Chapter 20
Chapter
Twenty
They had been on the move for four days.
Traveling through each night, sometimes walking, but more often creeping over the landscape, they stopped each day before dawn to make camp and to erect another temporary shelter.
Often, Suzette noted their lean-tos were built around rocks, although once it had been nestled into a cliff.
Each shelter was then carefully landscaped so the eye could barely discern it from the natural environment.
Her bed was often soft, made of pine branches when they could find them.
However, if none were to be located, her bed then consisted of the blanket Black Lion carried with him at all times.
There were moments of intimacy, for when they did lay down to rest, the spaces were small, and Black Lion’s presence filled each cozy hideaway.
Always Suzette was more than aware of him, fretting over the accidental touch, the chaste looks that passed between them and their whispered words to each other.
He usually sat no more than a few feet from her, and. like a sentinel, he always faced toward the entrance.
When she lay down to sleep, it was his woodsy scent which clung to the blanket beneath her head. It teased her, making her wish for his caress, though she knew she dare not want it.
But alas, she was weakening toward him. She even suspected he was aware of this as well. However, much to her surprise, nothing between them happened.
Also, he never lay by her to go to sleep, and he was rarely with her when she awakened. He was always on watch, and, although she assumed he rested at some time or another, she had never seen him do it. When she awoke, he was often sitting in the same position he had chosen when they had retired.
In truth, she wondered about his earlier promise.
If he meant to lure her into his arms, he was going about it in an awfully odd fashion.
He didn’t touch her, he didn’t make overtures, despite the fact she was required to bathe each morning, even when he was the one being required to keep the guard.
He didn’t talk to her of lovemaking or their marriage, not even a gentle tease about it.
Indeed, he couldn’t have been more of a gentleman. Problem was, she was hoping he would reach out to her, make some move toward her so she would know he still desired her.
But he did nothing. He was polite, considerate, concerned over her welfare, never pushing her too hard or too long. A few days back she had been so tired she couldn’t go on, and he had carried her. But still, despite him having to touch her, he had acted like a polite stranger.
Had he forgotten the dare he had issued her?
Possibly. There was certainly enough reason to think so. However, there were several times when she had caught him off-guard, had found him watching her, and at those times, there could be no mistake that within his gaze had been admiration, perhaps even hunger.
But at such times as these, he would lower his eyes or look away from her. What was wrong? Something was, but what?
At present, she was sitting on a large log as she watched him draw pine branches next to their shelter. She asked, “Do I smell funny?”
He glanced at her as if she might have been speaking Greek. But all he said was, “Your scent is very pleasant.” He continued to set branches around their rock shelter.
“Is my figure already becoming too plump?”
“Plump?” he answered, not looking up from his work. “A pregnant woman is not plump, she is simply with child. It would be very hard on her child, if she did not grow to accommodate him.”
“Then I am too plump, aren’t I? Is this what you’re saying?”
He frowned, as if sensing here was a dangerous topic for a man. But at least the conversation had one desired effect: he stopped his work to gaze at her. After some deliberation, he said, “Are you finding the trail too hard for you?”
“No.”
Again, frowning, he turned toward her. “Then where is this conversation tending?”
She gave him an innocent look. “It’s not tending anywhere. All I ask is for you to answer my question and tell me if you find me too…chubby.”
He blew out a breath and jerked his head slightly to the left. “You are not pudgy and you are not chubby. You are simply pregnant.”
“Mr. Lion, you are talking all around this and not getting to the point.”
“Hiya, what point?”
“I am trying to make the case that since I am becoming bigger, you do not find me to be so pretty.”
To his credit, he looked taken aback. “Have I said anything to make you think this?”
“No, but you do not have to. Your actions speak for you.”
“My actions? Have I not been considerate to you?”
“Yes, you have.”
“And have I not been taking care of you, despite our journey?”
“Yes, you have done very well in this regard. It’s only that…” She sighed. “I suppose the matter is irrelevant, so…please ignore it. Pretend I said nothing.”
If she hadn’t had his attention before, she certainly had it now. He took his measure of her slowly. By this time, the two lines between his brows had cut deep grooves.
She glanced away from him.
