Dark Heat: The Dark Kings Stories

by Donna Grant

  She slowly opened her eyes to find Guy. His face looked haggard, gaunt, but in his eyes she saw … hope. Elena remained still, hoping he wouldn’t release her.

  “I drove to the airport and used the ticket you gave me,” she said in answer to his question. “I sat there for hours waiting for the flight, but when it came … I couldn’t get on the plane.”

  “Why?”

  She frowned. “Why? Don’t you know? You’re my world, Guy. I love you brighter than the sun, deeper than the oceans, wider than the sky.”

  “And your career?”

  It hit her like a bulldozer then. The e-mails she had been getting trying to recruit her back into the jewelry business had set all of this off. She had enjoyed the e-mails because they proved to her how good she had been, but Guy must have taken them a different way.

  Elena pushed him away and got to her feet. Then she whirled to face him as she stood. She ignored his perfectly formed nude body and kept her gaze on his face—as difficult as it was.

  “You thought I wanted my career more than I wanted you.” She let the statement hang in the air, silently demanding he answer it truthfully.

  Guy looked at the ground and nervously ran a hand through his hair. When he looked at her again, his gaze was hooded, as if he didn’t want her to see what he was feeling. “Aye.”

  “Because I got some e-mails?”

  “Because you looked as if you miss it.”

  She shrugged. “I do sometimes, but then I look at you and the life we have. I would never have left my career if I didn’t know exactly what I wanted. Which is you, by the way.”

  “I doona want you to stay because you feel you have to.”

  Of all the ways she thought she could have ruined their relationship, of all the things that she might have said wrong, not once had it even remotely occurred to her that Guy thought she wanted her career back.

  The more she thought about it, the angrier she got. “You were going to let me leave? You were going to throw everything we have away because of something you thought? Did it ever cross your mind to ask me?”

  “I didna need to ask. I saw how you looked after those e-mails. You longed for it.” A muscle ticked in his jaw. “Admit it. You yearn for all of it again.”

  Elena shook her head and looked away, too upset to even form any words immediately. “I thought you knew me. I thought you understood that I left all of that behind for you, and that if I had ever changed my mind I would talk to you about it.”

  When he didn’t respond, Elena started to walk out of the cave. She had no choice but to pass by Guy in order to get around the boulders and then out.

  As soon as she drew even with him, he reached out and grasped her arm. In a blur he had her pressed against the boulder, his hot, hard body against hers. Elena tried to calm her racing heart, but she would never be immune to Guy’s enthralling charms.

  He kissed her and she melted. He beckoned and she went. He touched … and she was his.

  “Where are you going?” he asked in a low, husky voice.

  “For a walk.”

  His hand slid around her neck, sending chills racing over her skin. “You brought me out of my sleep.”

  “I wanted to talk to you.”

  He gave one shake of his head, his long honey-brown hair moving with him. “You doona understand. I wasna just sleeping, Elena, I was going to the Void—and happily.”

  “The Void?” she repeated.

  “I let my memories consume me. I was sinking into an abyss which I wouldna have been able to come back from.”

  Guy watched the play of emotions over her lovely face. First there was confusion, then understanding. And then anger. She slapped his shoulder and gave him a meaningful glare.

  “That was just stupid,” she said. “Not only did you let me leave, you weren’t going to try and win me back.”

  “I wanted what was best for you.”

  “What you thought was best for me.”

  Guy shrugged, not wanting to debate the issue. He would do it all again if it was what he felt in his heart that Elena wanted or needed. All that mattered to him was her.

  “I was willing to let you go because I love you so much,” he said as he leaned close to her. “But you, you amazing, beautiful, stubborn woman, were ready to fight for us.”

  Her sage green eyes met his. “Yes. Always.”

  “I love you. I will always love you. I’ll love you when the earth fades into nothing and all that is left are the stars. I asked you once, but I’ll ask again. Would you stay here with me, Elena Griffin? Will you bind yourself to me, becoming my bride and remaining by my side until I breathe my last?”

  Her lip trembled. “I said yes then. I say yes now. I belong with you, and you belong with me.”

  Guy’s heart felt as if it were going to burst he was so happy. “No waiting this time. I want the binding done immediately.”

  Elena’s smile was coy as her hands reached down to stroke his cock, which had been hard since he’d shifted into human form. “It can wait a little while.”

  “A verra wee bit,” he said as he unbuttoned her jeans and shoved them down her hips.

  Elena tried to unzip her boots at the same time and they fell over laughing. The laughter died when her clothes were finally removed and he crawled over her.

  She reached for him, urging him closer with her hands and wrapping her legs around him. He closed his eyes on a groan as he slid inside her tight wetness.

  He would never let her go again. He would fight for her.

  Always.

