Secrets Uncovered by Raven McAllan Read Free Book Online Page B

thought is how to scratch her itch. ‘I want you, I need you’,” he mimicked her words. “Emma says it’s okay. Well, bully for Emma, tell her to scratch it for you.”
    Kath stared at him as if he had three heads. “And thank you for your love and support, Sir.” The scorn in the title made him flinch. She hadn’t finished. “Well you know, of course the great Jeff Sutherland knows better than the doctor. She’s got years of experience, but what does that count? Nothing of course, because Sir knows best. Well good for you. It’s obvious you don’t want me near you, so I’ll remove myself from your presence.” She scrambled off the bed and didn’t look back as she walked out of the room.
     
    Damn him. Kath sniffed as she grabbed a sheet and a duvet and made up the spare bed. They couldn’t go on like this. Snipping and sniping at each other over every little thing. Jeff had even queried her drinking some flat lemonade the previous day, asking if the contents were safe. How she hadn’t thrown the can at him, Kath had no idea. Instead she’d answered him in a snarky tone. “Oh yes, vodka is no problem at all.” Then she’d handed him the can and stalked out. He’d followed her to her office where she was attacking the accounts as if there was no tomorrow, and apologized, but the underlying currents of disquiet wouldn’t go away.
    She punched the pillow and decided it was made of rock. Then punched it again, much as she’d like to punch some sense into Jeff. Kath sighed. He was right. She was behaving like a spoiled kid. A brat and not bratty in the way he liked. For so long she’d deferred to him in their private life. Willingly, as his sub, she’d accepted he knew best. Of course she’d pushed and teased and tried to get a rise out of him. That was her nature. But this was something else. Never before had that dominance spread out of their ‘play’. Jeff loved her independence and control. Neither of them wanted a twenty-four seven lifestyle. This was the first time he’d ever refused to discuss anything with her and just said a flat out no. It scared Kath more than she cared to admit, but she knew she had to take a stand, even if it resulted the way it had. With her in the spare room, still aching for his touch, and still she accepted ruefully, not prepared to go against his edict of ‘your climax is mine’.
    It seemed they were at an impasse. Kath had even considered asking Emma to intervene, but knew Jeff well enough to accept it wouldn’t make one jot of difference. Maybe—hopefully—once she’d had her scan, things would improve. Until then, she was keeping herself out of temptation’s reach. She’d sleep, or not as the case may be, in the spare room.
    It was a case of not.
    By six a.m. Kath was up, with no sign of sickness, showered, dressed in leggings and a long line top which suited her thickening waistline and attacking the accounts once more. She’d let them get behind whilst she’d been in the throes of hugging the loo like a long lost friend.
    The door opened and Jeff walked in. The strain on his face hit her, and her heart ached for him. Goosebumps peppered her skin as he kissed her forehead and walked to the other side of the room to lean on the window ledge.
    “We’re going to have to talk, Kath. Not now though, I came to tell you that Lachy’s phoned. There’s disturbed earth by the folly. David and I are meeting up with him and Donny to check it out. Make sure the doors are all locked and bolted and don’t let anyone in except us. Bolt the entrance to the passageway from inside the castle, and keep a phone by you all the time. Jess will be up soon.” He left the room before she had a chance to question him, or even say take care.
    Kath stood up and walked to where he’d rested and ran her hand over the wood as if to get some sense of his presence. A very faint scent of his cologne lingered in the air. She sniffed and sniffed again as tears welled up. Annoyed