Dark Summer

and left me alone to wonder and fret. That's where all the trouble started.'

'It won't happen again.' He was stroking the back of her hair. 'I didn't expect you to forgive me this easily. I was prepared for a fight. Why?'

Shot in the chest. Blood…

'You got lucky. It occurred to me that few things are worth letting anger twist and poison your life. I know what being a victim is, and I'll never be one again. I can handle anything you can hand out. I can handle you, Marrok.' She nestled closer. 'And you told me it's going to be a cold night. I don't like sleeping bags.'

'Neither do I. But it's going to be colder out here.'

'Then let's go inside.' She saw his expression. 'We're past that, Marrok. I'm not afraid of competition from women you screwed years ago. I've got an edge.' She got to her feet and held out her hand to him. 'You're nuts about me. And heaven help me, I feel the same. We've got a long way to go, but that's a start.'

'One hell of a start.' He jumped to his feet, and his arm encircled her waist, whisking her into the cave. All signs of hesitancy and awkwardness were gone. He was Marrok again, bold, dynamic, with that hint of reckless energy. And he was definitely impatient. 'And we'll worry about everything else later. I don't care how long a way we have to go. Let's just enjoy the journey.'

The shadow of the flames was leaping on the walls of the cave, playing over the hollow of his high cheekbones and the sensual curve of his mouth. Beautiful, she thought hazily. Everything about him was powerful and sensual and full of fire.

'But that journey's got to start soon,' he murmured. His fingers unbuttoning her shirt were deft but shaking, and his breathing was beginning to quicken. 'I'm about to go up in-' He froze, his fingers on the buttons halting. 'I'm being selfish again. You've gone through too much today, and I'm ready to pull you into bed. Why don't you sock me?'

She looked at him, surprised. 'Good Lord, I think you're being sensitive.'

He scowled. 'Not willingly.'

'And at the wrong time.'

'Does that mean I don't have to be sensitive?'

She shook her head as she recalled the faint trace of liquid on her breast after he'd left her. Not the time to mention it. She'd probably never mention it.

'It means that making love is wonderful and healing, and that's all the sensitivity I want from you tonight.' She kissed him long and hard. 'Understand?'

'Whatever you say.' He was stripping her with the speed of light. 'Whatever you want.'

Whatever she wanted.

This was what she wanted. He was what she wanted. She had a sudden memory of how earlier tonight she'd been thinking of Marrok and Paco together in the cave. She'd wished she'd known him, that she could have seen them together.

Are you here, Paco?

He's going to be okay. You took good care of him all those years ago. I promise I'll take care of him from now on.

'Hey.' Marrok was looking down at her, smiling. 'Why do I feel you're not paying attention to me?'

I'll take care of him, Paco.

Her arms slid around him and pulled him down to her. 'I'm paying attention,' she whispered. 'I couldn't be paying more attention to you, Marrok.'

CHAPTER 18

'WAKE UP.' MARROK GAVE HER A lingering kiss. 'I'm not going to make the mistake of going off and leaving you with no word. That got me in bad trouble. But I have to get up and make my rounds.'

He was already dressed, she noticed. She pulled him down for another kiss before releasing him. 'Rounds?'

'Check on the dogs and sentries.'

'I'll go with you.'

He shook his head. 'I'm moving fast. I have men spread all over the canyon. I've called Nick Gilroy and asked him to come down and take you to the dogs. He should be here in about twenty minutes. I'll meet you there in an hour and we'll have breakfast.'

'Couldn't you call them and check?'

'I could. I won't. I don't believe in remote command, and I don't trust phones in guerilla conditions. I want to see my men and have them see me.' He stood up and moved toward the cave opening. 'I suppose it's my Indian blood speaking. I'm sure Geronimo wouldn't have taken to those newfangled gadgets either. See you later.'

Devon was smiling as she shook her head. As usual, Marrok was wired and restless. In this case it was probably justified because of the threat he and his men were facing. Her smile faded as the magnitude of the threat hit home. She'd been able to ignore the danger during last night's passion, but it was now here again before her.

Dammit, why wouldn't Marrok listen when she'd asked him to cooperate with Bridget? He had been absolutely implacable.

And there was nothing she could do about it. Maybe Bridget wouldn't even come up with a plan to end this nightmare Marrok had lived with all these years. It might be up to Marrok and Devon to do it.

In the meantime she'd better start moving and get dressed. Nick would be here soon, and she didn't want to keep him waiting. She threw back the blanket and got up.

'THE DOGS SEEM TO BE settling in pretty well,' Devon said to Nick as she watched the four dogs lolling lazily on the rust-colored rocks. It was quite an encampment; not only the guardians but several other men were moving around the area. Sid Cadow was cooking bacon and eggs on a Coleman camp stove, and for once he appeared relaxed and in his element. 'No problems?'

Nick shook his head.

'Marrok made sure all the guardians were here except Addie's Sarah. And I understand Addie has always been very adaptable. Sid is taking care of her.'

She smiled. 'And what are you doing, Nick?'

'Right now, I'm guarding you.' He grinned. 'Can't you tell?'

'Is that what Marrok told you to do?'

'He made me aware that he'd be very upset if I weren't extremely careful of you,' Nick said. 'Actually, it made me feel a sense of purpose. A man of my age appreciates being thought competent in that area. I was even given a gun. And I was beginning to think my warrior days were over.'

Devon's smile faded. 'You have other talents. You don't need to be using a gun.'

'I told you, I like it. My blood is stirring, and I feel alive again.' He added, 'And I like your Marrok. So do his other men here.'

'He's not my-' She stopped in the middle of the denial. Marrok did belong to her if he could belong to anyone. Just as she belonged to him. It was still tentative and uncertain, but the bond was there. 'You can trust him, Nick.'

'We're going to have to trust him,' Nick said soberly. 'Walt said that Danner's men may be all over this canyon before everything's said and done. I spoiled his plan to draw Danner here when I showed up at the ranch. Walt said that Marrok's toying with the idea of luring him here himself.'

Her gaze flew to his face. 'What? That would be crazy. They might just decide to kill him and get the dogs later. He's been a target for years.'

'I'm only repeating what Walt told me,' Nick said. 'Maybe it was only a passing thought on Marrok's part.'

'And maybe it wasn't.' Panic mixed with rage was tearing through her. 'It's just the kind of thing he'd do.' He'd gone after that man following them from her clinic without a second thought, she remembered. She could still