand around my neck so it was hard to breathe. When he moved his hand I managed to yell. Mr. Angelo, who owns a local bakery, heard me as he was putting the trash out. He and his grandsons came to my rescue.”
There was a lot she was leaving out and he did not like it. What was she doing out at night on her own where someone could attack her?
“Why did you not have a male with you?”
“What?” She stared up at him.
“Why was your male not with you?”
“Oh. Well. I don’t have a boyfriend or husband.”
“Who do you live with?”
“I could live on my own, you know. This isn’t the eighteenth century, I don’t have to walk around with an escort.”
“It seems that would not be such a foolish idea.”
She licked her dry lips. “Yeah, well, I’m thinking of investing in some pepper spray.”
Pepper spray? Oh yes, he had seen one of those reality television shows where a bounty hunter had used pepper spray. He supposed pepper spray was a good idea. But a blaster would be better. He opened his mouth to offer her one then remembered that humans did not carry them.
“You should get a gun.”
She gaped up at him. “A gun? Are you crazy? I can’t get a gun.”
“Why not? There is a gun shop about ten minutes from here. You could purchase one on your way home.”
“Um, maybe because I don’t know the first things about guns. I’ve never fired one or loaded one. I don’t even know how to put on the safety. I’m more likely to shoot myself than anyone attacking me. Do you know how many guns get turned on their owners? I bring out a gun and any attacker will probably take it off me and shoot me. And lastly, I don’t believe in guns.”
He stared at her, completely lost for words.
Didn’t believe in guns? What weirdness was this?
Nax just stared at her. And stared at her.
She shifted around, feeling uncomfortable under his stare. What was he so shocked about? So she didn’t like guns? Lots of people didn’t. It wasn’t that weird.
“So, I think I’ll just go now.” She stood up, looking around for her handbag. Where the hell had it gone?
“How can you not believe in weapons?”
“I said I don’t believe in guns. Although, yeah, I don’t really believe in most weapons. I simply think that most problems could be solved peacefully if we sat down and talked things out.”
“Did you try to sit down with your attacker and peacefully sort things out?”
All right, so maybe he did understand sarcasm.
“No, of course not. Which is why I am considering pepper spray. I realize that having a way to defend myself is a good idea. I just don’t think guns are the answer. They’re violent. And I could hurt someone.”
“That’s the idea,” he half-yelled.
“All right, I can see we’ll have to agree to disagree. Just tell me where my handbag is—”
“No.”
“Look, I guess it’s nice that you’re so concerned. But let’s face it, we don’t really know each other that well and I really have to get back to work. I’ll get some pepper spray. I won’t go out late at night—” Unless her mother went walkabout again. “—and I’m certain I’m never going to see those guys again. It was a chance encounter. Hopefully the cops will find them, but even if they don’t, I doubt they’ll come around my neighborhood for a while.”
Fingers crossed.
He took a breath then another. “You need—”
A door slammed, making her jump. Nax immediately turned away, striding out of the room.
Okay, obviously the conversation was over.
She hurried after him, hoping to find her handbag somewhere. It couldn’t have gone far. She heard voices and saw the other Clacka brothers along with Frankie and Eden in the foyer. All of the men seemed to be holding something. They looked so alike that it she’d actually wondered if they were septuplets. Sacaren was easy to spot since he had a scar on his cheek. He held a rocker for a baby. Eden placed her hand on the arm of another brother, so she guessed that was Marcun. He held the cradle part of a bassinet. One of them was smiling, that had to be Tecan. He held the base of the bassinet and that left Brogan holding several shopping bags and Ioin carried a giant teddy bear.
Okay, that was unexpected. He didn’t seem the teddy bear type.
She knew she should ask Ioin if she could speak to him for a few minutes. He seemed to be in charge. She should really have waited for him to get home, rather than coming in to talk to Nax.
But right now, all she wanted to do wa
s get her handbag and leave. She felt shaky and on edge and she wanted to get as far away from Nax and the strange effect he had on her.
“Ms. Nelson? What do you do here?” Ioin asked. He put the teddy bear down and gave Nax a look she couldn’t decipher.
She really needed to pull herself together and talk business. Pete was expecting results. And if she didn’t give him the results he wanted then she was going to find herself out on her ass. Because she sure wasn’t taking him up on his other offer. She shuddered.
“Is someone expecting a baby?” she blurted out instead.
Eden smiled. “Kind of obvious, huh?” She placed a hand over her tummy.
“Congratulations,” Crista told her, trying to ignore the envy that filled her. Children weren’t on her radar. She could barely take care of her mother; it would be an absolute disaster to add a child to the mix. Still, she could imagine the joy of knowing she was bringing a life into the world, the joy that was currently filling Eden’s face.
“You need to go and lie down,” Marcun told her, placing the bassinet down. “I will help you up the stairs.”
Eden rolled her eyes. “I am perfectly capable of climbing the stairs on my own. And I don’t need a nap. I’m not tired.”
“You might slip and fall. And you and the babe need your rest.”
Crista would love a nap. Her eyes were gritty from lack of sleep. She felt rumpled and exhausted. Eden was glowing. Well, why wouldn’t she? She had a husband who cared enough to urge her to nap and was worried about her slipping on the stairs. It seemed a little excessive, but who was Crista to say? Nobody even cared if she was alive or dead.
Okay, quit it with the pity party. It’s getting depressing.
Marcun wrapped his arm around Eden’s waist. Eden gasped as they grew closer and she saw Crista.
“What happened to your face?” she blurted out. Then she blushed. “Sorry, that was rude.”
Crista gave her a rueful grin. “That’s okay. I slipped off a ladder, landed on my face. Wasn’t exactly graceful of me.”
Eden didn’t look convinced, but she gave her a small nod. Marcun gave Crista a suspicious look before moving past her and then guiding his wife to the stairs. She continued to argue with him, but he didn’t even bother replying, just pulled her up into his arms and carried her up the stairs.
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