In two bounds Aaron stood next to a comfortably inviting bed. But Reya wasn’t in it. In fact, it looked like the covers had never been disturbed.
He glanced quickly at the digital readout of the little clock near her bed, his hands planted themselves on his hip—one-thirty a.m. Where the hell was his woman? Wait, he couldn’t call her that, at least not yet. Fine! Where the hell was his woman-to-be?
Fingers tore through his jet-black hair as he paced until some semblance of reason set in. Perhaps she was out on patrol? He was sure she wasn’t scheduled tonight, but she was definitely gone. Maybe she was helping out by taking someone else’s shift?
One thing was sure, if she was with that Trefor creep, he’d kill them both. Trefor would go first, with great pain and equal relish. Reya, he’d just have to kill her with cock, uh, kindness.
There was only one problem. He didn’t want her later. He wanted to hold her, to kiss her soft lips, to simply be with her, right here, right now. But this pacing was getting him nowhere. His muscles screamed for action, any action. Maybe the time he’d spent recuperating was taking its toll? Perhaps if he just got out for a little while he’d feel better, work off some of his pent-up energy. That way if he came upon Reya, he wouldn’t just jump on her and hump her brains out.
The decision made, he stalked into the smaller room Reya used as an office, now his bedroom—idiot!—and pulled his black jacket out of the closet. Reya mentioned her patrols were safe and generally boring, hardly ever coming across a poacher this late at night. Mainly because they couldn’t see as well in the dark as the cats they hunted. She might have said that just to make him feel better when he’d expressed concern over her having the night shift in a jaguar sanctuary, but he didn’t think so. Besides, jaguars didn’t typically eat humans. Other than the recent attacks on female jags, there was nothing to worry about other than an occasional monkey shit bomb out of a high tree or a bird taking to flight.
But his papa hadn’t raised a fool. Before he set out, he ducked back into Reya’s room, grabbed the extra tranquilizer gun off the shelf in her closet and made sure it was loaded. Finding a pair of sleek night-vision goggles tucked on the top shelf, he grabbed those too, impressed at the quality of the gadgets of this obviously well-funded operation.
Not wanting to wake any of the other guests, he slipped quietly through the living room, out onto the balcony and down the private back stairs. The balmy night air was comfortably warm, nothing like the sweltering nights of a Colorado summer. The tall, wide trees cast shadows across the earth, and his feet made no sound as he walked. Flipping the night-vision goggles down, the world became a brightly lit, though green-tinted, paradise. Suddenly he felt like a mighty hunter out stalking prey, exhilarated, as he moved silently through a jungle he knew teemed with four-legged hunters that lived at the top of the food chain.
After about an hour, he saw something most humans were never blessed to see—a majestic gold and black jaguar. It appeared in the path not more than ten feet from him and stood watching him with a curious tilt of its head.
Aaron stood perfectly still and marveled at the beauty and power of the creature. Given its size and powerful build, he guessed it was a male. The broad, well-muscled chest, strong legs and wide, heavy body moved with grace, its large padded paws completely silent in the dead of the night.
The hackles on the back of his neck rose to full alert. A moment ago, he’d commented to himself about the peace surrounding him at the sound of various chirping insects and rustling leaves as small creatures scurried about. Now there was nothing. Not a single sound met his ears except the deep growl of the large cat as it bared lethal canines.
Aaron’s first instinct was to run, but common sense overrode the sudden burst of adrenaline making him tremble. Instead, he raised the tranquilizer gun and aimed. Before he could fire a blur shot out from behind him and tackled the large male.
He watched spellbound as a beautiful black jaguar locked jaws and paws with the threatening male. The gold jag looked like it was going to come out on top after rolling several times with the black cat. But he was up on his feet quickly. No, wait. The black he was actually a she! And she was vicious, fast as lightning, and gave no quarter to her foe as their snarls filled the jungle. The male delivered a particularly nasty swipe to the side of the female’s head and she stumbled.
