Staking His Claim(6)

"Ready to go dancing?" he teased.

"Not yet."

"Poor baby. Can't go out, can't go running, can't even get up to entertain company." His words slid through her and she thought about last night and looked away from his eyes.

He noticed.

His fingers tightened on her chin and he demanded her attention. "Look at me."

Her eyes slid carefully back to his. His features hardened, like his hand on her skin. "What'd you do?"

"Nothing."

"You went out, or have company? You damn sure didn't go running."

She tried to play down something insignificant that somehow she knew he wouldn't like. "Yeah, I had company. Trevor came by last night."

"Trevor." His voice radiated anger.

"Yeah."

"He touch you?"

"What?" Stunned, she could only manage the one word. When had she become his property? She wasn't.

"Did. He. Touch. You." He bit the words out, one by one.

"That's n-not really any of your business," she stammered.

"You don't think?" His mouth flattened in a line of suppressed temper.

"No."

"That boy's used to playing fast and loose, little girl. I've known him a long time. He's screwed everything in a four county area. You wanna be his next?"

"No," she answered softly as her cheeks turned pink.

"I'm going to ask you again. Did you let him touch you?"

"Not like that."

"Elaina." It was a warning.

She took exception to his tone and her volatile temper exploded. "I'm not planning on sleeping with him, Raul. Not that it's any of your fucking business."

His eyes blazed down at her. Rage colored his expression. "I've told you before. You better watch your mouth." His words were sharp.

She felt his dark, compelling eyes on her. "Oh, I think you're watching it closely enough for the both of us." Suppressed lust and territorial aggression glimmered in his dark gaze, easily identifiable even to someone with her limited sexual experience.

He sucked in oxygen and forced his eyes from her wet, luscious lips. His hands reached down and grabbed her wrists and pushed them over her head, pushing them into the sofa. He loomed over her, going for intimidation to get her to conform. "I'm trying to be a gentleman here." His words were a low snarl. "I'm telling you to stay away from that boy."

Heat and excitement speared through her. He was trying to be a gentleman? She pushed against the hands that restrained her. They didn't give. If this was an example of him being a gentleman, she wondered what he'd be like if he lost control. A shiver of fear and curious anticipation went through her. But she wasn't ready for that, not with someone like him. No way.

"You don't have the right to tell me what to do. But I'll be nice and have mercy on you and tell you how it is." She raised her neck and glared into his face, pushing against his restraining hands. "I haven't slept with him. I don't intend to sleep with him. So chill."

An arrow of pure jealousy continued to pierce through his bloodstream. "Chill?"

"Yeah. Chill. You're way too serious. You need to calm down. Chill."

He was about to begin interrogating her further when the back door slammed and he heard Brian and Janie come back into the house.

He slid to his feet and picked his beer up from the coffee table. Putting it to his lips, he took a long pull and turned to greet his hosts, trying to give them no indication of the inappropriate conversation that had just transpired.

Janie stopped in the doorway, looked between Raul and Elaina and slowly back again and then spoke in a stilted manner. "Steaks are ready."

*

Raul forced himself to stay away from the Canton household the rest of the month. It wasn't easy, but it was for the best. Or so he told himself. By the time New Year's Eve dawned, he was itching for the damn party just so he could see her again.

When he finally arrived, his mood blackened when he saw the amount of people already gathered there. All he could think about was getting her to himself for awhile, and now he realized that wouldn't be possible.

It was probably for the best, but that didn't stop him from meandering through the house, nodding to people he knew, his purposeful strides taking him in her direction.

He found her in the arched doorway between the living room and the darkened hallway that led to the bedrooms. She was covered in a tiny red dress that ended only a couple of inches below the point where her thighs met. Her ankle had obviously had time to heal, and she was standing on impossibly high-heeled strappy gold sandals that emphasized the shape and contours of her legs.

