• INTRODUCTION
  
  
• MEET THE CONTESTANTS
  
  
• MEET THE JUDGES
  
  

"We'll search until we find the answers to all your questions." Daniel pointed to the two plane tickets to Moscow. "But for now, let's tackle one obstacle at a time."

Jenna wanted to argue that she wanted all the answers now, but she no longer believed he had them. He was willing to help her find them, and that had to be enough.

He turned back toward the porch steps. "Get some rest. I'll be back in a week."

"Daniel?"

He angled toward her. "Yes?"

She held up the tickets. "Thanks."

"You earned it."

Jenna stared out at the yard where Pegram was chasing one of the cats, a wide doggie smile on his little face. "And thanks for saving Pegram."

"The little guy was doing a decent job of saving himself. I heard he took a chunk out of one of those guys' hand."

She smiled, then returned her gaze to Daniel. She pointed at the healing knot on his forehead. "I'm sorry about that. When I woke up in that basement, I wondered if they'd killed you." For a moment, the noxious, bitter taste of fear returned, as if she were still in that dank basement. Fear that her distrust had prevented her from taking a chance with Daniel despite her attraction and all the signs that he felt the same way about her.

"Surprisingly enough, they just left me lying in the dirt. Lucky for me, the guy manning the camera feed on the safe house saw what happened." He looked at her for a disconcerting few seconds. "They just wanted you. When I woke up, I thought I'd never find you. And then ... then I heard you. I didn't know where you were, but you were calling for me."

A shiver ran over her skin. "I thought you couldn't read minds."

"It's never happened before. It was always images, feelings. But what you were trying to make me hear came through as if you were standing beside me."

He'd been miles away at the time. What did that say about the connection between them, and not just how they lusted after each other?

She stared at him, trying to digest how incredible her life and everyone in it had become. "Thank you."

He smiled. "You said that already."

"It doesn't seem like enough."

That sexy, lopsided grin of his appeared. "Actually, there is one other thing you could do for me." His words came out low, husky, the sexiest sound she'd ever heard. The timbre of his voice was foreplay all by itself.

"What?"

He walked toward her, one careful step after another, causing her heart rate to increase each time he moved closer. "You can satisfy my curiosity."

"About what?" The throaty sound of her question betrayed the effect his nearness had on her, like he'd revved an accelerator connected to her pulse.

Daniel leaned close, his breath adding to the heat burning her cheeks. "If you taste as good as you look." He backed her against the wall of the house and kissed her, kissed her until she was certain she'd suffocate and not mind doing so. Her fingers curled around the wood siding. A moaning sound reverberated through her and seemed to urge Daniel to press even closer. Visions of stripping his hard body naked and having sex on the front porch in broad daylight filled her brain, begged her to act before either of them came to their senses.

When Daniel released her mouth, she inhaled deeply of passion-scented air. He backed away, and it took her a few seconds to focus. By the time she did, he was descending her porch steps. When he reached the driver's side of his car, he gave her one of his crooked smiles, looking quite satisfied with himself. "I'll see you next Saturday."

He drove away before she realized she still clasped the house siding.

Daniel. Russia. A mountain hideout filled with serious terrorists. Good Lord, she was in trouble.

Niall sat beside her, opened the small wooden box bearing the O'Connor coat of arms and lifted out his magic knot. He stared at the stones cradled in his palm then unraveled the leather thong and put it over her head. "Now 'tis official. We hold each other's fate by our hearts."

When she touched the stones resting between her breasts, they throbbed against her fingers, sending pulses of longing through her. A few days ago, the magic knots had been a mystery. Niall had been a mystery. Now she and Niall were joined by the stones in a mystical way she still didn't understand.

He brushed the back of her hand, caressing her skin while his energy pulsed into the core of her being, sending spirals of heat radiating through her. A small needy sound slipped from her lips, and she curled her hand into his.

He glanced over his shoulder at the bed. "Are you remembering the last time you were here?"

Memories of his body pressed against hers made her tremble. "Perhaps you should remind me."

He closed his box and placed it on the desk. "Last time I told you a wee fib."

"Did you now?"

"Aye." He gave her a self-deprecating smile. "Me arousal was not caused by friction."

Rose glanced down at his lap, her pulse skittering. "So friction had nothing to do with it then?" She ran her palm up his thigh and rubbed the bulge beneath his zipper.

He sucked in a breath.

"I'd hazard a guess the friction helped."

He cupped her cheek and nuzzled her ear. "A little friction down that way would not go amiss."

Her blood sizzled as she sought his mouth. Kissing him in huge greedy gulps, she pushed off his jacket, then broke away to tug the shirt over his head. With a shove, she pushed him flat on the bed, then unfastened his pants, leaned back and stripped off her dress.

Niall gazed up at her, eyes dazed. "Crikey O'Reilly. Where's the fire?"

Rose grinned and ripped away her underwear. He blinked slowly and opened his arms to her.

With a squeak of excitement, she leaped on him. He tried to roll her underneath, but she grappled for superiority, and they wrangled around on the bed, laughing, kissing and touching until they were both gasping and trembling.

Finally, they paused, Niall on top, the ebb and flow of their breath as one. He stared down into her face, his pupils huge and dark. "Want you."

A needy little sound escaped her as she pushed at the top of his pants with her feet, kicking them down his legs. Hot, silky flesh pressed between her thighs, blurring her mind. She grabbed at the firm muscles of his backside as her body bowed to meet him. Then he was inside her and moving. Niall's presence surrounded her, filled her body and mind. Passion stripped away his protective layers and the raw ache in his core squeezed her heart. Could he believe she loved him? Would Niall conquer his fears and stay with her this time?

Rose opened her mind and let him sense her acceptance and love. She turned her lips against the sinewy strength of his forearm and tasted his skin.

He licked her neck, nibbled her ear, stroked her lips with his silky, hot mouth. She grabbed Niall's back, traced the length of muscle and strength of bone as he pressed her into the mattress. The stones around their necks tangled, pulsed as one. Rose sensed Niall, sparking like electrical energy ready to discharge. Sensation blasted through her, a wild shock to the system leaving her trembling. "God," she croaked into Niall's hair.

He lifted his head and smiled, eyes drugged with pleasure. "Fast and furious."

She grinned and stroked the damp hair off his forehead. "I love seeing you smile. You should do it more often."

Niall rolled off her with a sigh, pulled the covers over them and gathered her against his chest. "You make me forget me woes, beautiful Rose."

"Did you sort things out with your father?"

With a shrug, he pulled her closer so she couldn't see his face. "Aye. Much as they'll ever be sorted. Tis you and me I be wanting to concentrate on now. We have to make plans to free the piskies."

Although she wanted to think about the piskies, sleep dragged down her eyelids.

Niall stroked her hair. "Sleep now, a ghrá. I know what must be done. We'll plan later."