by Erin Wade
“What the hell is that?” Darke rushed to the window.
“I believe it’s your charge.” Lori scowled as they watched Eden bounce on the edge of the diving board and howl like a wolf.
##
Darke and Lori stepped out of the house in time to see Eden spring high into the air, do a half pike, and then slip smoothly into the water. Her guests whistled and applauded as she shot up through the surface of the water, tossing her head back to get her hair out of her face.
Darke couldn’t take her eyes off Eden as she pulled herself from the pool. She was breathtaking. No wonder Carter Winthrop was constantly sniffing around her. Darke fleetingly wondered if the two had been intimate.
Eden’s gaze locked with Darke’s as she walked toward the dark-haired beauty. “I’m glad you finally decided to join us.” She shot Darke a twisted little smile. “We’re having a diving contest. Do you dive?”
“Not as beautifully as you,” Darke said.
“I’d love to see you dive.” Eden still held Darke’s gaze. “I dare you.”
“I’ll leave the water hijinx to you young people,” Darke said, her voice soft and serious.
“I double-dare you.” Eden grinned mischievously. “You can’t swim, can you?”
Before Darke could respond, Carter Winthrop joined them and pushed a drink into Eden’s hand. “What are you two up to?”
“I just dared Darke to participate in our diving competition.” Eden watched as a shadow passed over Darke’s face.
“Careful, Eden,” Carter quipped. “Don’t dare the devil.”
“She can’t swim,” Eden declared.
“Enough! Of course I can swim,” Darke grumbled, glaring at the two of them. She unfastened her jeans, let them fall around her ankles, and then stepped out of them.
Silence fell over the partiers as they watched the goddess ascend the diving board. She stepped to the end of the board, tested the spring, and then turned her back to the pool. Three powerful bounces and Darke shot high into the air, did a somersault, and sliced into the water without a ripple.
Eden couldn’t pull her eyes away from Darke as the agent gracefully swam to the shallow end of the pool. She stepped out, shedding the water and tossing her mane like a sea nymph who was as at home in the water as she was on land.
“Breathe, dear,” Lori whispered in Eden’s ear.
Eden caught her breath and began clapping her hands as Darke walked toward her. Others joined Eden’s applause, and Darke bowed slightly to acknowledge them.
“Carter’s right,” Darke muttered to Eden as she picked up her jeans. “One should never dare the devil.”
##
Darke and Lori stretched out on the lounge chairs beside the pool and watched as the diving contest continued. Darke was concerned that Carter was plying Eden with piña coladas. She knew that soon the alcohol in the sweet drink would affect the young woman’s judgement.
Carter smiled at Darke as he caught her watching him. He walked to the bar then presented her with a drink. “Dr. Pepper, right?” He turned on the Winthrop charm as he handed Darke the icy glass.
“Thank you.” She was surprised by his thoughtfulness and wondered how he knew she preferred the sweet soda.
He gave her a half bow and returned to Eden’s side. Darke sniffed the drink and then took a big swallow. The slight dizziness she experienced confirmed her suspicion that it contained Rohypnol, a powerful date-rape drug. She watched as Carter steered a staggering Eden away from the water’s edge. She was certain he had roofied the young woman.
Before Darke could decide what to do, a fight started on the far side of the pool.
“We’d better stop that,” Lori said with a sigh as she stood.
Carter’s wingman, Myron Wilson, was throwing punches at a smaller man. Darke caught his fist midair and stopped short of crushing his hand. “You need to leave, Mr. Wilson.” Her sweet smile belied the death grip she had on Myron’s fist.
Terror flashed across the man’s face as he realized she could cripple him. “Yeah, sure,” he grunted. “This party is a drag anyway.” His eyes darted around the pool area, and a sly grin curved his lips.
Darke surveyed the scene and realized that Eden and Carter had disappeared from the party. Darke knew the fight had been staged to distract her attention from Eden. As the young people began to gather their things to leave, Darke strode to the pool house.
