Sitting on a fallen log, Sarah stared unseeingly into the green and brown of trees and brush. The snap of a dry twig startled her. Apprehension churned within as she turned, fully expecting to see Golden Eagle. She felt a stab of disappointment when she saw her visitor was only Red Fox.
Sarah tilted her chin, freezing him with her ice-cold glittering eyes, daring him to touch her.
“Golden Eagle will come once he realizes he has been tricked,” Red Fox promised, biding his amusement. “He will not be happy you made a fool of him, Sarah.”
Sarah started in surprise. This was the first time Red Fox had ever addressed her directly. She shrugged her slender shoulders. “Now he will know how I feel, Red Fox. A fool fooling a fool,” she said.
Red Fox grew serious and straightened. “My sister will be punished for the mischief she has caused.”
“Why? Night Star spoke the truth, did she not? It matters not the motive or the method used if what she says is truth.”
Frowning at Sarah’s reasoning, Red Fox replied harshly, “It was not her place to tell, Sarah. My sister’s only motive was to cause trouble and for that she will be punished. Come. Let us return.”
Lifting her head, Sarah remained firmly on the log. “No, Red Fox. I’m not going anywhere.” She watched Red Fox shrug, then retrace his steps. She prepared herself for Golden Eagle’s arrival.
Golden Eagle had retraced his steps, his face a furious mask at being so easily duped by a woman. He returned to the water’s edge and spotted Red Fox emerging from the low-growing shrubs across the stream.
Pointing the way, Red Fox warned, “Your woman is there. I’ve spoken with her. She is very angry. Her pride has been badly hurt. She refused to return with me.”
“Thank you, my friend.” Golden Eagle, deep in thought, rested his hands on his lean hips and stared at the lowering sun. Finally, he came to a decision. He told Red Fox of his plan, and the two clasped shoulders and went their separate ways. Red Fox headed back to the village, while Golden Eagle went to Sarah.
Sarah looked up when Golden Eagle burst into the tiny clearing in which she nervously waited. Two pairs of angry eyes clashed, neither willing to concede.
Stepping forward, Golden Eagle crossed his arms over his sun-darkened chest. He read the fury and hurt in her eyes and so calmed his own anger, recognizing that she did indeed have reason to be upset. Her pride had been damaged as well, but he had no doubt that he could convince her of his love.
“It grows late. We go and talk before darkness covers our land. No more games, White Wind.”
Sarah leaned back on her hands, looked Golden Eagle up and down and said, “I have nothing to say to Golden Eagle. Golden Eagle used Sarah as Willy would have. At feast Willy did not pretend with me. There is nothing more to say, except I wish to return home.” As an afterthought, she added, “And my name is Sarah, not White Wind.”
“No!” Golden Eagle’s hand slashed the air. “Your Indian name is White Wind. This is your home now. You belong here. It was meant to be.”
“It is you who refuses to see, Golden Eagle,” Sarah replied, her voice detached and aloof. “My home is where my people are. I belong there. You have your life, your future wife all picked out and waiting for you. I do not think she will want to share your tipi with your lover, nor would I share your tipi with your wife.”
She shrugged her shoulders. “So you see, there really is nothing to discuss— unless, of course, you are not promised to this girl after all, unless you are free to be with me?” Sarah arched her brow, clearly waiting and wishing for his denial.
With a wave of her arm when no such denial came forth, Sarah dismissed him, ignoring the furious anger that waited to erupt. “We will not discuss this any longer, Golden Eagle. You must leave. I wish to be alone. I know the way back and will return when I’m ready.” Sarah emphasized each word slowly and clearly.
Golden Eagle compressed his lips tightly and his fisted hands fell to his sides. “You have expressed your anger. I know you have been hurt. We will discuss this matter—now,” he thundered. He took two steps toward her, his hands held out, obviously willing to meet her halfway, although his patience was being worn thin by her stubbornness.
He narrowed his eyes and waited for Sarah to rise. When she turned her head away and made no move to stand, his temper nearly snapped.
His hands fell to his side. In a deceptively soft voice, he advised, “Do not defy me, Sarah. You’ve made your point. Come to me,” he commanded in measured tones while pointing to the ground in front of his feet.
