Tall, Dark and Wolfish (20 page)

away from Caitrin, since her friend needed her help. Her eyes fluttered open.

"What have you gone and done, love?" Ben said before the darkness overtook her.

When Elspeth's body went limp, Ben slid his arm under her legs, lifted her, and cradled her against him. "El ie!" he said, shaking her just a bit.

A moment earlier he'd been trying to calm Alec's nerves when he sensed Elspeth slipping away. It was as though part of his soul crumbled. He'd raced

to Miss Macleod's room just as she slumped forward.

He glanced around the room, unsure what to do. In the doorway, Mr. Macleod looked on. "Is she al right?"

"Does she look bloody al right?" he barked.

Sorcha Ferguson stepped from behind the older gentleman. "Let's get her a room so she can lie down."

Ben shook his head. If he left her with these vultures, he'd never get her back. He could feel it. "I'm taking her home. You can summon a doctor for

whatever else Miss Macleod and her maid need."

He stalked toward the door with Elspeth in his arms. Sorcha and Mr. Macleod stepped out of his way, though the young witch fol owed in his wake. "Ye

canna take her from here. There isna anyone at the cottage ta look after her."

"I'l look after her," he growled over his shoulder as he began to descend the steps.

At the bottom of the staircase, Alec gaped at him. "What happened?"

"She col apsed."

Ben reached the bottom and started for the door, but Alec's hand on his arm stopped him. "Where are you going?"

Sorcha's panicked voice came from behind him. "He says he's goin' ta take her home."

"Ben," Alec's voice lowered so that only Ben could hear. "You can't do that. She's better off here."

Ben didn't respond except to glare at his friend.

There was no way in hel he was leaving her with these people. No one would watch after her like he would.

Apparently Alec saw the determination in his eyes, because he released Ben's arm. "Obstinate dolt. In the very least you can't walk her through the

woods like this. Take my coach."

"Thank you."

The butler pul ed open the large oak door, and Ben stepped out into the bright sunlight. Alec's coach was stil out front, and he yel ed to the driver, "Open

the door."

A moment later they were both safely ensconced inside the carriage, Elspeth stil cradled in his arms. Seeing her pale face, he touched her cheek. She

was icy cold. He held her tighter, hoping his hot blood would warm her some. "Come on, sweetheart, open your eyes for me."

Before they could rumble off, the coach door opened and Sorcha Ferguson climbed inside the carriage. With a "humph," she flopped onto the bench

opposite Ben, a frown etched across her brow.

"What do you think you're doing?" he growled.

The coach moved forward and a look of fear crossed the girl's face, but she bravely met his gaze head-on. "Obviously, I'm goin' with ye."

"I don't need you."

"I'm no' doin' it for ye. Elspeth's my friend, and ye should be nicer ta me. I'm the only one on yer side."

The vines that attacked him were stil fresh in his mind. "Indeed? I suppose that ivy took it upon itself to tangle me up, then?"

The chit had the good sense to stare at her hands. "That was Blaire's idea, and at the time, I thought ye were bad for her."

Ben wasn't quite sure what to say to that. He glanced back down at Elspeth, but there was no change in her pal or. He didn't know what he would do if

she didn't wake up.

He felt Sorcha's eyes on him and looked across the coach at her. She brushed a tear from her cheek. "She's the sweetest person I ken."

She was the sweetest person Ben knew, too. "How did this happen?" he asked, not sure if she had the answer, but it was worth a try.

Sorcha's gaze fel to Elspeth. "The healer gives her strength ta those who need her. It drains from her inta them."

"And leaves her with nothing?" he whispered in horror. He could never ask her to heal him, not if this would be the end result. It would kil him if he hurt

her. How could anyone ask that of her? How could her sister witches ask that of her?

Sorcha shook her head. "I've never seen her respond like this before. But the more attached the healer is ta her subject, the more dangerous it is for her.

El and Cait are very close."

Too bloody close. He should have already taken her and left for London. If he had, she wouldn't be lying lifelessly in his arms. He stared at Elspeth,

wil ing her to open her eyes. "Come on, El ie."

