Read Online The Alchemy of Desire by Crista McHugh - Free Book Online Page A

dreams. When she awoke, she yearned to have him lying next to her. How would it feel to fall asleep wrapped in his strong arms? And as large as he was elsewhere, would he be proportional where it counted? She imagined what it would feel like to have him thrusting inside her, and a dull, cramping ache spread through the lower part of her stomach.
    “Did you remember to grab saddles for these horses?” Cager asked, snatching her from her daydreams.
    “No, I was trying to get off the boat before I got incinerated.” She threw the comb down. Why did he have to ruin her morning by complaining? “Just be thankful I remembered to grab you a horse at all.”
    “But how are we supposed to ride without saddles?”
    “The Lakota ride without saddles.” She reached back and began braiding her hair. “Don’t tell me you’re less of a man than our warriors.” It was a definite hit below the belt and she smiled sweetly.
    Cager stomped one boot on her log and leaned over her. “You are trying to compare me to a bunch of savages?”
    He would have to try harder if he wanted to intimidate her. She tied a piece of leather string around the end of her braid as if he weren’t there.
    Diah caught his shoulder and spun him around. “Leave her alone, Cager. Like she said, we should be grateful we even have horses.” He pulled his suspenders up and didn’t back away until his brother stepped off the log. “Besides, I think it would be wise to move out before someone realizes we have theirs.”
    “I agree.” Oni stood and slung her pack over her back. “There’s a settlement about two days’ ride from here if we keep up a good pace. You can probably find a saddle there.”
    Cager trailed after her. “And what are we supposed to do in the meantime?”
    “Improvise.”

    They followed the western edge of the Missouri River and made decent progress once Cager stopped complaining. The sun hung low in the sky when Oni decided they’d ridden far enough for the day. She dismounted and indicated the brothers should do the same.
    They awkwardly slid off their horses, their expressions tight with pain. Pampered city boys. A giggle threatened to surface, so she turned away before they realized she was laughing at them.
    “How much farther to that settlement?” Diah asked. The fatigue of the long ride carved deep lines across his face and he grimaced when took his first steps.
    “We should be at Fort Pierre by tomorrow afternoon if my estimations are correct.” Her shoulders knotted. If she had any say in this matter, they wouldn’t even be stopping there. As it was, all she could do is hope they stayed long enough to buy saddles and move on. Maybe if she made them ride faster in the morning, they wouldn’t be tempted to stay overnight.
    Cager squatted and rubbed his thighs. “I hope they have soft beds and hot food there. I can’t feel my damn legs after today’s ride, much less my balls.”
    Diah frowned. “Cager, watch your language.”
    “What? It’s just Oni. It’s not like she’s expecting me to be on my best Sunday behavior around her.”
    “I have no idea how any woman could resist you when you’re this charming, Cager.” She tied her horse to a tree branch and began gathering firewood. One of the benefits to staying close to the river meant they wouldn’t have to burn buffalo chips tonight. She wrinkled her nose as she remembered the damp, musty smell of them.
    Cager groaned and stretched his back. “I’m starting to wonder why I gave up civilization for this.”
    She dumped the wood on a patch of bare earth. “If you wanted all your luxuries, then you shouldn’t have agreed to go buffalo hunting.”
    Diah knelt beside her and helped her start the fire, lighting a match and slowly feeding kindling to the flames. It was only the middle of September and the air was already crisp. The warmth of the fire would feel good in about an hour, but something stronger called to her now. A more primal need. Almost a week