His Dark Embrace

by Amanda Ashley

  “Comes of living a good clean life and having excellent genes, I suppose.”

  “Hmm, I guess that would explain it,” she replied thoughtfully. “Some people never seem to look any older.”

  “You don’t sound convinced.”

  “Well, Granda said he wanted to find the secret to eternal life... .”

  Thorne laughed softly. “And you think he found it and gave it to me?”

  She laughed, too. “It sounds ridiculous when you say it out loud, doesn’t it?”

  “Well, you can’t blame him for trying. Most people would give anything to be immortal, or at least young forever.”

  “Maybe. I don’t know,” she said, her brow furrowed. “Would you want to live forever?”

  “Definitely,” he replied. “If I could spend eternity with you.”

  His words pleased her as much as they surprised her. Sure, she’d had a teenage crush on him, and there was no denying that he was still drop-dead handsome, but she had never seriously considered him in a romantic way. At least, not until now.

  Her cheeks grew warm as his gaze moved over her. There was no mistaking the look in his eyes.

  He wanted her.

  There was no mistaking the excited flutter in the pit of her stomach, either.

  The one that meant she wanted him.

  Chapter 2

  Afraid his self-control was weakening, Thorne pushed his chair away from the table. “Perhaps I should go.”

  Sky stared at him, her thoughts scattering like leaves in a high wind. She didn’t want him to go, but she wasn’t sure she wanted him to stay. Maybe she had misread the heat in the depths of his dark eyes. Maybe she was imagining things that weren’t there.

  He stood, his gaze meeting hers. “Thank you for lunch.”

  “Please, stay.” The words spilled out before she could stop them. “I looked around in Granda’s lab today.”

  Thorne dropped back into his chair. He couldn’t leave now, not until he heard what she had to say. “And?”

  “I didn’t find anything that looked like a recipe or a formula for a drink. Do you have any of it left?”

  “A small amount.”

  “Why don’t you just have it analyzed?”

  “I tried that. It contains a number of herbs and roots in varying amounts.” He’d had the potion analyzed by several different scientists. Each time, the report had been the same.

  “Like what, for instance?”

  “Fennel, sage, lavender, absinthe, rosemary, yarrow, bloodroot, henbane—”

  “Henbane!” Sky shook her head. “You must be mistaken. That’s poisonous.”

  Thorne shrugged. “Perhaps one of the other ingredients counteracts it.”

  “So, if you know what’s in it, why do you need the formula? Can’t they just duplicate it?”

  “No. There’s another ingredient in it, something none of them have been able to identify.”

  “That’s odd.”

  “Perhaps I could help you go through Paddy’s files. I might be able to find something you’ve missed.”

  “Sure, if you want. Just let me clear the dishes.”

  Minutes later, Thorne followed Skylynn down the basement stairs to Paddy McNamara’s lab. Thorne had been there before on numerous occasions, had sat in a chair, hands and feet bound with silver, while Paddy experimented with one concoction after another until, miraculously, the old man had found one that worked.

  Thorne raked a hand through his hair. Paddy must have written the formula down somewhere. Dammit, he must have!

  While Sky went through her grandfather’s journals, Thorne sat at the old man’s computer and went through the files. As Thorne had feared, it was a waste of time. None of the files were password protected. None of them contained the information he was looking for.

  Thorne glanced over his shoulder at Skylynn. “Did Paddy have an external hard drive or a jump drive?”

  “Not that I know of. He only used his computer for research and correspondence. He never kept any of his important stuff on it. He said it was too easy to hack into computer files.”

  “Well, he was right about that.” Taking a place on the floor beside Skylynn, Thorne lifted a journal from the stack and began reading through it, no easy task, given Paddy’s abominable handwriting. What was it about doctors? Thorne wondered as he turned a page. He had seen six-year-olds with better penmanship.

  He picked up another journal. Like the last one, this contained nothing other than routine notes about routine operations, and questions and comments about an occasional experiment gone awry.

