by Terry Spear
She pulled at his pants again and tugged at his shirt, but he kissed her softly on the mouth and then the forehead, saying it was over in a maddeningly frustrating way. She wanted to pleasure him as he had her.
He let out his breath on a sexually unfulfilled sigh. “I’ll let you get your rest now.”
He closed her robe. He wanted more. He wanted her touch. She knew it. Why was he holding back? Because he didn’t want her to get the idea that he wanted her in a more permanent way?
In disbelief, she stared at him. She didn’t want to rest. She wanted to feel every naked bit of him. She’d seen him that way enough times, and every time she’d wanted to touch and stroke all those glorious muscles.
“What’s wrong?” she asked, unable to hide feeling a little bit rejected. She knew that he was right. That this was the best thing to do. But she felt it was like offering a secret to a friend and the friend not offering one in return. She felt vulnerable, exposed.
He took her hand and kissed it as if he was trying to appease her.
She didn’t want to be appeased. She pulled her hand free.
“You should rest.” His voice was husky with unfulfilled need. “I’ll…see you in the morning.”
That was it?
“Are…” She frowned, then folded her arms. “Don’t tell me you’re afraid of me.”
He smiled, and the look was pure alpha wolf—the hot, sexy male variety who was not afraid of anything. Least of all her.
“How did you guess?” Then he was off the bed and heading for the door.
Wait. He was going to leave her on his bed after what he did to her?
He didn’t say good night, and she didn’t either. They looked at each other with considering gazes, a million thoughts running through her mind, and then he shut the door on his way out.
She was so frustrated, she could scream. She threw his pillow at the door. Then feeling half-aggravated and half-satiated, she curled up on his mattress, smelling the sexy alpha wolf and wishing they could have snuggled together in the big bed for the rest of the night.
And knowing just why he chose to leave her alone. Neither of them wanted a mating. So why was she wishing otherwise?
She heard the shower going in the bathroom adjoining hers, and she wondered if Grant was taking care of his own unfulfilled sexual frustrations. If she’d wanted a mating, she told herself, she’d have joined him in the shower and let her feelings be known.
She stared at the bed canopy for what seemed like forever. She definitely couldn’t sleep in his bed sober and smell his scent all over the sheets all night long. Grumbling, she left his bed and returned to the lady’s chamber. She retrieved her phone from her purse and called Julia. What she needed was someone to talk to. Someone who knew her. Someone who could tell her that she had to get her mind on track.
“I want to get together with you tomorrow. Would that be all right?”
“Absolutely. We’ll have our girls’ day out party. Can you stay overnight?”
“Yes!”
“Good, but here’s what I want you to do. Don’t let anyone catch you at it,” Julia said with a conspiratorial challenge to her tone of voice as she explained what she wanted Colleen to do.
That’s just what Colleen needed to hear. They were going to have fun.
Here Grant thought being rough and gruff with her would have chased her away. Sharing one-sided intimacies had done the trick better than anything else he could have done to make her want to leave and never come back.
“Is everything all right?” Julia suddenly asked.
“I’ll talk with you tomorrow.” No, everything wasn’t all right.
Chapter 16
Grant didn’t want Colleen to feel he was leading her on, coming on too strong, or creating a problem for them both with the direction they were headed. But damn if he didn’t want more. All of it. Her, the mating, the whole savory, sweet pastry that was Colleen—a feast he couldn’t get enough of.
She had been just too enticing sitting in her robe and slipper boots, her knees brushing against his. He had tried to stick with the conversation, one that had been well overdue.
When she told him that she had thought he had come for her at the airport when it had been Archibald, he wanted to show her just how much he regretted not coming for her instead.
Grant had pulled back, wanting to see her reaction. Still wondering about the kisses they’d shared in the glen and later in the keep. She hadn’t pulled away either, and he kept thinking about kissing her again. Just…kissing her. One thing led to another, and before he could stop himself, he was stroking her to completion.
He told himself it couldn’t be helped. How was he to know that when he slipped his hand inside her robe, he would connect with flesh, feeling no barrier between them, no nightshirt covering her breasts or anything else beneath the robe?
She had a drugging effect on him. That was the only way he could explain his reaction to her—because he’d had no intention of taking it that far with her. Ever.
Even a cold shower had done nothing to alleviate his need for her. He couldn’t stop thinking of the wounded expression she wore when he ended the intimacy between them, but if he’d stripped, he would have wanted to take it all the way. Neither of them was ready for that kind of long-term commitment.
So why was he becoming aroused all over again, just thinking of her naked body lying on his bed and her responsiveness to his touch? And why did he want to join her in his bed in the worst way?
***
A small bag in hand the next morning, Colleen hurried to find Lachlan and ask for the keys to Grant’s car. She had gotten up really early, hoping Grant was still asleep so she wouldn’t run into him.
She wasn’t sure what was going on with Grant’s clansmen, but many had made a special effort to go out of their way to say good morning to her while performing their various duties. As if they’d known Grant had nearly made love to her last night, and they thought maybe she would be his mate soon. Like that would ever happen.
