Passion's Series Read Online Free PDF Page B

the cat!
    Could he not sense the danger? Of course not, he was too busy strutting and waving his spear.
    He stepped onto the bank and moved with feline grace toward the cane where she crouched.
    From the corner of her eye she saw the cat as it leapt from the boulder to land lightly on the ground near her hiding place. It was her own totem, her sister from the animal world.
    To the white man's credit, he too stood his ground, his eyes boring into those of the cat. The cat dropped her ragged ears low to her head and growled a warning. A muscle worked in the white man's cheek and his fingers curled more tightly about his knife.
    Great Spirit! Her heart cried out. He was going to make war with the mountain cat! A flood of emotions sprang up within her, but it was anger that finally ruled her actions as she pushed aside the cane and stepped out into the open.
    James' gaze slipped from the yellow eyes of the cat to New Moon's, and felt the tension arch between them. Neither was willing to break eye contact, even when New Moon spoke to the cat.
    "Go home to your young ones, little sister. I will not allow you to have this foolish white man."
    The cat rumbled deep within its chest as she glanced nervously over her shoulder at New Moon.
    "Go!" New Moon commanded. The cat, as if deciding the effort to stay would take too much energy, turned away and disappeared between the large boulders.
    "Are you out of your mind?" The anger in his expression was great, but her anger was just as great.
    New Moon squared her shoulders in challenge as she looked with disgust at James.
    The cat now forgotten, he let his gaze travel over her. She'd been wet when she pulled on her dress. She was acutely aware of how the soft doe-hide clung to the moisture on her skin.
    Two long steps and he reached out for her. She swung at him, but was no match for his strength. He caught her easily. Taking hold of her wrist, James pulled her struggling arms to her back and clasped one large hand around both of her smaller wrists and pulled her up tightly. His grip was as unbreakable as ropes of new rawhide, yet as gentle as a caress.
    Awareness of his naked body against her spread heat through her wet dress to sear her skin. She clenched her teeth together in an attempt to deny the uncontrollable sensations coursing through her with the vigor of a raging mountain river.
    This white man who strutted with the pride of a warrior watched her with eyes that pierced her to her soul and grinned.
    "You look like a she-lion," he whispered.
    She struggled harder.
    James chuckled softly and ran the fingers of his free hand along her jaw line. "Your skin is very soft, my little Wa-sa. From this day forward, you will always be my little Wa-sa...my little mountain cat."
    New Moon growled deep in her throat, sounding not far removed from the very cat he spoke of. "You stupid white man" she spat at him. "That lioness almost had you for her cubs. Do you think I am any less dangerous? Many strong warriors have tried to humble me, warriors who would not have become cornered by a kitten."
    For all her strong talk her body quaked inside. The lonely hollow place left by her husband's death ached to be filled. She needed a man, but not any man. New Moon wanted a man whose spirit was stronger than hers. One she could not bend to her will. One she could love and respect. One with skin as dark as her own!
    James seemed not to hear as he smiled down at her. He held her dainty chin with his strong fingers and bent his face close to hers, their lips almost touching. "Have you ever been kissed, my little Wa-sa?'
    Her eyes bore hatefully into his, "There have been white men in our village before you came, Blue Eyes. This touching of the lips is nothing more than stalling for time. The weak pale-skin must have time to coax his pitiful manhood to rise so he can try to dominate and humble the women of warriors."
    With maddening slowness he took his hand from her chin and laid it on the slim column of her