Into Temptation

Into Temptation
Jeanie London

MI6 agent Lindy Gardner always gets what she wants. And right now she wants Joshua Benedict to come clean about his relationship with the criminal mastermind behind the White Star amulet's disappearance.She knows Joshua is the best "fixer" ever to walk on the wrong side of the law — no man could elude capture for so long without being very, very good.But Joshua has his own agenda. He needs to know what British Intelligence has on him. Why not challenge sensual, daring Lindy to an international game of hide-and-seek? There's only one hitch. Joshua wants to be caught. Is this game on…or game over?

Into Temptation

Jeanie London

www.millsandboon.co.uk (http://www.millsandboon.co.uk)

Dear Reader,

THE WHITE STAR legend continues… The amulet is now leaving the United States to follow its destiny into several sexy European locales. While it journeys to places both familiar and new, it weaves the power of true love over two new lovers.

True love is about the last thing MI6 agent Lindy Gardner expects when she crosses the big pond to pursue the man who can lead her to the amulet. Joshua Benedict isn’t expecting true love, either. He doesn’t believe in legends or curses – only in the luck he makes for himself.

But the White Star possesses a power that finds the pure of heart even in the unlikeliest places.

The instant I heard about this continuity series, I knew Into Temptation was the story for me. I hope you enjoy!

Very truly yours,

Jeanie London

To all the folks who had a hand in creating this

wonderful world…my continuity buds: Lori

Wilde, Carrie Alexander, Kristin Hardy and

Shannon Hollis; our project manager

extraordinaire, Kathryn Lye; and my own

always-brilliant editor, Wanda Ottewell.

It has been a pleasure, ladies!

A warm breeze stirred branches, filling the air with theincense of eucalyptus. Yet Egmath glared into the sultrynight, a mixture of defiance and despair making thismagical place seem unfamiliar, though he had alwaysfound refuge here.

“How can so perfect a night herald such heartache?”he demanded of the dark that lay as sweeping velvet overthe river, studded by stars and illumined by moonlight.

He would find no shelter this night. He could escapeneither destiny nor duty, for on the morrow his marriagewould take place in the Hall of a Thousand Pillars.

Always, Egmath had intended to speak the sacredvows with his beloved Batu, but the priests had swornhim to her sister, the heiress to the throne. And the godswould mock them all, for he and Batu would fl ank theirfuture queen before the altar while he uttered vowsbinding him to the wrong woman, tearing the heart fromhis beloved’s chest, from his own.

These past days of feasting and preparation hadblurred together, marked only by his spiking dread as thewedding approached. He told himself a feted warriorwho had faced death in battle should be more courageousof spirit and reconciled to duty, yet obligation lay as adeath pall over his future. When he could fi nally endurethe agony no longer, he had summoned Batu, knowinghe would not find the strength to endure the morrowwithout holding her in his arms one last time.

He stared into the moonlit darkness with eyeshungry for the sight of her. She emerged from theshadows as she always had, bereft of the adornmentsof the royal court, a simple gown flowing around her,tempting him with sleek curves and raven hair thatgleamed silver and gold beneath the night.

In her welcoming smile he found his shelter.

“You came to me,” he said.

She approached with a grace that had made herfi endishly difficult to catch when they had played theiryouthful games as children, liquid strides that hadenticed him since his arrival in manhood. Feasting onthe sight of her, he extended his hands. She slid herown within.

“I would look upon you one last time as we havealways been.” Her heart glowed in her eyes. “I wouldlook upon you as you always will be—my love.”

Their bodies swayed close, drawn together asnaturally as the pull of the tide, barely touching, yether nearness soothed away the ache in his soul andrighted the universe.

Then he brought his mouth down upon hers. For thespate of one shared breath, the promise of a future thatshould have been theirs lay between them—the preludeto their kiss, so agonizingly sweet, before need crashedin, and passion reigned.

Batu yielded beneath the press of his lips. Hethrilled to her giving response, his own yearning thatdefied destiny and circumstance, made him ache to tossobligation to the four winds and follow the call ofdesire. This woman was his lifeblood…his friend, hisstrength, his fantasy.

With his mouth upon hers and his tongue tastingthe demand of her kiss, Egmath would have laid downhis life to avoid the morrow. But self-indulgence wasnot to be his. Only in his strength would Batu fi nd hercourage to face their future. He loved her too much todeny her any chance to fi nd peace.

When finally they broke apart, their passionlingering in their ragged breaths, in the whispers ofthe palms on the breeze, she pressed something into hispalm.

“What is this?” He gazed down upon a mother-of-pearlamulet fashioned in the shape of a star.

“I would give you my heart.” Her voice trembledthrough lips reddened by his kiss. “To keep with youforever.”

“I will cherish your gift always. Your heart shall bemy strength and my beacon through this darkness.”

When she held her hand over his, he knew sheunderstood all his feelings so poorly conveyed.

“I would beg such a prize of you as well, Egmath.”

“It is yours, my beloved, as is my heart.”

“Then grant me tonight, where I will be yours alone.Gift me with a memory I shall cherish forever.”

The amulet blazed in their clasped hands, a firethat captured the power of their love, the force of theirshared passion, a heat that would bind them in spiritforever.

Egmath brought their hands to his mouth, breatheda promise in the kiss he pressed to her smooth skin.

She trembled.

“Tonight shall be ours,” he vowed.

Loosing the clasp at her shoulder, he swept awaythe gown to expose her golden loveliness. The double-edged blade of desire pierced his heart as she came intohis arms, unfolding in a sweep of lush curves and warmflesh that aligned perfectly against him.

“A memory to cherish always, my beloved Batu,a reminder that neither duty nor fate nor death canseparate us, for true love will endure.”

TO BE CONTINUED…

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