Wild Thunder

“I do need you,” Strong Wolf said, his thumb lightly caressing her flushed cheek. “As you also need me.”

“Yes, yes,” she whispered, not fighting it when he placed a finger beneath her chin, his mouth seizing hers again in a fiery kiss.

She twined her arms around his neck and returned the kiss as his hands were now on her throat, framing her face.

Never had she imagined that a man’s kiss could be tender and overwhelming at the same time. Never had she imagined that being with a man could be so blissfully sweet. Her want for him was erasing all doubts, all caution. If he touched her where she painfully ached, she would now allow him to do with her whatever he wished.

The secret place between her thighs was throbbing and burning with sensations that were new to her. She had scarcely ever been aware of that part of her anatomy until now.

She felt an urgency; a fire that had become ignited.

She felt consumed by the heat of desire!

Strong Wolf could feel her responding much too eagerly to him, and knew that she still was not ready. Although every nerve ending in his body cried out to take her on that road of paradise with him now, he knew to wait until later, when he knew that afterward she would not regret having allowed it.

He wanted her to be ready, to participate with him with an open heart. Regrets could kill passion before it even began. He wanted no regrets from this woman. Only a total commitment!

His pulse racing, the heat in his loins almost unbearable, Strong Wolf crept from Hannah’s arms. He placed a gentle hand to her cheek as she gazed up at him questionably.

“Later, my woman,” he said huskily. “When it is right for us to come together in the way we both hunger for, only then shall we fully explore our feelings for one another.”

“Yes, later,” Hannah murmured, stunned again that he had not taken advantage of the moment. She knew now that it was right for her to love this man.

She took Strong Wolf’s hand as he reached it out for her.

“I will take you home,” he said, his eyes smiling into hers.

“I don’t need an escort,” she said, that independent side of her surfacing again.

“I shall, anyhow,” he said. He could not allow a woman to set down all of the rules.

“Yes, please do,” Hannah said, suddenly realizing that when he wished to be dominant, he would be. And something inside her wanted to allow it.

“It is best to be more careful on your outings.” Strong Wolf said as they walked back up the path. “One of my braves was beaten unmercifully by an unknown assailant yesterday. Who is to say the same men would not stop at doing the same to a woman?”

He paused. “Or worse,” he added, his voice drawn. “Being forced sexually is worse than being physically beaten by guns, fists, and kicked by feet.”

Going cold inside at the thought of being taken by force by a st

ranger, Hannah looked quickly up at Strong Wolf.

“Your brave, did . . . he . . . die?”

“No, but he will not hunt for his family for many sunrises,” he said solemnly. “He would not be able to ride or shoot.”

“How horrible,” Hannah gasped. “Did he tell you who did it?”

“He had been threatened into silence,” Strong Wolf said flatly.

“I wonder if . . .”

“Yes,” he said, interrupting her. “If you are thinking that Tiny Sharp might be responsible, yes, I suspect he might be. But there is no proof. Without proof, my hands are tied. I do not wish to stir up trouble between my people and the pony soldiers by acting only on suspicions.”

“But if Tiny . . .”

He interrupted her again. “He will pay for his sins, one way or the other,” he said, his voice thick with venom.

They grew quiet when they reached the tethered horses, surprising Hannah that Strong Wolf’s was grazing contentedly beside hers. She gave Strong Wolf a questioning stare.