Never Surrender Read Online Free PDF Page B

his
friend, Ahanu.
    Taima took care while he cut a piece of cloth from the
lower half of the back of her shirt. Moving his fingers over her skin, he noted
its softness, then quickly stepped to the stream.
    Returning to her side with the wet cloth, he touched
the back of her head, his fingers lightly grazing the tender skin of her neck.
The woman moaned and tried to move, then stilled. He dabbed at the wound,
cleansing away the blood and dirt, seeing the cut wasn’t as serious as he’d
first thought. She would need tending once they arrived back with his people;
their shaman would know which ointment to use to prevent infection.
    Touching her like this reminded him of how, last
night, he’d observed her while she watched Ahanu across the fire. Her dark hair
had cascaded down her back like the mountain waterfalls, and her delicate
facial features had reflected the glow from the flames. Since he hadn’t been
able to see into her eyes last night, he wondered at their color. Would he be
able to read her thoughts with the same ease he read his mother’s when he used
to look into her eyes?
    He also wondered if this woman was as outspoken as she
appeared to be, always speaking her opinions and telling others what she would
and would not do? A woman like that was only trouble.
    As Taima tended her back, checking for broken bones,
he ripped more cloth and handed it to Ahanu to wet in the stream. With concern
evident on his features, Ahanu did as requested.
    Taima continued to rinse the wound, when a moan broke
the silence and the woman’s back arched away from his touch. Slender, white
fingers moved to her temple as she uttered another sound. The woman rose on one
elbow and turned her head toward him.
    Long, dark lashes fluttered before opening, then
brilliant green eyes stared into his; eyes so different from those of his
people. Eyes more like that of a wary cougar.
    Then her green eyes widened.

Chapter Three
     
    Pain shooting up Kate’s back shocked her--but not with
the same impact as when she gazed into the warrior’s face, only to look into
the bluest eyes she’d ever seen. She parted her lips to speak, but nothing came
out.
    Never in her life would she have believed a Native
American could have blue eyes. And God, he was handsome. From his cheekbones to
his sculptured jaw line, the chiseled features spoke of controlled, unleashed
strength, ready to burst forth like a wild animal at the slightest invitation.
Yet, at the moment, his gentleness shocked her, a side she was sure he would
deny to anyone.
    Kate gazed lower to his chest. Though barely audible,
she gasped at the contoured muscles that lay beneath the bronze flesh, matching
the strength of the lean, taut body.
    She glanced to the bloodied cloth held in his long
fingers; unable to believe he could possibly possess the tenderness that had
touched the back of her head. Again, she searched his blue gaze, wondering how
much more delicate his touch could be.
    Kate tried to ignore her racing heart. He’d
kidnapped her, for God sakes . He and his friend had forced her to follow
them into these mountainous woods and tried to control her every move...and if
not for that, she wouldn’t be lying here, helpless.
    She would hate them both for this!
    A cool cloth pressed against her forehead and numbed
some of the pain as she gazed into the dark eyes of the other warrior.
    The two men spoke to each other and her anger mounted.
    “If you can’t speak in English, I wish you wouldn’t
speak at all when you’re around me!” She knew they couldn’t understand her
either, but she felt better. Covering her eyes with her hand, Kate slumped back
to the ground.
    Again the men spoke, and then laughed. She didn’t
care, couldn’t care. The pain in her back and throbbing in her head consumed
her thoughts. She only wanted to rest.
    Hearing movement, Kate opened one eye. The handsome,
blue-eyed warrior rose and walked to the stream. Filled with loathing, her gaze
followed him until