Blackstone Ranger Rogue: Blackstone Rangers Book 4 Read online

Her head snapped back up to meet his eyes in the mirror. “Out … of here?”

  “This was just a taste, beautiful.” He grazed his mouth over her neck, making her shiver. “I could go all night with you. Make you come over and over again until you beg me to stop.” He took a step away from her, then fumbled at his waist to right himself.

  She sucked in a breath into her deflating lungs, the oxygen somehow clearing her addled brain too. Her body, despite feeling exhausted from the orgasms he’d already wrung from her, wanted what he promised.

  But something made her pause. The sex was phenomenal, and she knew he wasn’t exaggerating. She would probably beg him, but then what? What happened after that? What would happen tomorrow? “I … I can’t.”

  “My truck’s out—wait, what do you mean, you can’t?”

  The air grew thick around them, but she resisted the urge to appease him. I’m a strong, independent woman, she repeated to herself. “The party’s still going on out there.” Fumbling at her gown, she managed to hoist the top up over her breasts and then turned to face him.

  “So?” he asked, his tone irritated. “Who gives a fuck about those rich bastards out there? What do they have to do with us?”

  “Us?” She crossed her arms under her chest. “And what is ‘us’ exactly?”

  His dark brows snapped together, then he opened his mouth, but shut it quickly.

  Her heart sank, but she mentally shook her head. “Yeah, that’s what I thought.” God, she was an idiot. Why did she have sex with him? And in a bathroom of all places?

  They had been caught up in the moment. And oh—his mother. That’s who that woman was, right? That bitch was still out there. Outrage fueled inside her at how she’d treated Anders. At what he had gone through, having his mother abandon him and then pretend he never existed.

  “Don’t,” he bit out.

  “Don’t?” She blinked. “What do you—”

  “Don’t look at me like that,” he spat, his gaze hardening like steel. “Save your pity for someone else.”

  “I’m not—” She flinched when he growled and pinned her to the counter, his arms trapping her against the cool marble. “Anders.”

  He let out a brusque huff. “Stay here then. Go on. Drink champagne, and dance the night away in your precious Cam’s arms. Maybe he can make you forget about how hard I made you come. Or how loud you screamed while I was deep inside you, fucking your brains out. I don’t think that icicle is up to the task, but I’m sure he’d give it the good ol’ college try.”

  The cruel words hit their mark, right in the heart. But she refused to bleed for him. “Is it your goal to make everyone think you’re a heartless bastard?”

  “I’m not what you think I am. I’m not what you want me to be. So, last chance, Darcey,” he taunted, stroking a finger up and down her arm. “What’ll it be?”

  “Get out,” she hissed.

  His expression inscrutable, he pushed himself off the counter, spun on his heels, and walked out.

  When the door slammed shut, she expelled the breath she’d been holding onto for dear life. How could I let this happen? One moment she was could feel his anguish and pain over his mother’s treatment and the next they were having sex in a bathroom. In a stranger’s home.

  Whirling around, she looked at her reflection in the mirror. Oh Lord, she was a mess. Her lipstick and hair were mussed, her dress was crooked. She had a hickey the size of Texas on her neck. And her damn panties … well they were gone. And my best pair, too, from Sarah’s latest collection.

  She groaned. Sarah and Daniel were out there. And so was Cam. Her date. Had she forgotten about them? The urge to slip out of the castle undetected was strong, but Cam had picked her up, so she had no ride back home.

  With a deep sigh, she turned on the faucet and splashed water on her face. Somehow, she had to make it back outside and pretend nothing happened.

  “Darcey?” Sarah asked. “Are you okay?” She was seated at their table with the rest of their group which consisted of Damon, Anna Victoria, Gabriel, Temperance, Sarah, and Daniel. When she arrived with Cam earlier that evening, Anna Victoria had looked surprised, but guided them over to the table they had reserved.

