Can't Touch This (9 page)

“Brigadier is the parent company; it has a COO both here and
abroad.” He shrugged and closed his slacks. “The place we stayed in Los Angeles
is my flagship hotel, and the restaurant we ate in belongs to me.” Shrugging,
he added, “My parents were content being wolves until they died. The money is
mine.”

“What?” Her mouth snapped shut and she studied him closely.
Harlow had thought family money and a successful restaurant explained the pricey
house in Big Bear. The rest of his time he spent in a small apartment behind
The Moat where he maintained a nondescript office. “You drive a Harley for
Christ sakes!”

“
Ride
, darlin’.” Castle didn’t blink an eye. “And it
was custom built for me.” He rested his hips against the sink. “I handle the
majority of things from my office at The Moat. Jeremiah…”

“Oh my God! She smacked her forehead. “Briggs, the hotel
Brigadier. The woman in the shop, the man at the restaurant, they all know you.
I feel so stupid.”

“Harlow, don’t.”

“LA, Jeremiah, that was a business meeting. The joke about… You
really did have fucking beer flown in?”

“Yes, but if I remember correctly, it wasn’t all business.”

“You son of a bitch.” Before she realized her intention,
Harlow’s hand connected with his jaw. “Why,
why
?” He stared at her,
never moving or saying a word. “You promised you didn’t want to own me but
that’s what you wanted all along isn’t it? Total control over me day
and
night.” She stepped back, wishing he’d deny it. “Say something, damn you.”

“I keep every promise I make and I never
promised
you
anything. I believe I said ‘I’m not trying to own you’.”

“Stay away from me.”

Harlow spun on her heels to leave but came to a halt. “I’ll
send the outfit you bought to The Moat.”

“Why the hell would I want it, Harli?”

“You bastards always want to take something back.”

Harlow left him standing in the restroom. She walked past
Hatch, who eyed her suspiciously before following and trying to stop her in the
lot.

“If you touch me, I’ll scream.”

“I’m going with you one way or the other. It’s your choice
if it’s with dignity or not.”

It was early yet and cars streamed in and out of the parking
lot. “Does he own you too?”

“Harlow, I’m coming with you. I’ll answer any questions you
ask. If you have none, we’ll sit and stare at your walls, I don’t really give a
shit, but I’m leaving with you.” As soon as he heard the lock click, he yanked
the door open and dropped into her passenger seat.

“Fuck you.”

“Drive.” He sighed, settling in for the ride.

She backed out and headed toward her apartment. “Don’t you
have any balls?”

“Jesus, woman, do you want to see them?”

“Oooh!” She turned onto De Soto and floored her Lotus,
plastering him back in the seat.

“Killing us won’t help.”

“Shut up.”

Thankfully, Harlow missed every red light and reached her complex
quickly. The less time in Hatch’s company, the better. “I’m not taking your
sorry ass home.”

“Sweetheart, my wolf can run and make better time than this
squirrelly little car of yours.”

She enjoyed the fact his knees poked his chest. “You could
have put the seat back.”

“Shit.” He reached for the button and sent the seat flying
backward as far as it would go.

“You’re not the sharpest dog in the pack, are you?”

“Goddamn you’ve got a sarcastic mouth.” Tires squealed when
she turned in to her space and shifted into park before shutting the car off.
Hatch opened the door and jumped out. “I don’t know what the fuck Castle thinks
he’s going to do with you.”

“I’m not
his
to do anything with.” She flounced to
her door, unlocked it and tried to get in before he jammed a foot in the
entrance and slammed it open, knocking Harlow off balance.

He grabbed her forearm to stop her from landing on her
backside. “All I need is for him to find a bruise on your ass caused by me.”

“Afraid of the big bad wolf?”

“Efuckingnough already!” He pushed her until her knees hit
the back of the loveseat. “Sit down and shut the hell up.”

