Chapter 19 Betrayal
Betrayal
Bone-deep exhaustion tugged at Niall, every muscle and his head aching.
How had it come to this? All he wanted was to market his honey and improve athletes’ performances.
It wasn’t about money. He’d merely wanted to share the honey he’d discovered.
His identification of its unique properties had happened by accident, and after he’d tested his theories, he realized he’d found a wonder product.
The honey had made the difference, and he thought it might have other applications.
What if it could help older people or those who were sick?
What should’ve been a happy and celebratory time had morphed into a nightmare.
Someone had ordered his brothers to kidnap Suzie, dragging her into this mess. He’d failed to keep her safe, and that fact taunted him.
Niall glanced in her direction and found her watching him.
Her smile was soft and full of understanding he didn’t deserve.
That lush mouth of hers firmed, and she reached for his hand.
She leaned against his arm, her scent filling his lungs.
His bear gave a soft chuff of need, and Niall resettled, wrapping his arm around her and drawing her close.
“I’m sorry,” he murmured.
“Why? None of this is your fault,” Suzie said in surprise. “You didn’t kidnap me. Your brothers are the problem. Will you hold Colin while I punch him in the nose?”
Niall spat out a laugh at her bloodthirsty query. “I could do that, but something tells me you can show my brothers your displeasure without my help.”
Liam pulled up at the rear of the castle.
“Anyone hungry?” Niall asked. “Angus will want to whistle up breakfast for us. Feeding people is his way of dealing with a crisis.”
“I could drink coffee,” Suzie said. “I’m craving a shower.”
Niall squeezed her gently. “You go and shower.”
She blushed and leaned closer, whispering in his ear. “I was hoping you’d share with me.”
“After I speak with Angus.”
“I understand. He’s your family,” Suzie said. “I didn’t see it before, but now I know you better, it’s easy to see your bond. He’s very proper in public, but I’ve heard him joke with you when you’re alone.”
“We’re going to clean up,” Scott said. “Why don’t we meet for breakfast and a strategy meeting in an hour?”
“Works for me,” Liam said.
Niall nodded and urged Suzie from the vehicle. “Go up while I speak with Angus.”
The door to Niall’s private entry flew open, and Angus filled the doorway. Once he spotted Niall, the anxiety in his thin face fell away. His assessing gaze took in the rest of them.
“You’ll want coffee and something to eat,” Angus said. “I’ll speak with the cook.”
“Can you deliver breakfast to the dining room in an hour?” Niall asked. “We want to shower and change clothes before we eat and devise a plan. Will you join us? We’d welcome your input.”
Niall caught Angus’s surprise, then the flash of pleasure that filled his narrow face. “I will be available.”
Niall dipped his head in recognition. Liam and Scott disappeared, and Suzie hovered, waiting for him.
His heart squeezed, and the gentle chuff from his bear urging him to touch her had him holding out his hand.
She closed the distance between them, slipping her hand into his.
Niall curled his fingers, his world righting despite the trouble surrounding them.
“Thank you,” he said, tugging her from the entranceway toward the stairs leading to his private apartments.
“For what?”
“My brothers abducted you and kept you locked in a cold, drafty room. Even after your ordeal, you’re calm. You’re not blaming me for what my brothers did.”
“Shouting won’t help. Besides, I’m more pissed than upset. Your brothers are idiots. I don’t have a high opinion of the man pulling their strings, either. He’s the one I blame for our trouble, and he’s not brave enough to do his dirty work.”
“True.” A wealth of affection engulfed him. He wanted to hug her and snatch a kiss, but that could wait.
Niall hesitated outside his bedroom, needing to keep her close but not wanting to make assumptions.
“We can share a shower,” Suzie said.
Her calm manner had his shoulders relaxing and his tension receding.
Yet anger still crawled through his veins as he silently admitted his fear when he hadn’t known where his brothers had taken her.
Aware her gaze was turning quizzical, Niall nodded, not trusting himself to speak when fury pulsed through him.
He shouldered the door open, tugging her into his lair. He studied her face and scanned her to search for injuries, even though he’d done this earlier. “Are you all right?”
“A few bruises. Don’t worry. I heal fast, just like you.”
Suzie tugged away and stepped back to push off her shoes.
Next came her clothes until she stood before him naked.
Beautiful. Sleek curves and lots of tanned skin.