The only physical effects he could see from her mishap were two pale spots on her knees where her injuries were healing and wouldn't be noticeable to anyone that wasn't looking for them. Her facial features were enhanced by the subtle use of make-up and her hair was silky smooth around her shoulders. She looked far too sophisticated for her young years. She was holding a glass of champagne in one hand and was surrounded by a group of young people that included Trevor.

Raul saw red as a jealous mist swam before his eyes.

He ruthlessly contained his rage and approached the group with a pleasant façade that he was far from feeling.

He had one thought only.

Containment.

*

Elaina stood in the circle of young people feeling so emotionally free and happy she was almost delirious with it. She had finally made up her mind to withdraw from nursing school, had gotten over the guilt, and had told her aunt what she planned to do. Much to her surprise, Janie had been one-hundred percent supportive. They had talked for nearly two hours, and Elaina was going to start looking for a job close to the ranch when the hustle and bustle of the holiday season was over.

Janie had well and truly convinced her that she and Brian wanted her to stay with them, and for as long as she wanted.

Elaina now stood, leaning slightly against the wall, feeling completely free and easy and enjoying the conversation around her and the slight buzz that half a glass of champagne had induced.

A small, happy smile on her face, she glanced across the room and her eyes tangled with the dark, intent stare of Raul Vega.

Butterflies hit her stomach, and she actually felt her knees get weak. Her smile slipped a bit, and she felt a full-blown blush spread across her cheeks and warm her face.

His gaze never left hers as he made his way across the room to where she was standing.

She was held enthralled as she watched him approach and briefly acknowledge the people around her, before he simply reached out a hand to her and said, "Come."

Her blush deepening, she didn't think to refuse him and put her hand in his, murmuring, "Excuse me," to her circle of new friends.

Turning back the way he came, he pulled her with him into the privacy of the study. He shut the door, leaned back against it and crossed his arms over his chest.

She turned in a half circle to face him, her heart beating triple time as he stood silently observing her. The beat of the music from the other room bled through the thick wooden door making the enclosed area of the study seem even smaller, shut away from the rest of the party.

She couldn't stop the trembling in her fingers, and the champagne glass wobbled precariously.

His eyes narrowed in on it. "You think you should be drinking that?"

She already had enough alcohol running through her system on an empty stomach, and the effort it was taking to hold the liquid still in the glass suddenly seemed more than her nerves could handle. She reached over and set it down on a side table. "Probably not," she agreed mildly.

As she turned back, it occurred to her that he was suggesting she shouldn't drink because of her youth, and not because of her nervous state.

Once again, she chose not to enlighten him.

He spoke, his voice rough but controlled, "You know sweetheart, I get that you're young. Too young for me. But I think you're old enough to know what you're doing to me." The look he gave her was speculative, thoughtful. "Are you doing it on purpose?"

The question caught her off guard and her breath snarled in her throat. "No."

He continued as if she hadn't answered, his voice turning feral, "I don't think it's escaped your notice that I'm jealous of Trevor. And I think you're using it against me."

She expelled a shallow pant of air. His disclosure sent an intoxicating blend of heady power and beguiling need through her veins. Her denial came quickly, "No, I'm not. I--"

"You need to have mercy on me, baby," his tone turned slightly threatening, "before I snap."

Her heart pounded in her ears and she swallowed with difficulty.

He took one step away from the door and her voice unfroze as she tried to explain. "I've told you before, I'm not interested in him that way. I'm not going to start something with him, he kissed me, yeah, but--"

He came to a jerky halt, his expression changing to lines of fury, steel inundating his spine.

"He kissed you?"





CHAPTER SIX


Elaina slammed her eyes closed as she realized what she had inadvertently revealed. Stupid. She kept her eyes closed for a few heartbeats until she felt him move right up next to her.

Her lashes came up slowly to find his eyes blazing down at her and his nostrils flaring.

The blood slammed through her veins and a lick of heat stroked through her body landing in a pool of vicious need between her thighs. What was it about this man?

"He touched your lips?"