Page 85 of The Last Warrior

“Maybe this is so, but this does not alter the fact he is following us, and I must keep his progress well within my sights.”

“Oh, yes, of course.” She took another bite of jerky. “Did you sleep well?”

He didn’t answer. Rather, he tore off a bit of jerky with his teeth.

She frowned at him. “You do sleep, do you not?”

“I rest.” He took hold of another piece of dried meat.

“Yes, so you have said, but there is a difference between resting and actual sleep. Do you sleep?” she persisted.

He continued chewing over his meal as though it were particularly tough. At last, he said, “Once we are away from the danger the Long-haired Show Man presents, I will sleep more.”

“In other words, you do not.”

He didn’t answer.

“Do you stay with me, remaining awake, while I slumber, then?”

“Sometimes I do,” he answered after a time. “Other times I backtrack to erase our trail and to spy on the men tracking us. There are four of them. Soon I hope they will give up their search.”

“I too. And when this happens?”

He glanced up at her, sending her a most endearing leer. “Then we might engage in more of this morning’s pleasantries.”

As his gaze raked over her, she was suddenly reminded she was still quite naked.

He fingered the blanket she was using to cover herself, pushing it down her arms. “Perhaps before our council, there is time for another matter of importance. And since the white man’s scouts are a good distance from us… Have you had enough to eat?”

She smiled. “Of food.” She raised her gaze to meet his.

He considered her look momentarily, then he stole a kiss from her upturned lips. “But,” he whispered against her mouth, “you are hungry for something else?”

“I think you must be able to see my thoughts.”

He grinned at her as he pulled the blanket from around her completely, and setting it beneath her, urged her back onto it. “Or perhaps you see mine.”

Whatever was the truth of the matter, it was of little concern to either of them, since it appeared they were both hungry for the same thing. It was several hours before they were anywhere near ready to attend to the council.

Physically satiated, and, lying with his wife in his arms, Black Lion let his gaze dance off the sunlight pouring through the cracks in their ceiling. His spirits soared, and he realized he had never felt such joy.

Without doubt, the carnal release was satisfying, but when such delight was coupled with the fact of love, the fulfillment turned from mundane to extraordinary, as his spirit touched hers, and gently, he became one with her.

Love had to be the cause of such joy. Like an exquisite piece of music, love made the erotic as delicate and flawless as a fine-tuned melody. Never had he loved a person more.

Yet, he wondered if the two of them could make a happy life together. There were so many circumstances against them: culture, mind-set, daily ritual, not to mention the prejudice which would surround them always. Could they find happiness in such an environment?

Glancing at her now, he watched her sleep, memorizing the look of her dark eyelashes against the dainty flush of her skin, noticing as well the rhythmic rise and fall of her breast. Her long, dark hair was spread out over his arm, and her full lips begged for a kiss, but he dared not partake. His duty was to scout and to protect, and he still had much work to do this day. If they were to hold a council, he must ensure the white men were still a full day’s journey away.

With one more loving look at her, he left their shelter to attend to his duty.

It was late afternoon when Black Lion returned to their tiny haven. Expecting to find his wife asleep, he was pleasantly surprised to discover she was awake and dressed. He smiled at her and slid into their dwarfish housing. “I am happy to see you.”

She returned his greeting in much the same manner. “I have been worried about you. I assume you went to scout on those men who are following us?”

“I did.”

“And are we still at a safe distance?”