by Erin Wade
Eden’s gaze locked with Darke’s sultry look of desire until she was standing on the last stairstep. “Pledges, remember?” she murmured, a smile playing on her lips as she enjoyed the effect she was having on her bodyguard.
The door chime broke the tension between them. “That must be Carter.” Eden intentionally brushed her breasts against Darke’s arm as she took the last step and headed past her.
The housekeeper led Carter Winthrop into the rotunda as Darke walked to the window, turning her back on the room’s occupants. She took a deep breath and faked a smile as she turned to greet the man.
“Eden.” Carter leaned down to kiss his fiancée on the lips. Eden turned her cheek to him. He hesitated briefly then kissed the offered cheek.
“You remember Miss Knight,” Eden said flippantly as she gestured toward Darke.
“Who could forget Miss Knight?” Carter turned on the charm as he held out his hand to Darke. “Are you ready for the ride of your life?”
“I’m ready for some excitement,” Darke said. “Things have been too quiet around here.”
Eden opened her mouth to speak but thought better of it. Did last night really happen? Were they attacked by some creature, or was it all an awful nightmare?
Carter slapped his riding crop against his leg. “The horses await our arrival,” he declared.
“Do you strike your horse with that crop?” Darke asked as she followed Carter and Eden to the car.
Carter shrugged. “When I need to. Sometimes one must prove who’s boss. A lash with this quickly makes others obedient.”
“Others?” Darke raised a questioning eyebrow.
“Horses,” Carter clarified.
“You’ll love my mare Charisma,” Eden said, changing the subject. “Father retired her last year, but she won over five million dollars on the racetrack and holds several speed records at Lone Star Park in Grand Prairie.”
“How old is she?” Darke asked as she slid into the back seat.
“She’s six. Daddy never liked to run older horses. He said it gets harder on the horse as it gets older.”
“I would have liked your father,” Darke said. “He sounds like a kind man.” Unlike the jackass you’re engaged to.
##
Carter stopped his car in front of a twelve-horse stable.
“It appears the groomsmen have already saddled our horses for us,” he declared. He got out of the car and walked around to open Eden’s door. Darke stood and stretched as she watched the stablehands lead two horses toward them.
“Isn’t there another horse for Darke to ride?” Eden asked.
“Of course.” Carter smirked. “I simply need to know her capabilities. I don’t want to give her a horse that is too much for her.”
“I doubt anything is too much for her,” Eden mumbled.
“What are my choices?” Darke asked, eager to get going.
Carter’s grin bordered on vicious. “A docile mare or a killer stallion.”
The stablehands scattered as two men brought a black stallion from his stall. The horse was massive, standing sixteen hands high. He tossed his head, sending his thick mane flying around him.
Carter walked toward the horse who struggled to free himself of the caretakers keeping him earthbound. At the sight of Carter, the animal trumpeted and reared, pawing the air in front of him and lifting the two stablehands from the ground.
Carter slapped the riding crop against his booted leg, making a noise like a gunshot. The stallion lifted his head without taking his eyes from Carter. He laid back his ears and bared his teeth as he charged the man. The stablehands dug their heels into the ground as they fought to keep the horse from attacking their boss.
“Hold him still while I teach him a lesson.” Carter motioned for two other men to join the stablehands who still struggled to hold the stallion. The horse stood trembling, as if he knew what to expect. Carter raised the riding crop and swung it with all his might toward the stallion’s rump.
A hand of steel wrapped around Carter’s wrist and stopped it in midair. “Don’t strike him.” Darke’s words were deep and guttural, almost a growl.
Carter stepped back as she stripped the riding crop from his hand and flung it onto the roof of the stables. “It’s not his fault you aren’t man enough to handle him.”
“Let’s see you ride him,” Carter said, smirking at her. “He’ll kill you.”
“I think not.” Darke walked toward the horse, who continued to snort and struggled for his freedom. As she neared the stallion, he stopped thrashing and watched her. She held out her hand to him, palm down, and allowed him to sniff her.
