Silken Savage

by Catherine Hart

  The combination of his hand teasing her breast and his mouth playing along her shoulder was too much, and Tanya arched against his body involuntarily. He was murmuring meaningless phrases, encouraging her touch. Her hands were spread out against his smooth chest, warding him off, but now they seemed to have a life of their own. Slowly, tentatively, they began to explore, measuring his shoulders, feeling the muscles contract beneath her palms. Her questing fingers stroked his arms and shoulders, working their way gradually up into his thick ebony hair.

  Panther’s velvet lips at last found her breast, scorching her with their heat. His teeth worried her throbbing, swollen nipple, and his tongue laved it. White hot flashes of passion seared through her, making her cry out in longing — for what, she wasn’t sure. She clutched at his head, pressing him closer in her need.

  As his mouth worshipped her breasts, his hand slid to her thighs, caressing and then parting them. Tanya gasped, and Panther’s mouth immediately came up to cover hers in a hot, passionate kiss that increased her desire. Her own hands searched along his back, feeling the corded muscle and sinew beneath smooth, sun-kissed skin, tapering to the trim waist, the compact buttocks, the powerful thighs.

  Panther groaned, sweat breaking out on his skin as he strove to control himself. His hand nestled itself between her legs, his long, sensitive fingers evoking pleasures Tanya had never imagined existed. Tanya quivered and thrashed beneath him, her breasts straining against his chest as Panther ignited an inferno throughout her body. He heard her shocked gasp as his fingers slipped inside her warmth, stroking the moist velvet there, his thumb continuing its arousal of her sensitive feminine core.

  Tanya’s incoherent cries were lost in Panther’s mouth as she gasped for breath and cried out in amazement. Her whole body tensed in expectation and then seemed to explode in a million tiny fragments as he brought her to fulfillment. Spasms shook her from head to toe and she collapsed in quivering wonder, too stunned to do more than whimper. Gathering her close, Panther held her until she finally calmed and slept. His own body aching still, he forced himself to be patient. This night it was Panther who lay awake for hours.

  w

  Tanya was filled with self-loathing the next morning. How could her body and mind betray her in such a manner! My God, the man was a savage! Yet her body throbbed at the memory of his caresses, and Tanya found herself studying his hands and lips as he ate. She blushed furiously and turned quickly away as he caught her gaze.

  Panther smiled to himself. Yes, she was ready. He could have taken her last night, but he’d wanted to show her something of what to expect before he mated with her. He wanted her to be prepared, and he wanted her willing and eager. Today she would think about it, anticipate the evening, and be ready for him when the time came.

  All day long Tanya fumed and fussed, trying to sort out her feelings. In all honesty, she was not repelled by him, though she felt she ought to be. Until a few days ago she was preparing to marry Jeffrey. Now she was panting after, of all things, a Cheyenne warrior! She felt drawn to him; had since that first day. She admired his quiet dignity, his noble pride. Part of the reason she tried so hard to adapt and learn the ways of his people was to earn his approval, his praise.

  Panther satisfied her senses. He was magnificent to watch; tall, proud, handsome. His deep voice grated pleasantly on her ears. As she lay against him at night, her fingers adored the smooth texture of his skin, and she was becoming addicted to the musky male scent of him. Even the salty taste of his skin appealed to her, and the taste of tobacco on his tongue when he kissed her.

  Still Tanya hesitated. She feared the time when he would make her wholly his. She didn’t want to desire him; yearn for him, for she felt certain that once that barrier was crossed there would be no turning back. Once she fully accepted him and life among his people, she would have no wish to leave.

  Later that day, Tanya knew what she would see before it happened. The young brave finally rode his spotted horse. As he cantered proudly about the meadow, Panther and Tanya watched, each with their own thoughts. Then Panther turned to her. Holding her gaze with his own, he silently reached out and removed her leash, throwing it on the ground at his feet. Tanya eyed the leash, then Panther, and finally turned to watch the proud brave on his pony. Her mind struggled to sort out the jumble of thoughts rushing through it. Each day Panther had brought her here to watch the warrior gentle his horse. He did so with patience, and each day the horse responded a bit more to his touch and his voice. It struck her that Panther had done the same thing with her, in correlation with the progress made by the young brave.

