The next day, Fiona floated through her flat in a dream state. Nobody had ever made her feel quite like he did, and she doubted anyone ever could.

He’d left soon after dawn had broken and had asked her to return to the club that night. She hummed while she worked on the revisions her editor sent her for an article. One of the reasons she’d moved to Inverness was that she landed a job at a regional news site. It didn’t pay much, but it provided her with a steady income.

She continued with her usual work day while flutters of excitement kept her from sitting still for long. That evening, she returned to the club, almost skipping along the river to get there faster. What a difference from last night when her uncertainty had cast an air of gloom around her. Although the mist still lingered tonight, her mood had lifted. Amazing what multiple, epic orgasms could do for a woman’s outlook. The reflections of streetlights sparkled in puddles. The enticing scents from nearby restaurants perfumed the air. The sound of pedestrians’ chatter indicated everyone was out to enjoy this Saturday night.

When she entered the club, she found a spot close to the stage. What a bold difference from the previous evening when she’d hid in the shadows to make a quick getaway. Most people out front were women. No wonder. What woman wouldn’t want to get closer to any of the five brothers—all muscular and attractive in their own way? Since four of them were spoken for, it upped the competition for Gavin’s attention.

When he came out on stage, he winked at her. Her heartbeat quickened, seeming to drown out the sounds of the club. A few women shot her nasty looks, but she ignored them. His attention warmed her like a balmy summer day, making her feel more than a bit special. She wasn’t the most attractive woman in the crowd, but he made her feel that way. She lost herself in the music, dancing and cheering along without a care. She’d never done anything like this—well, not sober, at least. Maybe after too many drinks at university. Damn, it was exhilarating—she felt so free.

After about forty-five minutes, her feet protested. Her entire body did. She headed back to a table as a wave of exhaustion claimed her. Once she sat down, she sighed. Her muscles ached, and her breasts tingled.

Was she that out of shape? Or, was it from lack of sleep while Gavin had kept her engaged? That was likely the case. He’d really worked her over, but it had been worth every minute of lost sleep. She’d catch up on it after he left, since she didn’t plan on sleeping much tonight with him back in her bed.

But only for two more nights. Her shoulders tensed. His departure wasn’t something she looked forward to.

When she glanced at Gavin, he was watching her. She smiled to assure him everything was all right.

After another song, a man sat in the empty seat next to hers. He reeked of cigarette smoke. “They put on quite a show, don’t they?”

“Indeed,” she answered, but kept her eyes on stage. She didn’t want to encourage the conversation.

“You know them well?” he added.

She turned to face him. Shite. It was the same creepy man from last night who’d disturbed her with the way he’d followed the women. What did he want? As she was about to ask just that, the scar on his temple distracted her. Three faded lines indicated that someone or something must have swiped at him long ago.

Fiona dragged her eyes away. It was impolite to stare, but her curious nature spun up all sorts of possible reasons for that scar. He’d angered a woman with some serious fake nails? He’d encountered a feline predator?

She raised her chin. “Why do you ask that?”

“I saw you with the guitarist last night.”

Right. Gavin had been all over her before suggesting they leave. The man must have seen everything. She remembered the disturbing toast with his drink and tried to shake off the unsettling sensation with a roll of her shoulders. “So what? It doesn’t concern you.”

“Actually, they interest me a great deal. And I know you overheard those women last night. With your career, I’m guessing your interest in Gavin is more than physical.”

Fiona leaned back in her chair. Who the hell was this guy? And why was he interfering with her privacy? Sure, her articles were out there for anyone to read, but that didn’t mean he could make an accusation.

“You have some nerve to even say that.” She pointed her index finger and warned. “I don’t bloody well know you. My personal life is none of your concern, and neither is my professional one.”

“Hear me out a minute.” He raised a hand. “I’m familiar with your work. I’ve enjoyed many of your articles. You haven’t covered the Knights of Stone other than a brief mention of their music. Why? Are you investigating them now?”

“What the—?” She shook her head. “No. Why?”

“I believe there’s something to what we heard last night.”

