his voice was harsh, but still she felt the depth of his longing. It was
luxurious to be so coveted and so desired. And yet she wondered at his
words, her eyes widening to his.
'Nalte,' Jamie said, leaning high above her.
'He would kill me in seconds if he found me with you. Is that your plan?
To seduce me to my doom?'
She didn't reply right away. She smiled wickedly and smoothed his hair
back from his face.' Would you really die for me?' she whispered softly.
He caught her hand where she touched him and drew her wrists together
high over her head, staring down at her. She didn't know if he loved her
or despised her in those seconds, but she did know that he wanted her.
Tension con stricter the length of his body, and muscles convulsed at
his throat and within the tautness of his features.
'Is that what you want?' he demanded.
He wasn't smiling. She knew that she had probably tested him beyond
endurance, so she whispered softly to him in the night.
'No, I do not want you to die for me. Nalte knows that I am here.'
'What?'
'He came to me and told me that I could go to you, that he had made his
decision. We are to stay here until the ceremonies are complete for his
sister, then the Apache will see that we are given an escort out of the
mountains.'
'Nalte ... knows?' Jamie repeated.
She nodded solemnly.
'He said that you told him I was already your woman. He also said that
you were either a fool or a very brave man to have come for me, and that
a brave man deserves the respect of other brave men. And so he told me
that you were here, and that I could come to you.'
He stared down at her, his grip hard upon her wrists as he tried to
understand what she was telling him. Nalte had decided in their favor.
There was no need to die here. He could leave with Tess.
He could leave with her.
And he could make love to her, here, tonight, in the shadow of the
Apache's mountains, at the stream where life itself and the night seemed
mystical.
He cried out harshly and lowered himself over her, his lips parting
before they ever touched hers. He ravished her mouth, demanding that it
open to his, and he seemed to taste and find all of her, his tongue
delving ever deeper, his teeth teasing her lips, his breath mingling
with hers, the whole of his kiss so deep and complete and sensual that
it was raw and laid her bare. It touched her on a level so intimate that
the very decadence aroused her to shattering heights. Then his lips left
hers, and she was bereft. The night air touched her lips where they
remained damp and moist from his touch.
His fingers were upon the rawhide laces of her buckskin dress. Her
breasts spilled free to his touch, and his hand cupped and caressed
them, his fingers stroking and arousing her nipples. Then his mouth
formed hungrily around one nipple to suckle and tease the hardening bud,
to send streams of excitement and desire sweeping through her limbs. She
