Night Wolf Ch. 04

"Do you think they'll help us find them?"

"Perhaps Night Wolf will help. He obviously wants you and his father is the chief. The Crow are their enemies." Tessa suggested with a shrug of her shoulders.

"How can I ask him, Tessa? I don't speak Cheyenne and he doesn't speak English. That presents a bit of a communication problem." Ione retorted as her voice raised a few octaves.

"Calm down. You'll give yourself the vapors. Think about it and be reasonable. Either you learn his language or I will help you. I'm sure Black Horse will serve as an interpreter for us," Tessa shook Ione soundly before letting her go. She then stood up. "Our lives have changed drastically so we have to change with it. Now we should probably head back. Our menfolk are waiting for us."

"Our men? Don't you mean yours?" Ione shot back.

Tessa grabbed her friend's arm, pulling her along. With a saucy grin, she quipped, "No, I meant ours. You'll see." Then she sighed, "They are rather handsome, aren't they?"

"Yes," Ione indulged momentarily, then shook her head in denial. "I mean, I really hadn't noticed. He's nothing to me. Just another savage who thinks I'm his possession."

"HA! You don't fool me, my friend. I've seen the way you've watched him when he's not looking, all moon-eyed. And I tell you he looks at the very same way. I don't think I've ever seen two people who have it as bad as the both of you do. You can deny it to yourself as much as you want, but you won't get away with lying to me. I know better. Perhaps you should stop denying your feelings. I think deep down you're as curious about him as he is about you. Call it destiny." Tessa stated and walked away, not letting on to her friend what she knew about Night Wolf.

Ione flashed her a puzzled look and followed after her. Once they reached the campsite, Ione sat down near Night Wolf and quietly listened to the strange guttural language both were speaking rapidly. They seemed engrossed in their conversation, but not enough that Night Wolf didn't notice her presence beside him. He touched her knee, stroking it gently through the buckskin leggings.

"But Tessa?" Ione whined, almost flinching at his touch.

"But what?" Tessa rolled her eyes and followed her friend across the camp.

"I'm confused."

"That's more than obvious." Tessa chuckled.

"Don't make fun of me!"

"It is natural to feel the way you do. You're a good girl who expects marriage and doesn't want anyone to disapprove of the things you do. You're trapped by what is supposedly right and wrong. Open your eyes, Ione and take a good look at the real world. It isn't always right or wrong or black and white. You'll see the grey areas. Feeling a need for someone isn't wrong, it's human nature." Tessa explained, hoping her friend would understand and thus relax some. Then she continued on. "I don't have many options and I don't know if I'll ever see Chloe again. Black Horse says his people admire purity in their women. He thinks my encounter with the Crow was my first time. He doesn't like that I was forced, but doesn't blame me. He said if the Crow that did that to me wasn't already dead, that the Crow would die a long painful death. He did tell me from here on out, he will be my only lover and I accept that. He's a good man as well as being quite handsome. Black Horse said he'd most likely marry me as well, so I will have rights within the tribe. He's not the only Cheyenne brave that's taken a white wife. There is another. Her name is Sky Eyes. He'll introduce us after we arrive. I am sure Night Wolf will do the same for you as well. I think you'll learn that Night Wolf will be just as kind and just as patient with you if you give him the chance to prove it."

"What do I do?" Ione asked, as she looked toward Night Wolf who met her gaze momentarily.

"Trust him and let your heart guide you. It won't steer you wrong. He won't force you." Tessa replied sincerely. "Do you feel better?"

Ione nodded. "I do. Thank you for calming my fears and for this talk. Knowing a little about him makes a big difference, somehow. He held so tightly while he slept and he whispered in my ear. I wish I knew what he was saying. What should I do if he wants to do more than just hold me?"

"Let your heart guide you. Let him teach you." Tessa encouraged. "He wants you and from what Black Horse told me, he has no other woman in his village."

"But he's so handsome..." The disbelief flooded out.

"He's been waiting for the right woman."

"Me?"

Tessa nodded her head.

"Oh my goodness." Ione sighed before near panic struck her again. "What do I do?"

Tessa grinned conspiratorially, leaning in close to whisper in Ione's ear. "I'll tell you what to do. Play hard to get. Give him something to work for. In the long run, he'll want you even more and it'll be more special for both of you."

"Do you think so?" Uncertainty filled her. "I don't know how to play hard to get."

Tessa leaned in closer and whispered things to Ione that made her blush bright red to the roots of her hair. Ione pulled away, shocked to the core. "And that will work?"

"Yes, I nabbed Thad Kendall that way right out from beneath your haughty sister's nose. Trust me, it'll work."

