“I climbed the hills, searching for answers about finding the mate of my spirit. My grandfather, the chief, and Dancing Doe’s father wanted me to marry Dancing Doe. I did not feel she was mine. I felt—I feel—very strongly that she is for my brother, Wandering Bear. I asked the Great Spirit to grant me guidance finding my love. I had a vision of flowers growing on the side of the hills, underneath the tall pines. They were violets, at first bloom.” Raven stopped walking and pulled Ella into his arms. “The next day, I found you. You, with eyes the color of violets at first bloom.”
Ella’s mouth dropped open as she stared into Raven’s smoldering gaze. When he lowered his head and took her lips with his, she didn’t resist.
The sensation of his tongue in her mouth was new and different. But not unpleasant. Oh, no, not at all. It was hot, so hot, and she tasted him. Raven. Slightly sweet, like cinnamon sprinkled over a tart apple. He explored her mouth, touching every crevice. When she tried to speak, to ask what to do, only wordless sounds, muffled by his mouth over hers, emerged.
If only she knew how to please him. She wanted to kiss him back, to tangle her tongue with his. To grasp his strong shoulders and pull him ever closer until nothing could separate them.
Such impure thoughts! But she didn’t chide herself, because only seconds later she couldn’t think at all. She only felt. Felt with all her body, all her heart, all her soul, that she wanted Raven. Wanted to be with him. In every way a woman could be with a man. She boldly forced her tongue into his mouth.
He groaned and tightened his arms around her. Instinctively, she knew her actions pleased him. And she wanted to please him. In all her life, she had never wanted anything more.
She let her tongue wander over his teeth, caress the inside of his cheeks. When he pulled back, panting, she traced his full lips, first the upper and then the lower, and she reveled in his moans. She smiled against his mouth.
“Do I please you?” she whispered.
“Always, tehila.” His breath caressed her cheek. “Always.”
She sighed and turned her head to draw a much needed breath. To no avail, however. When Raven pressed a trail of wet kisses down the side of her neck, she lost her air once more.
“Will you let me show you,” he whispered, “some of the wonders that exist between a man an
d a woman?”
“I-Isn’t that what you’re doing?” Ella barely recognized her own voice. It seemed lower, earthier.
“Yes, but there is more than kissing. I can take you to the stars and back. If you will allow me.” He rained kisses over both her cheeks and then found a place below her ear and nibbled.
Ella’s skin heated, yet she shivered. Such sweet contradiction. “I don’t understand.”
“Surely you know what occurs in the marriage bed?” Raven untied the string binding her braid and slowly tunneled his fingers through her thick locks.
The gentle tugging of her hair, the warmth of his hands on her scalp—all good, all touched her soul. “Y-Yes. Of course.” She knew of the physical act. She inhaled deep. What a warm night!
Raven’s chuckle tickled her neck. “Would you enjoy soaring into the sky with me, tehila? I could lead you to places you have never dreamed of, all without taking your maidenhead. Just say the word, and I will.”
“Raven—” She swallowed, her heart pounding so hard against her breast she thought he must be able to hear it.
“Techi’ hhila,” he said. “I love you.”
The words warmed Ella’s heart. She longed to return the sentiment, but she’d known Raven how long? Two days? Yet such overwhelming emotion cascaded though her when she was with him. Emotion so thick, so powerful, she could almost see it sizzle between them.
“Yes, tehila. Ella. You are mine. I love you.”
“Raven…”
“The soft moss beneath our feet will cushion us. The evergreens of the forest will shield us. And I will take you to the highest peak of the Black Hills.”
He crushed his mouth to hers and kissed her. Ella responded dreamily, vaguely aware of Raven’s long fingers untying her apron, unbuttoning the back of her sprigged calico work dress. In the back of her mind she formed a wayward thought that she was glad she hadn’t donned her corset that morning. She rarely wore the restrictive garment anymore. What was the point, when all she did was work around the farm?
He brushed the soft fabric over her shoulders, and his swift intake of breath buzzed in her ear. She wore nothing under her dress but a sheer chemise. And drawers, of course, but he hadn’t gotten that far yet.
Ella stiffened. Where had that last thought come from? Surely he wasn’t thinking of removing her drawers and stockings.
As his rough fingers swept the translucent chemise from her shoulders, she looked into his black eyes, aware, and uncaring, that her bare breasts were exposed to his smoldering gaze. The tips of her nipples tightened. A desire for him to touch them surged through her.
“Hopa,” Raven said. “So very beautiful.” He fingered wisps of her thick hair, positioning the tresses around her shoulders and breasts. “The first time I saw you I wondered how you would look naked, with your hair unbound. I am not disappointed, tehila.”
Warmth drizzled through her. He pulled her to his body, crushing her breasts to his bare chest. “This is how it should be between lovers. Nothing between us.”