Sarah stared at the place where Golden Eagle pointed before moving her gaze up his outstretched arm. Every line in the warrior’s body warned of unleashed anger that would soon explode.
If any in his village had been in Sarah’s spot, they would have immediately responded, knowing that this warrior wasn’t accustomed to being disobeyed or questioned.
But Sarah’s hurt and her feelings of betrayal ran so deep, she just didn’t care. The look she bestowed upon him said he couldn’t possibly hurt her any more than he already had.
“No,” she stated, arms crossed as she glanced back at the spot Golden Eagle indicated.
“Get up and come here now.” Golden Eagle’s slow and menacing words threatened retribution if not obeyed immediately.
“I refused to come to Golden Eagle,” Sarah said, scrambling over the log as the angry warrior advanced.
With long strides Golden Eagle stopped in front of the log that Sarah now stood behind. “I warned you not to push me, White Wind.” With that reminder, he lifted a foot to the log and leaped over.
Sarah stepped back, keeping out of arm’s reach.
Golden Eagle lunged, grabbed Sarah around her waist and swung her up and over his broad shoulders before she realized his intentions.
Ignoring her kicking feet and pounding fists, Golden Eagle stalked through the woods unaware of the low tree limbs that snagged and scratched as he shoved his way through.
“Put me down,” Sarah shrieked. Her fists pummeled his back. When that had no effect, she reached down and pinched the flesh near his sides.
A hiss of pain escaped Golden Eagle’s clenched jaw. He reached up and smacked the back of her thighs with the flat of his hand. Hearing her squeal of outrage, he cautioned, “Behave.”
“I hate you, Golden Eagle. I hate you!” Sarah screamed.
Wading through the stream, he deposited her on the ground beside his horse.
“Now, do you come with me willing or not?” he asked, giving her one more chance to change her mind and save her pride.
Crossing her arms and feet, Sarah sat, unmoving. Her defiant and mutinous expression was the sole response to his question.
With a sigh of resignation, Golden Eagle reached down and hauled her squirming figure into his arms. None too gently, he tossed her, belly down, across the back of his horse and mounted behind her.
Golden Eagle was determined to make her understand the circumstances surrounding his betrothal to Wild-Flower. He was angry that she’d not given him the chance to explain.
Pressing one hand into the small of her back to keep Sarah from falling, he held the braided buffalo-hair lead in the other as he ignored Sarah’s yells.
Chapter Twenty
Sarah groaned as the horse plodded uphill, winding its way slowly around trees and boulders. She’d never been so humiliated, so badly treated, in all her young life. Her stomach ached from the jarring motion of the horse, her arms dangling over her head were numb and her head pounded. In a word, she was miserable.
Breaking her vow not to plead for mercy, Sarah raised her head. Straining and twisting to see Golden Eagle, she tried to reason with him. “Please, Golden Eagle, let me up. I promise to sit quietly.”
Golden Eagle looked down into her pleading eyes, his impassive to her misery. “No. You had your chance, were warned. Now you must suffer the consequences.”
Using her hands against the side of the horse for leverage,
Sarah jerked up as far as she could and threw him a venomous look. “You’re a savage animal, mean and heartless. Do you hear me?” she stormed, trying to kick away hand. “Just you wait, you’ll be sorr—”
“You are in no position to make threats, my stubborn wildcat. Be still and sheathe your claws or you will fall on your hard head.”
A short time later Golden Eagle drew to a halt. Dismounting, he reached up and pulled Sarah down, letting her land in a heap at his feet.
Sarah groaned, her head spinning dizzily as the world righted itself. Prickly sensations in her arms told her the numbness had left her limbs as the blood flowed. She was thankful to be off the horse. Opening her eyes, she silently watched as the animal was unloaded and hobbled nearby to graze and rest.
She sat, uncaring, as Golden Eagle disappeared behind some thick bushes. With a satisfied expression, he returned and gathered the load that had been lashed to the back of his horse. Again he went behind the concealing bushes. Upon his reappearance, Golden Eagle reached down and scooped Sarah up into his strong arms.
