Thanks for the reviews everyone! I'm just glad I don't have that dreaded writer's block anymore. I hope you enjoy the next installment.

Chapter Twenty Three

Temptation

All was quiet within the walls of Tara but Rhett couldn't sleep. His mind was plagued by too many things he didn't want to think about. He felt old, older than his forty-five years for certain. He knew coming here was a mistake, he should have stayed away like he told himself. He knew being around Scarlett would stir up old feelings and old memories better left alone.

She was poison to him, she always had been. He couldn't live with her and yet he found he couldn't live without her even though that's exactly the thing the wanted. Already, she was wrapping herself around his life again.

He hadn't meant to kiss her. No, that was the last thing he wanted to do. Kissing Scarlett was kin to drowning in deep waters with no way to save yourself. He had lost control of himself in that brief moment, but she had fought him like the wildcat she was. He gloried in it, for that was the Scarlett he knew, the Scarlett that had always enticed him and brought him back.

Rhett stood from the chair he had been in for the last hour and walked over to the billowy curtains to look out on the dark night. He had moved the day before into old Gerald O'Hara's room, giving Scarlett back her room. He felt more comfortable here than in there. In here, he couldn't smell her scent or look upon her personal items. In here, he could pretend she was far away rather than across the hall from him.

A warm breeze suddenly wafted through the window bringing with it the soft aroma of honeysuckles. The sweet smell of it brought a smile to his lips as he remembered the first time Scarlett had brought him here to Tara. They were happy then and he had, for the first time in his life, put his heart in someone else's hands rather than keep it for himself even if she didn't realize at the time that she held it. He, Rhett Butler, had been in love and with his own wife no less.

But, so much had happened between that time and this and yet, here he was back in the bosom of her world and once again finding himself precariously close to loosing too much, too soon.

He was being drawn in whether he wanted to be or not. This situation with Wilkerson was getting deeper and more dangerous, Darcy Olson was a consideration he had to think of now. He owed her his life and he could not turn his back on her when she needed someone to help her. And, least but not certainly not last, there was Eli Barrett.

Eli Barrett… the name struck a deep chord of distrust and dislike within him. He simply didn't like the man, he didn't like his presence and he especially didn't like him around Scarlett. He had done nothing to warrant this feeling, but Rhett was a man who traveled on instinct and his instincts told him something wasn't right.

It had never occurred to him, at least consciously, that he could be jealous of the man and the moment he thought it, he swept it aside. He had spent too many years being jealous of another man and he'd be damned if he was going to do it again. He wasn't jealous, he told himself, he was cautious. Scarlett's too easy trust of him sent off warning signals in his mind. Since when did Scarlett trust anyone? Since when did she need anyone to watch out for her? God knew he had certainly tried and look where it had gotten him. Years of torment, anger, resentment and finally defeat.

Rhett was so lost in his thoughts, at first he didn't hear the soft cries that broke into the silence. He turned his head to the sound of it and felt sudden sympathy for Darcy. She had been through so much in such a short period of time.

He felt pity for her, she wasn't like Scarlett. She didn't have the strength Scarlett had, but then very few women did. She depended on her husband, he was her life and now that he was gone where did that leave her? If Wilkerson had a part in is death, and he was nearly certain he did, there had to be a reason for it and until it was discovered, that left Darcy in danger.

As he continued to listen to her cries he decided that she needed someone to go to her and since he wasn't the evident choice, it had to be Scarlett. She had taken to caring for her, which had come as a surprise to him considering that Scarlett had never had a nurturing bone in her body. But, she was really trying and Rhett did notice her efforts, even if he didn't necessarily believe she had made such a change of heart.

…Or had she?

The muffled cries continued until he could stand it no longer. He stepped out into the dark hallway and paused for a moment. He looked toward Darcy's room, only there was no sound coming from it. The cries, it appeared, were coming from Scarlett's room. He frowned as he stared at her door, stepping closer he leaned forward and inside he could hear her.

Torn over what to do now, Rhett stood there becoming annoyed, not only with himself, but with Scarlett. Her cries pricked at his heart, she had no right to do that to him any longer. He lifted a hand to the knob, but stopped himself. Gripping his fist, he turned to leave but he stopped again. He heard her, almost in a moan, call his name. She couldn't have known he was there.

Rhett fought with himself. What if something was wrong? What if she were sick? He shook his head, Scarlett… sick? No, it had to be something else. She called his name again and this time without thinking, he grabbed the handle and pushed the door slightly ajar. He could hear her clearly now and she was sniffing and hiccupping into her pillow.

"Who's there?" she asked suddenly and sat up in the bed. "Mammy? Is that you?"

He released the door and let it fall open further. "No, it's Rhett," he said.

"Rhett?" she breathed and pushed her hair back.

"I thought I heard crying," he offered as the reason for standing in her doorway.

"I'm sorry, I... I don't know what's wrong with me," she answered desolately.

He could see her dim outline in the bed from the pale light of the moon coming in through her window. She looked so alone, so vulnerable and it squeezed around his heart until he wanted grab her and shake her. "Guilty conscious, perhaps?" he replied glibly instead and crossed his arms. It was best to keep the distance. He had been manipulated before, he wouldn't be again.

Scarlett could feel Rhett's eyes boring down on her as she sat in her bed. Guilty conscious?, he had asked. How could she explain to him that what she was feeling went beyond guilt? She had to face the truth, the hard, cold truth… she was not a good person. She was a bad mother to Bonnie and she was horrible to everyone who ever cared about her. Guilty? No… remorse, regret and shame, those were the emotions she was facing.

"Please go away," she muffled against her hand, willing him to leave her. But, he didn't go away. He stood there, not moving… either to stay or to go. "Rhett, please go away. I… I can't bear to have you look at me," she sniffed.

