Darkness Seduced (Primal Heat Trilogy #2) (Order of the Blade) by Stephanie Rowe Page A

Washed free of the mud and the blood, she had a scent of freshness, a delicate sweetness that teased him. It promised a tenderness and a softness that had never been a part of his life, that he’d never even thought about.
    He cursed and dropped his hand from her hair. What was he doing, thinking about emotions and beauty and tenderness? That wasn’t him, and it wasn’t acceptable. It would only weaken him, and he’d made a promise five hundred years ago. That promise went deeper than his oath to the Order. It had been a promise offered on the soul of the woman who’d died for him, and he would never do anything to violate that oath. Deviating from his role as a focused, cold warrior would compromise his ability to fulfill his promise.
    There was no room for the way he was reacting to Lily. He had to shut it down now—the emotional side that was. He had no chance of stopping his intense physical desire for her, nor would he try. She simply felt too damn good to him.
    But if anything happened with Lily…no, when , things became physical with Lily because he knew there was no other alternative, it would be sex only, no matter what her scent did to him. He wasn’t interested in anything more than that. Didn’t want it. Couldn’t afford it.
    None of them could.
    The clock was ticking even as she slept.
    * * *
     
    Lily woke to a feeling of warmth, of utter and complete security. Her body was completely relaxed as sleep began its slow retreat. It was a decadent luxury, the gift of peace. She smiled and snuggled more deeply into the heat, wanting to retreat into her dream, to this amazing, perfect place where she woke without fear.
    She tucked herself against her pillow and sighed happily…then she became gradually aware of the steady thump beneath her cheek. A heartbeat? Someone was lying next to her? She realized a heavy weight was draped over her, pinning her to the ground. A man. Crushing her. Trapping her. Awareness came screaming back to her, and she shot awake, panic surging through her. She grabbed for the arm, trying to get it off. It was too heavy. He was too strong. She clawed at it, fought, struggled. “Get off, get off, get off—”
    “Hey.” Strong hands cupped hers, lightly squeezing her fists. “It’s okay, Lily. Everything’s all right.”
    “It’s not all right!” She lurched upright, trying to get free. Her legs were tangled, caught. Her feet bound. She was tied up! Oh, dear God! Not again! A scream welled up in her chest, a scream of such true terror—
    “Lily!” Gideon was suddenly in front of her, his blue eyes full of concern as he held her shoulders, forcing her to face him. “Look at me. Look at me now!”
    She stared at him, trying to understand. “Gideon?” she whispered. She tentatively reached up and touched his face. His whiskers prickled against her fingers. He was real. He was there. Not Nate. Not those others— “It’s just you?”
    “Yeah, it’s me. Only me.” His grip on her shoulders softened, and he rubbed his hand down her arms. “It’s over, Lily. You’re not at Nate’s. You’re with me.”
    She let his deep voice fill her and resonate through her like a warm blanket of protective strength. His voice was steady and calm. Reassuring. It charged through her like the deep pulse of thunder. Lily drank it in, the sound of kindness, of safety, of a power meant to protect.
    “There you go.” He brushed her hair off her face, his touch tender and endearing, his brow furrowed with concern. “See me, not the monsters in your head. Do you see me?”
    She nodded and swallowed. It felt so good the way he was touching her. Gentle. Kind. Not a threat. Not a danger. His hair was flopped over his forehead, disheveled from sleep. He looked harmless and human. Not scary.
    “You with me?” he asked.
    She was. He’d brought her back. “ Gideon .” She moaned and flopped back down on her back, pressing her hands to her face as she tried to regroup. “I’m so sorry