Carpathian 06 - Dark Fire

drawing her beneath his shoulder. He bent his head to find her soft, trembling mouth with his hard one. "You look tired, baby. Perhaps you should lie down and rest before we move out tonight.
    You have been working all day."
    The moment his perfect mouth touched hers, Tempest forgot his teasing and gave herself up to the sizzling chemistry between them. Her arm slipped halfway around his waist, her fingers bunching in his shirt. "I'm fine, Darius. The truck is running, so we can leave as soon as we need to go. I brought this man here to speak with you."
    The black eyes at once rested on Cullen Tucker's face. Involuntarily Cullen shivered beneath the icy gaze. It was like looking into a graveyard, the eyes of death itself. Cullen felt as if the bodyguard could read his every thought and was judging him worthy or unworthy-and that his very life might be hanging in the balance. He watched as the bodyguard carefully, deliberately raised Tempest's right hand to his mouth, his tongue moving slowly, almost erotically over her scraped knuckles, those black, burning eyes never leaving Cullen's face. Cullen could feel Syndil at his right side, close yet not touching him. He was aware that she was holding her breath.
    "I'm Cullen Tucker," he introduced himself, grateful that he still had his voice. Tempest had been telling the truth about this man. He would go after anyone who attempted to take her from him, and he would never stop. The bodyguard, as he'd guessed earlier, was the type of man who was utterly relentless, who had no mercy in him.
    "Darius," the bodyguard replied briefly. His hands went to Tempest's shoulders, and he pushed her toward his brother-in-law. "Julian, perhaps you would take the three women to shelter while I speak with this gentleman. Desari, please see to the needs of the cats, and make certain Tempest eats before she goes to bed."
    Syndil moved closer to Cullen, for the first time in her life defying Darius. I will stay here and listen .
    Her chin was up belligerently.
    Without warning Barack was there, his handsome face a twisted mask of fury. He literally shoved past the other men and caught Syndil's arm, yanking her away from the human. His eyes were burning with rage. "What are you thinking, Darius, that you allow this man to come into our camp while our women are unprotected?" he demanded, forcing Syndil backward despite her struggles. His body was a solid wall of muscle, pressing her softer one away from the group.
    "How dare you treat me this way!" Syndil hissed, outraged.
    Barack turned his head, his black eyes blazing at her. "You will do as I say in this matter. You know Generated by ABC Amber LIT Conv erter, http://www.processtext.com/abclit.html
    better than to put yourself in a vulnerable position."
    "Barack, have you lost your mind?" Syndil demanded.
    He growled, a low warning that rumbled in the air, his white teeth snapping like a predator's. I refuse to argue with you. If you do not wish to suffer embarrassment, Syndil, you will do as I say right now.
    Do you think that I did not know you actively s ought this man's company?
    Syndil moved backward into the shelter of the trees, partly because Barack was giving her no choice and partly because she was so astonished. Barack was the most easygoing of all the males. He tended to be amused by everything, and he flirted outrageously with human women, enjoying his image of the playboy of the band.
    You have no right to tell me what to do, Barack . If I wish to seek out a thousand men, it is my right.
    Like hell it is. Barack literally lifted her by the waist and carried her deeper into the woods. "Who is this man, that you suddenly wish to be with him? You have never displayed interest in human men before."
    Syndil's chin went up. "Well, perhaps that has changed."
    "What has changed? What did this man do, bewitch you? I warn you, Syndil, I am in no mood for this foolishness. You touched him. You put your hand on his arm, flirted with him." His eyes were blazing at her.
    "And this is considered a crime? Should I remind you of all the times I have known you were with human women? Do not dare to judge my behavior. This man makes me feel beautiful, desirable, like a woman, not some shadow to be ignored. He looks at me, and I feel alive again," Syndil defended herself.
    "That is the reason? He makes you feel alive? Any man can do that, Syndil," Barack snapped.
    "Well, he is the one I want," she said defiantly.
    His hand closed around her neck,