Free Savage Desire (Savage Lagonda 1) by Constance O'Banyon Page A

great was her misery.
    He did not lie down beside her, but sat with his back to the trunk of a tree. Mara was so exhausted that she finally slept. It seemed she had only closed her eyes, when she was awakened by his hand on her shoulder, urging her to arise so they could be on their way once more. It was cruel how he pushed her almost beyond endurance, just so he could be rid of her.
    Again they rode all day, stopping only to eat. Mara wondered how much longer the animals could endure this pace. When they stopped after sundown, he did not unpack the robe, but stood waiting for her to finish eating.
    Although she was hungry, she could not swallow a bite, knowing he was impatient to be on his way once more. At last Mara could no longer stand his impatience. Throwing down her uneaten portion of meat, she rose from where she had been sitting and turned on him angrily.
    "If you are in such a hurry to be rid of me, then you may leave. I am not your responsibility. I am very grateful to you for all you have done, and I apologize for all the inconvenience you have suffered because of me. But not you, or anybody, can make me mount that horse again tonight."
    Tajarez watched her in stunned silence. No woman had ever spoken to him in such a manner.
    She was beautiful as her eyes flashed in the moonlight. "Go away. I do not ever want to see you again." Her voice broke. "Oh, I am so frightened of never seeing you again. Hold me, please," she pleaded.
    That was almost Tajarez's undoing. He felt the restraint he had been keeping on his emotions snap. He rushed to her and picked her up in his arms, nestling her tightly against his chest, and burying his face in her golden hair.
    Oh, Great Father, I love this girl. Please understand. I need her, he prayed silently.
    With one hand he untied the robe from the packhorse while he held Mara in his arms. Spreading the robe on the ground, he lay down with her, tightening his arms around her. She was crying softly, and he kissed her face, tasting the saltiness of her tears.
    "I thought you wanted to be rid of me," she cried. Mara wound her arms around his neck. "I want you to know you are the first man who ever kissed me. Please do not think badly of me. I promise you I would never permit a man to take the liberties that I allowed you." She touched his face softly. "It is no use, you do not understand me. You will go away and forget all about me, most probably thinking of me as the burden you had to endure one spring."
    No! His heart cried out. I will think of you with love. Tajarez was feeling the burden of his vow of silence. How could he make her understand that she was his love, and he would never love another. He knew he would have to marry when he returned home, but the woman who would be his wife would be cheated, for he would never love her, and every time he had to take her in his arms, he would think of green eyes and golden hair.
    Mara leaned her head against his broad chest. She could feel his rapid heartbeat. "I think it is a very sad thing for one to love and not have that love returned. I often wondered what the man I would love would be like. I never envisioned he would be an Indian. Strange how life plays little tricks on you sometimes. I have only known you for a few days, and yet I cannot envision my life without you."
    Tajarez's arms tightened around her, knowing he could never give her what she wanted. All he and Mara would ever have would be this night, and he could do no more than hold her in his arms.
    He would leave her at the fort tomorrow night; then he would forever be empty inside. She would never grow old to him because he would remember her as she was now.
    He felt her relax against him and knew she had fallen into an exhausted sleep. He lay awake all night holding her in his arms. He could sleep another night, but for now he wanted to build a memory and remember how she felt in his arms. She was beautiful, and before long she would have many suitors to vie for her