“I want your babies, Mitch. A whole little tribe of tiger cubs to romp and play in our house and brighten our lives.” She traced circles on his chest as his heart sped up in what she hoped was pleased excitement.
She felt that he was watching her, so she raised her gaze to meet his again and found a sadness there that she had been expecting. Sadness and regret. She felt it too. They both knew this was a moment of peace in a turbulent time that could go either way for them.
“It’s a dream I will savor,” he said with a seriousness that she understood.
“It’s a dream I want to see come true,” she countered. “If I get pregnant, the Mother of All wills it. I’d like to have your cub, Mitch, regardless of how things go with the challenge.”
“I wouldn’t want to leave a cub fatherless, or leave you alone to raise him or her.” His gaze narrowed as the troubled thoughts crossed his mind.
“All the more incentive to survive,” she whispered. He looked shocked and angered, but she calmed him. “I don’t mean it the way you’re thinking. Our baby would never be a pawn to me. I would love and protect our child as I love you, Mitch.”
He seemed to deflate as a cautious joy entered his eyes. “You love me?” he whispered, as if he didn’t believe her.
On firmer ground now, she sat up a little so she could rest her chin on his chest and gaze deep into his eyes. She smiled at him, loving the feel of his skin under her hands.
“Of course I love you,” she confirmed, watching his reaction. He was getting easier and easier for her to read as time went on. He wasn’t an overly demonstrative man, but there were little signals that heralded his moods if you knew how to read them.
Right now, he looked like he’d had the breath knocked from him. A second later, she felt the same way as he reversed their positions and kissed her deeply while her head sank into the cushioning sheepskin covering the floor.
“I love you too, Gina,” he whispered against her lips, taking them again and again. “I love you with everything that’s in me. With all my heart.” He punctuated each statement with kisses so sweet they made her want to cry.
Her heart was so full. All because of this incredible man.#p#分页标题#e#
They moved to the bed eventually and made love off and on throughout the long winter’s night. Gina never wanted it to end. She almost feared the dawn and the responsibilities it would bring. For now, she was content in their little love nest. Just the two of them. Together on a voyage of discovery as they each learned what pleased the other and drove each other to ever-increasing heights of passion and pleasure.
But dawn did come, and with it, a new day in which to prepare for what they both knew was coming. They ate breakfast together and then Mitch spent some time studying the history of their people while Gina took care of some light chores around the cabin. Her parents joined them for lunch again and even though a few pointed and very speculative glances were sent their way, they had decided to keep their growing relationship to themselves for now. After lunch they all went down to the Miller’s dojo for a long afternoon of training and dinner with the other family.
They returned to their cabin to make love long into the night and recover from the rigors of the day. This pattern repeated itself for about a week. After the first day or two, Mitch began a regimen of outdoor exercise in the mornings to retrain his body. He would run in his fur, going farther each day and doing the heavy chores around the cabin.
Gina went out with him for part of each morning. They would climb trees, run and scout the area. He spent a lot of time honing his skills. He taught Gina things he knew that she had never thought of, while she helped him work on his new stealth against the backdrop of snow.
He got stronger and stronger, to the point where she was amazed anew each day by his abilities. He was like no tiger she’d ever known. He was like something out of legend.
Inwardly, she rejoiced. Her uncle’s skills were not to be underestimated. Mitch would need every advantage he could find against someone of Gisli’s cunning. He hadn’t ruled over a stolen kingdom for this long without having superior skills and a deceitful nature.
At least, that’s what Gina secretly thought. She didn’t remember much about her uncle, but she’d tried to keep up with the intelligence reports her father received on a regular basis since she was old enough to understand them. She’d followed her uncle’s activities from afar for many years. She knew he was a force to be reckoned with.
Mitch would need every bit of skill he could muster to win this challenge. Worry about the future was her constant companion now. That and the incredible joy being with Mitch brought her.