Page 55 of A Wolf's Treasure
Determined to get all thoughts of the Fae lass out of his head, Duncan threw himself into having a good time. He switched over to whiskey, danced the night away with a multitude of women, and didn’t leave until they turned on the lights and kicked everyone out.
Not one of them managed to get Ryanne out of his system, though a few of the bolder ones confirmed his theory that she had been right. His lack of manliness had been all in his head, and nothing physical.
By the time he left he was feeling downright crabbit about it all.
“You reek like another woman.”
She’d startled him so much he dropped his keys on the ground, which only proved how in his head he had been. Spinning around, he found the lass who’d been haunting his thoughts all night standing not five feet away from him. She still wore the same jeans and hiking boots and hoodie, and her hands were shoved in the pockets.
“What are ye doing here, lass?”
Her chin lifted, nostrils flaring as she sniffed. “Actually, you smell like more than one.”
Duncan didn’t respond. What was there to say? She was right.
“Did you have fun?”
Something in her tone affected him deeply. “No, I did no’,” he told her honestly.
“You smell like you had fun.” Her head tilted to the side and her brow furrowed. “Although, I guess I would be more concerned if you only smelled like one human in particular. By walking out of the club drenched in so many odious perfumes, it tells me there wasn’t a singular woman who kept your attention, but numerous women. And that tells me you were just blowing off steam, and not looking for my replacement.”
Turning his back to her, he stuck his key in the door and unlocked it. “Ye dinna need tae be concerned at all. Ye are no’ my keeper.”
“I don’t know what I did wrong.”
Duncan looked heavenward, hoping the gods would take pity on him and send down a sudden storm. Perhaps with some dangerous lightning bolts.
But it appeared they’d turned their backs on him this night. He was on his own.
However, he didn’t have to stay there.
Opening his door, he put one leg inside. Then he paused. “What are ye doin’ here, Ryanne?”
“I just told you. I don’t know what I did wrong, or why you’re suddenly so cold toward me, but I’d like to talk it out. I’d like things to go back to how they were earlier today.”
Earlier today he’d been balls deep in her sweet heat. Had that all been part of her plan? A way to keep him distracted while she extracted information out of him? She’d used him. Used his body for her pleasure and his mind for her amusement. “Shouldn’t ye be worried aboot yer father, the prince?”
“Yes.” There was no hesitation in her answer. “But here I am.” As though that explained everything.
“Find another wolf tae fook with, princess. As I told ye, I appreciate what ye did for me, and so did th’ ladies inside.”
It was cruel. That last thing.
A stricken expression twisted her bonnie features and colors flashed from her eyes, but Duncan was not to be swayed by her tricks. “But I dinna need ye anymore. And ye have Cedric now tae fill ye in on our pack’s business. Ye dinna need me anymore, either, so ye can stop pretending I mean anything good tae ye.”
She stepped toward him. “I’m not pretending Duncan.”
He growled at her approach and she stopped. “Good luck, princess,” he told her as a way of goodbye.
“Stop calling me that.”
“Why? Is that no’ what ye are?”
When she didn’t answer, he climbed the rest of the way in the Jeep and closed the door.
Ryanne stayed where she was.
Duncan ignored her and stuck the key in the ignition. He just wanted to go home and sleep off all the whiskey and disappointment weighing down his bones. He was tired, both physically and emotionally, and he needed time away from the sight and smell of her. He would not be used by her. Not anymore.
