Read Online The Alchemy of Desire by Crista McHugh - Free Book Online
Authors: Crista McHugh
Ads: Link
the part where you can touch the bottom.”
As soon as she said that, his feet scraped along a rotting log. He took another step back and found solid ground at last. He nodded and let go of her arm.
“Diah, you stupid son of a bitch!” Cager ran up to him and wrapped him up in fierce embrace that was followed by a slap across the back of his head. “When are you going to learn to listen to me?”
Oni chuckled beside him as she climbed out of the water. She cast a quick glance to where most of the passengers seemed to be gathering down shore. A look of worry crossed her face for a second. “Cager, would you be so kind as to take the horses so I can change into some dry clothes?”
He grabbed the reins from her. “These aren’t our horses.” The pinto was hers, but the other two were someone else’s.
She pulled her bag off one of the horse’s backs “I didn’t think you’d be so particular. I hope you weren’t too fond of yours.”
Diah exchanged glances with his brother, who nodded and led them deeper into the shadows, away from the crowds and the burning boat. The last thing they needed was to be accused of being horse thieves. “I’m grateful we have something to ride on, but they weren’t worth risking your life over.” Or risking a hangman’s noose for us.
Oni snickered. “Oh, yes, they were. I doubt you two tenderfoots would be able to walk the whole way. Now, turn around so I can change.”
Her wet nightgown clung to every curve of her body, and even in the early morning light, the dark shadows of her nipples filtered through the material. Her breasts bobbed up and down from her recent exertion. The blood rushed from Diah’s head to the growing bulge in his pants. How he longed to touch them, to feel the weight of their heaviness in his hands.
He looked up and her amber eyes glowed with mirth when they met his. She hugged her bag to her chest. “Are you going to stand there and stare, or are you going to give a few minutes privacy?”
“Sorry, Oni.” Diah’s whole body burned as he looked away. He pulled Cager to his side so they both faced the water and shielded her from anyone else who might be watching.
When he peeked over his shoulder, he almost forgot to breathe. The warm sunlight from across the river reflected off her coppery skin, making it glow against the darkness to the west. His gaze followed the curve of her breasts to the narrows of her waist and the flare of her hips.
Sweet Jesus, I shouldn’t be staring at her like this. I shouldn’t want her so badly . His erection strained against his pants, bearing witness to how his desire consumed him. It took every ounce of self-control to pry his eyes away from the beauty of her naked body.
Cager caught his attention and jerked his head back toward Oni. “Very nice, little brother,” he whispered so only Diah could hear. “Like I said, you’re a fool to turn that down.”
Diah gritted his teeth, not wanting to let Cager know just how much he agreed with him at that moment.
Chapter Six
Oni pulled the soft buckskin breeches over the hips, followed by a simple dress made of the same material. Traditional Lakota clothing. No need to put on pretenses out here on the plains. Besides, they were the driest things she owned at the moment, and she welcomed their warmth against the early morning chill. Winter’s not too far away .
“You can turn around now, boys.”
She reached into her bag and found her favorite necklace. The polished bone choker accented her long neck and always made her feel prettier. Then she pulled out a comb and began working the snarls out of her hair so she could braid it. She sat on a log while the men wrung out their clothes behind her.
Diah offered her a shy smile, making her wonder if he’d peeked at her when she changed. She didn’t mind if he had. Maybe he wouldn’t decline her invitation next time.
She closed her eyes and tried to forget his kiss, but she couldn’t. He’d even haunted her
As soon as she said that, his feet scraped along a rotting log. He took another step back and found solid ground at last. He nodded and let go of her arm.
“Diah, you stupid son of a bitch!” Cager ran up to him and wrapped him up in fierce embrace that was followed by a slap across the back of his head. “When are you going to learn to listen to me?”
Oni chuckled beside him as she climbed out of the water. She cast a quick glance to where most of the passengers seemed to be gathering down shore. A look of worry crossed her face for a second. “Cager, would you be so kind as to take the horses so I can change into some dry clothes?”
He grabbed the reins from her. “These aren’t our horses.” The pinto was hers, but the other two were someone else’s.
She pulled her bag off one of the horse’s backs “I didn’t think you’d be so particular. I hope you weren’t too fond of yours.”
Diah exchanged glances with his brother, who nodded and led them deeper into the shadows, away from the crowds and the burning boat. The last thing they needed was to be accused of being horse thieves. “I’m grateful we have something to ride on, but they weren’t worth risking your life over.” Or risking a hangman’s noose for us.
Oni snickered. “Oh, yes, they were. I doubt you two tenderfoots would be able to walk the whole way. Now, turn around so I can change.”
Her wet nightgown clung to every curve of her body, and even in the early morning light, the dark shadows of her nipples filtered through the material. Her breasts bobbed up and down from her recent exertion. The blood rushed from Diah’s head to the growing bulge in his pants. How he longed to touch them, to feel the weight of their heaviness in his hands.
He looked up and her amber eyes glowed with mirth when they met his. She hugged her bag to her chest. “Are you going to stand there and stare, or are you going to give a few minutes privacy?”
“Sorry, Oni.” Diah’s whole body burned as he looked away. He pulled Cager to his side so they both faced the water and shielded her from anyone else who might be watching.
When he peeked over his shoulder, he almost forgot to breathe. The warm sunlight from across the river reflected off her coppery skin, making it glow against the darkness to the west. His gaze followed the curve of her breasts to the narrows of her waist and the flare of her hips.
Sweet Jesus, I shouldn’t be staring at her like this. I shouldn’t want her so badly . His erection strained against his pants, bearing witness to how his desire consumed him. It took every ounce of self-control to pry his eyes away from the beauty of her naked body.
Cager caught his attention and jerked his head back toward Oni. “Very nice, little brother,” he whispered so only Diah could hear. “Like I said, you’re a fool to turn that down.”
Diah gritted his teeth, not wanting to let Cager know just how much he agreed with him at that moment.
Chapter Six
Oni pulled the soft buckskin breeches over the hips, followed by a simple dress made of the same material. Traditional Lakota clothing. No need to put on pretenses out here on the plains. Besides, they were the driest things she owned at the moment, and she welcomed their warmth against the early morning chill. Winter’s not too far away .
“You can turn around now, boys.”
She reached into her bag and found her favorite necklace. The polished bone choker accented her long neck and always made her feel prettier. Then she pulled out a comb and began working the snarls out of her hair so she could braid it. She sat on a log while the men wrung out their clothes behind her.
Diah offered her a shy smile, making her wonder if he’d peeked at her when she changed. She didn’t mind if he had. Maybe he wouldn’t decline her invitation next time.
She closed her eyes and tried to forget his kiss, but she couldn’t. He’d even haunted her
Similar Books
