Free Never Surrender by Deanna Jewel

muscles of his chest and stomach pressed firmly to her
back. Taima’s breath fanned her neck.
    Immediately, she tugged the blanket to her chin.
    The low chuckle in his chest vibrated against her
spine. His fingers gently squeezed her ribs, then relaxed. His touch quickened
her pulse and she hoped he thought it was her fear. How could she even think to
go to sleep while he continued his torment?
    Though tired from the long day and the fact she hadn’t
gotten much sleep last night, she was sure the blessed blackness would never
come. She prayed for un-tormented sleep, with no visions of the warrior from
her dream as he sat atop his horse.
    When Taima’s fingers massaged her ribs a second time,
she covered them with her own and attempted to push his hand down to her waist,
if not remove it all together.
    “Leave it be, Woman,” he growled close to her ear. “I
will release you when I’m ready...and I will touch you when I please.”
    Again, fear vibrated through every nerve of her body.
He meant business and she continued to taunt him at every turn, but she hated
being controlled constantly. She wouldn’t put up with it and he’d know that
first hand tomorrow...if she lived that long!

Chapter Five
     
    Kate pulled her lower lip with her teeth. Blood pumped
furiously through her veins as her heart raced. She couldn’t believe Taima
actually thought she’d lie quietly while his hands freely roamed her body.
    “Had you decided to stay put the first time, you
wouldn’t find yourself beneath my touch.” His warm breath fanned her cheek;
heat from his palm penetrated the thin hide of her dress. “Should you choose to
ignore my orders again, you may think what you like. You decide, woman.
Now...lay still. I, at least, would like to get some sleep tonight.”
    The tension knotted every nerve in her body as she lay
there with him, his hard chest pressed against her back, his firm thighs molded
behind her own. She waited for him to make another move, to taunt her again,
make her flesh tingle beneath his touch.
    Finally, Taima’s breathing slowed to an even rhythm.
The pressure of his hand moved to her hip, though not in a threatening manner,
and Kate eased the built-up tension in her muscles. She listened to the serene
wilderness and the whispering of the pines. Taima’s breathing kept an even pace
with the breeze blowing through the branches outside.
    An owl hooted in the distance, responding to a howling
wolf, or possibly a coyote. Did it prowl nearby?
    Suddenly, the cry of a mountain lion echoed in the
remote offing. Against her better judgment, Kate inched further into Taima’s
embrace. She wondered how he could possibly sleep through all the creepy
noises.
    Then a deep chuckle erupted from his chest.
    How dare he find humor in her fear? How dare he find
it funny that the wilderness frightened her?
    She jabbed her elbow at his ribs before he had time to
ward off the attack. Though he laughed, the pressure of his hand tightened on
her hip.
    Disgusted with her predicament, she bent her arm beneath
her head and lay silent-- the best way , she thought, to deal with this
man . Slowly, fatigue and heavy eyelids threatened to close off her world
for the night; she couldn’t fight it any longer. Yet, with Taima beside her--as
much as she hated it--she’d be safe from any wild animals until morning.
    Cloaked in restless sleep, Kate shivered and pulled
the blanket tight. The warmth at her back sent her cuddling against it and she
returned to her dreams.
    Kate stirred sometime later with stiff muscles. Opening
her eyes to the bright morning, her face was mere inches from Taima’s. The
sternness had disappeared from his now sleep-relaxed features. Smooth skin
darker than hers stretched over high cheekbones, black brows feathered above
long lashes and a straight nose. Native American features, yet his English was
almost as clear as hers, Kate mused. His past interested her.
    Her gaze rested on his full lips. Slowly, she