Chapter 16

Rock Creek, Nebraska

June 1872

Lara lay on her back, her gaze fixed on Buck as she reached up to touch the pouch around his neck, curiosity sparking in her eyes.

"What is this?"

"My medicine pouch," Buck replied, his tone calm yet guarded as he met her inquisitive stare. He'd had this conversation years ago, in another place, with another woman.

"What's in it?" Lara persisted, her fingers tracing the contours of the pouch with a gentle touch.

"Things," Buck answered cryptically, his expression unreadable as he considered her question carefully. "Things that help me, personal things."

"Well, things like what?" she pressed, her curiosity undiminished.

"Things that a man carries with him, things that are precious and sacred," Buck explained, his voice tinged with reverence. "Before a boy becomes a man, a warrior, he has to find his medicine. He will go alone for many nights and hopefully have a vision. He is told then what he needs for protection."

"That's why you wear it?" Lara asked, her eyes alight with understanding as she connected the dots. "For protection?"

"Yes. Among other reasons," Buck confirmed, his gaze lingering on her, expecting to see mockery or shame, but instead finding curiosity and trust reflected in her eyes.

"Maybe someday I'll show you," Buck offered, a hint of vulnerability underlying his words as he glanced down at the locket around her neck. "What's in there?"

Lara's fingers carefully opened the locket, revealing faded images. "This is Joaquin, and his brother Raphael, and Maria. And that is my brother and I. Seems like a lifetime ago," Lara murmured, her gaze distant as she reflected. "We only had this one picture taken, when he was an infant."

"I'm sorry," Buck offered, as he reached out to touch her hand.

"Tell me about your family," Lara redirected the conversation, her genuine interest shining through.

"I have a brother, a half-brother too. He is a war chief," Buck began, his voice thick with a hint of melancholy. "I left the village when I was young. My brother didn't understand at first, and we parted ways. Since then, we have made amends. But this is my home now."

"And your parents?" Lara inquired softly.

"My mother died, and I never knew my father," Buck replied, his voice tinged with a trace of longing for the family he had never really known.

"Seems we have a lot in common, you and I," Lara mused.

"Who would have guessed?" Buck echoed her sentiment, his gaze lingering on her with a mixture of tenderness and longing.

Lara's breath caught in her chest as Buck leaned closer, the air between them charged with unspoken desire. She closed her eyes, anticipation coursing through her veins as she waited for his lips to meet hers. But as seconds stretched into eternity, Lara's eyes fluttered open, confusion flickering across her features.

"Are you going to kiss me? Or not?" she asked, her impatience evident as she met his gaze.

Buck's smile widened at her words, a glint of amusement dancing in his eyes. "Is that what you were waiting for?"

"Oh, forget it," Lara huffed, pushing him away with mock annoyance.

"Do you always get your way?" Buck teased as he pulled her closer.

"No," Lara closed her eyes and refused to look at him.

Undeterred, Buck drew her closer, his touch gentle yet possessive as he held her in his arms. He traced the contours of her jawline, guiding her lips to his in a sweet, lingering kiss.

Trying to regain composure, Buck reluctantly pulled away, his breath ragged as he gazed into Lara's eyes, his heart overflowing. He pulled her into his lap, cradling her against his chest, the rhythm of their hearts beating as one.

Although Lara reveled in the warmth of his embrace, a flicker of uncertainty clouded her thoughts. Why had he pulled away? Did he not feel the same as she did? She frowned slightly, her mind swirling with questions.

"I've never seen anything more beautiful," Buck murmured, breaking the silence after many minutes.

"It is very beautiful," Lara agreed softly, her fingers tracing patterns on his arm as she savored the feeling of his arms around her. "I used to climb up the cliffs near my home and watch the sun set into the ocean."

"I was talking about you," Buck whispered, his breath warm against her skin as he pressed a trail of kisses down her neck, igniting a shiver of pleasure that coursed through her body.

