Authors: Constance O'Banyon
The tent flap was pushed aside, and Kane watched as Maleaha entered the teepee. She stood silently for a moment and seemed to be avoiding his eyes.
Maleaha wondered how she would ever be able to tell him what she wanted. Her instincts told her to run from this teepee and never look back. She raised her eyes slowly. They started at his black boots and traveled up his long blue-clad legs. When her eyes reached his chest she saw he had removed his jacket and shirt. Black curly hair covered his muscular chest and disappeared in a vee beneath his blue trousers. Maleaha found she could not meet his gaze, so she lowered her head and stared at his shiny black boots instead.
Kane frowned at her strange behavior, then he realized she must be embarrassed by his naked chest, so he reached for his jacket and slipped it on, not bothering to button it.
"Has Mangas returned?" he asked.
"No, not yet," she replied, wishing she could die rather than ask him what she must.
"There is something wrong. What is it?" He demanded.
Maleaha shook her head, unable to speak, not knowing how to ask him to help her.
Kane forced her head up and looked at her with a puzzled look on his face.
"There is something wrong! What is it?"
"Major, I do not know how to ask you this . . ."Her voice seemed to have failed her, and she tried to drop her head, but Kane kept a firm grip on her chin, making it impossible.
"What is it you wish to ask?" His silver eyes swept over her face, noting the red tinge to her cheeks. Whatever it was that she wanted to ask him was causing her great embarrassment.
"Major, my Aunt Kosha has told me that Mangas does not believe I am your woman. H . . .he plans to take me as his wife tonight when he returns."
Kane frowned. "Explain what you mean."
"I mean that Mangas will force me to his bed, and afterwards make me his wife." Her hands gripped Kane's jacket front, and he could see the fear that was written on her beautiful face and reflected in her green eyes.
"I see. What can I do to help you?" His voice was soft, and his eyes looked deeply into hers.
"Will you help me?" she said in a voice that pleaded for his help.
"You have only to tell me what to do, and I will do it. I feel it is partly my fault that you are here now."
In spite of his restraining hand on her face, Maleaha lowered her head.
"I am very ashamed, major. I will…would you…"
Kane smiled slightly as she buried her face on his shoulder, trying to overcome her embarrassment.
"I believe I know what you are asking me. What I don't know is how far you want me to go to convince Mangas that you are my woman."
"I do not really know what happens between a man and a woman, but if you would not mind…if you would…" Maleaha raised her head and looked at him, and Kane saw the unshed tears that sparkled in her emerald-green eyes.
"Do not make me say it. I cannot!" she pleaded.
His arms tightened protectively around her. He drew her head down to rest against his shoulder. Anger burned deep inside him at the thought that she must seek him out to save herself from Mangas. He thought he could never love her more than he did at that moment. Kane knew he would never let Mangas touch her as long as he lived. For perhaps the first time in his life, Kane considered a woman's feelings before his own. As much as he wanted Maleaha, he did not want her under these circumstances. Where he had once thought she was wild and promiscuous, he now knew her to be frightened and innocent.
"Oh darling, I know what it must have cost you to come here like this," he said in a loving voice. "I would never do anything to dishonor you, don't you know that?"
Maleaha closed her eyes, loving the way he had called her darling. She remembered the time he had asked her for just what she was now offering him. She felt she must make him understand that if he did not indeed take what she offered, Mangas would, when he returned.
"Major, my aunt says I must ask you to . . . I do not know the word for it," she said in a pain-filled voice.
She heard his sharp intake of breath. "Are you asking me to take your innocence from you?" His voice was soft, and Maleaha could feel his lips on her face.
"Yes," she whispered as she buried her face in the soft, curly black hair that covered his chest.
There was complete silence in the teepee as the full impact of her words hit him. He had thought she wanted him to pretend that he had made love to her. He had no idea she had been asking him to actually do it.
"I will not do what you ask of me, Maleaha. I think we can convince Mangas without . . . you will have to trust me."
Maleaha raised her tear bright eyes to his, "You do not want me?"
Kane closed his eyes and pushed her gently away from him. "Oh Lord, if you only knew how much I want you, you would run to Mangas to escape me. I never envisioned myself turning down such a tempting offer, but I am angry that you, who are only seventeen and still such an innocent child, should be placed in such a degrading situation."
Not fully understanding his rejection of her, Maleaha backed toward the tent opening. "If you will not help me, I must find someone who will." She turned on her heels, with the intention of fleeing into the night to hide her shame.
Perhaps she could sneak out of the village. But her aunt had told her Mangas was having her watched to prevent just such an attempt, and she could not leave Kane to face Mangas's anger alone.
Kane grabbed her roughly by the shoulders and spun her around to face him.
"Damn you, are you so anxious to have your maidenhood taken from you that you would offer yourself to anyone?"
"It was a mistake for me to come here. Release me." Maleaha demanded.
He released her, and Maleaha watched as he removed his jacket and tossed it to the ground. Then his hands went to his belt and he began to unbuckle it.
"When will Mangas return?"
Maleaha shook her head, unable to answer.
"If you are modest, I suggest you go into the corner to disrobe," he told her angrily.
Maleaha was humiliated and trapped, trapped by a situation that was not entirely of her own making, And as frightened as she was, she knew she must not balk. She must go through with her plan, or else before the night was ended she would be the wife of Mangas, with no hope for escape.
She moved to the darkened comer, and with trembling hands began removing her moccasins. She closed her eyes, and her mind, as she removed all of her clothing, knowing she must call on all of her courage to see her through to the bitter end.
