Kahleena MacCarthy ~ To Meet a Highlander (2 page)

             
“Well, if you’re sure, I was thinking we could go out this weekend?” Tsarina held her breath. As much as she’d love some Scotsman action, it seemed she'd be doing nothing but working most of her time there. Evidently, her employer felt she should put in at least the hours Galen Campbell was available to her. Although, Tsarina couldn't help but to wonder how they had managed to get his employer to be so generous with his time.

             
Pulling herself back on track she decided it was now or never. And, if she was going to be gone for at least six weeks, because failure was not an option, perhaps the notch in his belt concept would have passed by the time she got back. And just maybe her brother would be over being angry with her if word got back to him.

             
Silence.

             
“Kaeden, are you there?”

             
“Yes, I just wasn’t expecting that is all. Trystan will kill me. He’s already told me to stay away from you. I don’t know if it’s a great idea or not.”

             
“Look at it this way, in two weeks I’m going out of the country for work.” Silently she was thanking herself for being smart enough to get a passport when she never thought she’d have need for one. “You wouldn’t have to even let him know that we hooked up. It could be our secret. Besides, my brother needs to quit trying to run my life. And he needs to quit trying to control every person that's around him, Trystan can't tell either of us who to see or who not to see.”

             
“It's just how Trystan is. He's always been that way.”

             
“That's because we've always let him. Ever think of what would happen if we didn't allow it anymore?”

             
“You know he just has always wanted the best for you. That will never change. No matter how old you get. Hey, where are you going anyway?”

             
“They’re sending me to research things on location in Scotland. I get to stay at least six weeks.” Tsarina didn’t even want to think about having to return early.

             
“So, you are planning to use me for two week sex and then leave?”

             
Damn. When he put it that way it sounded terrible. But it was exactly what her brother said he’d do to her. “Kaeden, it’s not really like that. You never stay with one girl long. This way you wouldn’t have the break up guilt. Right? We’re both adults. What’s wrong with some friends with benefits for a couple of weeks? It might do us both some good.”

             
“You think I'm that much of a dog?” Tsarina heard the annoyance in his voice. “We’re not telling your brother about this?”

             
“No, I don't. I just think we're on the same page with this. And, no, not a word to him. Trystan doesn’t need to know. I can even pick you up somewhere so he wouldn’t see your truck here.” Boy did she sound sneaky. Tsarina laughed. You’d think she’d been doing this all the time. Suddenly she felt like a sixteen year old sneaking a boy into her bedroom through a window while her parents slept down the hall.

             
“You’re embarrassed because of the stuff Trystan said about me?”

             
“Not embarrassed. I’m just not wanting to hear about me adding to your list. Plus, Trystan would be pissed and he’d feel like he had to be mad at you. The two of you are best friends. I can’t let that happen. This way’s just easier. It works out where everyone stays happy and we all get what we want. Hmmm, or are you just not interested in me? It's okay if you aren't. I'm a big girl. I can handle the honesty.”

             
“Right. Easier. Not interested? Geez, Tsarina, you need to ask? I've been interested for years and I find it difficult to believe you don't have a clue.” Kaeden didn’t sound happy or convinced. Was he really not interested.

             
“So, I’ll see you Friday? I’ll pick you up at the mall, you know the spot. Trystan’s spot?” Trystan always parked in one area. That was it. He’d walk five miles before parking anywhere else. It didn't matter if he only needed one thing and knew it was on the opposite side of the building. He was definitely a creature of habit.

             
“Sure. I’ll see you there at seven. Do you want to get something to eat?” Tsarina could hear the hesitation in his voice. She hoped neither of them would regret this later.

             
“I’ll order pizza for delivery.” With a smile, she hung up. Two days until the weekend. And maybe her orgasm would reappear. Seven long months without sex, it had to be hiding in there somewhere, likely screaming it’s head off for release. Oh orgasm, where art thou?

****

              Kaeden couldn’t believe it. Tsarina didn’t want to be seen with him. It’s true her brother would be a problem, but he was all right with that. He could handle Trystan. Did she think him a pussy? That he had to hide behind her skirts rather than be a man? He’d never been hidden before. Evidently his reputation for screwing and losing was becoming a huge label. One that Tsarina didn’t agree with or want sullying her good girl reputation.

             
She'd been the victim. The good girl. The “Oh poor Tsarina.” after the breakup with her loser ex-boyfriend. It was an image she planned to work and take advantage of for as long as she could.

             
Still, his cock wouldn’t let him say no to the date. Tsarina, willing and without trying to win over? Absolutely perfect. He’d had a crush on her since junior high. Here’s to hoping he didn’t blow one the second he was near her. Having her for a couple weeks was better than never being able to have her at all. He’d take it.

             
For once, staying in had proved to be a good thing.

****

              The last few days were a blur of work and nightly research. Tsarina would not fail on her trip to Scotland.

             
It was finally Friday night and she was ready to pick up Kaeden. At least no one would ever know that she changed six times before deciding what to wear. Tsarina didn’t want to appear desperate or too conservative or slutty. It was a lot of work. Hopefully her little black dress and come fuck me heels would do the trick. It was simple. A mix of class and tramp. But she didn’t want to look like she hadn’t been laid in seven months. Looking completely desperate, which she was, was definitely out of the question. She had to keep some pride.

             
Tsarina easily found Kaeden’s truck parked toward the back of the lot. He hopped in and they took off.