Lara closed her eyes, lost in the sensation of his touch, her senses ablaze with longing and desire. "Hmmm," she murmured, her voice barely above a whisper as she surrendered herself his touch.

"I don't want this day to end," Buck confessed, as he held her close.

"I was thinking the same thing," Lara admitted, her heart racing.

As the sun dipped below the horizon, Buck and Lara rode back to his house in companionable silence, their thoughts a whirlwind of emotions. Upstairs, Lara changed into a one of Buck's nightshirts, her mind swirling with thoughts of the man who had unexpectedly captured her heart.

From her window, she watched as he tended to the horses, his shape illuminated by the soft glow of lantern light from the barn. A surge of longing washed over her as she yearned for his touch. Lost in her reverie, Lara was startled when Buck appeared at her doorway, his voice breaking through the silence.

"Lara?" he called softly, his gaze warm and tender as he met her eyes.

"Yes?" she replied, her heart racing at the sight of him standing before her.

"I found this on the stairs," Buck said, holding out the tiny silver locket.

"Thank you," Lara breathed, her pulse quickening as their hands brushed, a spark igniting between them.

"The clasp is broken. I'm sure the jeweler in town can fix it."

As Buck turned to leave, Lara's hand shot out, grasping his arm. She watched as he met her gaze, his eyes reflecting her desire like a mirror.

"Good night," Buck whispered, as he lingered in the doorway, his gaze locked with hers.

Impulsively Lara stood on her tiptoes and pressed her lips softly against the corner of his mouth. In an instant what began as a simple gesture of affection soon ignited something more, a sweet surrender to the passion that burned between them.

Before Buck could protest, Lara found herself swept away by the intoxicating rush of desire, her senses ablaze. As they tumbled onto the bed, their bodies entwined.

Before Buck had time to consider the consequences of their actions, Lara was laying on her back, her nightshirt ridding up her leg and the look of pure desire in her eyes. Buck took a deep breath as he torn himself away from her, being stopped by Lara's strong grip on his sleeve.

"Lara we can't," His voice was barely a whisper.

Lara's voice, a tender whisper in the stillness of the night. "Why not?" she inquired, her lips brushing against his in a gesture of longing.

"I, it's just," Buck stammered, his gaze locked with hers, the depth of her dark eyes stirring something profound within him.

"Don't you love me?"

"You know I do." Buck confessed. "But it's not that simple,"

"I love you too." She bit her lower lip softly, her fingers trembling slightly as she continued to unbutton his shirt.

"Lara," Buck interjected, pulling away for the second time. "What about Joaquin?"

Lara glanced up at him, her eyes full of surprise and confusion. The realization dawned on her that this was the source of his hesitation.

"I see the way he looks at you," Buck continued. "He's in love with you."

"I know," Lara acknowledged.

"And you?" Buck swallowed hard. "Are you in love with him?"

"I love him," she said quietly and directly. "But he will always be my brother." She carefully unbuttoned the rest of the buttons on his shirt then gently pushed him down on the bed "But I am in love with you."

Buck felt his heart swell with relief as her words washed over him. With a silent nod, Buck surrendered to the tide of emotions that threatened to consume them both.

She stood at the foot of the bed, her movements were slow and deliberate as she unbuttoned her own shirt. He watched in silence as the garment slid down her body and lay in a pool on the floor. The moonlight filtering through the window cast an unearthly glow on her skin, leaving Buck transfixed by her beauty.

As Lara moved closer, her touch, the gentle caress against his skin, Buck felt the weight of the world fall away. Each touch sent shivers down his spine, igniting a primal desire that smoldered within him. With trembling hands, he reached out, drawing her close, their bodies intertwining.

Buck traced the curve of her side with his calloused fingers, marveling at the velvety softness of her skin beneath his touch. The gentle rise and fall of every breath and sigh, the comforting rhythm became more urgent.

With each breath, they forged a physical bond that their souls had already made. As they lost themselves in the depths of each other, they knew that this union transcended mere desire.