Solara entered the courtyard,
searching for anyone who might be about. It was late, and most
of the castle inhabitants were long ago abed. By the time she
reached the gardens near the end of the courtyard, she felt
silly.
Roarke had probably been teasing her about meeting. She would
come out here only to find herself alone and embarrassed at
her girlish stupidity.
She spread her wings and fluttered above the tall hedges.
The moon cast a silver glow over the greenery, lighting the
path like a map. 'Twas easy to wind her way through the maze
of bushes toward the cliffs. Not too far down the path she
spotted a bench and stopped there, marveling at the view of
the ocean. She inhaled deeply and marveled at the quiet calm
of late night. The only sounds were the breakers crashing against
the massive sea wall protecting Winterland.
Which is why she screamed when warm hands grabbed her from
behind. Whirling around, she saw Roarke lift a finger to his
lips.
"Let us not wake the entire castle
with your screaming."
'Twas hardly her fault since he surprised
her. "I did
not hear you."
He winked and grinned. "I know.
I wouldn't be much of a warrior if I crashed through the
hedges like a charging bear,
now would I?"
The thought of him thrashing through the brambles like a lumbering
animal made her giggle.
"Ah, now that is what I wanted to see." He
caressed her cheek with the back of his hand.
Her heart fluttered as rapidly as her
beating wings. "What
is that?"
"My faerie's smile. You have gone
much too long without one."
His faerie. The words should mean nothing, and yet were what
she had dreamed of for a very long time. But dreams and reality
were neither close nor attainable.
Nearly invisible in the darkness wearing his black breeches
and tunic, she nevertheless could easily make out every curve
and angle of Roarke's body. His nearness unnerved her, sparked
desires she should not be having for a man who was not her
betrothed. Yet she knew no way to stop her feelings other than
to stay away from him.
Something she had failed miserably at doing.
"Why did you ask me here, Roarke?"
He reached for a scarlet curl that lay just over her breast.
Her nipple rose to greet his knuckles. She gasped at the tightening
pleasure spiraling through her.
"I don't know what I want. I just
know that I wanted to see you. Alone."
"Being alone is not such a good
idea."
"Yet you came when I asked you."
"Aye." That she did, but she
shouldn't have. Not when she belonged to another.
"What do you want, Solara?"
She turned away from him and fluttered
to the edge of the cliff, trying to immerse herself in the
sounds of the ocean
instead of answering Roarke's question. "It does not matter
what I want."
"To me it does."
Heat emanated from his body as he stepped
behind her. She steeled herself from turning around and leaping
into his arms. "This
was a mistake. I should go back to my room."
But when his hands caressed her bare shoulders, his breath
ruffling the hair on top of her head, she couldn't move. Memorizing
his touch, his scent, she vowed that despite her fate, she'd
never forget the look of him, the way her body came alive when
his hands touched her, or the dark promise in his eyes.
"Look at me, Solara."
She dare not. Admittedly weak where he was concerned, one
glance and she'd be lost. Too much was at stake to take that
step. She held firm to her resolve, refusing to waver.
Her mouth fell open in a gasp as he whirled
her around, pulling her tight against him. She wriggled away,
afraid of him. No,
that was not true. Fear was her own making, fear of her own
reactions to him. "Let me go, Roarke."
"Why? Am I hurting you?"
He'd taken tender care with her wings,
sliding his hands below them to pull her close. His fingers
burned through her shift
and set fire to her skin. "No."
"Then tell me why my touch revolts
you?"
She paused, stricken that he would think
such a thing. "Oh,
no. Your touch does not revolt me at all."
"Then what is the problem? Why do
you seem as if you want to be close, but when I touch you,
you pull away?"
"Because your touch awakens something in me." There,
she'd said it. Now he knew how she felt.
Moon glow shone on his face, lighting up his features. His
eyes held a melting warmth, their color toasty brown with flecks
of dark gold, like sunshine peaking through a thick canopy
of trees.
He bent his head and brushed his lips against hers.
Her internal battle was lost. She gave herself up to the magic
of Roarke's mouth.
