Lynx Loving (3 page)

“There is no
me
and
you
,” he said.

“No, because you are the biggest stubborn-ass I’ve ever met.” She rolled her eyes. Men. How could they be so freakin’ clueless? “Answer me a question, okay?”

“Why do I feel like I’m about to be ambushed?” He scrubbed his hand over his face.

“Are you attracted to me at all, or have I imagined every heated gaze you’ve pinned on me when you thought I wasn’t watching? Have I imagined the way your breathing quickens when I get close to you or the way the heat dances in your eyes when we brush hands?”

He stared at her for several minutes before answering. “No, but we still can’t be together.”

“Why?” She turned her palms up.

“Have you ever thought what it might do to our families if we were to get together and it didn’t work out? Things are strained enough already. Have you thought about how much younger you are than me? What about the fact that I am not the settling-down type?”

“I am an adult woman, not a child despite popular belief. And why do you always have to read so much into things? It doesn’t have to be that complicated. If we didn’t work out, we could remain friends.” It would so work out with them if he’d ever loosen up.

“And not everything is easy and rose-colored.” He shook his head.

“Fine. But just remember, if you take too long to realize I’m an adult and can make my own decisions, it may be too late. I’m not going to wait for you forever.”

She so would wait for him forever.

I
t had been several hours since Krista climbed into the makeshift bed Landon made in the backseat. He’d only dozed a couple of times, but fed-up with the images of kissing Krista his mind was determined to re-play over and over every time he closed his eyes, he gave up on sleeping.

Until their chat, he hadn’t been one hundred percent sure she was attracted to him. She was flirty and beautiful, seldom held her tongue where her thoughts were concerned, and loved to tease. She hadn’t been sure about his feelings for her, either. Although, he didn’t know how it was possible for a woman as beautiful as she was to not know a man would have to be dead to not notice her.

The memory of the way her soft lips tasted sent a shiver of need down his spine. Now that he’d kissed her, how could he keep his hands off her?
You will do it for her and Nyssa’s sake.
He blew out an agitated breath. The only two women he’d selflessly and completely loved his entire life were his mother and sister.
Look how well that turned out for you.

One was dead and the other he’d turned his back on. He couldn’t go through that again. He’d rather die than be burdened with more guilt for letting down someone he loved. True, he hadn’t known Nyssa’s predicament, but he should have seen through Clay’s lies. Clay had always been trouble, and his sister deserved better.

Soft moans from the backseat prompted him to look in the mirror. The coppery highlights in Krista’s brown hair were shining in the dull light of dawn filtering through the windows. The snow had let up about an hour earlier, and he was hopeful about getting back on the road soon. He frowned when she let out another moan. He turned around and climbed into the back, a difficult feat for a man of his size despite the roomy truck cab.

Not wanting to startle her, he whispered her name, but the moaning only intensified, and her head began to thrash back and forth.

“No. No. No,” she whispered.

The tone of the plea was haunting and sent a dull ache through his chest. The thought of something causing her pain, even a dream, unsettled him in ways he could not explain.

“Krista,” he said a bit louder.

“Please. No!”

Unable to stand her suffering one second longer, he placed his hand on her shoulder. Her lids flew wide open, and a haunting whimper escaped from her lips. Her unfocused gaze told him she was still not fully awake.

“It’s me,” he said. You were having a bad dream.”

When her eyes cleared, and she came back to reality, he breathed a sigh of relief. But the tears that began streaming her cheeks washed away the relief.

She swiped the tears from her face then launched herself at him. She snuggled against him, and he had no choice but to wrap her in a bear hug. This was a side of Krista he had never witnessed. Vulnerable.

“What’s wrong, sugar?” He began stroking her hair.

“I haven’t had one of those nightmares for a long time. I hate them.” She hiccupped.

“Do you want to tell me about it?”

“No. I just hate them,” she said.

He leaned back and gazed down at her. “Hate who?”

“The stupid rogue lycans who kidnapped me. The ones Brady was going to give Georgia to in exchange for me.” She sniffled.

