She whispered against his lips, "What are you doing to me? It feels so good."
"I...loving you."
"Is this how it's supposed to be always?"
"Áa,always."
She couldn't help the way she was moving in reaction to his touch, and, as he continued to stroke her, the rhythm of their sensual dance took on a life of its own. And, when he took her underwater where they danced and stroked and strained together, a deep pleasure, much like the one she had already experienced with him, grabbed hold of her and wouldn't let go. Quickly, he surfaced with her, and she at once took in many deep breaths, all the while relishing in the deep pleasure that shook her body. It went on and on and, as the passion of satisfaction swept through her, the stormy waves in the water were its sole witness. So caught up was she in the moment, she reached out for this man in spirit and joined with him soul to soul, already being attuned to him physically.
Suddenly, his thoughts were as clear to her as if they were her own. Had one human being ever been so closely entwined with another? Even her heart was responding to him, for it beat excitedly.
Her breathing became a quick pant, and she asked the question uppermost in her mind, "Have I become you? And have you become me? I feel as if we are one and the same."
"We...close. We like one, but not...this way all time. I still me...you still you. Sometimes, get so close, we...be each...other. Our love...good. It much good. It much rare...too. Two spirits...join like this."
She said, "Yes, I feel this way, too." She paused only a moment before asking, "You seem so wise, though you appear to me to be too young to know so much about a husband and a wife."
"Not...very young. Tepee...small place...for...big family. Good place...for...learning. All...life loves. Learn...much. Many...widows in camp...too."
"I don't think I understand."
He smiled at her, but said no more.
Suddenly, she did grasp his meaning, and she blurted out, "Oh." She paused. "But, my husband, I don't think I satisfied you. I know there is more."
"You...very...wise, too. I good ...for now. This not...right time...do more. Too many...duties I have. But...right time...for you. Tonight we...finish what we start."
"Do you promise?"
He nodded.
Yet, whether this was a right time or not, his hand still rested on her core, and his touch seemed to connect them physically, spiritually and emotionally to one another. She whispered, "Eagle Heart, you are a part of me. And, you have been so for many weeks now. But, having found such pleasure with you, I feel even closer to you now."
"I, too," he said in English, and then he kissed her again, his tongue dancing with hers while his free hand massaged her everywhere. "Wish," he said, "duties...be done. But, they...not done. I water...ponies...shelter them. They...must not be...easy for...others to see. Must hunt...look at...land...also."
"Must you?"
"Ponies...sick if not...cared for. Must...hide ponies...for their...safety...ours, too. Must hunt...food. Are you...able...walk?"
When she nodded, he let go of her legs, allowing her feet to touch the bottom of the stream, although he seemed to change his mind and took her up into his arms again before he waded to shore. He said, "I...take you to...wiki-up. You...safe...there."
Still carrying her in his arms, he negotiated a path through the valley's bountiful undergrowth, taking her to their shelter and, bending, entered their wiki-up. With a few steps, he brought her to the right side of their home, and, as he gently let her feet touch the ground, he kissed her and said, "Kitsikaká komimmo,I love you."
"I like that word,kitsikaká komimmo.It means, 'I love you’, right?'"
He nodded. "If you...want, I...teach you...Blackfoot tongue. You...teach me...speak English."
"My husband, you already speak English."
"But, speak bad."
"It's not bad, but, yes, it is a good idea for us to be able to be fluent in both our languages. Will you be gone a long time?"
"Until...night."
"It seems so long."
"Not too...long," he said aloud before switching his words to the language of sign, saying, "If any of our neighbors come visiting while I am away, it is customary to offer them tobacco, which they love. Please understand, I do not wish to leave you on our marriage day. It is that I must."
