Page 43 of Dark Victory

She wasn’t going to even try to deny that she was really glad he’d been with her just then. He had enough courage for an entire army, she thought.

Tabby rose to her feet, still shaken. Macleod let her go and he stood, too. She looked at him grimly. “What just happened?”

He didn’t answer, but she hadn’t expected him to. She left Macleod and walked over to her laptop, which lay on the floor, at least ten feet from the coffee table where she’d left it. She picked it up and held it tightly to her chest. Macleod touched her shoulder.

She hadn’t heard him come up behind her. “Is it broken?”

“I don’t know.” What had tried to get into her loft? She shivered. “If it’s broken, I have a desktop over there.” She pointed at the desk at the other end of the loft, where her Mac was, and stiffened. The computer lay on its side, and the monitor that had been on her desk was on the floor. “I can buy a new laptop first thing tomorrow, if I have to. All my files are backed up.”

“Ye’re brave.”

She went still. In that instant, she knew how important courage was to him and she had the inkling that he did not toss praise about lightly. She smiled grimly. She wasn’t brave, not really, but she wasn’t about to reveal how scared she’d been. She was a Rose, and she’d done what she’d had to do. She thought of how unflappable he’d just been—even without his powers. She couldn’t help but respect and admire his courage, too. But clearly Macleod would never panic, especially not in battle.

She put the laptop on the coffee table. She powered it on, and then went to the kitchen for a garbage bag. “My sister is a warrior—she likes nothing more than to slay demons. She’s the really brave one. You’ll probably meet her in the morning.” She was not going to think about the rest of the night, she decided.

He took the garbage bag from her and their hands brushed. Fire felt as if it sparked between them. Tabby dared to meet his gaze. A long night lay ahead. Evil had tried to get into her loft, and she was glad he’d been with her. So where did that leave them? “Ye need servants to clean this up,” he said.

A very safe topic, she thought in relief. “Our cleaning lady comes once a week. She would die if she saw the loft like this—and she’d quit.”

“I’ll see that she cleans the loft.”

Tabby started. “She’s not a servant, Macleod, or a serf. I pay her with coin for her services and she can leave my employ at any time.” Tabby realized she was blabbering and her composure was starting to crumble. An attack on her loft, after that interlude in her bathroom, was more than she wanted to think about. Abruptly she sat down on the sofa.

What had that thing been?

When had she ever faced such hatred?

Did it hate her?

“Ye’re tired. Ye used up too much power chasing the ghost away. Can ye rest?”

“I was tired before that ghost appeared,” she said carefully. He wasn’t really concerned about her, was he? He was a ruthless barbarian who used women, right? He had one interest when it came to her—getting her back into his bed.

Except, he kept saving her life. Or trying to do so.

His eyes changed, taking on the indolent and sensual look that choked up her breathing and made her feel dizzy. “I’ll find wood to cover the windows while ye sleep.”

Her insides vanished completely. No matter how cold it got inside, if she let him sleep with her, they wouldn’t be cold at all. Unable to move, she stared at him, her mind treacherously thinking about having that big body beside hers in her bed. She flushed everywhere, became acutely aware of how late it was and what they had just gone through together. Most of all, she knew what would happen if she let him sleep with her.

She’d shout and weep in pleasure while he filled her.

Tabby Rose would vanish, leaving a wildly passionate stranger in her place.

And if that ghost came back, she would rather be in his bed than alone in hers.

She had to rein in her feelings. He was a powerful warrior, but she had to remind herself of their differences and not allow herself to be seduced by his courage, heroism or power. He was ruthless and savage, and she had to remember that. If she decided to sleep with him again, she had better keep her head on straight. It would be a one-night stand.

Tabby almost choked on her thoughts. In the span of twenty-four hours, she was thinking like a stranger—no, her sister. “You’re a helluva partner in a demonic crisis,” she said carefully.

His eyes flickered. “Yer magic was strong. Ye’re a warrior like yer sister.”

She wasn’t certain her magic had helped. “What happened to your power, Macleod?”

“The gods are angry with me because I have refused to take vows to serve them. They aggravate me whenever they can.” A cold smile arose and vanished as quickly.

“Please tell me you are not in a battle with the deities?” Could he be that arrogant?

He was amused. “I dinna fear such a challenge, Tabitha. I am one of them.”