He slung his arm around her back and pulled her in close. “Or scared? No need.”
“Neither, I’m fine honestly.”
“Ah.”
She saw the probable reason dawn in his mind and he grinned. Trust him to realize how her body reacted to him and his lifestyle.
Finn acknowledged she was in deeper than she could have ever imagined on such a short acquaintance. But then hadn’t her mum seen her dad and accepted that whatever she needed to get to know more? “Sometimes,” her mum had told her, “if you’re lucky, one look is all you need to know that he could be the one, and you want to discover if he is. Or even, sometimes it shouts at you, he is the one.”
“Hold that thought, whatever it was, and we’ll come back to it later,” Coll told her. “Look, this is our mystery.” He pointed to a white object on the ground a few yards in front of them.
“A stuffed sheep. What the fu…flip is that all about?” Finn looked at the life-size stuffed animal then at Coll. “Is it an ambush or something? Packed full of sheep poo that’ll explode out if we touch it?”
He laughed. “I doubt it. Someone is taking the mickey. Check out the markings on it.” He pointed to the toy’s rear. “Don’t touch yet.”
Finn looked carefully and clenched her hands into fists until her knuckles where white.
“Bastards, sorry, but are they saying it’s dead and stuffed? I’ll kill them. How dare they? That animal was going to be a champion, I know it. It was beautiful and didn’t deserve this, no animal does. Ours are slaughtered with dignity. The f… Damn and blast, add up twenty to your list of whatevers ’cause now I’m going to let rip. Fuckers, arseholes, bastards…”
Coll put his hand over her mouth again. This time she gave into temptation and sucked the softer skin of his palm into her mouth.
“Nice, kitten, but not yet. Let me phone Jeff, we’ll go to feed Depp and take it from there. This is just someone’s idea of a joke.”
She lifted his hand a few inches from her mouth and he let her. “Some joke, Coll. It’s sick.” She felt her stomach churn at the ‘what if’ scenario that had briefly run through her mind. “A joke on me, it seems and I’ve no idea why. Shit, I’ve only been back here a week. That makes me think that whatever it is has been going on for ages and me around upsets their plans. And then I wonder just who might be in on their plans and who maybe set me up. And that makes me bloody angry. A toy sheep, for fuck’s sake. When they know, because I’m darned sure they do, I’d be out looking for sheep. Do you think if I’d’ve been alone, I’d have got another hit on the head? It sucks and boy, if I find out who I think it is, is behind all this, I’ll make him wish he’d never been born.” She wound down her tirade and huffed loudly. “Bastard.”
“True, and you’ll have to stand in line. For the record, I think the toy was just to distract you. Hold on, I’m going to make some calls.”
She stood and listened as he briefly explained the situation to what sounded like Jeff, Jess and someone he called Ailsa our friendly subbie copper. Then he put the phone away. “Jeff’s going to ring Lachy, and they’re off to rout your boss out of his lady friend.”
Finn snorted at the description.
“Then they’ll come here with the police. You’ll need to make a statement so I suggested we all meet in my place at Diomhair in an hour or so. Just time to feed the cat.”
Damn, in all the excitement, she’d almost forgotten Depp again.
Chapter Six
Her face was so expressive. Coll watched her fuss over a tiny tabby kitten, whisper silly endearments to it and pick it up to cuddle. The purr was louder than an alarm clock. Finn buried her face in its fur. The kitten looked at Coll in such a way it seemed to say, ‘yeah, I know, but hey, she loves me’. Eventually Finn lifted her head, looked at her watch, the cat and finally Coll.
“How long are we likely to be? At yours.”
The kitten blinked, stared at Coll and yawned. Coll smiled and stroked its ears. “Does that mean you want to bring him?”
Finn grinned, and her eyes sparkled with impish glee. “He’d be all alone and he’s only a baby. His mama’s gone, his siblings are gone, poor all alone puss. He needs his human around.” She put one hand to her forehead. “Is that dramatic enough to sway you?”
Coll chuckled. “Well, why not, I did say we’d come and collect him.”
“Oh yeah. Damn, my Scarlett O’Hara act was all in vain, eh?”
“Not at all. You’ll be changing your profession next. This week Diomhair Castle estate, the following The Old Vic.”
“Nah, I hate being indoors. The estate is safe.” She sobered suddenly. “Well, I hope so. Shoot, Coll, what the hell is going on?”
