“I’m sure it is for what you have in mind. You don’t play fair, Luna Reynaud.”
“Poor Colin. Bless your heart, that vein popped out on your temple when our salesman was explaining the pulsing action.”
“I hope you realize that we’re obliged to test that hot tub tomorrow night. I wouldn’t feel right letting a guest use it until we’re… completely satisfied.”
“As they say down in the French Quarter, touché. ” Now she was the one feeling hot and bothered as she imagined them both nak*d in the hot tub.
He’d agreed with her that it should be positioned beyond the croquet area on the edge of the bluff. Anyone sitting in it would have a view of the sea but be screened from the house by a row of tall hedges. Yet when she envisioned enjoying the tub with Colin, she wondered if they’d even care about the view. They’d have to make sure they tested it long after everyone else went to bed.
Colin signed the papers and wrote a check out of Geraldine’s retirement account. She’d made him the beneficiary of that, too. If he’d sold the island and everything on it, he would have ended up with a sizable amount of money. Instead he was spending money to make Whittier House more attractive to guests.
Luna thought about that as they climbed inside the limo. “I’ll make this venture profitable,” she said. “In the long run, you’ll make more money this way than by selling.”
He reached over and took her hand. “Don’t worry.” He stroked her palm with his thumb. “I won’t regret hanging on to the place.”
“I hope not.” The languid movement of his thumb reminded her of how he’d caressed her so intimately the last time they’d made love, when he refused to risk chafing her. She dropped her voice to a murmur. “I’m not sore, by the way.”
His thumb stopped in midmotion. “You have the damnedest timing. Just when I was beginning to establish some control, you wreck it.”
“I thought you’d want to know before we… do anything.”
“Oh, I do want to know. Believe me. It’s been on my mind ever since you mentioned staying overnight in Seattle.” He squeezed her hand and released it. “Which reminds me that I need to call Knox and let him know our change of plans.”
“You sound quite pleased about that.”
“I am.” He pulled his cell phone from an inside pocket of his jacket and punched in a number. “It will give me great pleasure to inform Knox that you and I will be spending the night together.”
“Hey.” She poked him in the ribs. “You’re not allowed to be possessive.” He had no right to lay a claim considering everything, but knowing he wanted to was gratifying.
“I know I shouldn’t feel that way,” he said softly. “But I can’t seem to help— Knox? Colin here. Listen, we’ve decided to stay over. Could you meet us at the helipad around… ” He glanced over at Luna and lifted his eyebrows.
“Noon.”
“Around noon,” Colin said. “You can? Thanks. See you then.” He disconnected the phone and tucked it inside his jacket. Then he settled back with what could only be described as a triumphant smile and recaptured Luna’s hand.
“I have no sexual interest in Knox,” she said. “I probably shouldn’t tell you that, because it’s sort of fun to watch the Laird of Glenbarra get jealous.”
“I’m not jealous.”
“Ha.”
“I’m not. I was, back when you were making eyes at Knox and he was showing off with his helicopter skills, but I’m—”
“He was not showing off. He knows I love orcas and when he spotted a pod of them he simply made sure I got a good view.”
“Because he wants your body.”
“You don’t know that.”
“Yes, I do, lass. Male Weres know these things about other male Weres. Knox has noticed you. You’re beautiful, funny, and smart. Any male with half a brain would want you.”
Warmth spread through her. Other females might be used to hearing this kind of thing, but she’d spent a lifetime avoiding such conversations. She drank in his compliments. But that didn’t mean she had an interest in Knox.
She liked him as a friend, and she valued the way he’d tried to save Geraldine, but she’d never reacted to him the way she had to Colin. From the moment Colin had walked into the entryway of Whittier House, she’d been entranced by him. She knew he wasn’t a real possibility in the long run, but for the next few days, he was all hers.
