Excerpt of Dark Warrior: To Tame a Wild Hawk by Lenore Wolfe

Extended Description Excerpt: He was magnificent—standing there, waiting for her to reach his side. And soon after she did, their lives became irrevocably woven together. Mandy likened it to a silvery, invisible thread, joining their hearts. And she knew the Grandmothers smiled.

She felt rebellious, right now, with their sure vision of her path. A path with the Hawk . . . their lives entwined. Her heart pounded—fanciful thoughts. But her mind soon followed down the path her heart had taken, with what would have been—could have been—had she not insisted this marriage be—in name only.

She had done so, only an hour ago, and he had only looked at her, an unreadable gleam in his eyes. He hadn't argued, hadn't said one word. She had wanted to cry.

"Second thoughts already?" his whisper caressed her face.

Meg hugged her, then, and ran off to take care of their hotel.

Mandy frowned as she watched her friend disappear. Meg was clearly enjoying this—too much. She shook her head at Hawk. "No, the marriage has its merits," she answered, trying for a neutral tone.

He let that jab slide, grinning. "I wasn't talking about the marriage—exactly."

Startled, she looked up and was captured, completely off guard, by the intense look in his gold eyes. He'd read her mind, again, drat the man, or was her body giving her away?

She should look away—really she should—but suddenly, she couldn't remember why.

"Give over Mandy," he whispered. His gaze refusing to release her from the fine thread he was weaving around her. She was caressed by it—captured by it. And each time, the web grew stronger. "You want this marriage in every way, every bit as much as I, admit it, Mandy," his low voice fanned the flames.

Mandy opened her mouth, then shut it. She fought for control, lost, and opened her mouth, again, but the words of denial wouldn't come.

His hand touched the side of her face, his thumb sliding possessively over her lips, stroking her bottom lip again, and again, until she thought she would faint with pleasure.

She'd made a fatal mistake with her heart, thinking she could control this. She should have listened to the danger signs—to all the warnings, and now, it was too late. There was no holding back—any part of her, at least, not anything strong enough to hold back this tide of love—and desire. Even though, the love part lay only on her side.

She'd been a fool

And her heart was going to pay the price, but she couldn't stop, now.

Hawk's intense, green-gold eyes searched her face, knew the exact instant she surrendered, and only by iron will did he wait to hear the words.

Words avowing her complete surrender.

She nodded.

He shook his head. "Say it," he softly commanded. "Tell me what you want."

Mandy's tongue darted out to moisten her lips and heard Hawk groan. She swallowed, her eyes closing for a moment with her body's reaction to that simple sound. The fires were rapidly burning out of control. "You." She looked into his golden gaze. "I want you."

Hawk picked her up and walked straight out of Doc's house and across the street to the hotel, where he'd rented a room for the night.