Temptation's Heat (7 page)

She tried to straighten her back, to take refuge in the shelter of her logic. Except it didn’t seem very logical anymore. In fact, the more she thought about it, the less sense it made. Why couldn’t she stand by someone’s side and still be Scarlet Montgomery? Still be strong? Still be
herself
?

And if the others had a problem with it, if it changed the way they saw her, wasn’t that their problem?

Twenty-One

Rowen was still standing there when Kane appeared on the sidewalk carrying a cardboard tray bearing two paper coffee cups.

“Early morning?” The other man grinned at Rowen. “Or late night?”

Rowen sighed. “I think I’ll plead the fifth on that one.” He eyed the coffee cups. “Coffee machine broken?”

“They’re caramel macchiatos, Lily’s favorite.”

“Lily Montgomery?”

Rowen could have sworn the other warrior blushed. “She does a lot for us. You know, cooking and everything. It’s just a way to say thank you.”

Rowen chuckled. “Right.” He tipped his head at the cups. “Well, enjoy. The coffee and the company.”

He turned away, but Kane’s voice brought him back.

“Seems you have your eye on another Montgomery girl.”

Kane looked at him. “Don’t go there. No point.”

“For you or for her?”

“For either of us.”

Kane gave him a knowing nod. “Really?”

“Okay, probably more for her,” Rowen admitted. “She’s not into it.”

Kane seemed to consider his words before speaking. “I’d bet money that’s not the problem.”

“Then what is?”

“Scarlet’s had to fight for her position in the Guard. More than any of us. She doesn’t want to lose everything she’s worked for, that’s all.”

“What does that have to do with me?”

Kane sighed. “You don’t know much about relationships, do you?”

Rowen thought about it. “Women, yes. Relationships … I guess not.”

“She just needs to know you’re going to stand next to her. Not in front of her. Get it?”

“What? That we’re equals?” Rowen asked, hope sparking like a live wire in his chest.

“Scarlet’s a warrior,” Kane said. “Like you. Like me. Would you let someone take that from you?”

Rowen shook his head.

“So, go after her, man. Fight for her. I’d say she’s a woman worth fighting for.”

Kane headed up the walkway to the house, leaving Rowen standing on the sidewalk, Kane’s words echoing through his mind.

Twenty-Two

Scarlet ducked outside, her father’s words reverberating through her mind.

If we are not working to preserve the beauty in life, the goodness, and yes, the love, what is our work for?

She sat at one of the iron tables on the back patio and dropped her head in her hands. The sound of boots crunching on gravel got her attention. Great. The last thing she needed was to make small talk with one of the guys. Or worse, to listen to one of Ivan’s tirades.

But when she lifted her eyes, Rowen stood solid and immoveable in front of her.

He reached for her hand, pulling her to her feet. They were inches apart, but the temptation, the heat was still there, the draw of his body like a magnet to hers.

“I thought about what you said.” His voice was gruff. “About not being able to deal with a relationship right now. About not needing the distraction.”

“Yeah?”

He nodded. “It’s what I told myself, too.”

She swallowed. “And?”

He pulled her hard against him. “It’s bullshit. We both know it.”

She shook her head, some distant part of her trained to fight for her independence even when it was the last thing she really wanted. “It’s not. It’s—”

He put a finger to her lips. “Do you think that I would tame you? Do you think I’d even try?” He shook his head. “You’re so fucking beautiful, Scarlet. So wild. Do you think I’d want you any other way?”

She was too breathless to answer. She could only look at him, the hope buried in her heart blossoming like a flower after a long, cold winter.

“Don’t you see, Scarlet? I want you. Not for one night or five, but for all of my nights and all of yours. I want to stand beside you. To be your friend and lover.” He took a deep breath. “And I don’t see how that can do anything except make each of us stronger.”

Her heart beat wildly in her chest. She had the feeling of standing on a great precipice, of looking over the edge and contemplating the jump. Except there came a point where you just couldn’t think about it anymore. Where you had to jump or take a step backward, wondering forever and ever if maybe, just maybe, you should have taken the leap.

She wrapped her arms around his neck and pressed her body to his. “I can’t give you much. I can’t promise we’ll always agree or that I won’t piss you off. But I can give you my nights—and my days—if you’re sure you want them.”

“I want them.” A slow grin rose to his lips. “And don’t make plans. Because I’m going to keep you very, very busy.”

He buried his hands in her hair as his mouth opened on hers, claiming her, once and for all, as his own.

She was stronger already.

Acknowledgements

Thanks as always go to my agent, Steven Malk, for supporting me in every endeavor, even when they seem crazy.
Especially
when they seem crazy.

Big thanks go to the team at Swoon Romance, including Mandy Schoen and Pam Harris who edited this work to perfection, Nazarea Andrews who did lots of stuff no one else wanted to do, and Su Kopil, who designed a steamy cover in keeping with the hotness of the Shadowguard. I owe a huge debt of gratitude to Georgia McBride, dear friend and executive editor, for giving me the chance to play in an entirely new world and for patiently holding my hand while I did it.

Finally, thank you to Kenneth, Rebekah, Andrew, and Caroline, who listen to my out-loud ramblings of plot, pacing, and character development. They deserve an Academy Award for not looking bored. I’m the luckiest mother alive.

Michelle Zink

Michelle Zink is the critically acclaimed author of the Prophecy of the Sisters trilogy (Little Brown Books for Young Readers) and A Temptation of Angels (Penguin/Dial). Her books are published in over thirty countries and translated in over twenty languages. The Shadowguard novella trilogy is her first adult work.

Visit
www.michellezink.com