Iris Johansen - Dark Summer

"I don't want to talk about Lincoln." Devon closed the door and moved toward the bed. Every time she thought about the danger Chad Lincoln represented, the panic came back. "And anyone who judges someone by race or creed shouldn't matter to you."

"He doesn't."

"The hell he doesn't. You still have a few hang-ups from your childhood that pop out now and then. That was part of what I was thinking about." She sat down on the bed. "But then so does everyone. Yours just manifest themselves a little more violently."

"That's true." He reached out to her. "Perhaps a good deal more-"

"Don't touch me."

His hand paused, then dropped to the sheet. "I don't like the way this is going."

"No, considering what a lusty bastard you are, I wouldn't think that you would."

He stiffened.

"Oh, I like it." She still wasn't looking at him. "Sexually you're a slam-bang wonder. I can't wait to do it again."

"The conversation is beginning to look more promising."

"But it's not fair to you or myself not to clear a few things up." She moistened her lips. "I feel… something for you, Marrok. There's… tenderness. I don't know how much, but it might be… a lot. And I respect you and admire all you've done and all you are. You're a better man than you think you are. And there's a feeling that might be… something else. It scares me."

"Are you done?" he asked hoarsely.

"No, I wanted you to know that none of this makes a difference. It doesn't have to affect you. I just can't pretend it's not here. I have to be honest."

"I've noticed that about you. May I touch you now?"

"Please." She put her head on his chest. "Turn out the light."

"Why? You've scarcely looked at me since you came into the room." But he turned out the light anyway. "I'm glad you didn't. I find I'm not as honest as you are. I have… to hide things." He drew her under the sheet. "Otherwise, I might break apart."

"Hush." She pulled her nightshirt over her head and tossed it aside. "You don't have to say anything. That's not why I came."

"Because I'm a slam-bang wonder?"

"Yes." She cuddled closer. "And because I wanted to be close to you. Could we just hold each other for a little while?"

"All night, if that's what you want."

"Your voice sounds… funny."

"Imagination." He cleared his throat. "I'm Apache. In the Apache language, emotion is expressed only by words, not tone."

"Interesting. Then I think you're more like your Spanish mother than Apache." His heart was loud, fast beneath her ear. "But I don't want you to hold me like this all night. Just for a little while…"

DEVON WAS SLEEPING, HER BREATHcoming steady and deep. She was lying on her side, one arm tucked beneath her head.

Beautiful, Marrok thought, as he watched her. Most people probably wouldn't consider Devon beautiful. Her features were too irregular, her body strong, rather than curvaceous.

But, oh yes, she was beautiful. Her skin glowed with health, and her eyes sparkled with intelligence. The variety of her expressions alone was enough to keep a man fascinated for a lifetime.

My God, what was happening to him?

Eyes and expressions, instead of tits and ass?

And lying here staring at Devon like some young kid with his first crush.

Only he had never had a crush when he was growing up. He had carefully shut sentiment away from him when he realized that could be a weapon to be used against him. How old was he when he'd decided that? He couldn't remember. Maybe when he realized his father didn't care what happened to him when he'd sent him to pick up his drugs from old Nokadano.

But he might have a crush now.

Whatever it was, it felt… strange.

He reached out and gently touched her hair. She murmured something beneath her breath but didn't open her eyes.

He took his hand away. He didn't want to wake her yet. He didn't want her to look at him with eyes that were clear and honest and without any hint of guile. She had moved him unbearably earlier tonight. Her frankness had come as a surprise. He had thought she would admit to desire but protect herself from an admission of anything deeper. He should have known better. Devon would never protect herself at the cost of the truth.

And he had always protected himself at any cost.

He carefully moved off the bed and stood up. He hesitated, looking down at her. Dammit, he wanted to stay.

Yeah, do what you want. Stay until she wakes and make sure the bond is so close that she won't want to break free. What difference did it make if that bond could also put her directly in Danner's line of fire and that there was no way he could keep her with him for the long term? There would always be a threat, someone constantly after him. Forget everything and keep her with him. Sure, that would be the thing to do.

The hell it would be. The mere thought of her with Danner made his stomach muscles tighten as panic raced through him. It couldn't happen. It mustn't happen.

He glided toward the bathroom, gathering his clothes as he went.

He wouldn't let it happen.

"WHAT IS IT, MARROK?" BRIDGET ASKEDas she came up the porch steps twenty minutes later. "Is there a problem with Lincoln?"

"No more than usual," Marrok said.

"Then why did you phone me in the middle of the night?" She frowned. "Addie?"

"Since she's the only dog not on the premises, I suppose that's a natural conclusion," Marrok said. "Since everyone knows the dogs are my only concern."

"Marrok, dammit."

"If you'll stop guessing, I'll tell you." Marrok went to the edge of the porch. "I want you to get rid of Devon."

She stiffened in shock. "What?"

"Oh, I don't want you to knock her off." His lips lifted sardonically. "Though for a moment I believe you thought I did."

"Don't be an ass. It was just surprise. A few hours ago you would have fought me if I'd tried to take her away. You were in a damn haze. What's changed?"

"I've changed." He shrugged. "Or maybe I haven't changed, and I'm merely getting tired of her. You know what a short attention span I have."

"No, I don't know that, and I'd appreciate your not giving me that bull."

He smiled. "Okay, I find myself feeling a little… unsure. I don't like the sensation. It makes me uncomfortable." His smile faded. "And I don't think uncomfortable would be the right word for how I'd feel if anything happened to Devon because of this mess I'd dragged her into. Berserk , would be a better fit."

Bridget was silent, studying him. It had happened. She had seen it coming, but she'd had no idea it would hit this hard. My God…

"So I believe the best course would be for you to take her out of the mix until this is over."

"She won't go. She made her decision to help with the dogs, and I don't mean to hurt your ego, but you're not the sole reason she's here."

"Then find a way to get her away from me. Any way." He turned away and looked out at the fields. "It shouldn't be that difficult. I'm sure you were well schooled in that type of operation by Lincoln and his merry men. Or I could do it myself."

"I wouldn't trust you," she said bluntly. "You have to commit, and you don't want to commit to this. If you did, you wouldn't have called me."

"Clever Bridget." He smiled. "But you're willing to commit, aren't you? You've been wanting to get rid of her since she came."

"It's best." She paused. "Okay, I'll do it. Right away?"

"As soon as possible. I don't know how much time we have before Danner makes his move. Act fast."

"Danner will be cautious. He won't attack without sending someone in to reconnoiter. He'll find out this ranch is a stronghold."