Captive, p.7
Captive, page 7
She stiffened as she gazed down at the stable across the courtyard.
Shadows?
Her heart was beating fast as she leaned forward, her gaze narrowed on the building.
Shadows.
Oh, yes, definitely something else.
She whirled away from the window, grabbed her jacket from the chair, and ran out of the bedroom.
She flew down the staircase, unlocked the front door, tossed the jacket over her head to protect her from the rain, and then was running across the courtyard toward the stable.
Thunder. Rain. Lightning.
And the door of the stable that flew open as she reached it!
“Crazy woman.” Caleb jerked her inside, slammed the stable door shut, and locked it. “What are you doing running around in the storm? What good does it do for me to tell MacDuff to get you more protection when you decide to stroll around here in the middle of the night.”
“Shut up.” She tossed her leather jacket aside and went into his arms. “You were here. I knew you were here. I could feel you. And I’m not crazy. I could see the shadows.”
“And that’s not crazy?”
“Of course not. I only had to catch a glimpse of you as you entered the stable. I know that smooth gait, the way your body moves. Are you telling me that you wouldn’t be able to do the same?”
“I might have trouble with shadows.”
“Liar. You opened the door and were waiting for me.”
“I was trying not to.” His arms closed around her, and he buried his lips in her throat. “I wanted to be cool and collected so that I could tell you what an idiot you are.” His voice was thick. “And impress you that you shouldn’t do this ever again. And then I saw those damn bare feet splashing across the courtyard.” He picked her up and carried her to a vacant stall near the back of the stables. “Why the hell couldn’t you have put shoes on?”
“I didn’t know I hadn’t.” She wriggled her bare toes. “I remembered the jacket. I was in a hurry to get to you.”
He took off his shirt and was wiping her damp feet with it. “Well, you’re here. I suppose I’ll have to confess that yes, I’d know you in the shadows, or the mountains, or in the depths of the ocean.” He gently rubbed the top of her foot. “Anywhere. Anytime. But I’d just as soon not test it in the next week or so.”
“That started out to be very nice, but it didn’t end up that way.” She tucked her feet beneath her. “I believe you’d better tell me why you’re here.”
“I wanted to check out MacDuff’s arrangements to make sure they’re everything I’d want them to be.”
“And are they?”
He nodded. “Absolutely no slip-ups. This vacant stable was the last item on my list. It leads down to the boat dock by the shore. If they’re okay, you couldn’t be more safe.”
“Wonderful. I’m so glad that you approve.”
Caleb tensed. “Do I detect sarcasm?”
“How clever of you to recognize it.” She smiled. “A little sarcasm. Perhaps I’m just sick of you telling me what to do.”
“I believe you know I’m just trying to keep you secure. Have I done anything else to displease you? What can I do to make up for it?”
“Let me think…Only one thing occurs to me at the moment. I’m tired of being without you. But you’re the one who came visiting me, aren’t you?” She got to her feet, pulled her nightgown over her head, and threw it on the floor. “Now do something about it.”
“Oh, shit.” He was on his feet. His hands moving over her breasts. “I told Palik I was going to do everything right, that I wasn’t even going to see you.”
“Then he’s an idiot if he believed you. I don’t remember him being that stupid.” She kissed him. “And right now, I think it’s up to me. I’m very angry with Bohdan for causing us all this trouble. I have no intention of letting him cheat us of anything more of what we have together. Not for a minute.”
“Well, if you’re in charge, I’m obviously lost.” He was suddenly smiling as he took a step back. “Tell me what you want.”
Electricity. Fire. Caleb…
“I want you out of those clothes.” Her voice was shaking. “I want you inside me.”
“Any minute now.” He was already undressing. “Come here…”
Then his hands were cradling her buttocks, lifting her as her thighs slid around his hips.
Then he sank deep!
She cried out and her nails dug into his shoulders.
“More?” he murmured.
