by Aliyah Burke
He had never met a woman like her. She didn’t run from danger, she sought it out. Her own life not as important as Jo’s. She had this air about her he’d only seen from men he’d been allowed the honor of serving with. And at the same time she kept herself barricaded behind this veil of collectiveness. He’d seen a few glimpses of her true self but they were fleeting. Like she’d forgotten how not to be a shadow.
He wished for nothing more than to strip it from her. Along with her clothes and indulge in the fiery nymph he knew she was, the one she kept locked behind her carefully crafted mask.
“Go get it cleaned out,” Jo said.
He snapped to attention. Jo pushed Najja to the door. Drat. He’d totally forgotten about her hand.
“You have to come with, Jo. It is not proper for--”
“Stuff it, Najja,” she interrupted before launching into a torrent of words he didn’t understand.
He watched Najja blow an exaggerated breath and leave. Lord he wanted her in his bed. Maybe then his ache for her would be fed and lessened.
Jo pinned her gaze upon him. The eyes, normally full of vigor and happiness were shrewd and dare he say it, dangerous.
“I like you, Mr. Faulkner.”
“Colin,” he said, well aware of needing her in his corner.
She waved one hand. “Fine, Colin. I like you, but I love her like my sister.” She shook her head, hands fisted and rested on her hips. “She is my sister. If you hurt her--”
“I have no intention of hurting her.” He realized that was true. Many things came to mind when he thought about Najja, hurting her not one of them.
“Keep it that way. I know she seems tough, but…just do not hurt her.”
Jo preceded him from the room. “Jo?”
She paused and glanced over her shoulder at him. Her blue riding habit brought out the intensity of her eyes. “Yes?” Eyes which seemed still a bit leery.
“What…does she enjoy?”
The smile which she gave him made him realize she truly had the potential to take the ton by storm.
“Najja loves riding, falconry, and the outdoors.”
Falconry? He asked the question aloud.
“Yes. Falconry. She brought Indrani with her. Or the falcon followed her. One never knows with those two.”
He flashed to the day he believed he saw a bird on her horse’s saddle. Guess I did see it.
“Indrani?”
“A beautiful Gyrfalcon. Female.” A thoughtful expression crossed her elegant features. “You give your word there is no intent to harm her?”
Gyrfalcon? He had heard of them, seen a male once. Blinking, he focused on Jo. “You have my word.”
“Okay.” The vacillation vanished leaving him faced with the sparkling young woman. She practically skipped down the stairs. He followed at a more leisurely pace. Jo had iron beneath her delicate appearance. And apparently it showed when it came to Najja.
He had no further opportunity that afternoon to be alone with Najja. After dinner he retired to his study and focused on his work. Abel poured him some whisky then left him alone. His eyes burned with exhaustion when he finally finished. The whisky sat untouched at his left and he ignored it. On his way to bed he paused and detoured to Najja’s room, drawn there by an invisible thread.
In the dark he hesitated, hand on the handle. If he closed his eyes he could feel her curves against him, taste her…
He cursed and strode to his room. Berry waited and was dismissed with a wave of one hand. He sank in a chair only to rise and pace seconds later. His body strung tight seemed ready to explode.
“I need to get a woman.”
Even as the words slid from his mouth, he knew not just any would do. Only one would. And he needed her directly.
With a growl of disgust at himself and his lack of control, he headed for the door. There was no footman and no butler which was fine. He wasn’t a man who normally left at this time of night and they deserved to be asleep in their beds, not waiting on him because he had a fire in his blood he couldn’t quench. Shoving into his coat, he ran to the stable and headed for Salvage’s stall. Once his gelding had been bridled he swung up on his horse’s bare back and rode out as if Lucifer himself nipped at his heels.
Sliding off at The Brown Goose, he strode through the door, Salvage released into the care of a sleepy lad. He scanned the raucous crowd before striding to the back corner.
