footsteps the only ones in this part of Moytura. They reached the meadow, the grass dry beneath her bare feet. She sank down under a magnificent oak and arranged her long skirt around her ankles. He dropped down next to her, spreading one leg out, the other brought up close to his chest.
"I didn't seek employment as a scryer," she explained. "I wanted to find a position as a seamstress. But I saw no advertisements for such a job at the community tack board." She agonized anew if she should be telling him so much, but there was something about him that inspired confidence, a quality that made her want to reveal all her secrets. It was gratifying to have someone to talk to, a man who appeared to have no ulterior motive in listening to her tale. She studied his face for a moment, a face of sharp angles and lines, and a shapely, sensual mouth. She recalled his kiss in the cave, and her body heated as a longing spread through her to have him kiss her again, hold her tight against his chest.
His fingers were long and tapered, his eyes quite the darkest she'd ever seen. His obsidian eyes stared into hers, as if searching, probing, and a warm lassitude claimed her, prompting a desire to lean against him, feel his arms around her. She wanted to dismiss the inclination, too well aware she hardly knew this man, her earlier doubts about him returning. Could she trust him? What if, by some act of fate, he met Angus? Surely her would-be fiancé would offer a reward for her.
Fianna turned away from him and stared across the meadow, toward the rippling, glistening waters of the Nantosuelta in the distance. Insects buzzed around them, and she brushed them away. Here and there tiny fairies slumbered in tree branches, their silvery wings spread out at their sides.
Much as she wanted to, she couldn't forget her dilemma. How much longer did she have here in Moytura before Angus caught up with her ... if he caught up with her? She prayed to the Goddess Talmora that her luck would hold, that she could continue living and working here in the capital, a futile wish, she feared, as soon as it entered her brain. No doubt she'd have to leave the capital soon and search for employment in another city, but she didn't want to leave, now that she'd found employment on such favorable terms.
And now that you've found Gaderian, her heart whispered. She dispelled the thought as soon as it entered her head, for the last thing she needed now was an entanglement; she'd learned long ago not to lean on others.
His deep voice enticed her back to the present. "Gladly would I grant you sanctuary at my house. No obligations on your part," he said with a slight smile. "The renovations are nearing completion, and I expect to move in soon."
"I thank you, sir–"
"Gaderian."
"Thank you for the offer, Gaderian, but I want to get by on my own." She knew better than to depend on others, for too many times other people had disappointed her. "The innkeeper has been more than generous. I'll be fine," she said, aware she was trying to assure herself as much as convincing him.
He nodded. "Very well, but please remember the offer stands."
And what if she did move in with him? Her every sense told her he'd be a difficult man to refuse, a temptation she couldn't handle. Best to stay away from him. If only she could.
Chapter Five
After Gaderian returned Fianna to the Snow Leopard, he continued along the near-empty streets, unable to evict her from his mind, all those endearing qualities he could never forget. He smiled, reflecting his good fortune that he had found a quick feed before Fianna had emerged from the tavern, else he wouldn't have had the opportunity to escort her to the Nantosuelta River . In a moment of all-encompassing pleasure, he recalled everything about her: the provocative lilac scent that clung to her hair and clothes, her every gesture, her expressive face and smile, but especially her low, sultry voice that aroused him like a lover's
"I didn't seek employment as a scryer," she explained. "I wanted to find a position as a seamstress. But I saw no advertisements for such a job at the community tack board." She agonized anew if she should be telling him so much, but there was something about him that inspired confidence, a quality that made her want to reveal all her secrets. It was gratifying to have someone to talk to, a man who appeared to have no ulterior motive in listening to her tale. She studied his face for a moment, a face of sharp angles and lines, and a shapely, sensual mouth. She recalled his kiss in the cave, and her body heated as a longing spread through her to have him kiss her again, hold her tight against his chest.
His fingers were long and tapered, his eyes quite the darkest she'd ever seen. His obsidian eyes stared into hers, as if searching, probing, and a warm lassitude claimed her, prompting a desire to lean against him, feel his arms around her. She wanted to dismiss the inclination, too well aware she hardly knew this man, her earlier doubts about him returning. Could she trust him? What if, by some act of fate, he met Angus? Surely her would-be fiancé would offer a reward for her.
Fianna turned away from him and stared across the meadow, toward the rippling, glistening waters of the Nantosuelta in the distance. Insects buzzed around them, and she brushed them away. Here and there tiny fairies slumbered in tree branches, their silvery wings spread out at their sides.
Much as she wanted to, she couldn't forget her dilemma. How much longer did she have here in Moytura before Angus caught up with her ... if he caught up with her? She prayed to the Goddess Talmora that her luck would hold, that she could continue living and working here in the capital, a futile wish, she feared, as soon as it entered her brain. No doubt she'd have to leave the capital soon and search for employment in another city, but she didn't want to leave, now that she'd found employment on such favorable terms.
And now that you've found Gaderian, her heart whispered. She dispelled the thought as soon as it entered her head, for the last thing she needed now was an entanglement; she'd learned long ago not to lean on others.
His deep voice enticed her back to the present. "Gladly would I grant you sanctuary at my house. No obligations on your part," he said with a slight smile. "The renovations are nearing completion, and I expect to move in soon."
"I thank you, sir–"
"Gaderian."
"Thank you for the offer, Gaderian, but I want to get by on my own." She knew better than to depend on others, for too many times other people had disappointed her. "The innkeeper has been more than generous. I'll be fine," she said, aware she was trying to assure herself as much as convincing him.
He nodded. "Very well, but please remember the offer stands."
And what if she did move in with him? Her every sense told her he'd be a difficult man to refuse, a temptation she couldn't handle. Best to stay away from him. If only she could.
Chapter Five
After Gaderian returned Fianna to the Snow Leopard, he continued along the near-empty streets, unable to evict her from his mind, all those endearing qualities he could never forget. He smiled, reflecting his good fortune that he had found a quick feed before Fianna had emerged from the tavern, else he wouldn't have had the opportunity to escort her to the Nantosuelta River . In a moment of all-encompassing pleasure, he recalled everything about her: the provocative lilac scent that clung to her hair and clothes, her every gesture, her expressive face and smile, but especially her low, sultry voice that aroused him like a lover's
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