Bound By Darkness Part 5

As she drifted off to sleep, her last thought was that she'd just have to find some other excuse to see Larem Jones again.

Larem stared at the flyer on the shelter bulletin board and cursed. It had been two days since he'd last seen Sasha after spending an afternoon with her down at the piers. Forty-eight hours of spinning his wheels and getting nowhere on his a.s.signed mission of further befriending her. Torn between wanting to spend more time with her for his own selfish reasons and his guilt over the whole idea of spying on her, he'd considered and rejected several ideas.

He pulled the paper down off the board to study it further. There was going to be an outdoor concert at the zoo to raise money for various animal-related causes. It was exactly the kind of event that would appeal to Sasha, not to mention himself. Dr. Isaac even had tickets for sale right there on the premises-so it couldn't be simpler. Just buy the tickets and make the call.

But were the G.o.ds smiling upon him or out to drive him crazy? Only one way to find out. He reached for his phone and started dialing.

Larem waited at the edge of the rose garden by the zoo entrance, trying to find Sasha in the milling crowd. The early evening air was heavy with the perfume of the flowers. He slowly filled his lungs, enjoying the calming combination of their scent and incredible beauty. As always, it seemed as if everything in this world was more intense, more vivid, than back home in Kalithia. His world had its own beauty, but it was definitely different.

"Hi, Larem. I hope you weren't waiting long."

He opened his eyes and smiled down at Sasha. "Not at all. We have plenty of time before the concert. I thought you might enjoy a stroll here in the rose garden before we go inside."

"I'd love that."

As they walked along, neither of them said much, but the silence felt comfortable rather than awkward. After a bit, she stopped to admire a particularly spectacular blossom. He had no idea what it was called, but it was the color of fire-a burnished gold center deepening to a dark red along the edges of the petals.

It reminded him of Sasha's hair, set off to perfection by the dark purple shirt she wore with a long white skirt that swirled around her ankles as she walked. Once again she'd twisted her hair up on top of her head. He pictured himself kissing the elegant curve of her neck just before he removed the wooden sticks to set her hair free.

He'd dearly love to see it down loose around her shoulders-or better yet, spread out on his pillow as he kissed that sprinkling of freckles on her nose. Something of what he was thinking must have shown in his expression, because when Sasha glanced in his direction, she blushed and immediately hurried on toward the next bed of roses.

But she did take his hand and tug him along in her wake. That small gesture vanquished the knot of nerves in his chest. For the moment, it was enough to pretend they were just an ordinary couple out to enjoy an evening of music and each other's company.

The concert was winding down, the musicians putting one last burst of high energy into their encore. Sasha couldn't remember the last time she'd enjoyed a night out more. Larem had produced a blanket from his pack for them to sit on. After they'd staked out their spot, he'd gotten each of them a lemonade and a piece of strawberry shortcake.

Watching him savor the sinful berries heaped high with whipped cream had been an amazingly sensual experience. It was almost as if he were tasting the decadent dessert for the first time.

She barely knew the man, but there was just something about him that stirred emotions in her that had lain dormant for a long, long time. First college and then her heavy work schedule had left little time for a social life. Or at least that had been her excuse. The truth was, when she'd met David Booker, she'd fallen fast and hard for him. Although she'd known the risks of getting involved with a Paladin, she'd hadn't been able to help herself. And when he'd died, it had almost destroyed her.

Yet here she was, risking the same kind of pain all over again. At twenty-eight, she should be old enough to know better, but obviously not. The more time she spent in Larem's company, the more reckless she felt. How would it feel to kiss that stern mouth? What kind of lover would he be? Maybe she should just toss the dice and see where the night led them.

Despite its being late summer, there was a chill in the air as the sun went down. Larem noticed when she shivered and leaned toward her. "Are you cold?"

"A bit. I'm not used to the way the temperature drops here at night."

He hesitated, then wrapped his arm around her shoulders and pulled her in close, sharing the warmth of his body.

"Is that better?" His voice was a deep rumble near her ear, sending a whole different kind of shiver through her.

Oh, mama, yes!

But she kept that comment to herself and just nodded. Too bad the concert was about to end. She could've happily spent hours sitting right there, enjoying the night with Larem.

When the song ended, the crowd surged to their feet, applauding loudly. She reluctantly joined them, immediately missing Larem's touch.

He folded up the blanket and stowed it back in his pack. "The zoo is open for another hour. Want to wander around a bit before we call it a night?"

"Sure."

It seemed only natural for him to take her hand, especially with the jostle of the people surrounding them. In just a few seconds, the crowd thinned out, leaving the two of them wandering down a path with only a handful of others nearby.

"Did you like the music?"

Larem nodded. "Very much. We should do this again sometime. I think they do a whole series of concerts here."

"I'd like that." A lot.

