Midnight's Temptation

CHAPTER NINE

Phelan watched Aisley pick at her sandwich. He hadn’t had a response to her declaration then, and certainly didn’t now.

“If you could do anything, what would it be?” Phelan asked.

She lifted her gaze to him and simply stared. “What?”

“It’s a simple question,” he said with a nonchalant shrug. “If you’re too afraid to answer then doona.”

“I’m not afraid.”

Phelan inwardly smiled. It was so easy to rile her. He shouldn’t get such satisfaction out of it, but anything was better than the melancholy he’d been witness to.

“Well,” he prompted when Aisley continued to sit there.

She licked her lips and looked over his shoulder, a faraway look coming into her eyes. Her midnight locks hung half in her face, but wherever she’d gone made her happy as evidenced by the small curve of her lips upward.

“I always wanted to be a dancer. My mum put me in classes when I was six. There’s always been something about music that allows me to express myself as nothing else can.”

Phelan could hear the longing in her voice, and a place in his chest began to ache for her. “Why didna you continue dancing? I’ve seen you. You come alive with the music.”

She blinked and focused back on him. The small smile vanished. “I thought I wanted something else.”

“What?”

“You’re certainly pushy,” she replied testily and reached for her soda.

Phelan moved his finished plate away. “I’m curious about you. More so because it appears as if dancing was your life. What changed?”

“A boy,” she said. The forced smile that followed was as hollow as her eyes. “I was in love, you see. I did whatever he wanted.”

“Why would you do that?”

“Good question. One my parents asked frequently.”

“Was there an answer?”

She shook her head. “I knew I cared for him more than he cared for me, but I was sure it was love. When my parents wouldn’t stop haggling us, he told me we should move in together. And we did.”

“How did that go?”

“It was everything I thought it would be aside from the run-down place we were able to afford. That lasted all of five months. Then he began to use the money that was supposed to go to rent, food, and bills on alcohol and cigarettes.”

Phelan slowly leaned back in his chair. He had a feeling the story was going to end badly.

Aisley tore off a piece of turkey from her sandwich and popped it into her mouth. “We had gotten notice from the landlord that we were to be evicted unless we came up with the three months’ rent we owed on the flat. He promised me he’d have the money that evening when he came home from work.”

Several minutes ticked by before Aisley raised her gaze to his. “Except he never came home.”

Phelan wanted to find the prick who had done this to her and beat him to a bloody pulp. Twice. “What happened?”

“The landlord kicked me out. I barely had enough time to gather my clothes before he tossed me into the street. With nowhere else to go, I went back home. My parents welcomed me for a time.”

“For a time?” he repeated with a frown. “What do you mean?”

Aisley rubbed one of her eyes. “It means I left again.”

“Did they kick you out?”

“It doesn’t matter,” she answered cryptically.

Phelan knew there was more to the story. He was surprised she was giving him as much as she was, so he didn’t push for more. Yet.

“Where did life take you after you left?”

Aisley shifted uneasily in her chair and looked around her as if she were noticing for the first time where she was. “I need my car.”

“I’m sure it’s been towed by now. You were in no condition to drive, and I couldna leave you there.”

She shoved her hair out of her face. “I’ve been here too long. I need to go.”

“What are you running from?” Phelan asked. “It can no’ be me.”

Aisley refused to answer. She had left out more of the story, he was sure. What could have happened in her life that was so bad that it sent her on the run?

“I can protect you,” he heard himself offer.

Phelan wasn’t sure what made him say it, but it seemed the right thing to do. Plus, it would keep Aisley with him. He was sure if he blinked, she’d be gone as it stood now.

“You?” she asked incredulously. “You would protect me?”

He leaned his forearms on the table and smiled. “You’re a Druid, Aisley. You’re meant to be protected at all costs. There are so few Druids now.”

“You wouldn’t be saying that if you knew me.”

“You mean if I knew the part of the story you’d left out?” he asked. When she nodded, he gave a loud snort. “Lass, give me a little credit. I see the beautiful woman you are, inside and out. Besides, I know evil. I’ve fought it numerous times, and you are no’ evil.”

* * *

If you only knew.

Aisley didn’t say the words aloud. She was being a coward, she knew. The right thing to do would be to tell Phelan exactly who she was. He would kill her, but it would be quick.

Jason would drag it out for days or weeks before he allowed death to claim her.

She opened her mouth to tell Phelan she was a drough when she remembered that she could make sure Jason was gone for good. If she had the courage. Phelan pushed his chair back and stood. He held out a hand to her after tossing down some money to pay for the food.

