Her eyes fluttered open and looked up into his. His breath mixed with hers and caught in his chest. The need to keep her safe mixed with a heavy dose of desire and not in a sleazy guy way as Helen had so eloquently put it. But a need to taste Amber’s tears on her full lips and drive all the pain, all the anguish, away.

Her eyes slid to his lips and she caught her lower lip in her teeth.

Kincaid would probably curse himself later, but tasting her wasn’t something he was willing to wait to do any longer.

He ran his thumb over her bottom lip, releasing it from her teeth and he leaned in and placed his lips on hers.

Amber didn’t gasp in shock or push him away. No, the fingers caressing his neck kneaded his flesh and she moaned. The tiny sound vibrated through his body and every inch of his skin sang for more. He tilted her head back farther, parting her lips. He reminded himself he was kissing a woman who’d probably never been kissed before. The tip of his tongue licked her bottom lip, letting her get used to the sensation and intimacy.

Shy at first, she opened for him, let him explore, and then matched his actions. Some kisses were more innocent than others. Their kiss went no further, even though Kincaid would have liked nothing more than to touch more of her, taste more of her. This seductive kiss was dangerous enough, but it did seem to be driving away the shadows in her head. So he kept kissing her as his erection strained against his tight pants. She hadn’t noticed…or if she did, it wasn’t bothering her enough to pull back.

Breathless, she broke away and stared into his eyes. Innocent doe eyes blinked and brought him into focus. He loved that he’d brought out the fullness in her lips with his own and could only imagine what she’d look like after he’d made love to her.

He shook the thought from his head, knowing she could read him if she tried hard enough.

“Do you feel better?”

“I do.”

He looked around them, noticed a space free of unwanted birds. “We should go inside.”

Her gaze fluttered to the sky. She shivered and wiggled off his lap.

Chapter Eleven

Millions of women throughout time had been kissed, but Amber couldn’t help question if every kiss felt as earth shattering as the one she’d shared with Gavin. The heat of his shield wrapped around her, pulling her closer to the man holding her, and his body welcomed hers like a lost member of a family. In Gavin’s arms, Amber felt like a woman for the first time in her twenty-nine years.

At least if I die now, I’ll go to my grave with some knowledge of passion. She thought she’d never have an opportunity to experience anything so intimate. The thought of dying wiggled in right behind the elation of her first kiss. If it wasn’t for Gavin letting her go, she wouldn’t have collapsed and he wouldn’t have needed to cradle her the way he had.

Amber knew protecting her might be a two-handed job. What would happen next time?

We can’t hold hands forever.

Gavin hesitated on the steps into Mrs. Dawson’s home and turned to her. “You’re not going to die.”

“Perhaps not today.”

Not happy with her response, Gavin pulled her alongside him into the house. Once inside he yelled. “Giles!”

The door to the library was open and the librarian ran from the room. “What’s wrong?”

“The perimeter has been breached.”

Alarm filled Giles’s face. “Computer!” he called. “Oh, damn…that won’t work. What do we do?”

“Gather Simon, Helen, and Mrs. Dawson and meet me in the safe room.” Gavin paused half way down the hall. “Wait…does Mrs. Dawson have a safe room yet?”

“The iron vault in the basement?” Amber asked.

“Perfect.”

Moments later, the six of them packed into the twenty by twelve foot room with the vault door closed. Amber sensed Gavin’s irritated state as he glanced around the small room. “This is not going to work for long.”

“What isn’t going to work? And why are we down here?” Simon asked.

Gavin toed one of the boxes and dust plumed into the air. “When was the last time these provisions were rotated?”

Mrs. Dawson sat in one of the three chairs in the room. “That would be back when Mr. Dawson was alive, I’m afraid. I didn’t see a need after he passed.”

“Well, there’s a need now. The property has been breached.”

“What does that mean?” Helen asked.

“Before we discuss this we need to secure this room.”

“The room is solid, Mr. Kincaid,” Mrs. Dawson told him.

He offered a patient smile and said, “Not from entry, but from ears. Giles?”

Giles nodded and patted down his pockets. “Oh, right!”

Gavin reached to his leg, pulled up his pant leg, and retrieved a knife. He handed it to Giles who made a tiny cut on his finger. He walked around the room, placing a print on every corner.

Amber and the others watched in fascination as the stoic librarian prepared the room for something.

“Ready,” Giles told them.

Gavin then lifted his free hand in the air and sparked a flame to each drop of blood. He squeezed her hand. “I’m going to have to expand my shield to the others. Or at least try. If the pain is too great I’ll pull back.”

Amber stiffened her spine and gave a single nod.

Gavin turned to the others. “For Amber’s sake, try and clear your minds.”

The blue light shielding Amber and Gavin pulsated and grew. In an effort to ease her growing anxiety, Amber closed her eyes and concentrated on the warmth of the hand holding hers.

She felt Giles first, then the hazy presence of Mrs. Dawson.

I hope this works, was the thought in Giles’s head.

Helen and Simon entered the circle at the same time. Concern from Simon threatened to swallow her. Helen was chanting the words. Think of nothing, think of nothing.

“Amber?” Gavin’s soft voice had her opening her eyes.

“I’m all right.”

He leaned close to her ear. “You’re a terrible liar.”

A dull ache punctured her brain and started to swell. “Just hurry.”

Gavin wasted little time. “From this moment forward, inside this room, the protective arms of our ancestors, our brothers, and sisters shall filter out unwanted ears, unwanted eyes. As I bid it, make it so…give us a sign to let us know.”

The small flames glowing from Giles’s blood expanded, and then burned out completely.