The arrow pierced the ground an inch from the foot of Eskine's horse. Tranquilly he soothed his horse, focusing his undivided attention totally on the beast. He knew precisely, the spot where the arrow came from, but what he could not tell was how many attackers he had to contend with. He continued to murmur softly to his horse, and just when the mount relaxed, believing him, that there was no more imminent danger, two more arrows whistled through the air, and again landed just in front of its hooves. The beast reacted violently, rose high on its hind legs, and threw Eskine, who landed ungraciously on his back.

It was only when he heard the soft chuckle, did Eskine's instinct change from cautious alert to sudden furious anger, as he sprung to his feet.

Damn woman! I thought I was being attacked.

'Are you crazy Lady Dalmahoy?' He screamed. 'You could have crippled my horse or I could have broken my neck!'

'Should I care about the wellbeing of a trespasser?' She answered indifferently, looking down at him from her horse.

True he was on her land, but this was their 'safe zone.' She and him always rendezvoused here to exchange 'neighbourly' communication.

'You know I would not have harmed you,' he gritted his teeth.

'How was I to know it was Eskine Aird, Chief of DeMartino intruding on my land?' She challenged. Though she knew unmistakably, it was him. She would always know his broad shoulders, those well tapered muscular thighs and the way he rode his stallion so majestically, as if he was born on it. She had deliberately tried to ruffle his feathers, to see how he would respond to the threat of danger. But he hadn't even bothered to defend himself or take cover. His immediate concern had been only for his stallion.

'Lady Dalmahoy, get off your horse.'

'No,' she struggled, needing the momentary protection her steed provided.

'Then you leave me no choice.' He summarily deposed her of it bringing her to her feet in front on him.

'You should not be touching me,' she admonished breathlessly.

'You would not listen.'

'You should not be attempting to give me instructions.'

'Yet I did,' his eyes taunted teasingly.

'Eskine ... such insolence is punishable,' she breathed.

'I am not one of your subjects, nor of your tribe,' he reminded her.

'Yet, I could pierce you with my sword,' she threatened.

'You won't kill a defenceless man, Lady Dalmahoy,' he challenged.

She swallowed nervously. She knew his own sword was in its sheath on his horse, still he could be harmed with a knife ... he had to be.

Guardedly her right hand lifted rather tersely behind his collar. There was no weapon. Tentatively both her arms patted down his hips. Touching his taut, sexy buttocks was unavoidable. Her cheeks burned a fiery red. He grinned cheekily. Hastily her hands patted down both his sturdy legs, searching and found no weapon. Her eyes lifted to his again.

'And I've waited so long to feel your hands on my body,' he teased huskily, trapping her palms on his chest.

She sobered, stepped back hastily. Obviously, he was just toying with her.

'Grisell ...'

Or not ...

'Being with you is tantamount to treason Eskine. I could be killed. There are zealous men waiting to step in to my position.'

'I want you to take supper with me.'

'Are you mad!'

'Yesterday, you rode for two hours unguarded and undetected,' he informed her. 'In the very, very early hours of every morning, the past two weeks you have walked without protection or detection.'

'You had me followed!' ... why didn't I know it.

Truth be told, she had sensed the unwelcome company. She'd just assumed it was bodyguards her dearest uncle had protecting her, trying to be inconspicuous. And Eskine was the reason for her pre-sunrise walking sprees and wayward thoughts. She could not stop thinking about him. She knew she could never ever be with him. But how to deal with the persistent attraction?

He grinned annoyingly, 'what do they say about keeping your enemies closer?'

'You are the enemy,' she reminded him, yet her heart remonstrated vociferously.

'Nevertheless, you shall dine with me or I will kidnap you and there will be a bloodbath on your hands.'

She recoiled visibly. Not that she was going to unresistingly allow herself to be kidnapped. She was an unquestionable warrior; brave, bold and fearless, though she doubted that Eskine moved about foolishly like she did without guards. His protection had to be hiding about in the dense bushes very close by, waiting to pounce on her and take her life, should she make an attempt on their Chief's life. And she was no match against a dozen of his decorated soldiers. Now she was faced with a dilemma. She had killed many an enemy in battle, but she could never be accused of taking innocent lives, neither could she bear to bring harm to her beloved people. She cared for them more than her own life.