“You’re beautiful,” Darke cooed as she slid her hand along his neck and began to scratch behind his ears. “Such a good boy. You’re a Friesian, aren’t you ? A wonderful black beauty.”
She turned to the man closest to her. “What’s his name?”
“Diablo, Señorita.”
“Devil.” Darke nodded. “You’re no devil, are you, sweetheart?” She continued to stroke his neck and slowly moved until his head was resting on her shoulder. She wrapped both arms around Diablo’s neck and held him. He visibly relaxed as she caressed him and crooned to him in a soft, low voice.
“Saddle him,” Carter bellowed to the groomsmen.
“I’ll saddle him myself.” Darke’s tone changed from loving to loathing as she glared at Carter. “You stay away from him.”
Darke pulled the ropes over Diablo’s head and led him by his mane. He followed like a well-trained dog, happily walking beside the master he loved.
“Please, Señorita,” the groomsman whispered, “Diablo will kill you if you try to ride him.”
Darke shrugged. “We’ll see. Just let me handle him.”
She smoothed the saddle blanket on Diablo’s back as she continued to talk to him in soft, soothing tones. She slipped the headstall on him and buckled it. Eden strained to listen but couldn’t hear what she was saying to the animal.
“You speak to him in Spanish,” the groomsman said with a toothy grin of approval.
Darke hefted the saddle onto the horse’s back and reached under his belly for the girth. She pulled the strap tight and tested her weight on the saddle horn. The groomsman backed away as she stepped into the stirrup and swung her leg over Diablo’s back.
Diablo waited, a shiver traversing his body. Darke marveled at the power beneath her. She could feel the animal’s pent-up desire to run.
“Go!”
As if her command was what he’d been waiting for, Diablo sprang from the stables and trumpeted as he headed for the open pasture. Darke leaned low over the stallion’s neck, urging him to enjoy his freedom. He stretched out into a full gallop, his body almost parallel to the ground.
Several minutes later, Darke reluctantly headed Diablo back toward the stables to join Eden and Carter.
Diablo, exhausted, breathed heavily as he slowed to a trot. Sweat glistened on his raven body. The powerful stallion stopped at the top of a rise that overlooked a flat meadow. Darke was surprised to see Eden and Carter riding in the opposite direction.
Enjoying the feeling of restrained energy beneath her, Darke urged Diablo to catch up with them. She decided to stay several feet behind the couple and settled into the easy pace set by the riders in front of her.
“You are really something, my black beauty,” Darke said to Diablo as they rode. The rocking motion of Diablo’s gait lulled her into a lethargic state. She watched the couple in front of her through half-closed eyes as Diablo closed the distance between them.
“I told you people will think you’re crazy,” Carter said, his voice raised in anger. He had retrieved his riding crop and was swinging it between his horse and Eden’s.
“No,” Eden declared, “they believe me. That’s why Darke is here. To make certain the same thing doesn’t happen to me.”
“No monsters are after you.” Carter snorted. “You’re just being a drama queen.”
“I’m
going back to the barn,” Eden said.
“I’m not ready to go back,” Carter bellowed as he swung his crop down hard on the rump of Eden’s horse.
The terrified mare sprang forward without warning and quickly reached a full gallop. The jolt caused Eden to lose her hold on the reins, and they trailed the ground beside the runaway horse. It was just a matter of time before the reins would wrap around Charisma’s legs, tripping her.
For just a second, Darke wondered if Diablo was up to the speed that would be required of him to catch the panicked mare. He’d surely tired himself on his freedom run.
As if he understood Darke’s need, the stallion sprang forward, running at top speed. As he drew closer to Eden’s horse, Darke could feel the effort he was making to overtake the racing mare.
When Diablo’s nose reached the mare’s flank, Eden’s saddle slipped sideways. “Please,” Darke begged the stallion. Making a mighty effort, Diablo lunged to the side of the mare as the saddle slipped beneath her belly.
