hesitation. Take it as a gift, freely given, and hope she would never regret the giving.
"I wish you didn't have to go."
In lieu of words, he kissed her. They had spent the entire night in each other's arms, making love, dozing, making love again.
At dawn, they had showered together, taking turns washing each other, making love again, with the water sluicing over them.
Later, wrapped in a towel and a smile, Adrianna had fixed herself a pot of coffee while Navarre sipped a glass of warm red wine.
And now they were in bed again. Navarre stroked her hair, remembering how, only a short time ago, he had wished he could fall asleep in the arms of a woman. He'd done that last night. Fallen asleep in Adrianna's arms, then come awake with the first whisper of dawn to feel her lips brushing his cheek.
But now the sun was climbing in the sky. Even though the curtains were drawn, he could feel the subtle change in the air as night turned to day, smell the sun-warmed earth and grass.
With a sigh, he cupped Adrianna's face in his hands and kissed her and then, ignoring his body's immediate response to even that slight bit of loving, he slid out of bed and began to dress.
Adrianna sat with her back against the headboard, the sheet tucked under her arms. Never, in all her life, had she expected to find the ecstacy, the peace of mind and spirit, that she had found in Navarre's arms.
Her gaze caressed him as he dressed, admiring the width of his shoulders, the long line of his back, the sinuous way he moved. Already, she was counting the hours and minutes until she could see him again. Be with him again.
When he was ready to go, Navarre knelt beside the bed, needing to hold her, to touch her, one more time.
"Tonight?" he asked, and it was both question and promise.
"Tonight."
He ran his knuckles over her cheek in a last, quick caress, and then he was gone.
Navarre swore softly as he left Adrianna's house. The storm had passed, the sun was warm, and he had lingered too long. With one arm flung over his face, he willed himself toward home, his speed increasing until he was virtually invisible to the human eye.
He vaulted up the stairs to the porch, opened the door with a wave of his hand, and raced up the stairs to the attic.
Inside, he slammed the door, then stood with his back braced against the wood, his breath coming in hard, short gasps.
"I thought you were never coming."
He whirled around at the sound of her voice, familiar even after the passage of so many years.
"Shaylyn!"
She was reclining on his bed, her black hair falling over her shoulders like a dark cloud, her black eyes glittering.
"What are you doing here?" he asked.
"Waiting for you, of course."
She was still beautiful. Still deadly. He knew then who had attacked the woman in the alley.
"Why are you here, Shaylyn?"
Shaylyn shrugged. "Do I need a reason?"
She uncurled from the bed in a smooth, graceful movement, reminding Navarre of a sleek black panther.
"I've missed you, my Navarre." She ran her hands over his shoulders as she swayed seductively against him. "Tell me you've missed me, too."
"What do you want, Shaylyn?"
"I should think that would be obvious."
He caught her hands in his as his body grew heavy. "I can't talk to you now." It was an effort to speak, to think. He glanced at the bed, then at Shaylyn.
She nodded her understanding. "Until later, my sweet," she purred, and, with a wave of her hand, she transformed into an iridescent black mist and disappeared from his sight.
Navarre fought the darkness sweeping over him. His feet felt like lead as he made his way toward the bed. His last thought, as the blackness dragged him down into oblivion, was that he'd have to find another place to pass the hours of daylight.
Part Three Chapter Ten
Adrianna went to work, not only because she was in desperate need of something to occupy her mind, but because the bookstore was, after all, her only means of support.
Thursdays were usually quiet, and today was no exception. Her regulars came in for coffee about ten-thirty, then browsed through the racks for half an hour or so.
During a lull, Adrianna went up into the attic and opened one of the boxes that held the books left behind by the previous owner. She grabbed a couple and carried them downstairs, not looking at