Darkest Fire by Tawny Taylor

It had been too mechanical, robotic, detached from the rest of him—soul, mind. Insert Rod A into Slot B, slide it around for a few minutes, and that was it. Done.
    But that was before that kiss.
    Was it hopeful thinking on his part, or had he sensed a level of submission in his new bride’s response?
    Then again, did he dare take their marriage to that level and allow himself to be that vulnerable?
    What if he learned to need her?
    Love her?
    The thought terrified him.
    He couldn’t let it go that far. The price they would pay, not only he and his bride, but his brothers, and others too. . . .
    Nonono.
    It was far better to be safe. To protect himself, his brothers, and the many other people who depended upon them, he would have to keep things under control. That was, after all, the reason for his buying a bride in the first place. She would understand. She’d accepted his proposal. They’d both made their choice, freely, and were facing the consequences as adults. There was nothing more to think about.
    He pulled the envelope from his pocket and handed it to her, assuming she was anxious to get the money now.
    She accepted it with a soft, “Thank you,” and slipped it into her purse, turning her head away again to stare out the window.
    Anxiety was etched into her expression, her tight lips and taut jaw, the slender column of her neck and slight tremble in her hands. Long tapered fingers were curled tightly around the leather straps of her purse, her knuckles white from the pressure.
    “I hope you don’t mind. . . .I have a quick errand to run when we get home,” she muttered as she toyed with her ring. “It’s important.”
    “I’ll drive you.”
    “No. Please.” She looked at him. “I mean, thanks for offering, but I hate to drag you along, make you waste more time—”
    “I don’t mind.” He enunciated the words clearly, hoping she’d get the message without him having to say it. There weren’t a lot of good reasons—ones that didn’t involve assholes with guns—for a person to need as much cash as she did all at one time. He might not be striving to be Husband of the Year, but he would protect his wife, whether she was willing to let him or not.
    She chewed on her lip. “I don’t know.”
    “I’ll wait in the car if you want,” he lied.
    It took her a minute or two, but she finally acquiesced with a breathy, “Okay.”
    “Where to?”
    “Magic Touch. I need to make a phone call.”
    He reached for her, wanting her to listen closely, to hear his words, and to believe them. “Tell me why you need so much money. What could possibly be worth selling yourself, your future, for? Rin, you can trust me.”

5
    Y ou can trust me.
    Rin had heard those words so many times before, and from so many untrustworthy people, they were like a red blinking light, a signal. Warning: Danger Ahead, Do Not Enter.
    Yet, despite her instinct, she had a gut feeling she needed Drako’s help. He’d be her backup, in case the bastard who had Lei decided his original price had been too low.
    But did that mean she had to tell him everything?
    “My sister,” she blurted. “It’s for her.”
    “Your sister,” he echoed, glancing at her with those dark, probing eyes.
    “She’s worth it. Any price.”
    “You sold yourself to help your sister?”
    She shrugged. “Yes. I needed the money for her.”
    “I see.” His puzzled expression said exactly the opposite. “Did she borrow more than she could pay back? Or did she build up a gambling debt?”
    “No, it’s nothing like that.” Rin stared down at her wedding ring. It was going to take some time getting used to wearing it. Sure, it was beautiful, the prettiest ring she’d ever seen. The center stone was a brilliant blue shade. Absolutely gorgeous. Regardless, it felt heavy, strange.
    It was going to take some time getting used to something else—having someone else care what happened to her, what she was doing and where she was going. If there was going