Salvation's Secrets (The Loflin Legacy Prequel) (3 page)

“I’m honored by your presence, Charles
Harrington. Welcome to our camp. Do you live with Seth on Earl
Loflin’s land too?”

Charles cut a questioning glance at Seth
before cocking a brow. “I…I guess so.”

“He’s not feeling well, this evening,” Seth
quickly interjected. Knowing Charles wondered what Seth had told
these Indians, he tried to change the subject. “I brought you some
venison, Lone Eagle.” His attention shifted from offering her
father the meat to Celia who sat down next to him with her legs
folded to her side.

“Your generosity is good,” Lone Eagle said
from across the fire.

“My pleasure. The deer is one of hundreds
roaming the land around here. You should have no trouble killing as
many as you can handle.” He turned to Celia. Her smile broadened in
approval.

“I’m pleased to have you in our home, Seth
Loflin and Charles Harrington.” She may have stuttered over the
pronunciation of his name, still, Seth had to give it to her, she
spoke English almost as well as Broken Horse. “You speak the
language of the settlers very well, Celia.” Her name rolled off his
tongue and sounded like music to his ears.

“Thank you, Seth Loflin. I learned at Fort
Tyler with Broken Horse.”

His brow winged up. “You’re not a translator
for The People too, are you?”

A blush stained her cheeks briefly, as she
shook her head side to side. The lovely silken length of her hair
fell forward with her action. Seth wanted to reach out and loose
himself in the texture.

“No, I am merely a maiden, not a peace
keeper like my cousin, Broken Horse.” She finished by glancing
across the fire at her father.

Lone Eagle’s pride and his love shown with
such brilliance, Seth’s tongue grew thick in his throat. What was
he thinking? She was royalty for Christ sake!

Charles coughed and shifted to stand. “It’s
getting late and we’d better be heading back.”

Seth flicked a glance at his companion. “You
go ahead, Charles. I’ll be along in a little while. Okay?” Seth
faced him to raise both eyebrows.

Charles shot a warning glare at Seth, which
he ignored. “Thanks for the hospitality, sir.” Broken Horse met him
at the doorway on the way in. Charles mumbled his apology and
disappeared.

“Well, look who is back. Hello Seth Loflin.”
Broken Horse tossed out the greeting as he made himself comfortable
next to Lone Eagle. “Did you kill that deer they’re skinning out
there?”

“Yes.” Seth nodded over the mouthful of
tortilla he had in his mouth. “The buck should provide enough meat
for a few meals at least. We should go hunting sometime. I can show
you the best spots for killing the deer if you’re interested.”

“That sounds good, Seth Loflin. Celia hoped
you’d return.”

“Yes?” Flicking a hard glare at Broken
Horse, Seth took a moment before looking up and into Lone Eagle’s
eyes. How did you explain you’d seen his daughter naked down in the
river? Perhaps, the point of information would remain their little
secret. “Lone Eagle, I’d like to visit again. Is that
permitted?”

Broken Horse repeated Seth’s request for the
chief.

Nodding, Lone Eagle reached across the fire
and clasped Seth’s hands in his. “You are welcome.”

The meal was winding down before Seth asked
the question he’d planned on asking. Her dark green eyes watched
him and he swore the look in them gave him courage. “I’d like to
see Celia, Lone Eagle.”

Broken Horse paused over the tortilla he had
in his mouth. Explaining what Seth wanted, he waited a beat as Lone
Eagle answered him.

When he’d finished, Broken Horse eyed Seth
closely.

A fresh set of nerves took up a tap dance in
his gut.

“Lone Eagle says…he’d be pleased for you to
visit his daughter, Seth Loflin. He wants to know if you’ll take
care of her.” Broken Horse relaxed enough to smile in his
direction.

He melted like ice on a hot day. Outwardly
showing no exuberance, though his heart beat wildly in his chest,
Seth nodded. Looking directly at the chief, he said, “I’ll protect
her with my life, sir. She’ll be safe with me.”

Broken Horse translated and Lone Eagle
nodded. It was time to leave. Seth stood. Celia startled him by
standing as well. She extended her hand to the door. “Please,
follow me,” she said and exited the tent.

“Thank you for inviting me to eat with you
tonight, sir.” Seth settled the Stetson on his head before rubbing
his hands down the front of his pants. After a few more seconds, he
left the tent as well. He half expected the chief to follow them.
Lone Eagle didn’t.