  There had been another man across the table, someone she didn’t recognize, but he must have been a ranger too. He didn’t say a word nor introduce himself, but it was hard to ignore him with his hulking size, long dark hair, and thick beard. Even though he was seated, he still towered over everyone. But that wasn’t what caught her attention. It was the way he looked at her with his razor-sharp gaze. The glance was brief, but she shivered at those eyes boring into her. Her swan, too, had twittered nervously in his presence. He was gone now, and she couldn’t help but feel relief that she didn’t have to be around him.

  “Me?” she said, as casually as she could possibly make it sound. “Yeah, I’m fine.”

  “You were gone an awful long time.” Her sister eyed her suspiciously.

  “You look a little flushed,” Daniel added.

  “Needed some air, then I got lost.” She forced out a chuckle. “This place is huge!”

  “There you are.”

  She stiffened, feeling Cam’s presence behind her. His hand came to rest on the small of her back, and she peered up at him. “Yup, here I am. Were you looking for me?”

  “I’m sure you were all right,” he said.

  Though she should have been miffed her date didn’t even think to find her after she’d been gone for half an hour, she actually felt relief. After Anders had left, she did her best to clean up in the bathroom, covering her healing hickey with her hair and scrubbing away her smeared lipstick. Cam didn’t seem to suspect anything, so she probably did a good job removing all traces of Anders on her.

  Her swan pecked at her, annoyed.

  Oh, shut it.

  “Um, sorry I had to run off. I had a chat with this lady who wanted to visit the store. Did you have a good time mingling?” she asked.

  “Actually, that’s why I came to find you.” Those icy violet blue eyes focused on her, making her stomach flutter with nervousness.

  “Really? Why?”

  “I met someone you might find interesting. Come, I’ll introduce you to him. Will you excuse us?” he said to the rest of the group as he led her away.

  They didn’t go too far, only to the next group two tables over. Cam tapped the shoulder of a man with white hair who was sitting down, chatting with a woman next to him. “Excuse me, Dr. Marsh?”

  The white-haired man stopped talking to his companion and craned his neck up. “Oh, Dr. Spenser, you’re back.”

  “Yes, and I’ve brought that young woman I wanted to introduce you to.”

  “Of course, yes.” Dr. Marsh stood up. He was tall, though slightly on the portly side. She guessed he was probably in his mid-fifties.

  “Dr. Alfred Marsh,” Cam began. “This is Darcey Wednesday.”

  “Nice to meet you.” She offered her hand. But who was this man?

  Dr. Marsh’s kind face lit up into a smile. “I’ve been looking forward to meeting you, Miss Wednesday.”

  “Me?” She chuckled. “Why would—” As Dr. Marsh took her hand, the most peculiar sensation came over her. She always knew when she was meeting another shifter, especially back when she lived in Vegas, but this was an odd, familiar feeling. Like she knew him. Really knew him. “You—”

  “That’s right.” Dr. Marsh nodded. “I’m a swan. Just like you.”

  She sucked in a breath and looked up at Cam, then back at Dr. Marsh. “Wow. I mean. Oh.” Her swan fluttered around excitedly inside her. “I’ve never met another swan before,” she said, flustered at her reaction. “Sorry, it’s a bit overwhelming.”

  “No need to apologize, Miss Wednesday.” He covered her hands with his reassuringly. “There are so very few bevies in the world. Tell me, which one do you belong to?”

  “I don’t belong to any,” she said. “I was adopted. Left by my parents at an orphana
ge when I was a baby.”

  His eyes widened, and his mouth rounded into a perfect O. “But that … I mean …” He cleared his throat. “That seems … strange.”

  “Strange?” she asked.

  “Yes. Like I said, there are so very few of our kind. I’m just surprised that anyone would give up their cygnet. Swans are renowned for our pair-bonding, but it’s not like we’re prudes or anything. If your mother wasn’t married or bonded, no one would have shunned her, especially if she were pregnant. At the very least, there are many childless swan couples who would have taken you in.”

  “R-really?”

  “I should hope so.” His white brows snapped together. “I’m sorry. Forgive me if I was being too, er, passionate about my defense of our kind. We’re very private, which is why we are misunderstood. But I assure you, if you were given up, the circumstances must have been dire.”

