Julia’s wolf’s gaze turned to consider Duncan and his expression, expecting he’d show a little remorse. She should have known better. Instead, he folded his arms and gave her a hint of a smile.

She had expected Maria to fuss at her about disappearing in the middle of the night and being unable to visit with her to reassure her for hours today, but Harold didn’t even know what she was doing on the “job.” So why would he fire her?

“Guthrie had been watching me all morning after Duncan put him in charge of me. And that was after Cearnach made Duncan responsible for watching me.” At this comment, Maria sounded more than annoyed. “Then Harold came over to speak with me, you know, in that loud, booming voice he has that is set on one volume—high—asking where you were.

“Someone on the film crew must have known you were in the castle. Duncan overheard Harold asking me about you because he was so loud. Although, come to think of it, he would probably have heard anyway because of his wolf’s hearing.”

Maria glared at Duncan and then spoke again to Julia. “Harold wanted to know why you were cavorting with Laird MacNeill and getting special treatment when you have a job to do. I waffled about what your job is, and he wasn’t convinced.” Maria clenched her fists and then folded her arms. “Harold ordered me to fire you, and you’re to be banned from the castle while the filming is going on.”

Astounded, Julia finally realized what this was all about. Harold was jealous. But the part about Harold banning her from the castle made her smile. She could just imagine what Ian would have to say about that. She glanced at him. He gave her a wolf’s smile back.

“He’s the director. He calls the shots. He’s used to being treated like he’s somebody important. So when one of his flunkies gets the royal treatment instead, he wants to know why.” Maria took a breath. “Not that you’re one of his flunkies, Julia. I swear Duncan purposely told on you to get you fired.”

Surprised that Duncan would do this to her, Julia glanced at him to see his reaction. He gave a dark smile and shrugged. “You did, lass.”

“Yeah but you didn’t have to tell Howard,” Maria said, her words venomous.

“He wanted to know why she wasn’t doing her job and was instead riding a horse with Laird MacNeill. I didn’t tell the director she stayed in the laird’s chamber for most of the day.” He smiled even more evilly, Julia thought.

Julia straightened her tail, raised her head, and glowered at him. Just his dark clothes and persona warned her that Duncan could be dangerous, but she hadn’t thought he’d have it in for her. Then again, he wasn’t there to coddle people like her, either. Did he not like that Ian was paying attention to her? Or was he just worried that she was real trouble and he wanted to nip her devious ploy in the bud? Had to be, if he spoke up accusing her of something so low. Even if it was all true.

Ian nuzzled her cheek and then licked her, as if assuring her everything was fine. But it wasn’t. She’d come here with the film crew. She didn’t have a passport, money, an ID, anything. And she’d thought she’d be staying with the rest of the film crew at the other mansion. Now that wasn’t happening. Which meant she had to rely on Ian’s generosity, because Duncan and Cearnach still appeared to be viewing her in a dim light.

Cearnach entered the kitchen, carrying Julia’s and Ian’s clothes. Apparently overhearing something of the conversation, he gave Duncan a brief nod and said, “You did what was right.” He handed the bundle of clothes to Heather. “Take it to Ian’s bedchamber, will you, lass?”

Just like Ian’s brothers, Heather didn’t seem concerned about the mess Julia was in, either. Ian’s cousin nodded and hurried out of the kitchen.

Cearnach sounded serious, not annoyed but rather pleased with his younger brother’s actions. She wasn’t happy with Cearnach, either, after he let it be known to Ian that he believed she was Sutherland’s lover.

Ian shook his head and nudged Julia to join him.

But she paused long enough to nuzzle Maria’s leg and hand to thank her for her concern. Maria dropped down to give her a hug, clasping her arms soundly around Julia’s neck, and rubbing her cheek against Julia’s furry one.

“You scared me half to death. Cearnach said I have to move in with Harold and his people or into the castle with Laird MacNeill and his clan. But since Howard’s jealous you’re getting special treatment while Laird MacNeill won’t let him into the castle, I’ll stay with the film crew. Otherwise, my head will be next on the chopping block. You didn’t tell me the bastard that threatened us in L.A. called you last night, though. We’ll talk later, okay?”

Julia nodded, needing to talk to Maria about the blackmailer, the betrothal contract, and everything. This time, she trotted alongside Ian and headed with him through the great hall. She couldn’t believe Howard had fired her! She didn’t even work for him. And then to say she was banned from the castle and grounds?

