Gift of Fire

he said very quietly. “I don’t want him using you the way I do. I don’t want any man on the face of the earth using you the way I do. I’m glad we understand each other.” He swung around and started back down the corridor.
    Verity followed, wishing she’d kept her mouth shut. She was determined not to say another word until the storm of Jonas’s anger had blown over. Sometimes a woman had to bide her time.
    Jonas stopped at the door that opened onto the torture chamber. Silently he found the opening mechanism and manipulated it until the door creaked open.
    There were no ribald cracks about kinky lady torturers as Verity and Jonas made their way through the room and out into the hall. In fact, neither said a word all the way back to the bedroom. Verity was feeling quite cold as she removed her parka, and the chill was not a result of the villa’s lousy heating system. She shouldn’t have said anything about Oliver Crump, she decided morosely. It was obviously a subject best left alone.
    Jonas locked the door of the bedroom, his movements precise and careful. Then he tossed the flashlight into his duffel bag and sat on the edge of the bed. Eyes narrowed, he watched Verity as she collected her nightgown and robe.
    “Do you really believe I’m just using you?” he finally asked.
    Verity busied herself with the buttons of her blouse. “I shouldn’t have said that. I was angry because you were making a fuss about Oliver Crump.”
    “You’ve never been absolutely sure of me, have you? You can’t forget that the reason I came into your life in the first place was because I knew you could help me control my damn talent. That’s why you’re stalling about marrying me. A part of you is scared to death that the only real tie we have is a psychic one.”
    “That’s not true, Jonas. We have a lot of other ties, as you’ve pointed out.”
    “We sure as hell do. Including the fact that we’re both about to become parents.” Jonas raked his fingers through his hair. “I guess I shouldn’t have made that scene about Oliver and his crystals.”
    “No, you definitely should not have snapped at me the way you did,” Verity said stiffly. “I like Oliver. He’s sweet and genuine. I was only trying to tell you that if finding the stupid crystal really means so much to you, he might be able to help.”
    “I didn’t want him linking with you, goddammit.”
    “I don’t ‘link’ with him. Not the way I do with you.”
    “Well, what do you do with him when you play with those crystals?” Jonas demanded. He shot to his feet and began pacing the room. “I saw the way the two of you were touching each other when you were trying to cure Maggie’s headache.”
    “I’m not sure what was happening, if anything. But I got the feeling Oliver can somehow tune into crystals and I...I can help him. A little.” Verity sank down on the bed, hugging her nightgown and robe.
    “The same way you help me in the time corridor?” he demanded harshly.
    “No. it’s much different. It’s not personal the way it is with you. There’s no sense of direct contact. I’m sorry, Jonas. I can’t really explain it.” She glowered at him. “What’s the big problem here, anyway? I thought you didn’t believe in the power of crystals.”
    “I think I believe in the power of one particular crystal,” he said bluntly. “The one that man in the vision left behind here in this villa. We need it to find out what’s going on in that little room at the end of the passage.”
    “I don’t think we should try to find out what’s going on in that room, Jonas. I don’t like it. I don’t like any of it.”
    He came across the room to stand in front of her. “I have to know, Verity.”
    She looked up at him. “Why?”
    “I don’t know. I just have to find out the truth. I won’t be able to rest until I solve this thing.”
    “Even if it means involving me and Oliver Crump?” she taunted.
    Jonas caught her arms and hauled her to her feet. “We don’t need Crump.”
    “I’m not so sure. I don’t know anything about crystals. He’s the one with the expertise.”
    “We can do this without him, dammit.”
    “How do you know? I’m the one who seems to be able to use the crystal, and I’d like some professional advice from Oliver.”
    Jonas’s jaw was set rigidly. “You want to work with Oliver Crump on a professional basis? All right, I’ll allow you to work with him on one condition.”
    “Jonas, I don’t