Midnight's Temptation

“Killing droughs.”

Aisley’s stomach fell to her feet like lead. Her heart thudded painfully in her chest as she tried to focus on Phelan’s face.

She knew he would be the one to kill her, but after they had made such sweet love, she had allowed herself to believe things might turn out differently.

Phelan had just put it all into perspective once more.

“At first it was all Druids,” he went on, unaware of her thoughts. “Then I learned there was a difference. My focus shifted to droughs.”

“Do you kill all droughs?”

“Aye.”

He answered without hesitation. How then did he not realize she was the very thing he set out to kill? Didn’t he feel it in her magic?

“Doona feel sorry for them,” he said. “They’re evil, beauty. They give their soul to Satan.”

“I know.” She shifted to the side and heard him release a curse. “What is it?”

His finger ran over the jagged scar on her left side. “What’s this?”

“A lesson,” she answered and tried to hide it.

But Phelan pushed her hands aside. “From who?”

Aisley looked away from his probing eyes. “Someone from my family.”

“And the lesson?” Phelan bit out.

“That I learn my place.”

He sighed. When he spoke again, his voice was soft. “This is more of your secrets you doona want to share.”

Aisley couldn’t look at him. If she did she was liable to tell him everything. He would kill her on the spot as soon as she said Jason’s name. She knew how he loved his home, and to taint it with her death seemed too cruel.

“It is.”

“I willna push. Tell me when you’re ready.”

“I will tell you,” she promised.

His finger traced the wound. “Did you no’ get this seen to properly?”

“I wasn’t allowed. I stitched it myself as best I could.”

He grasped her chin and gently turned her head back to him. “You’re one hell of a woman, beauty.”

For the second time her eyes welled up with tears. “I’m just a person who has done unspeakable things.”

“So have I. As I said earlier, we’re a pair.”

She didn’t stop him when he pulled her onto his chest. Aisley liked the feel of his body next to hers and the sound of his heart beating beneath her ear.

If things were different, she could see a life with Phelan. Not even the prospect of his immortality and her mortality bothered her.

She’d known Phelan was bad news the moment she spotted him while dancing at the club months ago. It was the way he watched her with his compelling eyes filled with desire and longing.

“No running,” he whispered in the darkness as if he knew she might be contemplating it.

“No running,” she repeated.

There will be no more running. Ever.

Phelan promised to protect her. And he would. He didn’t know it yet, but he would be the person to set her free.

She closed her eyes and snuggled against his chest. Freedom. She’d forgotten what that was like until Phelan. He had shown her another world.

It was beautiful and tragic at the same time because she was only getting a taste of it. Just as she only had a taste of being a mother.

All of this was punishment for her past sins. She knew that now. She accepted it.

Of course that was easy to do in the arms of a handsome Warrior who knew exactly how to touch to bring about the most exquisite pleasure.

Phelan’s hand caressed her back, lulling her to sleep. She tried to fight it. Sleep isn’t what she wanted. She wanted to live each minute to the fullest for the next few hours.

He kissed her forehead and whispered something she couldn’t make out in her foggy brain. In the next heartbeat, she was asleep.

*   *   *

Phelan stared at the ceiling as he held Aisley in his arms. Every time he thought of getting up, he found a reason to stay. His usual habits weren’t in play around Aisley for some reason.

And he stopped caring.

He thought of the jagged scar on her side and seethed with rage. Who would do that to her? More importantly, why? He would find out the story. He’d discover who dared to mark her.

Then he’d killed the bastard.

Slowly.

CHAPTER NINETEEN

It was the birds singing that woke her. Aisley opened her eyes to see a pretty bunting sitting on the sill of the open window. It gave another chirp before it flew away in a flurry of yellow feathers.

Aisley snuggled against the pillow she had her arms wrapped around as she lay on her stomach. The memories of the night before brought a smile to her face.

Phelan wasn’t just a superb lover, he had given her things she hadn’t known she needed. Things like a warm smile, a comforting squeeze of his hand, and the safety of his arms. She still couldn’t believe she had told him of her daughter.

That time of her life she never shared with anyone. Jason had somehow found out, but no matter what he asked, she never gave Jason details.

It had been different with Phelan. He hadn’t pressed her for anything.

She lifted her head and found the clock on the bedside table. “Oh,” she cried and sat up as she saw it was almost noon.

Aisley tossed off the covers and grabbed the first piece of clothing she found as she rushed out of the bedroom and into the kitchen.

After a quick look for Phelan, she tugged on the shirt and saw the front door open and his bare feet crossed at the ankle on the porch railing. She smiled and walked to the doorway to see him wearing a pair of jeans and a smile.

He held out his mug of tea. “Did you sleep well?”

“Thanks, and I did,” she said and took the mug. “You should’ve woken me.”

“Why?”

She sipped the tea as she stepped to the side of the door and leaned back against the house. “There wasn’t a need for me to sleep so long.”

“Exhaustion had nothing to do with it, right?”

She ignored his pointed look and continued drinking the tea.

“That shirt looks better on you than me.”

Startled, she looked from him down to the shirt she wore. Aisley bit her lip when she saw the black tee with a large Celtic emblem on it. It came down to her thighs and smelled of Phelan—all man, wind, and pine.

The fact she was enjoying wearing his shirt made her realize how attached she was becoming. She’d wanted a night in his arms, and she had gotten it.