Free Lian/Roch (Bayou Heat) by Alexandra Ivy, Laura Wright

they’ve made me feel very welcome.”
    His lips skimmed down the narrow length of her nose. “Yes, they adore you, but they tend to overwhelm the unwary.”
    She shivered, her hands clenching against the temptation to run her fingers through the long, glossy strands of his dark hair.
    Why did he leave it free to flow down his back? It was a constant temptation.
    “Is there something you needed?”
    “Just to be near you,” he said with his usual blunt honesty. Then he held up a hand that held a wicker basket. “And to bring you this.”
    Suddenly Sage’s stomach growled as she was hit by the most delicious aromas.
    Spice, and shrimp, and vegetables combined with a heady scent of freshly baked bread.
    “It smells divine.”
    “My mother’s gumbo and corn pone, still warm from the oven,” he revealed. “She was concerned that you didn’t eat enough breakfast.”
    “I wanted to get back to work,” she said, turning to point at the scrolls she’d unrolled and aligned side by side. “During the night I realized that I’d been looking at the hieroglyphs all wrong. You see, it doesn’t read from top to bottom, but across each scroll.”
    “Fascinating,” he murmured.
    She glanced up to discover him studying her with an unwavering focus.
    “You’re not even looking.”
    “Of course I am.” Hunger shimmered in his eyes as they lowered to her lips. The air prickled with a heated arousal as he grabbed her hand and led her across the floor and through the French doors. “I just happen to be interested in something other than musty scrolls.”
    “Lian, I’m supposed to be translating,” she protested even as she crossed the balcony and allowed herself to be seated at the small wrought iron table.
    He efficiently emptied the wicker basket, taking the lids off the bowls of steaming gumbo and divvying up the corn pone. Then, pouring them each a glass of wine, he settled in the chair next to her.
    “I admire your dedication, Dr. Parker,” he said, taking a sip of the wine, the gentle breeze tugging at his hair. Even in the afternoon sunlight he looked dark and dangerous and entirely edible. “And I swear I’ll do my best to give you all the freedom you need to pursue your interests so long as you give me permission to distract you when I think you need a break.”
    Anticipation licked through her body. “What sort of distraction?”
    A slow, sinful smile curved his lips as he easily caught the scent of her arousal.
    “First, we eat.”
    Sage sucked in a deep breath, grabbing for her spoon.
    Yeah. Eat.
    No jumping on top of the yummy Pantera and having her wicked way with him…
    Concentrating on the food, Sage cleared her plate, giving a small groan at the savory burst of flavors. After years of surviving on salads and frozen dinners she could pop in the microwave it was a delight to indulge her senses with homemade meals.
    Watching her lick her fingers with obvious satisfaction, Lian lounged back in his chair.
    A big, lazy cat with the eyes of a lethal predator.
    “More wine?” he asked.
    “No.” With an abrupt motion she was on her feet. She wanted to rub her cheek over his unshaven jaw so badly it was a physical pain. “I’ll fall asleep.”
    With a fluid motion he was standing next to her, threading their fingers together.
    “I know how to wake you up.”
    Instead of heading back inside, he pulled her toward the edge of the house where a narrow staircase led from the balcony to the ground.
    Sage frowned, but made no effort to pull away. “Where are we going?”
    “I intend to take you on a tour of the Wildlands.” He led her away from the communal area into the lush vegetation of the wetlands. “It’s too beautiful a day to be locked inside.”
    “I’m really close to a breakthrough on the scrolls,” she weakly protested.
    He shrugged, following the narrow path that weaved between the cypress trees.
    “An hour or so away from them will help you clear your mind.”
    “But I thought you