He’d heard the story. Brady couldn’t go through with it in the end, which was a good thing because Kish, Georgia’s mate and an ancient lycan, would have killed Brady. In the end, Kish had helped Brady get Krista back.

“Did they...” He couldn’t even finish the question.

“They didn’t rape me, but they threatened it more than once. I felt helpless. They were scarier than shit. And now...i-it makes me angry.” She wiped at the tears again.

Anger burned through him, and he wished he could get a hold of the assholes who’d put her through that, even though Kish and Brady had already dealt with them.

“Is there anything I can do?” He wanted to stop the pain for her, but he didn’t know how.

She nodded.

“Anything. Just tell me, and it’s yours.”

“Kiss me.”

“Krista—”

“I know you don’t want us to be together, but it would make me feel better if you kissed me.” She smiled up at him then sniffled again. “You did say
anything
.”

“You know it’s not a matter of me not
wanting
us to be together.”

“That was unfair. Even if I don’t agree with your reasons, I should respect them, but one kiss won’t hurt anything,” she said.

He framed her face with his hands. He already knew how she’d taste, and his lips tingled in anticipation. She tipped her head up, closed her eyes, and he breached some of the distance between them, but as a sigh fell from her lips, the warmth of her breath fanning over his chin, he stopped.

He leaned his forehead against hers. “I can’t do this.”

“It’s just a kiss,” she whispered.

He shook his head. “If I kiss you, I’m not sure I’ll be able to stop.”

“I’m sure I wouldn’t mind.”

Her breathy words made his cock jump. He wanted her more than anything, and the grasp he was losing on control scared the hell out of him. “This can’t happen, damn it.”

“Your age doesn’t matter. Neither does my brother or your sister. Brady might act all mad at first, but they’d both be content for us as long as we are happy.”

“I can’t.” Why couldn’t he have met her under different circumstances?

“I don’t understand.”

“Both of the women I loved in my life, the two women who counted on me, I let down. I can’t do that to you, too. I can’t go through that again.” He began to pull away, but she placed a small hand on his forearm, staying him.

“Are these girlfriends we’re talking about?”

“No. My sister and my mother,” he said.

She brushed her fingers over his jaw. “You have to quit beating yourself up over that. You had no way of stopping what happened to your mother. It wasn’t your fault. And as far as Nyssa goes? She’s forgiven you and your brothers. You have to stop living in the past. Sometimes bad things happen to good people. You have a second chance. Don’t ruin it by letting guilt control you.”

“I’ve made too many big mistakes in my life. I won’t add you to the list,” he said. His heart thudded painfully in his chest, shattering into tiny pieces.

“What if the mistake is ignoring what is between us? Have you ever thought of that?”

“I care for you. I’ll always protect you and be there for you if you need me, but—”

“Okay. I get it.”  She rubbed at her red eyes. “When can we get out of here?”

Great. Now she didn’t want anything to do with him.
That’s what you wanted though, right?
The problem was? That isn’t what he
wanted
. It’s what had to be.

“We can be on our way as soon as I fuel the truck.”

He climbed into the front seat. He put the truck in gear then drove across the lot to the pumps.

“I’m going to the bathroom.” He handed her her coat, and she put it on.

“Wait until I get the gas, and I’ll walk with you.”

“No. I know where it is. I’m a big girl. Besides, I could use a few minutes to myself.”

“It’s no problem.” He knew he was probably being over cautious, but he couldn’t help it.

“Look. Maybe if you and my brother and everyone else under the flippin’ sun would stop treating me like a child, you’d all stop seeing me as one. I’m perfectly capable of peeing on my own.” After letting out an irritated growl, she marched toward the diner.

He watched until she entered the front door, glad that the area had been sheltered from the snow by the huge awning over the pump area. He got out and began filling both tanks, thinking about what she’d said. He was aware that hanging on to the guilt he felt over his mother and Nyssa affected the way he lived his life.

He was also aware that he would never have any type of a serious relationship with a woman if he didn’t find a way to let go of some of it.
Serious relationship with a woman? What a joke. There’s only one woman I want to be serious with
.

