Lucan (Steele Protectors 6) Read online

  Alone.

  Nor was there any point in Becca feeling hurt by this sudden distance yawning between herself and Lucan. Not when she was just as guilty of creating it as he was.

  Because, for her, at least, their lovemaking had been an experience of such intensity of emotion, she knew it would haunt her for the rest of her life.

  It had been all-consuming.

  Life-changing.

  And so pleasurable, Becca could still feel the ache of it if she squeezed her thighs together. She could feel the stretch of Lucan’s cock inside her, stroking her flesh, and those memories alone ignited little time bombs of pleasure inside her.

  She had no idea if Lucan had felt the same intensity of emotion she had.

  But Becca doubted it.

  He had once again become that aloof and distant man by the time he came into the kitchen area after taking his own shower. His expression was unreadable as he leaned against one of the kitchen cabinets and poured a mug of coffee from the pot Becca had brewed.

  Becca kept her gaze hooded as she took in his appearance. He was wearing the same jeans as yesterday, with a dark blue polo shirt, his hair still damp from the shower.

  He had maintained that aloofness when he briskly handed her the burner phone and told her to make her call to the museum.

  Quite what they did now, when they were still avoiding even looking each other in the eye, she had no idea.

  “We’re going into town shortly to do the shopping I promised you we would,” Lucan answered her unasked question. “We could have lunch out too, if you’d like that.”

  “Sounds like a date to me,” she came back breezily.

  He scowled. “I don’t do dates.”

  “We’re going out, together, so I’m taking it,” she challenged. “Besides, there seems to be a long list of things you told me you don’t do but seem to have done anyway,” she mocked.

  “Okay. Fine.” He threw up his hands. “Call it a date if you want to. Either way, we’re going out for a few hours.”

  He was only trying to placate her by agreeing, Becca accepted. Giving her what he thought would make her happy.

  He made her happy, Becca acknowledged heavily. She liked their sparring, their banter, and their lovemaking had been off-the-charts enjoyable.

  With a man I didn’t even know until yesterday and who has virtually kidnapped me!

  How clichéd could she be, falling for the man who had ripped her away from everything in her life that was familiar and making him her only reality?

  Falling for him?

  Becca stared at Lucan. Had she fallen for him? Fallen in love with him?

  She couldn’t have. It had to be the mind-blowing sex that was confusing her and mixing up her emotions until she didn’t know what she felt anymore.

  Besides, she knew Lucan was still keeping secrets from her regarding why he had sought her out at all.

  It was impossible to love without trust.

  Wasn’t it?

  “Becca?”

  She blinked, refocusing on Lucan to see he was scowling at her obvious distraction. “Fine,” she echoed his terse comment. “Let’s get out of here and go into town.”

  “We’ll need to keep a low profile,” he cautioned. “No drawing attention to ourselves for someone to remember if one of Silva’s men should come looking for you.”

  “I think I already knew that.” She made no effort to hide her sarcasm.

  He ran a hand through his already tousled hair. “Look, about earlier—”

  “Oh please, let’s not have a postmortem about it!” she snapped. “We had sex. Yippee. Now could we just move on.” It was a demand, not a question.

  Lucan frowned his displeasure with Becca’s flippant attitude. They hadn’t just had sex. It had been epic sex, beyond anything Lucan had ever known in his eighteen years of being sexually active. And yes, no doubt the lack of a condom had added to that pleasure, but it had been Becca herself, her generosity and complete lack of inhibition that had been the main reason for the most intense and profound sex Lucan had ever had.

  And then the two of them had pulled apart, given each other a quick glance before going their separate ways. Completely blowing any chance of prolonging that intimacy between them.

  Or repeating it.

  There was a distance between the two of them now. A barrier of their own making, admittedly, but Lucan had no idea how to get rid of it now that it was in place. Becca’s sarcastic reaction to his attempt to talk about it told him quite clearly that polite conversation was out of the question.

  For now.

  So perhaps the best plan was to go out rather than stay in the cottage and prolong this awkwardness. “I want your word you won’t try anything stupid while we’re out.”

  Green eyes glared at him from between dark lashes. “Such as?” she challenged.

  His mouth thinned. “Such as telling some poor unsuspecting tourist that I’ve kidnapped you and asking them to call the police on your behalf.”

  Her brows rose. “I’d only be telling the truth.”

  “It isn’t the fucking truth,” he snapped. “And you’ll thank me for keeping you safe once you know all the circumstances.”

  “I already did thank you,” she reminded. “Despite your refusal to share all those circumstances with me.”

  “Because I can’t!” He glared.

  Becca looked at him searchingly for several long seconds. She could see his frustration with this situation; whatever he was keeping from her was as annoying to him as it was to her.

  She shrugged. “Don’t worry, Lucan, I won’t ask anyone to help me get away from you,” she mocked. “I obviously save all my stupid for when we’re alone here together.”

  His nostrils flared. “Then let’s get out of here for a few hours.” He swung the cottage door open. “Before I do something I’ll seriously regret,” he added harshly.

  “And what would that be?” Becca taunted as she collected up her shoulder bag before walking outside into the brisk November air.

