s ix inches of brawn and muscle, power and strength wrapped in golden skin. Drops of water sparkled on his body and decorated his black mane and the dark stubble on his face. The sun gilded the high cheekbones, the square, firm chin and aquiline nose beneath a wide brow and hooded ebony eyes.
A stark, piercing cry from above made him look up sharply. His eagle had returned and now dove straight for him. Roydon held his ground, his eyes locked on the bird, his heart pumping furiously. This time, he knew, the animal would not break away.
Instinctively the earl raised his arms to protect his face and then, at the last moment, the eagle spread her wings wide to stop the forward momentum and landed gracefully on the rocky parapet not five paces from where Roydon stood.
The beautiful creature stared at the earl from unblinking, unafraid, golden eyes. Eyes that were neither predatory nor savage, but curiously warm and intelligent. Seemingly totally unafraid, the eagle tucked in its wings and perched on the ledge. The large, sharp, yellow talons, used to capture, carry and kill its prey, gripping the rock.
Dark brown feathers covered the sleek body and long tail. The sinking sun highlighted the golden feathers on the eagle’s head and neck a bright shining gold.
Never losing eye contact, the bird opened its strong, hooked beak and gave a harsh, sharp call. Instantly a flash of blinding white light seemed to burst from it.
Roydon staggered back, his hands instinctively coming up to cover his eyes. A moment later the light disappeared as if it had never been. Uncovering his eyes, the earl looked for the eagle, but in its place stood a woman surrounded by the halo of the setting sun behind her.
Roydon stared in disbelief, unable to accept the evidence before his eyes. No one could have taken the place of the eagle in the scant second that he had had his eyes closed. Certainly no unclothed woman!
The explanation that his mind offered was no solution, but a blatant impossibility. It could not be and yet…
Even as his mind staggered with the incredible situation, his eyes scrutinized the woman standing proudly before him. She stood tall and straight, unashamed of her nudity, yet a slight twinge of colour suffused her high cheekbones. At nearly six feet, she was tall for a woman and well-built, with long, strong legs and dusky hued skin. Beautiful golden hair cascaded down from her head, covering her almost to her thighs. She could be no more than eighteen or nineteen years old.
Staring at the lady’s face, Roydon would have described her as handsome, rather than beautiful. Her chin was too square, too determined. Her mouth too wide and generous, her eyebrows straight auburn slashes above…amazing eyes.
Amazing golden eyes! Large, almond shaped, golden eyes, surrounded by dark lashes. Eyes that watched him unblinking, steadily. Golden eagle eyes!
The earl fell back another step, his mind unwilling to accept the evidence before him. His eagle had transformed into a lady, for so her stance and poise proclaimed her.
Then a slight shiver shook her and her lips turned up in a smile, almost of surprise. Roydon came out of his shock, his protective instincts for this lady just as strong, just as overwhelming as they had been for the eagle. He still felt the desolation, the emptiness inside that had brought him to this place. But now they centred o n the lady standing a few paces away from him. The attraction was almost uncontrollable.
Another slight shiver from the lady brought Roydon to his senses. Quickly he grabbed his cloak from the ground behind him and advancing towards his eagle lady, he arranged it gently around her shoulders and stepped back. For the first time in his life he felt unsure, uncertain of what to do. His body had no such doubts. At that precise moment he realized that he too stood nude before her.
As if reading his thoughts the lady’s smile
A stark, piercing cry from above made him look up sharply. His eagle had returned and now dove straight for him. Roydon held his ground, his eyes locked on the bird, his heart pumping furiously. This time, he knew, the animal would not break away.
Instinctively the earl raised his arms to protect his face and then, at the last moment, the eagle spread her wings wide to stop the forward momentum and landed gracefully on the rocky parapet not five paces from where Roydon stood.
The beautiful creature stared at the earl from unblinking, unafraid, golden eyes. Eyes that were neither predatory nor savage, but curiously warm and intelligent. Seemingly totally unafraid, the eagle tucked in its wings and perched on the ledge. The large, sharp, yellow talons, used to capture, carry and kill its prey, gripping the rock.
Dark brown feathers covered the sleek body and long tail. The sinking sun highlighted the golden feathers on the eagle’s head and neck a bright shining gold.
Never losing eye contact, the bird opened its strong, hooked beak and gave a harsh, sharp call. Instantly a flash of blinding white light seemed to burst from it.
Roydon staggered back, his hands instinctively coming up to cover his eyes. A moment later the light disappeared as if it had never been. Uncovering his eyes, the earl looked for the eagle, but in its place stood a woman surrounded by the halo of the setting sun behind her.
Roydon stared in disbelief, unable to accept the evidence before his eyes. No one could have taken the place of the eagle in the scant second that he had had his eyes closed. Certainly no unclothed woman!
The explanation that his mind offered was no solution, but a blatant impossibility. It could not be and yet…
Even as his mind staggered with the incredible situation, his eyes scrutinized the woman standing proudly before him. She stood tall and straight, unashamed of her nudity, yet a slight twinge of colour suffused her high cheekbones. At nearly six feet, she was tall for a woman and well-built, with long, strong legs and dusky hued skin. Beautiful golden hair cascaded down from her head, covering her almost to her thighs. She could be no more than eighteen or nineteen years old.
Staring at the lady’s face, Roydon would have described her as handsome, rather than beautiful. Her chin was too square, too determined. Her mouth too wide and generous, her eyebrows straight auburn slashes above…amazing eyes.
Amazing golden eyes! Large, almond shaped, golden eyes, surrounded by dark lashes. Eyes that watched him unblinking, steadily. Golden eagle eyes!
The earl fell back another step, his mind unwilling to accept the evidence before him. His eagle had transformed into a lady, for so her stance and poise proclaimed her.
Then a slight shiver shook her and her lips turned up in a smile, almost of surprise. Roydon came out of his shock, his protective instincts for this lady just as strong, just as overwhelming as they had been for the eagle. He still felt the desolation, the emptiness inside that had brought him to this place. But now they centred o n the lady standing a few paces away from him. The attraction was almost uncontrollable.
Another slight shiver from the lady brought Roydon to his senses. Quickly he grabbed his cloak from the ground behind him and advancing towards his eagle lady, he arranged it gently around her shoulders and stepped back. For the first time in his life he felt unsure, uncertain of what to do. His body had no such doubts. At that precise moment he realized that he too stood nude before her.
As if reading his thoughts the lady’s smile
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