Rhett moved to the sidetable and lifted a match to light the lamp. A soft glow quickly lit the room. He blew on the match and threw it aside before leaning back on it. "Don't you think I've seen this side of you before, Scarlett? Don't you think I've seen you drowning in your pity? If I was a betting man, and I am, I'd say you've been drinking. Where is it, Scarlett? In what box are you hiding the bourbon?" his voice became accusatory and hard.

"Go ahead, be mean! I don't care, I deserve it," she tearfully shook her head. "But, I haven't been drinking, Rhett, I haven't."

"Spare me, I know you, I know your weaknesses."

"I wish to God I did have a bottle, I'd get drunk," she spat out at him. "I want to be drunk so I don't have to think about-" she stopped herself and covered her face. "I don't want to talk to you, just get out and leave me alone."

But Rhett didn't leave, instead he stepped over and shut the door behind him. "What's this really about? Why the tears in the middle of the night?"

"You wouldn't believe me, so why should I tell you anything?" she wiped at her face. "You'll always think the worst of me."

"And, if I did, I would say I had just cause. You've made my life quite miserable, my pet. You've manipulated me, you've used my generosity to your advantage and yet here I am wondering how I continue to be a fool where you're concerned."

"If all you're going to do is insult me than get out," she pointed to the door as a fresh wave of tears fell down her face.

Rhett stared at her, crossing his arms lightly across his chest. "Come now, Scarlett, enough of the dramatics. I'm here, so why not tell me what is really going on that manipulating little head of yours."

"I can't," she shook her head. "I'm too ashamed to say it. You would never understand anyway."

"I can't imagine it's anything too shocking," he drawled. "You've done quite enough in your illustrious career to secure that notion."

"That's just it, Rhett, it's what I've done," she wiped at her face again. "I've done so many terrible things. I've hurt everyone who cared for me. Charles, Frank, Aunt Pitty, Melanie and… you," she finished weakly. "I hurt you, Rhett and I don't blame you for wanting to divorce me."

"What's this?" he asked with a mocking tone. "You're worried about my feelings at this late date? I'm surprised at you, Scarlett. I thought you were made of more than that."

Scarlett twisted the blanket that lay in her lap. "Don't tease me now, Rhett. Today… today seeing Darcy so hurt, it brought back so many memories. I stood there at her husband's grave and all I could think of was our Bonnie."

She saw Rhett's whole body language change in a matter of seconds. He stood straight and his face darkened. His jaw twitched once before he spoke. "Don't, Scarlett."

"I should have been a better mother to her, I should have done so many things that I didn't. She loved you so much and I was jealous of that. And when she died… Oh Rhett, I blamed you and I shouldn't have. It wasn't your fault, it wasn't anyone's fault."

"Let it alone," he said clenching his fists.

"I'm not asking for forgiveness," she pressed on. She had to tell him, she just had to. "I want you to know that I don't blame you, I never did. I was hurt and angry and took it out on you, but I never blamed you."

Rhett smirked at her, his black eyes flashing like flint coal. "I seem to recall it differently."

"Yes," her voice trembled with emotion. "I said things that I can't take back, terrible things, hurtful things. But, I realize now that I was wrong. Bonnie's death was an accident and that's all it was."

"Don't tell me what it was," he snapped. "I've remembered that day every single day of my life since. I live with it, I sleep with it… you didn't have to blame me, I blamed myself. I shouldn't have let her jump, she wasn't ready. But, I…" he turned away from her.

"No, Rhett," she slid from the bed and came over to him stopping inches from him. "She would have jumped anyway. She was willful and headstrong and courageous, she was you, Rhett and she was me. She was the best of us put together, but she would have jumped anyway because she was Bonnie."

"Enough," he gritted. "Do you hear me? Enough, Scarlett."

"I miss her, too," she whispered softly as more tears slid down her cheeks. "I miss her smile and her laugher. She truly was the best of us, Rhett."

"For God's sake, stop!" he bit out, causing Scarlett to step back.

"I'm sorry," she shook her head and backed up until she was nearly to her window. She turned and lowered her head, wiping at the tears once more. "I wanted you to come to me, I thought I could make it all different and then you did come and I was so happy, but now I realize it was a mistake. I should have never called you here."

"I couldn't agree more," he growled and started for the door. But, he stopped and turned to her. He stared at her still form and felt his body tense further. Her dark hair spilled recklessly down her back over the lavender silk gown that was molded to her slim frame. Even now, she was beautiful, dangerous…

He damned himself, he damned her. She looked over her shoulder at him and the look on her face nearly drove him over the edge. She looked like she did the day he left her on the road to Tara all those years ago during the war. Vulnerable and scared and yet, in spite of it there was a strength behind it that was his Scarlett.

"Damn you," he spat and drug a heavy hand through his hair. "I'm not going to let you do this."

"No," she shook her head dejectedly. "It's too late for that."

"I'm through with you, Scarlett."

"I know," she whispered, but she never took her eyes off of him.

The tension in the room had thickened to the point that it was almost palpable. Her breathing was erratic, her heart pounding in her head as Rhett's black eyes blazed at her. His fists were clenched and she could see the pulse moving rapidly along his neck. The next thing she knew he was upon her, lifting her up from the floor and then he threw down on the bed. His big body covered hers as he locked her arms over her head.

"Witch," he breathed and stared down hotly at her.

She didn't say anything, too afraid to break the spell that had been cast over them. Her chest moved with each breath she took, pushing her breasts upward. His eyes wandered down to them and then back up to her face. She moved her head and pushed against him. His leg shifted and slid easily between hers.

"Rhett," she breathed, but that's as far as she went. His mouth came over hers and this time, his kiss wasn't brutal, but passionate and warm. He moved over her seductively and she lost what little control she had left…