He paused and looked up at her, his breath warm on her velvet mound as he asked, "Should I keep going?"

Alice's eyes flew open at the question, her eyelids fluttering helplessly as she gave a purr-like sound of assent.

Uncas grinned wolfishly. He continued to suck her clitoris and massage her vulva with his broad fingers, inserting another thick digit into her slick opening. Soaked though she was, he met a thin of wall of resistance he knew to be her maidenhead. Resisting the primal urge he felt to push against it, he instead decided to ease her pleasurable torment, quickening his rhythm on her clitoris.

As he mouthed her tender nub, he boldly took his thumb and roughly massaged her anal opening. Alice cried out in shock, then unbridled enjoyment as she bucked against his hand with a sensual urgency that thrilled him. And then, like a strike of lightening, she came—brightly and silently, illuminating the sky with her savage energy.

He watched her with hungry eyes as she rode her first orgasm, pleasure and disbelief rioting across her innocent face all at once.

"What was that?" she finally panted, as Uncas crawled up to lay beside her.

"That?" he asked, bending down to nip at the white shell of her ear. "That was just beginning."

She said nothing but collapsed against him, sighing in exhaustion as her fingers unfurled across his smooth chest. He shifted uncomfortably beside her, willing his erection to die down as he realized she was far too spent to continue further.

"Rest, now, little one," he said, "No more tonight."

"When I wake?" she asked dreamily, her voice drowsy with sleep.

He laughed quietly. "We will see," he said, "If you're a good girl."

And with that Alice sunk into a weak heap against her Indian's chest.

oOOOo

Early the next morning, Alice awoke to the earthy smell of cooking. Before her eyes were even fully open, she felt a warm hand wrap around hers. She looked up and happily sighed.

"Uncas," she said, "You're here."

But when her vision focused she realized that she was staring at Cora.

"Sister!" she cried out, nearly leaping into Cora's arms.

"Nay, nay," scolded Cora, pushing her back down onto the pallet with one hand. "You must not move about."

"Oh, Cora," she said, her gray eyes shining with tears, "I thought I should never see you again."

"Dear girl," whispered Cora, rubbing Alice's soft hand back and forth across her tear-streaked cheeks. "I cannot believe we almost lost you. And look at what they have done to you! My beautiful sweet sister!"

Her older sister then broke down in sobs, as Alice lifted one weak hand to stroke her dark tangled hair.

"Shh, shh," said Alice gently. "I'm alright. My wounds will heal."

After a few moments, Cora composed herself, letting out a ragged sigh as she looked at Alice deeply.

"You seem…different," she said, looking across Alice's face as if searching for someone or something. "Different then when I left you."

"I am stronger than when we last saw one another," said Alice, a little proudly. "I have always longed to be strong like you."

Cora choked on a laugh. "You've always been stronger than me," she said, "Do you remember when we were little girls and our little bulldog ran out into the rain?"

Alice nodded, smiling at the memory of her beloved pet Charles.

"And the nurse said we weren't allowed to go after him because of the storm?"

Alice nodded.

"Do you remember what you did?" asked Cora. "You pretended to retire your room as she commanded, but later that night we found you had snuck out of your window and down the trellis. When we found you hours later, you were soaked through and had a twisted ankle…but you had Charlie with you, tucked safely inside your jumper."

Alice laughed. "Oh, how cold I was! Father was sure I would get pneumonia."

"But you didn't," said Cora. "And Charles lived for many more happy years with us…all because you were brave enough to search for him alone in the rain."

Alice smiled. "I couldn't lose him," she said, "I loved him too dearly."

"Loved who?" asked a familiar deep voice.

Alice turned her head slightly to see Uncas standing there. He was carrying a plate of sweet potatoes and braised deer meat.

"Charles," said Alice lightly, "My first love."

Uncas's expression darkened as Cora took the plate from him.

"Oh yes," said Cora. "He was such a handsome fellow."

"Yes," agreed Alice, continuing to goad Uncas as she watched his dark eyes flash. "So handsome…a bit slobbery though!"