But she couldn’t get over that Duncan had gotten her fired. She was sure the fact she’d been staying with Ian hadn’t helped. But did Duncan really despise her that much? She truly did like Ian’s brothers, despite themselves. She guessed it was because they had Ian’s best interests at heart and didn’t want him hurt. That made her realize just how special they were. To Ian, at least.

She glanced at Ian as they headed up the stairs, shoulder to shoulder. He licked her cheek. Thank God, they’d been close to the castle. What if the wolves had followed them to the falls and had attacked them there? They’d have been so far from the castle that the cell phone might not have reached Ian’s people.

She shuddered. Then a horrible notion occurred to her. What if Sutherland or his men had been watching them there while Ian had been stroking her into ecstasy?

She groaned.

Heather smiled in the hallway outside Ian’s chamber and said, “I left your clothes on the dresser.”

Ian dipped his head to acknowledge her comment but then hurried Julia along. She had a feeling he was perturbed with her, probably because she’d shape-shifted when he hadn’t wanted her to do so in front of Sutherland’s wolves.

And sure enough, as soon as they were in the room, and Heather had closed the door for them, Ian shifted and, in all his naked glory, frowned at her. “I didn’t want you taking the risk of shape-shifting and fighting Sutherlands’ wolves.”

She summoned the urge to shift, and when she stood before him ready to disagree with his logic, his eyes instantly took in her nudity, and he didn’t say anything for a moment. Then his hands covered her shoulders, and he took a deep breath and pressed his forehead lightly against hers. “I could have lost you.”

She thought he sounded different. That their relationship had changed. Her hands slipped around his back at the waist, and she raised her chin to dispute his faulty logic, but Ian brushed his firm, warm lips against hers and said, “You are mine.”

Had she missed the “I love you and want you for a mate forever and ever” declaration somewhere along the line when she wasn’t paying attention?

She frowned a little. “As in? This sounds awfully permanent. What if there is no betrothal agreement? What if this was all an elaborate ruse for me to meet you and garner your interest?”

His eyes widened a bit, and he appeared surprised to hear her say so. “Was it?”

She shrugged. “I have only my grandfather’s word, and normally that’s enough, but I’m beginning to wonder—”

“But it’s not of your doing.” He was frowning now.

“No. Where are we going?”

“You know where we’re going,” Ian said, caressing her shoulders with the pads of his thumbs.

“I don’t mean that. Where is this relationship going?”

“I told you. You are mine.”

Julia ran a finger down his chest. “Hmm, does that mean you intend to mate me?” Which she assumed was where this was leading.

“Aye.”

“And what about love?”

“My parents learned to love each other in due time.”

“Ian, I’m a romance writer for a reason. I don’t write about people falling in love just because I love romances. I write it because I believe in it. I would never mate someone who is not in love with me and me with him.”

His mouth curved up a bit.

“I’m serious about this.”

“Aye, lass. And I told you how it worked for my parents. If it was good enough for them, it’s good enough for me.”

She sighed deeply. “Then you will have to find someone else to be your mate because it isn’t good enough for me.”

Ian’s frown deepened. “Why are you being so difficult about this? I want you, and you want me. You can’t deny it, lass. Ever since we first met, even before that, you wanted me.”

“To use for a description in my novel.”

He shook his head. “If I was in a legion of kilted warriors, would you not pick me out of the whole lot to be your hero?”

She smiled and kissed his chest. “I admit you stand out among men and I see only you.”

“Aye. See, that is the right of it.”

“And me? If I was at a huge social function filled with elegant ladies, would you have even noticed me?”

“Aye, mud splatters and all, lass. Clinging wet garments showing all your womanly curves, and the glowers you gave me that first day at the pub. Had there been a thousand women, I would have had eyes only for you.”

She laughed. “Oh, yeah, you and every other male in the place. I looked close to naked.”

He grinned. “That’s the way I like you.”

She rolled her eyes.

He lowered his head to kiss her. He was as gentle with her as if she was the most exquisite and delicate object of his desire, and if he wasn’t careful, he’d lose her. Yet she could see the more forceful side of his nature wanting to take control—the laird, the clan chief, the alpha pack leader who would have his way. She felt it in the way his hands tightened on her shoulders, the way his thumbs continued to stroke her, insistent and possessive.