Chapter 2

Outside, he drew in air, exhaling like he’d
run a foot race. The nerves doing flips in his belly began to
settle. Meeting a parent of a female was never easy, even a
Comanche’s.

Her hand slid into his without a sound. Slim
and soft despite the work she most likely did on a daily basis,
Celia’s fingers laced with his. The hairs on his arm stood at
attention. His skin pebbled with her touch.

Waiting a beat until his head steadied, Seth
turned to face her, giving her face a thorough examination. “You
are mighty easy to look at, Celia of the Comanche.” Reaching up,
Seth traced the line of her lovely bronze skin until his gaze
landed on her mouth. The velvet soft feel of her flesh under his
fingertip sent his blood coursing through his body. “I’ll be back
every chance I can get a free minute. I hope that’s all right.”

Nodding, Celia broke into a smile, which
sent her green eyes to dancing. “Will you walk with me?”

His heart took another lurch in his chest.
She wanted him to take a walk with her. Easy, boy, don’t blow this.
“All right,” he said as he let her lead him away.

She still held his hand in hers in a loose,
companionable sort of way. Imagining she’d be shy and nervous, made
the fact she proved brave and daring, all the more appealing.

“Where are you taking me?”

Flicking a glance in his direction, she bit
her bottom lip before swinging their joined hands and lifting her
lovely nose a notch higher in the air. “You’ll see. It’s a place I
know.”

He may have died and gone to heaven. His
soul certainly couldn’t stand the temptation of this lovely vixen
without losing something to the hereafter. She didn’t appear
approachable with her regal stance and head held a touch above
even. Blowing his first impression of her completely out of the
water like dynamite, he found his mind and soul stolen right under
his nose by a creature so powerful that a mere glance from her
green eyes paralyzed him where he stood.

They came to a small waterfall Seth had
never seen before and he thought he’d been over every inch of the
ranch. At the top of the bluff’s highest point, the river took a
turn, rushing head long into a large, granite bolder, which served
to divide the flow on either side of its massive base.

She released his fingers and ran forward to
the spot where the water fell, hitting the river below. “Come and
see.” Her voice bubbled over with enthusiasm like the foamy froth
of the waterfall.

Seth followed her until the wall of granite
stood in front of them. To his eyes, the wall was the end of the
trail with nowhere left to go.

She ducked under the water, giggling as she
gripped his hand tugging him with her.

His hat, shirt, pants and boots all got wet.
The fact didn’t matter. Where she went was his trail too. Behind
the falls, the noise was subdued. The roar reduced to a rumble.
Mist, cool and inviting floated around them in a harmonious dance.
Leading him on, she followed a narrow path to a ledge where the
rock jutted from the embankment making a flat surface big enough
for her to lie down. There was room for him as well. Still smiling,
free and exuberant, she motioned for him to join her.

His mind warned him to tread carefully with
the chief’s daughter. His cock spoke to him on a more urgent level.
Need flooded his body like the opening of a floodgate. He leapt to
the platform and lay down beside her. Water glistened from her
eyebrows and lashes as she leaned on one elbow. Her bottom lip
disappeared beneath her teeth as he studied her. Giving those lips
a kiss was all he could consider. The fire, which shot through him
when he did, shook him to his soggy boots. Her mouth opened
slightly and Seth wasted no time diving deeper, tasting her more
fully, a new pleasure. Slow and sensual, she moaned and breathed
him in with her gentle inhale of breath. The view of her rising up
to pull her tunic over her head enthralled him as if she’d used a
lasso to tether him. Hypnotized by her untainted, yet sensual
innocence, he managed to sit up, scrambling out of his shirt and
pants without delay. After all, her invitation was plain. She
offered him the most beautiful gift a woman could – her body. He
meant to enjoy her gift as much as possible. Soon, there lay
nothing between them but the damp air. Reaching out, he cupped her
behind the neck, drawing her against him. “It’s cold, let me warm
you.” She went willingly into his arms as he trailed hot, wet
kisses followed by urgent nips along her breasts. His mouth covered
her nipple with a possessive suckle. She moaned aloud as her body
arched with the intimacy of his claim. His path knew only one end
as he feathered tender brushes of teeth, tongue and lips downward
toward the apex of her thighs. She vibrated with need. Reaching
out, she gently massaged his erection, her touch light and
painfully teasing. The thought of being inside her almost undid
him. He wanted to pleasure her until she begged for his thrusts.
The low roar of the falls made the moment surreal. Slipping two
fingers inside her slick folds now tight with desire, he ran the
remaining fingers of his hand through the hair between her legs,
stroking her flesh with intent. This woman child came so willingly,
he could scarce believe his good fortune. Never in all his days did
he dream she’d belong to him. Gently stroking her, listening to the
soft sounds of pleasure she uttered under his ministering, Seth
prayed for control. She wasn’t one of the whores from the saloon or
a cheeky, rich girl looking for a thrill. No, Celia belonged to the
earth, pure and unstained by the sins of man. Pausing, he glanced
up and into her emerald eyes. “I want to love you, Little One. I
want to make the first time you lay beneath a man a time you will
cherish. Do you understand?”

