“I… I don’t know.” Her head is throbbing more with each movement, and she’s freezing. “My head is pounding, and my ribs, I need to rest. I will return after the game is over. You can go back without me.” Kimani reaches for the second buffalo hide only to jump when he grabs it and drapes it around her shoulders. He pulls her closer to him, and his dark eyes tease.
“I will care for you from now on, little butterfly.”
“You have not yet earned that right, mighty Hammer,” she teases softly.
Her green eyes fall to his full lips, and she wonders what his kiss would taste like. He steps close enough to see the orange flecks in the center of her eyes. His thumb traces over the wound on her cheek, and he grins. “That isn’t a no?”
“We will see.”
He presses a kiss to her forehead and steps away. “Let me see to your wound.”
“Which one?” she quips.
“There are more?” he demands.
Suddenly she wishes her mouth was not quicker than her head. Tears fill her eyes, and she moves to the skin. “I just need to rest for a few minutes, Ahote.”
“Show me,” he demands.
“In the corner is a smaller bundle, it has dry clothing and herbs.” She replies, ignoring his demands. “If you could bring that, we could patch up my head.” Ahote moves quickly and watches her as she carefully sits on a boulder closest to the small fire.
A few minutes later he has checked the wound and found it to be a small gash. Satisfied that it has already stopped bleeding, he moves on the injury on Kimani’s cheek.
“You surprise me, Ahote. Your touch is gentle, but you are called the Hammer. Why?” She asks needing the distraction.
“It is my weapon of choice during battle.” He offers her a clean buckskin shirt, and she takes it from him, desperate to feel warm and sleep.
“Turn around so I can change,” she murmurs.
Ahote turns and walks to the fire to add a few small pieces of kindling. He hears her struggling behind him and turns sideways while she works to remove the sopping wet buckskin dress.
When she gasps in pain, he jumps to help. “Stop, before you hurt yourself.” He carefully pulls the dress over her head causing her to double over in pain and grab her ribs.
The sight of her pale skin and perfect breasts is covered quickly, but not fast enough to shield the scars and bruises from him. She turns away trembling and pulls the shirt on over her wet leggings and drops to the nearest boulder gasping for breath. “I just need a few minutes.”
His admiration for her grows more with every second as does his determination to claim her as his bride. “I think your father, named you wrong, little warrior.” He picks her up gently in his arms, and she doesn’t fight him when he places her on the buffalo hide and covers her with it.
“Sleep, and I will watch over you.”
“Thank you, Ahote,” she murmurs, and her eyes close.
Ahote lays beside her and traces the freckles dusted across the bridge of her nose and runs a thumb over her lips, smiling when she bats at his hand.
As a son of the Chief of his village, her father will not turn his claim away. He has been waiting to make his offer, and now that he has his lodge ready to bring home a bride, their future is set. Those responsible for her injuries will be punished, and he will teach her what it means to be his.
A few hours later, Kimani wakes and finds him lying beside her. His eyes are so brown they are almost black. She reaches out a trembling hand and traces his face, memorizing every detail. From the scar at the corner of his mouth to the curve of his nose.
“I remember this scar. I don’t know what would have happened if you hadn’t stopped them.” Her eyes close as she pushes back the memory of the Sioux Indian who tried to take her the summer of her tenth year. “Have you always looked after me, Ahote?” She asks softly.
“Not well enough. I’m sorry your wait was so long.” When she touches his lip, he nips her finger causing her to jump in shock.
Ahote laughs a deep, husky laugh filling the cavern with his sound. Kimani smiles in response. For a moment she almost forgets where she is and why. When her smile starts to fade away, he leans forward and captures her mouth with a demanding kiss. Stealing her thoughts, worries, and fear he replaces them with longing, and hope.
He is the first to break the kiss, pulling back before he compromises them both. Kimani lets him help her up. “We should get back,” he replies turning away. Ahote begins to neatly roll up the hides.
Kimani sits on a boulder and watches him work. “I don’t know if I can swim…”
“You will trust me to help you,” he says gently. “You are not alone anymore, little butterfly.” The meaning behind his statement touches her heart.
“I’m not?” she asks.
“No.” When he holds out a hand, she pauses and looks into his eyes. The need to belong is so strong she finds herself reaching out. It is a strong hand, gentle, yet unyielding, like the man. In his eyes, she finds a sense of belonging that has been missing. He offers what Harris could not, does she dare trust it?
“How did you find me, Ahote?” Kimani asks as he guides her to the water.
“I will always find you, neaN-biha.” He grins and backs into the water slowly tugging her with him.
My heart, he calls her, and she is transfixed by him. He kisses her softly, and she wraps