When a smaller path branched off to the left, Larem took it. The sign said it led toward the animals of the African savanna. As dark as it was, they'd not likely be able to see much, but at the moment she didn't care. She was really hoping Larem was more interested in finding them a bit of privacy than seeing what the zebras were up to.

Sure enough, when they were alone, he dropped his bag on the ground and turned to face her in the faint glow of a distant lamppost. His big hands gently came to rest on her shoulders. She responded by sliding her palms up the hard planes of his chest. His pale eyes stared down into hers for the longest time.

"I hope you don't mind, but I've been wanting to do this all evening."

Before she knew what he was going to do, he tugged the chopsticks out of the knot on top of her head. The heat in his smile climbed several degrees as he finger-combed her hair, sending the unruly waves spilling down around her shoulders.

"I knew it would feel like silk. You should wear it down all the time."

"It gets in the way when I work."

His accent thickened considerably when he murmured, "Then wear it this way just for me."

Then he kissed her-finally. His lips settled over hers, gently at first but then with considerably more fire. He tasted hot and male and potent. Grabbing on to the soft cotton of his shirt, Sasha held on with all the strength she could muster. The feel of his hands as they touched and tempted warmed her from the inside out. The man sure knew how to heat up a cool Seattle night.

She liked that about him. Before she could tell him so, he lifted her off the ground and carried her backward several steps.

"Uh, Larem?"

"The bench," he murmured.

Then he sat down and settled her across his lap. Oh, yeah, he was just full of good ideas. She kissed him hard and deep, the tip of her tongue inviting his to play.

Sasha didn't know about Larem, but she was about to go up in flames as his fingertips brushed across the curve of her b.r.e.a.s.t.s. She arched into his touch, asking for more. He didn't hesitate, cupping her breast in his palm with a gentle squeeze and coaxing her nipple into a hard peak with his finger and thumb. Immediately a need for so much more pooled deep inside her, making her wish they were somewhere more private.

Then his hand settled on her ankle before stroking upward, slipping under the hem of her skirt. He hesitated just below her knee.

"Sasha?"

Her name became both a caress and a question on his lips. Her breath caught in her chest as she read the intent in his eyes. She should stop him. It was too much. Too fast. Too soon. But she couldn't find the words or the will to hold back. Instead, she buried her face against his neck, drawing in the scent of his skin.

Larem took that as a yes. Smiling against her hair, he pressed a soft kiss on her forehead as his hand resumed its journey. She sighed and closed her eyes as he took his time to learn the soft curve of her knee.

"Kiss me," he demanded as he stroked the top of her smooth thigh.

Her lips found his, opening for him like roses in the bright light of the sun. Oh, yeah, this moment was so perfect, her response to his touch beyond anything he'd hoped for. He eased his hand between her legs, going slowly to give her a chance to protest. She didn't, not even when he sought out the center of her heat.

One stroke had her moaning, two had her arching up, her legs squeezing tight against his wrist and locking his hand in place. He continued the gentle a.s.sault, stroking and pressing, wanting nothing more than to lay Sasha down and make love to her.

For now, he'd settle for having her come apart in his arms. He eased past her flimsy panties, stroking deeper, faster, harder.

"Larem! Please, I can't-"

He wanted to give this to her. "Yes, you can. I've got you. Just let go."

Then she shuddered, her head falling against his shoulder as the storm broke within her. He held her close as they rode it out together. When he finally remembered how to breathe, he tugged her skirt back down, struggling to find the words to describe what the moment had meant to him.

But then he heard the sound of approaching footsteps. They ended abruptly with an embarra.s.sed, "Whoops! Excuse us!"

They both froze until the intruders retreated. Sasha suspected she was blushing big-time, but then Larem laughed quietly and pressed one more kiss on the top of her head.

"Whoops, indeed," he said with a chuckle.

She reluctantly joined in the laughter. What had she been thinking, to let things get so far out of control? Not that she could bring herself to really regret it.

"I don't know about you, but I haven't gotten caught making out like that since I was a teenager."

"It's been a while for me, too," he agreed. "But they're still good memories."

Then he set her back on her feet and stood up. After picking up his pack, he said, "I guess we should be moving on."

He kissed her again before they headed back toward the main path. She laced her fingers with his as they made their way to the exit, where she called for a cab. As they waited, Larem's cell phone rang. His expression went from happy to grim in the s.p.a.ce of a heartbeat as he listened to the person on the other end of the line.

"Don't worry about me. Just go."

He listened another few seconds, holding the phone in a white-knuckled grip. "No, I'm sure. And, Lonzo, watch your back. I don't want to break in a new roommate. I've barely got you trained." He hung up and loosed a deep breath.

"What's wrong?" she asked. A knot of pure fear settled in her chest.

"That was Lonzo. He's been called out again. The barrier near St. Helens is still down. They're sending in a second wave to support the guys who've been fighting since noon. It sounds pretty bad."

He stared up at the sky the whole time he was talking, the vein on the side of his neck visibly pulsing. Clearly knowing his friend was headed into combat was. .h.i.tting Larem hard.

