Darkest Caress

For Cousin Mike, the best travel partner of all time. I will always cherish my memories of our trip to the Baltics, especially that anti-cyclone in Lithuania. Good thing that cross was strong enough to hold you!

For my Dad, who shoved me outside of my comfort zone and made me expand my horizons.

Last but not least, to Katie and Rhonda for believing in this story. And in me.

First time in weeks she’d seen that creep, and still she came down with a migraine.

Liv Farrell downed two extra-strength Excedrin then checked her rearview mirror again. The road behind her was empty, but she couldn’t shake the thought that he might have followed her.

Stop. You’re being paranoid. And you have more important things to worry about right now.

She squinted as she pulled into the mansion’s long driveway, but those damned sparks started to dance before her eyes. She loved her youngest piano student, but the same couldn’t be said of the girl’s father. After he’d been sexually inappropriate with her one time too many, she’d threatened to stop teaching the girl unless the mother brought her to and from her lessons. The arrangement had worked fine, until tonight.

Now, because of him, Liv had the mother of all headaches to deal with while she faced what might be the most important property showing of her realty career.

A blast of muggy, sea-tinged air hit her face when she climbed out of her car. She winced. Not even the sight of the gorgeous stone mansion could dim the pounding in her head. Swallowing hard against the slicing pain, she fought back the wave of nausea that threatened to bring up what little dinner she’d forced down her throat. More than anything she just wanted to go home and curl up in the dark with an ice pack on the back of her neck, but this was one appointment she couldn’t reschedule.

As she neared the walkway to the front door, a blessedly cool breeze whipped up from the ocean at the foot of the bluff. She gazed up at the sprawling house before her with a strange sense of familiarity. Of all the high-end properties on her list, this was her favorite by far. Set on seven acres of park-like grounds, the three-story limestone mansion looked like it belonged outside of Paris, with its graceful slate roofline and twin
vers-de-gris
cupolas. The deceased’s executor had finally cleared the legal hurdles and made the decision to list the property last night, so it wasn’t even officially listed yet. She had no idea how this prospective buyer had found out about it.

On her way to the front door the heady scent of roses mixed with the rich perfume of the stargazer lilies, punctuating the thick border on either side of the path. Ordinarily she loved flowers, but right now the smell made her stomach roll.

When she stepped inside the house, the clean scent of lemon oil soap greeted her, along with a breath of cool air from the air conditioning. Sighing in relief, she set her briefcase down and took a moment to look around the huge vaulted mahogany ceilings of the foyer and family room before her gaze strayed to the west facing windows on the far wall. The view beyond was enough to take her breath away, but there was something about this house that called to her. Something that had resonated inside her when she’d driven past it the first time a few months ago, long before it landed on her list.

Too bad she didn’t have the tens of millions to buy it. And then another million a year to maintain it and pay the taxes.

Whoever he was, the man coming to meet her must have more money than he knew what to do with. Doing a quick run through of the main floor to make sure everything was as it should be, she stopped in the kitchen and turned on some soft lights over the stainless steel range and under the moldings above the rich cream cabinets. It cast the room in a soft, inviting glow.

She glanced at her watch. A few minutes before eight. Just enough time for her to step out onto the marble balcony and admire the sunset.

The security system beeped, signaling someone had opened the front door. “Hello?” a deep, masculine voice called out.

Doing her best to conceal how much pain she was in, she tugged on the hem of her gray pencil skirt and started out of the kitchen. “Coming,” she answered, but before she’d stepped into the hallway a man’s silhouette appeared there, blocking her path.

Before she’d even caught a glimpse of his face, his scent hit her, a rich mix of evergreen and spice that lessened the nausea and made her pull in an appreciative breath. As he came toward her the air conditioning kicked on high. A deliciously cool wave swept through the room, bringing more of his luscious scent with it. But the polite greeting she’d prepared died on her tongue the moment he stepped out of the shadows and entered the light. They both froze.

Icy blue eyes speared hers. He was tall, over six feet, broad-shouldered. His dark brown hair was cut short, the strong planes of his face clean-shaven. He looked to be in his mid to late thirties, the swells of muscle beneath his snug black dress shirt telling her he kept in very good shape.