A few freckles and definite bruises. Those he did not like, and he wished he’d bashed his brothers’ heads together for the way they’d manhandled Suzie and inflicted pain on her.
“Niall?”
“You are so beautiful,” Niall said, embarrassed at being caught staring.
“Hurry,” she scolded. “Because I intend to use all of the hot water.” She strode into the en suite, and his gaze followed, enjoying the sway of her backside. Seconds later, the shower started.
Niall grinned, suddenly lighthearted. He stripped, leaving his clothes where they fell because he was eager to join Suzie.
Steam billowed when he entered the bathroom, and the citrus scent of his shower gel perfumed the air.
His gaze shot to Suzie, standing beneath a shower head, her face tilted toward the water, and the last of his lingering tension faded.
His mate.
Niall stepped closer, not even flinching at the intense satisfaction emanating from his bear. He set his hands on her shoulder and drew her against his chest. His bear released a sigh, and Niall barely restrained his smile. This was what they both wanted. Suzie.
“I was frantic when you went missing,” he said. “I need to strike against my brothers. They’re determined to finish their sting and don’t care who they hurt.”
“If you paid them, they’d leave. For a while,” she added. “They think they can grind you down. That’s why they’re doing their pain in the backside act. Could you get them deported? They’re here illegally and have limited options.”
“Apart from hiring an assassin to take me out,” Niall said dryly.
He slid his lips down the tender side of her neck and savored the tremble that ran through her.
“I don’t want to talk about my brothers.
Not when I have my beautiful and sexy mate in my arms. Besides, we’re on a tight schedule here. We’re meeting the others for a meal.”
Suzie turned in his arms, her smile sultry and enticing. She reached up to link her hands behind his neck and tugged down his head. “Let’s not waste any more time.” Seconds later, her lips hit his.
Niall kissed her, savoring every nuance of the kiss—the press of lips against his, her peppermint taste, and the shy sweep of her tongue.
Amazement and happiness flitted through him as he deepened the kiss and drew her closer, fitting her body to his.
Despite a challenging life, he’d achieved his current position through hard work.
He hadn’t expected to find a mate, and he held and kissed her with a sense of wonderment.
Citrus filled his lungs, and clouds of steam heightened the sense of privacy and togetherness. This woman… She stole his breath. A partner in every sense of the word. She was perfect.
Niall eased back from the kiss and smiled at her swollen lips. His bear gave a chuff of approval but refrained from his usual litany.
“We should hurry,” she reminded him.
“Aye,” he said, “but I wish I’d suggested meeting for dinner so I could have you to myself for a few hours.”
Her grin turned to a sultry smile that smoked his insides and had his body acting predictably. “We have tonight.”
Niall grumbled but didn’t honestly mind. He enjoyed every moment spent with Suzie. She was intelligent, relished business discussions, and liked the great outdoors. They fit together so well.
Suzie quickly washed her hair while Niall scrubbed away the dirt of the last twelve hours. While Suzie dried her hair, he dressed and pondered how to handle his brothers. After considering his options and the facts, he devised a plan.
He and Suzie arrived late to the dining room. Scott and Liam were peppering Angus with questions about farming in Scotland, which Angus was knowledgeable about since he’d grown up on a farm and his family still raised Highland cattle.
“I like your friends. Shifters at the gathering mostly come from wealthy families. They’re accustomed to servants, and they treat Angus like wallpaper.”
Suzie glanced askance at him. “He stands for that?”
“They get the smaller rooms and slower service. He does this so skillfully they don’t realize the slight.” Niall grinned. “You and your friends scored some of the nicer rooms.”
Suzie sniffed. “We’re also scoring a delicious breakfast. I smell bacon and tattie scones.” She patted her butt. “Angus’s breakfasts have added to my padding.”
Niall ran his hand down her back and cupped her rear. He squeezed. “Nothing wrong with your backside,” he whispered. “I like it very much.”
Scott glanced up from his heaped plate and rolled his eyes. “Eww! Enough of that. It reminds me that I haven’t found a mate and, therefore, are game for the single shifters. Those shifter women scare me.”
“Some males have intense focus, too. I heard there was a big fight last night when three male shifters paid attention to one female. Angus told us they had to call in security to deal with the fallout,” Liam said.
“Hell,” Niall said. An understatement. That wasn’t what he and Angus had intended when devising the gathering.