But then Marcellious interrupted us, saying, “We’ve got a long journey ahead. Let’s not stand around and make love eyes at one another.”
We traversed the rest of the day, saying little, and riding our horses in companionable silence. At least Roman, Emily, and I were companionable.
Marcellious rode ahead of us, keeping to himself.
When we broke for camp, two hawks circled over our heads. I took that as a sign that this spot was as good as any to stay the night. The sun dropped toward the horizon, heralding the day’s end.
A small spring bubbled nearby, so we all had a water source to sip through the night.
And, so far, no sign of the darkness.
We ground-tied the horses so they could graze, and Roman and Marcellious took off searching for firewood.
Once a nice blaze burned, Emily passed out more pemmican, and we sat around the fire, eating.
Marcellious and Emily kept to their own thoughts, saying little.
As stars illuminated the sky, Roman turned to me and said softly, “Olivia. Let’s take a walk together. It’s beautiful out tonight.”
“Of course,” I said, eager to share some alone time with him.
“We’ll be back in a bit,” Roman told Marcellious, but Marcellious only grunted his reply.
“Will you be okay?” I said to Emily.
“Are you staying with me?” Emily asked Marcellious.
“Now, where do you think I’d go?” he said with a sneer.
“I’ll take that as a rude yes,” Emily said to him. She turned toward me and said, “Yes, I’ll be fine.”
Hand in hand, Roman and I took off toward a small stand of trees. As we walked, my insides began to quiver with longing, and wet heat flooded my core. We said nothing, but a world of desire and unmet needs sizzled between us.
Once we stood with the trees obscuring us from the others, I said, “Did you need to speak to me?”
“Not in words, my love,” he said, pulling me close. “I can sense the overwhelm inside of you, the fear beneath the surface of your skin. You don’t have to carry it alone, my beautiful flame. Let me ease your pain. I can’t wait for another second. I need to make love to you.”
He tugged my supple dress over my head, running his palms across my bare skin. “You’re so beautiful,” he said, stroking my naked shoulders.
“So are you,” I whispered, delighting in the feel of him beneath my fingers.
Roman kissed my neck and jaw with so much tenderness that I could weep. My vulnerability split wide open as his lips worked along my cheekbones and eyelids.
Our bodies were close, so close, and yet still separate. “Roman,” I breathed.
“What is it, my beloved?” He pushed his fingers into my hair, massaging and stroking.
“I need to be closer to you.” I traced the planes of his jaw with my fingertips.
Roman let out a soft chuckle. “Our bodies are pressed together. How much closer can we get?”
I met his eyes and searched for his soul. “I don’t know. I just want to be consumed by you, to get lost in our connection.”
“Ah,” he said, smiling. “Then, let’s get lost together.” Roman claimed my mouth with a ravenous kiss that took my breath away. Then, with one hand around my neck, he caressed my breasts with his other hand, fingering my nipples into aching buds of need.
He broke the kiss and bit his way down my neck.
Chills cascaded up and down my spine.
