LITMIR.BIZ

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fetched a clean dish towel and began to dry the plates she stacked on the drainer.

      Keira’s lovely mouth wobbled. “Are you making fun of me?”

      His stomach churned at her woebegone expression. He set down a plate. Damn it, had he lost all his manners? Since when had he been so rude?

      He took another deep breath, wrestling for control, feeling his life was spinning away from him again.

      “I’m sorry. I’m rather bad-tempered these days.”

      Especially when facing a woman who really turned him on, and made him feel even more out of sorts because each time he was around her, all he could think about was getting her naked.

      Her peaches-and-cream complexion looked creamy and smooth, like fresh milk. The pink-and-green-flowered frock floated around her calves, hugging every inch of her curves. With her huge green eyes and the dark curls tumbling down her backside, Keira looked more like a forest nymph than a housekeeper.

      “Why?”

      That voice, it stroked over his clammy skin like velvet. So lush and melodious. Seductive and yet without the artifice of his sometime girlfriend, Melissa, who knew how to use her feminine skills to get her own way.

      Keira was his housekeeper. It was none of her business why he was bad-tempered. She was his employee, nothing more.

      Dale braced his hands on the counter and looked her in the eye.

      “I told you before that I was in the hospital. It’s only been two weeks since I returned to active duty. I’m still trying to find my feet again and learn to be civil.” His mouth twisted. “Hard to be social and polite when you spend days and nights bare-assed, needles and tubes snaking out of your body, nurses waking you up every hour to check and see if you’re still breathing.”

      Sympathy shone in her green eyes. “Why were you in the hospital?”

      He dragged in a deep breath. Sooner or later, she’d hear the rumors. “I was tortured by demons.”

      She flinched.

      “But I made it, and thanks to one of my men and his girlfriend, who saved my ass and got me airlifted to a hospital in time, I’m going to be fine. Great. Terrific.”

      “Do you remember anything?”

      “Not much.” Dale picked up the dish towel and began folding it into thirds.

      “The man and his girlfriend who saved you, do they remember anything?”

      He frowned. “Shay and Kelly told me there was a girl in the basement, but she vanished. His memory and Kelly’s both got fogged. But he’ll never forget the girl’s face.”

      She drew in a deep breath. “Where is this Shay and his girlfriend? Maybe they can help you.”

      “They got married. Shay’s away on training, took Kelly with him to live near the base. They won’t be back for a few weeks.”

      Keira’s expression remained shuttered. He stared at the counter, willing the memories to become stronger.

      “I remember the little boy the demons threatened to torture and kill and how they said they’d make him die slowly if I didn’t take his place. I’ll never forget his name. Joshua.”

      “Josh,” she murmured.

      Dale studied her and Keira flushed again. “Most boys with that name are nicknamed Josh. What else do you remember?”

      “There was a wolf there, a black wolf. And a woman. I think. I remember her scent.” He rubbed an aching spot behind his throbbing temples. “Citrus and wood chips. No, maybe it was lilies and honey. It’s a blur now.”

      Keira rummaged in the freezer, found a bag of frozen peas and handed it to him. “Here. This will help your headache.”

      “Thanks.” He pressed it against his pounding skull. “How did you know my head hurt?”

      “Your face is all compressed.”

      The cold bag felt good against his throbbing head. “I thought you were going to say my aura is red and black.”

      “It is.” Keira dried her hands. “But I know you’re not into that woo-woo stuff.”

      He had the grace to feel ashamed.

      Dale tossed the peas back into the freezer and stuck out a palm. “Let’s start over. I’m Dale Curtis, lieutenant commander of the best team of SEALs in the U.S. Navy, sometime classical pianist and foot-in-the-mouth jerk.”

      A tentative, sweet smile touched her mouth as she offered her hand. “Keira Solomon. Roving gypsy, Luminaire and quirky New Ager. Oh, and I happen to detest bean sprouts.”

      Her palm felt soft, the bones delicate beneath his big hand. Dale caressed it very gently, feeling the bandage he’d placed there, feeling loath to release her. The delicious scent of cookies, vanilla and almonds drifted from her, tendrils wrapping around him and invading his senses. She smelled like freshness and innocence.

      She smelled like home.

      Dale hadn’t been home in a long, long time.

      His guts clenched as he dropped her hand. She did not move but moistened her mouth, staring at him.

      Riveting his gaze on her mouth, he moved closer. Closer still, his own lips parting. Hungering to sample her, see if she tasted as delicious as she smelled.

      Dale reached for her, ready to cup her cheek and lower his mouth to hers.

      A sharp scream cut through the air. Keira blinked, and paled.

      Downstairs. Sully.

      The SEAL never had nightmares. Ever.

      “Oh, God, get it off me! Please! Someone help me!”

      Chapter 6

      Keira’s gaze widened. “I never cleansed the basement with white light.”

      “I have to get down there.” Dale ran into his study and removed his SIG Sauer 9 mm from the safe. Adrenaline pumping through his veins, he grabbed a flashlight and then bolted for the stairs. Keira raced behind him, two large white crystals clutched in her shaking hands.

      More terrified screams. Sully was a stalwart SEAL. He’d faced down terrorists and fire demons. What the hell was down there? Dale toggled the light switch, but nothing happened. The basement remained dark.

      Dark as the night the demons had tied him down and giggled, and then the hot, razorlike claws had gouged his torso...

      Loaded pistol in one hand, flashlight in the other, he climbed down the first step.

      Another haunting scream cut through the air. Fear slicked his throat. Immobilized by it, he could not move.

      And then he heard Keira’s ragged breathing behind him. With every ounce of his strength, he started down the stairs, pointing his flashlight at the steep steps. One of his men needed him.

      Soothing white light suddenly cut through the darkness from behind him. He stopped and turned.

      White light pulsed from the crystals Keira held. She bit her lip and handed him a crystal. “Take this. It will amplify your powers.”

      Another bloodcurdling cry cut through the air. Dale tucked the crystal into his pocket. He believed in his powers as a Mage and the gun’s bullets, not magick stones.

      Sweat beaded his forehead as he advanced toward the bunk beds.

      The stench of sulfur and rotting flesh assaulted his nostrils. Dale gagged and forced himself to push on.

      He swept the flashlights beam over the room. The lamp he’d left burning so Sully wouldn’t be alone in the dark lay shattered on the floor. Dale ran to the wall. While in the hospital, he’d hired an electrician to install floodlights

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