  He closed and locked the door behind them before unlocking the SUV. “Well, it would involve my hand and your bare arse, so I’ll leave it to you to work that one out!”

  Becca was barely aware of her movements as she climbed into the passenger seat of the SUV. Because the threat of having her bottom smacked had caused her nipples to harden and a growing heat between her thighs.

  God, one—admittedly amazing—intimate night and morning with this man, and now everything was taking on a sexual connotation.

  “No comeback?” Lucan arched a mocking brow as he got in behind the wheel of the vehicle and turned on the ignition. “Thank heaven for small mercies!”

  Becca pressed her lips together to stop herself from making a comment and adding to the current friction between them.

  If that was even possible.

  She turned to look out the side window as they drove on the rutted track through the woodland and onto a tarmacked road. She smiled as she saw so many of the ponies grazing on the unenclosed pastureland that made this area so unique.

  Just being here again brought back so many nostalgic memories for Becca of the years she had spent visiting the area with her foster parents.

  Once this—whatever this was—was over, she promised herself she would go and visit Joan and David. It was getting close to Christmas, so she could take their presents with her too.

  She really wished that thought, once this—whatever this was—was over, hadn’t made such an unhappy lump form in her chest.

  “This is where I usually go for lunch when I’m staying at the cottage.”

  It was fully two hours after they’d arrived in the nearest town before Lucan stopped outside one of the numerous pubs and inns in the area catering to the many tourists who came to visit year-round. It was now autumn, and the scenery on the drive here had been spectacular.

  Becca’s brows rose. “Do the people here know you?”

  “They will have seen me
in here several times and know I have a home in the area, yes.”

  “Are you usually alone when you visit?”

  “Always,” he growled.

  She nodded. “So if I was to tell the landlord that you’ve kidnapped me and asked him to call the police on my behalf, he would probably believe me? I’m just kidding,” she taunted at the scowl between Lucan’s eyes.

  “Har-de-har.” He grimaced. “I think the fact that we’re both loaded down with bags containing your new clothes might make the kidnapping claim a little hard to believe.”

  Becca had always loved to shop in the small boutiques in the towns in and around the New Forest. Today was no different; if Lucan intended keeping her here, then he would have to put up with trailing after her from store to store, and afterward having to help carry the bags of new purchases. Admittedly, she might have bought a little more than the original underwear, but it had seemed like a good idea, as she had someone available to help her carry the bags.

  “You have a point,” she conceded. “I don’t think I’ve ever been to this pub before, so lunch here sounds good.” She preceded him inside the warmth of the crowded bar that served hot meals as well as drinks.

  They found an empty booth at the back of the room, both of them sighing with relief as they put the shopping bags down on one side of the curved, padded seat before sliding side by side into the other side.

  “Hot chocolate to drink, please,” Becca requested after a brief glance at the menu. “And fish and chips for lunch.”

  Lucan shook his head as he slid out of the booth. “And you an American girl.”

  “Only until I was fifteen,” she came back pertly. “English fish and chips has long been one of my favorite foods.”

  “I won’t be long,” Lucan assured before moving through the crowd toward the bar.

  Once there, he kept an eye on Becca as he ordered their drinks and food.

  He hadn’t seen anyone following them yesterday or noticed anyone suspicious as they strolled about the town today. But that still didn’t mean Ernesto Silva, even though he had probably arrived in Scotland by now, didn’t have someone else watching and following Becca. She was Hailey’s weak point, and if all else failed Silva could always try to use Becca as leverage to get Hailey to do what he wanted.

  Because of that, and simply because it pissed him off, all of Lucan’s senses went on high alert when he saw a man approach their booth and speak to Becca.

  Chapter Eleven

  “Hi, my name’s Pete. You’re very beautiful. Mind if I join you?”

  “I’m here with someone,” Becca answered the young blond man’s flirtatious request. “He’s at the bar ordering our lunch.”

  “That’s a pity.” He winked at her. “You look like someone I would enjoy getting to know.”

  She chuckled. “Does that line usually work?”

  He grinned. “Most times, yes.”

  “Don’t worry, you aren’t losing your touch.” She laughed. “I really am here with someone.”

  Pete glanced toward the bar. “Big muscular guy, eyes as black as the devil, and looks as if he should be bare-chested and have a sword strapped to his back?”

  “That sounds like Lucan, yes,” she confirmed dryly.

  He grimaced. “Then he’s on his way back here, and he doesn’t look too thrilled that I’m talking to you.”

  Becca barely had time to turn in the direction of the bar before Lucan had the other man’s arm twisted behind his back and Pete’s face pressed against the painted brickwork next to the booth. “Lucan!” She rose to her feet as she protested.

  “Who the fuck are you?” he demanded of the other man, his expression fierce. “Answer me!” He pulled the man’s arm higher up his back.

  So high, Becca thought he was in danger of dislocating or breaking Pete’s arm. “Lucan, stop this!” She slid out from the booth to grasp Lucan’s hand and attempt to loosen his grip. His fingers didn’t budge. “Everyone is staring at us,” she hissed, trying not to look at any of the people in the busy bar who were now openly watching the three of them, conversation having also dropped to a minimum.