"Are you being sent in, too?" she asked, mentally crossing her fingers that he wasn't.

He simply shook his head, offering no explanation. She didn't miss the fact that he was flexing his sword hand as he stood there. Obviously he wished he were being ordered into the fray.

Suddenly images of David's memorial came rushing back to Sasha, only this time it was Larem's picture being displayed, surrounded by flowers. Even if it didn't happen tonight, it would someday. A crippling pain lanced her heart. There was no way she could endure that again.

What had she been thinking, getting involved with another Paladin?

Luckily, her cab pulled up, forestalling the need to say anything more. The ride back to her hotel was blessedly short. Larem's thoughts were obviously elsewhere, which left her alone with her own. Despite how much she'd enjoyed the evening-especially the part after the concert-Lonzo's phone call had been a splash of ice-cold water, forcing her to face the risk she was taking.

Larem slid out of the backseat and offered his hand to help her out. After he paid the cabdriver, she led the way over to the shadows at the side of the entrance.

She couldn't even begin to smile. "Larem, listen, I have something to say. I hope you'll understand that it's nothing personal."

But it was. It had everything to do with what he was and what he did for a living. He knew it, too.

"I had a wonderful time tonight. I can't remember the last time I enjoyed myself more, but . . ." She paused, finding it nearly impossible to talk around the lump in her throat. David was her secret, and she didn't know Larem well enough to share. She settled for the easy lie.

"But as the new administrator, I have too much on my plate right now to get involved with anyone, especially a Paladin who technically works for me. I'm truly sorry, but I hope you can understand."

His reaction struck her as odd. Rather than getting angry, he actually laughed, although it had nothing to do with humor. She wasn't sure how to respond.

"What's so funny?"

Once again, he ran a strand of her hair through his fingers. "No, it's not funny. I believe the correct word is 'ironic,' but I do understand all too well. Good-bye, Sasha."

He brushed his lips across hers one last time and walked away, disappearing into the night.

Chapter 5.

Sasha had spent the days since her date with Larem wading through paperwork until she thought her eyes would bleed. Anything was better than second-guessing her decision not to see him again. Still, trying to clean up the mess left by her predecessor hadn't helped her mood at all, leaving her wanting to take a baseball bat to the man. Kincade, not Larem.

She had to give him credit, though. The b.a.s.t.a.r.d had done a bang-up job hiding his tracks. Finally, she'd borrowed D. J. Clayborne's services from Devlin to work on the computer files. She'd left him back in her office to do his magic on Kincade's personal computer. Hopefully, he'd have better luck.

But right now, she had a date with adventure.

The last time she'd spoken to Devlin, he'd reluctantly agreed to give her a brief tour of the tunnels under the Paladin headquarters. She was excited about the prospect of finally seeing the barrier for herself. Then, in his last e-mail, Devlin told her that he'd been called away because Mount St. Helens was once again causing problems. Luckily, he'd arranged for Lonzo Jones to meet her at the elevator at two thirty that afternoon.

She'd almost canceled, not sure she wanted to spend time with Larem's roommate, but decided that was silly. The man could hardly hold it against her that her last date with his friend hadn't ended well. That is, if Larem had even told Lonzo about it.

Either way, she was about to find out. The shortest route to their meeting place led her past Devlin's office and the cl.u.s.ter of desks that surrounded it. The entire area was empty and silent. The hallway leading to the elevator was equally deserted.

"Lonzo, I hope you didn't forget about me. I was really looking forward to this," she whispered to herself, looking at her watch.

Maybe he was simply running late. Just in case, she needed to call her a.s.sistant to clear her calendar for the remainder of the day. When she tried her cell, though, she had no reception, probably because she was right over the barrier.

She did an abrupt about-face and went back to use one of the landlines. For good measure, she'd leave Devlin a message, too, thanking him again for arranging the tour. If Lonzo came while she was gone, surely he'd wait a few minutes.

He watched the big boss disappear back down the hall, hating the way the b.i.t.c.h strolled through the place like she owned it. It was bad enough the Regents had sided with the Paladins against the one man who'd ever backed the guards over those prima donnas. But instead of someone to kick a.s.s and take names, they'd sent that woman, all because her daddy was a Regent. Did she really think she was capable of handling all the s.h.i.t that went on around here?

Well, maybe a little scare was in order. The barrier readings down below had been stable for several days. Perhaps getting trapped below ground would be enough to send her running home to papa. It was worth a shot.

It sounded like the Paladin a.s.signed to escort her had been delayed for some reason, too. With luck, the guy wouldn't show up until she was already in the elevator and on her way down to the tunnels. After scribbling a few words on a sticky note, he stuck it on the elevator door and took off down the hall.

Sasha spotted a note on the elevator and sighed. She'd missed Lonzo by a matter of minutes. Hopefully he hadn't bailed on her.