But all was not lost. Two more jaguars charged out of the foliage and came to the black jaguar’s aid. But the male was strong and the three females were having a tough time subduing him. Maybe someone would hear all the noise and come help? No, he couldn’t wait for that. He had to do something. Right now.
Raising the sights on the tranq gun again, Aaron fired at the male. Shit, he missed! The dart lodged deep in the black female’s shoulders and she tottered momentarily before flopping to the ground. But the male lay on the ground as well, taken down by the females. Seeing the threat eliminated, the other females took off the moment he hit the dirt. But this male was smart. Too smart. When the females disappeared into the night, he was back on his feet, dancing around wildly.
Aaron’s eyes narrowed as he regarded the deadly creature. Something intelligent went on behind the big cat’s eyes. It was as if he recognized not only the danger of the downed black but him as a man. The feeling shivered down Aaron’s back and settled behind his knees. It was the most uncanny thing he’d ever experienced. And he didn’t like it one bit.
Aaron raised the gun and aimed it right between the gold male’s eyes. He’d be damned if he missed this time. Taking a bold step forward, he growled at the crazed jag, prepared to pull the trigger. At the hard glint in Aaron’s eyes, the male came to a decision and took off into the deep jungle.
Behind him came a soft growl followed by…a moan? Jaguars didn’t moan, did they? Turning back to the female that had more than likely saved his life tonight, he stared down at the ground in awe and went completely still. The moan was louder now, but the cat’s body was shivering and shifting, the bones repositioning themselves under the skin. Shiny fur receded into the pelt, replaced by sleek, smooth skin. The bones of the shoulders and head made a squishing sound as they shrank and rearranged. The sucking and popping noises made his stomach dance as he watched the cat transform.
Kneeling down next to the animal, Aaron removed the tranq dart from her shoulder and ran his hand through a tangle of soft, thick hair. Shock was quickly replaced by concern as his eyes roamed over the tall, muscular, very naked frame. Reya.
Removing his jacket, he quickly covered her sleeping, bleeding form, threw her over his shoulder in a fireman’s hold and took off as if her life depended on it. And judging by the amount of blood oozing through his jacket from the wounds she’d sustained, her life just might.
* * *
Glancing up at the sky, Aaron hissed a prayer under the weight of Reya’s body. He hadn’t prayed since he was a teenager when his father lay at death’s door. Please let Reya be knocked out from the tranquilizer and not so still because she’s dying, he pleaded out loud as her warm blood ran thick from the wounds on her back and the backs of her legs, and over his hands where he held her close to his body.
While they trekked at a speed Aaron hadn’t known he could move, he listened closely for the sounds of any large, dangerous animals with canines crashing through the trees behind them. Adrenaline-fueled legs pumped tirelessly as he weaved through the tangle of trees back to her B&B near the front entrance of the sanctuary. All was quiet except for the occasional distant roar that sent chills up his spine and anger coursing through his heart. Anger that some wild cat had injured his sweet, loving Reya. His own adorable, precious…whoa! Precious? Adorable? How about dangerous with claws, literally! His woman was a shifter, and it seemed a very capable one.
It sure explained a lot. Now it made sense why she usually patrolled alone in the middle of the night with no night-vision goggles and no weapons. Even when learning biology and evolution as a child in school, he’d never bought into the
idea that plain old humans were alone on this great big planet. Did he believe in fairies, ghosts or elves? No. But people with a different genetic makeup that allowed their bodies to change? Well, sure, why the hell not? And the fact he’d never expected to meet such a being didn’t change reality—a sleek, lovely and changeable body was draped over his shoulder, thoroughly unconscious.
He should be more upset at the discovery, at least amazed by it. He didn’t have time to worry about the fact that his woman was a different species. She was hurt and it was all his fault. Now she needed him in the worst way.
Damn, she’s heavy, Aaron thought as he hitched Reya’s unconscious form higher up on his shoulder and shot up the steps, thankful he’d left the door to her private veranda unlocked. He ducked inside, careful of Reya’s dangling arms and legs, and headed for the bedroom.
Easing her down off his shoulder and onto her stomach, Aaron was out of her apartment in a blink to bang on the door across the hall.
