CougarHeat (4 page)

“Someone checking up on you?” Aspen
asked.

“Yeah, my brother. He wanted to
make sure I was on my way to Anchorage.”

“There was a chance you wouldn’t go?”

“Blaise thinks there is. As you
know, I’ve been estranged from my family for years now.”

And that was all the explanation
Aspen got. Taylor walked past her and into the bathroom. By the time she’d
collected her toothbrush and toothpaste, he was already in the shower.

Obviously, Taylor didn’t want to
talk about his family. She had no problem with that. They were still in the
get-to-know-you stage and she didn’t want to push too hard. It did make her
wonder what had caused the estrangement between him and his relatives, though.
She couldn’t picture herself being in that situation. At times she had her
differences with hers, but it never got so bad they stopped talking and seeing
one another.

Aspen brushed her teeth, then
returned to the main room to dress. She’d just finished and was combing her
damp hair when Taylor stepped out of the bathroom with a towel wrapped around
his waist. It didn’t do much to cover him either.

In the reflection of the mirror on
the wall that she stood in front of, she watched the towel get tossed away
before Taylor took some clothes out of his suitcase. Aspen wouldn’t have minded
if he’d stayed naked all day, but she doubted he would go for that. A girl
could dream, though.

Once they’d collected all their
things and Taylor had put their cases in the bed of his pickup, he had Aspen
get into the cab while he went to the manager’s office to pay their bill. She’d
offered to fund her share, but he’d turned her down flat and wouldn’t take the
money even when she’d tried to hand it to him.

The rest of the drive to Anchorage
turned out to be uneventful. Aspen and Taylor used the hours to talk, learning
more about each other. He was great company, and she figured with anyone else
it could have driven her batty after a while. The drive out to Skagway at the
beginning of the summer with Cindy had been torturous. Her ex-friend had done
nothing but talk about herself and what she planned to do with all the money
she hoped to make.

It was dusk by the time they drove
through Anchorage’s city limits. They’d only stopped briefly at a roadside
diner to pick up some takeout and use the washroom. With Aspen’s help, Taylor
had eaten while driving.

She gave him directions to her
parents’ house once they were in the city proper. The closer they came to her home,
the more she felt she’d miss him. Even though they’d only been together a
little over twenty-four hours, it seemed longer than that. She really didn’t
want to say goodbye to him, which was ridiculous since she’d be seeing him the
next evening.

Aspen did her best to hide how she
felt after they pulled into her parents’ driveway and Taylor put the truck in
park. He got out with her and took her suitcase from the bed.

“Thanks,” she said. “I guess I’ll
see you tomorrow.”

Taylor nodded. “I’ll either call or
text you sometime in the afternoon to tell you what time I’ll come pick you up.
I’m not sure what plans my family has for me yet, but I promise not to cancel
on you if at all possible.”

Aspen smiled. “Good, because I
would hate it if you did. I’m looking forward to seeing you again.”

He placed her suitcase down by
their feet and took her into his arms. His lips claimed hers in a heated kiss
that had her wishing he didn’t have to go. Her apartment above her parents’
garage was just in front of them. It would have been so easy to invite him up
and continue where their kiss would take them.

Too soon for her liking, Taylor
lifted his head and smiled. “I look forward to seeing you tomorrow as well.” He
dropped his arms from around her waist and stepped back. “I better get going.
Talk to you later, Aspen.”

She picked up her suitcase and
walked to the side of the driveway as Taylor climbed into his truck. He backed
out onto the street and waved as he drove away. Aspen sighed. God, he was a
hunk, and the way it stood right now, he was all hers. She’d had to have done
something right to land him.

Aspen lugged her suitcase to the
front door of her parents’ house and walked inside. “Mom? Dad? I’m back.”

Her mother came down the stairs and
met her in the entranceway with a big hug. “I see you made it home all right.
Was that Taylor?”

She shook her head. “You were
spying on me from upstairs in your bedroom, weren’t you? And yes, that was
him.”

“I didn’t plan to. I happened to be
up there when I heard his pickup pull into the driveway. I didn’t want to
interrupt so I waited for you to come inside. I do have to say Taylor looks
nice.”

Aspen laughed. “You mean you
thought he was good-looking.”

“All right, that’s true. So will
you be seeing him again?”

“Yes, tomorrow evening. He’s moved
back to Anchorage as well.”