  It also occurred to her that Panther wanted her to realize this; had more or less said so by his action of throwing away the hated leash. Today the warrior had realized his goal and ridden his horse. Tanya's eyes grew huge as she realized the significance of this. Panther was letting her know that tonight he expected to realize his goal. Tonight he would make her his completely and bind her to him with bonds stronger than any chain or fetter.

  Panther eyed Tanya warily, intent on her reaction. He saw the confusion in her face, then the humiliation and anger of her wounded pride. Not really expecting her to accept this calmly, he was not surprised by her reaction.

  Tanya turned on him with eyes spitting golden flames. Quietly but vehemently, she fumed, “If you think I’m going to take this calmly, like a sheep led to slaughter, then think again!” she spoke in English, too upset to try to find the words in his language. Tears of frustration welled in her eyes, making them glitter brilliantly, but she blinked them back. She stood facing him defiantly, her hands clenched into two tight fists at her sides.

  “I’m not a mare to be gentled and mounted! I’m a human being with feelings of my own! Isn’t it enough that you’ve taken me away from my family and friends? Isn’t it enough that you’ve made me your slave, to fetch and carry and wait on you hand and foot? Need you humiliate me at every turn?”

  Panther did not touch her. He stared down at her with those stern, dark eyes and spoke firmly. “Speak to me in my own tongue, Little Wildcat.”

  “I haven’t the words to say it in your tongue,” she told him, and then in English she continued, “how could I tell you in any language how I fear you?”

  At his concentrated frown, she turned her back to him. “How can I explain this feeling I have that if I’m not rescued soon it will be too late for me? You have stolen another man’s woman. Do you know that? I was to be married today. I pray each night that he will come and rescue me in time. Now you have made it plain that my time has run out.”

  Tears finally spilled over and ran silently down her cheeks as the utter futility of her situation overwhelmed her. “How could he still want me after you have had me?” she choked out.

  Panther’s hand on her arm wheeled her about. His face was a hard mask of anger held barely in check. “Come,” he ordered. “You have yet to prepare my meal. There is no time for your womanly tears of self-pity. They are wasted on me and will change nothing.”

  The tension in their lodge that evening was so thick you could slice it with a knife. Walks-Like-A-Duck had escaped even before the food had finished cooking. This time she had not taken with her Tanya’s dress, and for that at least Tanya was grateful. Tanya sat stiffly across the fire from Panther as he ate his fill, but could not manage a bite of her own portion. While Tanya straightened up after the meal, Panther reworked the form of a new bow he was making. A heavy silence hung like a pall in the air.

  Finally Panther lay the bow aside. “Bank the fire, Little Wildcat, and go to the mat.” His face gave nothing away, and Tanya could not read his mood. Outwardly passive, she dutifully saw to the fire, her heart thundering in her ears all the while. Panther was still sitting between her and the only avenue of escape, and she knew any attempt would be futile.

  Slowly she walked to the mat and sat upon it, her head down to hide the tears from his avid gaze. His approach was silent, as always, but now he stood before h
er.

  “Remove my moccasins from my feet,” he commanded her.

  Tanya’s head snapped up as if on a puppeteer’s string, her mouth open in amazement. He had never asked this of her before. As he balanced first on one foot and then the other, she complied without comment.

  “Now remove my breechcloth,” he ordered tersely.

  Tanya’s face flamed and her hands shook as she reached out for the ties of his garment. Then her hands fell limply to her lap, and her lips and voice quivered as she whispered, “I cannot. Please do not make me do this.”

  “You will obey me. Do it,” he answered relentlessly, his tone of voice indicating his impatience.

  Once more her icy fingers reached out, and this time she completed her task, though she refused to look at him. The breechcloth fell to the floor between them. Silently he leaned down and removed her dress, then sat facing her on the mat, his onyx eyes pinning her in place.