  Hope soared in her chest. All these years … she was probably right! About her parents having a good reason to give her up. “Dr. Marsh … I hope you don’t think this is too presumptuous of me, but do you think you can ask around … maybe your bevy or other bevies if they know about anyone who might have given me up?”

  “Of course, Miss Wednesday. I would be happy to ask my bevy mates and reach out to others on your behalf.” He patted her arm. “And please, call me Alfie.”

  “Then you’ll have to call me Darcey.”

  “Darcey, then.” He smiled warmly at her. “If you don’t mind, Darcey, I think I see an old friend. I’d like to say hello.”

  “Oh, not at all.”

  “Cam has my card,” he said. “And I have his. May I contact you through him?”

  “Of course,” she said, nodding excitedly. “Sorry to keep you from your friend.”

  After they said their goodbyes, she turned to Cam. “Thank you so much. I never dreamed … I mean, I didn’t think I would ever meet another swan much less find the group my parents might have belonged to.”

  “It was nothing,” he said. “Dr. Marsh and I were introduced, and I happened to have mentioned a friend who was a swan. He was quite intrigued because he didn’t know of any swan bevies from Las Vegas.”

  “Still … it was nice of you to think of me. Thank you.”

  He shifted uncomfortably. “Would you like to dance?”

  “Sure.”

  She let him lead her to the middle of the dance floor just as the band started a slow tune. Pulling her close, he slipped an arm around her waist, and she reached up to put her hands on his shoulders. As they swayed to the tune, she focused on his handsome face and those unusual eyes behind his glasses, trying to muster up something—anything—other than a friendly warmth.

  She sighed internally, and her swan hung its head limply.

  Anders’s taunting words came back to her. She was tempted to go home with Cam, if only to prove him wrong, but that wouldn’t have been fair to Cam. It felt distasteful to sleep with him, especially knowing what had happened less than an hour ago in the bathroom. She would have to go home alone, and also, tell Cam she couldn’t go out with him anymore. Somehow, she knew he wouldn’t be too broken up about it.

  Damn Anders.

  What happened in the bathroom had been a mistake. They’d been caught up in the moment, that was all.

  Her swan protested, thwacking its wings at her, but she pushed it deep down inside.

  It was the mating bond. Calling to them both. A shudder went through her thinking about Anders’s mother. She hadn’t been able to control the urge and even left her own son just to be with her mate. It made sense now, how he was.

  Oh, Anders. She couldn’t find it in herself to hate him. Her heart bled for the little boy who had been abandoned by the first woman he ever loved. She could only hope that one day, he would find peace with himself.

  And as for her? Well, there was so much to look forward to now. Maybe she’d find the answers she’d been looking for her entire life. There was still hope for her to be happy, after all.

  Chapter Eight

  Just as she had predicted, Cam wasn’t all that upset when she told him after the ball that she didn’t have any romantic feelings for him and didn’t want to go out with him anymore. Maybe she should have been insulted that he took the news in stride, but honestly, she was more relieved about not having to force an attraction that wasn’t there.

  He told her, though, he hoped they could remain friends, and she agreed. She liked Cam, despite his cool, aloof nature, and she enjoyed chatting with him. So, it was a surprise to get a call from him just days after the ball. She had just finished ringing up a customer when she saw his name flash on her phone.

  “Cam?”

  “Hello, Darcey,” came his smooth-as-ice voice through the receiver.

  Leaning her hip against the counter, she changed the phone to her left hand so she could close up the register. “So … how’s it going? What’s up?”

  “I’m well,” he began. “I wanted to let you know, Dr. Marsh called me.”

  Her heart leapt in her throat. “What did he say?”

  “He wants to meet with you.”

  “Of course. When? Where? Or should I call him?”

  “He said he was free later today, and he was going to have dinner in South Blackstone. He asked if he could meet you for drinks beforehand.”

  “That would be great. Where?”

  “Mickey’s Bar and Grill.” There was a pause on the other line. “Darcey, I was wondering, if you didn’t think it was awkward, perhaps I could come along?”

  “You want to come along?”

