Heart of the Highland Wolf (21 page)

“All right,” she said, meaning to sound firm and resolute, but her words came out breathy instead.

A small flicker of a smile lightened his dark, worried expression. Then he slanted his mouth over hers and kissed her, caressing his lips against hers, pressing harder. Her fingers clung to his waist. He parted her lips with his tongue as his hands gripped her arms right above the elbow.

He groaned a sexy, husky sound that made her shiver with sweet realization. He desperately wanted her like she wanted him.

His hands shifted to her waist, roaming lower to her hips, his fingertips lightly touching her buttocks. She mimicked his actions, and his mouth curved upward against hers. “Siren,” he rasped out.

His hands encircled her flesh and squeezed, and she did the same to him, felt his hard buttocks, when hers were so much softer, less firm.

He moaned with sensual approval and pulled her up tight against his hardening body. Her breasts swelled, her nipples tingled, and her woman's inner core throbbed with excruciatingly desperate need.

But she wouldn't beg him to finish her off despite feeling she'd die in sweet anticipation. She wouldn't rush their joining like she was dying to do. She could tell by his controlled and rigid expression that he attempted to take this slow and easy even if it killed him.

He cupped her buttocks and lifted until she wrapped her legs around him, opening herself to him before he carried her to the bed.

Then she was on her back, and he was between her legs. He separated her legs with his probing fingers, his thumbs stroking her nub, his mouth on hers again, sizzling, caressing, insistent.

Her blood was so hot that she felt feverish, her heart pounding as if she were running with the wolf, her body slick and wet and aching for completion.

His lips possessed hers completely, his tilted slightly for better access, his tongue pressing into her mouth, sweet, warm, and erotic. Her tongue teased his back, her hands sliding from his waist to cup the back of his head, to glory in the feel of his mouth on hers. He was attuned to her as she was to him. As if they were meant to be from the beginning of time. He felt right.
They
felt right.
This
felt
so
right.

His fingers plied wickedly pleasurable strokes between her thighs, and she couldn't hold off the impending climax. The sensation lifted her higher and higher to a point of no return when he pushed his fingers between her swollen cleft, and the climax struck with a tidal wave of bliss. Without waiting for her to descend back to earth, he prodded her with his thick erection and nudged her entrance, pushing gently inside. Stretching her, he allowed her to accommodate his size until he was deeply entrenched.

Then he began to pull out slowly, his burning, hooded gaze on hers, watching her reaction. She raised her knees, allowing him deeper access, and he took advantage, thrusting—plundering her, pleasuring her, possessing her.

She arched against him, feeling the heat, the pressure, the tension and hardness, the love—yes, even if he couldn't say it—the love between them growing, expanding, and morphing into something decadent, delicious, and even dutiful.

She shuddered as another climax hit her.

“Julia,” he said, his voice a hiss, a groan, a declaration.

He dipped his head and took her mouth, his hard, taut body sinking against hers, his hands gripping her face, his eyes closed as he kissed her deeply and thoroughly. Then he lifted his mouth away from hers and gave her a quirky kind of smile. “I will have to learn to cook if we keep missing the regular mealtimes. Unless you know how to cook.”

She raised her arms and folded her hands beneath her neck. “Ah, now the truth comes out. You wanted me for afternoon delight and to cook your meals when you miss them.”

He gave her one of his roguish grins and leaned down to suckle a breast. “How could I have found such a canny wolf right in my very own backyard?”

“I
knew
there were strings attached.” But then she gave into the erotic feel of his tongue and heated breath on her nipple and groaned. “We may just have to starve, my Highland hero.” She wrapped her legs around his, her heels bumping against his buttocks at the juncture of his thighs.

And he growled with a sound that made her think he'd lost the battle. Sex or food?

Sex, she surmised as his fingers worked miracles on her nipple and his mouth did wondrous fluttery things to the other. Before she knew it, he was bringing her to climax all over again, and then somehow, she managed to slip a leg between his, and rest her head against his chest, while he wrapped his arms around her. And slept.
Briefly.

***

Losh
, the lass made him lose all self-control with the way her engaging body was flushed and willing and offered to him like the ultimate sexual feast. Even now as he woke from a long nap, he wanted her as if she'd awakened some primal need in him that had never seen the light of day before.

He tried not to think of what his brothers would say as he missed yet another pack meal. At this rate, he'd have to hire another cook just to provide room service. In ye old days, the laird could have his meals served in his bedchamber anytime he wished. But he had never subscribed to having the kitchen staff overworked in that manner to satisfy some selfish whim. One mealtime, three times a day. For everyone. If anyone wanted a snack at some other time during the day, they were welcome to fix it themselves.