Aisley looked from his outstretched hand to his face.

“I’ve given my word I’d protect you. You doona need to fear me.”

But she did. Not just because he was the enemy, but because of the attraction. Aisley welcomed the memories of the past because it had allowed her to forget the thrumming need for Phelan’s touch.

That had only lasted a short time now. He wanted her to get back on the motorbike with him, to wrap her arms around him and not feel the hard muscle beneath.

Impossible.

“Aisley,” he said with a frown. “I doona know what you’re running from but nothing will harm you as long as I’m near.”

It was too tempting of a proposition to pass up. Phelan would protect her from Jason. It would also put her in close proximity to Phelan’s amazing body, piercing eyes, and charming tongue.

How long could she hold out against the desire? How long could she pretend her body didn’t ache for his touch, that her lips didn’t yearn to taste his kisses again?

She put her hand in his, knowing it was a mistake. It was an injustice she was serving him. She knew, and still did it. Because she was tired of running.

Aisley let him pull her to her feet, his rakish smile making her heart skip a beat. She turned in time to see a waitress slip a piece of paper into his front pocket while winking at him.

“Quite the womanizer, aren’t you?” she said as she walked away.

His deep laugh followed her outside where she watched him discreetly toss the number in a trash bin. “I like women. I’ll no’ deny that. I always have. I see no reason to hurt her feelings however.”

Aisley didn’t want to like him more, but damn, it was difficult. He had helped her numerous times, and now offered his protection.

She hadn’t lied earlier though. She was tired of existing. The day her baby died was the day she stopped living.

And now it was time to cease existing as well.

After she took care of one last thing—Jason.

She was going with Phelan for one night of bliss, one night full of pleasure. Then she would tell him who she was. He would be so enraged he’d kill her immediately. She’d have to talk quickly to convince him to wait until she confronted Jason.

Hell awaited her, but Jason wouldn’t be able to touch her.

“What is it?” Phelan asked as they stood beside his motorbike.

Aisley put his helmet on. “Can you hide me for a day?”

“I can hide you for longer than that.”

“Just a day,” she said. “That’s all I need.”

Phelan’s penetrating blue-gray eyes bore into her. He was searching for the truth, but he’d get it soon enough. Until then, her secrets were her own.

“You think one day will be enough to throw off whoever is on your scent?”

Aisley looked down the road to the south where she should be in England by now. “I’ll never be free of him. There’s only one way out for me.”

“And that is?”

“Death.”

Phelan grabbed her shoulders and made her look at him. “Have you lost your mind, beauty? There is always another answer before death.”

“Is there? Do you have secrets so dear you wouldn’t dare share them with anyone else?”

He jerked back and dropped his hands. “Is that what you have? Secrets?”

“I want my life back. I crave it as much as…” She trailed off right before she told him how much she wanted his kisses.

Now wasn’t the time. But soon, very soon.

“What do you crave?”

His deep voice was smooth, soft. It made her skin prickle with need and her blood burn. He was seducing her with his voice.

It wasn’t necessary. She’d been seduced the first time they kissed. Oh, she had tried to deny it, but there was no need to lie to herself anymore.

She wanted Phelan. Her body hungered for his touch, longed to have him against her.

He closed the space that separated them and lifted his hands to her face. Aisley held her breath, waiting for him to touch her. Instead, he fastened the helmet and stepped away.

She wanted to scream with frustration. Her body hummed with need. A need only Phelan could quench.

“Are you coming?” he asked with a twinkle in his eye after he climbed on the bike.

Aisley blew out a breath and got on behind him. She felt the steady thud of his heart when she wound her arms around him. Despite herself, she couldn’t stop the grin when he released a laugh as they sped off.

The wind blew his long dark hair away from his face. She peered around his shoulder to see the satisfied smile on his face as he raced down the road.

If she craved him, Phelan yearned for the thrill of the wind on his face and the next conquest in his bed. She should be offended, but instead she found she admired him.

Deirdre had taken him and released his god. He could have given in and became evil, but Phelan persevered and won control over his god.

That’s what made him different from Jason. The Warriors could have taken over the world. Instead, they were defending it.

Phelan embraced each day, living life to the fullest while she hid in her memories and pain. It was too bad she hadn’t met Phelan before Jason had come for her.

Maybe then she’d have been strong enough to tell Jason to bugger off.

Then again, Jason never took no for an answer.