AllFreeNovel
Share Us
Oh, how they mesmerized her.
“Nothing about you is ugly,” she murmured. “Please believe me when I tell you that my behavior moments ago had nothing at all to do with you.”
Dancing Cloud’s lips quavered into a slow smile. “That is good to know,” he said, trying to make things more light-hearted between them. “I would not want to think that seeing my body caused such a reaction. The Cherokee men take much pride in their muscles and bronzed skin.”
Dancing Cloud decided not to question her further. It was obvious that something had triggered her reaction. If it was not because she found him loathsome, then it was something else. He would wait until she was ready to confide in him.
Lauralee laughed softly. “You have much to be proud of,” she said, blushing when she realized how that must have sounded.
“Thank you for the buffalo robe and for picking the grapes for breakfast,” she blurted, to change the subject. “And for building the fire. It helped to ward off the chill of the morning.”
“Will grapes be enough for you?” Dancing Cloud asked as she swung away from him to walk beside him toward the campsite. “I felt that something lighter might be best since we have a long trip today in the hot sun.”
“Thank goodness I purchased a covered buggy for my comfort,” Lauralee said, smiling up at him. “And, yes, grapes will be fine until we stop for lunch. Then for supper I will show you what the cooks at the orphanage prepared for our long trip. I was too tired last night to spread a fancy cloth for our meal. Tonight, however, I shall not spread only a checkered cloth on the ground, but place many surprises upon it for you.”
So relieved to see that Lauralee was behaving her normal self again, Dancing Cloud placed his arm around her waist and swung her to face him. He saw no fear in her eyes as she gazed up at him. Instead he saw a need that matched his own. He drew her close.
“Lauralee,” he whispered as he lowered his lips to hers, glad that she allowed it.
He did not imagine her arms twining around his neck and the way she returned his kiss so willingly and sweetly.
He did not imagine the feelings that were soaring through him like a raging fire.
He did not imagine it when she just as quickly wrenched herself free and stared up at him again with wild, frightened eyes, then stormed away from him and stood beside her buggy, clutching the seat, her back to him.
Stunned by her sudden mood changes, Dancing Cloud looked at her, his lips parted. He knew that she enjoyed being kissed! Why then did she run away from him as though he were a rogue? A kiss was all that he had wanted from her. Nothing more. If it were more than that, then he could understand why she might be afraid, or feel incensed by his boldness.
He hung his head and shook it slowly, then knelt down beside the fire and stared into the flames. He now realized that he was in love with a complex, troubled woman. It was evident that she had been scarred from some experience in her past, but would she ever be able to overcome it? he wondered. Somehow he had to find a way to help her forget.
Lauralee was keenly aware of having once more inflicted hurt on the man she loved, yet she felt helpless in being able to stop herself. It was as though an alarm went off inside her brain, an alarm that warned her not to let a man get this close to her vulnerable self.
Yet her insides tremored sensually as she recalled the power of his kiss, the power it had over her. If any man could make her forget, it was Dancing Cloud.
She turned and slowly walked toward Dancing Cloud. When she reached him she knelt down beside him. “Again I apologize,” she murmured.
When he turned his eyes to her, she became swallowed whole by the intensity of his gaze. She moved limply into his arms.
“Please kiss me again,” she whispered against his lips. “I promise you that I shall not run from you this time.”
Fearing a reenactment of what had just happened moments ago, Dancing Cloud hesitated.
But with her lips so soft and trembling against his, he could not deny her anything.
He swept her gently into his arms and kissed her softly, then eased her away from him.
As their eyes held, the feelings were there, like liquid, warm light, between them. Dancing Cloud wanted to take her into his arms and carry her to his bed of blankets and prove to her that she had no reason to fear him and that what he had for her was something special and pure.
But that would have to come later, after her full trust was gained again.
“Shall we have breakfast?” Dancing Cloud asked, taking her hand and walking her toward the bowl of grapes. “Swimming always makes me hungry.”
“I hope I haven’t spoiled the morning for you,” Lauralee said, giving him a quick, apologetic glance.
He turned heavy eyes down at her. “You could never ruin anything for me,” he said thickly. “Do you not know that I love you and would protect you with my life?”
Lauralee’s eyes widened and her pulse raced. He had just confessed to loving her. She felt the same way about him but just couldn’t find the words.
Yet, she knew that he wouldn’t believe her even if she did reveal her true feelings for him. Not after her behavior toward him this morning. To love someone as totally as she loved Dancing Cloud, she had to find a way to prove it, without becoming frightened by her feelings.