“That’s good. It would have been
hard on you if he stayed in Skagway while you’re living here.”

“It would have. That was mostly the
reason why Taylor decided to come back with me. Where’s Dad?”

“He’s on an emergency call. He
should be home in a couple of hours.”

Her dad was a plumber and worked
for himself. Even though he had a couple of employees, he still insisted on
handling any emergency calls on his own.

“Well, I should get settled in,
then get something to eat. Taylor and I only ate lunch since he didn’t want to
stop very often.”

“Come on then. I’ll let you in the
apartment. And I saved you some food from dinner.”

“I still have my keys, Mom.”

“I know. I did air the place out
today since it’s been shut up all summer, but I’m sure it’s stuffy in there
again. I also cleaned the apartment and stocked the fridge for you.”

“You didn’t have to do that.”

“I didn’t mind. I’m happy to have
you home again. I missed you.”

“I missed you and Dad too.”

After driving his pickup onto the
short road on his family’s property that led to the house, Taylor rolled his
shoulders, trying to release the tension there that suddenly set in. He wasn’t
looking forward to this homecoming. He’d been so long on his own he would have
a hard time settling back into his old life.

Arriving at his parents’ home,
Taylor parked in front of the four-car garage. He looked at the two-story,
six-bedroom brick house that was attached to it. The last time he’d been inside
was when his father had banished him. And he dreaded setting foot in it again.
It didn’t feel like his home anymore. His was a small one-bedroom apartment
above the stables at Meadow and Durlach’s place.

Taylor took a deep breath and got
out of the truck. It wasn’t as if he could sit out there all night. He left his
belongings in the bed of the pickup and walked to the front door. He stood
there for a few seconds, not sure what to do at first. Should he walk right in
or ring the doorbell? He decided on the latter.

It didn’t take long before Blaise
answered the door. His brother scowled when his gaze landed on Taylor. “What
the hell are you doing ringing the bell? You live here.”

“I don’t yet. Not until I’ve moved
my stuff in.”

“There are already some of your
things here. Mom kept your room the way you left it.”

That was surprising to Taylor.
Banishment meant an individual was permanently erased from their family group.
Nothing was supposed to be left around as a reminder of them.

“How did Mom manage that? I would
have thought Dad wouldn’t have allowed it.”

Blaise grabbed Taylor by the arm
and hauled him over the threshold before he shut the door. “He tried to have
your things removed, but dear old Mom turned into a spitting, snarling wildcat.
She wouldn’t let anyone near your room. Dad had to admit defeat or he would’ve
lost his mate. She wasn’t happy with him banishing you, and to date, she’s
never let him live it down.”

“If I were you, I wouldn’t let Mom
hear you call her old.”

As if on cue, Taylor’s mother
rushed into the large cathedral-ceiling foyer. She rushed toward him with tears
in her eyes, then threw herself into his arms, clutching him tight.

“I’m so glad you’re home,” his mom
said with a sniffle. She then stepped back. “Let me look at you.”

Taylor smiled, realizing how much
he’d missed his mother. They’d always been close. “Mom, I’m fine.”

She shook her head. “I know, but I
want to see for myself. You look different. Tougher and stronger.”

“I’ve spent the last few years
doing manual labor rather than sitting behind a desk.”

His mom wiped tears from her eyes.
“You’re going to tell me everything that has happened to you, but not right
now. You should go see your father.”

Taylor dreaded that meeting. He’d
hoped to avoid it as long as he could. “Shouldn’t I unpack my truck first?”

His mom looped her arm through his
and walked him toward the wide, curved stairway that led upstairs. “He was
adamant that he see you right after you arrived. He’s not doing that well.”

He walked up the steps with his
mother still at his side. “Caleb can’t help him?”

“He’s confused by your father’s
illness, as are the rest of us. It shouldn’t be.”

Outside his parents’ bedroom doors,
his mom tapped on one, then opened both of them. She left Taylor’s side and
walked to the king-size bed. He slowly followed, his gaze not leaving the man
who lay stretched out on it.

At first he didn’t think it was his
father. The male had always been so imposing-looking. The one on the bed was
far from it. His dad was pale, and judging from the gauntness of his face,
appeared to have a lost a lot of weight. Too much of it.