“Are you not usually sleeping now, Faulkner?” Wilkes questioned taking a draught of his ale. He growled and waved for his own drink. When he grabbed the entire bottle from the woman, Wilkes laughed. “She got to you,” he stated once they were again alone.
There was no point in denying that truth. “It is making me crazy, Wilkes.”
The man eyed him from beneath bushy brows. “I can tell.” Another drink. “What are you going to do about it?”
He had no clue. And from the smug indication on his face, Wilkes knew that very thing. Colin rubbed a hand over his eyes, his sleep had been lacking, most nights dreams of Najja wakened him with a stiff rod and the need to bring himself to release.
There was no talking for a short time.
“I heard the earl is sick.”
Colin shrugged. “I see.”
“Figured that would be your response.”
“There is no love between us.”
Silence hung between them until Wilkes cleared his throat. “It is time for another shipment to head to the coast. Do you have a plan?”
No. Damn it all. He had nothing figured out. “I will ride it. My men are scared and rightfully so. The last one left the riders dead. Sliced them with sabers like bloody savages.”
“Take Najja.”
His gaze flew to meet the remarkably sincere one Wilkes sported. “What?”
“The journey is three days. Think about it.”
His shaft swelled, well aware of what three days with Najja meant. Two nights alone with her. He shook his head. “I will not risk a woman.”
Of all the responses he expected, laughter was at the bottom of the list.
“She is unlike any woman you know, Faulkner.”
That phrase bespoke more than a passing cognition. It bordered upon an intimate acquaintance. Flames of jealousy and rage erupted within him. He longed to reach across the table and beat Wilkes until he lay in a bloody pulp.
“Explain,” he commanded, voice rough with the tenuous control on his fury.
Wilkes by all appearances saw the danger lingering within him. “I watched her.”
He growled low in his throat at the mental image of Wilkes enjoying Najja in her natural state.
“Not like that, Faulkner, although she did not wear very much. It was with a pasha in…well that is not important. Isra…he was not the most pleasant of individuals. Anyway Najja was his entertainment.”
Mindless bloodlust roared over him, tingeing the world red. He fought to calm down and it wasn’t a simple task.
“She was pitted against others,” Wilkes paused briefly, “for sport.”
Every nerve stretched taut, he forced himself to stay seated. “And?” The word more of a rasp than anything.
“I have never seen anyone, anyone, fight like that. She uses forms of combat I have never seen. She is unique, Colin.” Damn if Wilkes didn’t sound reverent.
“And you think she can help?” He was a bit thrown by the use of his first name. It had been years since it had passed those lips.
“Yes. One who would think you were moving your goods with a woman along and if they were foolish enough to attack,” he met his gaze square, “they would lose.”
He mulled over that for a moment. It could solve two issues. His unquenchable urge to have her and to stop from losing any more shipments. Somehow he doubted it would be that simple though.
“Go home, Faulkner.”
Exhaustion rained upon him full force. He gave a nod and tossed money enough to cover the drinks and left for home. Upon entering his stable, he
shuddered from the cold while his horse was turned over to Tim.
At the last moment he made his way back to where Fineas was stabled and peered in half expecting him to be gone. The stallion was there, his snort full of arrogant fire. And yet intermingled in the scent of horse and hay, Colin swore lingered spiced roses and vanilla.
He expelled a groan. I obviously need rest. Why would she be out here on this bitterly cold night? Fineas snorted again, his hooves shuffling the straw. One final glance into the black stall he struggled to see anything.
With a mental chiding, Colin headed for his house and the warmth of his bed. So intent on his trek he never noticed the slender figure garbed in solid black at one with the night moving toward the back of his large house.
Colin had to force himself to pass by the room Najja had used since her arrival. All he could think of was how it would be once they were together.
Lord, what is the matter with me?
He fell across his bed and that was all he remembered. At least until he dragged his heavy lids open to see Berry moving around, setting out his attire for the day.