Darke’s strong arms wrapped around Eden and pulled her to safety as the mare stumbled over the saddle and plunged to the ground. Darke grimaced at the loud snap she heard as the horse broke its neck on impact.
Darke pulled Eden into the saddle to sit in front of her. She slipped her arms around her and held the blonde close as Eden sobbed, her soft body trembling.
“Shush, little one,” Darke said in the same soothing, loving tones she had used with Diablo. “It’s okay. I’m here. Everything’s okay.”
Darke couldn’t stop herself from nuzzling her nose into Eden’s hair and inhaling the sweet fragrance of the woman. It took all the strength she possessed to keep from kissing the soft neck beneath the blonde hair.
Eden relaxed into Darke and slowly stopped trembling. “You saved my life,” she murmured.
“That’s why I’m here, Eden. To take care of you.”
For the first time in a long time Eden felt safe.
Chapter 5
“Thank God you’re okay,” Carter said as he pulled his gelding to a stop and jumped to the ground. He reached up to take Eden from the saddle.
“I’ve got her,” Darke growled. “You need to take care of her mare. I think she’s dead.” She turned Diablo toward the barn. She let the stallion set his own pace. He was tired, and carrying two riders—even lightweight ones—was a chore.
Reluctant to release Eden from her arms, Darke finally said, “We should walk. Diablo’s exhausted.”
Eden nodded, looking down at the distance between herself and the ground.
“Let me get off first,” Darke said. She swung from the saddle and then reached up to lift Eden to the ground.
“He’s huge,” Eden noted as Darke placed her on the ground, “and you’re incredibly strong.” She didn’t move, Darke’s hands still resting on her waist. For a second, she was certain Darke would kiss her, and she welcomed the feel of the other woman’s lips.
“Yes, he’s sixteen hands high.” Darke turned away. “A little over five feet tall at his withers. A hand is four inches. He is—”
“Oh, stop babbling,” Eden snapped as she walked away.
Carter caught up with them. “Eden, are you okay?”
“I’m fine!” she said, lashing out at him. “What happened?”
“I have no idea,” Carter said without making eye contact with either woman. “We were just riding along when your horse spooked and took off. Why don’t you ride my horse?”
“No, I’m fine,” Eden answered. “You go ahead and make arrangements for the burial of my mare.”
As Carter rode away, Diablo trumpeted and stared after him. Eden jumped closer to Darke, clasping the brunette’s hand in hers.
“He’s just declaring his dislike for your fiancé,” Darke said, chuckling. “Something Diablo and I share.”
Eden pulled her cell phone from her pocket and called Margaret. She explained that there had been an accident and asked Margaret to send the car to the stables to pick them up. After reassuring the woman that everyone was okay, Eden ended the call.
“How old are you?” Darke inquired as Eden slipped her cell phone back into her pocket.
“How old are you?” Eden huffed.
“Thirty-five.”
“I’m eighteen,” Eden mumbled.
“Eighteen?” Darke’s look of astonishment made Eden laugh. “You’re just a baby. You seem older, more sophisticated.”
“Father always said I seemed older because of the way I accept responsibility and the way I handle myself.”
“Yes, you are very capable,” Darke said. “And almost twenty years younger than me.”
“Does age really matter?”
“Not now, but twenty years from now when you’re forty and I’m sixty it will matter,” Darke replied. “I don’t know why we’re even having this discussion. Twenty years from now you won’t even remember my name.”
“I’ll always remember you.” Eden’s voice was almost a whisper.
“Well, I probably won’t remember you,” Darke said.
Chapter 6
Eden watched Darke as she spoke in hushed tones with Lori Zeller. She knew Darke and Lori had worked previous cases together and were good friends. A pang of jealously coursed through her as she wondered if Darke had been intimate with Lori. There was a relaxed familiarity between them.
“Why don’t you invite Lori to the Fourth of July party Saturday?” Eden said as she walked toward them.
Lori glanced at Darke for affirmation. “I’d love that.”
