First Beast (13 page)

“He thinks that taking things slow and making this whole deal easy for you is the way to go,” Joshua almost spat out. “Taking things fucking easy, as if he gets to say how this works. Him and his fucking ground rules.”

“Neither of you get to say how this works.” Still with the duvet around her, Talia scrambled off the bed and came to stand in front of them. She addressed Caleb. “And why don't you spell out these ground rules of yours, for my benefit this time.”

When Caleb only glared at Joshua, Talia pushed his shoulder. “Well?”

He turned, his face a mask of fury. “We agree beforehand what we plan on doing to you.” He barked it out, his deep voice echoing off the walls. “That way things stay civil. But fucktard here thinks he can change the rules during the game. Starts thinking he can do what he likes to you, whether or not it's been agreed.”

“She's my wife—”

“Okay, that's enough.” Infuriated, Talia could barely get the words out. “I have a ground rule of my own.” Letting the duvet drop to the floor, she took each man by the arm and led them to the door. “From now on this is my room. Get that?
Mine.
Neither of you come in here without my permission.”

While they stood at the door, staring at her as if she'd grown two heads, she snatched up their clothes. After bundling them up, she yanked open the door.

“Now, get out.” She threw the clothes into the hallway. “And if you so much as step foot over this threshold without my agreement, or invitation, I swear I'll cut off your balls and throw them to the nearest dog.”

She slammed the door behind them and leaned back against it. Breathing in and out through her mouth, she tried to get her temper under control.

Damn men. So Caleb was annoyed because Joshua had changed the rules of the
game
? She wasn't sure if she should be surprised or hurt. That was all it was to him after all. A game. The comment Joshua had made about Caleb wanting things to be easy for her, taking it slow, that was all part of the game, wasn't it?

She'd do well to remember that. But first she needed to get dressed, and get the hell out of this room, this house. And away from the two men she now called husband.

Chapter Ten

“Ground rules, he said. Bloody ground rules. Like I'm some game they're playing.”

Talia hadn't known where she was heading, and it was a surprise when she ended up knocking on Naomi's apartment door. She needed to talk and she needed to talk to someone who might even remotely understand and keep her confidence.

While she'd only met Naomi briefly before her wedding to Caleb, she'd felt an affinity with the woman. Naomi had brushed off Talia's concern about the lateness of the hour and listened while she told of Caleb's domineering manner and how Joshua seemed to just go along with it. Now, as Naomi brought coffee to the small kitchen nook, she said, “Maybe you should lay down some rules of your own. Draw up a schedule or something.”

“Caleb works to his own schedule,” Talia said. “But I did lay down one rule, that I wanted my own room.”

“Good for you. How did that go?”

“Neither of them said anything. Didn't really get the opportunity, seeing as I basically threw them, and their clothes, out into the hallway. Caleb asked me where I was going when I left to come here, but I told him to mind his own business.”

Naomi clapped her hands together. “Oh, I love it.”

Remembering his shocked response, Talia allowed herself a small smile. Served him right. She'd had about enough of his imperious dictates. It was way past time she gave him back what he deserved. Maybe then she'd be able to get things into perspective, make her new situation fit into some kind of order of her own making. Maybe then she could continue to see Caleb as the prize manipulator he was, instead of getting swayed by great sex and a few kind words.

She still couldn't reconcile her reaction to Caleb. It worried her, and more, it terrified her. Even with Joshua there tonight, Caleb filled her thoughts, and she'd ached for him to fill her body. No doubt the surrealism of it all was what sent her emotions—and hormones—off on this wild tangent. But even so…

Naomi cleared her throat. “If you don't mind me saying, you don't seem all honeymoon fuzzy about your new husband.”

The circumstances of her marriage to Caleb weren't common knowledge. As far as she knew, only the members of the Council were aware that Caleb didn't agree with Joshua's choice of a mate. That he didn't trust her. She'd gleaned from her conversation with Naomi that the general perception was that Talia was a willing party, happy to be married to two men. Rumors had abounded that Caleb had met Talia before he'd left for South America and now that he was back and was leader, he had claimed the woman he wanted as his rightful mate. As far as everyone knew, it was a love match.

Talia knew she had to unburden herself to someone who might understand, who would hopefully take her side and be her sounding board.

“Caleb only wants to control me, to exert his power as leader.” It seemed strange to say it out loud, to actually voice her concerns rather than just let them stew in the innermost recesses of her mind. “He hates that I'm a journalist, hates even more that I'm married to Josh. He doesn't trust me because I'm not…like you. He thinks at some stage I'll betray the pack.”