Ione clucked her tongue and shook her head. The very mention of Samantha sent a sharp pain shooting through her soul. She miss her family more than she'd ever imagined she would. She couldn't allow herself to think about it or else she'd fall into a deeper pit of despair. That wouldn't be good. Ione glanced over at Night Wolf and noticed he was watching her with a look of longing. Green eyes met liquid black, locking for a moment and shutting everything else out. It was a heady feeling. Ione blushed red again and tore her eyes away. She turned back to Tessa. "This is quite the turnaround from a week ago. It was I that was telling you how I didn't think he'd hurt us and now you are giving me advice to be clear-headed. Quite a change of heart, if you ask me."

"Strange, isn't it?"

Ione nodded. "Most definitely, dear friend."

"I hadn't met Black Horse yet. Something happened when I saw him and it grew when he came to me. He is a wonderful man. Do you know that he paid Night Wolf five ponies for me?" Tessa confided as she stare at her lover quite dreamily.

"Then I am happy for you." Ione smiled, gazing over at Night Wolf once more. She studied his profile. His high forehead loomed above a straight nose, a well-shaped mouth and a strong jaw. His blacker-than-sin hair hung long down the back to his waist with two braids falling along side his face.

Tessa interrupted Ione's bold gazing. "You'll see soon enough what a confident, strong, kind-hearted and good man Night Wolf is. He's been good to us so far. He saved us from the Crow, defeating three strong warriors. And he didn't tie you to a tree," the blonde added wryly.

"You sing his praises?" Ione questioned with a smirk.

"I do. He was showing me who's boss. He is. Black Horse is." Tessa reasoned. "I gained a good insight on them last night while talking to him. These people aren't the bloodthirsty savages they're made out to be by the papers back East. Sure there is some cruelty amongst them, but you'll find that in our own people. These people are proud, stubborn and fierce yet are also gentle and caring. He didn't hurt me, well maybe he stung my pride somewhat, but I hold no ill will toward him."

"I don't either." Ione exclaimed, "Night Wolf saved us from torture or death or who knows what else. I owe him my life."

"Just remember what I told you."

Ione beamed at smile at her. "I will, Tessa. Oh, I'm so glad you're here with me. I'm glad you're my very best friend."

The girls embraced quickly. "Oh, it looks like the rabbit is done. I'm glad to have fresh meat instead of the dried stuff." Tessa sighed, returning to her place beside Black Horse while Ione sat beside Night Wolf. The foursome devoured the rabbit then doused the fire. Ione glanced at Night Wolf once more. He met her gaze longingly then motioned for her to come to him. She did so willingly and he helped her mount up on his big black stallion, instead of the chestnut gelding she'd ridden before. Glancing over at Tessa, she noticed her friend now sat before Black Horse.

Ione watched while Night Wolf tied then lead ropes of the two horses Ione and Tessa had ridden to the packhorse that had the loaded travois behind him.

O.O

Ione felt good cradled between his thighs, her bottom sensuously rubbing his manhood. He held her snugly with his arms wrapped around her slender body. Ione felt the friction --such delicious friction-- that the rubbing together their bodies produced; she wondered if it was affecting him as much as it affected her. She stifled a groan and felt a strange tingling in her loins as he slid his free hand over her body, slipping in beneath her heavy buckskin shirt. She jumped as his hand came in contact with her skin and arched her back against him, giving him access. Though she trembled something awful, she remembered Tessa's words. Trust him echoed in her mind.

She felt his hands move upwards, cupping one of her breasts in his calloused palm. The friction of his hand on her soft flesh sent chills racing through her very core. She shuddered against him and arched a tiny bit more. The feeling was indescribable. Palming the small orb, he located her nipple, plucking softly. His mouth hovered over her ear, whispering soft love words to her. Though she didn't know what he was saying, the meaning was unmistakable. Tessa was right. He did want her and this was his way of showing her.

When his hand abandoned her breast and slid down her torso to the top of the breechcloth she wore, she sucked in a deep breath and trembled harder, like a leaf shaking in a windstorm. Even softer, more sensuous sounding words calmed her. Beneath the loincloth his hand dipped, snaking lower to cup the dewy softness of her mons. She quivered even harder and arched again. She parted her legs as far as she could and remain on the horse.

A finger dipped between the delicate folds, parting them, and found the throbbing little bud. He stroked it, feeling her twitch in his arms. She rubbed her buttocks against the hardness that formed there and heard his low groan sound above her ear.

Calling for a stop, Night Wolf guided his horse into the shelter of a few trees and dismounted. Lifting Ione down, he grabbed a blanket and laid it on the ground. Then he placed her upon it and joined her. His lips immediately traced the line of her jaw, the slender column of her neck and the edge of her collarbone. He wasted no time in removing her shirt and despite her squeaks of protest, he settled his mouth upon one of her nipples while his hand covered the other and licked. The swollen tip went taut before he drew it into his mouth. Ione groaned, arching against him. The things she felt were like nothing she'd ever known. It was hot and primal. She gasped as if her insides turned into a molten pool of white heat and gathered deep within her womanhood.

