Page 16 of Shadows of Eternity

Shit!He knew exactly what she’d seen. How the hell had that happened? It should have been impossible. He had beenthinking of his past, of her. She shouldn’t have been able to read his thoughts. Yet she obviously had. He could understand it if they had exchanged blood. Doing so would open a two-way link between them, but she had never tasted him. And then he frowned. How many other times had she caught a glimpse of his past?

“Rohan?”

“Dreams can’t hurt you.”

“But I could hear voices, smell roasting meat, feel the sun. I’ve never had a dream like that before.”

He shrugged. “I can’t explain it.” Another song came over the sound system. Hoping to distract her, he said, “Shall we?”

She melted into his arms, lost in the music, in his nearness.

Later, outside her door, he took her in his arms again. “Will you think about going to Arizona with me?”

“I guess so, but … ”

He pressed a finger to her lips. “Just think about it. It’s only for a few days.”

“All right.”

His gaze searched hers and then he claimed her lips with his in a long, searing kiss that made her forget everything but the feel of his arms around her, his mouth moving seductively over hers, evoking sensations she had never known before.

Rohan held her close, thinking he had never, in over three hundred years, known a woman like her. Had he thought less of her, he would have put it into her mind that she wanted to go with him, that she would do anything he asked. But, for some reason he didn’t quite understand, he wanted the decision to be hers, and hers alone.

“See you tomorrow night?” he asked.

“I can’t. I’m going to dinner at my friend, Janae’s, house.”

“I’ll miss you, my sweet Leia,” he murmured, and kissed her one more time.

She was smiling as she went inside and closed the door.

Chapter Seven

Tuesday was a busy day at school. Leia loved her students. Of course, she had loved all her previous classes, too, but there was something about these kids that made them extra special. She was going to miss them next year.

After school, she tidied up her classroom, sorted through some of the children’s schoolwork, separated it according to their last names, and placed the various papers and artwork in colorful folders to give to the parents.

With a last look around the classroom, Leia locked the door and headed for the parking lot. She ran a few errands before she drove home, where she changed out of her dress and heels and into a pair of jeans and a sweater. She brushed her hair, stepped into a pair of sandals, and then drove to Janae’s.

The boys ran to meet her, both talking at once as they gave her hugs. She babysat for Janae often enough that the kids knew her. They were adorable and Leia loved them dearly.

“How was your day?” Janae asked when the boys settled down.

“Busy and quiet,” Leia said, shrugging. “We mostly played games and colored pictures. I can’t believe summer vacation starts on Monday.”

“Me, either. The year is sure going by fast. Trent is working late tonight, so it’ll just be us and the boys.”

Leia followed Janae into the kitchen and set the table while Janae finished up dinner preparations. After the boys had washed their hands, everyone sat down. Janae asked Mark to bless the food and then she served dinner. She had made spaghetti, which was a family favorite, along with garlic bread and a Ceasar salad. It was also Leia’s favorite. They didn’t get much chance to talk until later, after the boys had gone to their room to play.

“So, are you still dating that gorgeous dancer?” Janae asked, putting the last of the dirty dishes into the dishwasher.

“Yes. But not for much longer, I guess.” Leia glanced out the window, a sudden pain in heart at the thought maybe never seeing him again. “He’s leaving on Friday to go to Bisbee.”

“Oh?” Wiping her hands, Janae sat at the table. Leia had offered to help with the dishes, but Janae had waved her off, insisting she was a guest.

“The show is going there for some pow wow.”

“I guess you’ll miss him,” Janae remarked. “But I’m glad he’s going.”

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