There was no joy in Maleaha's heart, only bitterness and shame, knowing what Kane must be thinking of her. In his way of thinking she must look a complete fool. Her mind shied away from what would become of her after this night. She would be little better than what Kane once thought her to be.
When the last of her clothing was removed Maleaha hugged the dark shadows, not knowing what to do next.
"Come here, Maleaha," Kane said in a soft voice.
She felt trapped by her own daring, and wished she could make a dash for freedom. She stood on shaky legs, calling on all her courage, and stepped out of the darkened corner. Her eyes refused to move past Kane's bare chest as she swallowed a lump in her throat. When she looked into his face, she saw his silver eyes moving slowly over her body, and she blushed and lowered her head.
Kane drew in his breath as his eyes moved over her perfect body. She was slender, and her hips were softly rounded, her legs long and shapely. Her breasts were beautifully shaped, and in that moment, Kane knew that before him stood the most beautiful and perfect woman he had ever seen. Every woman he had known before her faded into insignificance. For the moment he did not look at her as a man who wanted to possess her beautiful body, but rather as a man who was in love. He no longer wondered if her skin was the golden color all over, for indeed it was.
She looked like some golden goddess, meant to be carved into a masterpiece and preserved for eternity.
He was silent for so long that Maleaha raised her head and looked into his eyes. Seeing the look of adoration in his eyes, she froze.
Kane walked slowly toward her, and when she stepped back he reached out for her and drew her gently into his arms.
Maleaha's senses reeled as she felt his naked body press against hers. Kane reached up and pushed the curtain of ebony hair from her face, knowing what she was feeling.
"Do not be frightened, darling, I will not do anything to you, trust me," he whispered against her ear. "I believe we can make Mangas think we are lovers without actually completing the act."
Kane lifted her into his arms and laid her down on the rough buffalo robe. As he lay down beside her and pulled her into his arms, Maleaha began to tremble. But it had nothing to do with fear. Her love cried out to him through silent lips. Her virgin body became soft and yielding against his hard muscled body. He was her love, and it was only right that she should be in his arms, she thought.
Raising her face, she looked into the silver eyes that were so soft it took her breath away.
"Lord, give me strength," he murmured against her soft cheek.
"What should I do?" she asked innocently.
Kane's hand moved over her back, down to her waist. "Try to lie still, and for God's sake, don't look at me like that. I am trying to hold on to my sanity."
"I do not think I understand, major."
Kane closed his eyes. "Lord, what an innocent you are." Then he looked at her and grinned. "Under the circumstances, perhaps you should call me Kane."
"All right, Kane, then what?"
"Stop asking questions for one thing, while I try to push the thought of you lying naked in my arms out of my mind."
"Maj . . . Kane, I think I should tell you that Mangas understands English."
"I have come to suspect that he understood what I was saying to him."
Suddenly the camp seemed to come to life. They could hear the sound of many riders returning, and the sound of men talking, while the dogs barked in welcome.
Maleaha threw her arms around Kane's neck and moved closer to him.
"He has returned. Mangas is back!"
Kane pulled the edge of the buffalo robe over Maleaha, taking care to cover only part of her body, leaving her legs and shoulders bare.
"What shall I do?" she said in a pleading voice.
"Trust me," he whispered, knowing that Mangas would be hard to fool. He knew he must make it appear that they had indeed made love, and to convince Mangas of that fact. He would have to make sure Maleaha appeared softened by lovemaking, and not frightened as she was now.
His lips moved over her face as his hands roamed over her body. He could feel her trembling.
"Don't be frightened, darling, I will not harm you. Relax. Don't think, just feel," he murmured.
His hands moved over her flat stomach and then lower. Maleaha gasped as his hands caressed the most intimate part of her body. Kane saw her eyes were fever bright as he aroused a need in her. That was the look he wanted Mangas to see when he came into the teepee.
"Relax darling," he breathed against her lips, just before his mouth covered hers in a passionate kiss.
Kane was in agony as he tried to beat down the passion Maleaha's silky body had aroused in him. Maleaha was writhing and groaning under the masterful manipulation of his hands.
They were both aware of when the flap was thrown angrily aside and Mangas entered the teepee.
Kane felt Maleaha stiffen in his arms. "Do not be afraid," he whispered in her ear.
Maleaha looked up into Mangas's face and saw anger, but there was grief as well in the dark eyes that looked back at her.
Mangas walked hesitatingly toward her and dropped down on one knee. He reached out his hand to her, and then reconsidered, clenching his hand into a fist.
"I had thought we would love each other, Little Flower. I never wanted anyone for my wife but you. I think it would have been good between us."
Mangas had spoken in English, and Maleaha felt pity for him. She had not known until that moment the full extent of his feelings for her.
Kane's arms tightened protectively about Maleaha, and he gave Mangas a look that said he would die for her if he had to.
"Maleaha is my woman, Mangas. She belongs to me."
Mangas shifted his piercing eyes to Kane. ' 'Do you intend to make her your wife, white man?"
"That is not your concern, Mangas."
"It is my concern. Maleaha has the blood of chiefs in her veins. She is a Jojoba princess." Mangas's eyes were dark and foreboding as he looked at Kane. "You have lain with her, and unless you make her your wife, she will be shamed before the whole village. If you do not wish to take her as your wife, say so now, and I will make her my wife."
"I do intend to marry her," Kane said, "but I wanted to wait until her father returned."
"That would be too late, white man. I will perform the ceremony myself. I will leave you for the moment, but when I return, have your clothing on, and I will join the two of you together." Then he arose and left abruptly.