“That’s what we’re going to find out. Right, you grab what the cat needs and we’ll take him with us. Maybe bring a change of clothes for yourself. I’ve a feeling no one will think it’s a good idea for you to be here by yourself and I’ve got a spare room.”
“Congratulations. So have I.”
“Sarcasm doesn’t become you, kitten.”
“Seriously, Coll. I don’t really mean to be sarcastic, but having to let someone else take charge of your life isn’t easy. If I need a bodyguard, other than Depp, I’ll make up the bed, I promise.”
“Good, it’s booked by me then. You know, it’s no sign of weakness to accept help when it’s needed. I’ll be here for you.” No way was he prepared to let anyone else take that role. Coll didn’t stop to analyze his reactions. Gut feeling worked for him every time, and that told him whatever happened Finn was his. “I don’t think Depp will be as effective. He might purr loudly, I can growl. He’ll spit and claw, I’ll do more.”
She opened her mouth and he held his hand up in the universal ‘hold on’ gesture. To his amazement she did.
“But not tonight,” Coll said. “Because not only is it late, it’s odds on Jeff brings wine and it’ll be a brainstorming session. Goodness knows how long it’ll take. So I’ll ask you to stop with me, then once your bit is over, okay, if it’s over first”—he forestalled that question quickly—“you can slope off to bed—if that’s okay?”
Why did her answer seem so important? More than the question did?
Thank goodness it seemed there were no airs and graces or stupid missish-ness about Finn. She didn’t hesitate.
“Of course it is and I will. Mind you, don’t for one minute think you’ll do anything involving my work and not involve me. Gah, that sounds complicated but it isn’t. My job, my involvement. End of.”
Coll shrugged. “Not up to me, kitten. Argue with your bosses.”
“Oh, I will. Now, tomorrow is my day off so you needn’t worry about getting up at four a.m. to bring me back to get ready for work.” She rolled her eyes. “And making the coffee because I tell you now that is not one of my skills, and I’m pants without at least three cups. Luckily I’m used to my version of coffee, but I always prefer someone else’s.”
He raised one eyebrow in mock horror, and she spread her hands wide.
“I always get someone else to do it if I can. My skills are in other directions.” She paused. “Such as cups of tea, omelettes, and”—her grin was pure sin—“golf.”
Golf. What about in bed?
That thought Coll kept to himself. He tutted instead.
“You can’t make coffee. Woman, that’s awful. It should be the first thing anyone learns once they’re weaned. It’s a necessity. Subbie 101, how to make good coffee for your Sir. It’s no good, the marriage is off.”
She giggled again. “Whew, lucky escape, eh?”
He shook his head. “Actually, no, I’ll bloody teach you. Or make our coffee myself.”
“Our coffee?”
“Of course, I’d not make it just for myself.”
She gave him a shaken look, went red, passed the kitten to him and left the room.
“Life,” Coll said to the unconcerned animal, “is about to get interesting.”
* * * *
Half an hour later, they were back at Diomhair, Depp in his basket fast asleep, coffee made—by Coll—on the table and the fire in the lounge banked up. The rain had stopped at last but the temperature was a good ten degrees lower than it should be for the time of the year.
Coll passed a plate of warm scones to Finn and sat down next to her. He watched, amused as she let her fingers hover over them until she selected one, which to him looked no different to any other.
“What?” She’d obviously caught him watching her.
“Why that one?”
“Ah…well, now you’re asking for my deep, dark secrets. Dare I share them?”
He inclined his head. “Kitten, before long I’ll know everything about you, right down to your knicker size and who you sat next to in primary one.”
Her eyes widened. “Really? Says who and why?”
“Me and because as your Dom, it’s my duty to know everything about you.”
God almighty, what a load of shite. Everything relevant, yes, but who she sat next to at school? Listen to yourself, Cummins. Up your own arse is an understatement.
“Rubbish. But hey, wonder no more. I looked for the most currants, size twelve and Aimee Duncan. Anyway you’re not my Dom, so it’s irrelevant.” Finn finished speaking in a rush and stared at him over the top of her cup as she sipped her coffee. “God, this coffee is pure nectar.” Depp meowed, jumped, leaped onto Finn’s lap, turned around, settled down and began to purr. Finn stroked him in an absent manner as she continued to look at Coll.
From where Coll sat, he could see the soft sheen of perspiration that slicked over her skin, and the way her breathing had sped up. She might deny it, but she was more than interested. His cock decided it needed zip marks up its length as her interest registered and he willed it to soften and not worry her.
