What the Earl Desires by Aliyah Burke Page B

brought Indrani with her. Or the falcon followed her. One never knows with those two.”
    He flashed to the day he believed he saw a bird on her horse’s saddle. Guess I did see it.
    “Indrani?”
    “A beautiful Gyrfalcon. Female.” A thoughtful expression crossed her elegant features. “You give your word there is no intent to harm her?”
    Gyrfalcon? He had heard of them, seen a male once. Blinking, he focused on Jo. “You have my word.”
    “Okay.” The vacillation vanished leaving him faced with the sparkling young woman. She practically skipped down the stairs. He followed at a more leisurely pace. Jo had iron beneath her delicate appearance. And apparently it showed when it came to Najja.
    He had no further opportunity that afternoon to be alone with Najja. After dinner he retired to his study and focused on his work. Abel poured him some whisky then left him alone. His eyes burned with exhaustion when he finally finished. The whisky sat untouched at his left and he ignored it. On his way to bed he paused and detoured to Najja’s room, drawn there by an invisible thread.
    In the dark he hesitated, hand on the handle. If he closed his eyes he could feel her curves against him, taste her…
    He cursed and strode to his room. Berry waited and was dismissed with a wave of one hand. He sank in a chair only to rise and pace seconds later. His body strung tight seemed ready to explode.
    “I need to get a woman.”
    Even as the words slid from his mouth, he knew not just any would do. Only one would. And he needed her directly.
    With a growl of disgust at himself and his lack of control, he headed for the door. There was no footman and no butler which was fine. He wasn’t a man who normally left at this time of night and they deserved to be asleep in their beds, not waiting on him because he had a fire in his blood he couldn’t quench. Shoving into his coat, he ran to the stable and headed for Salvage’s stall. Once his gelding had been bridled he swung up on his horse’s bare back and rode out as if Lucifer himself nipped at his heels.
    Sliding off at The Brown Goose, he strode through the door, Salvage released into the care of a sleepy lad. He scanned the raucous crowd before striding to the back corner.
    “Are you not usually sleeping now, Faulkner?” Wilkes questioned taking a draught of his ale. He growled and waved for his own drink. When he grabbed the entire bottle from the woman, Wilkes laughed. “She got to you,” he stated once they were again alone.
    There was no point in denying that truth. “It is making me crazy, Wilkes.”
    The man eyed him from beneath bushy brows. “I can tell.” Another drink. “What are you going to do about it?”
    He had no clue. And from the smug indication on his face, Wilkes knew that very thing. Colin rubbed a hand over his eyes, his sleep had been lacking, most nights dreams of Najja wakened him with a stiff rod and the need to bring himself to release.
    There was no talking for a short time.
    “I heard the earl is sick.”
    Colin shrugged. “I see.”
    “Figured that would be your response.”
    “There is no love between us.”
    Silence hung between them until Wilkes cleared his throat. “It is time for another shipment to head to the coast. Do you have a plan?”
    No. Damn it all. He had nothing figured out. “I will ride it. My men are scared and rightfully so. The last one left the riders dead. Sliced them with sabers like bloody savages.”
    “Take Najja.”
    His gaze flew to meet the remarkably sincere one Wilkes sported. “What?”
    “The journey is three days. Think about it.”
    His shaft swelled, well aware of what three days with Najja meant. Two nights alone with her. He shook his head. “I will not risk a woman.”
    Of all the responses he expected, laughter was at the bottom of the list.
    “She is unlike any woman you know, Faulkner.”
    That phrase bespoke more than a passing cognition. It bordered upon an intimate acquaintance. Flames