And if he thought he had a rival in Knox Trevelyan, maybe she should keep her mouth shut and pretend that was the case. She didn’t know much about male-female relationships, but instinctively she understood the advantages of being desired by more than one eligible Were. With Knox potentially hovering in the background, Colin would try harder to please her. That could be good.
“Are you still up for a meeting with George Trevelyan?” Colin asked as they neared the business district.
“Yes.” She extracted her hand from his grip. “But I need to repair my lipstick. Someone kissed it all off.”
“Does it have a raspberry flavor, or is that just you?”
She glanced at him. “What if I said my mouth tastes naturally of raspberries?”
“I’d believe you. It’s not a stretch to think you’re delicious all over.”
She wiggled happily in her seat as she imagined him enjoying every inch of her in their shared hotel room. “I’m really starting to enjoy this whole sexual thing. I wish I’d learned about it sooner.” Opening her purse, she located her lipstick and a small mirror.
“Selfishly, I’m glad you didn’t.”
She paused in the act of putting on her lipstick as she debated telling him the absolute truth. But he had been the first to give her an orgasm, so maybe he deserved the truth. “I think holding off was a good thing for me. You were the one I needed to learn from.”
“I’m flattered. But the way things are going, the student is liable to outpace the teacher.”
She shook her head. “There’s so much I don’t know, especially about… how it works when we shift.”
“I’m sure you can imagine.”
Her cheeks grew hot. In spite of all they’d shared, some subjects still made her feel shy. She was gaining confidence in human form, but as a Were, she felt inexperienced and tentative. “I can imagine, but I could be wrong.”
“Tomorrow night, after we test out the hot tub,” he murmured for her ears alone, “we’ll shift together and go for a run. Once we’re in the forest, I’ll… I’ll show you what happens between two Weres.”
Her heart pounded so loud she wondered if the chauffeur could hear it. “I’d like that.” She didn’t dare put on her lipstick now or she’d smear it all over her face because her hands were shaking.
“You will like it,” he said gently. “The other is good, but making love as Weres adds a whole other dimension. It is, of course, how Weres bond when they mate, but of course we won’t be doing that.”
“Of course not,” she said quickly. Still, she was curious about how a mating ritual was different from simply having Were sex. “I may never take part in that kind of bonding, but what happens, exactly?”
“I’ve never done it, either, obviously, but as teens we all learned what takes place, so we’d be ready. The actual sex is the same, but the two Weres circle each other beforehand while they pledge their eternal faithfulness.”
A lump lodged in her throat. “That sounds wonderful.” And she wanted such a bonding, but she could only think of one Were who would fill the bill. Maybe that was due to her lack of experience.
“When Weres are truly mates, perhaps even soul mates, it is wonderful, or so I’ve heard. Hey, you’d better fix your lipstick. We’re almost there.”
She’d been so wrapped up in the idea of mating Weres that she’d lost track of her original intention. Turning the base of the tube, she held the mirror in front of her mouth and outlined her top lip while doing her best to keep her hand steady.
“It’s the lipstick,” Colin said. “It smells like raspberries.”
“You found me out.” She moved to her bottom lip.
Colin put his head close to hers. “I think I could come just watching you do that.”
Hot desire shot through her veins, but she pretended to be unaffected by his comment. “Then you are easily stimulated.”
“By you, apparently. This isn’t the first time I’ve watched someone put on lipstick, but it’s the first time it’s given me an erection. I can’t stop thinking about you kneeling in front of me, with your mouth on my—”
“Stop it, or we’ll both be in trouble.”
“I think we already are.”
She would agree with that. Although her inexperience meant she couldn’t judge whether the passion between them was off the charts, he’d admitted that the simple act of watching her apply lipstick was enough to set him off. That sounded like a strong attraction to her.
The limo eased to a stop at the curb. Luna glanced out and couldn’t understand why they were facing the same way they had when they’d left. “Why aren’t we across the street from the office building?”
“He took a different route so he could deposit us right here and we wouldn’t have to cross traffic.”