“Would you like me to be?” he asked in a voice known to his friends as ‘gentle the sub’. “Be your Dom. Show you what you want and need?”
The only noise in the room was the soft purr of Depp, and the occasional splutter of the coals in the grate. Coll waited patiently as he watched various expressions cross Finn’s face. He appreciated the fact she was taking her time to consider his question before she answered it. After all in one was it was as big a proposal as one of marriage. Some might say bigger and equally as binding. It wasn’t something he’d ask lightly even if he had posed it a lot earlier than he’d intended.
“Do you mean it?” she asked eventually. She passed Depp to him and stood up to pace to the window and back.
Coll stroked Depp until the kitten stopped kneading the material of his—Coll’s—jeans. “Of course.” The cat settled down again and Coll waited for Finn’s next question. He decided she was the sort of person who wanted every little detail in place before she made any decisions.
“Why?”
I knew she’d want more.
Coll considered his response. “That’s somewhat difficult to answer. I think there’s something between us we need to explore. You might not realize it but every inch of you shouts sub, and every part of my Dom shouts ‘mine’.”
She rolled her eyes and he bit back his immediate thought of, ‘sassy subs need punishing in the nicest possible way’. Instead he waited to see what reply she’d give him.
“Of course I understand I’m a sub if I’m anything. I’m not stupid. And that, Sir, is not sarcasm, just fact.”
He could have high-fived when she called him Sir. What a mass of contradictions she was, and he loved it. If they did get together properly, life was definitely going to be interesting. “I’m glad to hear it, kitten. And thank you for calling me Sir.”
Finn blushed. “It just sort of slipped out. You see, I read. Lots of books and lots about BDSM, both fiction and non-fiction. I know that if, and that’s a big if, by the way, I did decide I wanted to learn more personally, I’d be a sub. I have no desire to take charge in that way. Well”—she sniggered unexpectedly—“not unless my Dom—if I had one of course—asked me to. I do that enough in my everyday life. More than enough.”
That sounded positive. However Coll realized Finn hadn’t finished.
“Mind you,” she continued in a musing tone. “Do I want to learn about it in person? That’s the million-dollar question and to be honest, I’m not sure I do.” She sat down again and picked up her coffee mug. Depp immediately moved from Coll to Finn. If cats could give disapproving stares, Coll was damned sure Depp gave him one.
Damn and hellfire.
“Why not?” He wasn’t going to persuade her that deep down it was what she desired and needed. Not yet. She needed to admit it.
Finn bit her lip.
“Do not do that, kitten. The only marks on you will be mine.”
‘Fuck’ may be not the right thing to say now.
Finn stared at him and slowly put her bottom lip between her thumb and forefinger and pulled it away from her teeth. It was teasing, taunting and bloody sexy.
“I think it’s time you told me about your lifestyle, Coll,” she said seriously. “About Coll the Dom and what he expects from a sub. Why you think I’m the one and what you think I want and need.”
The relief that filled him was overwhelming and once more it was hard not to high-five or punch the air. Instead Coll counted to ten and forced himself to calm down. “Thank you, kitten.”
“Well, I’m not saying it’ll go anywhere,” she said in a warning voice, “but I’d be a liar if I said I wasn’t interested, hypothetically anyway. I mean it’s one thing to enjoy reading about it and another to enjoy it on me, or whatever.”
“I understand that, kitten.” Oh, how he did. “Which is why if we do decided to explore what we’d enjoy together, we’ll take it at a pace that suits both of us. And on that note, I reckon there’s not a lot of point saying very much now as I think we’ll have the others here in a few minutes. All I will say is, I work with my hands.”
She looked puzzled. “I know you’re a woodcarver. I’ve seen your stuff and it’s gorgeous.”
“Thank you. So you’ll understand I like to create patterns.”
“Yeah, I get that, but now I’m confused.” Finn put her hand on his arm. “Is that on purpose or am I just being thick here?”
There was a loud ringing noise. Coll stood up and stretched.
“Never thick, just not used to what I say and how. You will be, soon. That’s the others. I’ll buzz them up. But I’ll add, to give you something to ponder over, I’m considered to be an expert in Shibari and I can scribe very delicately on skin with a needle or scriber, just like I can create patterns in wood with a hammer and chisel. I had a brilliant mentor in Master Alex. Once I saw him scribe, I knew without a doubt that was the way forward for me. Carve in wood forever, scribe on skin for now. Oh, and I have a way with clamps you’d never imagine.”