Moons, you're such a cold--
Yeah, he cut in, oddly annoyed at Neva's insistence at believing her friend rather than him. I know what
I am. What I don't know yet is what you are.
The door behind him opened, and Martin stepped inside. 'Ah, nasty wounds you have there, young lady.' Betise's smile held the first true hint of warmth Duncan had seen, but it did little to wipe the hardness from her face.
'I hardly think I can be called young anymore.'
Martin smiled as he placed his medical bag on the table and opened it up. Duncan noted the small, empty vials inside. 'Compared to me, you're little more than a pup.'
Duncan glanced at Neva. 'Why don't you and I move out to the balcony while the doctor looks after
Betise?' He made it an order, using the power of the moon bond to force her into obedience.
Her eyes flashed and her fists clenched, but she had no option other than obeying. She spun and all but stomped out the French doors.
He followed her. She didn't go far, stopping to the left of the doorway. She crossed her arms and glared at him. You'd better keep those shields of yours well up, because the minute you lower them, you'll pay.
Then he'd better make sure he did something worthy of the pain she planned to inflict. He continued to advance on her. Her face went pale, and she held out a hand, pressing it against his chest. 'Don't.'
He stopped, took her hand from his chest and lightly kissed her fingers. 'Don't what?'
'You know what.' Her soft voice was a mix of breathlessness and scorn. 'We can't, not with Betise this close.'
'I don't particularly care about Betise. Never have.' Her gaze searched his, then she shook her head.
'How can you say that?'
'Easily. I open my mouth, and the words come out.'
'You haven't got a heart in that chest of yours, have you?'
'I certainly haven't discovered one yet. Take off your dress.'
Anger ran around him. 'No.' She wrenched her hand from his and crossed her arms.
He raised an eyebrow and reached for the power of the moon again. She swore softly and vehemently, and amusement swam through him. 'And I thought the golden tribe were such gentle souls.'
'We are, generally. Must be the company I've been keeping of late.' She threw her dress on the ground then crossed her arms again.
The moon caressed her golden skin, and her nipples were taut with cold and arousal. He was as hard as hell and wanted nothing more than to take her right there and then. But that's exactly what she expected him to do, so it was the one thing he couldn't.
He reached out, gently running a finger across her breasts. She trembled under his touch, swallowing heavily. Hate and desire warred in the emotive swirl that briefly surrounded them both.
'How well do you know Betise?'
Surprise flickered briefly in her eyes. 'She's a regular customer at the diner. Been going there for years.'
'Uncross your arms.' He made it an order, and she bit her lip, her knuckles whitening as she battled the command. It was a battle she had no hope of winning. 'So it's a casual thing, not true friendship?' he added, running his finger to the center of one breast and slowly circling the engorged point. Goose bumps fled across her skin, and the smell of her arousal was rich and sweet on the strengthening wind.
'Yes,' she said, voice breathy, eyes angry. 'Why aren't you afraid that she'll report your presence here to your parents?'
She snorted softly. 'Betise hates my parents. They're against the moon dance, against everything the mansion stands for.'
Which made Neva's decision to come here all the more suspicious. 'But what about other friends? Might she not mention it to them?'
She hesitated, and fear flickered through her pretty eyes. 'Maybe.'
'Then why didn't you avoid her?'
'Maybe I was just so desperate to see a friendly face.' He shifted his touch to her other breast. She trembled, her skin flushed and hot under his fingertips. 'And maybe you had some information for her to pass on.' She frowned. 'I have no idea what you're talking about.'
He sensed no lie in her words. Whatever the reason for Neva being here, Betise wasn't a part of it. He reached for the moon power again then said, I want you to question her about her attacker, and I want you to report every word back to me, and only me.
And by using the moon power, he'd ensure she couldn't go running back to her employer with any information Betise might give her.
Her eyes practically spat fire. He smiled and slid his hand down her stomach. 'Yeah,' he said softly.
'I'm a bastard.'
He gently delved the golden triangle of curls. Lord, she was so hot, so moist. He probed deeper, sliding through her slickness, until her muscles pulsed around one finger, then two. Her whole body quivered, and the smell of her need stung his senses, testing his strength, his will. He wanted her every bit as badly, but right now the need to push her into revealing what she knew and who employed her to watch him was stronger than the need to dance with her.
Though he wasn't entirely sure it would remain that way.
He kept stroking her, until her skin was flushed with heat and the fine sweat of desire, and the tremors in her body indicated she was close to the edge. At that moment, he withdrew his touch and stepped away.
Heat climbed into her cheeks, and she clenched her fists. 'Why are you doing this to me?'
His smile was tight. In many respects, he was punishing himself as much as her. 'Anticipation is half the pleasure.'
'Believe me, it's not.'
He raised an eyebrow. 'Perhaps we should see.' She studied him warily-- an aching, golden angel he desperately wanted to lose himself in.
'What do you mean?'
'Go up to my room and climb into bed. You will wait there until I return, and go nowhere else until then.' He made it a command, and she swore again. Her eyes narrowed slightly, and he hastily raised his shields to full. Even so, the trickle of fury that got through nearly blasted his mind. She wasn't kidding when she'd said he'd have to watch himself. With that sort of power, she'd probably be able to fry his brain.
'That could get awfully damn messy if I have to go pee,' she muttered eventually.
'You can go to the bathroom. Nowhere else.'
'Isn't that so goddamn generous of you?'
'Go,' he ordered. 'Now.'
She picked up her dress and stomped down the stairs. He watched her until she'd fled around the corner, clenching his fists against the desire to go after her. Right now, he had more important matters to tend to. Satisfying his lust could wait.
He went back into the study. Martin glanced up and gave a small nod, and Duncan relaxed a little. He looked at Betise. As he'd guessed, her wounds were not as serious as they'd looked.
'Are you staying f or the remainder of the night's dance or going home?'
'Going home.' She arched an eyebrow, and her voice became little more than a husky whisper as she added, 'Are you offering to escort me?'
He hesitated, but knew in reality he had little choice. Not if she had been attacked by the murderer.
'Yes.' A smile touched her thin lips, and the smell of her desire stirred the room--but not him. Neva's scent clung to him, and it was her he wanted, not this well-used dancer who claimed to have some sort of past with him. Her gaze switched to Martin. 'Thanks, Doctor.' The old wolf nodded. 'You're most welcome. Duncan, I'll talk to you later about that other matter.' He nodded. Betise raised an eyebrow as she climbed off the sofa. 'Other matter?'
'Pack business,' he said flatly. 'Are you changing before you leave?'
Her fingers toyed with the gauzy material of her gown, drawing his gaze down her body. She was very
