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She heard his footfalls upon the stone floor Dear heavens, how could he see her? But he was heading straight for her! She backed away slowly, stealthily

"I aer to the darkness, lass," he warned "I will find you I a, ard is a wild, mature falcon," he continued, a hint of a smile in his voice "Usually a falconer is reluctant to assu one, but sometimes, upon a truly rare moon like the harvest moon we had last eve, the falconer espies a bird of such brilliance, such nificence, that he casts all caution aside and traps the haggard, vowing to bind her to hiet all her wild free past--whether in darkness or in light--and give herself freely only to her future with her falconer"

She must not answer him; he’d follow her voice

"My sweet falcon, shall I tell you hoill ta in the darkness like wary animals

"First I seel my lady, which is to deprive her of vision, with a black silken hood"

Adrienne s hand The folds of her gown rustled as she sidestepped quickly

"Then I blunt her talons"

A pebble skittered across the floor aher skirts to keep them still

"I fasten jesses and dainty bells to her ankles so that I can be aware of her every movement, for I am in the dark too"

She drew a labored breath--al he would track her traitorous gasp She knew his strategy was to keep talking until he provoked her into revealing herself And then what? she couldn’t help but wonder Would the Hawk make love to her here and now in the darkness of the broch? A shiver coursed through her, and she wasn’t certain it was fear Not certain at all

"Then a leash to tether her to her perch until I no longer need leash her Until she beco, slow process of binding her to rows accustomed to the sound of my voice and an that sa her will

Adrienne stepped slowly backward; she actually felt the breeze of hi by her, mere inches away Where was that wall?

She alled a long rip His breath fanned her face and she struggled in his grasp "Be still, sweet falcon I will not harm you Not ever," he whispered huskily

Adrienne felt the heat of his thighs burning through her thin silk own She was enveloped in the heady scent of musk and man Oh beautiful man, why couldn’t I have known you before my last illusion was shattered? Why couldn’t I have ainst his arnored her protests, drawing her closer into the steel of his embrace "Aye, I’ll simply have to have you seeled Or perhaps I should bind your hands and hood your eyes with silk, and lay you across my bed, stripped bare and laid wide open to pure sensation until you become accustomed to row to love my touch? Crave it as I crave you?"

Adrienne sed convulsively

"A falconaway her light, by seeling her, she learns to understand with all her other senses Senses that don’t lie The falcon is a wise creature, she believes only what she can feel, what she can hold in her talon or her beak Touch, scent, hearing By slowly being given back her sight and freedos to her If she fails to trust in her rant hi--she seeks to flee at every opportunity" He paused, his lips a scant breath from hers "None of ," he warned

"I am not a stupid bird--"

"Nay, not stupid, but the finest A falcon is the only other bird that can ht, accuracy, and speed Not to th of heart"

She’d been lost to hi And she didn’t protest further when his lips brushed hers lightly Nor did she protest in the next instant, when Hawk’s hands on her body turned hard, hot and de

"Would you soar for her than you’ve ever been I’ll teach you to bank heights you’ve only dreamed existed," he promised as he scattered kisses across her jaw, her nose, her eyelids His hands cradled her jaw in the darkness, feeling every curve, every plane and silken hollow of her face and neck with his hands,the nuances