Tykota's Woman(43)

His arms tightened around her, and he held her without saying a word. At last he raised her chin and bent his head, touching his lips to hers.

Makinna surrendered to him, her eager lips opening to his. He deepened the kiss, expressing his emotions in the only way he could. His hands slid down her back, pressing her tightly against his swelling hardness, needing this small intimacy between them, yet hating himself for the weakness.

Makinna pressed her hips against him, feeling almost faint. She wanted... she wanted more from him than a kiss. She wanted to feel his heart beat against her aching breasts, and

Tykota broke off the kiss and quickly stepped away from her. How could he have given in to his desire? He turned away from the confusion in her eyes. "I didn't mean for that to happen, Makinna. But when I am with you, I cannot seem to stop myself. Will you forgive me?"

She wanted to scream at him that she would never forgive him for throwing her love away. If he didn't love her, at least he desired her. How could he walk away from what they had? "I want to be with you, Tykota."

His voice was husky, and he still did not look at her. "What do you mean, Makinna?"

She went to him, slid her arms around his waist, and rested her head against his back, listening to the drumming of his heart. "I don't know what I mean, Tykota. How could I, since I have never known a man? I want you to teach me, because I don't want anyone else."

She felt him tense. "One day your husband will teach you." She felt him tremble. "Some day a man will touch you." He dislodged her hands and turned to face her, touching her lips with one finger. "He will kiss those lips until they swell with longing." One trembling hand went up to her breasts. "He will know the sweetness of these and make you moan with pleasure." He lowered his head and kissed her through the material of her gown, and she could feel that kiss burn through her.

Then he pressed her back against the house, deep in the shadows, and his hand went between her thighs, and his breath came out in a groan. "One day, a man will know the joy of deflowering you, Makinna." He caressed her until she threw back her head and bit her Up to keep from crying out.

"Tykota. Oh, Tykota," she whispered, her body quaking with desire.

Tykota wrestled with his own desire and felt himself losing the battle. He hadn't meant things to go this far, but he could not seem to stop himself. He dropped to one knee and kissed her between her thighs through the skirt of her gown. He felt her tremble, and tears blinded him as he too, quaked with desire. "One day a man will enter that paradise and know the sweetness of your soul."

Makinna wanted to rip off her gown so there would be nothing between her and the wonderful hands playing such havoc with her body. "Tykota, please," she begged, her virginal body on fire for him.

He stood to his full height and moved away from her, pausing on the steps to gain control over his emotions. "I could take you right now, have all of you, Makinna. But I am not willing to sacrifice your future to satisfy my desires." Her eyes were shining with passion, and he wanted her so badly it hurt. "I cannot. You would always suffer for it if I did."

Her lips parted. "But I want you to."

He groaned. "You do not know what you ask."

When she moved forward and pressed her lips to his, his resolve almost snapped.

"I know what I ask. I want to be with you." She must make him understand how she felt, that she would never want any man to touch her but him.

His voice was deep and trembled when he spoke. "Someday you will be loved by a man, Makinna. But that man will not be me."

Shattered, she turned away and ran into the house. She hurried up the stairs and into her bedroom. Throwing herself onto the bed, she sobbed with the pain of loving a man who was utterly unobtainable.

Why had he made her want him? He had awakened her to desire, then left her feverish and unfulfilled. She would never again be the same innocent girl who had begun her journey from New Orleans. And she would never forget the tall, dark-eyed Indian who had stolen her heart.

When Makinna finally stopped crying, the house was dark and quiet. Needing a breath of air, and seeking release, she made her way carefully down the stairs and out the front door. Shards of moonlight struck the landscape, making it seem almost enchanted. She headed for the corral and put a bit between the pinto's teeth, then hoisted herself onto its back and she raced away from the ranch, into the darkness.

Lost in her misery, she did not see the dark angry eyes that watched her gallop away. She did not know she was being followed.





When Makinna heard the sound of a rider behind her, she urged the surefooted pinto into a faster gallop across the flat land, scattering cattle as she rode past. She was afraid it was Tykota chasing her, and she couldn't face him yet. If she did, she might crumble into a thousand pieces.