  After three hours, Skylynn closed the book she had been reading and stood up to stretch the kinks out of her back and shoulders. “I’m afraid this is a lost cause.”

  “So it would seem.”

  “I guess you’ll just have to find another tonic.”

  He looked up at her, mute, the muscles in his jaw clenching as he stood.

  “You can, can’t you?” she asked. “I mean, it isn’t keeping you alive or anything, is it?”

  “No, it’s not keeping me alive.”

  “Well, then,” she said, smiling. “That’s a relief.”

  “Indeed,” he muttered. But time was running out. “Would you like to have dinner with me this evening?”

  She blinked up at him. “You mean, like a date?”

  He laughed softly. “Yes, if that’s all right. I was thinking we could go to The Manor.”

  “Oh, I’d like that.” The Manor, which was built along the lines of an old English castle, complete with a bridge and a moat, was nestled high in the hills overlooking the city. “What time?”

  “Seven-thirty?”

  “All right.”

  His gaze moved over her, as soft as a caress, as hot as a forest fire. “See you then,” he said, and went up the stairs.

  Sky stared after him, her thoughts reeling. She had just agreed to have dinner with the mysterious Mr. Thorne. Mysterious, indeed, she thought, and then frowned. Earlier, he had told her he was thirty-nine, but that was impossible. Kaiden had been living in the house across the street ever since she was five or six. Even if Kaiden had been in his twenties at the time, he would now be in his mid-forties.

  Talk about dating an older man, she thought with a grin.

  Apparently women weren’t the only ones who lied about their age. Either that, or Granda really had found the secret to eternal life.

  Sky dressed with care that night. After donning her favorite navy blue dress and matching heels, she brushed her hair until it shone, then applied a bit of makeup. She slipped a silver bracelet on her wrist, dabbed a bit of perfume behind her ears, and then, after a last look in the mirror, she went downstairs to wait.

  Kaiden arrived at the stroke of seven-thirty. Clad in black slacks, a white shirt open at the throat, and a long black leather coat, he was easily the sexiest thing she had ever seen on two legs.

  He whistled softly when he saw her.

  “Right back at ya,” she said, grinning.

  “Better get a coat,” he advised. “It’s chilly out, although it’s a shame to cover that dress, or what’s in it.”

  “Flatterer.”

  “You look exquisite.”

  His breath fanned her cheek, but it was his words that made her insides curl with pleasure as he helped her into her coat.

  His car, a low-slung, silver-gray sport’s model, was parked at the curb.

  “Nice,” she murmured as he opened her door.

  “I just bought it today.” Rounding the front of the car, he opened the door and slid behind the wheel. “Buckle up and let’s see if she’s as fast as the dealer said.”

  It was in Sky’s mind to protest. She had never been crazy about fast cars, but she couldn’t resist the twinkle in Kaiden’s eyes. “Try not to wrap it around a telephone pole,” she muttered as she fastened her seat belt.

  “Don’t worry, Sky Blue. Nothing bad will happen to you while you’re with me.”

 
Oddly enough, she believed him.

  She had to admit, going down the freeway at over ninety miles an hour was thrilling, exciting, and scary as hell. She had leased a Honda in Chicago and never driven it over sixty. These days, she drove Granda’s old Lincoln.

  Kaiden looked over at her and smiled, and Sky couldn’t help smiling back. He looked like a little boy who had just gotten everything he ever wanted for Christmas.

  A scarce ten minutes later, Thorne pulled up in front of the restaurant’s valet parking area. He looked over at Sky, his hand caressing the leather-covered steering wheel. “So, what do you think?”

  “It’s very nice.”

  “Nice?” he exclaimed, looking offended. “Nice? Is that all you’ve got to say?”

  Sky grinned at him. “What do you want me to say?”

  He laughed as he exited the car and came around to open her door. “A summer day is nice. Good music is nice. This car ...” He shook his head. “This car is the bomb.”

  “Well, just don’t blow it up on the way home,” Sky said, putting her hand in his.

  “Not to worry, fair lady.”