“Yes.” She was clenching, breathing hard, bringing him closer, still closer. “No, I want to give to you. Let me…” She brought him down to the floor and then he was on top of her. His teeth tugging at her nipples.
Madness.
Heat.
Deep.
Deeper.
Fire.
She was gasping, moaning, shaking.
“Caleb…”
“Easy.”
There was nothing easy about it. Something was happening and she didn’t realize what it was. She just knew she couldn’t let him go. Not yet. There was something waiting for them.
But then it was gone. Or was it? She couldn’t tell. Because her entire body seemed to be exploding with need again.
It was too intense. This time when the explosion came, she was vaguely aware there were tears running down her cheeks.
“Jane?” Caleb was looking down at her. “Okay?”
She drew a deep breath. “Fine. It was…” She didn’t know what she’d been about to say. There weren’t any words. “You were very…accommodating.”
“I’m glad that I pleased you.” He chuckled. “You scared me for a minute. The last thing I’d want is to disappoint you when I’ve obviously been doing that far too much lately.” His smile faded. “And I believe we’d better have that talk I spoke about now.”
“I suppose that means I have to put on my clothes again.” She reached for her nightgown. “And I don’t know if I want to have that talk now. I’d rather talk about the two of us and what we are together. Maybe I’d like to tell you about Fiona and the talk I had about her with Eve today.” She paused. “And perhaps I’d like to talk about leaving here and going away somewhere I could help you take down Bohdan.”
“No!”
“I thought that would be your reaction.” She was putting on her gown. “I’ll give you time to think about it. But you should know that’s what I’ve been doing. I have my own work and it’s not as if I intend to go after monsters like Bohdan. But this is different. You’ve said you believe Bohdan may target me? Then I should be there to help. There should be some way that I can be with you. Don’t you see?”
“I see that we should talk about it later.”
“It’s not only me. He could hurt MacDuff or any of his people. And I’d be responsible.” She moistened her lips. “He could hurt you. I don’t think I could bear that. I won’t bear it. I’d have to do something about it.”
“Listen to me.” His hands grasped her shoulders. “I’m the only one responsible for anything that happens to me. We both know that I’ve lived with that knowledge since the day that I was born. My loving parents drilled it into me that I was a bad seed after they found out that I’d inherited the family blood talent. They kicked me out to live with my uncle when I was fourteen, and they were probably right to do it. Some people are meant to be the protectors and others are meant to be the hunters. You’re definitely not a hunter, so stop trying to go down that road.” His hand was on her cheek. “Okay?”
“No. You’re talking bullshit. I’ve told you what I think about the way your parents treated you. It’s a wonder that you turned out as well as you have.” She swallowed. “I’ll let it go for the moment.” She met his eyes. “But not for long, Caleb. This is bothering me. I’m going to have to take care of it.”
His lips tightened. “Then I’d better make certain to do it myself before you get the chance.” He shrugged. “And I don’t have much time to go into it with you right now. I want to be out of here in the next hour. I still have the boat dock to check out.”
“Are you kicking me out?”
“No way.” He pulled her back down to him. “I’m very good with time conservation. And Lord knows I need to distract you. Though we both know that’s not going to last long.” He pretended to think about it. “Okay, but you gave me a list of the subjects you wanted to talk about…Fiona…Eve…what else? Anything but Bohdan.” He pushed the nightgown off her shoulders. “Fiona. Tell me about Fiona. Why did you decide to talk to Eve about Fiona?”
He was still naked, and he was smiling down at her. He was totally sensual. The brush of gray at his temples, the faint indentation in his chin, those fascinating dark eyes glittering with humor and intensity. She could feel her body stirring again. “It’s not going to work, you know,” she whispered.
“Only if you want it to.” He brushed his lips over her upper breasts. “And it’s okay with me whatever you choose. I can feel something…isn’t quite right. Talk to me. Tell me how I can fix it. That will be good, too.”