“That would be enjoyable,” Darke said, smiling at her. “We could mix business with pleasure.”
Eden immediately regretted her invitation. She was certain she was the business. The thought of Lori bringing pleasure to Darke made Eden sick to her stomach.
When Caz appeared out of nowhere, Eden was grateful for the sudden distraction. Then the wolf trotted straight to Lori.
“Caz!” Lori said, dropping to her knees to hug the huge wolf. “My goodness, you get more beautiful every time I see you.”
Caz wagged her tail enthusiastically as she nuzzled Lori’s chest. “I’ve missed you too,” Lori said, hugging the wolf tighter.
Eden closed her eyes and visions of Darke nuzzling her face between Lori’s ample breasts filled her mind. I’m a fool, she thought.
##
From her upstairs window Darke watched Eden and her friends as they cavorted in the swimming pool. Most of them were drinking responsibly, and Carter was glued to Eden who was the consummate hostess.
Lori slipped her arms around Darke’s waist and kissed between her shoulder blades. “Are you going to make their day and give them a look at the gorgeous Knight body in a swimsuit?” She giggled against Darke’s back, and the vibration of her lips reminded Darke of how good those lips had felt a few minutes earlier.
“No, it’s Eden’s party. She needs to remain the center of attention.”
“She does a swimsuit justice too,” Lori noted. “Another year or two and she’ll rival you.”
Darke laughed out loud. “And will you visit her just to make certain she’s safe?”
“The thought has crossed my mind. She’s incredibly beautiful.”
“Don’t!” Darke commanded.
“What difference does it make to you? You’ll be off in some godforsaken place like Transylvania or Moldova.”
“She’s an innocent,” Darke said. “She has no knowledge of the evils of this world. Her father was extremely overprotective.”
Lori frowned. “That’s not always a good thing,” she said. “Her sister is more than likely dead. They’ve murdered her father, and now they’re after her.”
“But why? She’s no threat to them.”
“You and Caz need to go hunting,” Lori said. “You need to find what’s left of her sister.”
“She’s much younger than I thought,” Darke mumbled.
“Oh.” Lori grimaced as if a light had come on in her head. “That’s why
you’re keeping your distance.”
A loud knock on Darke’s door ended their conversation.
“Darke, are you in there?” Eden tried the door but found it locked. She knocked again.
“Please come down and join us. My friends want to meet you.”
Darke pulled on a short robe and opened the door but blocked Eden’s view into her room. “I’ll be down in a few minutes.”
“Wear something sexy,” Eden said, her eyes sparkling as she giggled.
Darke scowled. “I think you’re drunk.”
“Just having a good time. Where’s Lori? I saw the two of you slip off together earlier.”
“You should see to your guests,” Darke said without acknowledging her question. “I’ll be right there.”
“Hurry, please?” Eden pleaded.
Darke nodded and closed the door.
“Showtime!” Lori laughed as she tossed a yellow-and-black-striped bikini to Darke.
“Seriously?” Darke shook her head. “You want me to wear something that will make me look like a flipping bumblebee?”
“At least wear the top,” Lori teased. “Show them what a real woman looks like.”
Darke snorted. “I’ll leave that to you.” She leaned down and kissed Lori sweetly. “Thank you.”
“My pleasure,” Lori said, looking up at her. “Anytime you need a good workout, give me a call. No strings attached. Just two friends working out their frustrations.”
Darke cocked an eyebrow at her. “You sure? Your friendship is important to me.”
“I promise, Agent Knight. Now, put on that bikini. Besides, I’m too smart to fall for someone like you. I know the score. That doesn’t mean I can’t enjoy you every chance I get.”
Darke put the bikini on and slipped a pair of tight jeans over it.
“God, I’d kill for abs like that,” Lori gushed, drooling over Darke’s body. “Do you have any idea how good it feels to be under you?”
“Now you’re getting too personal,” Darke said, suddenly uneasy with the conversation. “We’d better join the party.”
Before they could leave the room, a mournful, anguished howl filled the air, startling both women.
