He leaned in so only she heard him. His breath fanned across her cheeks. “We need to act more like we’re married. I’m going to touch you and kiss you.”
“Is that really necessary?”
“Yes, if you want him to get the point. You’re mine.” Two words. Words I never wanted a man to utter. When he says them, they reach deep inside me. She needed her head examined. Now. Moving in closer to her, he took possession of her mouth.
Esther pushed against his chest trying to get away from him. She didn’t want to know what his lips tasted like, or how he made her body come alive with a simple touch. No. Complications not welcome. He cupped the back of her head, tugging her closer. She became mush in his arms. She kissed him back, hard. She didn’t recognize this new woman she had become. For once she felt totally alive.
Pulling away, he leaned his head against hers, both of them breathing hard. Her first kiss. She couldn’t think…could not form any words.
“See it wasn’t that bad.” He winked at her, and let her go, and finished his food as if he hadn’t just kissed her senseless.
Oh, it was worse than bad. The thoughts about love that she once had in her mind all but vanished. She wanted to march over to him where he was rolling up the tent and either hit him or kiss him. Neither of the feelings stronger than the other. A couple of the wives made their way over to her with curious eyes as they looked between her and her husband. Everyone around them had witnessed their kiss.
Redness crept into her cheeks making her flush and her mouth was dry, She resisted tracing where his lips had been.
“How long have you been married?” said one woman who had her brown hair rolled up into a bun and wore a brown working dress.
Esther bit her lip. Answer or not? “Not long.”
The one with jet black hair like Obadiah answered. “We can tell.” She giggled. Her brown dress hugged her close, a slit up the side with some zig-zag patterns on the bottom. She wore a leather belt around her head with feathers sticking out of the back, almost like a crown. Her eyes sparkled.
“I apologize. I don’t know what got into him.” Esther pierced him with a gaze ready to kill for putting her in this situation. Left her to pick up the mess he made.
“I’m Lenna from the same tribe as your husband. Don’t be sorry.” Lenna smiled warmly at her and Esther found herself drawn to her. A woman who could teach her about his family ways. Why he was the wild man he was. “This is Bev.”
“It sure is nice to have some other women folk with us. I’m Esther.” She meant the words so much coming from her lips. The way she missed Ruth was something fierce and at least she could talk to these ladies and maybe learn some more about their town and way of life.
“It’s nice to see him settle down. Our chiefs have been worried about him since his Ma died. If you have any questions about how we live, I’m happy to answer them.”
Esther placed a few items in a bag. She glanced up with grateful eyes. The ladies seemed thoughtful and willing to help her learn. She needed someone like this. “Thank you.”
“We should head back. I’m sure we’ll be leaving soon,” Bev tugged on the other women’s arm. They promised to stop and talk again once they were at the next campsite. She mulled over the words they told her. Part of her wanted to trust these ladies and another part, from the experiences of her childhood wasn’t sure. Trusting other women was hard for her. She had to fight at the home. They didn’t mind hurting one another there to get further along and get good jobs. She’d keep an eye on them and maybe ask her husband about the one woman. He’d have to know who she was.
***
Obadiah laughed to himself when he saw Bev and Lenna walk straight over to Esther. Lenna had to be in the middle of everything in the tribe. Always wanted to push her boundaries a little more. A woman who wanted to be chief one day, but he thought it would never happen. Chiefs must be men. He’d let his wife figure Lenna out on her own. His lips still burned from her kiss. Crazy white woman.
At least their kiss had kept James at bay for now or he at least hoped so. The man had stared coldly at them as they kissed. He wanted his wife and there’s no way Obadiah would allow this to happen. It would mean death. Either way, the man would die. Obadiah had marked his claim on her.
He hadn’t expected to enjoy her kiss as much as he had. Her small hands fisted in his shirt, pulling him close, opening up to him so he could deepen the kiss even more. Her soft moans he drew from her lips. Had she kissed before? Deep inside he wanted to know more about her, her life. Something he never cared to find out before from anyone. It made no sense.
“Can I have you work on drawing some scenery today?” Eric Hale walked up on him and startled him, but he’d never admit it. He looked over his shoulder and nodded.
“Sure. What are you interested in, animals or any water we find?” He placed the bag on his shoulder, and turned to face the foreman for this expedition. At least it wasn’t the enemy James that he had to answer to. It would never work if it had been.
“That will be fine. Anything we come across along those lines, sketch them out