She suddenly chuckled. “But not as good. And you’ll do anything to keep me from mentioning Bohdan again.”
“What can I say? I never told you I didn’t like my own way. I’m just a poor, lustful philistine.”
“You’re more than that.” She cuddled closer to him. “I have great taste and I chose you. Don’t insult me. Though I may throw that philistine description back at you later. And I have absolutely nothing against lust.” She nestled her head on his shoulder. “But maybe I will tell you a little about Eve and Fiona because that’s what I’ve been doing to keep myself busy. As a matter of fact, I’ve been going through the storage rooms downstairs and looking for info about Fiona. And I just wanted to talk to Eve about her. Eve because she’ll always be my family, Fiona because I’m not sure she ever really had one. I guess I didn’t want to think about what you were doing with Bohdan.” She added, “And MacDuff has been regaling me with his family mystery stories and that didn’t help. Did you know what an asshole her father was? He came from a background of border reivers, but that didn’t mean he didn’t use it as an excuse to…”
* * *
Caleb was fully dressed and bending over her when she woke a little later. “I have to leave you.” He brushed her hair back from her face. “But I can’t go until I see that you’re back inside the castle.” He kissed her long, hard. “So will you get the hell out of here?”
It was over.
She smothered the pain. Accept it and go on.
“I’m thinking about it.” She looked up at him. “I suppose I will. MacDuff would probably be very pissed off at you if he found out you hadn’t trusted him and came here to check up on his arrangements.” She shook her head. “And you were very obliging. It wasn’t totally sex. That was important, too. You listened, you made me feel…” She suddenly pushed away from him and got to her feet. “You know how you made me feel,” she said jerkily. “You’re very good at it.” She grabbed her jacket, went to the stable door, and threw up the lock. “It’s still raining. I guess that’s good. Less chance of anyone noticing me crossing back to the castle.”
His brows rose, “Now you’re worrying about it?”
“Only for your sake. I don’t give a damn. You seem to have a plan. You always have a plan.” She looked back at him. “Call me as soon as you’ve left the Run. It’s okay, you can leave now, if you like.”
“Thank you.” He mockingly inclined his head. “I’m glad I have your permission.”
“That doesn’t even deserve a reply,” she said. “I told you what I wanted to do. I haven’t changed my mind. We’ll talk about it later.” She suddenly said fiercely, “But not too long. I won’t have it. I have to be there for you. We have to be together.” She could feel her eyes sting. “You’ve never understood that that’s the way it should be. You’ve got to learn that.” Then she was turning and running out into the rain. “That’s the way it has to be…”
“Jane!”
She could feel his gaze on her as she ran across the courtyard and then up the steps to the front door.
Then she was inside the hall and leaning against the door, her breath coming in short gasps.
Darkness. Lightning. Thunder.
She reset the door alarm and ran up the grand staircase to the second floor.
A moment later she was in her own room and walking over to the window.
The stable door was closed.
Of course it was. He’d only waited until he knew she was safe inside the castle. Now he was on his way down to the beach to make certain that boat area was safe.
She took off her leather jacket and stood there, gazing out the window.
Gone.
Those hours had come and then vanished like the lightning. Sex, intensity, excitement, and emotion swirling around them as it always did. Her breasts were taut and swollen and the need for him was still there. Yet so was the frustration and fear. He hadn’t listened to her, and she should have made him listen. Her fists clenched at her sides. She had been too happy to see him after all the fear and worry that had gone before. She had let herself put off everything but what she felt for him.
Mistake. She just hoped it wouldn’t prove a fatal one…
Don’t even think it might. Just go on and find a way to get what she needed for both of them. But she knew she wasn’t going to be able to sleep until he called her and told her he’d left the property. Keep busy! She threw her jacket down on the window seat and headed for the shower.
