Savage Beloved (15 page)

“You are fortunate in many ways,” Two Eagles said, brushing her lips with soft kisses. “But you are here, safe. That is what matters.”

Very aware that his warriors sat on their steeds, witnessing their chief’s attentions toward a white woman, Two Eagles met the gaze of each. Deliberately he hugged her to him, making clear his claim on her.

“I want to thank you all for taking time from your mourning to help search for my woman,” he said firmly.

He saw varied expressions on their faces at his mention of Candy being his “woman.” He hoped there would be few objections when the time came for him to announce that he would marry this white woman soon!

His warriors nodded and rode off, leaving Two Eagles and Candy momentarily alone.

Again they kissed; then he sank his knees into the flanks of his steed and soon joined his warriors. Shadow romped along beside Two Eagles’s horse, occasionally glancing up at Candy, who in turn smiled down at her pet.

“It is good that you found Shadow,” Two Eagles said, seeing that Candy looked often at her wolf.

“One of these nights, when the pack howls for Shadow, I am afraid she will disappear for good,” Candy said.

She recalled how Spotted Bear had said that perhaps Shadow had mated with White Wolf. If so, would Shadow feel it was her duty to take her pups to their father?

Candy had to prepare herself for such a loss, yet she felt it would be wonderful for Shadow to have a family all her own, and a mate who endeared himself to her.

“All will be well with your wolf whether she turns to you or the wild wolves,” Two Eagles said as the village came into sight. “She will choose the right road in life for her and be happy, and you should be happy for her.”

“Yes, I will be, but I will miss her so if she chooses to live in the wild,” Candy said solemnly.

“
Ho
, I know now just how much you would miss her,” Two Eagles said, chuckling. “Since you went to such lengths to find her, I can tell just how much you love the wolf.”

“When I care, I care deeply,” Candy said, turning soft eyes up to him. “As I care for you.”

She so longed to be kissed by Two Eagles, everything within her yearned for him.

She badly wanted a private moment with him, to tell him she loved him, but she knew that for now, all those feelings must be put aside. She knew that he could not yet have buried his uncle.

She deeply regretted causing Two Eagles such concern over her welfare when he was already filled with sadness over the loss of his uncle.

As they rode farther into the village, Candy was surprised to see relief in many eyes that she had been found. Hawk Woman, however, turned upon her a look of pure, deep-seated hatred, making Candy feel cold inside. Candy knew now that she had this woman to fear and wondered how the woman could be filled with such hatred for her so quickly.

Then Candy understood. The other woman’s hatred had everything to do with Two Eagles. It was obvious that Hawk Woman wanted him all for herself.

Yes, Candy would have to be wary and watchful of this woman. She might be capable of anything if it meant she would get Two Eagles for herself in the end.

Two Eagles drew rein before his tepee. He dismounted, then lifted Candy from the saddle. She watched a young brave come and dutifully take his chief’s horse away to the corral.

“Let us go inside,” Two Eagles said, drawing aside the entrance flap. “Surely you are hungry, as is Shadow.”

“I ate berries this morning,” Candy said, deciding not to tell him that she had eaten a delicious roasted rabbit, too, which Spotted Bear had prepared for them before heading out.

After having traveled awhile on Spotted Bear’s steed, a wild horse that he had captured and tamed, they had caught sight of some of Two Eagles’s warriors in the distance.

Spotted Bear had said that it was best for Candy to go the rest of the way on foot. The warriors were surely out searching for her and would soon see her walking along and rescue her.

“Yes, food sounds good,” Candy blurted out, hoping Two Eagles had not noticed her silence as she had thought about Spotted Bear.

She sat down beside the fire, which someone had kept burning for Two Eagles while he was gone.

She had to believe that someone was Hawk Woman, for even at this moment, she was entering the tepee with a platter of food.

Hawk Woman and Candy gazed at each other in silent battle, and Candy turned cold inside. She had never seen such hate as she now saw in the other woman’s eyes.

“Thank you for bringing the food,” Two Eagles said, not seeing the looks between Hawk Woman and Candy because he was leaning over the fire to add another log.