She narrowed her eyes. Was he some kind of nutter? “Why do you care?”

“Personal reasons. Something that goes back to my scar that you keep staring at.” He tapped the trio of lines that marred his temple.

Shite. She broke eye contact and her cheeks reddened. “I didn’t mean to be rude.”

“I’m used to it,” he replied.

“What happened?” she asked. That question was also impolite, but it had just shot out of her mouth. Her curiosity leading her into trouble again. “Were they involved?”

Did Gavin or one of his brothers cause that scar on this man’s face? If so, that must have been some altercation. And what would have been the reason to cause such damage?

“It’s nothing I want to get into now,” he replied.

“Oh.” Fiona wasn’t sure what else to say. She didn’t want this man poking into her business, yet now she had an urge to uncover his and whatever connection it may have to Gavin and his brothers. “What do you want?”

“Information,” he declared. “You’re the perfect source to gather it.”

Where the hell was he going with this? “How?”

“With your investigative skills and your inside access to Gavin, you can acquire the info I seek.”

She tapped her foot. “And why do you think I’d give any of that over to a stranger?”

“I know you want to uncover the truth. I’m not only going to encourage you to do so, but I’ll compensate you a great deal.”

The truth? What did he mean by that? She traced her fingers along a seam on the side of her jeans. “What have you learned about them?”

“Ah,” he replied. “If you decide to work with me, I’d be happy to share what I’ve discovered. Until then, it stays with me.”

Fiona glanced at Gavin and noted his stare. Did he know that this conversation was about him? Or, did he think this man was making a move on her?

She couldn’t go behind Gavin’s back and sell his personal information to a stranger.

“It sounds like you’re asking me to spy on them for you. That’s not something I’m interested in.”

“You don’t have to make up your mind right now. Think about it. My name is Mark, by the way. I’ll look for you here tomorrow.” With raised eyebrows, he added. “I assume you’ll be back.” He glanced at the stage and then slipped through the crowd toward the exit.

Who the fuck was that bloke talking to Fiona? Gavin fumed as he played.

What’s gotten into you? Mason asked.

What do you mean?

You look ready to kill someone.

Gavin struggled to clear the fury from his face. It hardly fit his onstage persona to stalk around as if ready to tear a man to shreds. He was the seducer, not an aggressor. Mason was right. What had gotten into Gavin?

One word: Fiona.

Calum introduced their final song of the night, and Gavin launched in, ready to leave the fans with an energetic rush. That’s the way he and his brothers loved to end the shows—on a high note that would keep the fans coming back for more.

The man finally walked away from her and left the club. About bloody time. His closeness to Fiona had driven Gavin into a rage. He wanted to pound the stranger for creeping in on Gavin’s territory.

Territory? Now he couldn’t deny how he sounded like a possessive freak. He’d have to get that in check. That wasn’t his style, and it simply didn’t make sense to get that way over a woman he’d only planned on spending time with for merely two more nights.

Then he’d finally get her out of his head.

Gavin groaned, which was drowned out by the hard, driving tempo of the song. If only it was that easy. Last night hadn’t done the job. In fact, he’d spent the day inconspicuously resting under the sun in stone form on a Gothic revival building. Much of the time, he thought of her.

After tomorrow night, he’d force himself to walk away.

That was the best way. Don’t stay past an expiration date as things could turn sour. It was how he’d operated to keep things from getting complicated. Multiple nights with the same woman was pushing into that arena.

She’d moved into his head six weeks ago, and it wouldn’t be easy to pry her out, but he’d have to find a way.

Gavin finished out the song with his brothers and headed to the front of the stage to thank the fans. The women reached for him, and many were familiar bed partners. He kept his body at a distance for once, not giving them much more to access than his hand.

“Oh,” several of them moaned and pouted. “Gavin, come play with us.”

“Not tonight, luv,” he said with a smile. “I have plans.”

More moans of protests, but he ignored them. A sense of urgency compelled him to return to Fiona.