Forty-five minutes later she was out of the shower and drying her body with the towel. Her skin still felt warm and full and taut from being with Caleb. She gazed in the mirror while she was drying her hair and she could see the flush on her cheeks and the life that glowed from her face. All coming from Caleb and what she felt for him. It was almost magical…
Surely they could work through anything as long as they still had that magic.
Or could they? She inhaled sharply as a sudden thought occurred to her that shook her to her core. Her eyes widened as she stared at herself in the mirror. She stiffened with panic as she slowly lowered her hair dryer to the vanity.
Dear God in heaven…
* * *
Caleb called Jane an hour later. “Everything checked out fine on the boat dock. I’m on my way back across the channel. I’ll probably be heading for Naples to see if I can find Bohdan.” He changed the subject and asked, “How are you?”
“Fine.” She added, “How should I be? I couldn’t be safer, could I? Between you and MacDuff I can hardly take a deep breath without asking permission.” That sounded a little bitter and she tried to lighten her tone. “I’m glad the boat dock checked out. I realize you’re only doing what you think best.”
“Do you?” he asked slowly. “It didn’t sound like that before you ran across the courtyard. I want this over, too, Jane. I’m working as hard as I can to clear it up.”
“I know you are,” she said wearily. “You just caught me at a bad time tonight. I’ll bounce back.” Lord, she hoped she was telling the truth. Right now she was so filled with confusion that she didn’t know when she’d be able to straighten out her thinking. “Things just seem to be very difficult at the moment and I have to see what I can do to clear them up. Don’t worry, I’ll do it.”
“Why would I worry about you?” Caleb asked hoarsely. “You persist in telling me you can take care of yourself.” He paused. “But I suppose I should tell you that Palik is sending one of his men to the Run as your personal bodyguard. Even though there’s no sign of Bohdan’s men anywhere near the Run, it will be just another safeguard so that MacDuff’s employees don’t have to assume responsibility for your care. You seemed to be concerned about that.”
“I told you about poor Fergus.”
“Yes, you did. I have to warn you that Sean Rodland is one of Palik’s best men and he probably won’t let you out of his sight. But I promise he’ll do anything you ask him to do. Is that okay with you?”
“Maybe. I’ll have to see. If it’s not, I’ll send him on his way.”
He said grimly, “Or you can send him to me, and I’ll have a word with him. Then I guarantee you won’t have any more problems.”
“That’s all I’d need,” she sighed. “Another guard to hover over me. And you acting like MacDuff does with Fergus. Palik usually doesn’t interfere in your business.”
“No, but he likes you. And he has a problem with Bohdan.” He was silent for a moment. “As I do. And Palik’s not entirely to blame for any of this. So forgive us both for taking extra care, even if you find it annoying. Is there anything I can do to make any of this better for you?”
“You’re doing everything you can. We aren’t even certain Bohdan knows I’m here. And I’m sure I’m not the only one being stalked by the bastard.”
“At the moment it seems to me as if you are. You’re at least the only innocent one being stalked.” He muttered a curse. “And I don’t like the fact that you’ve been sounding almost numb ever since you picked up my call. That’s not like you.”
“Numb? That’s your imagination.”
“Is it? I hope so. But you can be sure I’ll be in touch. Good night, Jane.”
“Good night.” She stared at the phone for a moment after he ended the call. Then she got to her feet and moved over to the window to look down at the courtyard. There was a slight graying in the east. It was going to be dawn soon.
And Caleb had come very close when he’d guessed she was numb.
Even though she’d denied it, it hadn’t surprised her that he’d read that response. It was what she’d felt and had tried desperately to keep him from seeing. So much had happened tonight…
But there was only one thing that seemed to be important in retrospect. It was the single moment when she had stood before that mirror a short time ago.
Shock.
Yes, she was still in shock.
But she had to get over it. She would sit here and watch the dawn and try to make plans. It shouldn’t be that difficult. It was just a question of making up her mind and following through. But she might have to use every skill and asset at her command in order to do that. There was a chance she was going to be more vulnerable than she had ever been before.
