Jaci Burton - Taken by Sin

“How come you’re so even-keeled?” Isabelle finally asked, leaning back on her heels after the box was empty.

“I’ve seen a lot, experienced much. In my family, you learn to get over your shock at an early age.”

“So as children you’re exposed to …”

“Voodoo? Of course. You can’t fight darkness without knowing it’s out there.”

“Forewarned is forearmed?”

Again that secretive smile. “Something like that.” Georgie pulled up a cushioned footstool next to Isabelle. “Some in my family are born with unique abilities, Isabelle. The ability to touch the other side, to bring forth magic that allows us to see other worlds.

“What we see, what we feel, is never a surprise to us. Even at an early age. We just accept it as reality and learn to appreciate its strengths and manage its weaknesses.”

“So you’re saying that’s what I should learn to do.”

“Those who are born with any sort of gift must learn to adapt. Some do, some don’t.”

Isabelle didn’t quite see how being part demon was a gift. “Those who don’t adapt fall into darkness?”

Georgie shrugged. “If you can’t control your dark side, it will swallow you up until there’s nothing left of the light.”

Isabelle understood that all too well; she often felt like she was falling into a hole and being swallowed up. Like her dream. “How do I control it? How do you all control it? If you have these … gifts, and darkness goes with the light, how do you strike a balance and manage to stay on the good side?”

“It’s not something that can be taught, Isabelle,” Georgie said, leaning forward. “You simply have to want the light more than the darkness. And then it’s up to you to work at it to make sure the darkness doesn’t take over.”

Isabelle breathed in, let it out slowly. “That doesn’t make sense. No one wants to be evil.”

Georgie smiled, shook her head. “Don’t they? Evil can be so very tempting. Sometimes goodness requires sacrifice. It’s not always pleasant. Evil is easier. There’s always fun stuff on that side.”

Isabelle frowned. “They do that on purpose.”

Georgie laughed, the sound like a trickling waterfall, a delight to the senses. “Yes, they do. There has to be a lure. Otherwise, why would people go down that road?”

Isabelle sat on the floor and rubbed her fingers across her forehead, suddenly so tired she wasn’t sure she could go on. “I don’t know, Georgie. Sometimes it seems like no matter what road I choose, it’s the wrong one.”

Georgie leaned forward and stroked her hair, not saying a word. The gesture was comforting, as if her touch alone had settled peace over Isabelle. Isabelle tilted her head back and smiled. “Your touch has some magic in it.”

Georgie’s eyes seemed to twinkle. “Does it?”

“You tell me.”

“Sometimes, magic is whatever you wish to believe it is. Your own future can be that way, too, Isabelle. Don’t ever give up on yourself. As soon as you do, they’ll know. And they’ll win.”

“I have been fighting this. I know I have.”

“You don’t have to do it alone, you know.” Georgie smiled. “Give Dalton the benefit of the doubt. He is a man, you know. He’ll make mistakes.”

Isabelle almost snorted at that. “Dalton knows exactly what he wants. And what he doesn’t want.”

“Does he?”

Now Isabelle was confused. “I don’t understand.”

“Neither does he. And Isabelle, he needs your help as much as you need his.”

“But-”

Georgie held up her hand. “Some things need to be experienced, not explained. Maybe you’re talking to the wrong person?”

Isabelle’s head was spinning as she made her way back to the cabin at dusk. Now she understood how poor Luke Skywalker felt in Star Wars. Having a conversation with Georgie was like talking to Yoda. The woman made no sense at all, talked in circles and left vague clues that Isabelle was supposed to unravel.

She didn’t like games, would much prefer that Georgie just slap her upside the head with the truth. Preferably in simple terms that she could understand.

“Some things need to be experienced, not explained,” she mumbled as she made her way up the walk toward the cabin. “What the hell does that mean?”

She thought spending the day with Georgie would provide some clarity. Instead, her head and her emotions were more muddled than ever. She needed a bath and a stiff drink. Maybe several drinks.

Dalton wasn’t inside when she walked in, which gave her some measure of relief. She wasn’t in the mood for confrontation or conversation. She’d done plenty of talking today and had no answers. She searched the liquor cabinet, fixed a vodka and cranberry juice, loaded it down with ice, and took it into the bathroom with her. Then she filled the tub with water and scented bubbles while she stripped. Once the tub was filled with steamy water, she climbed in and sank under the bubbles, lifted the glass to her lips, and took a couple huge gulps.

A stiff drink and a bath-the first things today that had actually helped. Within five minutes she was relaxed, eyes closed, her head leaning against the back of the tub. She emptied her mind of everything bugging her and just let it all go.

Really, she had to make another one of these drinks when she got out of the tub. It really helped. She lifted it to her lips and took another swallow, then smiled as it warmed her from the inside out. Perfect. A little buzz, the sweet smell of the bubbles, and a warm bath. She might just stay in this tub all night long. An empty head filled with some great vodka could do wonders to keep all the evils away.

“Oh. Shit. Sorry, didn’t know you were in here.”

Buzz kill. She opened her eyes and saw Dalton there, knowing her idea of heaven wasn’t going to last. “I’m in here.”

“I can see that now. When did you get back?”

She shrugged, not bothering to move. She wasn’t certain she could move, she was so content. Not even Dalton’s appearance could disrupt her nirvana. “Not sure. Twenty minutes ago, maybe.”

He leaned against the doorway and she made it a point not to notice the bulging muscles of his upper arms, or the way his shoulders glistened with sweat, or the streaks of dirt across his cheeks and neck. “What have you been doing today?”

“Did a little work out back for Georgie,” he said with a faint smile.

“Good for you.” She drained the glass and placed it on the floor by the tub.

“What are you having?” Dalton asked, picking up the empty glass.

“Vodka and cranberry.”

“Would you like another?”

She shrugged. “Sure.”

He returned a couple minutes later with two large glasses, handing one to her.

“Thanks,” she said, taking the glass he offered to her.

Then he leaned against the sink and took a couple long swallows of his drink.

“Uh, Dalton?”

“Yeah.”

“I’m taking a bath here.”

“I can see that.”

She rolled her eyes. “I give up.” She downed half the contents of the glass in two swallows. This day was just getting more and more bizarre. Maybe she’d just drink until she passed out. She decided to ignore him. Maybe he’d go away.

He didn’t, just continued to lean against the counter, looking damn sexy in his dirt-stained jeans that hugged his muscled thighs, his sleeveless cotton shirt that was filthy and sweat-soaked, and what parts of his body were visible were tanned from spending the day in the blistering sun. At least the parts of him that didn’t sport streaks of dirt-which wasn’t much of him.

“You need a bath yourself,” she said, realizing that she’d been staring at him, and that her body had a definite reaction to looking at him. Even grimy from head to toe, Dalton radiated sex appeal. So unfair, especially since it was obvious he wasn’t projecting it on purpose. She didn’t think he had any idea what he was doing to her. And it was a damn good thing all her pertinent body parts were hidden under miles of bubbles.