A naked Carter was poised above Eden, who was passed out on the bed. Darke snarled as she grabbed a fistful of his hair and yanked him backward, slamming him against the floor.
Darke was surprised at how quickly Carter sprang to his feet and crouched into a fighting position. “You need to mind your own business, Agent Knight.”
“Eden is my business,” Darke said as she circled Carter. “It’ll be a cold day in hell before I let you drug and rape her.”
“She’s my
fiancé e—soon to be my wife.” Carter’s twisted grin angered Darke.
“Fiancée, wife … it doesn’t matter what she is. You never have the right to rape her.” Darke watched his eyes, aware that he was waiting for the right moment to attack her.
“Wrong,” Carter hissed. “When she’s my wife, I’ll do as I please with her, and there is nothing you can do about it. You can watch if you want, but you can’t interfere with two consenting adults.”
“I don’t see two consenting adults.” Darke maneuvered herself until she was between the prone Eden and a crouched Carter. “I see one drugged woman and a rapist. Even you know that drugging a woman and sexually assaulting her is a crime.”
Eden moaned and tried to sit up. Darke glanced at her. The distraction gave Carter the opening he’d been waiting for. He leaped at Darke, his weight knocking her to the floor.
She rolled out of the way as he attempted to jump on top of her. Something razor-sharp ripped open Carter’s chest, and he crawled to his knees. Blood spurted everywhere, covering him and Darke.
“Get out!” Darke snarled. “Get out before I kill you.”
Carter clutched his chest as if trying to hold himself together. He ran for the door and disappeared.
“Darke, what’s going on?” A dazed Eden tried to stand but failed.
“Nothing serious,” Darke mumbled as she lifted Eden into her arms and carried her into the house with Lori on her heels.
“What the hell got hold of Carter?” Lori opened the door to Eden’s bedroom and watched as Darke placed the young woman on the bed. “He was bleeding like a stuck hog when he ran out of there.”
“He roofied Eden and was about to rape her when I caught him,” Darke explained. “He’ll be fine. I should have ripped out his throat.”
“Slimy bastard,” Lori muttered. “I’ll have him arrested.”
“We’d better wait until Eden comes around and see if she’ll press charges.” Darke looked down at herself. “I’m covered in his blood. Can you stay with her while I take a quick shower?”
“Sure. She needs a shower too.” Lori pointed out.
Chapter 7
“I found a washcloth and wiped off as much of the blood as I could,” Lori informed Darke as she returned to Eden’s bedroom. “I just received a call from CID. A runner stumbled over a headless body in Forest Park. Your handiwork?”
Darke shrugged and turned her attention to Eden. “Thanks for everything today,” she said to Lori.
“Anytime,” Lori called over her shoulder.
The stench of blood was overwhelming. Darke knew she couldn’t spend the night smelling Carter’s blood on Eden. She pulled Eden to her feet and dragged her into the en suite bathroom. She lowered Eden into a sitting position on the shower floor and turned on the cold water.
Eden shrieked and scooted to the far corner of the shower. Her intoxicated attempts to stand were unsuccessful. She curled into the fetal position and sobbed loudly. “Help me, Darke, please,” she cried through chattering teeth.
Darke turned on the hot water so th
e stream became warm. Shedding her own clothes, she stepped into the shower and pulled Eden to her feet. She stripped the soaked clothing from Eden and began to lather her with the hand soap.
Eden’s sobbing soon subsided, and she leaned into the soft strength of the other woman. Darke kept one arm securely around Eden’s waist as she lathered her body.
“My head is killing me,” Eden whimpered. “What happened, and why are we naked in the shower together?”
“Carter drugged you and tried to molest you, so I hit him.” Darke turned Eden to face the shower wall and used her own body to pin her there. “He bled on both of us, so I’m washing the blood off. Can you stand if I release you? I need to wash your hair.”
Eden looked over her shoulder and shot Darke an impish grin. “You should probably press harder against me. Just in case.”
