Wild Thunder

When it was done, she sighed. “And now to await the responses,” she said, giving Strong Wolf a nervous glance.

Strong Wolf placed an arm around her waist. “We will go now.”

Claude went to Strong Wolf and placed a hand of friendship on his shoulder. “Congratulations,” he said, his eyes warm. “Just let me know when to be there for the wedding. I wouldn’t miss it for the world.” He stepped away from Strong Wolf and gave Hannah a gentle hug. “I wish you all the happiness in the world.”

“Thank you,” she said, returning the hug.

Patrick went to Strong Wolf and shook his hand. “I envy you,” he said, giving Hannah a glance. “My wife passed away a few years ago. I’ve never considered marrying again. But should someone like Hannah come along and give me a second glance, I think I’d jump at the opportunity of having such a woman to grow old with.”

“Why, thank you,” Hannah said, surprised. She even welcomed the colonel’s arms around her as he gave her a pleasant hug.

She then walked to the door with Strong Wolf, for the moment feeling content.

“I’ve much to discuss with Patrick,” Claude said, as they stepped outside onto the porch. “And if a wire comes in from your parents, I’ll personally bring it to you, Hannah.”

“I hope that will be soon,” Hannah said, stepping up into her buggy.

Strong Wolf swung himself into his saddle and rode beside her buggy through the wide gate of the fort, then rode in silence until the fort was far behind them.

Then he reached down and grabbed Hannah’s reins. “Do not return home just yet,” he said, his eyes imploring her. “Too many things have gotten in the way of our being together. Let us hide ourselves in the woods today so that we can be alone. No one will find us to interrupt our moments together.”

“I had planned to spend the rest of the day with Chuck,” Hannah said, her heart thumping at the thought of doing otherwise. “I feel as though I have neglected him, Strong Wolf. Soon I will have to tell him our plans. I don’t want to have any regrets.”

“I need you,” Strong Wolf pleaded. “For a little while, Hannah? Then you can return to your duties to your brother.”

Understanding his needs, which matched her own, Hannah nodded. “Yes, darling,” she murmured. “For a little while. I want nothing more than to be with you.”

He leaned down and kissed her, then led the way through the forest until they came to a slow, meandering stream, over which hung a thick foliage of oak and elm trees. The shade was cool. The breeze was gentle. Everywhere overhead birds sang and flew from branch to branch. Squirrels scampered beneath the trees, gathering long lost acorns from last autumn.

“It is absolutely perfect,” Hannah said, gazing around her. Wild roses climbed the trees, in pinks and reds, their fragrance sweet and spicy.

Strong Wolf removed a blanket from his buckskin bag that lay across his saddle. He took the blanket and spread it on the ground close to the stream.

He reached out a hand for Hannah. She went to him and sat down beside him. For a while they watched the minnows at play in the water.

Then Strong Wolf turned Hannah toward him and drew her into his arms. His lips came to hers in a frenzy of kisses, his hands quickly unbuttoning her dress.

As he lowered the dress down to her waist and her breasts were revealed to him, he moaned as his hands swept around them, their softness, their firmness, sending a hunting passion through him like a whip crack.

Hannah abandoned herself to the wondrous feelings that swam through her as his hands kneaded her breasts, his lips drugging her. She reached up beneath his shirt and ran her fingers over the smoothness of his skin, over his muscled chest, then gently pinched his nipples until they became hard against the palms of her hands.

Needing more than this, wanting everything today, Strong Wolf eased a

way from Hannah and yanked his shirt off. He stood up over her as he slipped his breeches down, the urgency he felt for her springing into sight.

“Remove your clothes,” he said as he kicked his breeches away, then stepped out of his moccasins.

Hannah moved to her knees and slipped her dress over her head and tossed it aside, then as he watched her, she lay down on her back and slid her undergarments slowly and seductively down her legs.

Swallowing hard, passion overwhelming him, Strong Wolf knelt down beside her and grabbed her undergarments and yanked it away from her. He removed her shoes and stockings, then straddled her and probed with his throbbing hardness between her thighs, where she opened herself to him.

Her blood quickened, and she closed her eyes in ecstasy when he entered her in one quick thrust, filling her magnificently.

She shuddered with desire and tossed her head back and forth, moaning throatily as he moved within her.

Strong Wolf wove his fingers through the soft glimmer of her hair and brought her lips to his, his free hand moving over her silken body, touching and caressing her secret places.

Her whole body quivered as the slow thrusting of his pelvis brought her ecstasy. She swept her arms around his neck. Her soft, full thighs opened more widely to him as she placed her legs around his waist. She clung and rocked with him, sighing against his lips as he reverently breathed her name while kissing her.