“If you need anything else, just ask,” Hawk Woman said, her eyes glittering as she and Candy continued to glare at each other.

Two Eagles turned just to see Hawk Woman leave, but as he sat down beside Candy, he saw something in her eyes that he could not decipher.

It was an uneasiness, and he knew it had nothing to do with him. That only left Hawk Woman.

He wondered what had silently transpired between them during the short time he was not looking at them.

He hoped that Hawk Woman would do nothing foolish now that it was clear Candy was his chosen one.

“The food looks good,” Candy said.

Shadow came and sat down beside Candy, her eyes on the meat on the platter.

Two Eagles grabbed a piece of venison and gave it to the wolf, who contentedly settled down on the mats and ate it as Candy and Two Eagles enjoyed their food.

A short while later, after the platter had been emptied of food, Candy stiffened when Hawk Woman called her name outside the tepee.

Candy and Two Eagles exchanged glances; then Two Eagles went to the entrance flap and held it aside.

He immediately saw that Hawk Woman was carrying two dresses and towels.

“What is it?” Two Eagles asked as Candy came and stood at his side.

“I am going for my bath,” Hawk Woman said, giving Two Eagles a forced smile. “Surely Candy would like to take one, too, since she has been gone overnight. I have a dress and towel for her if she would like to go with me.”

A warning shot through Candy. She knew Hawk Woman was up to no good, yet it would look ungrateful of her not to agree to such an offer.

Two Eagles gazed down at Candy. “Would you like to go with Hawk Woman?” he asked with an edge to his voice. Candy knew that he didn’t trust her either.

Candy was torn. She did so badly want to bathe and have a different dress to wear. But could she trust the woman who offered such luxuries?

Thinking this might be the very time to set things straight between herself and Hawk Woman, Candy sighed. “Yes,” she said. “I would love to go for a bath.”

She smiled weakly at Two Eagles. “Will you be here when I return?” she asked softly.

“I will be here,” Two Eagles said, glancing quickly at his uncle’s tepee. The burial had been set for tomorrow.

For now, the shaman sat with his uncle, praying.

Two Eagles did not wish to disturb such prayers.

Shadow romped past Two Eagles and went with Candy and Hawk Woman to the river.

The two women walked on farther down the riverbank so that they would be far enough away from the village to bathe in privacy.

“This is very kind of you,” Candy murmured while actually mistrusting every move Hawk Woman made.

Hawk Woman said nothing in return, just brazenly threw off her clothes and ran into the river.

Candy now saw behind Hawk Woman’s latest scheme. Looking past this woman’s bowlegs and fleshiness around the middle, Candy saw that she was otherwise well endowed where Candy wasn’t. Hawk Woman had done this purposely to show off her buxom body; obviously she thought she had much more to offer her chief than Candy would ever have.

Feeling somewhat inadequate as she realized just how tiny her own breasts were in comparison with Hawk Woman’s, Candy hesitated to take her clothes off. She feared the mocking look she would see in the other woman’s eyes.

But being the stubborn person that she was at times, Candy jerked her clothes off and proudly pranced into the water, her eyes meeting Hawk Woman’s in silent challenge.

She could tell that Hawk Woman was shaken by Candy’s nonconcern over being less endowed than she; her plot was foiled.

Candy smiled wickedly at Hawk Woman, then bathed without another thought of inadequacy.

She kept an eye on Hawk Woman, though. She did not turn her back to the spiteful woman, and was truly glad when they both left the water and were clothed and on their way back to the village.

“I know that I should thank you for the dress and—” Candy began, but Hawk Woman interrupted her.

“I did not do this out of good feelings toward you,” she hissed out.

“I know exactly why you did it,” Candy said, smiling at Hawk Woman. “I’m certain you don’t do many things without an ulterior motive. Hawk Woman, you are only making a fool of yourself by behaving in such a way toward me. Why don’t you stop now before you are shamed further?”

Hawk Woman glared at Candy, then broke into a run until she disappeared into her tepee. As Candy rejoined Two Eagles, Shadow settled down at the back and was soon asleep.