Luna blinked. “Now that’s what I call service.”
“Knox told me that George runs a tight ship. Guess he was right.”
“Wait. Did you call to see if he’s in?”
“No, but I will once we’re on the sidewalk.”
The chauffeur helped Luna out first, and she thanked him for driving them around as Colin climbed from the limo and pulled his cell phone from his jacket pocket.
Moments later he appeared at her elbow. “We’re all set with George.” Then he put some bills in the chauffeur’s hand. “I appreciate your fine service,” he said.
“You’re welcome.” The chauffeur’s eyes lit up at the sight of the money.
“And your discretion,” Colin added.
“Absolutely, sir. Will you be needing a limo any more during your stay in Seattle?”
Colin glanced at Luna. “If we decide to pay a visit to your grandparents tomorrow, then—”
“We’ll take a regular taxi,” Luna said. “I refuse to drive up to their house in a white stretch limo.”
“All right.” Colin turned back to the chauffeur. “Then I guess we won’t be needing you again. Thanks for everything.”
“Yes, sir.” With a smile, the chauffeur returned to his limo.
Taking Luna’s hand, Colin started toward the imposing entrance to the building. “While I was talking to George, I asked him to book us a room at his favorite hotel in the city.”
“Why did you do that?”
“Because if I hadn’t, he’d take one look at you and wonder what I was waiting for. As I said, single Weres are expected to enjoy their sexuality.”
“Then I guess it’s a good thing I suggested spending the night.”
“Yes.” He glanced down at her and his eyes glowed with blue fire. “It’s a very good thing.”
Chapter 14
Colin had communicated with George Trevelyan several times through both e-mail and phone conversations, but this was their first face-to-face meeting. After the glittering lobby, Colin had expected more of the same in George’s office, but the alpha Were surprised him.
The room had a rustic feel, as if they’d stepped into a lodge built by one of the Pacific Northwest tribes. An intricately carved totem pole stood in a corner to the right of George’s desk. Not surprisingly, it contained a stylized wolf’s head at the top. Other pieces of Native American art decorated the walls, and many of those depicted wolves as part of the design.
The wall to their left held no hanging art, but instead featured a mural with Mount Rainier in the background and a pack of wolves in the foreground. A casual visitor would call this a flight of fancy. Officially, no wolf packs lived west of the Cascade Mountains. Floor-to-ceiling windows behind George’s desk offered a view of the distant peak depicted in the mural.
George himself looked like a rugged outdoorsman more than the CEO of Trevelyan Enterprises. Because it was a regular work day, Colin assumed that George always dressed casually. He wore jeans and a green flannel shirt open at the neck, as if he might head out for a hike at any minute. At fifty-something, he was fit, with only touches of gray in his dark hair. Colin hoped to look that good in twenty years.
George stood and came around the massive desk to greet them. He took Luna’s hand first and focused all his attention on her. “Luna Reynaud. It’s a pleasure to meet you.”
Colin was glad George was mated and nearly twice Luna’s age, because if he hadn’t been, Colin would have bristled at the warmth of George’s greeting. He seemed ready to eat Luna up with a spoon.
George continued to hold her hand as he piled on the charm. “My aunt Edwina married a Reynaud. You’re not related by any chance, are you?”
So George’s aunt was Luna’s grandmother. That made Luna related to George. Colin sucked in a breath and cursed himself for not digging a little deeper. Worse yet, he was the idiot who’d pushed Luna into coming up here to meet George. Without realizing it, he’d thrown her into the deep end of the pool, and he had no idea if she would sink or swim.
Then, to his relief, she came up with a brilliant response. “I’m not really sure, but I’ve been meaning to check into that.” She sounded completely at ease.
“Please do.” George released her hand. “Edwina and Jacques haven’t had an easy time of it. Their only child, my cousin Byron, was killed in his early twenties many years ago. They’ve carried on bravely since then, but I’m sure they’d welcome more family connections.”