  “Yes. As your friend, of course.” There was an emphasis on the word friend. “And, well, I feel responsible.”

  “Responsible?”

  “Yes. I introduced you to Dr. Marsh because I mentioned I knew of another swan shifter, and he was intrigued. But I hadn’t met him until that night, and to be honest, I don’t really know him. Or what his intentions are.”

  “He seems like a nice man,” she said. “I don’t think he has any bad intentions.”

  “You can’t trust what people present to you, Darcey,” he said, his tone ominous. “A seemingly benign exterior can be hiding something nefarious.”

  There was meaning in those words, and curiosity pricked at her. However, they weren’t discussing him. “All right.”

  “Thank you. If anything happened to you, I would never forgive myself.”

  She blew out a breath. Why did he start saying things like that now? “I’m sure it will be fine. But I know I shouldn’t be meeting strangers by myself.”

  “Perhaps I’m being overly cautious, but as they say, better safe than sorry.” He cleared his throat. “I don’t have to be there for your conversation, of course. I’m happy to stay back if things get too personal.”

  “Let’s play it by ear, okay?” Looking up at the clock, she made a mental note of how many more hours before she clocked out. “Sarah’s closing today, so I’ll be done by three, but I have to pick up Adam and bring him home.”

  “That should work out. I’ll tell him we should meet at five thirty?”

  “Perfect. Thank you for doing this, Cam.”

  “Of course, my pleasure, Darcey.”

  As she put the phone down, she couldn’t help but think about Dr. Marsh. He did seem like a sweet, kind man who genuinely wanted to help her. Her swan, too, hadn’t picked up anything wrong with him. Maybe Cam was just being a good friend. A gentleman.

  Which was more than she could say for certain other males.

  “Argh!” Placing her elbows on the counter, she rested her chin on her palm. Would there ever be a time when a day, or even a few hours would pass when she didn’t think about him.

  But it really was hard not to think about Anders. Or what had transpired between them. It was like she could still feel his touch. As if his fingers branded her skin permanently. There were moments when she was alone in bed and she grew embarrassingly wet just replaying that night in her head. His na
ked body, pummeling behind her, into her, while they stared at each other in the mirror. Those golden eyes boring—

  “Darcey? Darcey!”

  “Huh?” She lifted her head. “Sarah. You’re back.”

  “Yeah,” her sister said wryly, lifting her arms to show her the coffees and a brown paper bag in her hands. “Coffee shop was a little busy. Are you all right? You seemed like a million miles away.”

  “I’m fine.” She grabbed one of the coffees and took a sip. “Just, uh, thinking.” She recounted Cam’s call to her and told her about the meeting with Marsh.

  “Wow.” Sarah opened the bag and laid out two pastries. “That’s great, Darce. I hope you get some answers.”

  “Me too.” She bit her lip. “You know, whatever happens, you and Adam are still my real family.” A few times, Darcey asked if Sarah was ever curious about her biological family. Her sister would just shrug and say that she had tried to locate them, but since she had been abandoned on the side of the road with no clue as to who they were, there was no chance she would ever find them.

  Sarah smiled at her warmly and reached out to cover her hand. “Of course, Darcey. I know that. But I know it’s not the same, especially because you’re a shifter. I’m glad you might get a chance to find out about your biological family.”

  And she knew Sarah’s words were genuine, without a touch of envy or malice. “Thanks, Sarah.”

  They finished their coffee and pastries quickly, just in time before a couple of customers walked in. Business was brisk today, thankfully, which made the time go by quickly. Soon, she was on her way to pick up Adam. When they got home, she changed into a nicer dress, fancy stiletto boots, and added a scarf to her ensemble.

  At five twenty-five she was walking into Mickey’s Bar and Grill. Of course, Cam was already by the bar. He waved her over.

  “You look lovely, Darcey,” he said. “How are you feeling?”

  “Good. Nervous,” she laughed. “But good.”

  “Would you like a drink?”

  “How about a glass of white wine?” As a shifter, it wouldn’t affect her too much, but she liked the taste of wine.