Darke washed the blood from the blonde’s hair and held her by the shoulders as she moved her beneath the stream of warm water. Darke inhaled deeply. “Now you smell much better.”
She helped Eden dry off and then carried her to the bed.
“You’re very strong for a woman,” Eden mumbled.
“Where are your pajamas?”
“I sleep in my birthday suit,” Eden said, her speech still slurred.
“Whatever feels good.” Darke pulled back the comforter and Eden fell into bed.
Darke pulled on a T-shirt, locked the bedroom door, turned out the lights, and then settled on the sofa to watch over Eden while she slept. She was drifting into sleep when Eden screamed and pulled the covers over her head. Eden’s body shook as loud sobs escaped from her throat.
Darke was at her side immediately. “It’s okay,” she murmured.
Eden threw back the covers and wrapped her arms around Darke. “I’m so scared,” she cried.
Darke pulled the young woman into her arms and stroked her hair. “There’s nothing to be afraid of. I’m here,” Darke cooed. “I won’t let anything hurt you.”
“I had an awful dream,” Eden whimpered. “In my dream you and Carter were fighting, and you morphed into something different. Something beautiful but terrifying at the same time. You sank your teeth into him and ripped open his chest.”
“It was just a nightmare,” Darke whispered. “As you can see, I’m just a woman.”
“Will you sleep with me tonight?” Eden pleaded. “I want to feel a warm body next to mine.”
Darke took a deep breath and slid under the covers, wrapping Eden’s body in her arms and long legs.
Eden moaned and snuggled into the woman who made her feel safe. “I love you,” she mumbled as she drifted into sleep.
I can do this, Darke thought as she closed her eyes and inhaled the sweet fragrance of Eden. Darke Knight was the queen of self-control.
##
Darke kept her eyes closed and pretended to be sleeping as Eden slid her hand under Darke’s T-shirt and lightly trailed her fingertips down her body. Her nipples ached from the light circles Eden drew around them.
“There is a point of no return,” she warned as Eden ran her hand down her stomach and stopped just short of touching her private area.
“How long does it take to reach that point?” Eden murmured as she pulled herself onto Darke.
“It won’t happen in your lifetime,” Darke huffed as she pushed Eden away from her and slid out of bed. “Eden, when you play with fire you’ll always get burned.”
“A chance I’m willing to take for you.” Eden reached for her hand.
“Oh, child, you would go up in flames,” Darke whispered as she left the room.
“Child?” Eden pouted. “She thinks of me as a child.” Tears ran down her cheeks as she realized that Darke might always be just out of reach. “I’ll show her!”
##
“They’re having coffee by the pool,” Margaret said, leading Carter onto the patio when he stopped by the next morning. “Shall I bring another cup?”
“Please.” Carter smiled as he strode toward Eden, confident that Darke wouldn’t give away the secret they shared. “Darling, I’m glad to see you’re okay. I was afraid you’d have an awful hangover. I’ve never seen you drink as much as you did yesterday.” He leaned down and kissed Eden’s cheek.
“You … you’re okay?” Eden stammered.
“Of course.” Carter laughed. “I didn’t try to drink all the rum at the party.”
“But you and Darke? I thought she—”
“Danced with me.” Carter winked at Darke. “I’m afraid it was more of a wrestling match than a dance. Darke kept insisting on leading.”
Eden shook her head, trying to clear the remaining cobwebs from her brain. “You’re not hurt?”
“Hurt?” Carter looked at her as if she’d lost her mind. “Darke did get upset with me for stepping on her toes, but she didn’t hurt me.”
“What are you doing here so early?” Eden said, watching his face for any trace of malice toward Darke.
“Darling, I’ve found the perfect house for us. You’ll love it.”
“House?” Eden dragged her hands down her face. “I thought we agreed to wait until I finished college to purchase a house. And besides, I own this home.”
“It’s a foreclosure.” The excitement in Carter’s voice was overwhelming. “It’s a bargain too good to pass up.”