He waltzed through the living room into her kitchen as if he
owned it. When he returned, he carried two bottles of beer. “Put this in your
mouth, don’t say a word and just listen,
please
.”

After he plopped onto the sofa across from her, he put his
head back, emitting a desolate sigh, and it wrenched her heart. Maybe she
should listen to Hatch. After all, he wasn’t the one whose eyes she wanted to
claw out. “I’m listening but nothing you say will change my mind.” Anger
dissipated slowly, softening her words. “He lied to me, Hatch.”

“Castle doesn’t lie.”

“He played with words, he… Christ, I smell him everywhere.”

“Harlow, if he walked through that door right now you’d do
what he asked because… Wait, you smell
him
?”

“Everywhere.”

“Damn.”

“What, Hatch?”

“Touching the base of your spine imparted some of his
essence into your body, and taking blood gives him an even stronger tie, aiding
his ability to pretty much find you anywhere.” His eyes pierced her. “You’re
more than connected to Cass—you’re his
true
mate.”

She tilted her beer and took a long pull from the bottle. It
had to be the bastard’s blood; it had done something to her. “Fucking blood,”
she mumbled.

“I missed that.”

“Nothing, it’s nothing, and you’re so wise all of a sudden.”

He leaned forward. “About this I am. I know he’d go from
here to hell and back to find you if he wanted to.” He shook his head. “Forget
if
’cause Castle wants. Oh, he wants you more than life itself.” He took a chug
from his beer. “There is no one else for him, but he is what he is, Harlow.
Nothing will ever change that.”

Pain and loss rested in his eyes. Hatch Grisom had lost
someone, and hoping to gain time to get her thoughts in order, she asked, “Who
was she?”

“Fia Knight, shifter from a Canadian pack.” He settled back
and closed his eyes. “They came through about five months ago, heading south to
visit her maternal family. Castle wasn’t around.”

“Where was he?”

“A lengthy business trip. It culminated at his apartment in
LA in the company of a…”

“Woman.” Her face grew warm as resentment flushed her
cheeks. She wondered if the woman was the reason for his fetish room. “He
hasn’t traveled since I met him.”

“Anywhere he goes now, you’ll be with him.” Hatch emptied
his beer and stood. “Want another?”

“How many residences are there?”

“Here or abroad?” Hatch headed to the kitchen.

“Damn, I hate him.” She meant exactly the opposite but she
wasn’t going to give it any more space in her head right now. “Grab two.” Might
as well step over every boundary she had set for herself. Like the no more than
two alcoholic beverages in any night. She had consumed a gin and tonic at the
bar and now she tilted the beer up, finishing her bottle. “What happened?”
Talking about his problem kept Harlow’s at bay.

He opened and handed her one of the bottles before sitting
back down. “I fell in love in the midst of trying to run the pack while Cass
was gone.” He smiled but it didn’t reach his brown eyes. “I’m not alpha
material, Harli, I’m beta and I like it that way. Fia requires an alpha so I’ll
never quite measure up.”

“How do you know?” The shifter sitting in front of her was
goddamn handsome with a to-die-for body. Hatch was funny and so freaking loyal,
it tugged her heartstrings. Castle was lucky to have him. “This Fia fucked up,
she made the wrong choice, and one day she’ll realize it.” Their conversation
brought to mind how badly Harlow had chosen.

“She traveled with her father, the alpha of their pack, but
there was one beta destined to become alpha if he mates with Fia. Christ, I
wanted to kick his ass from here to hell and back.”

“Why?”

“He screwed every female in sight, willing or not, and there
was nothing I could do to stop him.” He grimaced. “The idea of him touching Fi
makes me sick to my stomach.” He set his beer down and rubbed his face.
“They’re overdue for coming back through here and having to see her, probably
mated to him by now, will kill me.”

“And if she’s not?”

He shrugged. “I’m still not a leader, Harlow.”

“What if something happened to Castle?”

