Page 78 of Tashama
“Much better.” He picked her gown up and hung it over the fire. “Our food is done. Have a seat, my lady.” Tashamacontinued to stand as the prince pulled the fish from the fire, then cut it up for them to eat.
“Do I have to hand-feed you?” He handed her a portion, but she wouldn’t give up her hold on her blanket.
“I’m not hungry any longer.” She stood in the warmth of the fire.
“You have to eat to keep up your strength, if we’re to evade Loran and his men tomorrow.”
Tashama released her blanket with her right hand and reached for the fish he offered her. She nibbled on the meat, and he sat and stared up at her. “Why do you not sit and rest?”
She shook her head.
“You cannot stand there all night.” He ate his filet.
“When I’m done with my meal, I will lie down.”
He returned to the fire to turn their garments. “They are dry on one side. I’ll gather some more wood. Would you like to help?”
“No, thank you.”
The prince chuckled. “I’ll be back in a moment then.”
The prince headed for the woods, and Tashama hurried after him. Hearing her light step behind him on the fallen leaves, he smiled. “You will have a time carrying any sticks, Princess.”
“I only wanted to supervise you.” She tilted her head to the side.
“I see.” He watched the knuckles of her hands turn white with the grip she had on the blanket. They reached the woods, and he gathered a larger log. Then, as he walked back to their primitive camp, he studied her concerned expression. “You are not afraid, are you?”
“I haven’t slept alone under the stars before, without a strip of clothes on and with a strange man to keep me company.”
The prince laughed. “Well, I do not believe anyone has called me strange before. And I must say,” he said as he pushed thelog into the fire, “I have never slept with a naked woman before under the stars at night, either.”
Tashama touched her garment and still feeling it wet, she frowned. “Why does that notion not comfort me?”
He shook his head. “You have nothing to fear from me, Princess.” He touched her hair. “Your hair is still so wet.”
“Yes, well, I cannot remove it either.”
“Nor would I wish for you to do such a thing.”
“Turn away,” Tashama said.
The prince folded his arms across his chest. “I’m not used to a woman telling me what to do, my lady.”
“I want to lie down, but I’m afraid I might expose something I wouldn’t want to.”
“Ah, when you give me reasons for your concern, I’m more apt to consider your request more favorably.” He turned his back. After waiting for a minute, he said, “Are you all right, Tashama?”
“Wait, I’m trying to get comfortable.”
A rock hit another on the grass nearby.
Another clunked some distance in the glade, making the prince chuckle. “Would you like for me to make your bed?”
“No!”
The prince tapped his foot on the ground. “My backside is quite warm, but I want to warm my bare chest with the fire. Are you sure you’re not…”
“Okay.”
