Page 34 of Shadows of Eternity

The show started promptly at eight. The lights, the music, the colorful costumes of the Native dancers were all as beautiful and impressive as the first time. It was truly amazing to watch the men as they executed the intricate steps of the Traditional Dance, the Fancy Dance, the Grass Dance. The bells tied to their ankles tinkled with every move. The women were lovely and graceful as they dipped and swayed to the Fancy Shawl Dance and the Jingle Dress Dance.

Leia held her breath as the MC introduced their star performer, Shadow Dancer of the Lakota Nation. He was the only performer who danced alone. She pressed her hand toher heart as he stepped out on the stage, as handsome and mesmerizing as she remembered, his movements fluid and powerful, his body twisting and turning, every step executed perfectly. She felt her heart skip a beat when he gazed out into the audience. Hoping he hadn’t seen her, she hunkered down in her seat and bowed her head.

Rohan paused briefly between steps, his eyes searching the crowd.She was here. He felt her presence in every part of his being.

The crowd was on its feet when he finished. He acknowledged their applause with a nod and left the stage. When the applause continued, he went out again, his gaze drawn to the back of the theater. With a wave, he went into the wings.

A moment later, the MC came out to assure the still-applauding crowd that he would be back before the end of the show.

Leia sat up, hands clasped in her lap. He knew she was there, she was sure of it. She was tempted to leave before the show was over, but the thought of watching him dance again was irresistible.

The other dancers were wonderful, but none of them danced with the same power and authority as did Rohan, his body as fluid as silk. Not surprising, she supposed, since he had learned from his ancestors hundreds of years ago.

She hurried out of the theater as soon as he finished his last dance. Hopping into her rental car, she drove back to the hotel as fast as she could, parked in the lot, and ran up to her room as if pursued by demons.

She had scarcely had time to kick off her shoes when there was a knock at her door.

It was him. She knew it as well as she knew her name. Knew she had been lying to herself when she said she was coming justto watch him dance. He had captured her heart and soul and, right or wrong, she was his.

Her hand trembled as she opened the door. For stretched seconds, they gazed at each other without speaking.

And then she took a step back and he crossed the threshold.

The door seemed to close of its own accord as he drew her slowly into his arms, his eyes hot with desire as he lowered his head and covered her mouth with his. When he swung her into his arms, she rested her head against his shoulder, wondering why she had ever thought she could let him go.

Somewhere between the living room and the bedroom, their clothing disappeared. Naked, entwined in each other’s arms, they fell on the bed. His gaze burned into hers as he caressed her, his hands masterful as he aroused her, his kisses hotter than the desire in his eyes. For a time, she lay there, caught up in his nearness, the magic of his touch, his kisses, the sheer beauty of the man.

“Touch me,” he growled.

And she had no thought to refuse.

Feeling suddenly bold, she explored the hard lines of his body, her fingertips tracing the hard muscles in his arms, the width of his powerful shoulders, his hard, flat belly. She smiled when he groaned, knew a moment of panic when he rose over her, his long, black hair falling forward like a dark curtain. She gasped his name as he possessed her in one, swift thrust that fulfilled her every desire and made her his forever.

Leia woke slowly, surprised to find Rohan lying in bed beside her. For a moment, she admired the beauty of the man and then, as the events of the night before came crashing back, she feltherself blush from the top of her head to the soles of her feet. He had made love to her last night, and she had gloried in it. But now, in the bright light of a new day, she was filled with doubts. What had she done? There had been no words of love spoken last night, no mention of forever. Had he cast some sort of supernatural spell over her that had made her surrender her virtue like that? What had she been thinking? she wondered, and then snorted. She hadn’t been thinking at all, that was the problem.

She rolled onto her side, letting her gaze move over him again. Long, thick, black hair. Skin the color of pale copper. Broad shoulders and chest. Six-pack abs. Long arms and legs corded with muscle. Clever hands that had played over her body until she melted like butter on a hot day. She traced his lips with the tip of her finger, gasped as he flipped her onto her back and rose over her.

For a moment, his dark eyes were fierce, and then he grinned at her. “Sorry, Princess. I’m used to waking up alone.”

“No problem,” she squeaked.

He rolled onto his side, carrying her with him, so that they lay face to face, bodies pressed intimately together. “I need to rest a little longer,” he murmured, his fingertips caressing her cheek. “But as long as I’m awake, I could probably keep my eyes open long enough for a quickie.”

“A quickie!” she exclaimed. “I don’t think so.” And so saying, she pushed him away, scrambled out of bed, ran into the bathroom, and locked the door. “A quickie!” She slammed her fist on the counter top. “I’m not some hooker he bought for the night.”No,she thought with a guilty flush. You gave it away for free.

“Leia?” He rapped lightly on the door. “Leia, I’m sorry.”

“Go away.”

There was a moment of silence. And then the bathroom door opened.

Leia glared at him. “How did you do that? It was locked.”

A slow smile spread over his face. “How do you think?”

“Some kind of vampire voodoo, I suppose.”

“I’m full of tricks.”

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