             
“Are you sure you don’t want to eat or do anything first? We could see a movie or whatever.” She smiled at Kaeden hoping not to be rude.

             
“No, I was figuring pizza and a quiet, well, maybe private is more of the word, evening. Are you okay with that?” Tsarina couldn’t believe she was asking Mr. Hormones if he was all right with things. Really? She wasn’t trying to take someone’s virginity. His was long gone. Now who sounded like the whore dog?

             
“Sure. Whatever you prefer.” Kaeden tried to act indifferent as he shrugged, but Tsarina knew he wasn't. She just wasn't sure why. He looked down right uncomfortable and the only reason that came to mind was he was worried about Trystan finding out.

             
As they got to her place, she threw her purse on the table by the front door. “So, what do you want on your pizza?”

             
“I don’t care. Meat for sure if you don’t mind.”

             
“Meatlovers then. I’ll get three and if we need an energy burst, we can raid the cold pizza. Soda?”

             
“Any kind’s fine, just preferably no diet.”

             
“You have condoms?”

             
“Yeaa….wait, what?” Tsarina almost laughed at Kaeden's reply. She'd snuck in the question pretty well she thought.

             
Tsarina couldn’t control her laugh. “Condoms. Kaeden, you know why we’re staying in this weekend and maybe next weekend if you’re not too busy training.”

             
“So, you expected to have sex tonight?”

             
“Yes. You didn’t?” Didn’t Kaeden always try to drive it home on the first date? Tsarina almost felt like an ass. Almost. Kaedan probably wasn't used to a girl being so direct. Maybe exactly what he needed was a dose of his own medicine.

             
“Sure, yeah. I guess so.”

             
“You don’t want to?” Now she felt like a fool. No, like a complete ass. Just maybe half an ass. That’s it. The little black dress and come fuck me heels are going straight to the trash. Men were always trying to get in her pants, but since her last serious relationship, she’d been on strike. Now that she thought to play their own game of nothing but sex, it seemed she wasn’t good enough. Why could men do it, but not women? What's so wrong about reversing the stereotype? Why couldn't she add notches to her belt and be motivated by meaningless sex?

             
“Tsarina, I didn’t say that. I’ve wanted you for years. You just never noticed me. I kind of, well, I guess I thought that if I ever got a date with you, it would be different.”

             
“Different how? Because if you used me as a sex toy my brother would kill you?” Tsarina was trying not to be angry. Damn her brother. Kaeden thought they had to be in a relationship to be together. She'd strangle Trystan when she saw him again. “I’m a big girl and I was the one that called you. My brother can’t be mad at you. Besides, he doesn’t even need to know.”

             
“Trystan is a good friend and you and I have been good friends too. Where does sex put us?”

             
“Now you sound like a damn woman. Does it matter? I’m offering you no strings sex. It's the dream of almost every man on the face of the earth. Are you saying no?” Tsarina felt her jaw drop open. “Are you not mature enough to remain friends after?” They were saved by the bell as the doorbell rang. Pizza was here.

             
Kaeden got up. “I’ve got this.” He grumbled as he got up from the couch. “How much is it?” Tsarina heard him ask as he opened the door. Damn this was supposed to be easy. What happened? Should she have just had Kaeden show up at her house and been naked when he answered the door? Perhaps she should have written
slut
across her chest too. Maybe
fuck me
across her forehead.

             
They ate the pizza in silence and watched a movie on HBO that Tsarina didn’t even catch the name or plot of. Talk about movie injustice.

****

              Kaeden couldn’t believe it. He finally had a date with Tsarina and she just wanted his cock. Normally it wouldn’t be an issue, but he wanted more with her. He’d always thought she would be his one. The one he was meant to be with. Sometimes it takes a while for those meant to be together to finally hook up. But he really thought this was his chance. Should he sleep with her? Should he tell her what he really wanted? How would he convince her that his feeling didn’t have anything at all to do with her brother? That he'd handle whatever backlash would come from Trystan? Did he need to try to convince her that his past sex only dates were to kill time until he had her? Or were those what ruined his real chance with her?

             
As he shoved the last bite of his pizza into his mouth, he thought he should say something. “Tsarina, I had thought maybe this would be different. I kind of thought maybe we could be more than a few rounds of sex.”

             
“What do you mean? You never see anyone more than five or six times. It’s one of your rules. Remember?”

             
“I see your brother told you that. It is, generally. But not when I’m getting a chance with the woman I’ve wanted to be with since I was old enough to get excited over a girl. Come on, Tsarina, does it really have to be that way between us? We could be different. I think it's something we both need.” Was he pleading?

             
Kaeden noticed that Tsarina visibly choked. He watched as she took a few gulps of her soda.

             
“Kaeden, what are you talking about? Me? You’ve wanted me? Why didn’t you ever say anything?” Tsarina fought the urge to roll her eyes. Now he drops this on her? Talk about sucking at timing things. The stars had to be against her. Maybe she should have taken that extra two minutes to read her horoscope this morning.

             
“I thought Trystan would tell you not to date me. But I’d be good to you.”

             
“I don’t want a relationship. I’m sure you heard all about me and Mr. Loser. After him, I swore off men completely. I haven’t even had sex in seven months. I can offer you sex, Kaeden. Take it or leave it.” Had that sounded as pathetic to Kaeden as it had to her? So much for not telling him about her desperate need for sex. It had been entirely too long.