It was dark in Akonha's lodge except for the full moonlight pouring in from a window cut into the back of the adobe structure. He released the buckskin at the door so it would cover. Of course it was not a barrier but respected as a sign that none should disturb them. He had used his hunter's stealth to steal them away from the crowd. They skirted around the edge of the camp and slipped into his home without being detained by further congratulations and well wishes. In whispers before the ceremonial post, they had both agreed that their time together had been disrupted too much already. They just wanted to be together, alone.

As Enonai stood just inside the doorway, catching her breath, she noticed that Akonha had moved his sleeping mat under that window so the blankets and furs were bathed in soft silvery blue. How thoughtful of him and how frightened she was. Already memory began to taunt her, beyond the expected nervousness in this situation.

They could hear the merriment continuing outside. Somehow it was more comforting than the usual stillness of night. Even so, both could hear their own hearts pounding in their ears. Enonai looked away from the shower of moonlight when she heard Akonha rustling at something. He finished stripping off his shirt and smiled at her, though she could barely see the light and shadows of him. He felt compelled to explain, "Shaman's mixture drying."

Certainly Enonai had been in here before and it felt good to be in his home, as his wife, but the other significance of this night kept her frozen at the door. She looked down at her dress and yes, it was sticking to her from the spilled liquid. She nodded back to Akonha but didn't move.

He grinned and picked up a soft blanket then came to stand near her. He stretched the blanket in the space between them. Enonai managed a smile. Again how thoughtful of him. He did his best not to look as she pulled the dress off over her head then reached back for the blanket.

His arms wrapped it around her gently. He felt her shivering within his embrace and whispered across her shoulder. "If you are chilled, I will make a fire."

She shook her head, perhaps a bit too much. "No, just..." She wanted no more light, certainly, and she was plenty warm enough. In fact, she felt flushed all over.

He hugged her more tightly. "Me too."

Akonha's arms left her then as he went to get another blanket. He wrapped it over him and bent slightly with his back to her. She could not help but watch him, though she blushed as she saw him stepping out of his leggings. When he straightened again and turned back to her, he had the blanket drawn around him. He smiled then went to sit on the sleeping mat, folding his legs up but making sure his blanket kept him covered.

Eventually Enonai's feet obeyed her silent command to move. She kept the blanket clutched in one hand as she dropped her dress next to his leggings then sat rather heavily on his... on their... bed. They sat next to each other, silhouetted in the moonlight, looking ahead to a fire that was not there.

After long minutes, Enonai turned to look at him. "You're nervous too?" He nodded without turning. She had assumed he had knowledge of these things. She'd heard most of the men did, after a certain age, with or without wives. "Haven't you..." She couldn't finish the question.

Finally Akonha turned to her. His face was somewhat solemn, his voice low and hoarse. "Yes, but not with you."

Enonai thought it odd that knowing he was uncomfortable too somehow helped her to relax a bit. She looked over her shoulder at the moonlight on the bedding then clumsily crawled in behind him to lie down on her side. She still kept the blanket securely around her.

Akonha watched her then twisted within his own blanket to stretch out beside her, propped on one elbow. "Many nights I have wished."

Enonai scanned his face. The moon's silver glittered in his eyes. His soft voice was warm and comforting. His presence was soothing and she too had wanted to be near him, of course. As her eyes drifted along his chin then to his neck, she grinned and covered a giggle with her hand.

He furrowed his brows. "What is it?"

Her fingers tapped at her own throat. "Some of the juice dried on your neck." Finally she did giggle aloud. She couldn't help it.

Akonha raised his chin, stretching his neck. "It did?"

Impulsively, Enonai stretched up and licked at the sweet sticky substance clinging to his neck. She felt the vibration of his moan against her mouth, encouraging her to linger there, kissing the stuff from his skin. She quietly moaned too at the warm taste of him beneath the substance. Akonha felt the stirring for her grow stronger. He released his blanket to slip one arm over her and pull them closer together. The other arm he gently worked beneath her neck.

She rested her cheek on his shoulder, enjoying the feel of him wrapped around her again but other things crept back into her thoughts as well. She shuddered all over. A mix of aching and memory and emotion rattled through her.

"Enonai?" There was much concern in his voice. One hand rubbed gently along her back.

"How..." She swallowed hard and shivered again. "How did you stop him?" It could not be as though it never was, for it was still in her mind and right now it was looming. They had not spoken much of that day. She couldn't and he would not ask.

His hand on her back paused then continued to rub gently until it moved up between her shoulders and beneath her hair. His fingertips softly caressed the nape of her neck then into her hairline, just exactly where he'd pierced the Coat. "Knife." was all he said.

She pulled away within his embrace, laying back to look at the moon through the window then closed her eyes. If only she could have killed the memory as swiftly as he had killed the Coat. She made a frightened little cry when Akonha curled over her. He nuzzled between her chin and the blanket to kiss at her throat. He paused to mumble against her skin, "You are sticky too." She had to smile at this and released her grip on the blanket to slip her fingers through his hair.

Akonha let his mouth follow the trail of sweet syrup along her neck then downward to where it had trickled between her breasts. He heard and felt her take in a sharp breath but continued his mouth's quest. His hand slid inward then slowly pressed beneath her blanket, drawing down along her ribs as his lips found the swell of her breast. He felt her heart pounding in quickened rhythm, like his own.

Her hand pushed at his blanket so her fingers could caress across his bare shoulder. He kissed up toward her shoulder again and leaned further, supporting himself on one elbow. As his mouth sought her neck and pressed beneath her ear, his shallow breathing whispered across it. He was curled over her, absorbed in the feel and taste and scent of her.

( Continued Page 12 or back)