Free Never Surrender by Deanna Jewel Page A

inhaled,
her toes curling as a hot wave swept into her belly. Taima made her feel
desired though she had tried to fight it. She wondered at his actions, at what
prompted him to kiss her. It couldn’t be that he found her attractive because
he always told her he did it to punish her since he thought she hated his
touch.
    Did she hate it? Kate wondered.
    Her eyes traveled to the two-inch scar, which cut
diagonally across the left side of his jaw. Another half-inch scar marred his
cheekbone.
    Battle wounds?
    Animal attacks?
    A shiver ran down her spine at the thought of him
being mauled by an animal or cut with another’s blade.
    Two scars on his chest below each collarbone piqued
her interest. Kate knew these could only be scars from the sacrificial Sun
Dance she’d read about. She’d ask him later about those. The peaceful man who
lay next to her was the opposite of the hateful savage she saw when he was
awake.
    Glancing up again, Kate met questioning blue eyes set
into tanned features, which changed to a look of wonder. His gaze traveled down
her face to her chest and a flush heated her skin. She quickly pulled up the
blanket to shield herself and looked away.
    A warm finger beneath her chin forced Kate to face him
again. “I think it’s only fair that I look, as you did.”
    Embarrassed, Kate rolled away when he released her,
allowing her to rise. She glanced back at Taima as he stretched; her lip
curled, ready for an argument. “I’ll be right back,” she said.
    “You know what’ll happen if you aren’t.”
    Annoyed, she rolled her eyes and stepped from the
lean-to. Knowing Taima as she was beginning to, he’d likely follow her.
    Thankfully, he didn’t.
    Leaving the cover of the trees behind her, Kate raked
her fingers through her hair, pushing the stray strands away from her face.
When she stepped from the trees into a clearing, Taima sat before his fire with
his son. Walking toward them, she glanced around.
    Prairie dogs poked their heads from various burrows,
checked the area for danger, then quickly scampered away. Overhead, ravens
played in the shifting winds, flying sideways and sometimes directly toward one
another--free to go where they wanted.
    Just as she wished to do.
    Ignoring Taima, Kate strode into his lean-to though
her stomach growled when she smelled their bread and meat. She refused to give
in and sat upon the furs.
     
    * * * * *
     
    Taima waited for Kate to reappear and when she didn’t,
he stormed into the lean-to. “You don’t want to eat?”
    She didn’t answer.
    Annoyed, he pulled Kate up and raked his fingers into
the nape of her hair, forcing her to look at him. Malice darted from her green
eyes like arrows intent on killing him. Surely, evil spirits possessed this
woman.
    If just his touch seemed to punish her, then so be it.
Nothing he’d done so far had bothered her more. Could she possibly hate him
that much for being Indian?
    The detestable expression in her eyes never changed as
he pulled her against his chest, crushing her soft breasts. The heat of her
body too easily penetrated the leather vest he wore; too easily heated his
blood. The silkiness of her hair threaded between his fingers. As Taima glanced
at her parted lips, he remembered the honeyed taste from their last kiss.
    She nervously moistened her lips--a simple gesture
that sent blood surging through his body though he tried to will away any
intimate thoughts.
    He clenched his jaw and inhaled a calming breath.
    Damn her. It
had been too long since he’d lain with a woman for him to be playing this type
of game with her.
    Ignoring his conscience, Taima lowered his head and
kissed her, brutally forcing his tongue past her lips to sweep the silky flesh
of her mouth. His fingers braced the back of her head. Kate’s tongue fought his
advances, but he refused to let her win; only deepening the kiss to punish her
further. She wiggled within his arms, attempting to be released.
    His heart raced though he tried to