  “Unbind my braids, woman,” he directed, his voice now as soft as velvet. She did as he bid her, gently untwining the raven strands and combing them with her fingers. Tanya could feel his eyes upon her face, but would not meet his look. Instead, she concentrated on her task, but even that had its perils. His hair sliding between her fingers felt like thick, smooth satin, awakening every nerve in her fingers, sliding sensuously across her palms.

  Her fingers were still entwined in his hair as he pressed her gently down upon the mat. She looked up into his dark eyes, now so filled with naked desire that she shivered in response. His mouth descended to cover her quivering lips, warming them with his own. His firm white teeth tugged gently at her lower lip until she parted them to his questing tongue. Warm, calloused hands cupped her breasts tenderly, as if they were priceless treasures, feeling them swell to his touch, his long fingers searching out the sensitive tips and teasing them to life.

  Tanya felt her fear and anger ebbing away, being replaced by a growing desire she could not control, and found she had no wish to. Her body arched into his with a will of its own, pleading without words for his touch.

  His mouth left hers, finding its way across her face to her ear, her throat, and along her shoulder, searching out each sensitive spot along the way to her breasts. As his questing lips captured her nipple, a sigh quivered from her throat. Her hands slipped from his hair to clutch at his shoulders, her lips finding the sensitive cord along his neck, her teeth teasing at it.

  Panther’s hands traveled the curves of her body; down across the flat of her stomach, the bend of her hip, his fingers trailing up the inside of her thighs until they met their goal. There they lingered to tease and tantalize until Tanya was mindlessly arching to meet his touch, shamelessly calling out his name against his shoulder, raking his back with her nails.

  He brought his mouth back to hers as he settled his body over her, parting her thighs with his own, and she felt the heat of his passion throbbing against her. “Tell me you want me,” he whispered against her lips.

  She understood and answered in kind. “I want you, Panther. Please, I want you now.”

  There was a moment of pain as he entered her, making her his own, but he cut off her surprised gasp with a searing kiss that set her senses reeling. His mouth devoured hers and his hands excited her as he introduced her to a world of sensuous pleasure. As she surrendered herself to him completely, his thrusts became faster and deeper until her passion flared into an all-consuming desire, and she met his thrusts with her own. Her body was aflame, consumed and fed by his, and his needs became her own. Together they climbed from one plateau of passion to another, even higher, until at last the sky broke open and they soared on wings of ecstasy to the stars. Rip- ples of rapture shuddered through them as they clung together, savoring the delight of their mutual release.

  He held her close to him afterward, stroking her and murmuring to her in words she could not comprehend. But one thing she knew. She now belonged to him totally, body and soul. There was no turning back after this; there would never be any escape for her now.

  For a week afterward Tanya found it hard to meet Panther’s gaze. She felt unaccountably shy around him, and the slightest move on his part could set her blushing furiously. During the day she worked with the other women, diligently applying herself to her tasks and improving her language skills.

  Tanya now had full responsibility for Panther’s tipi. Walks-Like-A-Duck no longer came to the lodge, except to instruct Tanya in some new skill. Dutifully, Tanya cleaned the lodge, cooked Panther’s meals, and sewed and cleaned his clothes. Each night she shared his sleeping mat, and only there did her painful shyness melt away under the flame of shared passion.

  Never again did Panther place the detested leash about her neck. Now she was free to come and go from the tipi as she pleased. The new freedom was exhilarating, but Tanya was not so much a fool as to think she was not watched.

  The possibility of escape was remote at best, but Tanya found herself barely even entertaining the idea these days. She worked long and hard, but was content at the end of the day, especially when she could look forward to a long night enfolded in Panther’s embrace. And she did look forward to the nights, as much as she tried to berate herself for it. A part of her grieved for a while over her lost way of life, but another part openly and willingly accepted and adapted to her new life, gradually overshadowing any residual sadness with a blossoming joy.

