Free Darkness Bred by Stella Cameron

would get it out of Niles later.
    With Elin on the back of his bike, Sean had left Gabriel’s.
    When he turned onto Gulliver Lane, he slowed his Ducati to ride past Read It Again, and Wear It Again, two favorite local destination shops. Elin’s grip on him tightened as they reached a cul-de-sac at the far end of the lane and came to a halt in the driveway of Dr. Saul VanDoren’s house.
    From the front of the house only two floors showed but Sean had been in Saul’s basement living quarters, virtually below ground level at the back.
    Elin tapped his shoulder and Sean took off his helmet when he looked at her. “I am sorry about being so foolish last night. I didn’t think anything like that could happen.”
    How could he not hug her? “We came through okay—this time.”
    “Are you sure this is a good idea?” she said, indicating the house. “I don’t want you and Saul to fight.”
    There was an innocence, a trust in her eyes. “We won’t,” Sean said, hoping he wasn’t fooling himself into such confidence. “We asked to come because we want information and advice, remember.”
    “You’re annoyed with him. You could say something you don’t mean. Let’s get home. Maybe one of the others will stand guard for me so you can go get some sleep tonight.”
    That discussion would come later. When they were alone—together. Their situation wouldn’t do the way it was. He felt ridiculous. Their positions were almost reversed. He had to be the one to tell this woman he wanted so badly, that they must take more time before they came together totally. He struggled with awkwardness, and a simmering anger. Whatever he did, he would not hurt Elin. If the Team would not bend, he would give up his promises to them, take her away, and make a life, just the two of them, if that’s what it took. He would remain the strong-minded man he was, had always been, and keep her at his side.
    “Sean?” Elin had taken off her own helmet and she brought her face close to his. “Please kiss me and tell me you aren’t angry with me. You look so…so…” She bowed her head.
    “How can I be angry with you?” Gently, he took her face in his hands. “You know what I feel about you. You know what I want. But you don’t accept that there are things I must be sure about before we are sealed.”
    Her mouth, soft and full, trembled. Sean touched his lips to hers, first lightly, then with more intensity. He drew back for an instant. “You are everything to me. Do you understand why I have to be strong—for both of us?”
    Resentment flared in her eyes. “Don’t assume that I’m not strong, Sean.”
    “I wouldn’t want you other than what you are,” he said. His possessiveness toward her could be unnerving, but he welcomed it nevertheless. “You’re determined. Look at me and listen. I have to be certain that I won’t be the death of you, do you understand?”
    For moments she didn’t move. Her incredible violet eyes deepened to purple and she shook her head slowly. “No,” she whispered. “I understand that if we don’t hold on to each other today, there may not be a tomorrow. I’m not talking about death. We don’t know what will come, Sean, but we do know what we feel—what we have now.”
    She touched him as he had never expected to be touched by another human being. But he did have to think about tomorrow and he didn’t want to explain all of it to her here. “Then you have to trust me to do what’s best for both of us.”
    Elin stood, a shoe on either footrest, and planted her hands on his shoulders. She kissed him until his head spun. With her lips, her tongue, her teeth, the winding of her body about his, she demolished his resolve. If she demanded, he would do whatever she asked.
    “I am yours,” she said at last. “If you insist we must wait, you have a reason and I’ll wait for you to explain what that is.” She gave a sudden, impish smile. “As long as you don’t get too bossy. But you’ll have