As soon as they reached the cottage, Sorcha leapt out of the coach ahead of him and held open the front door. "Her room is—"

"The one in the back," he finished. "I know." He pushed open her door with his foot. "Pul back the counterpane for me, wil you?"

Sorcha scrambled to do his bidding before Ben placed Elspeth on her smal mattress. She looked so helpless lying there. He tugged the blankets up

around her and dropped to his knees beside her bed.

Behind him, Sorcha cleared her throat. "It isna proper for ye ta be in here, my lord."

"Unless you are capable of dragging me out of here, I'm not leaving her side."

"Wel , then," she began, her voice sounding a bit strangled. "I suppose I'l go start some broth."

He touched Elspeth's brow and winced at the icy feel of her skin. If only he could warm her somehow, get her blood moving. He rubbed her skin lightly,

trying to generate heat. But she did not warm or wake.

Lycans were known for their body heat. Surely he could warm her with his own body. Ben shrugged out of his coat, lifted the corner of the counterpane

and slid beneath it. He pul ed her inert form closer to him. But al he felt was her clothing brushing against his. He needed skin-to-skin contact.

The clank of pots and pans he heard from the direction of the kitchen let him know Sorcha was busy preparing the broth she'd mentioned. He quickly

and expertly untied the laces at the back of Elspeth's neck and gently tugged her gown from her shoulders. The reason for undressing her was purely

medicinal. He tried to convince himself of that fact as he tugged her gown over her hips, leaving her in a thin chemise.

Ben tried not to look at the dusky rose color of her nipples, the shadows of which he could see through the thin fabric. He hurriedly yanked his cravat

loose, threw off his waistcoat, and tugged his shirt over his head.

Ben sank beneath the counterpane once more and rol ed Elspeth so that the length of her body was pressed along his. He tucked her fiery head under

his chin and adjusted her hips to fit nicely against his. She was stil too cold.

Ben pul ed one of her legs between his so that he could cradle her closely before he pul ed the counterpane higher over their shoulders. He waited,

stroking her back patiently as he wil ed her to wake.

He'd never felt such a blinding desire to protect someone as when he'd seen Elspeth col apse. He couldn't get to her fast enough.

She stirred against him, and he took her hand in his, raising it to his cheek. He gently pressed a kiss to her palm. Then he saw the mark she wore, her

own mark of the beast. As a last resort, he might use that to reach her. It definitely connected them. He just wasn't sure if the connection was physical or

emotional.

For him, she was both. He closed his eyes tightly when he felt a hint of desire. He couldn't hold her nearly naked form so close and feel
nothing.

The stomp of footsteps met his ears, and he groaned at the very thought of someone seeing such a private scene. He glanced up at Sorcha, who stood

stil in the threshold, her mouth hanging open, a gasp frozen in the air.

"She was too cold," he said, by way of explanation. "It's the best way to warm her."

"By usin' yer
body
?" she hissed. "I could have warmed some bricks or…
somethin'
!"

"It's real y the best way," he started, but a sound cut him off. "Someone is coming," he said quietly.

A knock sounded on the door ten seconds later.

"How did ye ken that?" She crossed her arms over her chest.

Ben rol ed his eyes. "I'm Lycan, for God's sake," he growled. "Now, be a good witch and close the bedroom door before you go see who's here."

Sorcha flounced off in a huff, but the soft
snick
of the door closing told him she'd fol owed his instructions.

Elspeth moved against him and he felt himself harden. He groaned and laid his head against the pil ow in defeat. "Sorry, lass. I cannot help it holding

you this way," he whispered to himself.

"Canna help what?" she asked quietly from within his arms.

Twenty-six

Elspeth's limbs were as weak as water, but she managed to croak out a few words. Strong fingers anxiously pushed at her hair, moving it from her face.

An insistent hand cupped her jaw and forced her to look up.

"Where am I?" she croaked. "What happened?"

Elspeth's mind told her to move, but her body real y wanted to stay wrapped up in the beautiful heat that was the man next to her.

"You're in your bed," Ben said quietly.

"With ye in it, too?" She couldn't help but giggle. "This is the best dream I've ever had." She slipped her arms around his waist and pressed a cheek to

his bare chest. "So warm," she sighed.

