Mystic Mountains

babies into this world bearing their father's name. My name. D'you hear me?" He shook her gently.
    Isabella gazed at his face, his beautiful mouth, his unusual eyes, now glinting with his intent, and knew that nothing in this life would keep her from becoming his wife.
    "Aye, Tiger, I hear you." Her voice shook as she stood on her toes to place a kiss on his mouth.
    Tiger 's warm breath sent shivers up and down her spine as he brushed his mouth over hers and whispered hoarsely, "So, my love, what's it to be then? Will you take the final step that binds us together in the name of God, as we've been bound together since the day we first set eyes on each other?"
    "If that 's what you wish, master." Isabella gave him a look from beneath her lowered lids, running her fingers up and down his chest as she allowed, "Then so be it."
    "Thank the Lord, " Tiger groaned. "I don't think I could have borne it if you refused me again, my love."
    "Just don 't ever give me cause to regret it, Tiger." Isabella took his face in her palms, her thumbs smoothing across his cheeks. "I'll be a jealous wife and should I ever find you even glancing at another woman with lust in your eyes I give you notice now that I'll kill you both."
    "You have my permission to do just that if I ever let you down. I vow on our children 's lives, sweetheart, I'll never so much as give a thought to any woman but you for as long as we both live and then beyond to eternity."
    Tiger sealed his promise with another long kiss. When he lifted his mouth from hers he lightly traced the shape of her mouth with his tongue. Desire coiled inside her as she struggled to catch her breath.
    Trying to ignore the fierce tugging low in her body Isabella opened eyes grown heavy to watch him as he tucked a stray strand of her hair behind an ear.
    "I hoped and prayed you 'd see sense, Bella. If you hadn't, I was going to woo you in earnest. I nearly died when I returned to find you'd run off."
    Isabella put a hand over his heart to find it thumped in unison with hers. "I think our wooing has all been done Tiger, wouldn 't you say?"
    "No, my love, I intend to spend all my days courting you, to make up for all our wasted years. Years when I acted like a dolt of the worst kind."
    "Let's not dwell on the past. We both did things to be ashamed of. Let's not think on mistakes that can't be changed. From now on we'll simply try to make all our tomorrows the finest possible."
    "Well said, love ." He squeezed the hands enfolded in his. "Now," he murmured, tucking one of her hands into the crook of his elbow. "I think we've spent enough time lingering here beneath the stars. Let's go to our bed. We have a lot of lost time to make up. I find I can't wait any longer to make love to you, Bella." There was a passionate light in his eyes as he ran a finger down the bodice of her gown. "I'm tired of these garments that separate us. I want to feel your silky skin beneath my hands again. Long to have you beneath me, open, soft, generous."
    The same sense of urgency filled Isabella. His soft caress made her shiver, his words heightening her own anticipation. How she yearned to feel his hands, his mouth, caressing her body, bringing it to life, stirring every sense as only he could. What a fool she 'd been to think she could make a life without him.
    So wrapped in he r sensual thoughts was she it took a moment for her to realize that instead of heading for his hut he was leading her up the hill and away from the cluster of huts.
    "But . . . where are we going?" she wondered softly.
    Tiger stopped, facing her to take her lips with a gentle force that left her more breathless than ever.
    When he raised his head he said earnestly, "Tonight I have a yen to sleep with my soon-to-be wife in the house that will shelter our children and us for many years to come." Bending, he scooped her into his arms and with a soft growl whirled once with her. "The house that will watch us build a sound future, put down solid roots for them and their offspring in this land beyond the mountains with their blue haze."
    "Bu t we have no bed up there," she reminded him huskily.
    He brushed his nose on hers. "Since when has that bothered us, eh? A blanket will suffice."
    Isabella linked her fingers about his neck and returned his smile, her heart filled to overflowing.
    They had journeyed far since that first momentous meeting on the wharf, overcome many obstacles, but the best part of their journey lay ahead. This part would be