"Kitsikák omimm ohpinnaana (We love you).
"Nitohkiimi annohk (I have a wife now).
"Naató'si, amo náápiáakii itstsíí nitohkiimaam (Sun, Creator, this woman is my wife).
"Nit inaanssat Kiistó okamaino anno (I ask you to witness this).”
As soon as Eagle Heart dropped their arms back at their sides, Laylah murmured and signed, "I don't speak the Blackfoot language as well as you speak English. I know you said something about love, but I didn't understand the rest. Please, will you tell me what you said?"
In sign language, Eagle Heart answered, "I asked the Creator to behold us as a man and his wife. I also told Him we love one another and wish to spend our lives together. We love Him, too. I told this to Him, as well."
Looking up at Eagle Heart, she felt as though she had never been more in love with this man. Indeed, her admiration of him felt instinctive, as though her blood carried his impression within her. It was strange, also; for, although she should have thought to bring God into His rightful place within their marriage, it wasn't she who had conceived of it and had done it.
But, she was not left long to ponder about this, for Eagle Heart had turned to her and said, "Come, we...wash off...dust from...trail. Last...in water...must kiss...other." And, with nothing more said, Eagle Heart stripped down to his breechcloth and ran into the water so quickly, he seemed to practically streak by her.
"Not fair," she protested with a laugh. "I have on many more clothes than you do."
"Then you...must kiss...me. Come...hurry."
"Why hurry?" she asked.
"This one"—he pointed at himself—"needs kiss."
She giggled, yet stripped off her dress and dropped it down over his clothing. She didn't take off her undergarments, however, since she was still a little shy of him.
"You have not fully undressed," he complained, using signs.
She smiled. "I have, too. A proper woman does not take off her undergarments in front of a man. I will go no further. Not now."
"I am...more than man...to you. I am...husband."
"Prove it," she signed.
He laughed even as he waded to the shoreline. Standing over her, he swept her up into his arms, then turned to run back into the water.
Laylah was surprised to discover the stream was deeper than she had assumed. As he waded with her into the middle of the water—thoroughly wetting her clothing—she saw that, in the river's deepest part, it rose up to his mid-chest. As he put her down onto her feet next to him, he bent down to steal a kiss from her, his lips capturing hers in a graze that expanded almost at once into an erotic dance of lips and tongues.
However, he pulled away from her suddenly, tapped her on the shoulder and said in English, "I touch...you must...touch me. If cannot do...I get...more kiss."
"No! You didn't tell me we were going to play tag."
He danced around her, bobbing up and down, tempting her to reach out to try to touch him. But, instead of even trying to do it, she splashed him.
He laughed, then dipped down under the water, where he swam around her as though he were a freshwater shark. Of course, it was bound to happen sooner or later: taking hold of her feet, he pulled her off balance, dragging her underwater, too.
But, she hadn't had a chance to take a breath and so she soon surfaced, gasping for air. She didn't, however, hesitate a second before she took a good breath and plunged back under the water. He grabbed her, and, as they swam together through the water, he pulled her body fully against his.
They twisted and turned together, their legs and feet seeming to dance as though they each one knew the steps needed to propel them through the water. First, he was on top of her as they glided under the water, then twisting, he set her on top of him.
But, it seemed he could stay underwater longer than she. Quickly she rose up to the lake's surface, again gasping for breath. He materialized in front of her, and, without a thought, she tapped him on the shoulder, exclaiming, "You're it."
At once, she submerged and swam away from him as fast as her paddling allowed. But, as he was swifter than she, he quickly caught up to her and, taking hold of her under the water, brought her up and over him, placing her legs around his waist.
He surfaced, keeping her legs in place around him and her arms secured around his neck. He kissed her again, only this time, his caress included her eyes, her cheeks, and even her ears.
Oh, my, her ears seemed to be ultrasensitive, and she longed for him to never stop. But, it wasn't to be. His lips again sought hers, his tongue working magic on her lips, and then, with his hand, he began to rub her all over, from her back to her breasts and lower still. Slowly, gradually, his touch came down to rest once again on that ultrasensitive place between her legs.
At once, she was swept up in the instant passion of this moment and for this man. It felt so good, so right, to be here with him like this, and she moved her hips against his hand, urging her body toward the all-consuming apex she now knew existed. All else around her faded except him, his hand, his kiss and his love. It was as though the environment had been in competition with him for her attention and had lost utterly.