“It is good that you are back safe with me after our long night apart,” Two Eagles said tenderly as he drew Candy into his embrace. “Do not leave like that again. There are too many out there who would harm you.”

“Yes, I know,” Candy said softly, thinking there was someone inside the village who might be more of a threat than anyone outside it. “And, no, I won’t do anything as foolish as that again.”

She could not help thinking of Spotted Bear again. She badly wished to tell Two Eagles about him. She just couldn’t imagine that Two Eagles, kind man that he was, could turn his back on one of his own people for such a reason.

Surely he would be glad to see that Spotted Bear was alive.

But she did not feel this was the right time to tell him. She had to wait for the right moment to repeat the story Spotted Bear had told her.

“I love you so much,” Two Eagles said huskily, his hands at her waist, drawing her against him. “I would be no one without you.”

She smiled into his eyes. She gently touched his face. “I have something that I have failed to say to you for too long now,” she murmured.

“And that is?” he asked, searching her eyes, his pulse racing. Something deep inside him told him what she was about to say. It was something that he had been waiting for. The few words he hoped to hear would shape both their futures.

“I love you, Two Eagles,” Candy murmured. “I love you so much.”

She saw a look of total, undying love in his eyes, and something else—gratification to have finally heard the words that until now she had resisted saying.

But she
had
said them now, and would repeat those same words over and over again until the day she died.

She melted inside when he pulled her hard against him and kissed her passionately, then stepped away from her.

Her heart pounded as she watched him secure the ties at the entrance flap, which would keep everyone out of his lodge.

Then he came back to her, his eyes dark with passion, which matched how she felt, herself.

Her pulse raced as she became aware of a sensual craving in the pit of her stomach that she had never felt before. Slowly he began to undress her, and every place his hand touched sent an erotic shock to her heart. . . .

All love that has not friendship for its base
Is like a mansion built upon the sand.
—Ella Wheeler Wilcox

Candy found herself lost to Two Eagles, heart and soul, as he eased her down onto the soft pelts. He stretched out atop her, their bodies molded together as he cradled her close.

“Are you certain you are ready?” Two Eagles asked huskily as he searched her eyes with his. “I am the first with you and I want to be the last. But . . . are . . . you ready?”

Candy felt all bubbly, and the way he was looking at her created a small flutter deep in her belly. “I am ready,” she murmured, gasping when his manhood touched her hot, moist entrance. She felt dizzy with a need that was new to her, yet a need that must be filled, and only by the man she adored.

And when she felt his fingers where no man’s hands had been before, she could not deny the exquisite sensations that were blossoming where his hand caressed.

As he brought his lips to hers in a passionate-hot kiss, an erotic heat knifed through Candy’s body, stabbing deep into her secret place. She sighed when she felt his manhood move slowly into her.

She clung to him and cried out against his lips when she felt a sudden stab of pain, a pain that changed quickly to something beautiful and sweet as he began his rhythmic thrusts, reaching deep into her.

His tongue brushed her lips lightly as he filled his hands with her breasts, kneading their soft fullness.

She had not been prepared for this intense pleasure; she wondered how she’d ever lived without it; without him.

But he was there now, giving her more loving and pleasure than she had ever known possible. The euphoria that filled her entire being was almost more than she could bear. When he leaned his head lower and swirled his tongue across a breast, sucking its nipple into his mouth, she couldn’t think anymore. She was all feelings—wonderful, beautiful feelings.

She arched her back and clenched her fists as his body continued to move, sending his manhood deeper, thrusting, ever thrusting . . . his lips on hers again, kissing her with passion. She was liquid inside, and heat was spreading inexorably through her.

Frantic with his need of her, Two Eagles held her tightly against him, his manhood filling her, his
strokes speeding up and going deeper and deeper into her warmth. Her inward flesh sucked at his, making him grow almost wild with the blaze of desire firing his insides.

He had never felt like this before. All women before Candy paled in comparison. He had never felt so alive. So needed.

His fingers caressed her breasts, and then he lowered his lips over one breast, his tongue flicking. He moved his hands to her back, making a slow, sensuous descent along her spine.