Page 31 of The Mating Fire
Harper thought of electrons and volcanic rock, desperately trying to ignore the hardness of the male behind her, the obvious male reaction he had to snuggling against her. So firm and long… it would be like shooting a thick, steel arrow into her body, only an arrow designed to stroke and thrust, creating a friction that would have her clawing at the sheets and screaming her pleasure…
She gulped and let the arrow fly. It hit the stone wall.
“Not bad.” Jared stepped back. “It takes time. Try again.”
Harper did, shooting arrows at the wall until she finally hit the edge of the target. He applauded.
“Well done.”
No mocking in his dark eyes. She beamed at him as she handed back the bow and quiver. “Thanks.”
This time, his expression turned thoughtful. “Do you believe in soul mates?”
Harper blinked. Such an odd question when they barely had met. “I suppose. Never quite thought about it. Why?”
Jared paused in fitting the bow with an arrow. “What do you think a soul mate is supposed to be? Someone perfect for you?”
She thought a moment. “My adoptive parents certainly were not soul mates. But I’d like to think my birth parents were. I suppose soul mates are people who aren’t perfect, but exactly what the other person needs. A mate who doesn’t grant your heart’s desire, but what your heart needs.”
“How do you figure out what your heart needs?”
Harper shook her head. “So many questions. You look deep inside yourself. Trust your instincts. I knew I wanted to be a volcanologist because it was what I needed. I needed a profession that engaged my scientific interest while helping people.”
Pointing an arrow at a castle turret, he released it. The arrow wended its way around the courtyard with lazy grace, then spun downward and hit the target on the bull’s eye.
Magick. Jared’s magick. He had more power than the ability to seduce. And he’d brought her here, so that was another obstacle to overcome. How could she find a way to escape with a demon like this keeping her captive?
Jared glanced at her. “Science sounds like your heart’s desire.”
“My heart’s desire was to make oodles of money, so I’d never again have to eat Ramen noodles for breakfast, lunch and dinner. Enough money to pay off my student loans. Originally, I wanted to be a chemical engineer and work for a chemicalcompany that was paying for science students to get degrees. My heart needed something else – to study geology and become a volcanologist. Chances are I will not get a well-paying job out of the gate because, well, there’s not a lot of career choices. But I needed to do it.”
Jared shook his head. “I’d have gone for the money.”
“Why? You don’t need money.” With a sweeping gesture she indicated the castle.
“I’m not into helping others as you are. Waste of time. No one ever appreciates you.” He shot an arrow into the air, straight up. “Do you think the people you could save from an eruption would thank you?”
As it landed on the ground before her, she picked it up and handed it back. “No. Saving them is thanks enough.”
Maybe some found Jared disagreeable, but he intrigued Harper. She adored mysteries – mysteries of this ancient planet, mysteries of science and solving them. Jared Griffin was a mystery as well. She sensed deep inside, he was lonely and hid it through a prickly, albeit handsome, exterior.
“Why do you ask about soul mates? Do you believe in them?”
Jared shrugged and fitted the arrow into the bow.
“You need to find your soul before you can discover your soul mate.”
“You said you were cursed by a witch. What kind of curse? Does it have to do with soul mates?” she asked.
Jared didn’t answer, but his expression tightened. He pointed the arrow straight at her and released it.
Gasping, she went to duck, but the arrow followed her move. Seconds before it struck her chest, she flung out her hands.
Blue fire shot out, engulfing the arrow and disintegrating it, leaving gray ash behind on the grass.
Her heart beat faster as she stared at the remains of the arrow, and then looked at Jared. Standing there, not smug nor angry. No, his expression held a certain… satisfaction.
“If you don’t like me asking questions, hello, tell me instead of trying to kill me!”