Colin pushed up and found he only wore trousers and his shirt.
“Good morning sir,” Berry said without preamble.
“How…did you?”
“Of course, sir. You have a bath waiting.”
That sounded divine. He groaned in pleasure as the hot water soothed him, banishing any remaining chill.
“When you are ready sir, Lord Adrys, would like to speak with you before you take the ladies for a ride.”
He pinched the bridge of his nose. He’d even forgotten about the ride. “Very well.”
Forty minutes later, he strolled into the library and found Lord Adrys leafing through a book.
“What can I do for you, Adrys?”
“Morning, Colin. Nothing, nothing. I just wished to expound upon my gratitude for what you have done for my family. We shall be leaving in two days. I insist on having you over for a meal once we are settled.”
Two days? Bile rose within him. He was nowhere near ready to let Najja go in two days.
“That would be wonderful. Now, I believe I have two ladies waiting for me. If you will excuse me.”
“Yes, Jo mentioned that yesterday.”
The men headed toward the door. His pulse accelerated at the sound of Najja’s accented voice.
“I just feel horrid, Najja. I so wanted to go.”
He narrowed his eyes slightly. Were they cancelling? “Ladies, are we ready?”
“Good morning, Mr. Faulkner,” Jo said and was echoed by Najja. “I was just telling Najja I feel a slight headache and believe it best I stay in out of the cold.”
“Are you okay, Jo?” her father asked, stepping close to his only child.
“Nothing some rest cannot cure, Papa. But tell Najja she should still go.” Blue eyes left her father to settle upon him. “Assuming Mr. Faulkner has no problem showing Najja around.”
A problem? Not in the slightest.
“I would be honored to escort, Miss Najja.” Right to my bed where I would keep her for a long time.
“I should stay with Jo,” Najja protested.
Lord Adrys frowned until Jo made another plea for Najja to go. “My daughter is right, Najja. I will stay with her, we can play chess and she will relax. You deserve a day.”
Colin wanted to grin like a fool. He watched Najja and Adrys stare at one another, some message passing between the two.
“Very well,” Najja said. “I am fine on my own if you have things to attend, Mr. Faulkner.”
I do not think so, luv. “Not at all. I had this already planned. Shall we then? The horses await.”
“Yes.”
Lord Adrys and Najja conversed briefly in a different language while he cast a quick peek at Jo. She winked and shot him an impish grin.
He really liked her. She was as sick as much as he was Prinny, but she’d given up the ride so he could be alone with Najja.
“Do something for me, Najja,” Jo said in a voice low enough it didn’t reach her father who had headed for the library.
“What?”
“Have fun.”
Whatever answer Najja gave he didn’t understand. What he did understand was his body’s knee-jerk reaction to her sultry tone. It tugged and drew on his nerves like sipping on smooth whisky. Heightening his constant state of arousal.
Side by side they moved outside and down the steps to where three groomsmen held their mounts.
“Miss Adrys will not be joining us today,” he said, pausing by his gelding and vaulting into the saddle. He watched Najja hesitate slightly before using the mounting block. Once she’d adjusted her skirt, they headed off.
When it was just the two of them and he knew those left behind couldn’t overhear he asked, “You okay, luv?”
“Fine. Where are we going?”
He grinned. “It is a surprise.” She arched a brow. “Trust me, luv.”
“Stop calling me that.”
Hell no. “Say my name.” He maneuvered closer to her. Her horse snapped at his, eliciting a laugh from her. “Your horse is a menace.”
“No, he merely does not like postulating males.”
He grinned. “Say my name.”
“Where are we going?” she countered.
“Ahead.”
Najja tilted her head to look at him. “You beat me and I will. You lose, you give me something.”
Fire raced along his skin. “Anything luv. And I do mean anything.”