His teeth grazed her swollen nipples. He pressed them together, drawing both into her mouth. He licked and sucked the rosy peaks, drawing more mewling hisses and stifled cries from her. The air became heavy with the dewy scent of her innocent arousal. She squirmed beneath as the copious moisture gathered between her thighs, dampening her loincloth. He relished the sounds of pleasure that slipped from her parted pale pink lips.

Night Wolf rose above her, whispering words she didn't understand in a crooning voice. He rubbed his cheek against hers before dropping his hands lower to stroke his way down her supple body to the top of her loincloth. He touched her gently, learning the contours of her shape before moving to untie the thongs that secured the breechcloth to the leggings. With a flip of his wrist, he had the concealing garment off of her. Ione squawked a startled cry as the cool air wafted over her heated skin. Night Wolf soothed her with his gentle voice, whispering tender words of love in her ear.

Settling himself over her, he breathed in her womanly scent, letting out a small groan of his own. He wanted her with a fierceness he'd never felt before, but knew he shouldn't rush her. He steeled his desire and focused on bringing pleasure to her. Now that she lay naked before him, he went back to her breasts. He peered down at her heaving twin orbs, watching as her nipples tautened into tempting buds.

Night Wolf lowered his head and caressed with one hand while he drew the other back into his mouth. His tongue flicked the swollen orb, bringing mewling cries from her. He let his hands roam lower to her waist, spanning it with his hands before he dipped one to her weeping cleft. Ione trembled and moaned, squirming as his fingers delved into the feminine curls nestled at the juncture of her thighs. Soothing words traveled from his lips to her ears as he continued his passionate assault on her, suckling each nipple until they turned into hard peaks. Ione moaned and writhed beneath him, her body blossoming with need as a carnal ache pierced her core. She panted breathlessly. Night Wolf trailed a line of kisses down her body and delved his fingers back into the thatch of curls. He let out a groan at what he found there. She was soaked to the core and quivering. He sought out her pleasure button hidden within and ran his thumb over it. Ione let out a soft squeal and gasped for breath. What is happening to me, her mind pondered. Her senses overloaded and she bucked her hips in a frenzy. His marauding fingers teased the taut bud of pleasure and sent her soaring to heights she'd never been before. Her heart pounded, her breathing heavy and short as she let out a cry of bliss. Never before had she felt anything so intense as the first climax rocked her body. Then he sent her out of her mind, over the edge and spinning out of control as his hot tongue flicked over her swollen nubbin. She let out an animalistic cry of passion, reaching down and running her fingers through his raven locks.

His tongue slashed over her slippery core and delved inside her channel where he felt her maidenhead intact. His heart swelled with love and pride, as he knew he would be the first to awaken her to the heights of passion he so longed to take her. He would be the one to initiate her to the realm of lovemaking between a man and a woman.

Soon she was cresting once more, reaching that special peak of rapture. She writhed, moaned aloud and let the incredible climax crash over her in wave after wave of spectacular bliss. Never before had she known such a feeling was possible. Never again would she believe this act between a man and a woman was a duty, not to be enjoyed, but to be endured in order to bear children. As she caught her breath, she blushed and thanked the good Lord above for this man.

Night Wolf covered her and gazed deeply into her sparkling green eyes. His breath caught in his throat at what he saw there. She was a woman made for passion, made for his love. Tenderly he nuzzled his cheek against hers.

"You are my woman now," he stated as he held her close.

Ione nodded, though she didn't understand what he said. If only she could talk to him. There was so much she wanted to know, so much she needed to say.

"I want you," he murmured in her ear and felt the shivers race through her. "But I am prepared to wait until I know you are ready."

Night Wolf gathered her in his arms and held her close for a while, allowing her to grow comfortable with the heat of his body pressed so intimately with hers. Then he released her and handed her the clothing he'd removed from her body. He allowed her to dress before embracing her once more. Ione felt the warmth of his body wrap around her slight form. She could feel the hardness of his manhood pressed against the curve of her belly. The fact that he didn't take her maidenhead puzzled her when she knew he very well could have. She rested her head on the upper swell of his chest and closed her eyes for a moment, her mind full of questions. Why hadn't he taken her? Did she displease him? Would he take her next time? Perhaps once they rested at dark.

Sensing her mental dilemma, Night Wolf cradled Ione in his arms and whispered more words of love in her ear, words that seemed to soothe her. He stroked her body lightly, feeling the heat flowing between them. He groaned and resisted the urge to launch another passionate assault upon her sensuous little body. He wanted to sink himself slowly into her untried depths and coax her innocence from her lovingly. He longed to take and brand her with his passion, making her his alone. But it was all too soon. Calling on his training, he resisted, knowing it would happen when the time is right.

That time was coming. He could feel it. As sure as his heart was beating she would be his; totally, completely and unquestionably his.

O.O