'Very well Eskine,' she relented. 'It will have to be a very late dinner and I can only spare you an hour, not a second more.'

He raised a surprised eyebrow. 'You're not going to argue with me?'

'I choose my battles.' Her eyes did not meet his. He must not know of her secret joy. Her heart was eagerly anticipating their clandestine date.

Stupid heart ...had no shame.

He bowed graciously. 'May I assist you back onto your horse?'

'Don't touch me!' She hissed.

He held up his hands in surrender. 'Will only dream of it then,' he mocked with a grin.

She caught the reins, hitched one foot onto the saddle and easily threw herself onto the back of her mare.

'You are an infuriating man, Chief DeMartino,' her eyes narrowed, her lips puckered together.

'At your service, Lady Dalmahoy,' he grinned wickedly.

Gently, her ankle nudged her horse and it sped away post haste.

Grisell ran her fingers through her hair. The blonde silken strands bounced off her shoulders. She had washed her hair and put on a long, pretty apricot coloured dress. Not that she wanted to look beautiful for Eskine or anything. Business for the day had been taken care of. She'd had exhaustive meetings with the elders, addressed concerns of some ladies wanting to increase their role in clan activities. She had declined supper, citing a headache. That had been true. She was now starting to dissect her foolhardiness in consenting to taking supper with the enemy. What had possessed her to agree? If she were caught, she would be tied down like a savage animal and then, gleefully executed by the tribal elders.

Even her ever supportive Uncle Gadd would not be able to save her from certain death. Strangely, she felt no desire to renege on her commitment to meet Eskine. Her craving to be with him far outweighed the necessity for self- preservation.

Announcing to everybody, she was having an early night, she covered herself in a black cloak and walked through the familiar scrublands now, after exiting through the back door of her private cottage. Though it was dark, the path she treaded was all too familiar to her. She was grateful there was not a full moon tonight. There was less chance of her being discovered, wandering the dark, unsafe outback to engage in a surreptitious meeting with her clan's detested enemy. She smiled to herself, undoubtedly acknowledging that Eskine was not her enemy, despite her clan hating him vehemently. Why was she risking her life to meet him? And more importantly why was she risking her heart? Surely, she knew nothing could come of it. He could not take her as wife. She was leader of her clan. Neither his clan nor hers would sanction such stupidity in any event. She hesitated suddenly, sensing his presence. Eskine had not spoken, neither had he made any movement, but the aura had become charged. The hairs prickled at the nape of her neck.

'You came,' he murmured softly.

'You thought I wouldn't?'

He smiled. His perfect white teeth flashed in the darkness. 'I thought you'd stand me up, just for the cheek of it.'

She laughed softly, removing her cloak. It was a beautiful sound. He stopped smiling. His eyes locked with hers. She looked away uncomfortably.

'You look beautiful,' he purred.

She looked down at her apricot dress, bunching at her ankles. It was a beautiful colour against the backdrop of the night. She was pleased he liked it.

'Thank you,' she replied politely.

'We're being so civil,' he laughed.

She laughed again. 'Shall I draw my sword?'

'No. Let's sit.' He shook his head, taking her by the wrist.

Her arm spasmed spontaneously. The nerve ends of every part of her body tingled, reacting to his touch. He felt it too, but chose to ignore it. Why fan flames that would only ignite chaos?

'Grisell?'

'Yes,' she nodded, seeing the blanket he had already laid out. She removed her sandals and sat cross-legged on the soft cloth. 'Can I help with anything?' She asked, straining to peek into the basket near his sturdy thigh.

'Not much to do,' he grinned, handing her a glass, filled with some potent smelling liquor.

She sniffed it suspiciously.

He laughed heartily. 'I am not trying to poison you Grisell.'

