Gift of Fire

a powerful sexual experience. It’s my destiny. I must fulfill it.”
    “Says who? Get out of here, Elyssa. Now. And don’t you dare come near Jonas again unless I’m personally around to chaperone him. Move it, you twenty-thousand-year-old chippy!”
    Elyssa’s eyes widened further, then she burst into tears and fled from the room, her necklaces and bracelets jangling. Her sobs echoed down the stone hall.
    In the taut silence that descended on the room, Jonas felt a glorious rush of triumph. It was all he could do to keep from sweeping Verity up in his arms and swinging her around in an exuberant circle.
    But Jonas made himself stay where he was, one shoulder against the wall, as Verity turned to him. He didn’t want to spoil her show. She had a right to the fireworks, and he wouldn’t throw water on them now—not for the world. He knew the grin on his face was wide enough to show most of his teeth, but he couldn’t help it. He was feeling too damn good.
    Verity stalked toward him, her soft mouth tight, her red-gold brows forming a fierce line above her small nose.
    Her eyes were a sea of flames, and her hair was practically crackling with energy.
    “Well, well, well,” she murmured, her voice deceptively smooth, “the big, brave, psychic treasure hunter almost got himself raped by the client.”
    “Consummated,” Jonas corrected. “I was in some danger of getting consummated by the client. But you saved me.
    “You think this is funny?” Verity shifted her gaze, apparently intrigued by the manacle dangling on the wall beside him.
    “I think this was one hell of an embarrassing scene, and it’s lucky you came along when you did,” Jonas murmured.
    “Why?” she challenged him abruptly. “Were you tempted to get yourself harmonically aligned with Little Miss Sunshine?”
    “No, I was not tempted, and you know it. But the whole thing was getting awkward.”
    “Awkward?” Verity picked up one of the manacles and began swinging it idly. “Awkward is an interesting description of what I just saw. I didn’t notice anything awkward about the way Elyssa had her arms around your neck. She looked very well coordinated to me.”
    Jonas chuckled softly and unfolded his arms. He braced one hand against the stone wall, planted the other on his hip, and grinned devilishly at Verity. “I don’t know about that. Personally, I thought she looked a little top-heavy. A man could suffocate amid all those boobs if he wasn’t careful. But then, maybe I’m just used to a skinny little redhead who makes me think of a sleek, sexy wildcat when she makes love to me.”
    “You think you’re going to get out of this with a few flattering words about my talent in bed?” Verity smiled menacingly. She still held the manacle in one hand.
    “Not a few flattering words, lots of flattering words.”
    “Talk fast, Jonas.” The manacle snapped shut around his wrist.
    Jonas froze for a few seconds. His wicked grin faded. He blinked at the strip of metal that now chained him to the wall. “This your idea of a joke, honey?”
    “No,” she said, walking slowly around him to where the other manacle dangled on the opposite side. “Nor do I find the idea of you and Little Miss Sunshine hanging around together down here in the torture chamber very amusing. I guess I have a limited sense of humor.” Her eyes traveled over him as if she were inspecting him for market. She picked up the other manacle.
    Jonas smiled reassuringly. “Sweetheart, you know damn well nothing would have happened.” Poor Verity. She really was upset, he realized. She’d never experienced raw jealousy before. Of course, she’d never been in love before, either, he reminded himself with a wave of masculine satisfaction. He was the first and only man in her life.
    “How do I know nothing would have happened, Jonas?” The manacle swung in a slow, hypnotic arc from her fingers. Her eyes were very wide and troubled as she looked up at him.
    Jonas took pity on her. He knew what she was going through. He touched the side of her cheek with his free hand. “Take it easy, honey. I know how you feel. I was damned upset the night I came back from Mexico and found you being carried into the cabin by Warwick, remember? And when I found Spencer climbing all over you, I really came unglued. But it turned out that nothing out of line was happening.”
    “Those were different matters entirely,” she snapped curtly.
    “The hell they were.”
    Verity glared