"His eyes closed, savoring the feel of her body against his, the fact that he could want her with such intensity. He held her, wanting her, needing her, burning for her, not even understanding how such a firestorm could consume him. Reluctantly he lifted his head, his body raging at him. "Let us go home, Raven." His voice was pure seduction. A slow smile curved her soft mouth. "I don't think it's safe. You're the kind of man my mother warned me about." He kept his arm possessively around her shoulders, shackling her to him. Mikhail had no intention of allowing her to leave his side again. His body urged her in the direction he wanted. They walked together in companionable silence. "Jacob wasn't going to hurt me," she denied suddenly. "I would have known." "You were not touching him, little one, and it was lucky for him." "He's certainly capable of violence. It's always hard to miss violence." She flashed him her mischievous smile. "It clings to you like a second skin." He tugged at her thick braid in retaliation for her teasing. "I want you to come stay in my home. At least until we find and dispose of the assassins." Raven walked several steps in silence. He had said we, as if they were a team. That pleased her. "You know, Mikhail, it was the strangest thing today. Not one person at the inn or in the village seemed to know of the murder." His finger flicked along her delicate cheekbone. "And you said nothing." She flashed him a quelling glance from under long lashes. "Of course not. Gossiping is not my form of entertainment."