Taylor stared at his father. The
other male met his gaze but didn’t say anything. Taylor wasn’t going to be the
first to break the ice. The relationship he’d had with his dad before the
banishment hadn’t been a loving one. He’d been treated as what he was—the
oldest son who would one day take over the family business and step into the
role as head of their family group. Instead of doing father-and-son things,
he’d been instructed on the ways of running a multinational company.

“Taylor,” his dad finally said in a
weak voice.

“Dad.”

“You came.”

“Well, it wasn’t as if I was given
much choice, though I can’t help but wonder why, since I was banished.” Taylor
couldn’t keep some of the hurt and anger that hadn’t diminished over the years
out of his words.

“Your family needs you.”

“The day I was kicked out, I was
told I no longer had any.”

There was no remorse in his
father’s eyes as he continued to look at him. “By the laws of our kind, there
wasn’t anything else I could have done. When you fought that werewolf and
killed him in your cougar form, you risked us all. Our secrecy is too
hard-earned.”

“Then by those same laws, I
shouldn’t be here. Nor should I be considered the next in line for leading our
family.”

“There was no one else. Blaise
wouldn’t take the position.”

“I do have cousins who could have.”

Some of the domineering father
Taylor remembered rose to the surface of his dad’s eyes. “It has always been
our line of the family who has taken that role for generations. It will remain
so.”

Taylor had to grind his teeth to
stop himself from telling his father how he really felt about all this. His dad
hadn’t changed. He was still as highhanded as always, thinking their part of
the family tree was better than the others’.

“What if I don’t want it? Will I be
sent away again?”

His father pushed himself up as his
mother quickly put some pillows behind him. “You can’t refuse. You’ve been
groomed for it since the day you were old enough to understand what was expected
of you.” His dad had a coughing fit that racked his body, leaving him gasping
and weak.

“I think that’s enough for now,”
his mom said, stepping in when things became heated between him and his dad, as
usual. “You two can continue this discussion later. Taylor needs to settle in,
and you,” she looked at her mate, “need to rest.”

Taylor was more than happy to get
the hell out of there, but before he could turn and walk away, his dad said,
“Your banishment has been overturned. You will fulfill your family
obligations.”

His temper heating, Taylor
answered, “Whatever.” Then turned and stalked out of the room.

He made it as far as the top of the
stairs before his mother caught up with him. She grabbed his arm to stop his
forward movement. “Try not to let him upset you. He’s worried about what will
happen if he…” She shook her head. “I can’t say it, but you know what I mean.”

Taylor looked down the hallway at
the now-closed master bedroom doors. “Aren’t you afraid he’ll hear you telling
me this?” All cougar shifters had sensitive hearing, along with sight and
taste.

“He’s asleep. Something he does
more and more of lately.”

He met his mom’s gaze. “I don’t
know if I can do what he wants. I’m not the same person I was back then.”

His mother gave him a sad look and
caressed his cheek. “I know. I can tell. But you will do it, because I’m the
one asking you now. If your father does…leave us, I’ll need you. Only you know
how to run the company as well as him.”

“You mean used to know. It has been
a few years since I’ve been involved in it.”

“Your father has made arrangements
to have you brought up to speed. Please, Taylor, do it for me. I don’t want to
lose you again.”

He cursed to himself. If it had
been anyone else, he would have no problem telling them no. His mom was the
only one he couldn’t refuse. She was already under enough stress with the
thought of her mate dying. She didn’t need him to add to it by walking away. No
matter how much he wanted to.

Taylor tugged her into his arms.
“Fine. You win. I’ll stay and take on the damn position if it comes down to
that. And I’ll start back at the company, though stuck behind a desk for hours
at a time in the corporate world no longer holds any appeal.”

His mother stepped out of his
embrace and smiled. “Thank you. It means so much to me.”

“I know, Mom. I should go and
unload my truck.” He’d only taken one step when his mother stopped him again.

“Oh, before I forget, your father
has had it arranged for the entire family group to come together tomorrow night
to be shown you have once more taken your place.”

“Tomorrow night? Is it necessary to
be so soon?”

“Your father will have to put in an
appearance to make it all official. He’s afraid he won’t be strong enough if we
hold it off any longer than that. Once it’s done, no one will be able to
dispute your claim.”

“All right. I’m going to unload my
pickup, then settle in.”

“Okay. We can talk more later.”

