Coveted (12 page)

A blush swept her
face, bewitching him into behaving. He stood and offered her a hand.

Aiden tightened his
lips when she ignored him, but he persisted and kept his arm out. He coveted
her touch too much to give up any opportunity that presented itself.

He watched Shayla
struggle to stand with the unfamiliar skirts twisted around her, enjoying the
show, nearly smiling when she very reluctantly accepted his assistance when her
efforts proved futile. Her hands were chilly, and he vividly recalled what they’d
felt like skimming over his chest. Remembered that she’d enjoyed touching him
as much as he enjoyed being touched.

Goose flesh rippled
across his skin as he imagined her hands on his body again. Anywhere.
Everywhere. It was only when she tugged on her hand a second time that he realized
he’d been playing with her fingers.

He shook his head to banish
the lustful thoughts. Refusing to relinquish his hold, though, he guided her to
the table and chair in front of the fireplace. “Sit.”

She wavered, looking
at the single place setting. “I can’t take your supper. You need it far more
than I do.” As if to call her a liar, her stomach rumbled in protest.

He raised a brow, but
she only lifted her stubborn chin. He resisted the urge to lean over and kiss
the tip of that pert nose. He’d refused to go downstairs to eat with his men
for fear that if he wasn’t there she’d vanish. She was too clever for her own
good.

“There is more than
enough food for both of us.” If he appeased one hunger, maybe it would tame the
impulse to knock everything off the table and ravish her on the spot. Battling
the lust that continued to build, he lifted the cover from the food.

Her eyes widened when
she saw the feast. “They must have emptied the kitchen.”

Aiden pulled out a
chair for her, suddenly sideswiped by an attack of nerves. He turned away to
watch the flames, worried that she’d see how much it meant to him to share food
from his plate.

It was an old mating
ritual, long since forgotten by most. He’d only shared his meal with one other female,
with disastrous results.

He’d never attempted
it again.

Never wanted to
relive the humiliation.

Yet, here he was,
leaving himself vulnerable to her.

Seconds passed in
silence, a torture more agonizing than anything they’d done to him in prison.
Tension continued to grow until all he could think of was escaping the room.

This had been a bad
idea.

“Thank you.”

Aiden’s head whipped around
to see Shayla taking a seat, carefully tucking her skirt around her. The frost
that had frozen his soul so long ago melted a little. The feeling was
uncomfortable, leaving him almost lightheaded. He stared down at the top of her
head, struggling to collect himself, then carefully pushed in her chair to the
correct distance from the table. He circled around and seated himself.

“Um…”

Aiden halted his descent
before his arse hit the seat, peering up at her. She picked at her skirt,
deftly avoiding his gaze.

Irritation nipped at
his control, and he slowly rose to his full height. He’d be damned if he would
let her kick him out of his own room.

She’d agreed to
supper.

They were damned well
going to eat supper together.

“What?” He winced at
his tone of voice, wishing he could call it back when she cringed. After years
of solitude, maybe he truly was nothing more than a beast.

Instead of backing down,
Shayla narrowed her eyes and met his glare without flinching. “Maybe you should
put a shirt on before you sit?”

Heat washed through
him. He stalked across the room, feeling foolish as he yanked the shirt over
his head. He stood by his chair and crossed his arms. He’d been sent from the
table too many times because of his lack of polish. Though he knew she was in
the right, no matter how much he tried to stop himself, he couldn’t hold back.
“Am I dressed appropriately enough for you?”

Shayla leaned back in
her chair to look up at him, scanning him from head to waist…taking her time,
too. The perusal was detached, and he found himself standing straighter,
shoulders back, awaiting her verdict. Tension danced in the air, and it was all
he could do not to fidget. “Although I enjoyed the view, you shouldn’t be
distracting us poor, helpless females while we’re trying to eat. If you prefer
to dine alone, just say so.”

When she shifted to
stand, Aiden finally relented and dropped into his chair before she could make
good her threat. He sorted some of the food, selecting the most delicate
morsels for her to eat. Turmoil whirled inside him, and his brain quickly
latched onto one part of her statement. “Distracted, huh?”

“Oh, shut up. Women
don’t like conceited men.”

His mood lightened.

She found him
attractive.

A distraction.

Aiden did his best
not to scarf down his food like an animal, but Shayla didn’t seem to mind. He
was fascinated by the way she ate, picking at her food with her fingers,
licking away the juices. The way her throat moved when she swallowed tempted
him to lean over and run his tongue along her pulse. He shifted uncomfortably
in his chair, willing his arousal away before it became a bigger problem.