But he was rethinking his position. If nothing else, he couldn't have Julia missing all her meals. He sighed. The trouble was that spontaneity was half the pleasure of having sex with her, and trying to regulate it to coincide with mealtimes wasn't going to happen.

He looked into her sleeping face, a glow still there from their bouts of making love. He should let her be, let her sleep, but she was just too damned enticing. And very willing, her insatiable urges just as compelling as his own.

He turned her hips away from him, her back still flat against the mattress, her breasts exposed, her face turned away in the same direction as her hips. Then he pushed her upper leg higher and touched her between her legs from the back. He pressed into her silky wet sheath with his fingers, and she stirred, moaned, and moved her leg higher, prompting him to continue, her mouth curving up, although her eyes remained shut.

She was tired but willing, giving him permission to proceed, to take his pleasure in her ripe folds again. He penetrated her tight, slippery sheath with his stiffened erection and pumped against her bare, rounded arse, the feel of her soft buttocks pounding against his groin and quickening his desire. She stirred with a humming sound of pleasure as his hands slipped around her, claiming her sensual nub, stroking, and caressing. Her moans budded with her arousal, her feminine sweets swelling and growing more sensitive to his touch. By the way she moved against him, he knew the stimulating sensation was making her crave completion, and she ground against him wanting it, wanting him. God, she was beautiful and sexy and his.

“Ah, Ian,” she said on a breathless groan.

And he came again, her body milking him, hot and shuddering around his arousal with a tight grip. “Julia,” he muttered into her hair, his hand on her breast, feeling the swollen mound in the palm of his hand, the nipple erect and mouthwatering. Mine, he wanted to say, but instead he gathered her up in his arms and held on tight, the words not needed.

But in the back of his mind, he knew that trouble was brewing—Sutherland was bound to cause more difficulties soon. And now it wasn't just Ian and his people he was targeting, but also Ian's mate.

Julia smiled to see Ian sleeping soundly beside her in his bed and sighed. If she didn't get out of bed, she'd be here forever, she figured, between his unappeasable hunger and her own.

Trying not to jiggle the mattress, she slipped off it and headed for her bag, grabbed a change of clothes, and then stalked into the bathroom to shower and dress. She had to speak to Maria about all that had gone on, and she supposed she should tell her she was now a mated wolf, if her friend hadn't already guessed where this had been heading.

Thankfully, when Julia left the bathroom, Ian was still dead to the world. She hurried out of the bedchamber before he could catch her, stop her, and change her mind. Which, given the way she felt toward him, would not be difficult for him to do.

As she walked down the stairs, she could hear the noisy business of the film crew doing what they had to do in the inner bailey while she smelled the delightful aroma of baked bread and sausages wafting through the place. Her stomach grumbled. She'd have to look for Maria,
after
she got a bite to eat. If Ian caught her, no telling when she'd get to eat again.

When she reached the great hall, Cearnach was seated in the sitting area, carving on a dagger handle. His attention quickly shifted to her, and she froze. She wasn't afraid of him, but she felt like an intruder all of a sudden. And the business of his thinking she'd been Sutherland's lover still grated on her, no matter that she tried to tell herself it didn't matter.

She'd noted before that he was always cheerful, but not now. While she saw him carving his handle, he'd been thoughtful. But now that he was watching her, he frowned, and then looked past her to the stairs. She turned that way, expecting Ian to have caught up to her already, half figuring he'd drag her back upstairs before she had a chance to eat or speak with Maria.

“He's still alive, lass, isn't he?” Cearnach asked.

Julia envisioned centuries earlier when a woman who didn't want to be married to a horrible man might poison him to rid herself of the nuisance. Cearnach waited for her answer, no smile on his lips. He couldn't be serious.

Then his lips curved up slightly, and he waved his dagger at her. “My brothers say I have an odd sense of humor at times. Don't mind me, lass. In time, you'll get used to it.”

Did he think she was going to be a permanent fixture here? She hadn't even discussed with Ian what she had to do—writers' conferences, speaking engagements, book signings. In fact, next year, she planned to have a big book signing at Powell's in Portland, Oregon, for her new book,
Taming the Highland Wolf
.

Then she smiled. Maybe Ian would come with her and wear a kilt. A braw Highland warrior would surely boost sales,
if
the women buying the books weren't too taken by the Highlander and forget what they were there for.

She nodded at Cearnach, realizing she hadn't responded to his comment.

“Heather's baking bread, if you're hungry. You must be, the way Ian has sequestered you away in his bedchamber and not allowed you a morsel of food. Go. He'll be down here as soon as he discovers you've slipped away from him.”

