The Fifth Season by Julie Korzenko Page A

laying everywhere. How could one woman rattle him enough to forget his responsibilities?
    He noted that Emma had pushed the weapons aside and covered everything with a blanket. He swore again, grabbing his clothes from the inch of closet space he’d been allowed.
    The bathroom light glowed beneath the door, and he leaned against the hall wall, waiting for Emma to finish. Thoughts of steamy air caressing her skin and streams of hot water flowing into places he longed to touch didn’t help in calming his temper.
    She opened the door. His chest constricted, and he flinched at a longing impossible to deny.
     
    ***
     
    Emma stepped into the hall, eyeing Stone warily. He looked furious.
    “I didn’t use all the hot water,” she said.
    “Thank you.” He wasn’t moving. She pulled the towel tighter around her body and scolded herself for not bringing a robe. A warm tingling spread slowly across her skin, and Emma knew it wasn’t an after effect of the scalding shower. Anger over the mess of guns and his disputatious attitude spurred her into leaving her room half-dressed.
    “You’re welcome.” Scooting past him, Emma dove for the safety of her bedroom.
    “Emma?”
    She stopped, turning to face the keeper of her heart.
    “Yes?”
    “I didn’t mean what I said.” He fumbled with the wad of clothes clutched in his arms. “I don’t want you to stay away.”
    Swallowing the lump in her throat, she nodded. Wincing, Emma wondered if he could hear her heart pounding. “I’m not indifferent.”
    He didn’t say a word, but his eyes deepened and a slight smile touched his lips. After what felt like an eternity but probably only encompassed a few seconds, Stone stepped into the bathroom. Bathed in the yellow glow of the small fluorescent bulb, he cast one more soul searing gaze in her direction. “I’m not running.”
    The bathroom door shut, and she heard water spill from the showerhead and closed her eyes against the erotic images torturing her mind.
    What would it be like to have a man like Stone love you?
    A round of roaring expletives hit her ears.
    “Stone? Is everything okay?”
    “No, dammit,” he yelled. “The water’s ice cold.”
    She tried not to laugh, but failed. With shaking shoulders, Emma entered her bedroom and proceeded to transform herself from an emotional avalanche into an animated hostess.
     
    ***
     
    Stone emerged into the main part of the house refreshed from the chilly shower and unusually lighthearted. He felt like smiling which only made him scowl.
    Candles lit the resort in a soft, yellow glow. The fireplace sparked, crackled and sizzled in bright colors, thanks to a bag of colored pine cones he’d grabbed from the hardware store this morning. Emma stared at the bright blue and green fireworks, mesmerized by their magic.
    He paused in the doorway. The blaze from the fireplace highlighted her hair, creating a halo of burnt amber. She’d dressed for the occasion. An off-the-shoulder, cream sweater topped a tawny suede skirt that accentuated the curve of her hips. His mouth watered. If he closed his eyes, maybe the room full of people would disappear and allow him a moment to savor her, taste her, claim her.
    Stone knew he didn’t deserve her. Love and laughter weren’t his future. Maybe tonight he could pretend? Masquerade as a whole man, a worthy man. Swearing softly, he realized a mask didn’t exist thick enough to cover his black soul.
    “Stone?” Her voice stretched across the distance of the large living room, caressing his ear and shooting straight to the depths of his yearning.
    He forced himself forward. Standing close enough to inhale her jasmine perfume but not touching. “What’s up?”
    “Nothing. You seem kind of far way. Is everything okay?”
    He couldn’t look away from the depths of her emerald eyes. Little jewels in a satin case.
    She smiled tentatively, a flash of hope, desire maybe, deepening the richness of her sparkling green gems. He wasn’t sure, but