Once he’d left the stage and wrapped up backstage, he rushed through the fans to be close to her again. The scents of alcohol and perspiration hung like a mist, and he wanted to wash it away by breathing in her fragrance.

He pulled up a seat at her table. “Who was that man you were talking to?” Shite, his possessiveness rang through his tone.

She gave him a teasing smile. “Hello to you, too, Gavin.”

Damn, she was right. He hadn’t even greeted her, but he had bounded over like a jealous brute. “Hi, Fiona.” He kissed her cheek. He inhaled her scent, and it calmed the raging monster that had seized control of him. Still, he couldn’t let it go. “Who was he?”

With a dismissive wave, she said, “Oh, I don’t know. Just some guy.”

“What was he talking to you about?”

“Commenting about the show.”

“What kind of comments?” He heard the suspicion in his voice, but he couldn’t tone it down.

“Nothing really.”

“Was he hitting on you?”

Her teasing smile returned. “Do I detect a jealous note?”

“Answer the question, Fiona.”

“You’re really acting strange. There’s nothing to get worked up over. I’m here with you.” She squeezed his hand.

He exhaled as the tension ebbed away. Her declaration affected him the way he needed—she was with him. “Good. Sounds like we have the same plan in mind. Why don’t we get the hell out of here and go back to your place?”

She arched a brow. “You sure you’re ready to leave all your adoring fans? I’m getting scads of dirty looks shot my way.”

“I give them my all up there on stage. After the show’s over, I spend my time with whomever I want. And there’s nobody else I want to be with tonight, but you.”

Fiona stared at him with a wondrous glimmer in her eyes. She headed for the exit, turned over her shoulder, and flashed him a decadent smile. “My place is this way.”

Gavin didn’t need any more encouragement than that. He’d gotten what he wanted and sprinted to catch up with her.

Once outside, he put his arm around her waist as they strolled along the river back to her flat. He gazed at the sky. The new moon was faint, and stars sprinkled like angel’s dust in the swathes of sky not covered by a fine mist. The air was cool, but calm. A perfect night to soar above the city. If he were alone, he’d fly over to Loch Ness and enjoy the quiet of night. Yet, he’d much rather be earthbound with his present company, walking with her.

And doing other things.

With her body touching his and his arm possessively around her, it took all his self-control not to find a shady nook, so he could touch her more intimately. His cock ached as he longed to sink inside her sweet body. But, why rush it? They had all night.

He couldn’t keep from touching her. How could he when every sordid thought involved her? Each time he was around her, his addiction grew. A current of electricity surged through his veins, tingling his nerves with an invigorating rush. It reminded him of shifting from stone form, except with more sensual undertones.

Back at her place, the familiar details of her flat comforted him. He’d spent some memorable nights here with her. He smiled at her compulsive neatness. She arranged her pillows just so, both on the sofa and on her bed, and when they were out of place, she’d fix them.

His gaze settled on the sofa as one memory stood out. It was where he’d bent her over the arm and taken her from behind. She hadn’t given a hoot about the cushions or pillows then. She’d squealed when he’d smacked her arse and pulled her hair, and then came with a glorious climax soon after.

The open door to her room revealed her bed, where they’d spent the most time. How he loved when she squirmed beneath his tongue or grasped him as he pummeled deep inside her. And when she rode him with a slow grinding that rose with frantic demand, he’d never experienced anything so erotic.

While he was in town, he planned to mark every inch of her place with his presence, so she wouldn’t forget him.

He struggled to slow things down before he claimed her like a beast.

“Why don’t we put on some music?” he suggested.

“Sure.” She played a song from her phone and some upbeat, pop tune played from speakers around her living room.

“I was thinking of something more romantic.”

She peered at him with an inquisitive gaze. “You don’t strike me as the romantic type.”

“I might be full of surprises.” Some of which would be shocking to a human.

He shouldn’t go there. He was already letting her get too close to him as it was. That didn’t stop him from embracing her and swaying to a man crooning about his love for a woman.

Gavin closed his eyes inhaled her scent as he held her close. He was falling in too deep. But, identifying that issue and knowing what to do about it were two different things.