“But I don’t—”
“Of course, we can live here if you want.” Carter surveyed the house. “This is one of the most wonderful homes I’ve ever seen. I just thought that after what happened to your father and sister you’d want to live somewhere else.”
“I always thought we would live here.” Eden grimaced. “The house didn’t kill my loved ones. Something evil did.”
“It’s settled then,” Carter said, beaming. “When should I move in?”
Eden frowned at him. “After we’re married. After I graduate from college.”
“That’s a long time to wait,” Carter said. “A fellow could die in three years.”
“I promise to carry a heavy load and graduate in two years,” Eden assured him.
Darke watched their exchange in silence. How can she profess her love for me and plan her life with him at the same time?
Darke had learned a long time ago the ease with which others offered undying love in the throes of passion. Apparently, Eden was no different.
Carter continued to babble. “I’m taking the boat out today. Want to go with me?”
“I have a killer headache,” Eden explained. “I just want to lie down and sleep off this hangover. I can’t believe I drank so much.”
Carter’s expression changed from happiness to disappointment. “I was hoping to spend some time alone with you. We have plans to make.”
“Sorry,” Darke said. “Where she goes, I go.”
“Of course.” Carter’s lip curled in disdain. “I forget you must protect her. I’m quite capable of doing that.”
“Uh-huh. I’ve observed firsthand how well you protect her,” Darke replied.
“Call me around three,” Eden said, flashing a smile at Carter. “Perhaps I’ll feel better. Fresh air and water will be good for me.” She cut her eyes toward Darke and was pleased to see her flinch.
“Three it is,” Carter said. “We can dine at that great seafood restaurant on The Point.”
Eden nodded and walked him to the door.
##
“You don’t like Carter, do you?” Eden asked as she rejoined Darke a few minutes later.
“Oh, I love him,” Darke huffed. “Since I’ve come on the scene, he has tried to kill you on a horseback ride and rape you at your own pool party. What’s not to like about him?”
“My horse spooked and ran away,” Eden declared, “and it’s not his fault I was foolish enough to get drunk.”
“Are you stupid or do you just act that way?” Darke blurted out. “He slapped your horse with his riding crop and roofied your drink!”
Eden glared at her. “How do you know that?”
“He’s my fiancé, for Christ’s sake!” Eden yelled. “I’m going to marry him.”
“Why?” Darke hissed.
“Because I’m broke.” Eden sobbed. “I can’t maintain this house and the grounds. I don’t know what happened to the family fortune my father inherited from his father. I’ve been told our oil fields have stopped producing, and when father died, income ceased to flow into my accounts.
“Carter loaned me the money to pay for college. I gave him a lien against the house as collateral. I must find a way to support myself. I can either get a job or marry well.”
‘So, Carter is an easy way out?” Darke’s lip curled in disgust. “You’d sell your soul and your body to the devil for financial security?
“He already treats you like he owns you. Is that what you want, a lifetime of mental and physical abuse?”
Eden hung her head.
“Look at me, Eden!” Darke commanded. “You’re not that weak. Get some backbone and stand on your own two feet.”
“Will you stay beside me?” Eden asked.
“I promise to keep you safe. I’ll be here as long as it takes to find who murdered your father and sister,” Darke said.
“Then what? You solve your case and go on your merry way, leaving me alone with no one?”
“Eden, I—”
Suddenly, Margaret appeared in the doorway and brought their conversation to a screeching halt. “Detective Zeller is asking to see you, ma’am,” the estate manager announced.
“Please show her into the study, Margaret,” Eden directed. “I’ll see her there.”
“It’s Miss Knight she’s asking for, dear.” Margaret smiled.
“Of course it is.” Eden got up and stormed out of the house.
Chapter 8
Darke met Lori in the foyer. “Walk with me,” she said as she opened the door and stepped outside into the warm sunshine.
They walked in silence until they reached the forest surrounding the property.