  The interior of the restaurant was reminiscent of a castle, with shields and banners and a coat-of-arms depicting a knight on a black charger. An enormous chandelier hung from the ceiling; a life-size mannequin wearing what looked like an authentic suit of armor stood beside the front door. Sky noted that the booths were curved and high-backed for privacy. The tablecloths were dark red. Flickering candlelight added a touch of romance and mystery.

  A hostess wearing a period costume seated them immediately. A waitress dressed as a medieval serving girl brought menus, then asked if they would care for a glass of wine or an appetizer.

  At Sky’s request, Thorne ordered a bottle of Kendall-Jackson Merlot and a plate of pâté de fois gras.

  “I’ve never been here before,” Sky said, admiring the decor. “It’s lovely.”

  “I’m glad you like it.” Thorne picked up his menu. “So, what are you in the mood for? Chicken? Fish? Steak? Lobster?”

  “I don’t know.” She glanced at the bill of fare. The prices were outrageous. She would have loved to order the lobster, but it was over forty dollars.

  “Don’t worry about the price,” Thorne said, noting her hesitation. “Order anything you like.”

  “Are you sure?”

  “I can afford it, Sky Blue. Why not have the lobster? It’s excellent.”

  “You must have been reading my mind.”

  He didn’t say anything, just looked at her and smiled when she ordered the lobster.

  Kaiden Thorne proved to be a fantastic dinner companion. He was knowledgeable on a wide range of subjects, everything from the life and times of Abraham Lincoln to the latest James Bond movie. They discussed books and movies and the current world situation, but wisely avoided politics and religion.

  By the time they ordered dessert, Sky’s schoolgirl crush had reasserted itself. She loved the way Kaiden smiled, the hypnotic sound of his voice, the fact that, unlike most men, he loved chocolate almost as much as she did.

  Sky leaned back in her chair, stuffed to the brim with lobster and chocolate fudge cake. “I could die happy right now,” she murmured with a smile.

  He grinned at her, his eyes crinkling at the corners. “Could you wait a few hours? I thought maybe we could go dancing, or take in a late movie.”

  “Dancing! I haven’t been dancing in, gosh, I don’t remember the last time.”

  “Then we should remedy that right away.”

  “It’s not a disease.”

  “No,” he agreed, reaching for the check. “But it will give me the perfect excuse to hold you in my arms.”

  He took her to a high-class nightclub located on a moonlit lake. Sky had never been there before, since membership was required, and only the elite could afford the dues.

  She couldn’t help feeling like one of the ugly stepsisters as Kaiden escorted her into the club. The women inside wore designer gowns accented by glittering diamonds and rubies. The men wore Armani. The room itself was exquisite, with parquet floors, crystal chandeliers, and tables covered in rich, cream-colored damask. Floor-to-ceiling mirrors adorned two of the walls opposite each other, making it appear as if the dancers went on and on, into infinity.

  A tall, slender woman in an elegant black dress welcomed Thorne by name, then escorted them to a booth. Thorne slid in beside Sky. His thigh brushed hers, sending a tingle of awareness through her from head to heel.

  After ordering a good bottle of Chardonnay, he looked at her and asked if she wanted to dance.

  “Isn’t that why we’re here?” she replied with a saucy grin.

  “Indeed.” Rising, he offered Sky his hand and led her onto the dance floor.

  Excitement thrummed through every fiber of her being when Kaiden drew her into his arms. She had always loved to dance. At seventeen, she had fantasized about dancing with Kaiden at the junior prom, but she wasn’t a teenager any longer and the reality of being this close to him was far more exhilarating than any daydream she’d ever had.

  Kaiden’s breath fanned her ear as he whispered, “Relax.”

  Relax? Was he kidding? How could she relax with his big body pressed so intimately against hers? When he was looking at her like that, as if he was a starving man and she was the last meal on the planet? When he smelled so good? When all she could think about was pressing her mouth to his to see if he tasted as good as he looked?

  Taking a deep breath, she forced herself to concentrate on the music, and as she did so, some of her tension melted away.

