Shadows of Eternity

Chapter Four

L eia smiled at her students as they burst into the classroom on Monday morning, laughing and giggling as only five-year-olds can. Twenty adorable children, eleven girls and nine boys, and she adored them all. She had always wanted an older sister. Of course, having an older brother was nice, and she loved Luke, but there were some things you could only share with another girl. She hoped to one day have lots of kids of her own.

After spending time with Rohan, Leia had decided to give her kids a lesson about Indians, especially the Lakota Nation. Before going to bed last night, she had scoured the Internet for facts about the Lakota people.

Naturally, in doing so, she had learned a lot more than she had time to teach. She was fascinated by what she had learned. She had never really wondered how Native Americans lived, but she had discovered that in the old days, the Lakota had lived in close-knit families, with men and women having different responsibilities.

Men did the hunting. They were responsible for protecting the village, as well as tribal ceremonies and rituals. They also taught the young men how to hunt and track and helped them prepare for their vision quests.

Women raised the children and taught them the Four Great Virtues of Life, which were bravery, fortitude, generosity and wisdom. Women also grew the crops and tanned the hides which were used for making clothing and lodges. They also cared for the sick.

Leia took what she’d learned and came up with a lesson her class could easily understand. And they loved it. She taught them how to say a few words in Lakota. Pilamaya , meant thank you. Kola meant friend, Hau meant hello, Wakan meant holy.

She felt like her lesson had been a success when she heard the kids using some of the words the next day during class, pleased when they wanted to learn more.

The rest of the week flew by. At home on Friday after work, Leia kicked off her shoes and dropped down on the sofa. She hadn’t heard from Rohan. She tried not to be disappointed. It had only been one date, after all. It was obvious he wasn’t interested in another one. Too bad, she thought, because she was surely interested in him.

She tried not to let it get her down, but she was depressed just the same. Other than the fathers of her students, who were off-limits, she didn’t meet many single men. As for the few she’d gone out with in the last year, one date had been enough. Apparently that was how Rohan felt about her, she thought glumly. One and done.

Shuffling into the kitchen, she decided to indulge in a hot fudge sundae. If she gained a few pounds, what difference did it make?

She carried the ice cream into the living room. The rest of the day stretched before her. She could always clean her apartment, she thought, licking whip crème from her lips. Or go to a movie. Or shopping. Sadly, none of those options appealed to her.

With nothing better to do, she switched on the TV, surfing through the channels looking for something to occupy her for an hour or two. She paused when she came to a Western. It was one she’d never seen, but that wasn’t surprising since she preferred romantic comedies and there was nothing funny about the Old West, just lots of gunfights and Indian attacks.

Still, she found herself caught up in the story of a white girl who made friends with a Cheyenne boy when she was just a little girl. As the story unfolded, the two grew up and fell in love, and after facing many hardships, they married and had children of their own.

Leia sighed as she switched off the TV. The actor in the movie had reminded her of Rohan. What would it have been like if they’d met back in the 1800s when the only good Indian was a dead Indian? Would people have looked down their noses at her for being in love with an Indian? Would her own people have shunned her? Would she have cared?

With a shake of her head, she went into the kitchen and dropped her bowl into the dishwasher. She was about to call Janae and see if there was any chance she could get away long enough to go out to dinner or bowling when her cell phone rang. Closing her eyes, she sent a quick prayer to heaven, praying the caller was Rohan. Taking a deep breath, she said, “Hello?”

“Leia, how are you?”

His voice caressed her, making her heart soar. “I’m fine. How are you?”

“Lonesome. I know it’s short notice, but any chance I could take you out later tonight?”

She clamped her lips together, cutting off the quick “Yes” that rose in her throat. She didn’t want him to think she had just been sitting around waiting for his call. “Don’t you have to dance tonight?”

“I took the night off, hoping you weren’t busy.”

“Oh.” Butterflies of excitement fluttered in the pit of her stomach at the thought of seeing him again.

“What do you say?”

“All right. Where did you want to go?”

“Anywhere you’d like,” he said in that soft, seductive voice. “Dining, dancing, the movies?”

“There’s a new movie at the Roxy that I’ve been wanting to see.”

“Should I pick you up? Or do we need to take separate cars again?”

She laughed softly.

“Pick you up at seven?”

“All right.” Somewhat hesitantly, she gave him her address.

“Until then,” he said.

She was smiling when the call ended. She would have preferred to go dancing, but it was dangerous to be in his arms. His voice, the feel of those strong arms around her, the way his gaze made her insides curl … he made her feel vulnerable. Needy.

She showered, washed and dried her hair, slipped into a pair of slacks and a silky shirt, applied a bit of make-up, and all the while her heart was pounding with anticipation.

When the doorbell rang, she took a deep breath, and looked through the peephole to make sure it was him. Not wanting him to think she was over-anxious to see him, she counted to ten before opening the door.

Rohan whistled softly when he saw her. She really was lovely. Her russet-colored hair fell in careless waves over her shoulders. Her beautiful green eyes betrayed everything she was feeling. The shirt she wore matched the color of her eyes. His gaze moved down her slender legs, imagining them wrapped around his waist. Damn!

“Are you ready?” he asked.

Nodding, Leia grabbed her handbag from the table beside the door. She was acutely conscious of him walking beside her as they made their way through the apartment courtyard to the street where a sleek, silver Dodge Challenger awaited them.

Leia’s eyes widened. “Is this yours?”