  Five hours later …

  Guy couldn’t take his eyes off his bride. Elena, in a seductive, body-skimming red gown, was with Cassie and Jane looking over the tattoo that now graced her left upper arm, a tat that signaled her as his.

  “I’m glad she came back,” Banan said as he handed Guy a glass of whisky.

  Hal moved to Guy’s other side. “We wanted to go after her and bring her back, but Con wouldna let us.”

  Guy frowned as his gaze sought out Constantine. The King of Kings stood off by himself, an island among people. He merely watched and observed as others interacted. “Con is the one who went to Elena at the airport. He drove her to the hotel and made sure my car was there for her to return.”

  “I’ll never figure him out,” Banan said with a shake of his head.

  Hal swirled his whisky. “If you asked me, I would’ve told you he was happy Elena was gone. He fought hard to have Cassie sent away.”

  “I’ll fight Con to the death for Elena,” Guy vowed.

  As if she knew he was speaking of her, she turned to him, her eyes smiling. Guy handed Banan his whisky as he walked to his new bride.

  Guy took her in his arms as a slow melody played through the speakers. The cold wind of the last day of December blew across the land and more snow was on the way, but in his arms was a fire that matched his own in every way.

  “Wife.”

  “Husband,” she whispered as they twirled around the floor.

  He rubbed his thumb over the teardrop ruby nestled atop a platinum band on her finger. “There willna be any leaving me now.”

  “I never wanted to leave, you silly man.”

  Guy chuckled. “No one has ever called me silly.”

  “Someone has to keep you from thinking you’re all that.”

  “But I am all that,” he said with a frown. “I’m a Dragon King.”

  She lifted a brow. “You’re my Dragon King.”

  “Oh, aye,” he murmured.

  “Tell me this isn’t a dream. Tell me I’ll wake in your arms in the morning.”

  Guy stopped them and shifted to the right, bending her over his arm as he leaned in for a kiss. “You’ll wake in my arms every morning from now until eternity.”

  “Have we stayed long enough?” she asked between kisses.

  He smiled as he took her hand in his. “Definitely.”

  Elena twined her fingers with Guy’s as he straightened t
hem. She caught sight of Jane and Cassie watching her. Several people tried to stop them, but Guy refused to halt.

  They were laughing as they ran into the house while the others jokingly shouted for them to remain. Guy didn’t stop, and Elena wouldn’t have let him.

  Once in their room, Guy shut the door and pressed her against it. “I’ll never let you go again. I’ll fight for you, Elena. Always.”

  “And I will always fight for you,” she said as he unzipped her gown and watched it fall to the ground.

  “You’re no’ wearing … anything,” he said in a strained voice.

  Elena smiled. “Just as you like it, my Dragon King.”

  Don’t miss these other spellbinding novels by

  DONNA GRANT

  The Dark Warrior Series

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  The Dark Sword Series

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  Darkest Highlander

  From St. Martin’s Paperbacks

  Read on for an excerpt from DARKEST FLAME, the next epic romance from Donna Grant.

  Coming Soon from St. Martin’s Paperbacks

  Denae gripped the sink in an effort to combat the pain from getting out of the bed and making her way to the bathroom. When it was under control, she lifted the pale yellow tee to see her wound.

  A large strip of gauze covered it. She peeled back the gauze and stared dumbfounded at the wound through the mirror.

  “Is something wrong?”

  At the sound of the deep, sensual voice Denae spun around, forgetting her wound in her surprise. The pain struck instantly and caused her to gasp and try to grab for anything to stay upright.

  She found herself in Kellan’s arms as he held her gently but securely. Denae gripped his strong arms while she absorbed the heat radiating off him. She looked up and was snagged in his gaze and lashes so thick and black they would have looked feminine on anyone else.

  Her body responded instantly to his touch. Her blood pounded through her while a slow, steady heat settled between her legs. Denae couldn’t explain the irresistible and seductive attraction she felt for Kellan. It was there, as if it always had been and was just waiting for her to meet him.

  As beautiful as his eyes were, there were no emotions there. It was like a bucket of ice water thrown on her. Denae pushed away from him, trying to ignore the rigid muscles of his chest beneath her palms as she did.

  “You can leave now,” she said as she faced the mirror once more.

  “You’re pale.”

  Denae gripped the sink once more. “Yep. That tends to happen when a person is wounded and loses a lot of blood.”

  “You should be feeling better.”

  She lifted her gaze to look at him through the mirror. His words, combined with the way her wound looked as if it was a week old instead of just a few hours, made her scowl at him. “What did y’all do to me?”

  Denae cringed as she finished. It had taken meticulous work on her part to eradicate all Texas twang from her speech, especially the y’alls.

  “We tended to you.”

  She turned to face him making sure to move slowly so as not to pull her side. “What else did you do? I know how deep that wound was. I know I was bleeding badly.”

  “The cave was dark,” he said and leaned a shoulder against the doorframe before he crossed his arms over his chest.