  Kaiden smiled at her. “That’s better.”

  “I love this song,” she murmured.

  He nodded as he twirled her around the floor. “‘Unchained Melody’ just became one of my favorites.”

  His words warmed her heart. It was a magical night, she thought as she lost herself in his embrace. The music was soft and romantic, the man was handsome and danced divinely. When the song ended, another began, and as they moved across the floor, it seemed they had danced together forever. She loved the confident way he held her, the way he looked at her, as if she was the most beguiling female he had ever known, the way his hand dwarfed hers. He was so blatantly male. Everything that was female within her responded to him. She took a deep breath and her nostrils filled with his unique scent. Try as she might, she couldn’t place it.

  When the song ended, they returned to the table to sample the wine, and then they danced again. Once, when he twirled her around the floor, she caught sight of the two of them in the mirror. She smiled inwardly, thinking how good they looked together.

  Sky hated to see the night end, but when she yawned behind her hand for the third time, Kaiden suggested it might be time to go home.

  He drove much more slowly on the return trip. Sky smiled inwardly. Dared she hope it was because he wanted to spend more time with her? She certainly wanted to spend more time with him.

  He parked the car in his driveway and after opening her door, he took Sky’s hand in his and walked her across the street.

  Sky’s heart was beating triple time when they reached the porch. Butterflies fluttered in Sky’s stomach as she delved in her handbag for her keys. Would he kiss her good night?

  “I’d like to do this again real soon,” he said as she slid the key into the lock.

  “Me, too.” After opening the front door, she reached inside and switched on the hall light.

  “Is tomorrow too soon?”

  Turning to face him, she murmured, “Not for me.”

  “Pick you up at four?”

  “All right. Where are we going?”

  “I’m not sure yet. Dress casual.”

  She nodded, wishing the night would never end. Being with him was exhilarating. Riding in his car, dancing, sharing a meal ... They were all mundane things, yet sharing them with Thorne was like experiencing each one for the first time. Why didn’t he kiss her? What if she kissed him?


  Thorne gazed into Skylynn’s eyes, eyes as blue and clear as sapphires, and before he had time to talk himself out of it, he drew her into his arms and kissed her. He was prepared for outrage, maybe a well-deserved slap. He wasn’t prepared for the way she melted into his embrace, or the way her eyelids fluttered down as she locked her hands behind his neck, went up on her tiptoes, and kissed him back.

  His tongue plundered her mouth. She tasted of melted butter and wild rice, of red wine and warm, willing woman and he wondered what she would do if he swung her into his arms and carried her up the stairs to her bedroom.

  It took every ounce of willpower he possessed to break the kiss, to loosen his hold on her, to put a respectable distance between them.

  She blinked up at him, her lips parted, her eyes wide. “Wow.”

  “I’ll take that as a compliment,” he remarked with a grin.

  “Please do.”

  He rocked back on his heels. “I might be able to do better.”

  “I doubt it,” she murmured.

  Muttering, “I could never resist a challenge,” he folded his hands over her shoulders, drew her body against his, and claimed her lips once more.

  His tongue dueled with hers, tasting, teasing, until, with a startled cry, she pulled away. “Ouch!”

  He released her instantly. “I’m sorry.”

  “That’s okay.” She lifted a finger to her tongue, frowned when it came away bloody. “Grandma, what sharp teeth you have.”

  He laughed softly. She had no idea how sharp they really were, or how that tiny taste of her life’s essence stirred a hunger in him that had been dormant for years.

  Drawing her into his arms yet again, he gave her a chaste kiss on the forehead. “Sweet dreams, Sky Blue.”

  “Thank you. I had a wonderful time.”

  “As did I.”

  “Good night, Kaiden.”

  He waited until she went inside before crossing the street to his own house.

  Inside, he locked and bolted the door, then stood with his back pressed against the heavy oak, his eyes closed as he savored the memory of holding Skylynn in his arms. The taste of her kisses lingered on his tongue, the scent of her perfume, of the woman herself, clung to his clothing.