Slowly, she moved over him, her hands resting on his chest, her warm, wet folds sliding over his shaft as her most sensitive flesh rubbed against the length of him. He knew the exact moment she found the most pleasurable angle, because her breath broke and her thighs drew taut against his hips.
“Oh, God, Nicholas!” Her pace increased, and so did the pressure.
He was close, so close to where he wanted to be, so close to being inside her. He could feel her core pulse against him, knew she was more than ready for him, knew he could bury himself inside her with one clean thrust. He heard breath hiss from between his teeth, focused on the sweet glide of her wet woman’s lips over his cock, the weight of her breasts in his hands, the pebbled hardness of her nipples against his palms. It was enough. It would be enough.
It was never enough. He could never get enough, not enough of Bethie.
He could tell she was desperate now. Small whimpering noises escaped her throat. Her head was thrown back in sensual abandonment as she ground herself against him. Then her breath caught in her throat, and every muscle in her body seemed to tense.
She came with a cry. “Nicholas!”
The sight of the rapture on her face pushed him over the brink. He heard himself groan, a deep, guttural sound, as the bliss of orgasm slammed through him.
***
Later that afternoon, Shingiss’s men came out of the forest a second time, tried to shoot or drive off horses and cattle grazing in the fields around the fort.
“They’re trying to draw our forces outside the walls, trying to provoke a battle,” Nicholas warned Écuyer. “The animals will return on their own.”
But the captain, outraged over the substance of Shingiss’s remarks to Nicholas, didn’t listen. Instead, Écuyer waited until the Indians had seemingly gone back into the forest, then sent a small party of men out to round up the animals under military escort.
The results were predictable. The Delaware poured out of the forest, and though a few were killed, shot by retreating soldiers, they managed to capture one of the militia, James Thompson, whom they killed and scalped within sight of the walls.
This provoked outrage from the entire garrison. Soldiers and militia gathered on the ramparts to curse the Delaware. Only when the air sang with arrows was it clear that Thompson’s killing had been a distraction, one that enabled warriors to creep in the shadows of the riverbanks and surround the fort.
Écuyer told his men not to fire, afraid they would not be able to hit the Indians, who still lurked in the shelter of the steep riverbanks. Instead, he ordered several rounds to be fired from the howitzers and the cannon. Within two hours, the attack was over.
But no one celebrated. Looking out over the landscape, it was now perfectly clear.
Fort Pitt was under siege.
***
For two days, nothing happened. Indians were spotted prowling around the fort, checking the walls for weaknesses, reconnoitering. On the third day, just after midnight, two Delaware leaders approached the fort, pleaded to speak with Ken-lee. A guard was sent to wake Nicholas, who quickly dressed and hurried to meet the Indians outside the gates.
As Nicholas left the safety of the fort again, Bethie knelt beside her bed and prayed.
***
“They want to meet to discuss our situation,” Nicholas explained to Écuyer, who sat at his desk drinking tea as the sun peeked over the horizon. Nicholas had misgivings about helping the arrogant bastard and trusted Shingiss far more than he trusted Écuyer. But Bethie’s survival and that of every other man, woman, and child inside the fort depended upon a British victory.
“Are they sincere, or is this just another ruse, another attempt to provoke us?”
“I would guess the latter. They are desperate. They will use any means at their disposal to win.”
Écuyer took another sip of tea. “So must we. Tell them they may approach the fort safely. You and I will meet with them and hear what they have to say. We will give them gifts, of course, some small token of our regard. And we shall see.”
***
“Why does it have to be you, Nicholas? Why? Is there no one else in this bloody garrison who can speak their tongue?” She felt his strong arms surround her, turned to face him, resting her hands on his shoulders.
“They have asked that I be present, and the captain has commanded it. I have no choice, Bethie.”
Bethie laid her head against his chest, listened to the strong rhythm of his heart. He was so alive, so strong. “Promise me you’ll no’ take foolish risks! I couldna bear it if you should be hurt, Nicholas.”
She heard his deep chuckle, felt his fingers in her hair. The sun was barely up, and she’d not had time to braid it.
“There is still time before I must go, and Belle is still asleep.” The husky tone of his voice told her just how he thought they ought to spend that time.
