A Promise of Thunder

that night Tim had a bad dream and awoke crying for her.”
    “In my pallet, perhaps, but that was all. I sent her back to bed the moment I realized who it was. For one crazy moment, I thought you had crawled into bed with me,” he said ruefully.“Lord, I wanted it to be you, but the moment I realized it was Laughing Brook I ordered her back to bed.”
    “And tonight, at the river? Laughing Brook told me …”
    “She lied. She told you what she had hoped would happen but didn’t. I may be many things, Storm, but I am not a liar.”
    Storm’s heart soared and fragile hope took root in that sacred place where love dwells. “You’ve not had a woman since—since the day you left our homestead? Why, that seems incredible!”
    Grady looked affronted. “I have practiced restraint many times in the past. A Lakota warrior must learn to control his passions before he goes into battle against the enemy. It was no great hardship for me.”
    “But your note said you left me because you
couldn’t
control yourself around me. I don’t understand. Why am I different from any other woman?”
    “Oh, lady, if I knew the answer to that I’d know the secrets only Grandfather knows. My pride, my honor, they mean nothing to me when I am with you. I would gladly forsake them for one sweet kiss from your lips. I want you as I’ve never wanted another woman.”
    “What about Summer Sky?” Storm asked breathlessly.
    “We were childhood friends and marriage to her was a confirmation of the love and respect we felt for one another. When wemarried we were still children who needed to grow both emotionally and physically. Unfortunately, Summer Sky didn’t live to realize her full potential. You are her complete opposite in nature.”
    “Tell me about Summer Sky. How did she die?”
    “No, not now. I need you too much. The time for talking will come later. Much later. For the first time in months I have my wife in bed with me, lying naked in my arms.”
    He was still resting atop her and he suddenly realized that the dampness from her wet skin was seeping through his clothing. “You’re wet, sweet, let me dry you.”
    Before Storm realized exactly how he intended to dry her, he lowered his head and began licking the beads of moisture from her breasts. The pad of his thumb caressed her nipple, and Storm felt her breast swell and harden in response to his touch. Threads of fire spiraled outward, bringing a gasp from her lips. Then he took each nipple in turn in his mouth and gently laved the hardening buds with his tongue. After what seemed like an eon to Storm, his lips shifted lower, lapping the moisture from her belly and sipping from her navel. Her body trembled as his mouth drifted across her skin, his tongue flicking and soothing by turn, until his lips shifted lower and the tiny bud of her pleasure was captured by the hot sucking of his mouth.
    “Grady!” Storm expelled his name on abreathless murmur of pleasure.
    Abruptly Grady raised his head, his lopsided grin sending her heart spinning. “You’re right, sweetheart, it’s too soon.” Then he rose to his feet and began removing his clothes. Storm stared in mute admiration when he stood in all his naked glory before her. She doubted there was a man dead or alive to compare with him. Wide of shoulder, broad of chest, narrow of waist, legs like twin oaks, skin the color of tawny bronze. Taut-fleshed, thickly muscled, supple, every splendid inch of him exuding raw power and masculinity. Just looking at him gave her goosebumps.
    This time Storm needed no urging to reach out and touch him, for her hands moved with a will of her own. He groaned in sweet agony when the fingers of both hands closed around his powerful erection, stroking in the way he had taught her.
    “Oh, lady, you do know how to drive a man crazy.”
    “Just the way you do me,” Storm whispered in a voice made raspy with need.
    “Are you ready for another lesson?”
    “You mean there is more to learn than you’ve already taught me?” Storm asked with wonder. The thought boggled her mind.
    “You have no idea.” Then he grasped her wrists and pulled her from the bed, leaving a damp spot where she had lain.
    Storm waited with baited breath to see what Grady would do next. She was somewhat startledwhen he sat down on the bed and lifted her over his lap until she straddled him and her knees rested on either side of him. “Are you comfortable, sweet?” Unable to speak, Storm merely nodded.