She nodded. The breath leaving her body held
anticipation and hesitancy. “I want you to show me Seth Loflin for
I have chosen you.”

The way she said the words caused him to
falter. He blinked, not completely sure he understood. She’d chosen
him. In the way of the Comanche, she wanted him. He hesitated.
“What was he doing?” Seth dropped his head. The soft scent of her
femaleness drove new desire through him like the opening of a
floodgate. “I promise, I’ll be gentle. I want you to enjoy the
moment, not remember your first time with pain.”

She blinked and reached out to his face.
“Love me, please. I want you.”

Torn by her words and the knowledge of what
occurred to a virgin, he swallowed hard and rose to kiss her lips.
“I will. Relax and let me show you the special secrets lovers
share.” A pang of guilt traveled through his gut. Worried she’d
realize too late she’d made a mistake, he tried again. “Are you
sure you want to do this? You know I can’t stop all the discomfort
of your first coupling, right?”

Nodding, she threaded her fingers through
his hair. “I know. I’ve thought of nothing else except you since
you saw me on the creek bank.” Laying a hand over her belly, she
gazed back into his face. “There’s a burning need here whenever
you’re near. This hasn’t happened before with others. The medicine
woman says I desire you as a mate.”

He gulped air in a long slow intake. She’d
sought the advice of the most important woman among the tribe’s
many important allies. Did her father know her feelings? Most
likely, the woman had shared the information with him in secret.
Lone Eagle smiled at him, offered to smoke the peace pipe with him
and invited him to hunt with them, not to mention, share their food
in the family tent. Perhaps, he worried needlessly. Perhaps, her
father accepted him. Still, the queasiness reared up again as he
thought of taking the chief’s daughter in the most base of
ways.

She sighed and her head fell back in his
hold. The smooth, silky skin of her throat invited his mouth to
taste her pleasures and savor in her hunger for love. “I want to be
with you more than is proper or safe. Are you aware of the
dangers?”

“Yes, oh, yes. Take me, Seth Loflin, take
me, now.”

Something told him to stop, to get up and
run and don’t look back. He shut his eyes and shoved the warning to
the dark depths of his reason as he buried his face in the nap of
her neck. “God, you smell good. I’ve died and gone to heaven, if
there is one.” He glanced at her face, the smile giving way to a
tender laugh as she turned to him to stare.

“Why do you wait. I’m yours to have and you
wait. Do you not find me pretty?”

“No, no, nothing like that, Little One.” He
favored her Comanche name on his tongue. It rolled off easy and
sweet. “You mistake my concern for the wrong thing. Hold me and
remind me I’m the one you want too. I’ll forget soon enough if you
hold me.”

She wrapped her arms around him, pulling him
down to kiss her lips before opening her mouth and massaging his
tongue with hers. “You are the one I want, Seth. You are the
one.”

He caressed her breast, his work roughened
hand sliding over firm flesh, reminding him of the need burning
inside him. “You’re beautiful, like a lily floating on the water’s
surface.” Pressing his erection against her thigh, she moaned and
he made up his mind. This all-consuming hunger didn’t need an
explanation. With as much skill as he possessed, Seth lowered
himself between her legs, slipping his cock into the heat. Warm and
wet, her woman’s flesh enveloped him. Her hips moved in response.
Within seconds, the thin barrier of her virginity gave to his lusty
thrust. Her eyes closed as the pain came and went. When she looked
at him again the veal of passion’s arousal claimed her features.
Her legs wrapped him from behind as he plunged deeper, quickening
the pace with her encouragement. No dream he’d ever encountered
prepared him for the sheer bliss of being inside her. Here he
wanted to stay. Here he wanted to remain forever. Too soon, her
urgent pleas for release had him driving to a climax. Spilling his
seed in her, she cried out as she fell like the water tumbling over
the edge of the cliff.