  Lucan shot her a glittering-eyed glance. “I don’t give a fuck what anyone else is doing,” he snapped. “What did he say to you?”

  Becca glared back at him. “I believe Pete told me how beautiful I am and then asked if he could join me.”

  Lucan stared at her blankly. “What?”

  She sighed her impatience. “He was flirting with me, Lucan.”

  “Flirting?”

  “Yes,” she snapped. “It’s that thing people usually do when they want to get to know someone better.”

  Lucan looked nonplussed for several seconds before turning back to the man he had pressed against the wall. “Is that true?”

  “Hey, I would never have come near her if I’d known she was here with the warrior from hell—”

  “Is what Becca said the truth?” Lucan hissed, his jaw tight.

  “She’s gorgeous, I thought she was alone, you can’t blame a man for trying his luck,” the other man—Pete—defended.

  Lucan certainly could blame him. Becca was his, damn it. His.

  But yes, Becca was gorgeous and beautiful. Inside and out. And Lucan had just completely overreacted and created a scene because another man had shown appreciation for that beauty.

  Something he doubted Becca was going to forgive him for in a hurry.

  “Sorry,” Lucan muttered as he released the other man’s arm and stepped back to allow Pete to move away from the wall and massage his pulled ligaments. Lucan winced when the man turned and he was able to see the imprint of the brickwork on one of Pete’s cheeks. “Let me buy you lunch as an apology—”

  “Hey, everything’s cool.” Pete held up his hands, the right one not quite as high as the left. It was obviously still painful from being twisted behind his back. “And I already ate lunch, thanks.” He turned to Becca. “Got yourself a tall, dark, and dangerous one here,” he teased as he straightened his jacket.

  Becca shot Lucan a narrow-eyed glare. “I think you meant tall, dark, and stupid,” she corrected disgustedly.

  “I thought he was someone else,” Lucan defended.

  Becca knew who, or rather, what, Lucan had thought the other man was. But maybe he should have spent a few seconds confirming that before treating the man like a criminal and drawing so much attention to all of them.

  Although a quick glance around the bar showed her that most people had gone back to their own friends and conversations. The latter was perhaps about them, but at least they were no longer openly staring.

  She turned back to the man Lucan had attacked without warning. “I really do apologize for my friend here. And thank you for the compliment earlier.” She gave him a warm smile.

  “It’ll be one to tell the grandkids.” Pete returned the smile. “The day Grandpa was attacked in a bar by a real live warrior.” He gave Lucan a rueful smile. “Try giving the next man the benefit of the doubt, hmm?”

  “There won’t be a next man,” Lucan grated.

  “When a woman is as beautiful as Becca, there’s always going to be a next man.” The other man moved back to allow one of the bar staff to place a mug of hot chocolate on the tabletop along with what looked like a glass of carbonated water before she scurried away again. “Enjoy your lunch when it arrives.” Pete gave a mock salute before turning and disappearing back into the crowd around the bar.

  Becca’s smile faded the moment she and Lucan were alone again. “And you told me we had to keep a low profile,” she snorted as she slid back into the booth and took a sip of the hot chocolate.

  Lucan ran a frustrated hand through his hair as he joined her. Not only had he ensured everyone in the bar would remember them, but he now had a lingering resentment at hearing the other man call her Becca. It was what Hailey called her, but it was also Lucan’s name for her. Which was a totally irrational way to feel when Lucan was pretty sure he was the one who’d
told the other man her name during their conversation.

  He gave a self-derisive snort. He had been interrogating the man, not having a conversation with him.

  “Fish and chips, and steak and chips.”

  Both Becca and Lucan stared blankly at the young waitress standing in front of the table wielding two plates piled high with food, her expression questioning.

  The corners of Becca’s mouths twitched, and she had to bite her top lip to stop herself from laughing out loud at the ludicrousness of this situation.

  Lucan had just attacked another customer in the bar. Becca had no doubt in her mind that if Pete hadn’t given Lucan the right answers, he would have done a lot more than immobilize the poor man.

  And now the waitress had arrived with their food as if nothing untoward had happened.

  “Fish and chips for me, please.” She leaned back so the girl could place the correct meal in front of her.

  “Any extra condiments or sauces?” the perky waitress prompted as she put the steak and chips in front of Lucan.

  This was just surreal. In fact, if the food hadn’t already been delivered, Becca would have suggested the two of them leave before she became hysterical with laughter.

  Lucan was the one to answer the waitress this time. “We have everything we need, thank you.”

  “Enjoy your meal!”

  Becca ran a hand over her face before speaking again. “Did any of that just happen?”

  Lucan grimaced. “Unfortunately, all of it.”

  Becca completely lost the battle to control her humor as she burst out laughing. “Oh, come on, Lucan, lighten up.” She nudged his arm in encouragement as she continued to chuckle. “I would lay odds on not a single person in this bar ever forgetting either one of us!”

  He groaned. “Exactly what I didn’t want.”

  “The warrior from hell!” Becca couldn’t seem to stop laughing now that she’d started.

  “I don’t look like any sort of warrior with my short hair and modern clothing,” Lucan huffed.