Idiot.
“We’ve got a nice house,” Doug said. “You would have your own room. There’s running water and electricity, too, and Internet.”
“Doesn’t everyone have water and electricity?” Naomi jumped one of her marbles over a string of Winona’s.
Chaska realized that life on the reservation was going to come as a shock to her. “There are lots of people who don’t have either. Old Man only got electricity out at his place—what, eight years ago?”
“That’s right, but I’m outta light bulbs. Got to get some light bulbs.” Old Man jumped one of his marbles over four of Chaska’s, landing his last piece in Chaska’s corner. He chuckled. “Good game.”
Chaska glanced at the clock. It was almost ten.
He pushed to his feet. “I’m heading to bed.”
“So early?” Grandpa teased. He looked over at Doug and Winona. “You two want to stay up and have another game?”
Doug nodded. “Sure, but you’ll have to teach me the rules.”
Naomi stood too, reaching for her crutches. “Thank you all. I’ll never forget this day or how kind you all have been.”
Doug stood. “Sleep well, daughter.”
She kissed him on the cheek. “Goodnight, Dad.”
Chaska followed Naomi up the stairs, arguing with himself. Part of him wanted to tell her what he’d said before they’d found her, explain that he’d been led to her, tell her that he loved her. She ought to know before she decided anything that he wanted to spend his life with her. But the other part of him was afraid that this might influence her decisions, turn her away from the path she was meant to walk. Besides, if they were truly meant to be together, she would find her way back to him on her own.
He shut his bedroom door behind them, leaned her crutches against the sofa, and sat on the bed beside her. “Alone at last.”
She leaned against him. “What a day.”
There was one way he could tell her how he felt about her, a way to tell her he loved her without words, a way to show her how much she meant to him.
He turned her in his arms and kissed her.
Naomi gaveherself over to Chaska’s kiss, her emotions frayed after all that had happened today. She didn’t want to think about the future—where she would go and what she would do. She just wantedhim.
He kissed her out of her dress and bra and panties, lowering her to the bed, his lips magic against her mouth, her throat, her breasts. She opened her eyes to find herself naked, Chaska looking up at her through brown eyes gone black as his mouth blazed a trail over her skin. Lower he went and lower, her need for him building, anticipation making her ache.
He took her injured leg, parted her thighs, and knelt between them. “Show me. Reach down, and show me how beautiful you are.”
It took her a moment to realize what he was asking.
Her pulse skipped.
She did what would have been unthinkable until she’d met him, reaching down with her fingers to part herself and expose her most private flesh to his view.
His gaze scorched her. “Mmm. Perfect.”
Just watching the effect she had on him, and knowing that he was aroused by what he saw, turned her on. But she knew it wouldn’t end here. Before she could draw another breath, he lowered his mouth to her.
It was a sensual onslaught, one sensation colliding with the next as he sucked her inner lips into the heat of his mouth, teased her with his clever tongue, tugged on her clit with his lips. Her fingers dug into his hair, and she fought to hold on. Oh, but he knew her now, knew just what pleased her. Two fingers slid deep inside her to stroke her, and soon she was on the edge of an orgasm.
He lifted his mouth from her, turned to kiss her inner thigh, his fingers still moving inside her. “The climax is more intense when you wait.”
This wasdeliberate?
“That’s not fair.” The tension inside her eased a bit, but the need didn’t.
He chuckled. “I’ll make it worth your while. I promise.”