She got to her feet, walked to the window to open it. She needed air. “She’s alone in the dark—that’s how I think of her. They’re all alone in the dark. If I don’t do what needs to be done, they’ll stay in the dark.”

Zoe walked over to press her cheek to the back of Dana’s shoulder. “They’ve got each other, and they’ve got us. Don’t beat yourself up. You’re trying.”

“And I think you’re getting somewhere.” Malory joined them at the window. “I’m not saying that to be annoyingly optimistic. You’re putting the different parts of Rowena’s clue together. Your brain’s working them out, shifting them around, trying to make them fit. And I think with this last attempt, you’ve started to use your heart.

“It’s not just your mind that has to be open,” Malory added when Dana turned her head to stare at her. “Your heart has to be. That’s one thing I learned. You can’t take that last leap otherwise. You won’t be ready to risk what’s on the other side.”

SHE didn’t know why it bothered her, bothered her to the point of anger. Open her heart? What was that supposed to mean? Was she supposed to strip her emotions bare so anyone could come in on a whim and dance all over them?

Wasn’t it enough that she was working her ass off, giving herself headaches with hours of research, note-taking, calculating, and supposition?

She cared, damn it, she thought as she slammed into her apartment. She cared about those three young women, half goddess, half mortal, and trapped for eternity inside a glass prison.

She had shed tears for them, would shed blood if necessary.

How much more open did she have to be?

Tired, achy, irritable, she strode to the kitchen, popped the top on a beer, ripped open a bag of pretzels to go with it. She dropped into a chair in the living room to sip, munch, and sulk.

Take the last leap?

She was going up against an ancient and powerful sorcerer. She was risking nearly every cent she had on a new business. She’d ordered shelving and tables, chairs, and books. Let’s not forget the books.

Then there was the cappuccino machine, the individual teapots, the glassware, the paper products that would max out her credit card in very short order.

And she was doing it all without any projected income. If that wasn’t a goddamn leap, what was?

Easy for Malory to talk about open hearts and last leaps. She’d already done her part, and was all cozied up with Flynn in connubial bliss.

Got your house and your dog and your man, Dana thought with a scowl. Congratulations all around.

And, God, she was being such a bitch.

She let her head fall back and stared up at the ceiling.

“Face it, Dana, you’re jealous. Not only did Malory come through the test with a big fat A, she earned all the goodies. And here you are, spinning your wheels, sleeping with a man who’s already broken your heart once, and terrified you’re going to blow it all.”

She hauled herself up at the knock on her door, and took the beer with her to answer.

Moe shoved his nose into her crotch by way of greeting, then rushed past her to claim the mangled rope he’d left on the rug during his last visit.

He pranced back, ears flopping, to whack the rope hopefully against her knees.

“You didn’t come by to get Moe,” Jordan commented.

“I forgot.” She shrugged, then walked back and dropped into the chair again.

Jordan closed the door behind him, tossed the manila envelope he carried on a table. He knew that look, he thought as he studied Dana’s face. She was sulking and working her way up to a serious mad.

“What’s going on?”

“Nothing much.” Since Moe was trying to crawl into her lap, she tugged the rope out of his teeth and tossed it to Jordan.

It had the expected and for her, gratifying, result of causing Moe to charge him like a bull charges a matador. And like a matador uses his cape, Jordan flicked the rope down and to the side. Man and dog played tug-of-war while dog growled playfully and man stared at woman.

“Long day? I was going to come by and give you a hand, but I got caught up in stuff.”

“We’re managing everything.”

“An extra pair of hands couldn’t hurt.”

“You want to put your hands to good use?”

“It’s a thought.”

“Fine.” She pushed out of the chair, headed toward the bedroom. “Bring them along with you.”

Jordan lifted a brow at Moe. “Sorry, kiddo, you’re on your own. I think I’m about to play a different sort of game.”

He followed Dana into the bedroom, shut the door. He heard Moe collapse on the other side with a huge doggie sigh.

She’d already stripped off her sweatshirt and shoes and was unbuttoning her jeans. “Lose the clothes.”

“Got an itch, Stretch?”

“That’s right.” She wiggled out of the jeans, tossed back her hair. “Got any problem scratching it?”

“Can’t seem to think of one.” He shrugged out of the coat, threw it aside.

He got rid of his shoes, his shirt, while she pulled down the covers. He’d been off about her mood, he realized. She’d already worked herself up to a good mad and was looking for a handy place to put it.

When she reached up to unclasp her bra, he stepped over, gripped her hands, trapping them—for one erotic moment—behind her. Then he released her to trail his fingers down her spine. “Leave something for me, will you?”

She shrugged, then fisting a hand in his hair, yanked his mouth to hers.

She used her teeth, her nails, setting the mood for fast, hot sex with just a hint of mean. She wasn’t looking for fancy touches or soft flourishes but for sweat and speed.

She felt his body’s instant response, the hard hammer blow of his heart, the lightning strike of heat that punched out of him and straight through her. His mouth fed off hers, and his hands began to take, fingers digging in to brand and bruise.

She was already wet and ready when she shoved him back on the bed.

She would have straddled him and made quick work of it, but he flipped her over, trapped her body under his. Set his teeth on her breast. Her hips jerked, her hands clamped on his, and she ground herself against him in frantic, furious demand.

His vision hazed with red as the fierce bite of need tore through his system. He yanked her bra down to her waist, filled his mouth with her even as he shoved his hand between them, drove his fingers into the heat of her and shot her brutally over the edge.