“Don’t even say shit like that because with no offspring,
I’d be next in line and I’m not ready for that.”

“Wouldn’t you know if she was your mate?”

He put his head in his hands and mumbled, “I was too fucking
afraid to touch her, too goddamn scared to get close enough to be sure.”

“Good Lord, Hatch, you believe she
is
your mate?”

He nodded. “Her delicious smell, Jesus, it penetrated my
lungs and took a steadfast hold of my heart.” He groaned. “Fia’s different; her
scent is so… It’s like…

“When she returns, you’ll take her as you should have months
ago.”

Harlow spun to see Castle lounging against her doorjamb.
“Hell, why didn’t I smell
you
coming?” She had occasionally and couldn’t
understand how she’d missed it tonight.

He grunted. “A few drinks and other distractions cloud the
mind.”

“Well, mine isn’t clouded enough to know I don’t want you in
my home.”

“You’re angry because I did something you don’t like.” He
shut the door and walked into the room. He sat on the sofa beside Hatch.
“Harlow, I
need
to have you beside me. It’s where a proper mate
belongs.”

“A proper mate!” He rubbed his face and looked as pathetic
as Hatch did. Harlow had told him she would always be honest and nothing had
changed. “I’ll never be held at your beck and call, Castle. I’m not even
divorced.” She glanced at Hatch to see if he was listening and decided she
didn’t give a damn. “I submit to you in the bedroom.”

“You always will. Anywhere.”

Ignoring what he’d said, she continued. “I love what you do
to me behind closed doors.” She thought about the hallway in LA, the bathroom
at the restaurant earlier. Castle was right; she’d give in to him anywhere. And
enjoy it. Sighing, she closed her eyes, hoping to hide the truth behind their
lids and garner more time before looking at him. Thinking of a day without Cass
in her life twisted her stomach into knots. Damn, damn, damn! How dare he
attempt to buy her. “You can’t buy me.”

“I bought a company.” His eyes darkened. “You already
belonged to me.”

“Screw you.”

“Harlow, darlin’, I don’t own you. What we have is more than
that.”

“Semantics, Cass. Explain
more
.”

“Call it destiny, call it whatever you want. Voodoo, witchcraft,
hell, I’ll even find a vampire to explain it to you. But know this—You. Are.
Mine.”

Hatch told her, Sikes Barnes told her the same thing in Big
Bear. Lord, she didn’t even know why she was arguing because the idea of never
seeing Castle, not having him touch her, not only caused her to feel ill, it
made her gut-wrenchingly sad. Harlow went off on another tangent, well aware
she’d give in because, oh shit,
she
needed him. “You can’t possibly tell
me a female wolf wouldn’t come against her mate on behalf of her pups, or…or if
you hurt her physically.”

“But you’re not a wolf.” He grimaced. “And I’d never hurt
you.”

“But my ass, I’m no different. I’m a woman. When we have
children, I’ll scratch your eyes out if you ever harm them.”

He gazed at her and flashed that crooked grin that stole her
heart every time. “
When
we have children?”

“Damn you.” She had said when. “I don’t know why I said
that.”

“Yes you do.” He stood and moved to sit beside her. “I’ll
sign the papers in a few days. Meet me halfway on this.”

“What’s halfway?”

“I make you chief operating officer, president, anything
allowing you to work from home
sometimes
.”

“You sure you aren’t a devil in wolf’s fur?”

“I won’t let you go, Harlow, I can’t.”

“You won’t interfere with how I run the company?”

“I will. I have control issues, darlin’, what can I say?”

“What you are is a domineering SOB.”

“You love it.”

“Not that it matters but now would be a good time to tell me
what you’re worth and…”

An alarm sounded outside. “That’s my car.” Running to the
door, she snatched it open and looked into the eyes of her husband.

“Hi, Harlow. Happy to see me?” A tow truck idled near her
Lotus with lights blinking.

