The Pleasure Master (18 page)

He frowned at her. “Ye're bold for a flower, but then all seem so that come from yer land.”

He exhaled sharply, allowing himself to relax for a moment. Never had a woman tested him so. He enjoyed being with women, but he'd never wanted one so badly that he'd lost sight of his purpose. Tonight he'd lost himself in his own pleasure, his own desire. Kathy of Hair was the most dangerous woman he'd ever known.

Even deep in his brooding thoughts, he knew when she'd returned. He sensed her like the wolf did his prey.
Or his mate.
The last thought left him uncomfortable. The Pleasure Master needed no mate.

He turned to gaze at her. She looked clean and beautiful. “I'll wash. If ye wish to sleep, ye may put out the candles. I dinna need light.”

She met his gaze. “But it's early yet.”

Mayhap 'tis too late.
He shrugged. “Do what ye wish.”

He strode to the pool, flung off his clothing, then waded in.

The cool water flowed around him, sliding past him like the smooth glide of her skin under his hands. But other women's skin had been just as smooth. Why did
she
affect him so?

He gazed into the water, watching it grow still, the ripples dying away as he stood without moving. It would stay thus, placid, if not disturbed. The pool had no wind, no currents, no
storms
to disturb it. The pool would never prove a danger to him. Such were the women he'd known. They'd acted and thought as women were expected to act and think.

But
Kathy.
He sometimes went to stand on the cliff overlooking the sea as a storm approached. His excitement would build as the waves crashed against the shore, then fell back into dangerous whirlpools and eddies, only to re-form and fling themselves against the rocks again. He'd close his eyes, letting the wind whip seaspray against his face, listen to the song of the waves. It was a Siren's song, and much like Kathy. Strong, unpredictable,
exciting.

He washed quickly, then returned to the chamber. Kathy would test him as the sea would. But if he stayed on shore, secure in who and what he was, then she could do no harm.

She was seated in front of the hearth, peering intently at a game she'd placed in front of her. “Play with me, Ian. I think I've figured it out.”

He wanted to refuse. ‘Twould be best if he retired to his bed and tried to forget what he'd almost
done tonight. But she looked up at him, smiling,
challenging
, and he couldn't refuse.

“What must I do to play this game?” He sat across from her.

“This is a hockey game. You use these buttons to control the figures. The idea is to get the puck in the net. It's pretty basic.”

“Puck?” He frowned at the strange thing. “What do ye earn if ye win?”

“You get to push this red button. I don't know what it does because I haven't gotten that far in the rules. But I hate reading rules, so let's just start.”

He blinked as she started pushing buttons on her side of the game, making the figures zigzag back and forth across the flat surface. He'd barely reached for his buttons before she knocked the puck into his net. A loud buzz sounded that almost made him leap away. Why must every toy either make a noise or soak you? At least this one wouldn't leave him wet.

“I won. I won.” Her eyes shone with delight, and for a moment he forgot all about the game. “I get to push the button.”

She pushed the button with enthusiasm, and a stream of water hit him in the face. His curses were varied and colorful. “God's teeth, woman, are all yer toys made by minions of the devil?”

Uh-oh. “Not really. I think this one was made by Linden Toy Company.” She glanced at the box. “Yep. No devil's minions on the box.”

He sat with water dripping down his face and a thunderous expression that probably would have
driven a hundred Mackays back to their castle, but she couldn't help it. She started to giggle, let it build to a laugh, then lost control as it deteriorated into roll-on-the-ground guffaws.

A part of her responsible for protecting life and limb warned that her response was not receiving favorable reviews. Her laughter died away as she wiped the tears from her eyes, then chanced a glance at him.

His glare was silver fury. “Are ye done laughing at me?”

“Sure. All finished. Won't need to laugh for at least another month.” He didn't look mollified. “Besides, I wasn't laughing at you. Not exactly. Okay, sort of. But if you could've seen your expression . . .”

“I wouldna have found it amusing.”