"Dr. Matons!" he yelled at the top of his lungs. Who cared it was the middle of the night, or rather early dark hours of morning? His woman needed help, and right-damned now. Aaron’s huge fist made contact with the door again.
"Dr. Matons! Open up, it’s Aaron!"
Seconds later, a frazzled doctor yanked open the door, dark hair tousled, eyes wide with concern and lips pressed into a thin line.
"She was attacked in the jungle. Jaguars. Unconscious," was all he could get out as he yanked the doctor behind him and down the hall into Reya’s apartment.
Together they slowly and carefully removed his blood-soaked jacket from her naked form. Some of the blood had dried and caused the jacket to stick to the wounds. Thankfully she was unconscious as they removed it.
"What happened?" Matons asked, clenching his teeth against what Aaron assumed was a mix of concern and anger. After all, it was apparent both the good doctor, Bethasiada and the staff all loved Reya.
"I was aiming at a jaguar. He was about to attack me, so I tried to shoot him with the tranq gun. I shot Reya by mistake."
"How the hell could you mistake her for a jaguar, Aaron?" he asked calmly, easing the last of the jacket plastered to Reya’s ripped and torn flesh.
He didn’t miss the stiffening of the doctor’s spine as tension set in, nor the tight set of his mouth as the blood drained from his face. The flicker of concern as it passed over the older man’s forehead made it clear he saw Aaron as a possible threat.
"Because, doctor," Aaron growled, lowering his head to look at the man eye to eye, "she was a damned jaguar when I shot her! She saved my ass. Now do something to help her instead of just standing there questioning me." Backing off just enough to give the doc a little bit of breathing room, Aaron let his fingers stray to Reya’s thick black mass of hair and idly stroked through the softness. He closed his eyes and took a deep breath, trying desperately to get a hold of the possessiveness, the helplessness suddenly assailing him. What if she never woke up? What would he do if he lost her? A lump formed in the back of his throat. He couldn’t get a single word out for the next few moments.
Never taking his eyes off her, he finally said, "Please, doc. I owe her my life several times over. She means everything to me." Forcing a bit more grit into his voice, he followed up with, "Now move your ass. Help her."
After what seemed like endless moments of sizing each other up, Aaron’s relief was almost palpable when the doctor turned away from him with a half-cocked smile and began digging in his bag for supplies.
"Get a soft cloth and water," the doc said as he pulled a sterile syringe out of his goody bag. "Clean the wounds as well as you can, first with warm water, then cool."
"But she’s not moving," Aaron said, unable to keep the desperation out of his voice. Hell, he was so scared for Reya, her chest barely moving and her pulse much too sluggish. It was all he could do not to yell, scream and rant at the doctor who moved just a little too slowly.
"She’s not moving because the tranquilizer is meant for large game animals. It’s obvious you know that Reya fits into that category, but only when she’s in her shifted form. Once human, her metabolism changes to fit her body and the drug has a much more potent affect. She’ll be fine in a few hours. I’m more concerned about infection than I am about her sleeping."
"But…" Aaron sputtered, touching firm fingers to her wrist again just to make sure she still had a pulse.
"Stop worrying. Those wounds of hers will be all healed in a few days."
"Are you serious?" Aaron asked incredulously. The wreck on her back would have downed the heartiest man, but he was supposed to believe Reya could just shake it off in a few days? Then again, she wasn’t quite human. It would stand to reason that her body might behave differently than his. But hell, he didn’t feel like being reasonable. He wanted her awake, telling him he’d been a big jerk, telling him anything for that matter.
"Trust me. She’ll be fine. You get a cloth and water, I have to go pick up a few things." With that, Dr. Matons left the bedroom. A quiet but finite snap of the door told Aaron the doctor had left the apartment.
With a basin full of clean, warm water, Aaron moved to the side of the bed. His stomach muscles clenched wildly as he took in the sight of the damage done to his woman’s body. Her back was a mass of criss-crossed, angry, open lashes. The oozing pink and white raw flesh contrasted wildly against her dark skin.