  It caused his shirt to stretch even tighter over the thick sinew. Denae had to look away. “You just happened to be in the cave?”

  “It is my cave.”

  Her eyes snapped to him as she frowned. “Your cave? What does that mean exactly?”

  “If I hadna been there, you’d be dead.”

  “I think it would’ve been better for everyone if that were the case.” Denae faced the sink again and turned on the faucets. She splashed water on her face, suddenly exhausted to the marrow of her bones.

  She dried her face and spotted a brush. Without thinking, she unpinned her hair and let it fall around her. It was still damp in places as she ran the brush through it.

  Denae caught Kellan watching her hand as she ran the brush through her thick hair. Something flickered in his eyes, some nameless emotion that caused her to pause.

  When she did, his eyes jerked to hers and the coldness returned. For several tense seconds, they simply stared at each other. He made her edgy, as if there was an undercurrent of something primal and sexual she couldn’t grasp.

  Denae wished she knew how to use her body as some agents did. Seduction wasn’t one of her skill sets, and it hadn’t been cultivated at MI5. If only she had paid closer attention to the agents who went undercover using their bodies she might know what was happening to her now.

  She returned the brush to its place and fidgeted, suddenly unsure of herself. The only time she felt such … restlessness was in Kellan’s presence.

  Was he doing this to her on purpose? If so, it was a great tactic because it was working perfectly.

  “Do I make you uncomfortable?” he asked.

  She refused to make eye contact with him again, even through the mirror. “Isn’t that what you want?”

  “Why would you think that?”

  “Why are you in my room?”

  “Is that no’ obvious?”

  Denae shook her head and gave a rueful laugh. “I’ve already said I would tell you all I know of MI5’s plans regarding Dreagan. I don’t need someone watching over me. I doubt I could escape even if I was up for it.”

  “You got onto our land and into my cave without us knowing.”

  “I think we got lucky,” she said and started for the doorway making sure to look anywhere but at him.

  Just when she thought he might step out of her way, he blocked it, forcing her to look at him. “What were you searching for?”

  “Anything. Everything. As far as I know there is nothing specific. When I asked why Dreagan was targeted, I was told there was suspicion. Matt knew more.”

  “And you killed him.”

  “It was kill or be killed,” she said through clenched teeth.

  Her strength was waning fast. As if sensing it, Kellan moved out of the way and she walked the few steps to the bed and gingerly sat down.

  “Cassie brought you pain medication,” Kellan said as he sat in the chair Con vacated earlier.

  Denae bit back a wince as she twisted to get both legs into bed. “I have a high tolerance for pain.”

  “You mean you doona trust what’s in the medicine.”

  “Something like that. I’m sure you understand.”

  To her surprise, there was a softening of his lips as if he had almost smiled. “Aye. It could be you’re just obstinate.”

  “I don’t enjoy pain,” she said and pulled the covers over her bare legs. The shorts she wore had ridden up, exposing almost everything.

  She might have left off the covers had she thought Kellan was interested, but his aloofness said it all. If only she could convince her own body that he wasn’t worth the time she might feel more in control of things.

  “If you doona enjoy pain then take the medicine.”

  “Fine. I’ll take the damn meds.”

  One caramel brow lifted. “You’re easily riled. No’ something I expected from an MI5 agent.”

  “Yeah, well, you seem to bring it out of me.”

  ABOUT THE AUTHOR

  New York Times and USA Today bestselling author Donna Grant has been praised for her “totally addictive” and “unique and sensual” stories. She’s written more than thirty novels spanning multiple genres of romance including the bestselling Dark King stories, Dark Cravi
ng, Night’s Awakening, and Dawn’s Desire. Her acclaimed series, Dark Warriors, feature a thrilling combination of Druids, primeval gods, and immortal Highlanders who are dark, dangerous, and irresistible. She lives with her husband, two children, a dog, and four cats in Texas. Visit donnagrant.com.

  This is a work of fiction. All of the characters, organizations, and events portrayed in this novel are either products of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously.

  DARK HEAT

  Copyright © 2014 by Donna Grant.

  “Dark Craving” copyright © 2012 by Donna Grant.

  “Night’s Awakening” copyright © 2012 by Donna Grant.

  “Dawn’s Desire” copyright © 2012 by Donna Grant.

  Excerpt from Darkest Flame copyright © 2014 by Donna Grant.

  All rights reserved.

  For information address St. Martin’s Press, 175 Fifth Avenue, New York, N.Y. 10010.

  Cover digital illustration © by Tricia Schmitt (Picky Me)

  Author photo © Kim Rocha

  eISBN 978-1-4668-4856-6

  St. Martin’s Paperbacks edition: January 2014

  St. Martin’s Paperbacks are published by St. Martin’s Press, 175 Fifth Avenue, New York, NY 10010.