Free Surrender to Love by Julia Templeton Page B

her.
    When she glanced at him again, his eyes were like molten silver. Her pulse raced as his fingers moved to the yellow bruise on her cheek. His touch was gentle, just grazing her skin. "Does it hurt?" he asked, his voice barely above a whisper.
    His touch is what hurt more than anything, not because it was on her bruised skin, but because she wanted him despite the fact she knew it could never be. "Not really," she whispered breathlessly, pressing her cheek into his hand, closing her eyes, needing his strength and his comfort. Lord help her, but she didn't care that there were others watching them. She wanted him to know how thankful she was that he'd saved her, and what he did to her every time she saw him--the way her heart missed a beat, or how she felt all tingly and light inside. And his touch--it was heaven and hell at the same time.
    His fingers lightly cupped her chin, and she opened her eyes to find him watching her with a wanting that stole the breath from her lungs.
    "You're a very brave woman, Jordan."
    His compliment pleased her. "You risked your life to save me," she replied, swallowing past the lump in her throat as his thumb lightly grazed her bottom lip.
    "You're not going to kiss, are you?" Rebecca asked, her voice mirroring her disgust.
    Gray Hawk smiled and dropped his hand to his side, the moment forever ruined. Jordan bit her lip as she glanced down at Rebecca, who was occupied making faces at Iron Bear's son.
    "Rebecca, let's get you dressed. I need some help gathering berries," Kari said, and Jordan was thankful for her cousin's quick thinking. She needed time alone with Gray Hawk.
    Watching until Rebecca and Kari disappeared, Jordan turned to Gray Hawk. His expression was warm and inviting, causing her heart to skip a beat. He was so handsome. Those eyes, so light in his dark face held a person transfixed. Jordan had to keep herself from running her fingers along his strong jaw and high cheekbones. Her gaze fell to his mouth, staring at his full lips and his white teeth as he smiled softly.
    There was so much she didn't know about him. So much she wanted to know, but had always feared asking--until now. "How did you learn to speak English so well?"
    She saw something akin to pain flash in his eyes before he quickly masked it. "My mother taught me, and as I grew to manhood, my father felt it was important to have someone who could translate and teach the others. He sent me to school back east."
    Hearing that he'd lived among the whites made hope flare within her. "Did you like it?" she asked, watching him closely. But as usual his expression revealed nothing.
    "At first it was difficult, but as others like myself arrived, it became easier. I liked to work the land, and of course, I still hunted."
     Would you do it again? She wanted desperately to know, but realized if he answered yes, it would only give her false hope that they could have a future together. He was a Cheyenne warrior, and from what Tawanka said, one day he would take his father's place at the council fire and lead his people.
    "Where is your home?" he asked.
    The question surprised her. For so long she had hidden her past from everyone they'd come into contact with--so much, she'd become an accomplished liar. A fact she wasn't proud of. When asked, she and Kari had never answered, but now she felt compelled to answer him truthfully. "Virginia."
    He lifted his brow, looking at her uncertainly. "That's in the east by the Atlantic?"
    She nodded.
    "Why were you headed west then?"
    "I wanted to return home. I left Wyoming eleven years ago when my parents were killed, and I was returning to claim my ranch."
    "How were they killed?"
    She hesitated only a moment, then before she lost her nerve, she blurted, "Indians. I was fortunate I was off fishing in the stream behind our home when it