  Sometimes she wondered at her growing happiness, failing to understand how she could possibly enjoy her life here. She was a slave, Panther’s woman. He had but to command, and she obeyed without question. She cooked and cleaned, tanned and sewed, and satisfied his desires — but he also met her desires.

  As the days wore on, Tanya finally stopped warring with herself and admitted to herself that she was in love with Panther. He was everything she desired and admired in a man, Cheyenne warrior or not. He was brave, wise, noble, extremely handsome, and strong enough to be tender when the situation warranted.

  Her brain warned her that she was merely his slave, and that he could at any time decide to trade or sell her, or take a wife who might mistreat her and have her beaten every day of her life, but her heart refused to be discouraged. Tanya now loved him irrevocably, and she would take him on any terms. Her pride was humbled before this devastating love.

  Panther’s first clue to all this was when he entered his tipi one day to find Tanya plaiting her usually unbound hair Indian fashion into two long braids across her shoulders. Neither of them commented on the fact, but he caught the shy smile she threw in his direction.

  “She is no longer fighting her fate,” he reasoned, greatly pleased by the thought and her gesture.

  Later that day he presented her with a beautifully decorated headband. It was his first true gift to her, and her delighted smile lit up her face. She sat there looking so captivatingly lovely that Panther’s breath caught in his throat. “I would bring you gifts each day if you would smile upon me each time as you do now,” he teased her, enjoying the way she blushed at his comment.

  “I shall smile for you if you bring me no gifts at all,” she answered shyly.

  As he absorbed her words, he asked, “Are you happy here now, Little Wildcat? Do you no longer desire to escape or pray for rescue?”

  His heart nearly stopped at the spark of love in her eyes as she met his questioning gaze. “I have no wish to leave here, Panther,” she admitted softly. “My life is with you, as long as you wish it.”

  One more thing he had to know. “Do you not grieve for your lost love?”

  Momentarily startled by his question, she wondered how he knew about that, but she pondered it only for a second. “I belong to you now, Panther. It is you I love. You hold my heart in your hands.” Her face held a solemn promise.

  “Then I must treat such a treasure gently,” he responded tenderly, as he gathered her into his arms. Never had Tanya seen such a magnificent, victorious smile as Panther’s. Then his lips claimed hers in a kiss that branded her his foreve
r; the Panther’s mate, his Wildcat.

  Chapter 4

  TWO DAYS later the tribe moved. The tipis were pulled down, packed and loaded on pack horses and travois. Robes, rugs, mats, and parfleches loaded with household and personal items were secured alongside the burdened beasts.

  Tanya was amazed at how swiftly and easily everything was accomplished. These people were used to being on the move and had developed a rhythm and economy of motion that allowed them to prepare to relocate with very little fuss and bother.

  One last time Tanya checked the knots, making sure the bundles were properly tied for the journey ahead. It was early morning, and the sun hadn’t yet burned the dew off the grass. A slight breeze brought the freshness of spring to her nostrils, and the sun shone gently, warming her upturned face.

  She turned as she heard Panther approaching astride his big black horse. Panther’s cousin, Winter Bear, rode beside him, leading a buckskin horse behind. Tanya liked Winter Bear. A mere inch shorter than Panther, he was a handsome young man with a friendly, ready smile. He and Panther were very close in age, and had grown up together. More like brothers than cousins, they liked and respected one another, and either would lay down his life for the other if need be. They had spent their boyhoods playing and working side by side, became warriors at the same time, went on raids and war parties together, and shared joy and sorrow throughout the years.

  There was a slight family resemblance between the two men, but their attitudes were often different. Panther was much more arrogant, Tanya thought. Winter Bear was less volatile, more calm and quiet, with an inner serenity that shone in his dark eyes. Though Tanya preferred Panther, with his flashes of anger and passion, she found Winter Bear pleasant to have around. It seemed to her that the two men complemented one another; Winter Bear with his calm and thoughtful ways, and Panther with his quick intelligence and vitality.