Being the oldest brother made letting go even harder since he felt responsible for all of his siblings. They’d all been grown for years, yet he couldn’t shake the parental gene that seemed to fall on the oldest male sibling in a family.

Just as he topped off the second tank, his head snapped up. Krista had exited the diner followed by two men. She wasn’t happy and was letting them know it.

“I told you both I wasn’t interested. Go away!”

The two men continued to follow her. One with black hair, one blonde.

Blonde guy said, “Come on, baby. We just want to have some fun. You look like you would be all sorts of fine fun.”

Black haired dude said, “Mm hmm. You have the most luscious ass I’ve ever seen. I love asses. I’m already picturing all the things I’m going to do to you, sweetheart.”

She spun on him and punched him in the crotch. He gasped and cupped his groin. “You fucking bitch,” he whined.

A growl boiled through Landon’s chest. He started for her, and just as blonde guy reached for her hair, Landon caught him by the wrist with one hand.

“I wouldn’t do that if I were you, son.” Landon made sure to let the underlying threat bleed through loud and clear.

“What the fuck you gonna do about it? There’s two of us and only one of you, old man. Odds don’t seem to be in your favor.” Black hair grinned.

“That’s where you would be mistaken. It would take a lot more than two losers such as you to beat my ass. I would suggest you move on before someone gets hurt.” Landon wanted to kick the shit out of both of the men, but hoped to end this all peacefully, an option still available—barely—only because neither of them had actually managed to put their hands on Krista.

Blonde guy stared at the hold Landon still had on his wrist. “Look, it’s her fault. She shook her ass like she wanted it.”

Landon released blonde guy’s wrist, bunched the front of his coat in his hand, and jerked him nose-to-nose. “And I suppose you think women who wear short skirts deserve to be raped as well?

“Some women ask for it. It’s just the way it is.”

“You are a pathetic excuse for a man. Real men do not abuse or harass women. They protect them. It’s scum like you that gives us all a bad name. Stop being fucking idiots, and get a clue.”

Landon’s willpower was slipping, and he pushed the blonde guy away from him before he lost it and beat the crap out of him.

“Let’s go, Krista.” Landon jerked his head toward the truck.

Landon waited for Krista to start for the truck. He turned to follow her, and black-haired dude took a sucker swing at Landon—something he was hoping, deep down, would happen. He blocked the punch with ease, then backhanded the dick like the bitch he was. If anything pissed a man off more than getting bitch-slapped, it was getting bitch-slapped by another guy.

Black hair went down hard on the concrete with an
oomph
. Blonde guy helped him up then tugged him kicking and screaming toward the diner.

“This isn’t over, asshole. You’ll get what’s coming to you.”

After that, Landon blocked out the insults. His main goal was to get Krista to the truck and them on the road again. Once they were both inside the cab, he put the truck in gear and started for the exit to the highway.

“Well. That was interesting,” Krista muttered.

“I told you to let me walk you inside.” Landon was still trying to calm the anger that raged inside him. Just thinking about either one of those assholes touching her made him want to go back and beat the shit out of both of the asshats.

“So this is my fault? And for the record, it happened on the way out, so walking me inside would have made no difference.”

“No, sugar. It’s not your fault. It’s theirs for being dicks. I didn’t mean to imply any of this was because of something you did. I’m sorry. I’m just...not happy right now.” Landon took a deep, calming breath, held it, then released it slowly.

“I could have taken care of it myself.” Her bottom lip stuck out in a pout.

“I’m sure you could have, but let’s keep the crotch punching to one a day, huh?”

When she started to giggle, the remaining tension drained from his body. Her laugh had a way of healing him. It was a magical spell that cast a sprinkle of joy on him.

“Thanks.” She reached over and gave his hand a gentle squeeze. “I’m glad you’re here.”

* * * *

T
he next hundred miles passed by at a sloth’s pace. It was obvious the highway had been plowed once before the storm had stopped, but the few inches that had fallen after the plowing remained on the surface, making it slick and slushy. The four wheel drive made the trip manageable, but Krista was relieved when she saw the sign that marked civilization would begin again in thirty miles—almost as relieved as Brady had sounded when she’d called to let him know they were back on the road and all was well.