Dark Knight: A Loveswept Romance Classic Read Online Free PDF Page A

to make sure she knew he’d scored a point in getting her to talk at all. She faced him across the growing closeness of the cabin.
    “Well then, deduce this. You can play games all you want, but it won’t change one fundamental fact. Because of circumstances beyond your immediate control, you and I will be keeping company for a few days. I will gladly explain all I can once this is over, but until then, I can’t give you any information or answer any of your questions. It is not my intention to hurt you.”
    His expression didn’t change, but there seemed an almost palpable surge of energy emanating from him. She could feel it vibrating in the air. She deflected it with words. “However, if it makes my life easier, I do have means to make your temporary incarceration a more … restful one.” She strode to the door. “Which will it be, Blackstone?”
    His face was absolutely devoid of emotion.
    “No more needles.” His voice was as flat and empty as his eyes. Both, however, were far from lifeless.
    She spent a brief moment being glad she’d have assistance when she finally released him. Suppressing ashiver as he continued to stare holes into her, she even admitted she’d miss his cocky, oh-so-cool sense of humor. It was better this way.
Yeah, but for who, Giardi?
“Fine,” she said, the word sharper than intended. “Then we understand each other.”
    He said nothing. He didn’t so much as nod. He simply stared at her.
    She turned back toward the table, feeling his gaze every step of the way. It was time to unpack the rest of her gear and settle in for the duration. Eight days was not that long. She thought of the man lying naked, strapped to the bed less than ten yards away from her. The man whose body was a living sculpture of graceful power, the man whose dark eyes were a well of banked fury. No, eight days was not a long period of time, but at the moment, it seemed like an eternity.
    Perhaps she had been a bit rash in threatening him. She knew her stuff. He couldn’t get loose. She shouldn’t have let his verbal tactics rattle her. But she had.
    Keeping her back to the still silent, still staring, Blackstone, Scottie dragged her duffel over to the small kitchen counter and pulled out several boxes of power bars and several big tins of powdered protein drink. Next to that she tossed a bag of juice pouches. Her candy bars stayed in her pack. One never knew when a quick exit might be necessary. Where she went, they went.
    She reached back in her bag just as the small gold stud in her right ear began to vibrate, signaling an incoming message from Del. She pulled out a small digital phone, then quickly slipped it in the waistband of her pants, tucked up under her shirt.
    She debated feeding Blackstone before returningDel’s silent page. After their little tête-à-tête, mealtime could prove interesting. She almost looked forward to describing the menu. It all sat behind her on the counter. But it was barely sunrise. Blackstone could wait. That reminded her that they had yet to tackle the answering-nature’s-call aspect of his incarceration.
    Gee, the day looked to be filled with all sorts of fun and frolic. A dry smile crossed her face as she headed to the back door and let herself onto the deck. She could hardly wait.
    She quickly dialed in the access code. After repeating a string of numbers, she waited for the return string. Once that was done, Del’s voice came clearly into her ear. The joys of digital technology.
    “You hummed. Sir.” There was a short, censuring pause, but for once, she didn’t feel chastised. She
was
team commander after all. No matter what Del’s sudden reappearance indicated for her future, she knew she’d done a more than capable job of rebuilding his team. Her team. For the first time, she realized just how much she’d come to associate herself with her new role.
    “Situation report?” came the terse request.
    “Under control.” She waited a moment, then asked, “Any