Grant better not have thought that pleasuring her was like a payment for her having saved Ollie. And that was all there was to it.
Frederick was the only one who hadn’t seemed pleased to see her. He had immediately disappeared when she caught sight of him, before she could even wish him a good morning.
Darby had asked if she’d needed anything. Maynard had wanted to fix her a special breakfast. But all she had wanted to do was leave. She couldn’t deal with Grant this morning. Not after the way he’d left her last night as if he’d made a horrible mistake. She couldn’t imagine sitting next to him at a meal, thinking about the way his hands had been all over her, his mouth on her breasts, her tongue in his mouth. She groaned.
She was torn between regretting the intimacy between them and wanting a hell of a lot more.
Which was just why she needed to see Julia and get her head on straight.
Two men offered to take her bag to the car while Lachlan watched, looking damned concerned. Enrick had hurried to speak with someone, but neither of Grant’s brothers went to see him, so she assumed they knew he had no problem with her leaving.
And nobody asked where she was going, which was just as well. Because truthfully, it was no one’s business—specifically, none of Grant MacQuarrie’s.
***
Grant woke to the sound of someone knocking on the guest-room door, and he was instantly wide awake. Colleen had awakened a need in him he hadn’t felt in a very long time. Something deeper than wanting just sexual fulfillment.
He’d never considered the possibility that he might care for the lass. Not after the way her father had behaved toward him and his clan. He hadn’t thought she would risk her own neck for one of his people, or love the castle and the lands surrounding it like he did. He’d never thought she would have despised her father as much as he d
id.
Someone knocked again. “Aye,” he called out and pulled on a pair of trousers.
Lachlan opened the door and said, “I thought you’d want to know that the lass took your car out for a spin.”
“What?” Grant said, his voice verging on a growl. He couldn’t even imagine such a thing. He’d expected her to still be asleep in his bed, like he’d been in the guest bedroom. Or maybe looking again at the finances if she’d decided to get up early.
“It’s all right,” Lachlan said. “Enrick sent two men to follow her. They’re reporting back to him as soon as they know where she’s going. You did say she could drive your car anytime she wanted to if she wished to go somewhere.”
Grant frowned at him. “One of you gave her the spare keys to my car without asking me?”
Sounding exasperated, Lachlan said, “You told her she could use your car, Grant. If you hadn’t really meant it, you should have let us in on the secret.”
Grant knew his brother was right, but he wasn’t about to admit it. He threw on a shirt. “Who went after her?”
“Maynard—”
“Our cook?” Any number of men who seemed better suited to the task should have gone in his place.
“It’s his day off.”
“Who went with him?” Grant shoved his feet in his shoes.
“Darby volunteered. Well, actually, several did, but Darby and Maynard were so adamant about going that Enrick chose them.”
“When did they leave?” Grant stalked out of the chamber.
“Twenty minutes ago.”
Grant glowered at his brother. “Why didn’t you tell me that she’d left twenty minutes ago?”
“We were trying to get someone to follow her pronto before we lost sight of her.”
Grant let out his breath in exasperation.
“They’ll watch her, Grant. She’ll be all right.”
“Give me the keys to your car,” Grant growled, thrusting his hand out.
Lachlan’s brows rose in surprise. “You want to go, too? Isn’t that kind of overkill?”
“Last night we talked about her father possibly being responsible for our father’s death. That Archibald might have known something about it,” Grant said in a rush, feeling panicked when he rarely felt that way. But he didn’t want her anywhere near the bastard.
“Bloody hell. You think she’s gone to talk to Archibald? I’m going with you.”
Enrick stalked toward them as they reached the foyer of the keep. “Darby called and said the lass is still driving.”
“Has she gone in the direction of the village where Kelton’s Pub is located?” Grant asked.
“It’s a long way to the village. She might take any exit way before that and—” Enrick said.
“We’re going. You take care of the place while we’re gone,” Grant said.
Enrick looked a little surprised, then he smiled.
“What?” Grant asked, annoyed, stalking out of the keep.
“I didn’t expect you to chase the lass down personally. Again.”
“If she’s seeing Archibald and he causes her any trouble, she needs protection. If his buddies are with him, Darby and Maynard won’t be any match for them.”
Enrick swore under his breath. “She is still seeing that bastard?”
“Maybe. Maybe not. I don’t want to risk it.” Grant climbed into his car, Lachlan slipping into the passenger’s side.
“I thought you and the lass were getting along last night—”
“She knows Archibald may have inside knowledge about our father’s death.”
“She can’t mean to question him,” Enrick said, his eyes wide. Now he realized the concern Grant had for the lass.
“We don’t know, Enrick. But what if she did? I’ll keep in touch.” Grant and Lachlan drove out through the gate and down the road to the one the lass and the others took.
He couldn’t believe that Colleen would do this. Or that his people wouldn’t have stopped her before she left. Or that he felt sick to his stomach that she could be in a world of danger.