Shock flickered in his eyes for a split second before he masked it. Unfortunately she didn’t recover as quickly. A sudden ripple of heat spread over her face, flowing down her spine like the lazy stroke of a lover’s hand. Under his intent gaze, somehow the raging headache receded to a dull throb. Her heart sped up, the pulse point in her neck throbbing erratically with the force of his penetrating stare. Surprisingly, the pain didn’t increase.

The man gazed back at her, unmoving, imposing as hell as he sized her up with a lingering sweep of those eerie blue eyes. Stunned by her reaction to him, she looked into those pale depths and struggled to find her voice.

“H-hi,” she finally said, inwardly cursing her awkwardness as she held out her hand. “I’m Olivia Farrell.”

His long fingers curled around hers in a firm grip, warm and undeniably masculine. “Daegan Blackwell.”

That low voice rolled over her suddenly heightened senses, started a strange tingling in the pit of her stomach. Not sharp enough to be fear. More like insanely strong butterflies. Daegan. An ancient name. It was sexy, suiting its owner perfectly along with the faint Irish lilt she detected in his voice. A primitive shiver rippled through her, the heat of his palm lingering on hers after she pulled away.

She put a hand to her stomach and stepped back. Weird. She’d had several migraines over the past few months, but the symptoms had never gone away this fast before. “I’m so glad you could come see the property. Since we’re already here, shall we start with the kitchen?”

“That’s fine.”

Forcing away the lingering physical awareness of him, Liv shifted into professional mode and started the tour. He followed her in unnerving silence, his eyes taking in every detail she pointed out, scanning the surroundings with a thoroughness she found intimidating. The only indication that he was listening to her was his occasional nod.

Nerves began to take hold as she neared the staircase leading to the lower floor. Did he not like the place? Or was her subconscious trying to warn her something was wrong about this whole setup?

She hesitated at the top of the staircase, her pulse drumming at her temples. She was about to go downstairs with a complete stranger who unnerved her. The can of pepper spray in her pocket seemed completely inadequate all of a sudden. And yet…she wasn’t truly afraid of him. A dangerous vibe clung to him, but she sensed it wasn’t directed at her. Unlike the blatant, masculine interest in his eyes. That was
definitely
aimed at her. The thought sent a primal shiver down her spine.

When she looked over her shoulder he was watching her closely. As though he could see
into
her. She blinked.

Those beautiful, cold eyes regarded her thoughtfully for a moment. “Are you not feeling well?”

She put a hand to her temple, a blush spreading across her cheeks. The bright lighting from the stairwell probably washed her out, but she hadn’t realized it made her look that bad. “I’m fine, thanks. Just a headache.” Actually the pain was much better than it had been. The air conditioning seemed to be taking the worst of it away, thank God.

“We can continue the tour tomorrow if you’d prefer.” His voice was deep, commanding.

A pang of guilt stabbed her. “It’s fine, really. But I appreciate the offer.”

His gaze never wavered from hers. “You don’t need to show me the lower floor if you’re uncomfortable taking me downstairs. I can find my own way around.”

She barely stopped her mouth from falling open. How did he know? Was she doing that poor a job of hiding it? “No, don’t be silly. I’m not uncomfortable.” Well, maybe a little, but she wasn’t worried that he’d do anything to her. It was his magnetic presence and too-knowing eyes that bothered her.

Shaking herself, she walked down the stairs to show him the entertainment areas. A billiards room with an antique table, a fully equipped gym, a movie theater and fully stocked wine cellar. He said nothing, following a few strides behind, moving so silently she never heard his footsteps. All the while, she felt his presence like a physical touch against her back.

After climbing to the upper floor and showing him the lavish bedrooms, she led him back to the living room and forced a smile. “Well? What do you think?”

“It’s nice.”

Nice
? She lifted an eyebrow. “You don’t like it?”

He watched her carefully. “Do you?”

Was he kidding? “It’s a rare, beautiful home. The finishing rivals some of the most expensive manors in Europe.”

“I take it that’s a yes.” The barest hint of a smile curved one side of his mouth, warmed his frigid eyes a fraction.