Naomi shrugged, and tucked her legs underneath her. “I can sort of see where he's coming from. Not that I don't think you can be trusted,” she added quickly. “But Caleb is responsible for our safety, the perpetuation of our species, if you like. It's a huge responsibility and one he certainly doesn't take lightly.”

“I understand that, but I've never given him any reason to act like I'm public enemy number one. Truth is, he hates that I married Josh. Right now they're acting like two boys fighting over the same toy. It pisses me off.”

“Damn right it should. Which is why you need those rules of your own. Your own room is just the start.” Naomi shifted forward. “You can tell me to mind my own business if you like, but I get the impression this isn't a simple matter of two men in love with the same woman and that woman loving the two men right back.”

Talia averted her gaze. She wasn't sure how much to reveal to Naomi, how much she should trust her new friend. But the woman was the granddaughter of Enoch, a highly respected pack elder. Plus, she was a general practitioner, which meant she knew all about confidentiality. Talia decided to take a chance.

“Caleb and I had never met before he came home. This marriage is damage control for him. Like I said, he doesn't trust me and sees this as a way of controlling me. It's about power for him.”

Naomi nodded thoughtfully. “What about you? Why did you agree to it?”

Sticky ground, Talia thought. “To make Josh happy.”

“You don't care for Caleb at all?”

She pushed back the memory of Caleb's gaze melding with hers, of the feel of his powerful arms around her, the way he'd wanted to make things easy for her. She steadfastly refused to consider the overwhelming feeling of completeness each time he was inside her. “Like I said, I did it for Joshua.”

Naomi blew out a breath. “I'm trying to work out why Josh would agree to share you with his brother. I wouldn't have pegged him as the sharing type.”

She thought about Caleb's statement that he and Joshua had both indulged in ménages before. “People surprise us, don't they?”

“Maybe. But the men in this pack generally don't like to share women they've chosen to mate with. He had to have good reason to go along with it.”

The ground got stickier. Talia considered it wasn't only her personal life she was sharing now, but secrets that affected the whole pack.

“Caleb promised to provide better care for Joshua's mother.”

It wasn't entirely a lie. Caleb
had
promised better care for Josh's mother, especially if one considered what other fate awaited her if Joshua had refused.

Naomi blew out a breath. “I didn't think there was much love lost between Josh and his mother. I always thought Caleb was more caring for his stepmother than her own flesh and blood was. Still, as you said, people can surprise us.”

Caleb cared for his stepmother? Then why would he threaten to banish her? Heck, that still sounded so medieval. Banishment, for heaven's sake. And if Joshua didn't care for his mother, why would he go along with Caleb's demands?

With a huge sigh, Naomi slumped back in her chair. “And here I was feeling envious of you having two men when I don't even have one.”

Sensing it was expected, Talia forced a laugh. It felt good to enjoy the company of someone who didn't fray her nerve endings. “Well, don't be. It's not all it's cracked up to be, especially when they're squaring off with each other every chance they get.”

Naomi's mouth slid into a sly grin. “I'll bet the sex is great though.”

“Can't complain.” At Naomi's groan, Talia smiled. “Anyway, how come you don't have someone?”

“Nobody special on my radar.”

Remembering the loaded glance her new friend had shared with Tynan when he'd come to take Talia to Caleb on their wedding night, Talia ventured the question. “What's with you and Tynan? I sense some history there?”

“He's an idiot.”

The fervor with which she said it established there was indeed history between them, but it was hard not to notice the flash of pain, of hurt, that accompanied Naomi's words.

“I've spilled my problems to you,” Talia said. “You're welcome to return the favor.”

Naomi shook her head. “Long story. Maybe some other time. We need to get you sorted first.” She snuggled back against the sofa. “So anyway, about the sex…”

The next afternoon, while driving to an assignment, Talia couldn't focus.

Naomi's comment about Joshua not really caring for his mother lay heavy on her mind. It didn't make sense that he would go along with her marriage to Caleb if he didn't think that much of his mother. What made less sense was Caleb actually caring for the woman. Why would someone want to harm a person he cared about? But then, betrayal killed relationships, and after discovering the woman had actually been instrumental in having him kidnapped and held hostage in the jungle, well, that would change things for anyone. To act so cruelly toward Caleb, thus enabling her real son to take up the mantle of pack leader, was unforgivable.

Last night, when she'd come home from Naomi's to find Caleb waiting up for her, she'd wanted to ask him more about his kidnapping and his stepmother's role in it. But considering he hadn't exactly been filled with bonhomie, and had insisted on knowing where she'd been and who with, it had soon turned into another pissing match. She'd stormed off to her room and locked the door.