At last, he commented, “Why would you think this of me?” When she didn’t answer, he went on to say, “Perhaps you should finish what you were saying.”
“Oh, very well, if you must know…” she sighed, “…you seem to treat me as though I am as attractive as a sack of potatoes.”
“But I—” He stopped, and a look of cognizance gradually came over his face. After a while, he said, completely deadpan, “Actually, I have always found potatoes quite appealing, and a sack of them would be almost more than any man could resist.”
“Meaning that you think I am now ugly.”
“Meaning I find you beautiful…and appealing.”
“Then why do you…? Are you not…?”
“Why am I not making love to you at every chance I have?”
She gave him a sheepish glance. “Well, you did tell me you intended to lure me to your… The truth is, I hardly feel lured.”
“Indeed?”
“I fear it is true. You are very polite, very considerate of me, very…”
“…understanding?” It was his turn to sigh. “You are trying to find and help your grandmother. I would aid you in your search, since your condition hardly makes this easy for you.”
“Yes, but—”
“And there are other dangers here as well—animals, the countryside, scouts who are out looking for us. Do not doubt me, I have every intention of luring you to my sleeping robes, but I would do so at a safe distance from the white man’s scouts.
” He came down onto his knees before her, so his face could be on a level with hers.
“Besides, I have seen how tired you are when we stop to rest. I would not add to your troubles.”
“Oh. I suppose this is very nice of you, but you still haven’t answered my question.”
“Have I not?” He picked up her hand, pressing it within his own.
“Then let me be clear on this: I think you are the most beautiful woman of my acquaintance, and I am grateful every moment of every day that I had the presence of mind to propose to you the first moment I ever saw you. I intend to keep you as my wife. I always have.”
She leaned in toward him, and he reached up to smooth the backs of his fingers over her cheek. He said, “You brighten my day.”
“Indeed? Hmm…” she moaned, as he slid his fingers down over her neck. She shut her eyes, sighing again. “More…”
“More of what?” he asked, his voice low and husky. “More talking, or more of this?” His lips captured hers.
“I think I like…the last one,” she whispered, “best.”
Even before the words had left her mouth completely, Black Lion had risen onto his knees and was folding her into a deeper embrace. “Then you forgive me for what Rabbit Leggings said?”
“No, but it does not matter right now. I seem to…need this.”
“I too,” he agreed, nestling her head against his shoulder. “I too.”
He picked her up from where she sat on the log, and held her closely in his arms, much as a man might hold his bride. Carrying her to the shelter, he kicked back the pine branches that served as their doorway.
The lodge was small, it smelled of earth and pine and trees, and they would have barely been able to sit upright within it. Yet it was a haven. Fragrant boughs and his robe served as their bed, and, as he set her upon its softness, he followed her down to the mat.
She didn’t have time to think, for he immediately pressed his lips over hers, nudging her mouth open so his tongue could dance with hers.
He smelled of earth and wind and pure, fresh air, and, when she responded with all of the excitement within her, a growl escaped from his throat, the sound of it sending shivers of yearning over her skin.
Oh, to be closer to him, to feel his strength next to her. She snuggled in closer to him, but it still wasn’t enough. No matter how near she set herself to him, it didn’t seem intimate enough. She moaned at the inadequacy, not certain what she could do to attain the inseparability she craved.
At last, a thought occurred to her. “I think we are both wearing too many clothes.”
“Too many?” He frowned at her. “Do you not recall what happened the last time you complained of my shirt and asked me to take it off?”
“Yes, I do remember,” she answered without so much as a smile.
She noted the exact moment when realization dawned on him.
He said, “Ah,” and in his haste to remove his shirt, he practically tore the thing off him, throwing it to the side.
Immediately her gaze was caught by the view of a very male, very muscular chest. How would his skin feel against her fingertips? As she reached out to touch him, she noticed at once the differences in their skin texture and tones.
Hers was light against his. Too light, she thought. Indeed, at this moment, she believed his skin was the handsomer of the two by far.
His muscles were hard as she spread her fingertips over him, and she yearned to feel the texture of his chest against her own. Immediately, she sat up, and intent on making this a reality, she hugged him, nestling her head in the crook of his neck.