Without turning, she knew Castle bristled behind her. The
smell of his anger danced around her head and fear of what he could do brought
bile to her mouth. “Cass…”

He stepped in front of her. “Castle Briggs, I’m Harlow’s
mate. What can I do for you, Mr. Hardison?”

“She’s talked about me, huh? Mate? You don’t sound
Australian.”

“What. Do. You. Want?”

“I came for my car. The bitch doesn’t deserve it.”

The growl emanating from Cass’s throat made her step back.

Castle turned to look at her. “Don’t ever be afraid of me.”
He reached for Harlow’s hand and drew her to his side. “You’re all that’s
keeping me from breaking his fucking neck, so don’t move.”

The memory of the incident with the young shifter in Big
Bear flashed to the forefront of her mind. Harlow didn’t want to see the man
she’d lived with for years harmed, but she didn’t love Jeff or want him in her
life. “I’m not moving.” She rested her hand on Castle’s arm.

He kissed her possessively before zeroing in on her
soon-to-be ex. “Get the keys for Jeff, Harlow.”

“What will I drive?”

“Give him the goddamn keys.”

Cass brooked no argument. She crossed the floor, grabbed her
purse, and fished the keys out before tossing her bag on the table. Actually
she was glad to shed this last part of her old life. Still, having no car to
get around posed a problem she would have to deal with.

Castle took a few steps forward and her spouse had sense
enough to back away. Hatch walked past them all and disappeared around the tow
truck. In a few moments, the driver backed into an empty space, turned the big
vehicle, and sped from the lot without her car. The beta had his cell phone to
his ear.
What now?
Done with his call, he deposited the phone in his
jacket pocket, crossed the lot and slipped back into the apartment where he
stood not far behind her and Cass
.

“See the black sports car over there?” Castle pointed to a
low-slung European car far more expensive than a Lotus.

“So what?” Jeff sounded pissed.

Harlow eyed the car parked a few spaces from hers. She
glanced at it, and back at Cass. “That’s yours?”

“No.” He faced her. “It’s yours.” He reached in his pocket
and pulled out the key ring. It held two keys. “The other key goes to the house
which is where I
hope
you’ll be staying. I’m sure I can find something
else in my garage to drive.”

“Do you know how sick she is?” One corner of Jeff’s mouth lifted
and, not for the first time, Harlow realized just what an asshole the man she
had married was.

“You bought that car for me when I was perfectly happy with
my Jeep.” She wanted to smack the sneer from his face. “You held it over my
head every damn time you didn’t get your way, but you couldn’t buy me, Jeff. I
never asked you for anything, nor do I want any more of your money, which the
divorce decree will prove.” She felt Castle’s eyes on her. “Take your car and
get the hell away from me.”

“Have you bedded her?”

“
Bedded
her?” Castle moved so fast Harlow never had a
chance to stop him. Her husband hung a foot in the air, struggling to breathe.
“Harlow is not sick and she sure as hell isn’t a freak. She likes to feel, and
I know how to touch her.” He let the man drop to his feet. “Get your
narrow-minded ass in your car and don’t ever come back to San Fernando Valley.”

“You can’t throw me out of a city.”

“Motherfucker, I’ll buy this state and then bury your ass in
it.”

Jeff took a step back. “I won’t sign the divorce papers.”

“Jesus, man, do you have a fucking death wish?” Castle’s
eyes turned yellow as claws sprouted from his fingers. “I’ll deliver them
personally in two weeks. You
will
sign them.” He leaned forward and
growled.

Oh shit!

Jeff turned and ran to her car. Looking over his shoulder,
he shouted, “You people are crazy and I’m calling the cops.”

“We already did.” The police cruiser pulled slowly behind
the Lotus. An officer exited and waved at Castle, who took Harlow’s hand and
pulled her back inside. He quietly closed the door. “I’m sorry, honey, I
wouldn’t have hurt him
too
badly.”