“Put me down, I can walk,” Sarah demanded.
Stopping in front of the bushes, Golden Eagle looked into eyes that still blazed with anger. Shaking his head wearily, he commented, “Will you not learn, little one? Perhaps I should toss you over my shoulder again, or drag you by your arms, or hair, as a true savage would.”
Sarah lowered her eyes, seething. She knew she was pushing all limits, but she could not seem to stop herself.
Behind the bushes, they came to a dark opening. Sarah could see nothing but a large black void. Entering the darkness, Sarah involuntarily clutched Golden Eagle around the neck, burying her head against his shoulders.
She heard his chuckle, but the darkness had swallowed him as well as everything else. They were in a cave, a large one with a long winding tunnel. Ahead—at least she thought it was ahead—she could see a faint light dispersing the darkness somewhat.
Rounding a slight bend, Golden Eagle stopped. Looking around, Sarah saw they were indeed inside a large cavern. Her eyes lifted to follow the trail of dust particles floating upward. Through a small hole high up in the top, fading daylight filtered in, which displaced the total blackness in this part of the cavern and left the small enclosure bathed softly in shadowy light.
Sarah examined the cave. The air was musky and cold, but at least it was dry and free from animals—with exception of one, Sarah thought crossly to herself.
Striding toward the back wall, Golden Eagle deposited his armful onto the pallet he’d already laid out. His look cautioned she’d better stay put.
As she watched, he disappeared into the murky tunnel. He soon returned with an armload of small twigs and branches, which he arranged in the center of the cave, directly under the small opening overhead.
With a small fire to ward off the chill, he turned to Sarah, sitting forlornly on his pallet. “Now we talk. We stay here as long as it takes for you to listen.”
Hugging her arms to her body, not only against the cave’s coolness but what he would say, Sarah leaned wearily against me cold wails. “What is there to say? You did not tell me that you were to be married. You led me to believe…” Sarah stopped, unable to confess that she’d thought he loved her.
Golden Eagle kneeled in front of Sarah and placed his hands upon her shivering shoulders. Forcing her to meet his honest, searching gaze, he spoke. “I love you, White Wind. I love you as I love no other. And I know that you love me. We are meant to be. I have told you that. We will remain here until I can convince you of this. You do not understand our ways, but you must understand that I speak the truth when I say I want and need only you.”
Looking into his serious love-filled gaze, Sarah felt hysteria build as she cried out, “Why are you doing this to me?”
She swallowed hard, drew her knees to her chest and struggled to contain the deep hurt that threatened to spill out. He must not see. She had to control her anger.
“What you say is not true,” she told him. “We both know that soon you will marry. She will share your tipi, cook your meals and bear you sons.” She waved him to silence.
“I don’t belong here, Golden Eagle. I want to go home.” Sarah choked, forcing down the awful urge to throw herself in his arms, desperate to keep herself from begging him to love her as she loved him.
She raised her head bravely as she pushed the heavy lies from her lips. “I don’t want you anymore and I don’t want you to ever touch me again. And I don’t want your false declarations of love.”
“No, my sweet one. You want me. You want my touch. Your mind can deceive you, but not your body. You love me.” Golden Eagle finished with a grim smile.
Sarah glared at him in frustration. Her arms tightened around her knees, knuckles turning white. There was no way she’d admit the truth to him, admit that all it took was a look and she would melt. She steeled her heart. Giving in now would only let her in for more heartache later.
“I hate what you’ve done to me, Golden Eagle. You have not told me the truth. I had to hear it from someone else.” That bitter thought made her next words easier. “I don’t want anything more to do with you, Golden Eagle. I especially don’t want your lovemaking. Save that for your wife.” Her cold controlled voice formed a barrier between them.
Golden Eagle straightened, clenched his jaw in frustration and moved toward Sarah. Slipping a hand behind her neck, he took her mouth in a bruising kiss, demanding a response.
Sarah willed her body not to respond. She would prove to him his kisses meant nothing to her anymore, that he’d killed all feeling with his betrayal.
Unfortunately, her body did not feel the same way as her mind. As his kiss gentled, fire began to flow in her veins, thawing the coldness she sought to retain. Her dress came off with one swoop and she felt herself lowered.