Her gaze scalded him then she was gone. He knew as he watched her stallion running out ahead of him he’d never catch her. Salvage gave chase, but honestly he didn’t care. He couldn’t wait to see what she asked for. ’Cause if it were him…he knew exactly what he’d be asking for.
Chapter Six
Najja actually felt like laughing. The cold sting of the wind whipping along her face as Fineas thundered along wiped away her tension. Her bonnet fell back, the ties the only reason it was still with her. While she wished to ride astride versus sidesaddle she would make do. Peering over her shoulder she grinned at the sight of her pursuer.
He would be nice to ride. The thought hit her out of nowhere and she lost her balance a bit. Thankfully Fineas felt it and adjusted. Eyes forward she urged her horse to greater speed and he complied. After a bit, she reined him in and held him to a slower pace until Colin on his lathered gelding reached her side.
The chill gave his skin a ruddy hue and his green eyes sparked with devilish energy. Side by side they slowed their mounts until they walked along the trail, steps muffled by the carpet of fallen pine needles. Their mounts’ breathing sent puffs of steam into the air along with that which rolled off their hides.
“This is all yours?” she asked.
“Yes. What do you think?”
“It is beautiful.” Her lips curled up.
“What are you thinking, luv?”
He refused to listen to her request to cease calling her that. And she was beginning to like hearing it. “I was thinking how nice it must be to have this majesty surrounding you without the threats some places bring.”
They came upon a stream and she dismounted to let Fineas drink. Colin stood near with Salvage on his other side.
“Like in Africa?”
She tipped her head in acknowledgement. Her searching gaze caught sight of another who made her smile. She watched in silence as the large falcon settled with timeless grace upon the leather of Fineas’ saddle.
“Wow.”
Colin’s singular word expressed it all. She understood for Indrani was a spectacular sight to behold. Dropping the reins, she moved to the bird and held out her arm. Instantly, the falcon stepped onto her outstretched appendage and made a familiar sound when she stroked the feathered chest.
Turning to Colin, she said, “This is Indrani, my gyrfalcon.”
“She is truly beautiful.” He furrowed his brows. “Should you hold her without thick leather on?”
>
Eyes back on the silvered plumage she sighed with content. “I wear leather bracers on my wrists beneath my sleeves. Besides, she would never intentionally cause me harm.” Indrani rotated her head while she stared at Colin, her feet shifted slightly. “She likes you.”
He gave a noncommittal sound which dragged her attention from the dark silver feathers to Colin’s glinting gaze. Correction, feverish. Her heart put her through that tug and lurch which had became all too familiar during the course of her acquaintance with him.
“Can I hold her?”
He asked something no other had done since she’d received Indrani. It lingered on the tip of her tongue to flat out refuse but deep down she realized she wished to please him.
“I am not sure…” she said. “ You have no protection and I do not want her tearing into your skin.”
Colin released Salvage’s reins and stepped closer. Indrani puffed briefly only to settle back down.
“She will not injure me.” His words seeped in confidence much like the man himself.
“How can you know this?”
“She likes me.” He flashed a grin, rakish and bone-melting.
Najja fought the urge to laugh at his exuberance. “Confidence will not protect your skin.”
He moved to his horse and rooted through a saddlebag before he came up with a square of leather. “Will this do?”
“It will help.” She knew it would do little to stop the razor sharp talons should Indrani clutch hard.
Colin wrapped it around his arm and tied it off with a strip of rawhide. Then he repositioned himself near again.
She sighed heavily. “Hold your arm out. No sudden moves, she does not wear jesses so it may not work.”
“Got it.”
His eyes brightened with eagerness, cloaking him with an almost boyish innocence. She would have liked to have known him as a boy. Licking her lips, she closed the rest of the distance between them. A slight series of chirps came but the falcon seemed remarkably calm. Amazing really since she’d been free for seven years now.
Arm to arm she halted and watched as Indrani stepped with ease from her to Colin. The falcon turned and after a brief flap of her wings settled, her talons barely curving into the leather.
