To Trap A Temptress (Southern Sanctuary - Book 2) by Jane Cousins Page A

you jump in front of an oak tree to stop it falling?”
    “You’re
comparing me to a falling tree?”
    Nell
shrugged, that small smile continuing to play around the edges of her
mouth.  His Doc was quite pleased with herself.
    “So
you knocked me out with your secret ninja medical skills to prove to me you can
take care of yourself?”
    “Basically. 
You were being an overbearing idiot.  Do you want a drink?”  She
gestured at the champagne.
    “Hell
yes.  You ordered room service?”
    “There
was plenty of time.  I did my nails.”  She waggled her pink tipped
fingernails at him before sliding his glass across the low coffee table
separating them. “I did your nails, read a magazine.”
    Drum
took another look at his own nails as he bought the glass to his lips, thank
Maat she’d gone with the black, he could live with that.  “So what else
can you do Ninja Doc besides knock a guy out?”
    “Unconsciousness…
paralysis... pain... pleasure.”
    “Pleasure…?” 
He lifted an intrigued eyebrow for a split second.
    “Theoretically.”
    “No
test subjects?”
    Nell
laughed huskily.  “Plenty of test subjects for the negative aspects of my
talent, I do have two brothers after all, not to mention an overabundance of
cocky know it all male cousins.  They learnt pretty quickly growing up not
to piss me off and get within touching distance.”
    “But
you haven’t tested out the pleasure principle part of the equation?”
    Nell
hoped the candlelight would hide the warm colour suffusing her cheeks. 
“No… not yet.”
    “Where
do I sign up?”
    Nell
drained the contents of her glass.  “How did we stray so far from the
original subject?”
    “You
were telling me about your mad ninja medical skills, knocking people out,
causing them pain… pleasure.”
    “You
know pleasure can kill right?  Over stimulating a subject can lead to
cardiac arrest, seizures and a host of contributing factors.”
    Drum
shook his head in bemusement.  “The woman just gets hotter and hotter.”
    Nell
huffed an exasperated sigh, leaning over to refill her glass.  “Back to
the argument that started all this.  Do you now understand that I am quite
capable of taking care of myself?”
    Drum
considered her question, his gut still tightened at the thought of her getting
hurt, of being alone but it wasn’t the all-encompassing fear that had frozen
him back at Diamond Sands Cove when he’d realised what it meant to be in love
with a healer.  She was a smart, practical woman who would deal well in a
crisis.  Her defensive skills were nowhere near his level but she was
capable of protecting herself and going on the attack if needed. 
    For
the first time in five hours he felt the band of pressure that had been
squeezing him around the chest region ease.  It seemed his snake tattoo
likewise agreed with the assessment that the Doc could look after
herself.   Who would have thunk it, an elite Maat warrior who
specialised in the art of death would fall in love with a  healer and as
fate would have it, she in turn could be every bit as lethal if she so
chose.  Looking at her curled up on the couch, sun kissed and relaxed he
knew it would be a hard decision for her, the path of violence, but to protect
herself or those she cared about she’d make the imminently practical logical
choice… because that was Nell; a core of steel, heat and passion wrapped in a
gorgeous elegant deceptively sweet package.  A package that tempted him
more than any woman he’d ever known.  He wanted to own her… worse he wanted
her to own him. 
    “You
look like you’re thinking pretty deep thoughts there He-man. That
historically has never led anywhere good. You wouldn’t be plotting a
little payback would you?”  Nell enquired warily.  “You were the one
who wanted proof.”
    “Credit
where credit is due Doc, I did ask for it.  Although next time if you
could drop me onto a softer surface I’d much appreciate it.”
    “You
think