The first half of the morning ride, they galloped along the creek and didn’t slow until the trail became steeper and rockier. Wick let the horse pick his way up the narrow path. The stallion had been up and down the same trail enough times to remember the way. They traveled upward until they came to a small flat spot near the same creek they had bathed in that morning.
Wick jumped down and helped Lora get off, his hands lingering on her waist just a little longer than necessary. He let her go and turned to open the saddle bag where he kept his crossbow and several small arrows, right over the sheath carrying his broadsword. This was a small hunter’s crossbow designed to hunt small game that would easily fit into a saddlebag. He had made it himself.
When he had left on his quest to avenge his brother, Wick had not packed enough supplies to get him through the long horseback journey. He’d planned to hunt and forage along the way. With the right hit, the crossbow could kill a person, but it was not made for that.
His rage and thirst for avenging his brother’s murder would not be satisfied by an arrow from a crossbow. This was too personal. Wick would kill him up close with his sword or long knife so he could look into Vargan’s eyes as he killed him.
As Wick slid three arrows in a pouch on his leather vest made for just that purpose, Lora eyed him a little nervously, he thought guiltily. He reached for her, curling his hand around the back of her neck, drawing her against him.
“You’re my woman now. I’m not going to hurt you,” he said and kissed her lips. “I like fucking you too much.”
She laughed, and he kissed her again.
“What about when you get tired of fucking me?” she asked, and it was a legitimate question.
He gave her a wicked smirk. “I could probably sell you to someone else,” he teased, and that got him a hurt look. He pulled her against him and wrapped both arms around her then kissed her slowly and thoroughly, teasing her tongue with his. He sincerely doubted he would ever get tired of fucking her. Just thinking about it made his cock hard.
Wick liked her. He wanted her. He didn’t have a declaration of love to give her, but he had no intention of giving her up either. There was nothing he wanted that he would trade for having her in his bed.
“You’re mine, and I keep what’s mine,” he murmured huskily when he finally took his mouth from hers.
“I took this out to get us another meal.” He indicated the crossbow in his hand. “Arracon knows the way up the trail. If you can just hold the reins, I can watch for game.”
She nodded, giving him a dazed look. He liked that he could do that to her. “I’ve seen some greens I could pick to eat with it---and there’s cressmint all along this trail if you have a small pot to boil water for tea.”
“I have one small pot and one drinking gourd. I stopped here for Arracon to get a drink and to find a nice bush to water. I suggest you do the same. Just don’t go far.”
“Okay, I’ll be right back,” she said and headed toward one that would give her a little privacy. Wick sent the horse to get a drink while he did the same.
After they rejoined each other, they gave the horse a few minutes to munch on some grass. That was when Lora noticed that Arracon wore no bit. He had only a hackamore. He was well trained and well-mannered for a spirited stallion. He must have been descended from the genetically engineered equine embryos that Grant McKell had brought when Oltarin was colonized.
Arracon was by far one of the most beautiful horses Lora had ever seen. Despite the soreness from riding, Lora enjoyed being atop the horse, able to see the scenery from a new height. The view along the trail was filled with greenery. Tall ancient trees with smaller bushes interspersed among them provided homes for a variety of wildlife both mammals and amphibians.
As they rode up the trail, Lora held the reins loosely as Wick instructed while he carried the loaded crossbow in one hand, ready to fire if he saw the opportunity. They rode for quite a while before something caught Wick’s eyes and he signaled Arracon to stop with the slight pressure of his knees.
As soon as the horse stopped, Wick took aim and fired. “Got it!” he murmured and jumped down off the horse. “Wait here.”
Lora did just that as Wick picked his way through the bushes and trees about thirty feet from the trail. He stopped, squatted down and picked something up. As he turned around, she saw he was carrying a brown, furry animal with his arrow sticking out of it. It looked like a bun hog.
That’s what the colonists started calling them when they first arrived on Oltarin. It reminded them of a rabbit, but it scurried about on short legs with a body more like a groundhog and ears like a rabbit. Lora’s father had hunted them on the lake plain outside the village, so she had eaten them many times.
“That’s a pretty big bun hog,” Lora said with a smile. “Are you going to dress out now, or wait till be make camp?”
“When we make camp---why?” he asked, putting the rabbit into the saddlebag along with the crossbow and arrows.
“If it’s okay with you, I thought I could pick some herbs and greens to go with it,” she said.
“As long as you don’t stray too far,” he said, eying her warily.
“No, of course not. I’ll pick up some firewood and tinder as well,” she agreed.
She wouldn’t dare try to escape him now. Lora doubt he would really hurt her, but they were in the mountains now, and she wouldn’t know where to go. She was utterly disoriented without Sapphire Lake to give her a sense of direction. The twists and turns Wick made on the way to the mountains she wasn’t confident she could find her way back to the lake.
It would be an awfully long walk as well. If she actually managed to get back to Diamond Bay, her father would force her to marry Vargan Rode. She’d rather be with Wick. She wanted the pleasure he gave her when they fucked. Before Wick, she had been led to believe that sex was something to endure rather than enjoy.
As he leaped up on the horse behind her, she knew she wanted him again. As if to remind her he put his hands on her breasts and kneaded them as he kissed her on that sensitive spot where her neck met her shoulder. Lora let out a soft moan and leaned her head back against his shoulder. As he caressed and kissed her.
“I’m going to have you again tonight,” he murmured then reached for the reins and set the horse to start walking again.
Lora let out a shuddery breath as her core fluttered in anticipation.