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frighteningly delicious had shivered through every fiber of her body. It buzzed like a fat bee, sated on honey yet searching for more.
    She was aware of everything, the beat of her heart, the startling humming in her ears, the demanding pressure of his mouth, taking things from her she had no reason to believe ever existed.
    She was aware of nothing but him.
    Over and over, his lips met hers, each kiss deeper than the one before. It had to stop. He knew that if he let it continue, there was but one end to it and it was a destination she would not forgive him for, once her senses returned.
    With effort, he drew his mouth from hers.
    "Otherwise," he said, completing the sentence he had began an eternity ago, "someone might do that to you." His hands slid from her shoulders to her waist before he could force himself to release her.
    Her heart pounded so that it threatened to burst through the thin nightshirt. Rachel knew she was entirely too unsteady to walk. He had pinned her arms to her sides before with the weight of his body. Now she curved her fingers behind her as if to gain support from the rough-hewed wall at her back.
    As her nails dug in, she summoned her anger, anger that had been temporarily overpowered by the fire he had created in her blood.
    It took a moment for her to add volume to her words. "I'll have you shot!"
    Something told Sin-Jin that she already had, using ammunition that was far more deadly than any musket ball and powder civilized man had the ability to invent.
    His lips curved in a smile. He glanced at the weapon at her feet, the weapon that hadn't discharged when her finger jerked the trigger.
    "Not with this musket you won't."
    She closed her eyes for a moment, blotting out the effect of his smile. Stronger, she reached for the musket, only to have Sin-Jin grasp it first, holding it out of her reach.
    To her left, she heard her brother snoring in his bed. Damn his eyes, where was he when she needed him? Rachel squared her shoulders indignantly.
    "Give me that!"
    Sin-Jin was nine-tenths certain that it was empty, but he allowed her to save face and played along. "And find myself full of holes? I think not."
    Standing on her toes, she tried to grasp it from him. He merely lifted it higher. Frustrated, Rachel came down on her heels, utterly incensed. She crossed her arms before her, ready to spit nails. "Thief!"
    He made no attempt to hide his amusement, which only enraged her further.
    "Oh, and that would be a worse title than murderer? Or murderess as it would be in your case?" he corrected, his eyes on her face. He saw no remorse, only indignant anger.
    He was a thief. And worse. Once again she reached for the old musket, a weapon she had only used in hunting small animals with Riley. She had never pointed at a man before this evening.
    Sin-Jin continued to hold it aloft, infuriating her. "Not murderess. I would only be protecting my home, my honor—"
    Sin-Jin curbed the urge to kiss her again. He knew it would serve only to aggravate her further. And rather than alleviate the ache he felt building, it would only add to it.
    "You've weapon enough for that in that tongue of yours, Mistress." He had the good sense not to laugh when her eyes flashed daggers at him.
    Backing away, taking care to keep a safe distance between them, Sin-Jin worked his way toward the door.
    That he was leaving was a source of relief to Rachel. For a moment, she had been afraid that he would force himself on her. And worse, that she might—heaven forbid—want him to. But he had what was hers and she meant to have it returned.
    "My musket," she demanded, her hand out expectantly.
    She was either very brave, or very foolish. In any case, he was taking no chances. The weapon remained where it was.
    "It'll be waiting for you in your garden." Reaching behind him, he felt the latch on the door. His fingers curled around it and he smiled. "I'll leave it there after I've mounted. My horse," he couldn't resist adding.
    Rachel's