“How would you know—”

Cearnach's smile broadened. “Weel, lass, if I were him and you were mine, you would not be down here talking to my next eldest brother.”

“Thanks.” She strode across the great hall, rushing to get to the kitchen, her face feeling as though she'd been sitting in the sun too long.

He chuckled. Then the carving renewed.

When Julia reached the kitchen, Heather beamed at her, tucking a dark curl behind her ear, and then motioned to the stove top where sausage, eggs, and potatoes were cooking in skillets. “Miss Wildthorn, do you want something to eat? Cearnach said if you ever got away from Ian, we'd better feed you or you'll perish from lack of food.”

Julia smiled. “Yes, anything really. And please, call me Julia.” She noted that a stack of her books were sitting on one end of the kitchen table.

Heather set a plate on the table filled with eggs, potatoes, sausage, and a slice of bread. “Eat whatever you like. The hounds will devour what you don't like.” She motioned to the books. “I brought them for you to autograph.” She grinned. “I have to tell you, Ian's brothers have all been sneaking peeks at the contents. I caught Cearnach trying to slip one into the front of his shirt. I told him he's welcome to read the books, but I wanted you to autograph them first.”

“Cearnach?”

“Oh, aye. He teased, saying he was just trying to rile me, but I caught him sharing one of the racier scenes from one of the books with Duncan—you know, the one where the heroine tied up the hero with a long silk scarf—and both were grinning. They might say they're not interested in romance, but they're not fooling me.”

Heather pulled up a chair next to Julia and said in a low voice so Cearnach might not catch wind of it, “They've got a casting call for background performers. Since you're no longer working with the film crew, would you like to join me in applying for the job? They need six fair maidens.” She folded her arms and sighed deeply. “Ian probably would say no, but if we both go, maybe it'll be all right.”

Julia finished the slice of bread. “Everything is delicious. Thanks so much, Heather.”

“Oh, my pleasure. So… what do you think? Want to try out for a part?”

Julia didn't think Ian would like it if she tried out for a part, either, but just because she'd mated with him didn't mean she was giving up her rights as an individual. It meant, though, that she'd better hurry up. She quickly finished the meal, even though she would have preferred to savor everything more slowly. Then she rose from the table, smiled broadly at Heather, and said, “Let's hurry before Ian wakes and learns of it.”

Afterward, she wouldn't have any qualms telling him like it was. She just didn't want to be stopped in the beginning, figuring she might crumple under the pressure. Not that she was the crumpling type, but she figured Ian could be quite persuasive.

Heather jumped up from the table and headed for the door to the gardens. “This way,” she whispered conspiratorially. Out loud, she said, “Want to see the gardens, Julia?”

“Oh, yes, I'd love to,” Julia said, playing along.

“If Cearnach learns what we intend to do,” Heather whispered, “
he'll
try to stop us so Ian has time to get here and change our minds. None of Ian's brothers will even let me go outside while all the Americans are about. But since I'm in your company, I'm safe.”

Safe. Right. Just like Maria had been safe with Julia in the car. And if Heather had been with her in the woods when the wolves had confronted Ian and her, she'd have been in just as much trouble. But within the confines of the castle grounds, Heather
would
be safe.

It didn't take long for Julia and Heather to meet with the man responsible for hiring and secure their bit parts, Heather because she was Scottish and looked perfect for the role, and Julia because she looked Scottish and luckily didn't have to speak, which would have revealed she was as American as peanut butter.

“Are you all right with going back to the keep on your own?” Julia asked, not wanting Heather to get into trouble for that also. “I need to speak to my friend Maria about some things.”

“Oh, aye. I'm to look over some gowns, but I have just the thing to wear that I wore in the old days—lots more authentic than Hollywood costumes.” Heather was so excited about the prospect of playing a background role in the film that the feeling was contagious.

Julia just hoped Ian wouldn't say no to the deal—in Heather's case. In Julia's, he'd better not.

“Heather!” Guthrie called out, stalking in her direction.

Julia whipped around, her heart pounding. But Ian wasn't with them. Guthrie's dark look warned her that he was not happy with either of them.

Heather folded her arms. “Oh, bother. I've been found out. I have an escort back to the keep, it appears.”

Guthrie gave Julia a harsh look. Yep, she was the instigator in getting Heather in trouble. She raised her brows at him.

Guthrie said to Heather, “You're not supposed to be out here. Isn't that what Ian said? What happened to Cearnach? He was supposed to be watching you, and waiting for Ian to…” Guthrie looked back at Julia. “Where's Ian?”