Unable to take the sight of her ravaged body, Aaron dimmed the lights as he began to work, easing a soft cloth over the worst of the wounds. He changed the water in the basin three times before managing to clean all the cuts and dried blood. Where the hell was the damned doctor? It had been more than an hour since he’d left and there was still no sign of the man. When Reya awoke she would need something for the pain.
He wished he could give her something to forget her ordeal. Hell, he wanted something to help him forget. To erase the memory of the regal form of the gold and black jaguar squaring up to pounce on him, fangs bared with a menacing growl in its throat. Then the beautiful black-furred cat appeared. Almost as large as the male, her smooth coat reflected the pale moonlight as she barreled into the one meaning to attack him.
According to what Reya had taught him about the jaguars in the sanctuary, hunting together was almost unheard of with these solitary animals. Yet the black cat and two other majestic gold cats coordinated their efforts in order to protect him, fight for him.
Even when she’d thought he was leaving her for good, thought he didn’t want her, she’d come to protect him. Had sacrificed herself for him. God knows he didn’t deserve such a woman.
Closing his eyes, he could still see the aggressive jag’s claws ripping into Reya’s flanks. His ears couldn’t seem to push away the anguished roar that escaped her throat as the flesh of her back was torn open. He’d come so close to losing her. Trying to shake the memory, Aaron inadvertently dug his fingers into Reya’s tender flesh through the soft cloth.
A quiet moan rumbled through Reya’s too still body. Aaron looked down and immediately pulled his hand away. Flipping the cloth over in his hand, he grimaced. Fresh blood. Her blood. Rinsing it again, he ran it over her now fevered skin and braced himself when the sound came again. Something about the low sensual quality of Reya’s moans wrapped firmly around his balls and gently squeezed. Damn and double damn. The woman was hurt, and here he was getting horny over the way she moaned as he cleaned her up. Boy did he need help.
His eyes roamed over her nakedness in appreciation. She was a beautiful woman. And not just her facial features, but everything about her was exquisite. A brilliant mind, full of knowledge of everything from medicine, to big cats, to the latest and most popular anime movies. Physically, she was perfect—firm, toned, with everything in abundance. Her arms were cut and well defined, her stomach rippled and ridged. Breasts and hips were full and ample. Lush. All covered in rich cocoa skin.
Aaron had never really been into muscular women, but then again, he’d never had the pleas
ure of undressing one. Making love to one. Gently, slowly caressing every inch of delectable skin over solid muscle. And there was no doubt Reya was what he preferred.
As his fingers ran over her skin, the contrast of his fairer golden skin was sensually beautiful to him against her darker tones. His mind flitted to the memory of the sight and feel of his long, tanned fingers sliding into her silky, tight depths, so dark on the outside but pink as cotton candy on the inside. His unruly cock stirred. Damned good thing she was injured and unconscious, otherwise, he wouldn’t have been able to resist dragging her underneath him and burying himself to the hilt in her hot pussy.
Chapter Eight
Ooooh, that felt so good. Something cool and soft traipsed over her back with easy strokes. She wasn’t sure what it was, but it was so nice she didn’t really care. Before the coolness touched her skin, her back burned with such ferocity the pain reached beyond the tranquilizer to penetrate the peaceful darkness of unconsciousness. Half awake now, the intense fire from the deep claw marks was a dull ache rather than raw, pulsing pain.
Boy that tranq had really knocked her on her…oh god! The tranquilizer dart! It had pierced the deep muscle of her shoulder. A tranq dart shot by Aaron! She remembered hitting the dewy grass in her jaguar form. Considering she now lay in her human body, there was no doubt that her secret was out. Aaron knew she was a shifter.
This was definitely not good. He’d already left her bedroom with his lame excuse of wanting to "do right by her" but she knew the real reason. It was because he was trying to find a way to bow out gracefully. Well, if he needed a reason, her being a shifter was definitely it. Now that he knew who, or rather what, she was, he’d run hell for leather back to the States.
Captured Boxed Set: 9 Alpha Bad-Boys Who Will Capture Your Heart Page 31