Arran recoiled in his seat. ‘No, thank you. I do not do well with… vehicles.’
‘I can relate,’ Lachlan murmured. He checked the teapot and saw they were down to the dregs of the brew. The sun was rising outside. ‘Would you like to spend another night—or day—here before you leave, at least?’
The Wulver huffed softly, catching Lachlan’s eye. Perhaps he knew, from astute observation, that Lachlan secretly (albeit guiltily) hoped the answer was no, so that he and Cam could spend some time alone together. ‘I appreciate the offer. But there are matters I must attend to. I’ve been away from my islands for too long.’
Cam frowned and tapped the table. ‘Hang on. Before you disappear off again, I want to set you up with a phone.’
‘I do not need—’
‘Yes, you do. I’m not relying on the bloody postman if I need to get a hold of you again. How were you mailing those packets to us, in any case? Were you stealing the stamps, or what?’
The Wulver’s ears flattened, putting Lachlan in mind of a dog who’d been caught with its teeth in the furniture. ‘I may have had to borrow items on occasion, yes. But I always replace them with articles of equal value.’
Cam folded his arms, mind made up. ‘I’m giving you a phone, and you’ll learn how to use it,’ he said conclusively. ‘That way, if you’re ever in trouble, you can just call us.’
This time, Arran didn’t argue. He seemed far too shocked for that. A smile tugged at the corners of his long mouth. ‘You are the first Witch Incumbent to ever consider that the Wulver might get himself into trouble. Let alone need saving from it.’
As sunlight fell over their table from the windows, Arran stood to say his farewells. Meredith hastily gathered her things to leave at the same time. Lachlan was certain she intended to continue pressing Arran into accepting a lift as they made their way out of the door. Once Meredith had decided you were family, there was no escaping her big-hearted interference.
Cam and Lachlan waved them off by the door. They’d only made it twenty yards when the Wulver stiffened, then tore away to the treeline. The reason why quickly became apparent, as two young hikers crested the rise of the hill. Meredith intercepted them with a barrage of cheerful chit-chat (to their obvious bewilderment) until Arran was safely out of sight.
Lachlan recognised Tillie Cooper—tucked under her arm was theSave Nessieplacard that had irritated him so much before. Now, it made him laugh.
For some silly reason her companion was wearing flip-flops, and the hems of his trousers were soaked with mud. Very ill-prepared for the weather. Despite this, he was good-naturedly listening to Tillie’s chatter while they climbed the path. They both looked a little dishevelled, and Lachlan guessed they had been among the ranks of night-time observers on the shore.
He smiled, waved at the couple, and took great pleasure in pointing to theClosedsign in the window. Tillie sighed at first, then seemed to look past him. Her mouth dropped open in amazement.
Cam’s hand twitched on Lachlan’s shoulder. Lachlan looked up to find an amused smile playing on his lips. ‘You know her?’
Cam raised his hand in a brief wave to Tillie, smile curving wider as she dropped her placard in excitement. ‘We’ve met.’
Cam also glanced pointedly at theClosedsign. Tillie nodded happily and tugged on her boyfriend’s arm, beaming with delight as she led him back down the hill.
They stepped inside and Lachlan closed the door. He locked it with a sense of relief.
Cam’s breath tickled Lachlan’s ear. ‘Shall we go to bed?’
His body pressed into Lachlan’s back, pinning him against the door. Lust ignited in Lachlan’s belly.
‘Are you sure you don’t want to wait a little while?’ he teased, already breathless and anticipating the intensity of Cam’s answer.
‘Hell no.’
Cam’s lips ghosted over his neck, making him shiver. His hands delved under Lachlan’s shirt, roving over his chest and hugging him even tighter. With an exhilarated moan, it occurred to Lachlan that neither of them needed to hold back any longer. There were no more invisible barriers between them.
Cam pinched one of his nipples—Lachlan gasped, shocked by the spike of pleasure. Cam’s mouth returned to Lachlan’s throat, sucking hard on the tender skin beneath his ear. Lachlan whimpered, overcome by the strength of the sensation.
Lachlan shoved back as though trying to break out of Cam’s hold, and was thrilled when Cam slammed him back against the door.
Cam had been so careful with him since gaining the Nessie curse, afraid of breaking him as easily as a china teacup. Lachlan had longed for some roughness in his touch. Hungered for this urgency. They’d come close to it, that night on the jetty. Cam had fucked him so fervently with his tongue—it had been easy to forget his shape when the reality of his touch was so genuine.
‘Where are you going?’ Cam said, nipping his ear.
‘I thought there was some mention of bed?’ Lachlan panted, his breath fogging up the glass. He groaned as Cam’s free hand worked open his trousers while the other continued rolling his nipple.
‘Sorry. Ran out of patience.’ Cam grinned against his neck. He grasped Lachlan’s cock firmly, making him cry out with the need to thrust into it, but Cam had him so deliciously trapped he could barely move.
Good god, he was already on the edge. ‘Please, Cam,’ he begged.