“You know, Ross, you have a rotten sense of humor.” Good. Now he was making her mad.

“I would play that game again.” Wiping the moisture from his face, he gazed at the buttons with narrow-eyed determination.

“No.”

He looked at her with the same expression he'd had when he first heard Suzy Sunshine.

An important revelation hit her. “People don't often say no to you, do they?”

His gaze softened, grew coaxing. “I dinna give women a reason to say no.” He grinned at her, looking wicked, give-me-what-I-want enticing. “Play wi' me, Kathy.”

She drew her breath in at his suggestion, his underlying meaning. “No.”

He leaned back and studied her.

“Why will ye not play another game?”

“Because I bet you always have to win, don't you?”

“Aye.” His smile suggested that losing to him wasn't such a terrible thing.

“Why can't you lose?”

His smile disappeared, replaced by a steady appraisal.

“I was trained to win. In all things. Ye dinna understand that 'tis the strong who survive.”

“Okay, so you're competitive.” There was more to this than winning; she knew it in her gut. “But it's not about winning, is it?

“You don't trust anyone enough to let them see weakness in you because trust is only a step away from those pesky human emotions, need and attachment. And human emotions make the Pleasure Master vulnerable.” She narrowed her gaze to bring the truth into focus. “The Pleasure Master may not need emotions, but Ian Ross sure does.”

“Ye know all this from the game we played?” His words were teasing, but his expression had turned wary.

She shrugged. “Hey, hairdressers know things. Talk to your hairdresser and you'll never need a shrink.”

“I dinna know what this ‘shrink' is, but 'tis not something I'd wish to need.” Reaching across the game board, he placed his palm flat over her heart,
and she felt the push of her breast against his hand with each breath she took. “I allow women power over my body when 'tis needed, but I trust no one. Trust is often betrayed. I am strong
here.
” He increased his hand's pressure, and it felt as though her heart was beating into his palm.

Leaning forward, Kathy placed her hand between his legs. “No, you are strong
here.
A heart isn't strong with no trust.”

He looked startled. “I dinna understand all yer blather about trust.” His lips curved into a smile. “But I know that ye must take yer hand away if ye wish to rest easy tonight.”

She moved her hand. “You're changing the subject.” She cocked her head to study him. “When was the last time you trusted someone?”

“I trusted my mother, but when my father came for me, she didna say a word to stay him. She was pleased to see the last of me.”

Kathy looked down at the game, afraid her expression would show how his answer affected her, how badly she wanted to learn more.

He paused, and she thought he wouldn't continue.

“I didna trust
myself
tonight.” He sounded as though the admission had been dragged from him.

She let out her breath. She hadn't realized she'd been holding it. “Don't be so hard on yourself. The night had its up side.”

He lifted her chin to meet his gaze. “I willna lose control again.”

There was one more thing she had to know.
“Could you ever learn to trust someone, Ian?”

“Never.” His answer was immediate, decisive. “I could no more trust another than I could cease being the Pleasure Master.”

“I guess it would be admitting someone was important to you. Wouldn't want to do that.”

He didn't comment.

She slowly started to put the game away. “I learned something important tonight, Ian.”

“Ye willna tell others yer fantasies so easily again. ‘Twas a lesson hard learned.” He watched narrow-eyed as she slipped the game into its box.

“My husband was my first real love, and when I couldn't reach satisfaction with him I thought I was . . .” Even now the word froze in her throat. “I thought I was frigid. And after my husband told me I was, well, I believed him. I mean, he said he was an expert. But tonight I came close enough to realize I could . . .”

His attention was riveted on her. “Ye're a warm, passionate woman, and yer husband was a fool.”

She knew her smile was wavery. “For a manipulative guy, you say some really nice things. But what I meant was that I could, with
you.
I know my response was because of your . . . special gift, but maybe I can learn to have the same feeling with someone I love.”

“Aye, wi' someone ye love.” He didn't seem pleased at her confession. “And all people try to bend others to their will when 'tis needed.” His smile turned calculating. “Or when it will get what they desire.”

