The Megiddo Mark, Part 1 by Mackenzie Lucas

morning hadn’t unfolded as they had, she might have fallen for him. But the building blocks of any relationship, she knew, were trust and honesty, both of which were dubious in her interactions with Cullen Wade. Trust mattered. Almost as much as honesty. One built upon the other. Without one, the other could not exist.
    She’d promised to get to know him before she pumped him for answers, to give him the benefit of the doubt. Remain cool, distant. Yet she found herself craving the easy grace and sensuality he offered. A sharp longing flared and burned hard and low before she tamped it out.
    “I’ll grant the journey aspect. And it does seem like we have more in common than we’d realized. But is it too much to believe? Too coincidental?” she said.
    He poured her another glass of rich, blood-red Sangria. A drip splattered onto the tabletop; he wiped it with his thumb then licked it from his finger. “Coincidental? Yes. Random. No.” He held her gaze. “You can trust me, I promise.” He answered her unspoken question as he replaced the carafe. She considered him. His smile was irresistible. She wanted to believe him for more reasons than she’d care to admit. Did she dare? “Will you answer my questions as well?” he said.
    She’d expected him to be interested in one thing tonight, okay, maybe two. The book, Flights of Fancy , and sex. Yet he didn’t even want to discuss the book until later and now he actually seemed interested in getting to know her. Maybe she had misjudged him. She weighed her answer.
    “I will answer whatever you ask, within reason.” She added the subtle qualifier. What could he possibly want to know about her that he hadn’t already found out? She took a quick sip of the Sangria.
    “Fine, then, we will play this as you wish.” He brushed her hair over one shoulder so he could see her face.
    “As you said, this is one night. I require nothing more from you than answers.” Okay, maybe she was lying a little, but he never needed to know, did he?
    Cullen stilled. He looked at her, his eyes penetrating. “I find myself greatly disappointed.”
    She sobered at the sight of his bewildered look. His jaw, shadowed with a dark, attractive stubble, clenched tight as his face became an unreadable mask. She’d wounded his male pride.
    “You’re serious? I’m so sorry. I thought most men were delighted by the prospect of living free and enjoying the moment, no strings attached and all that hoopla.”
    “Apparently, luv, you’ve never had a date with me.” He pulled her close with the hand that had been caressing her neck. His lips met hers in a warm, lingering kiss that had her ready to forgo dinner for dessert. After a long moment, he pulled back. “All right. We play by your rules. One night only. But you can bet I’m going to make this one night you’ll never forget.”
    She believed he meant every single word of his threat.
     

 
    Chapter Eight
     
    Dinner stretched into a river walk along the Thames. Small cafes whose lights flickered like fireflies in the dark pulse of night populated the busy walkway. A cocoon, soft and warm, wrapped around them creating a world where only the two of them existed. Malena fell headlong into a warm camaraderie she wasn’t comfortable embracing.
    They held hands as they walked. She needed answers she hadn’t yet received. Nonetheless, she’d agreed to wait on the hard questions until midnight; pretending, for one night, for a few more moments, that their relationship consisted of more, much more than either one of them had imagined. Vendors sold brightly colored scarves, faux leather handbags, and costume jewelry at elaborate stalls.
    Cullen picked up a beautiful red paisley shawl. She touched the soft cloth, the colors were exquisite. Red, orange, gray, royal blue, and black. Wrapping it around her shoulders as she shivered, he pulled her close, kissing her lightly on the mouth. He tossed two ten-pound notes at the vendor–twice the