Temptation in Shadows by Gena Showalter Read Free Book Online

sugar, and had instantly hardened. The erection, though, he could have handled. But then she’d moaned, a sound so laden with need he’d had to leave before pouncing on her.
    Later that same night, when he’d lain in bed and thought about what had almost transpired, he’d realized that more than kissing and touching her, he wanted to know everything about her. What she liked, what she didn’t like—in bed and out. If she remembered her time in captivity. What the last man in her life had been like. If she knew anything about her family, if she missed them. What snacks she preferred—after sex and before.
    Maybe then, when he knew everything about her, this need he had for her, this protective, possessive obsession, would wane. He could reduce her to the same status as every other female he’d ever allowed himself: forgettable.
    Temporary, as they both liked. As
he
needed.
    His father was like him, a summoner of shadows, and had often warned him of the dangers of prolonged relationships. While summoners could handle the darkness, embrace it even, others could not. And the more time summoners spent with people, the more that darkness seeped into their partners, driving out their inner light. Driving them into madness.
    He didn’t want that for Gabby. Which meant he could enjoy her for a little while. Only a little while. Once she was ensconced in Rose Briar, however, he would have to walk away from her. If she didn’t walk away from him first, that is.
    A few minutes later, they reached Gabby’s home. Her real home. The building was a bit run-down, the red brick crumbling, but the wood trim was freshly painted and the pavement smooth.
    There were eighteen cars in the side lot, and he scanned them. One of them, a sedan, had never been there before. There was a wet spot under the exhaust, as though it had been on for a prolonged period of time. That, in itself, wasn’t incriminating. But tinted as the windows were, no one but Sean would have been able to see the two men inside, one at the wheel and one in the passenger seat. See them he did. And that
was
incriminating.
    It was nighttime, yet both men were wearing sunglasses. They also wore suit jackets. The kind cops wore to conceal their weapons.
    “I think we’ve got an armed visitor,” he said as he parked.
    “Where?” Rowan asked, looking around.
    Rowan still couldn’t see past the shadows, but Sean didn’t want to send them away, alerting Gabby and the men to his presence. “Three o’clock.”
    “Maybe their presence is unrelated to Gabby.”
    “Maybe not. Either way, you gotta stay here, bro. Sorry. You can’t see through my shadows and we need them right now. We can’t allow anyone to spot us.” Amid his friend’s protests, Sean emerged. He commanded the shadows around the car to remain and summoned new ones to shield his body. Theyhappily complied, whisking to him, wrapping around him, cool fingers caressing his skin. Only places they didn’t touch were his temples, where the tattoos resided.
    He remained in place, enjoying their ministrations. This was where he belonged, where part of him longed to stay forever. The shadows loved him, worshiped him. He was their king, his commands their greatest pleasure.
    But as he stood there, Gabby stepped from her car. The moment he spied that fall of silky brown hair, he remembered why he was here, what he needed to do. Ever watchful, she scanned the area. For a moment, their gazes locked together and his breath hitched. She couldn’t possibly see him. No one could.
    She turned fully, stopped, reached out, then shook her head, mumbled something to herself, and turned again. Rather than move forward, she remained in place. She stiffened, her hands clenching at her sides. What was going on?
    Finally, she leapt into motion, pounding up the steps and into her apartment. The door closed with a snap, and the slide of the lock soon echoed.
    Sean worked his way to the mysterious car—but paused when he heard