“I don't manipulate people.” After what she'd gone through with old PMS, she'd
never
try to manipulate someone.

“Mayhap ye've ne'er wanted something badly enough.”

Leaving her with that cryptic comment, he rose and blew out the candles. Sighing, she crawled beneath her furs. She had a lot to think about.

She listened as he lay down, then silence settled around her. Just when she thought he'd fallen asleep, she heard his soft chuckle.

“And we
will
play that devil's game again, lass.”

She awoke to a babble of voices.

“I would speak wi' Coco. I have made myself look as she wished, and I can tell her how much I like her French restaurant.”

Neil.

“I must speak wi' Kathy of Hair. Mad Mary willna allow me near her. How must I woo her?”

Colin.

“You're not too smart, are you? I like that in a man.”

Peter.

“
Enough.
Ye've filled my dwelling wi' the blather of fools.”

Ian.

It was nice to have the whole gang together again. She raised one lid to find four pairs of eyes peering down at her.

Neil looked frantic. “I must speak wi' Coco before Ian wins. I dinna worry about Colin. Mad Mary
willna be won by such as he.” He ignored Colin's angry grunt. “Ian hasna seduced ye yet, has he?” He cast her a suspicious glance.

Kathy glanced at Ian. His expression wasn't encouraging. For just a moment, she considered lying and ending this whole challenge thing. Because no matter what Ian thought, she had been a willing participant in her fantasy last night, even if he'd manipulated the situation.

“Umm. Not technically.”

He won't need you anymore.
If there were no challenge, he wouldn't need her to live with him; he might even send her to live with someone like Mad Mary. Mary was fine, but Kathy wanted to stay with Ian until she found a way home. She'd done some heavy thinking last night. There was something she had to do before returning to New York, and she had to be around Ian to do it.

Neil looked relieved. “Ye must be a strong woman. Ian hasna e'er taken so long to win a lass.” He picked up her purse and pulled out her phone. “I will call Coco now.” He walked to a far corner.

Kathy wanted to talk to Coco when Neil finished, but Colin grabbed her attention. “Ye've helped Neil, so 'tis only fair ye help me. What can I do to win Mary? I've cleaned myself and tried to woo her wi' soft words, but she willna listen.”

“Why don't you ask Ian? He's the expert.”

Colin didn't even glance at his brother. “Ian would be foolish to help me win the challenge.”

Kathy shifted her gaze to Ian. He looked thunderous. She thought about refusing Colin, but he
was right. She'd helped Neil, so it was only fair she help Colin.

“Have you tried playing your bagpipe outside her window?” Kathy couldn't control her smile. She could almost picture Mary's expression at being woken by the wail of a bagpipe.

Colin shook his head. “I only play the pipes when the laird leads us into battle. 'Tis meant to give us courage and strike fear in the hearts of our enemies.”

“But wouldn't you make an exception for someone you loved?”

Colin looked at her as if she were crazy. “Aye. I would play for one I loved, but I dinna love Mary. I want only to seduce her.”

Well, that was pretty specific. “Why don't you talk to her about her herbs? Women like to have something in common with a man.”

“I dinna understand why we canna just go to bed and have sex.” He looked truly puzzled.

“Have fun storming the castle.” Peter didn't sound confident in Colin's abilities.

Ian looked amused. “Ye ken that Colin doesna yet have all the skills of a Pleasure Master.”

Colin glared at him. “I'll learn.” He looked back at Kathy. “I will talk to Mary as ye advised.” He strode from the cave.

Kathy sighed. One down and one to go. She looked over at Neil.

“I dinna care what place ye choose to eat, but it must have good red meat. A man must keep up his strength.”

Neil listened to Coco's response, then smiled. A sexy smile. “A man needs his strength to pleasure a lass all through the night.”

Coco's response widened his smile. “The men of yer New York dinna have the endurance of a Scotsman. I would last until ye were so tired ye couldna lift yer head, nor any other part of yer body.”