A Warrior s Desire - By Pamela Palmer Page 0,11

slowly onto his back as if in the throes of human death.

No.

Heart thundering in her chest, Tarrys darted out from behind the rock and ran down the rocky hillside, the grass rising to prick her feet as fear congealed into a hard mass deep in her throat.

"Charlie."

His name was little more than a breath as she reached him and fell to her knees beside him.

"Charlie, wake up."

But her hands had barely brushed his tunic when his own snapped up to capture her wrists.

Tarrys strangled a scream as the man she'd thought unconscious sat up then leaped to his feet, dragging her with him, his eyes blazing.

"What are you doing here?" He wasn't injured at all.

It was a ruse to catch her.

Her knees nearly buckled with relief.

"You knew I was following you."

"Of course I knew you were following me.

I've known for miles."

The day hadn't even broken and already her plan was ruined.

Anger washed off him in waves, yet she didn't fear him.

Her heart pounded only from his startling her.

And from the storming of her senses by his nearness.

Sweet Esria, she was falling under his enchantment all over again.

He gave her arms a shake.

"Answer me.

Why did you come?" "To protect you."

Charlie gave a short bark of laughter, but there was no humor in the sound, nor in the hard twist of his mouth.

He held her so close she could smell his uniquely masculine scent, as deep, rich and endlessly fascinating as his world.

His grip on her wrists was no more than snug, yet her skin burned where he touched her.

Burned not with pain but with a heat that sank beneath her flesh, into the heart of her blood.

Inciting a desire she wanted to feel for no man.

Her body's reaction frustrated her.

Charlie's belief in his own invulnerability...and her uselessness...annoyed her.

"There are things about my world you don't know," she snapped.

"I'm not denying that, but I don't need a freakin' babysitter."

He shook her again, the tension in his hands tightly...barely... controlled.

"And you left the others thinking...what? That I was dead? Captured?" "No!" Her gaze snapped up to meet his.

"Harrison knew I was staying with you."

As Charlie's expression darkened even more, she added quickly, "He didn't ask me to come.

This was my decision.

But I told him before we left."

"I'm sure you made him obscenely happy with that news," he said disgustedly.

"He thought it was a good idea."

"I'll bet he did.

He's not the one that has to..." He released her suddenly.

"You can't come with me."

Tarrys said nothing, unable to agree yet unwilling to lie.

If he chased her away, she'd only go back to following him, though how she'd keep him from seeing her this time, she couldn't fathom.

She'd been so careful! "Go home, Tarrys.

Or somewhere you'll be safe.

Or, better yet, find someplace around here to hole up for a few weeks until that gate opens again.

Keep out of sight.

Even if Esri go through the gate at the next full moon, Harrison and the others will be there.

They'll protect you."

As she remained silent, his stiffness softened ever so slightly.

"Look, eaglet, I appreciate your trying to help, though... Jesus... I can't believe you put yourself in danger to come after me.

But you'll slow me down.

This mission is time-critical and I've got to move fast."

The gentling of his attitude softened something deep inside her.

As much as she longed to stop her body's reaction to this man, she would never be able to harden her heart toward him.

"I know," she said simply.

His gaze sharpened on her, his eyes probing hers, as if he sought a way into her innermost thoughts.

When they narrowed, honed to a piercing point, she thought maybe he had.

Charlie scowled.

"If I try to send you away, you'll just follow me again, won't you?" Tarrys pursed her lips.

If he were anyone else, she'd consider lying to him.

But she was beginning to think there was no hiding from Charlie Rand.

Whether in actions or words.

She met his gaze.

"Your mission is to free Princess Ilaria.

Mine is to make sure you succeed.

I won't give up mine any more than you will yours."

Charlie scowled.

"Harrison did put you up to this."

"No.

No one did.

This was my plan.

My choice."

"It's not your mission if you make it up on your own."

She cocked her head.

"Who directed you to free Princess Ilaria?" She couldn't believe her temerity in questioning him like this.

A few months ago, she never would have dared question any man, anyone, but the humans had encouraged her to speak freely.

She'd embraced that freedom more slowly but no less appreciatively than the others.

And this was Charlie.

For a