'You sure? Can't be too trusting, you know.'

The smile disappeared off his face. His eyes, strained with anger.

'Sorry, just teasing,' she offered in a conciliatory tone.

He immediately relaxed, uncovering the basket. 'Nothing fancy,' he handed her a plate. It contained a bread roll filled with chunky cheese and ham, a bunch of juicy green grapes, and a rectangular chocolate biscuit. Hungrily, she bit into the bread roll.

'Anything's good right now,' she smiled. 'Lunch was a very long time ago.'

Eskine placed a similar plate on his lap, but instead of eating, his eyes stayed on her face. He watched as she chewed and swallowed. Her tongue snuck out, licked creamy butter from the corner of her lip. He groaned silently, shifted as the strain tightening his pants, pierced against him painfully. He longed to tangle his fingers through the glossy blonde curls that hung about her shoulders.

'Why aren't you eating?' She demanded, popping a grape into her mouth, having finished her roll.

'I'd rather watch you.'

She stopped chewing. Her fingers that were reaching for another grape hovered in mid-air.

He laughed softly, taking his bread roll to his mouth. 'That look on your face right now, nobody would believe it's the fearsome and daring Grisell Blane, Chief of the Dalmahoy,' he bit a huge chuck and continued to gaze at her.

'Are you making fun of me?' She removed a knife, attached to her ankle and aimed it at him threateningly.

'Wait, I don't want to die a starving man,' he pleaded remorsefully.

She laughed and threw her knife onto the blanket. She helped herself to a little more of the potent looking drink. He held out his glass for more.

'Thank you,' he drank thirstily.

Grisell looked up into the starry sky and smiled. 'I love this part of the night,' she breathed.

He stared, swallowed painfully and dragged his eyes away from her beautiful face.

'When I was a little boy, I used to try and count the stars,' he laughed.

'Then I'd break a branch from a tree, put it on the floor as far as my eye could see, then I'd go sit on the other side of the branch and continue counting, until ___ I lost count.'

'That was plain stupid,' she laughed, tearing into her chocolate biscuit.

'Off course I know better now,' he smiled, holding her eyes, refusing to allow her to look away.

'Does anybody know where you are right now?' she dragged her eyes away.

'You mean does anybody know who I am with?' He corrected.

Her eyes met his for a millisecond and looked away. She finished the last of her biscuit, dusted her hands and looked away.

'I'm not answerable to anybody,' he murmured quietly.

Pity for me, being a female. I have an overbearing Council, even though I am the chief.

'And you?' He questioned tenderly.

She reached into his plate, helped herself to his biscuit. 'They think I'm in bed.'

'You still hungry?' He reached for the basket. He liked that she was not shy to eat nor too conscious about the quantity she ate. Not that she carried any excess weight. She was beautifully slim, curves in all the right places, well rounded shapely breasts, very sexy, toned bottom, and he found her plump  ripe lips most attractive. He longed to taste them, kiss her senseless, until she begged him ___'

'Eskine, I said no,' she held out her hand over her plate to stop him.

'Right ___.'

Their eyes locked. She swallowed. Her eyes fell to his lips. He could swear her head shifted closer to his.

'I must go,' she hastily stood up, breaking the connection. 'This was lovely. Thank you.'

He stood up too, disappointed that she severed the electrical connection between them.

'Thank you,' he reached for her hand.

She side-stepped him, picked up her knife and slipped on her sandals. 'Good night,' she whispered and disappeared back into the darkness.

Eskine raked his hands through his hair frustratedly. He wanted her so badly. It hurt. It had been more than a few months now that he was walking around, nursing that painful erection, because he couldn't bring himself to make love to any other woman. He was chief. He could have any woman in his tribe, and they were strikingly beautiful women, who were only too pleased to be of service to their chief. He could have a harem of them. His title allowed it, his forefathers before him, kept many mistresses. But the only woman he wanted in his bed was Grisell Blane, Chief of the Dalmahoy and she was the only woman he couldn't have.

           -end chapter three-