"Ratonhnhaké:ton…"

Aveline closed her mouth, embarrassed that she said his name aloud. Ratonhnhaké:ton turned around and looked at her. His glare only furthered her embarrassment and she felt the need to look away from him. Her gaze was not averted for long as Ratonhnhaké:ton was shirtless, giving her a full view to his large, muscular back. She tried to avert her gaze as she found her eyes trailing over his broad shoulders and arms.

"Are you surprised?" Ratonhnhaké:ton did not spend most of his time in his hut because he was always away fighting the enemy. Before Aveline arrived, he looked forward to resting and spending time alone in his home. Now that he was going to be in the village for a while, he would enjoy the time in his bed. Suddenly he remembered that he should break the news to her. Ratonhnhaké:ton and his brothers would not be leaving the village any time soon as the Clan Mother advised him to delay his journey. He turned away from her and scrubbed his hands in the basin of water. "This is my home."

"No, I…" Aveline paused, her eyes tracing over the rippling muscles on his broad back and shoulders. Ratonhnhaké:ton kept his back towards her as he continued to wash body. She noticed how his muscles flexed with the slightest movement. She noticed the scars that marred his bare flesh, his old wounds telling stories of conflict. "I just didn't expect to see you. I thought you were gone."

Ratonhnhaké:ton remained silent as he bent down over the basin of water. He washed his face and ran his hands through his dark hair that now hung loosely around his shoulders. Aveline looked at his bottom. She reminisced the moment he struck her rear in front of the entire village. Although she was embarrassed that he hit her, she imagined how funny they looked while fighting. A small laugh escaped her.

Ratonhnhaké:ton turned around and glared at Aveline. Her smile faded and she looked down. Again, he caught her staring at him. With the fur blanket still around her shoulders, Aveline went to sit on the bed. Her wound ached and she wanted to rest but she wanted to ask Ratonhnhaké:ton some questions before he disappeared again. Careful not to move her aching side, she sat down on the bed. She was glad to feel the warmth from the fire. She was only outside for a short while but she was not used to this cold weather.

Her green eyes traced Ratonhnhaké:ton's back. She wondered how he could walk outside wearing just a wolf pelt and bear furs. His chest and arms were still exposed whenever he braved the cold air. Aveline watched his arms as he continued to wash himself. They were strongest pair of arms she'd ever seen. She wondered what she looked like in his embrace.

"When will you leave?"

Ratonhnhaké:ton was silent as he picked up a cloth near the basin and dried his face and neck. He kept his back towards her as he started roughly dry his hair. He threw the cloth over his shoulder before he shifted through some items on the table. "The journey has been delayed."

"What?" Aveline questioned as she kept her eyes pinned on his back. Anger swell in her chest as she looked him. She believed that she did not hear him correctly. He promised that she could leave when he returned. Aveline said she would protect the village with her life while she was hear but she did not agree to stay here for however long he wanted. The villagers were not safe while she remained here. "What did you say?"

Ratonhnhaké:ton turned around and glared at her. After meeting with the Clan Mother, she advised him to delay his journey to a later time. While he was going to go against her words, Kahionhaténion was a man who believed in her prophesies and the guidance of the spirits.

Kahionhaténion was convinced about what she told them and declared he would fight to keep Teiowí:sonte and Ratonhnhaké:ton in the village. Ratonhnhaké:ton was a man who believed in his own strength but he would listen to them just this once.

"The journey has been delayed." Ratonhnhaké:ton turned around and leaned back on the table. Aveline was surprised that he turned to face her. She found herself faltering as he gave her a full front view of his body. Ratonhnhaké:ton distracted her. Even without looking down, Aveline could see the rippled muscles on his stomach. As if they weren't her own, her eyes lowered for a split second for a quick peek. Ratonhnhaké:ton noted her wandering gaze and crossed his arms as he looked into her green eyes. "Your future husband would not like his wife staring at a man like this."

Ratonhnhaké:ton brows furrowed as he looked at her as if she were his prey. He all but circled her like a wolf stalking his next meal. Her beautiful light brown skin glowed in the light of the fire. Her curly dark hair draped past her shoulders and down the center of her back. If he unfastened just one button of her shirt, he would have a very nice view of her cleavage. His eyes briefly trailed down to the first button of her shirt before he looked back into her green eyes. Ratonhnhaké:ton noticed how her chest rose and fell as she angrily huffed. "But then again, I do not believe you are engaged."

