Hearts in Darkness (Nikki & Michael 2)

"Rodeman was taken to the hospital and, as far as I know, is still under observation. Ginger's body was found down in the caverns.” He hesitated. “Her real name was Mary Gordon. She'd been dead for nearly eight months."

"Ginger basically told me as much.” The person she felt sorry for was Rodeman—how would he cope with the knowledge that he'd loved and married a dead woman?

"He won't know. The police are putting her advanced state of decay down to the humidity and dampness in the caverns."

It some ways, it made better sense than the fact that an energy creature had inhabited Mary's body for eight months, keeping it alive. “What about that charity Cordell set up? Have you tracked down the money?"

"No need.” He smiled. “Seline has had new directors installed, and they are currently going through the books and cleaning up Cordell's mess. The charity will be run properly from now on." Obviously, this Seline was one powerful woman. Nikki raised her eyebrows. “I thought Cordell had shifted all the money? Wasn't that the reason why he'd kidnapped Matthew?" "It looks like Elizabeth took Matthew's mind before he could help Cordell with the transfers." She remembered the feel of the teenager's mind, the emptiness of it, and shivered. She still had to face Matthew's mother and tell her he was dead. Still had to face MacEwan and tell him his niece was definitely a vampire. Neither was a task she particularly looked forward to. Michael gently squeezed her fingers. “Seline's still working with Rachel. Even with the imp gone from her body, she shows a remarkable degree of control over her fledgling instincts. Seline's beginning to think that you were right—that she can be helped."

At least that was something—some hope she could hold out to MacEwan and his sister. “What about the other abductees? What happened to them?"

"When Cordell died, it seems whatever spell he placed on them dissolved. From the reports filtering in, most have no memory of events from the time they were kidnapped."

"He was controlling them?"

Michael nodded. “Through magic. They were basically on auto-control, making the motions of life but not experiencing any of it."

"Weird.” She hesitated, looking down at their entwined fingers. “What now?"

"Now,” he said, reaching for a mug of coffee and placing it in her hands. “You eat breakfast and regain your strength."

That wasn't what she meant, and he knew it. She wrapped her fingers around the mug, pressing the heat into her suddenly sweaty palms. “I meant about us."

"I know."

He met her gaze, and she almost drowned in the depths of love and understanding she saw there.

"If I've learned one thing in the last few days, it's that I definitely need you—want you—in my life. Whatever the risks to us both.” He touched her face, his thumb trailing heat down her cheek then across her lips. “But I can't have you working with me, Nikki. That's one risk I won't take." She smiled. Not the exact words she'd wanted to hear, perhaps, but close enough. He'd warned her not long ago that he couldn't change a lifetime's habits in just six months. Yet in a matter of days, he had gone from being determined to hold her at arm's length to admitting that he needed—wanted—her in his life. For now, that was enough.

Besides, eternity was on her side. She had time enough to change his mind. She put her coffee cup back on the tray, then wrapped her arms around his neck. “Just how disabled are you with that arm?"

A grin twitched his lips. The link swirled to life, his thoughts caressing, filled with awakening fire. “Is that your way of saying you understand?"

"No. That's my way of saying I love you despite your pigheadedness." Though a smile still touched his lips, his eyes were serious. “You won't change my mind, Nikki."

"I've heard you say that before."

"I mean it this time."

She raised her eyebrows. “You meant it last time, didn't you?"

"Yes.” He stared at her for several seconds. “I just have one more question." The sudden twinkle in his eyes made her cautious. “What?" He ran a finger down her pajama top and slowly circled her nipple. “Who in the hell is Get Smart ?"

"Not who, but what. It's a very funny old TV show. Why?" He shrugged. His fingers were still circling, still teasing. “Nothing important. Just something Cordell said." Ripples of pleasure were running through her. “You don't get much TV up here, do you?” she said, more than a little breathlessly.

"I don't get any. I haven't a TV."

"Then what do you do to pass the time?"

"Oh, this and that. Read. Watch the sunsets. Tend to the garden, make wine—" It sounded idyllic. She grabbed his shirt and dragged him close. “Will you just shut up and kiss me?" He grinned and proceeded to do just that.

And proved just how very capable a one-armed man could be.

But as she lay in his embrace in the warm aftermath of their lovemaking, she knew with certainly that the contentment she felt now would not last for long.

Trouble waited just around the corner.

For them, and for Jake.