Much too soon, the food
was gone. He leaned back in his chair to study Shayla. The flames softened her
features. Her shower had tamed her hair a bit. The silky blonde strands curled
and twisted about her, the waves inviting his hands to delve into the locks and
see them spread across his bed.

After rolling around
on the bed and her subsequent tumble onto the floor, she looked mussed and well
loved. His imagination hadn’t done her justice. He’d known, even under all that
mud, that she would be beautiful. As she sat across from him, she stole his
breath.

She was fae royalty
come to life. Her golden skin tempted him to explore with his mouth. Her eyes
danced with mirth when she looked at him, the small twist to her lips tempting
him steal a kiss no matter the cost. He sat tense, waiting for the slightest
signal from her, barely able to hold back from pouncing on her like some lust-crazed
teenager.

Shayla’s attention
wandered to Aiden again and again. Her caveman had disappeared, leaving behind
a man who intimidated her more than a little. Energy exuded from him. His lack
of beard threw her off stride, kept her from being able to dismiss him as
unsuitable.

Aiden was sprawled
back in his chair, looking relaxed for the first time since she’d found him,
almost at ease if not for the feverish glimmer in his eyes. Worry tightened her
chest. “You should call a doctor.”

He didn’t move. “Do I
look like I need a doctor?”

God help her, he
looked good enough to lick, but she’d eat her own mud-crusted clothing before
she told him that. “You’re feverish. You need medication or at the very least,
someone to watch over you.”

He cocked his head,
almost as if he didn’t understand her concern. “If you’re worried, you can stay
in my room.”

Shayla snorted,
nearly swallowing her tongue at the slow smile that curled his lips. Good Lord,
she wouldn’t be able to survive a night alone with him without succumbing to
the urge to touch. “I’m not a nurse.”

“The castle is full
of men.” His voice dropped to a whisper. “If not you, there is no one else.”

Shayla ignored the way
her blood heated. He sounded like he cared. Like she was special. Her
heightened reaction to him only made her more suspicious. He was playing her,
she was sure of it. Worse, she was falling for it.

She narrowed her eyes
as she surveyed him, searching for the ruse. Well, two could play his game. “I’ll
agree on one condition.”

Aiden rubbed his
chin, the scrape of his stubble making her fingers tingle with the need to run
her hands over his chin. “Name it.”

“No touching.”

Silence stretched.
She expected immediate refusal. Instead, he nodded. “Then it appears I’m
completely at your mercy.”

Aiden stood and sauntered
toward the bed. “But there is one thing you should know.”

Half way there, he
stripped off his shirt and dropped it to the floor.

“Huh?” Shayla
couldn’t form coherent words, riveted by his every move. When he reached for
the buttons of his pants, her gaze snapped up to see him staring directly at
her.

“I sleep in the
nude.”

 Chapter Thirteen

A
iden lay on the bed, the blankets
dangerously low on his hips, barely concealing his arousal. He’d miscalculated
Shayla’s steel will. She’d bathed him on and off for the last two hours, working
to lower his fever.

His nonexistent
fever.

It took energy to
heal faster. Energy equaled heat. Wolves naturally ran warm for that reason.
He’d seen no reason to share that information with her and lose the opportunity
to have her nurse him all night long.

He couldn’t admit
that he’d lied in order to watch over her.

She’d tried to sneak
out on him!

She’d left him no
choice.

It wasn’t because he
wanted to keep her close.

His wolf lifted his head
from his solid slumber, whiffling in amusement at the outright lie.

It drove him crazy
that she was being so difficult, that she wouldn’t just do what he asked. She
had a ferocity and cunning in a fight that reminded him of a wolf, all sleek
and beautiful, not to mention such passion that he ached to keep her safe. She had
been born with the heart of a wolf, and it only made him more determined not to
let any harm come to her.

After the first brush
of the cool cloth against his skin, he had been ready to beg for mercy and
admit his ruse. Only he couldn’t. He craved her touch too much.

The last few hours had
been delicious agony. When Shayla’s breathing evened out where she sat, so prim
and proper in the chair, Aiden jumped out of bed like a swarm of bees had just
stung him on the arse. He’d never ached so badly for a woman in his life. He
contemplated taking himself in hand, but nothing would satisfy him but her
touch.

He prowled the room,
uncomfortable in his own skin.