Some of the jitters subsided and she grinned. “Yes, I like it. I love it.” Spreading her arms, she gestured to the open room before them. “Just look at the solid mahogany in this room, and that view.” She nodded toward the floor-to-ceiling windows framing the brilliant streaks of color lighting the sky.

Her high-heeled sandals made a light tapping sound on the cream marble floors as she made her way over to admire the breathtaking view. The sun was almost at the horizon, bathing the sky with rosy and purple hues spilling over the glittering water. In the distance, the San Juan Islands rose out of the sea like slate blue whales’ backs breaching the surface of the Strait.

When she turned back to him, he smiled. It completely transformed his face, turning him from potently attractive to dangerously gorgeous. It made his crystalline eyes sparkle, showed off a hint of even, white teeth. “Maybe you should buy it then.”

“If I had the money I would in a heartbeat.” She folded her hands in front of her before continuing. “The price includes all the furnishings, but if they don’t suit your taste I can—”

“They’re fine.”

Fine, he said. As in,
meh
. With effort she kept from frowning at him. “Mr. Blackwell—”

“Daegan,” he corrected.

“Daegan,” she amended, fighting the ridiculous flush trying to engulf her face. Using his first name seemed…intimate for some reason. “I’m curious to know how you found out about the property. It hasn’t been advertised yet.”

“Heard through a friend it was up for sale.”

Must be a well-connected friend to get that kind of information before it was even listed. “Do you have a big family?”

Those beautiful eyes settled on hers. “If you mean a wife and kids, no.”

Oh. Why did that make her heart leap? “It’s a rather large house for one person.”

“I’m going to need a big place.” He glanced around the room, then out at the vivid sunset. “For all the…relatives coming to live with me.”

Something about the way he said it struck her as cryptic, but she didn’t press him for more. “I’d be happy to show you the grounds if you like. There’s a hot tub out on the edge of the cliff and a beautiful formal rose garden with a fountain.”

A cynical smile touched his lips. “I’m not really into gardening.”

No, he wouldn’t be, she mused. He seemed more like a high-powered CEO or something, though his controlled demeanor and posture spoke of something far more dangerous. Military maybe? She hated to think he might be a drug dealer or gangster of some sort. “Do you want to walk outside for a while?” Headache be damned, she needed this sale.

Again, that potent gaze held her captive. “No, I’ve seen enough for tonight.” He took a step toward her and she instinctively backed up, alarmed by the powerful effect he had on her. When he raised his hand she stiffened, but he only touched her throbbing temple briefly.

She was too stunned to pull away. That spicy evergreen scent intensified when his palm brushed her cheek ever so gently, his smell filling her lungs, loosening her muscles. Warmth flowed from his hand. The remaining pain in her skull instantly faded to a dull ache.

She blinked as a towering wave of sexual heat suffused her body. Before she could move, he lowered his hand and stepped back. A curious hollow sensation settled in the pit of her stomach.

His gaze was inscrutable. “Thanks for the tour, Olivia.”

A hot rush of moisture collected between her thighs at the sound of her name spoken in that intoxicating voice. She flushed, horrified by the way her nipples had tightened against the cups of her bra, but couldn’t think of a single thing to say. What was wrong with her? She’d never reacted to a man this way before.

His mouth curved into an amused smile, as though he knew what she was thinking. “I’ll be in touch tomorrow. Have a good night.”

He left her there staring after him in helpless astonishment, his scent still permeating the air around her.

* * *

The perfect ending to a bitch of a day, Daegan thought sourly.

Staring broodingly at the ocean, he slumped into the cushioned chair on the deck and brought his scotch to his lips. The water was like glass tonight, reflecting the perfect half moon like a mirror on its clear surface. Calm. Tranquil. The exact opposite of how he felt.

His mind was in fucking chaos, and his body wasn’t far behind.

A sudden shadow moved through the light coming from the living room. He glanced over in time to see Cade pull the sliding glass doors open. His cousin’s moss-green eyes twinkled in amusement as he stepped out onto the deck. “Well? Are we proud new homeowners, or what?”

“Or what.”

One dark gold eyebrow swooped up at his grim tone. “You didn’t like the place?”

“I liked it.”

“Yeah, it shows.” He nodded at the partially finished drink in Daegan’s hand.