"I'm happy to hear that you like me in your bed, lass."

Elspeth tested the huge cocoon that was his body, stretching languidly. Her thigh was trapped between his own. She didn't have the strength to move, so

she simply burrowed in closer.

Wiry hair teased her fingertips as she brushed her hands through the hair on his chest. He groaned and captured her hands. "I can only stand so much."

Elspeth raised the counterpane and glanced down. "Where are my clothes?" she whispered.

He chuckled. "I took them off you to warm you up."

"A likely story," she said as she swatted at his chest.

"Do you remember being with Miss Macleod, El ie?"

"Oh," Elspeth gasped. She did remember. "Is she al right?"

"You healed her." His fingertip touched her chin and forced her to raise her gaze. "At great risk to yourself."

"That's the way it is with healers, Ben." She lifted the edge of the blanket again. "I need ta get up ta go check on Cait. But I canna figure out how ta do

so."

"You're not going anywhere," he said as he pul ed her tighter against him. "Not until I'm sure you're wel ."

"Ye canna keep me against my wil ," she breathed. But her traitorous nipples hardened in response to his closeness, and when she moved they brushed

the fabric of her chemise. They may as wel have been touching his skin.

"I don't think keeping you would be against your wil ," he growled. "Are you warm yet?"

"Quite," she gasped as he flipped her onto her back and pressed her into the mattress. The knee that had been so firmly clasped between his was now

pushed to the side and he settled firmly between her thighs.

He looked down at her, a curious smile tilting the corner of his mouth. "Against your wil , you say?" His head dipped down to touch his lips to hers briefly.

It was like the touch of a butterfly on her finger.

That's al she would get? "And here I thought ye were goin' ta devour me," she taunted him.

His eyes narrowed slightly as he quietly regarded her. "Why, thank you for the offer." He smirked. "I believe I'l take you up on your hospitality."

His lips touched hers, more firmly this time, his body pressing her into the mattress. His lower body was stil cradled between her thighs. He rocked

against her, the movement creating a sudden thumping in her center.

"That wasna an invite ta do that," she gasped as he raised his hand to cup her breast. He lowered his head and touched the aching peak with his

tongue through the fabric of her chemise. This time it was her hips that rose to press against his.

"Do I need an invitation?" he teased as he did the same to the other breast. "I know how wet you are. And that you want me. I don't need a better

invitation."

"Ye seem mighty sure of yerself," she said, unable to keep from arching her back to bring herself closer to his lips. Her hands tangled in his hair.

Suddenly he stil ed. "Someone is coming," he whispered. "And it's not me," he groaned as he rol ed from atop her body, slid from beneath her

counterpane, and pul ed his shirt over his head. He had just finished righting his clothing when the bedroom door was flung open with a bang.

Elspeth groaned to herself when she saw Alec MacQuarrie standing in the threshold and pul ed the counterpane up to her chin.

"Why do al the men feel like they need ta crowd my bedroom?" she groaned before she pul ed the counterpane over her head.

"Because you don't know how to take care of yourself, Elspeth. You have no one, save your friends," MacQuarrie ground out.

"I can take care of myself just fine, thank ye very much," she cal ed from beneath the covers. Then she pul ed the counterpane down and peeped over it.

"It's no' like he's in bed with me."

"Aye, no' now. But he was a moment ago." Sorcha's tiny voice chirped from her safe place behind Alec.

How could Sorcha possibly know that? Elspeth's face warmed.

MacQuarrie turned to the smal est witch. "He was in bed with her?" His face purpled and his hands bal ed into fists.

"H-he said it was ta w-warm her up," she stuttered, looking at her feet al the while.

"I can just imagine the kind of warming he was doing," MacQuarrie sighed as he pinched the bridge of his nose between his thumb and forefinger. Then

he crossed his arms and leveled a stare at his friend.

Ben sat casual y in a chair by her bed, his elbows resting on his knees, as though he held court in women's bedrooms al the time. Maybe he did. Why

did that thought suddenly make her irrational y jealous? He arched one eyebrow at her, a playful smile hovering about his lips.