Ignoring the pain on her side, Aveline de Grandpré removed the blanket from her shoulders and slowly approached the wolfish Native man. Burning angry reflected in her green eyes as she glared as him. She would not allow herself to be cornered by his gaze. "It seems you enjoy staring at me instead, Ratonhnhaké:ton. If you were so concerned about what my future husband would think you would've allowed me to leave long ago." She stood an arm's length away from him as she crossed her arms under her ample breasts. "Why else would you keep me here? Were you not planning to leave? Is that why you made me promise to stay?"

"I have my reasons." Ratonhnhaké:ton kept his eyes locked with hers, breaking his gaze only when he walked past her. For now, he would have no choice but to keep her here until the Clan Mother believed it were safe enough for him and his brothers to go on their journey. If it were necessary, he would leave the village without the blessing of the Clan Mother. He pushed those thoughts aside as he lie down on his bed. He couldn't remember the last time he relaxed on his own bed. "You will stay here for now."

Aveline was so angry that she couldn't speak. She followed him as he relaxed on the bed. His legs were crossed and one of his hands were propped behind his head. With his eyes closed, he stretched out comfortably. His body was completely revealed to her. Her eyes wandered down the entire length of his body. Aveline steeled her resolve and looked away from him. She pushed aside thoughts that she wouldn't dare admit aloud. Ratonhnhaké:ton was a handsome man but she couldn't allow herself to be attracted to him. She instead thought about all the reason why she disliked him as she carefully sat on the bed. She cleared her throat and hesitated to speak, "When will you leave?"

"Just stay in the village as you promised." Ratonhnhaké:ton felt his bed shift and looked to see Aveline sitting on his bed. Behind her glare, he could see a stormy passion in her gaze. Ratonhnhaké:ton moved on his side, turning his back towards her. "Leave. I want to sleep."

"I will leave as soon as my wound heals." Aveline de Grandpré announced as she looked at his resting form. Ratonhnhaké:ton turned towards her and propped himself up with his arm. They sat in silence as he looked into her eyes. Ratonhnhaké:ton sat up and learned forward, his face inching closer to Aveline's as he closed the space between them. His gaze went down to her full, slightly parted lips. "You cannot keep me here."

Ratonhnhaké:ton let his gaze linger for a moment before he stood. He would not fight with her today. There was a rumor in the village that they would soon marry. In order to cease the rumor, Ratonhnhaké:ton decided to distance himself from her. Instead of fighting, he would walked away. Aveline watched as he went over to the stand that held his animal pelts and slipped them on. She realized he was getting dressed and stood to stop him.

"You cannot keep me here." Aveline grabbed her side as she slowly stood from the bed. She walked to the door of the hut. With her back pressed firmly against the door, she glared at him. Ratonhnhaké:ton looked at her just as he put the brown bear pelt over his shoulder. He glared at her, annoyed that she would block him from the only exit of the hut. Her green eyes stared into the dark eyes of the wolfish Native man.

"Move," he took a threatening step towards her.

"No," She lifted her chin, returning his glare as she kept her back against the door. "I won't allow you to take advantage of my promise." Aveline felt vulnerable since she gave him her word. Now that he wasn't leaving she believed she was entitled to having some answers. "Why aren't you going?"

Ratonhnhaké:ton slammed his hand on the door and stepped closer to her, pinning her against the door. He was the former captain of a ship and no one questioned his orders. Even Achilles allowed him to do what he wanted and only warned him of what could be the consequences of his action. Ratonhnhaké:ton did as he wanted no one would stand in his way. He did not like to be questioned. He took another step. If he moved any closer to her, his body would be pressed against hers.

"Move."

"No," Aveline moved her face closer to his as she looked into his eyes. She would not back down even if her back were literally pressed against a door. She would get an answer from him. His faces was inches away from hers. "Not until you answer my –"

Before she could finish, Aveline felt herself being swept off her feet. Aveline shrieked as she was lifted into Ratonhnhaké:ton strong arms. She wrapped her arms around his neck. She was not in his arms for long as she was carefully lowered down onto his bed. As Aveline gathered herself, she noticed Ratonhnhaké:ton was on top of her. If he did not prop himself with his arms then she would have been pinned underneath him. Aveline looked into the dark eyes of the Native man.