Her wall of resistance slowly started to crumble. “Please, Golden Eagle, don’t do this,” she whispered. Her body trembled, ached and any minute now would betray her. She couldn’t bear that, couldn’t bear his smile of triumph.
Lifting his head, Golden Eagle stared into eyes smoky-blue with desire. “Admit that you want my touch. That you enjoy my kisses. That you need me as much as I need you.”
Sarah turned her head. She could not bring herself to say the words aloud. She’d lost. There was no way for her to win. He could so easily prove her words of denial for the lies that they would be.
Golden Eagle shook his head at the obstinate girl, and moved over her, lips leaving feather-light kisses along her contours with tantalizing tenderness.
Moving her head side to side as his lips latched on to her peaked nipples, Sarah moaned and helplessly thrust her firm flesh into his mouth, silently begging for more. Her body betrayed her after all. Quivers of desire surged from head to toe, but she’d not betray herself by saying the words he wanted. Moving her hands to his shoulders, she squirmed beneath his weight.
“Your body gives me my answer, little one. But I will hear the words from your lips.” He whispered into her ear, one hand into his, drawing each finger, one by one, moist lips to suckle. His other hand lightly caressed the rosy tips of her breasts, before moving downward, blazing a heated path across her ribs. His lips and tongue followed the downward trail, stopping to explore her navel, dipping in, swirling in and around the small crater before leaving lingering kisses on the softness of her belly.
Sarah was on fire. Her muscles contracted fiercely, painfully. Her lips rose silently, begging for relief as only he could give her.
She whimpered as he parted her legs, his lips and tongue tasting and nibbling on the softness of her sensitive inner thighs. Anticipating the hardness of his throbbing manhood, Sarah tried to pull him to her, her hips moving in an unmistakable invitation.
Her eyes flew open as the warm wetness of his mouth and tongue found her hidden folds, her hips jerking in response to his explorations.
She lifted her head, and her hands reached out to his dark head b
uried among her curly blond nether-hairs. “No, Golden Eagle, not there,” she protested weakly, dropping back to the soft fur beneath her as incredible waves of pleasure assailed her when his tongue found and stroked her hidden jewel.
He lifted his head momentarily, and his voice washed over her, warm, husky and thick with desire. “Yes, my love. Here. Like this.”
Moaning softly at the wondrous sensations his tongue aroused, she felt shivers of racing desire take hold. Her hips arched wildly, lifting for more, seeking the fulfillment that only her golden warrior could give her.
Golden Eagle’s breathing grew ragged, out of control, as his tongue and lips explored and tasted every hidden crevice.
Whispery mews of pleasure, harsh moans of throbbing desire filled the dimly lit cavern. Voices twined, whispering, begging, pleading, as cries of desperate need swirled around the lovers, bathing them in a pool of drugging passion.
Golden Eagle lifted glazed eyes and moved into Sarah’s outstretched arms as he removed his hindering piece of clothing. Holding her head between his hands, he looked into her smoldering blue eyes.
“Tell me, sweet Sarah. Tell me that you want me. Tell me you want my touch,” he hoarsely commanded as he rocked his hips forward, rubbing his throbbing hardness against her heated softness.
Stalling, Sarah begged, “Please, Golden Eagle. Please love me.” Desperately, she thrust her hips forward, trying to capture him in her velvety sheath.
“Tell me!”
With a ragged sob, Sarah burst out, “Yes! Oh, yes. I want you, I need you. Please love me.”
Lifting her hips with both hands, poised at her entrance, Golden Eagle whispered, “Do you really hate me?”
Looking into his serious gaze, Sarah groaned. She reached up to trace his full lips with shaking fingers. “No, my golden warrior, I don’t hate you. For to hate you would be to hate a part of myself.”
The truth was there, on her face, burning brightly from passion-filled eyes though she hadn’t said the words. They both knew he could force the words from her. “I’ll not force you to tell me of your love. It is here, in your eyes when you look at me.” Golden Eagle kissed each lid. “Here in your body that trembles for mine. Soon, you will hold nothing back from this warrior.”
White Wind Page 17