“So you see, Shaina, if you want to live with me, the judge is willing to agree, but you’ll have to talk to him,” Miah coaxed gently. She was not using her voice to sway the teenager in any way. The judge moved to within a few feet of the bed. Shaina was visibly trembling. Alexander reached automatically for her mind.She was under his protection, a female child with psychic ability, a precious treasure to be guarded at all times. He did not like her agitation, the terrible distress on her face. Miah was also in her mind, bolstering her courage, soothing her, aiding her to face the male strangers invading her room. The terror of her childhood was far too fresh in her mind to be able to handle such an event alone.At once he gathered Shaina into his mental arms, pouring his strength and power into her so that she blinked in amazement. He was surrounding her mind, repeating a healing chant in the ancient language of their people, whispering teasing nonsense so that Shaina could hardly ke
“Of course Miah is the perfect guardian. You think so, too. Is that not correct, Shaina?” His voice was soft and gentle, so beautiful that it made Bert sound harsh in comparison. But it was more than that; it was the way he said Miah’s name that made Bert want to throw things. There was something very intimate and possessive in his tone. The judge turned to look at the young girl. “Is that so, Shaina? Would you like to live with Miah? It’s up to you. If you prefer to answer in private, we can clear the room, and just the two of us will hear what you have to say.” Shaina shook her head, hugging her stuffed wolf close to her.“I know what I want,” she answered softly, but very clearly. “I want to live with Miah.” The judge beamed at her as if she were a brilliant child. “Naturally. I can see you and Miah have already established a close bond. I trust we can see through the proceedings as quickly as possible?” He fixed a stern eye on first the attorney, then Bert. While Miah’s attorney n
She had no idea of her own feelings, how deep, how intense they ran within her, but he could see the truth in her eyes. It looked as if they lived in their own secret world. They seemed to communicate without words. His fingers bunched tightly at his sides, curling until his knuckles were white, and his body shook with anger and disappointment. He had courted Miah for so long and devoted himself to her, yet never once had she looked at him in such a manner. And she was more beautiful than ever, more alluring. Watching her, he realised she was sexy beyond anyone he had ever encountered.He had always thought she was beautiful, the perfect ornament to display in the social circles he intended to travel in. Bert had never thought of her in terms of hot, steamy nights and sex, yet now, looking at her, he could hardly restrain himself. Just then Alexander lifted his head and looked at him—a long, cold look that sent a shiver racing down Bert’s spine. Bert turned on his heel and walked away
She arranged for her purchases to be delivered the next evening and followed him out into the night. Shaina would have a room designed especially for her, with items chosen as much as possible from her memories of things she had seen and liked. The rest they chose for her, wanting her happiness and comfort.The pattern for her quilt and sheets was a design fashioned by Miah to aid healing and promote soothing comfort and a feeling of well-being. The room they had decided to give her was a round turret where the intricate stained glass contained a powerful spell to protect the occupant from outside harm and nightmares. Miah smiled up at Alexander as they settled onto the balcony of her home, once more taking their own shapes. “I had a wonderful night, Alexander. Thank you so much for sharing this with me. It is much more fun experiencing life with another.” “You are growing used to me, despite your intentions not to,” he ventured as he led her down the stairs to the kitchen.“We have t
“The doctors here are quite remarkable,” she said softly. “Don’t you think it is much more likely they healed the child if her cancer is in remission? I go and read to the children often, but I cannot heal them, much as I would like to. Have you seen them on the cancer ward? They are so beautiful and brave. It’s rather heartbreaking. Perhaps you should visit them. The story would have tremendous human interest, don’t you think?”She buried the subtle compulsion in her suggestion carefully. The reporter shook his head as if to clear it. “I have to get the story.” She nodded gently, her long hair moving like a silken curtain around her shoulders. “Yes, the story about the doctors here in the hospital and how remarkable they really are.” Her dark eyes stared directly into his.“You really must write about their work.” Woods caught himself as he was turning toward the cancer ward. He shook his head hard to clear out the cobwebs. For a moment he was disoriented, unable to remember exactly
Shot back to reality with a vengeance by that reminder, Miah slid off the bed as if she had been jabbed by a hot poker. Realising in mortification that, aside of a wispy bra and a pair of torn knickers, she had no clothes to put back on, she snatched at the bedspread and yanked violently at it to haul it from under the big bronzed length of him where he lay in an infuriatingly relaxed post-coital sprawl. Concealing herself within its folds, Miah was furiously aware of Alexander’s unashamedly amused scrutiny.“What is hidden is always more intriguing, sweetheart,” he murmured with silken approbation. “And much more appealing to a man like me than a short skirt and a low neckline—”She rolled her eyes, “Intriguing you is the very last thing on my mind!” Miah almost spat at him, a tempestuous fury building behind her embarrassment.With his brilliant eyes gleaming, his black hair ruffled and blue-black stubble beginning to shadow his strong jaw line and highlight his shapely mouth, he
Intercepting a warm smile from Ysabelle, Miah went over to talk as best she could to Alexander’s grandmother. The grizzled bearded man by her side revealed that he was a retired professor living in Ysabelle’s village and he translated to enable the two women to communicate. Miah was surprised to find that she was confiding in Ysabelle about her parents’ separation.Alexander joined them and spoke at length to his grandmother before closing a hand over Miah ’s and guiding her onto the dance floor. She glanced up at his lean, breathtakingly handsome face and her heart thumped heavily in her eardrums. She felt so vulnerable, so unsure of what to do next, for the passion they had shared had wrecked the framework of their relationship and she had no idea what would replace it.‘We’re leaving,’ Alexander explained only when she questioned why they were leaving the function room and by a side door. ‘Ysabelle’s right. You look exhausted…like a little white ghost, angil moy…’PINK colour swa
‘Whether I like it or not is irrelevant!’ Miah argued wildly.‘How can it be?’ Alexander urged, turning her round to face him. ‘It’s the icing on the cake for both of us. But you should have warned me that I would be your first lover. If I’d known I would have been more patient and I might have hurt you less.’Miah wanted the tiled floor to open up and swallow her. She snatched at her bodice before it could tumble lower and expose her bare breasts. Her hands were trembling, for she was remembering that wild passion when his impatience had only been matched by her eagerness and the pain had drowned in the hot sweet tide of pleasure. Her face burning, she stepped back from him. ‘I’m fine,’ she said flatly.Alexander dealt her a flashing smile of such intrinsic charisma that her gaze stayed glued to him. ‘We’ll eat together in an hour.’Relieved by his departure and wrung out by the day’s events, Miah shed her dress in the bedroom and finally sank into the bath with a heartfelt sigh o