"You do not spit when your sister may suffer my wrath. I should keep her, I think. She is a brave warrior, no?" Loretta's heart caught. Her eyes flew to Amy. She should have shot the child while she had the chance. "Ah, but I have said she will go back to her mother, no? And you have said you are my woman." Tightening his grip on her breast, he leaned forward and brought his mouth so close to her ear that shivers raced down her spine. "Your heart pounds, woman. It is a lie you speak? You will fight this Comanche when your sister is out of danger?" She knew he was testing her, daring her to resist him, glorying in the power he wielded. Knowing that gave her the strength to be still. She shook her head in reply, praying Comanches used the same gesture to say no. "It is a promise you make?" He rasped his thumb across her gown, teasing her nipple. The shock of feeling that spiraled from her breast to the hollow of her belly nearly took her breath. Keeping her face carefully blank, she nodded. "This Comanche thinks you lie." With a shake of her head, Loretta lifted pleading eyes to his. Endless seconds passed as his fingertips followed the path of his thumb, each feather-light caress more shattering to her pride than the last. She clenched her teeth. His features blurred, and she realized she was looking at him through tears. Suddenly he began to laugh and dropped his hand to her ribs. "You do not lie so good, Yellow Hair. Your eyes make big talk against you. But that is okay. We have had this one moment together, no? And you did not spit."