“Of course.”

He handed her in, his fingers sliding up her arm before he released her to go around to the driver’s side.

A single touch, she thought, and her whole body tingled. She stared at his profile, his jaw square and clean-shaven. She longed to sift her fingers through his hair. Beautiful black hair any woman would envy. Tonight, he wore it tied back with a leather thong.

“So, what is this movie you wanted to see?” he asked, as he pulled away from the curb. “Leia?”

It took her a moment to gather her thoughts. Embarrassed, she admitted, “I forgot the title. It’s supposed to be a comedy.”

He smiled, aware of her scrutiny. He was used to women staring at him. It happened so often, he rarely paid much attention. But the look in Leia’s eyes pleased him more than it should have. She was fascinated by him, and more than a little wary.

He parked the car in the theater lot, opened her door for her, took her hand as they walked to the box office. “Would you care for something to eat?” he asked, his nose wrinkling against the pungent odors of buttered popcorn, sodas, hot dogs and mustard.

“No, thank you.” How could she eat when her stomach was in knots? She noticed women turning to stare at him. A few recognized him. One teenage girl was bold enough to ask for his autograph. He obliged by signing his name on a napkin.

The girl smiled from ear to ear as she hurried to show it to her friends.

“It must make you feel good when people recognize you,” Leia remarked.

“Well, only people who’ve recently seen the show recognize me,” he said with a shrug.

“Still, it must be nice.”

“I’ll admit it’s flattering. But you must have met a lot of real stars, considering both your parents are in the business.”

“Oh, yes,” she replied. “Mostly when I was younger and they took me to the studio in the summer.” But never anyone as outrageously handsome as he was.

The theater was crowded but they found a pair of seats close to the center of a row. A moment later, the house lights went down and the trailers started.

Leia found it hard to concentrate on the screen. Rohan’s presence was impossible to ignore. He was so blatantly male, so physically imposing. So darn gorgeous. She kept stealing looks at him, unable to believe he was beside her.

Her cheeks flamed with embarrassment when he caught her staring. His gaze locked with hers and something she couldn’t define passed between them, something so strong it was almost tangible. Her breath caught in her throat as his hand cupped her nape, drawing her closer as he leaned toward her. Fear and excitement raced through her when his mouth covered hers.

Time stopped as the theater fell away and they were standing in a grassy field beneath cloudy skies, his arms around her, his tongue plundering her mouth, nibbling at the skin along the side of her neck. She moaned softly, her hands fisted in his shirt front as she sought to be closer. Her whole body was on fire, aching for his touch …

Abruptly, they were back in the theater, surrounded by hundreds of people.

Leia blinked and blinked again. What had just happened? Had she fallen asleep? It didn’t seem likely but what other explanation could there be? It had to have been a dream. Feeling light-headed, she stared at the screen.

The movie was soon over. Leia felt wobbly when she stood. She smiled uncertainly at Rohan when he reached for her hand to steady her.

“Did you enjoy the movie?” he asked as they left the theater and walked toward the parking lot.

“What? Oh, the movie. Yes, of course. Did you?” She hoped he didn’t want to talk about it, because she didn’t remember anything after the first few scenes.

He shrugged in reply. “Would you like to go for a drink?”

“I don’t think so. I feel … ” She didn’t know how she felt.

“A drink will do you good,” he said, as he opened the passenger door and handed her inside.

He took her to a bar she’d never seen before, guided her to a secluded booth, and ordered two glasses of red wine.

“I think I might be coming down with something,” Leia murmured. “I feel so light-headed.”

“I’m sure it will pass,” he said, his gaze searching hers.

When their drinks came, she practically inhaled hers. “I didn’t realize I was so thirsty,” she said, embarrassed.

“Here.” He thrust his glass into her hand, his gaze holding hers. “Have mine.”

She wanted to object. Instead, she drained it nearly as quickly as the first. “Thank you.”

He nodded. “It’s late. I should get you home. You’ll feel better after a good night’s sleep.”

“Yes,” she murmured. “Sleep.”

She didn’t remember the ride home but the next thing she knew, they were in her living room, though she had no recollection of unlocking the door or inviting him inside.

“Sweet dreams, Leia,” he whispered. Taking her hand in his, he kissed her palm. And then he was gone.

It was too early to retire for the night. Feeling the need to move, Rohan left his car in front of her place and strolled down the street, his hands shoved into his pockets. He loved the night, the quiet, the darkness. He inhaled deeply, his nostrils filling with a plethora of scents from the fragrance of night-blooming flowers to the pungent odors rising from a nearby garbage can.

The streets were nearly deserted at this time of the night, the houses dark, the inhabitants sleeping soundly, unaware that death passed by.

He licked his lips, remembering the warm intoxication of the woman’s blood, the sweetness of her kisses, the feel of her slender body pressed intimately against his arousal the night they went dancing. He had never felt guilty for stealing a drink or two from the other women he’d preyed on. Perhaps it was because he didn’t think of Leia as prey. Perhaps that was why stealing her blood made him feel like a thief in the night.

“Leia,” he whispered her name to the midnight wind, relishing the thought of seeing her again.

Filled with anticipation, he returned to his car and drove to his lair.

Tomorrow night, he thought. He would see her tomorrow night, and if he had his way, for many nights to come.

Desire rose hot and swift within him at the thought of holding her again. Tasting her again. Feeling the warmth of her blood chase away the cold that was ever a part of him.

Tomorrow.