He’d been a fool for underestimating
her and agreeing to her silly no-touch rule.

She’d broken her own
decree when the cloth slipped. When a single finger traced over his ribs, goose
bumps raced across his skin and breathing stopped being important. He hadn’t
moved, pretended to be asleep, afraid she’d halt her innocent exploration.  

Aiden abruptly stopped
pacing.

She’d broken her own
rules. That negated his promise. No one said anything about not having her in
his bed. Her scent on his sheets. Aiden whirled, his steps purposeful as he
strode to her side.

Without giving
himself a second to hesitate, he scooped her up in his arms and deposited her
on the bed. When she sighed and snuggled into the covers, Aiden scooted her
over and slipped in beside her.

Shayla wiggled to get
comfortable. Then she rolled and draped herself over him. Aiden lay rigid,
fighting to keep control, calling himself all kinds of fool.

When he’d first gone
to bed, he’d tossed and turned, unable to sleep. After months sleeping on cold
stone, the bed was too soft. He’d been ready to sleep on the floor when she’d
entered through the passageway between rooms.

Now that she was in
his arms, everything changed. Much to his surprise, her scent put him at ease.
His heart slowed. He wrapped his arms around her, gently kissed her forehead,
then buried his face into her hair and inhaled. Within seconds, he was asleep.

* * *

Aiden woke more
rested than he had since he could remember. Shayla lay wrapped around him, fast
asleep and, much as he regretted it, Aiden slipped out of bed. If he didn’t
leave before she woke, he wouldn’t be responsible for taking her then and
there.

Last night, that
would have been enough.

Now he wanted more.

He wanted her to
willing choose him, not just be seduced.

As if missing the
loss of his heat, Shayla stretched, slowly coming awake. The soft smile that
curved her lips caused his heart to thump painfully against his rib cage. She
was rumpled. Disheveled. Sprawled across his bed as if he’d spent the night
exploring every inch of her.

“You look beautiful
in that dress.”

“I borrowed it from
the trunk. I hope you don’t mind. As soon as I get back to town, I’ll return
it.”

Aiden shrugged. It
shouldn’t have surprised him that she’d pick the one dress he had specifically
purchased for his wife. “My wife detested that dress, refusing to wear what she
considered a rag. You’re welcomed to it and anything else you find.”

* * *

“Your what?” Shayla
blanched, very much wide awake now. She leapt off the bed, nearly tripping on
the cursed dress. She marched forward, ready to smack him, but she couldn’t
bring herself to get that close. It should’ve gratified her to see him back
away, an uneasy expression on his face, but anger was too strong, her
devastation too deep.

“I should’ve known
you were too good to be true. A man like you does not pursue a woman like me unless
there’s something wrong with them.”

Unable to bear
looking at him, she whirled away, kicking at her skirts when they threatened to
trip her. “I should’ve run when you told me. I would be in the comfort of my
room at the inn instead of stuck here with you.” She ignored the fact that she
had a stalker waiting for her.

“I can’t believe I
let you touch me.” Not able to stand being in the same room with him, she dashed
toward the door, desperate to get away.

The damned door
wouldn’t budge.

“You enjoyed my touch.”

“It was a mistake.
One we will not repeat.” She kicked the door when it wouldn’t budge, unable to
understand why she felt sick to learn that he was already taken. She knew the
moment she saw him that he would be trouble, but ignored all the warnings. She
convinced herself that dreams and fairy tales were real. Hell, she had herself
half-convinced he was a werewolf. That’s how deluded she’d allowed herself to
become over a man

“Stupid caveman.” She
had to get away from him before she did something stupid. Like cry. The door
opened an inch, fresh air brushed her face, and relief trickled through her.

Then Aiden reached
over her head and pushed it shut.

“No, I didn’t lock
her up. She ran, just like you tried to do last night. And she died. I will not
allow the same thing to happen to you.” The lovely Scottish burr that so
bewitched her last night had vanished. Any amusement on Aiden’s face was gone,
leaving behind a granite mask that would crack if it showed any emotion.

Without another glance
at her, he left and slammed the door behind him.

Shayla stood stunned
long after he’d left, horrified by her actions. She wished she could blame him.
She called him a caveman, but she was the one who should be ashamed.

She stared unseeing
at the closed door, calling herself all kinds of fool. He had too much honor to
ever think of kissing another woman if he was in a committed relationship. She
wanted him and that scared her shitless, so she’d lashed out.

Her chest actually
hurt for wounding him.

She had to make
things right.