“He wouldn’t harm her,” Lachlan said as Grant drove way over the speed he normally did. “He needs her if he’s thinking of getting hold of her properties. He can’t force himself on her.”
Grant gave him a cutting look.
“Okay, he could try. But he knows it wouldn’t work. He’s got to encourage her to agree or we’d kill him. Every last one of us would. Saving Ollie was all it took to pull the pack together to get behind her. She’s no longer an outsider, Grant. Our people have accepted her.”
He knew they would. He wondered just what had been said at the meal while he had pleasured the lass last night.
Lachlan pulled a sheet of paper out of his pocket and said to Grant, “Darby initiated this. Every adult man and woman in our clan agreed to sign this. The women did so electronically. Everyone else signed on the paper. And one teen also affixed his signature.”
“Let me guess. Frederick, our new dog obedience trainer.”
Lachlan smiled. “Aye. So if Archibald has any designs on the lass, she has our whole pack at her back. We’re only waiting for one thing.”
“What’s that?”
“For you to tell the clan you and she are mated.” Lachlan gave him another smile. “Ian warned you where this would lead, you know.”
Yeah, he had, and despite Grant trying to tell himself it wouldn’t work, he was already trying to figure out a way to convince the lass it would.
***
Colleen wasn’t sure how long it would take her to reach Argent Castle. Thankfully, Lachlan hadn’t seemed to mind—too much—that she was taking Grant’s car to make the trip. No one had attempted to stop her, change her mind, or escort her there.
After last night and the incredible way Grant had made her feel, she had to know what Julia thought of the situation. Colleen wondered if she had anything to discuss at all—if Grant was pulling back and not interested in anything further to do with her beyond strictly managing the property. Still, Julia was an American wolf and had mated a Highland wolf. She had some insight into their thinking.
She half expected Grant to avoid her today. And she was feeling the same way.
Julia called, and Colleen fumbled to get the phone. “You got the items, right?” Julia asked.
“I did.”
“Good, we’ll have fun playing some games during our ladies’ day out. We’ll have an all-girl themed party, but I’m including a few guy games. Not that the guys are actually included. Just some of their unmentionables. You didn’t get caught, did you?”
Colleen said, “No, and boy, am I glad for that. I can’t imagine what Enrick or Grant would have said, had they caught me in their underwear drawers.”
“They know you’re going to be here, right?”
“Nope. No one asked and I didn’t offer.” Wasn’t that the way it was supposed to be? The owner didn’t have to explain her every move to those who managed and worked her estates. She didn’t think they really cared. And she was fine with that. She wasn’t used to anyone watching every move she made. She needed some space. Especially right about now.
“Hmm,” Julia said, “all right, but I’m certain Grant will be upset that you left without saying…”
“Uh, no. He’s not in charge of me.”
Silence.
“Julia?”
Julia let out her breath. “All right. But I suspect if he didn’t know you were leaving and where you were going…Well, maybe I’m wrong. We’re more than thrilled about your visit. We’ve made all kinds of plans for when you arrive, and the ladies are all in a tither. We’ll do a sleepover, movies, pizza, ice cream, ride horses. You name it, we’ll do it.”
“That sounds like fun.” Though Colleen had never ridden a horse before. “I didn’t mention to anyo
ne that I was going away overnight.” Not when she was in such a rush to leave before having to see Grant, but she hadn’t thought about keeping his car overnight. “I guess I will need to let Grant know I’m going to have his car for longer than anticipated.” She was glad she’d have that much of a reprieve.
“No worries. Ian can give him a call.” Julia sounded much relieved that Grant would be told where Colleen was going.
“Thanks,” Colleen said, not really wanting to talk to him after what happened between them last night.
Not until she had time to think over what they were doing without his indomitable presence. She wasn’t used to dealing with an alpha male like him. She really had to get her emotions under control and quit thinking about him in terms of…well, anything to do with his hot, sexy, kilted or naked body. She had to think of him as if he were her manager wearing a business suit and tie.
“Got to go and watch my driving,” Colleen said, still uncomfortable driving on the narrow roads and in the wrong lane.
“All right, see you in a bit.”
Colleen glanced in her rearview mirror and swore the car behind her had been following her for the last hour. Having no place to pull over where there was safety in numbers, she continued to drive to Argent Castle.
Suddenly, the car slowed down and some maniac raced around it and sped toward her. She slowed way down also, pulling over as far as she could on the practically one-lane road. He passed, honked at her, and slowed in front of her, flashing his brakes.
“What the…” She couldn’t see the driver through the tinted windows. But he had to be drunk or some kind of nutcase. Her stomach clenched with annoyance.
Then she noticed that the car behind her had sped up to block her in. Panicked, she stopped the car suddenly, and the driver almost rear-ended her. Before she could get out of the car, a furious-looking Grant climbed out of the vehicle in front of her and headed for her.
Oh…my…God. Someone must have told him she had taken his car, and he had not approved it. Just great! She was buying a used car, pronto.
The men in the other car just stayed there and waited.