As if she and Ian were joined at the hip now. “I would imagine he's still sleeping. Or showering or eating.” She shrugged. “I don't keep his schedule.” She thought to tell Guthrie she didn't poison him, either, but she was afraid that might be taken wrong so she clamped her lips tight.

“Where are you going?” Guthrie asked her.

“To speak to Maria. Is that all right with you?” Julia asked, her voice annoyed.

Guthrie snorted. “Ian's going to be sorely vexed when he learns who have been hired on as extras.”

“Who?” Heather and Julia asked at the same time, and Julia wondered how he'd learned so quickly that she and Heather were going to be in the film.

“Sutherland and several of his men.”

***

When Julia found Maria, she was looking glum as she gave orders to someone on the staff until she saw Julia approach and quickly dismissed the man she was speaking to.

“Oh, Julia, what's going on with you and Laird MacNeill? I figured they had you locked in the dungeon or something.” Maria raised her brows. “Actually locked in the laird's bedchamber. What's going on? Anything I should know that I haven't already guessed?”

“I've told Ian everything—my name, about the secret niche, the betrothal contract.”

“Whoa, wait a minute. Betrothal contract?”

“I called my grandfather last night and didn't have time to mention it to you—”

“Because you were breaking into the castle?”

“I found the secret tunnels. I got caught. One of their cousins, a ghost named Flynn, locked me in the lady's chambers adjoining Ian's.”

“Ohmigod, an honest-to-goodness ghost?”

“Yeah.”

“I want to meet this ghost. But back up a bit. So you were locked in the laird's chambers and…?”

“Things got a little out of hand.” Julia smiled, not about to mention what had happened at the falls earlier.

“You're mated.”

“Not then, but now, yes.”

Maria let her breath out hard. “Okay, I figured that was where this was going as soon as you fell in love with his photo, and then when he saw you and couldn't keep his eyes off you at the pub.”

“I was nearly naked.”

“Yeah, well, when he saw you on the castle grounds and wanted to speak with you personally and then you didn't come home for so long, I knew that was it. So what's the deal about this betrothal contract?”

“According to my grandfather, the contract says I'm betrothed to the laird of Argent Castle.”

“Ohmigod, Julia, you can't be serious.”

“I am. So Ian's going to have everyone search for the box, and then once we find it, we'll destroy the document.”

“What? You're already mated to him.”

Julia shrugged. “We don't need any agreement. Not when we are what we are.”

“Well, I hate to be the bearer of bad news, but Harold is still mad about you getting all these special privileges.”

“Great. Now what?”

“He wants you to pay for your trip out here and for the lodging at the cottage. We can't get out of the contract on the place, even though I'm not staying by myself there now. I'm just lucky he didn't can me, too. I don't have money coming in from the sale of books like you do.”

“My credit card is maxed out.”

“How?”

Julia let her breath out in a huff. “Trevor convinced me to invest in several ventures that turned out to be way too risky. He needed some cash flow and promised to pay me back with interest.”

Maria's eyes narrowed. “You didn't tell me all this before, Julia. Why did you keep it a secret?”

“You'd have told me not to do it.”

“You're so right. But I'm truly sorry. What about your father or grandfather?”

“I'm on my own. They both counseled me about giving Trevor any money. Told me that if Trevor's hunches didn't pan out, it was my loss, and they wouldn't bail me out. I don't blame them, really. It was my mistake. But I really liked the guy.”

“Yeah, until he took what he made on the business and left you high and dry. No promises to repay you, right?”

Julia shook her head. “He just vacated his apartment without leaving any word. For two months, I thought he would contact me, that he felt badly that he'd lost my money, but that once he was working a steady job again, he'd contact me. I didn't expect him to pay me back right away. I guess a part of me didn't believe he would ever pay me back, but not because he didn't want to. Just because he couldn't afford to.

“But then… well, I figured he wasn't going to call and had no intention of ever paying me back. He sold his investments at a loss, but he still received some money from them, and even if he wasn't making much money, he could have sent me something as a token payment.”

“He also could have let you know where he planned to go before he even left.”

“Yeah, you're right. It wasn't like I was going to go after him to drag the money out of him.”

“You shouldn't have messed with a human.”

“He liked what I wrote. I can't say that about the wolfish guys I've met. Although from what their cousin Heather said, Ian's brothers kind of liked what I've written. Would Ian, though?” Julia shrugged.

“What about Laird MacNeill? Would he pay off your debt?”

“I'm pretty sure they're in debt up to their eyeballs already. And that's why they've agreed to filming here. I wouldn't think of passing on my debt to them. Maybe what I earn from being a fair maiden in the movie will pay for my flight and lodging. I won't be getting any royalties for my books for several months.”