Taylor nodded, then continued on
down the stairs. Now he had to call Aspen and tell her he had to cancel their
date for tomorrow night. And there was no way he could bring her to this family
gathering. As a human, she’d stick out like a sore thumb. Questions would be
raised as to why she was with him. If she were a cougar shifter, no one would
bat an eye.

He headed outside to his truck.
Already his father was interfering with his life. Taylor would call Aspen and
set up another date with her. And there was no way he’d cancel that one, no
matter what his dad had planned for him. Taylor wasn’t going to let Aspen go
because she was human and wouldn’t fit in with his family. He would make the
relationship they’d started on the trip to Anchorage work, even if he had to
step on some toes to do it.

After lugging the few boxes and
extra-large suitcase out of the bed of his pickup and up to his room, Taylor
closed himself inside it. He gazed around the space. Blaise was right. It was
exactly the same as when he’d left it, thinking he’d never return.

He walked over to the large walk-in
closet and found all the clothes he’d left behind undisturbed. Taylor shook his
head at the number of suits that hung there. At one time it’d been second
nature for him to wear one. The thought of putting one on made him feel
uncomfortable. It wasn’t a part of who he was. Not now.

But he would have to be now that
he’d agreed to step in and take his dad’s place in the family company. And it
meant being cooped up in a high-rise office building doing mounds of paperwork
and sitting in seemingly endless meetings. Taylor would much prefer working
with horses and looking after a piece of property, the job he’d left behind in
Juneau. At least his family home had a stable of its own, though much larger
than the one he’d once worked in.

Not in the mood to unpack, Taylor
sat on the king-size bed and pulled his cell phone out of his front jeans
pocket. He might as well get the call to Aspen over and done with. He wasn’t
looking forward to it.

He brought up Aspen’s number in his
contacts list and touched the screen to send the call. She answered after the
fourth ring.

“Hello?”

“Hi, Aspen. It’s me, Taylor.”

“I didn’t expect to hear from you
until tomorrow. Do you miss me already?” she asked with a laugh.

“I do.” And he really did. Just
hearing her voice over the phone made some of the tension between his shoulder
blades loosen. “Which makes this hard. I have to cancel our date tomorrow.
There’s a family obligation I can’t get out of, nor have it switched for
another time. I do want to see you again. Can we make it for two evenings from
now?”

“Of course, and I completely
understand. How’s your dad?”

“Not good. If he wasn’t that bad I
would have blown off this thing tomorrow night.”

“Don’t worry about it. You do what
you have to do, though I’ll miss you.”

Taylor smiled, even though Aspen
couldn’t see him. “And I you. I promise to make this up to you.”

“Hmm, that isn’t a bad thing,
especially if you use your body to do it.”

Taylor’s cock twitched inside his
jeans. “I can,” he said, his voice gone gruff at the surge of arousal that shot
through him as the thought of all the things he’d do to Aspen came out to play.

“And after that, I can use you any
way I want.”

Aspen spoke in a sultry tone that
had Taylor’s dick coming to life. Memories of their night spent in the motel
rose to the forefront of his mind. He had in no way gotten enough of her. He
ached to take her to bed and keep her there, making love to her until she
begged him to stop.

“I’d like that,” he said, a purr
creeping into his words.

His bedroom door banged open and
Blaise walked into the room. “Don’t mean to interrupt your phone sex, but I
can’t seem to help myself.”

Taylor stared daggers at his
brother. He kept his gaze on Blaise as he said to Aspen, “We’ll have to
continue this conversation when I see you. A pain in my ass just walked into my
room.”

Aspen laughed. “Your brother, I
take it. No worries. Even though we aren’t seeing each other tomorrow, you can
still call me.”

“I will. See you soon.” Taylor
disconnected the call and glared at Blaise. “Ever heard of such a thing as
privacy?”

Blaise grinned. “No. Who’s the
girl? I wouldn’t have thought you had time to start seeing someone in Anchorage
already.”

“None of your damn business.”

“Where did you meet her? Have you
known her for long? Are we, and most importantly me, going to be introduced to
her soon?”

Same old Blaise—always the
smart-ass. “I repeat, it’s none of your damn business. And I won’t be
introducing her to the family. Ever.”

The amused expression Blaise wore
slowly changed to one of confusion. “Why wouldn’t you? I’m sure we know someone
in her family group. There are only a couple more in Anchorage and the
surrounding area.”