Cora nodded vigorously, hiding her smile. "Oh, true. And he did have a nasty habit of piddling on the living room rug."

The two women dissolved into uproarious giggles as Uncas's face was now shrouded in utter confusion.

"I'm speaking of our dog Charles," said Alice, reaching a hand out to grab Uncas and pull him closer.

He laughed a sigh of relief and playfully wagged his finger at her. "You aren't even recovered yet and you are trying my patience! But enough of that," he said, suddenly serious. "You must eat."

"Aye," said Cora, "You're skin and bones. Nathaniel told us…Nathaniel told us they wouldn't let you eat."

At this revelation, Cora's voice broke, but instead of giving into tears, she resolutely spooned some potatoes onto a utensil and handed it to Alice.

She took a bite and moaned in approval. "It's heavenly, sister," she said, "But, tell me, how is Nathaniel?"

"He is well," Cora said, "He is recovering. He even went hunting this morning."

Alice smiled, taking another bite as she stroked Uncas's arm fondly.

"He was so good to me," she said, "I remember…I remember Nathaniel's voice, singing to me, soothing me…when I was at my darkest. He held me."

Uncas looked down at the blanket as rage suffused his handsome face. Hearing of what Alice had been through continued to reduce him to animal-like ferocity, even though he was relieved that his brother had been there to offer her comfort.

As if sensing his emotional shift, Alice brightly took another bite and asked Cora, "So tell me, does he speak to you of marriage?"

Cora gasped. "Alice!" she said, pleasure spreading across her face even as she pretended to be taken aback. "I know not what you mean."

Alice sweetly smiled. "Oh, no, of course not. He is just a dear friend, I suppose."

"You suppose right!" said Cora, unable to keep from beaming at her sister. "A most dear friend."

"But, of course," mused Alice, "He will want to wait until he can ask our Father for your hand."

The stunned and silent expressions on Uncas and Cora's face made Alice pause mid-bite.

"Well, I know this is the New World but surely it is not so new as all that?" she asked, confused by their unhappy faces.

Cora shook her head slowly. "No, no…it is not that."

"Then what?' asked Alice in alarm. "He has not been injured, has he? Is he not safe at Fort Campbell?"

Uncas shook his head, while Cora grasped her hand softly.

"Alice, dear, Magua and his men took the fort," she explained. "Father escaped but…we know not where."

Alice looked relieved. "Well, he is safe, then! He is probably looking for us as we speak. He cannot be far. And he has the King's Army on his side!"

Again, Uncas's face darkened. "He is not looking for you, little one," he hissed angrily. "He ran like a coward and refused to make a deal with Magua for your safe return. Because of him you suffered unspeakable torment and-"

Cora clucked her tongue at Uncas to keep him from continuing. Alice's mouth fell open in amazement.

"It cannot be so!" she said. "Father is nothing if not a brave solider."

"No, dear," corrected Cora quietly. "Uncas is quite right…he refused to be exchanged for you."

Alice's vision clouded and spun, and she delicately lifted a hand to her head.

"Are you alright?" Cora asked, as Uncas applied his own hand to her, stroking her blonde silvery locks with his dark fingers.

"My head is spinning," she said weakly, "I cannot eat anymore. Please take it away. I can't abide the smell."

Cora quickly removed the plate and stood, as Uncas wrapped his body beside her and pulled her glistening forehead against his cool chest.

"You will watch over her?" asked Cora as she stood near the tent opening, even as she realized that the question need not be asked.

He did not look up as he continued stroking Alice's wavy hair, murmuring quietly to her in Mohican.

"I will," he finally said to Cora's waiting shadow. "She will never be hurt again while I am standing on this earth."

Cora felt some of the tension leave her body as she walked out, reflecting that this was the first time in seventeen years that she had not been frightened for her little sister's welfare. Only a fool would miss the passionate ardor in Uncas's eyes, and the realization that he would enter Hell itself if it meant keeping her safe.

Thinking of Magua, the dark-haired girl shivered. Hell might be closer than one would think.