"The spirits spoke to the Clan Mother and warned us to delay our journey." He looked into her green eyes, weakening her stubborn spirit with his dark gaze. Ratonhnhaké:ton's gaze went down to her full lips. There was a familiar sensation in his lower belly. He felt his stubbornness fading as he realized how close he was to her. If he moved forward, his lips would press against hers. For a second, he imagined what it would be like to graze his lips against hers. He was silent as they looked into each other's eyes, tension building between them as passion reflected in their eyes. Aveline's chest moved up and down as she breathed. Ratonhnhaké:ton wanted to push her down on the bed and do something that would stop her incessant questions…if only for a moment.

A sound from Aveline's stomach interrupted his thoughts. It was a sound he became accustomed to. Aveline was a woman that could eat and he was content with making sure that she was full. He stood and walked back to his table. "We will leave, but it will not be today."'

"When?"

"You call for questions while your stomach calls for food." Ratonhnhaké:ton pulled his hair back into a tie and turned to looked at her. Aveline bit her bottom lip, embarrassed that he heard the sound of her hunger. "Rest. I will return soon."

Aveline de Grandpré watched as he left the hut. She put the fur blankets around her shoulders and held her hands closer to the fire. A small laugh escaped her as she realized what she believed was impossible happened. Finally she was wearing him down. He answered her question and he gave her some form of a goodbye before leaving. Aveline stood and looked around for the garments the Native women gave her. As she looked at the clothes, she remembered how they cared for her. After a moment of consideration, Aveline began to remove her clothes.

Ratonhnhaké:ton returned to his home with food in his hands. When he pushed open the door and stepped inside his home. He stood frozen at the door. She was finishing a braid in her hair as she turned to face him. With her braid finished, Aveline looked down herself. The clothes fit her perfectly and she felt warm in the animal hide and furs. Now she didn't need to carry around Ratonhnhaké:ton's blankets.

"What do you think?"

His dark eyes trailed down her body before he gazed into forest green orbs. The logs from the fire crackled as they stood in silence, their eyes never breaking their gaze. Aveline's breath hitched in her throat as he looked at her. Ratonhnhaké:ton pushed back the familiar sensation in his lower belly as he approached her and handed her one of the bowls. Dangerous thoughts filled his mind as she took the food from his hand. They looked into each other's eyes as he searched for the words to say. He was glad that she wanted to adjust in the village but knew it would be dangerous as he was attracted to her. When he was away, Aveline remained on his thoughts.

Despite him wanted to stay away from her, he always felt himself slowly drawing back to her. He wanted to brush his hand against her cheek as he did when she first came to the village. Ratonhnhaké:ton remembered how she bled in his arms after she was attacked by the soldiers. He remembered holding her limp body in his arms as he trekked through the snow.

He remembered how he used to stare at her when she slept, worried whether or not she would wake up. He remembered this and was glad that she was standing before him now, dressed in the garments of his people.

"You are…" Ratonhnhaké:ton couldn't resist any longer. Hands that killed hundreds of men now gently brushed her cheek. Aveline was surprised at the sudden gesture but couldn't move away from him. His touch felt so natural. She faintly remember feeling the gentle touch of his hand as she drifted in and out of consciousness. Aveline felt butterflies in her stomach. She could never imagine man as harsh and menacing as he could have a touch so gentle. Ratonhnhaké:ton lowered his hand, his eyes still searched hers. "It suits you."

When Ratonhnhaké:ton turned to leave the hut, Aveline grabbed his forearm. She didn't know what moved her to stop him. He looked down at the hand on his arm and looked back into her eyes. Aveline removed her hand from and politely motioned to the place where he sat near the fire.

"Well since I think I'll be here for a while," Aveline smiled nervously as she walked closer to the fire. "We should enjoy our meals together, Ratonhnhaké:ton."


Thank you for all the reviews! Thank you Sailorjj07, BadAcid69 and Shami for your reviews on the last chapter! Thank you to everyone for all your favorites, follows, and reviews! Look forward to the next chapter!