Thankfully, Caleb had already left when she'd walked into the kitchen that morning, which meant she'd had the opportunity to question Joshua. He'd said that Naomi had been wrong, that most people tended to think badly of him because he'd had a volatile relationship with his father. He assured Talia that he visited his mother often and was, in fact, due a visit very soon. When Talia offered to go with him, he repeated what he'd always told her—that unfamiliar people only upset and confused his ailing mother, and it was best she keep away.

To hell with that
. Her assignment could wait until the next morning. So, instead of taking the right fork at the end of the carriageway, she turned left and headed out across the moor.

The ever-blowing wind picked up, sweeping across the wide expanse of open moorland, swaying the bog mosses and the pretty yellow-flowered gorse. To the west, rain clouds gathered, floating eerily over the tops of distant granite hills and rocky outcrops.

Traveling north, Talia soon came to the area of the moor where she had camped with her father and brother all those years ago. She'd traveled this road many times on assignment, but not once had she been tempted to stop and hike over toward the rock castles that had called to her that day and caused her to become lost.

Today was different. Something urged her out toward the craggy peaks and hidden valleys. She pulled off the road and got out of the car. Although there was nobody else around, she knew that myriad creatures roamed through the eerie, yet comforting, silence. The wind moaned softly, brushing against her like a memory. She closed her eyes and drew in a long, slow breath…remembering…

The tender touch of a soft paw. The gentle tongue that bathed her wounded knee. The warm and reassuring presence beside her, as thunder crashed and lightning forked. Golden eyes…eyes that held hers…eyes that promised so much, that drew from her young heart so many things.

Moisture filled her eyes and she opened them. An awful sadness pierced her chest, a feeling that she had taken a desperately wrong path. Perhaps that night on the moor had been the fanciful imaginings of a lonely young girl who desperately sought a connection, a union with someone…something. Who needed to feel that her life had meaning. That
she
had meaning. What if she really had taken a wrong step in coming to Bodmin? What if she was never meant to find that connection out here on the moor? What if this wasn't meant to be her path, her life?

She brushed at the tears the wind had already dried on her cheeks, and took another deep breath. Too late now. Believing Joshua had been her destiny, she had married in haste. Did she really love him? She honestly didn't know, but it seemed she had a lifetime to repent at leisure.

Chasing away her morbid thoughts, she got back in her car.

A little over an hour later, she pulled into the driveway of Tor View Nursing Home. The home, painted white with black shutters and trim, was set in the center of extensive grounds. Lush green billiard-table lawns, courtesy of copious sprinkler systems, surrounded the building and an abundance of well-tended flowers filled oval-shaped beds.

Talia followed the signs for the parking lot and pulled into a space beside a large fountain with little cherubs spouting water from their cupid mouths.

She got out, locked the car and headed up the steps toward the swing-door entrance. Inside, the large airy hallway with its marble floor and opulent surroundings reminded her more of a five-star hotel than a private nursing home. Staff bustled about in their pristine navy blue uniforms, some wheeling patients in chairs while others carried files, clipboards and tea trays.

The reception area was straight ahead, between two massively wide curving stairways carpeted in dark burgundy with gleaming balustrades. Talia strode across the marble floor, her stomach fluttering uncomfortably at the thought of what Josh would say if he found out she had come to visit his mother.

Almost from the moment they had met, he had told her that his mother couldn't receive visitors as they only distressed her fragile mental state. That most of the time, she didn't know who they were anyway, which sent her into a frenzied panic. Talia had felt so sorry for the woman, but had understood and agreed to her husband's wishes, although not visiting her new mother-in-law had never entirely sat right with her.

It felt even less so now, seeing as the woman was in effect mother to both her husbands.

Both
her husbands. She'd never get used to that.

“Can I help you?”

The receptionist, in the same navy uniform as the other staff, greeted her with a smile.

“I wonder if it would be possible to visit with Mrs. McLeod? I'm her daughter-in-law.”

“Oh, Mrs. McLeod. Of course. Your husband is already with her.”

Talia swallowed. Damn. Josh was here? Oh Lord. Now she'd be in for it. Once he saw her he would be furious she'd disobeyed his wishes. Now she'd not only have Caleb glowering at her every chance he got, but Joshua too.

“If you'd like to come this way,” the receptionist said, coming around the desk, obviously unaware of Talia's thumping heart, “I'll take you to see her. Would you like some tea?”

Whisky would be more welcome
, Talia thought, following the woman toward a bank of elevators. “No. I'm fine, thank you.”