Page 18 of Shadows of Eternity

Leia found it hard to concentrate at school the next day. All she could think about was that the show was closing and Rohan would be gone. He had once said something about taking a long vacation, but he hadn’t mentioned it since.

As soon as the last student left for home, she pulled out her cell phone and called the theater, thrilled when she snagged a ticket for that night, front row center. She would have bought tickets for Thursday and Friday, too, but they were sold out.

She went grocery shopping on her way home, then stopped at the dry cleaners to pick up her clothes. Her last stop was a Chinese takeout place to pick up an order of rice and sweet-and-sour pork for dinner.

At home, she put dinner in the fridge, hung up her clothes, changed out of her dress into jeans and a tee shirt, then sat down at the kitchen table to figure out what she wanted to do in class tomorrow. She didn’t plan any lessons for the end of the week. Thursday would be hectic. Friday was pretty much a free-for-all, with parents coming at different times to pick up their kids. She usually baked three kinds of cookies, bought donuts, and picked up some cartons of milk on her way to school. After all, it was the last day. Party time.

With a sigh, she glanced out the window. It was a beautiful day. What was Rohan doing? She figured he slept late, since he danced at night and usually took her out afterward. How did he spend his afternoons? His online biography stated he was single and she had never questioned it. Still, for all she knew, he couldhave a wife and six kids somewhere, waiting for him to come home. She brushed the thought aside. Surely, he couldn’t see her so often if he was married. He never got any mysterious phone calls. Maybe she should ask.

It was after seven when her phone rang. As always, she felt a thrill when she saw his number. “Hi.”

“How you doing, pretty Leia?”

“I’m good. How are you?”

“Getting ready for the show. Can I see you later?”

“Sure.” She stifled a grin, thinking how surprised he’d be when he saw her in the audience. “What time?”

“Same as always?”

“Okay. See you then.”

She was smiling when she ended the call, until she remembered he would be leaving soon.

Butterflies of anticipation took wing in Leia’s stomach as she found her seat that night. Was he as sexy, his dancing as wonderful, as she remembered? Or had she built up the memory in her mind?

The lights dimmed, and the MC stepped up to the mic. Tonight, Rohan had three dance numbers. Judging from the descriptions in the program, each one was more intricate than the previous one. She watched the other dancers, thinking none of them were his equal.

Finally, the MC introduced him. The lights changed. The drumming began. And he stepped out on the stage. She knew the instant he saw her. He paused a brief moment then continued on. She wondered if he was dancing just for her and thenlaughed inwardly. No doubt every woman in the place was hoping the same thing.

He was magnificent, the epitome of masculine strength and perfection. His copper-hued skin glistened in the spotlight, his hair shone blue-black as it whipped around his head and shoulders. Each intricate step was a thing of beauty. The applause was thunderous.

His second dance was even more complex than the first. But it was the third dance—a Lakota war dance—that was her favorite. Watching him, it was easy to imagine him in the past, preparing to go to battle. It sent a chill down her spine.

She stood at the curtain call along with everyone else. Rohan winked at her when he took a bow.

When the curtain closed, she hurried outside to the stage door, her heart hammering with excitement.

Tonight, he was the first one out. Ignoring everyone else, he swept her into his arms. “Why didn’t you tell me you were coming?”

“I wanted to surprise you.”

“Well, you did.” Wrapping his arm around her shoulders, he led her through the crowd to the parking lot.

“You were wonderful tonight,” she said as they neared her car. “Even better than the first time I saw you.”

“I was dancing for you.” His smile warmed her heart.

When he took her in his arms, she melted against him, her face upturned for his kiss.

Muttering something in a language she didn’t understand, he claimed her lips in a kiss that was both savage and sweet. It took the strength from her legs and she swayed against him, her body on fire for his touch.

Rohan swore under his breath. It would be so easy to take her, to make her his. He kissed her again, and yet again, hishands gliding restlessly up and down her back. She leaned into him, her fingers delving into his hair as she writhed against him.

A low growl rose in his throat when he heard footsteps coming their way. With an effort, he put her away from him. “I’d better take you home before I ravish you here in the parking lot,” he muttered, thinking she had no idea how close he’d come to doing just that.

“I have my own car,” she reminded him, her voice shaky.

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