Moto laughed and glanced around at his buddies. He yanked the utensil from Kelly’s hand. A startled expression swept her face. Then Moto turned toward Alex and pounced.
Alex gasped for air, crushed beneath the mammoth’s great weight.
* * *
When Moto smashed his beefy fist into Alex’s eye, Kelly winced. Unable to stand by and do nothing to help Alex, she glanced around for a more substantial weapon.
Nearby, stood the woman with the toothless grin and the chief’s daughter Aleah. Both appeared to be waiting to console whatever was left of Alex. She grasped a nearby chair and swung as hard as she could at Moto’s head . . . but missed. The bamboo chair landed with a thud on the ground, inches from Alex’s face.
He gazed up at her from where he lay flat on his back. “Are you trying to help me?” he asked sardonically.
She cringed. “Sorry.”
She lifted the chair again. Moto swiped out with his huge hand and shoved her aside. She stumbled, but with the distraction, Alex managed to roll away from Moto’s bulk.
His breathing coming in gasps, Alex hastened to his feet. “My thanks, love. I can’t let him get me down again.” He stripped off his t-shirt and flung it aside and circled the giant. When an opportunity appeared, Alex landed an upper cut against the giant’s jaw. “He’s like a bloody brick wall.”
Moto’s eyes rolled in astonishment. He shook off his dazed expression and lunged, but Alex moved out of the way as Moto charged past, then struck him from behind with a kick. The huge native landed in the dirt.
Then the giant lumbered to his feet and became an angry bull ready to charge.
Kelly shrieked, “Run, Alex. Run.”
A sheen coated Alex’s lean, muscular frame as he circled Moto near her. “Not today, love.”
When Moto moved toward him, Alex kicked him in the stomach. Finally, with another punch, Moto’s mouth dropped open. Alex followed with an uppercut that made the giant’s teeth snap, a chop to his throat, and finished with a kick in the groin. The large man let out a painful yelp, then doubled over and sank to the ground.
Kelly exhaled a ragged sigh of relief.
Breathing hard, Alex staggered to a nearby bench.
Running to him, she threw her trembling arms around his neck and kissed his perspiring cheek. “You’ve won. When did you learn martial arts?”
Alex grinned, his lip cut and bleeding. “When I was a boy, after several brawls, my mother insisted I take lessons. Kelly, did you think I got the leading role in the movie about a spy who kicked butt, for nothing? Bloody hell, I wasn’t going to let that gigantic moron force himself on you.”
“You’re amazing,” she said, squeezing him. “Thank you so much.”
Moto lay in a moaning heap on the ground. Dogs gathered around and licked his face. His friends helped him to his feet.
Kelly didn’t miss the threatening glance he shot at Alex before departing with his buddies. A feeling passed over her that Moto wasn’t through with them.
Wamba pounded Alex on the back. “Moto won’t be bullying anyone for a while. He’s in disgrace.” He held Alex’s arm up in a victory salute. The villagers cheered.
When Wamba took their hands, everyone grew silent. He spoke a few words in his native language, then gave Alex and Kelly a broad grin. “Congratulations. I’ve blessed your union and told my people that according to laws of our Yangono, you are husband and wife.”
Kelly shot a glance toward Alex, surprised to find him smiling, busted lip and all. But then, why not? He knew this marriage wasn’t binding in their world and that it was only a device to save her from Moto.
On the stage, musicians beat drums in a celebration song. The only ones who appeared not to be jubilant were the two women interested in Alex.
No matter what Alex wanted from their relationship, he deserved her tender care for all he had done for her. She picked up his discarded shirt and reached for his hand.
“My hero, come with me,” she said.
They walked the short distance to the stream. After he dove in and splashed off the dust, they sat on a bench near a torch.
“Let me see the damage.” In the torchlight, and using Alex’s wet shirt, she dabbed at the blood on his face. “I’m so sorry you were hurt because of me. You saved me again.”
“I don’t know. Even if he’d thrashed me to a bloodied pulp, I think you would have figured some way out, love. The way you swung that chair—”
“And the way I almost slammed you with it.” She lightly touched his mouth. “Too bad we don’t have any ice. You’re going to have a black eye, and your lip is cut, but your beautiful face is still intact.”
He snorted, as if to say he wasn’t beautiful, but he was, and he was way too good looking for her own good. And tonight, he was the man she loved with all of her heart.
Kelly gently pressed the wet shirt to his cheek. “I think we should go to bed . . . early.”
At her suggestion, his eyes flared with heat.
They walked hand-in-hand back to their hut. Inside, with only the light of the moon shining through a window, she stood before him. “You didn’t have to risk yourself and fight Moto, or do all the things you’ve done for me since we’ve been lost. Thank you.” Rising on her toes, she gave him a quick kiss on the cheek. “If you don’t want to, I understand.”
With a chuckle, Alex drew her close, pressing his face against her hair. “Oh, I want to and you know it, but I won’t have you sleeping with me to thank me.”
Thanking him wasn’t it at all. She wanted to tell him she’d fallen hopelessly in love with him. Aware he wouldn’t want to hear those words though, she shrugged. “I’ve missed being with you.”
He grinned in the moonlight. “Then stop talking and kiss me.”
She wound her arms around his neck and pressed her lips to his. He placed his hands on her waist. If temporary was the best she would have with him, she’d take what she could get.
Before things progressed too far, she gently touched her finger to his bottom lip. “Does it hurt much?”
“No,” he said, his voice light with warmth. “And you heard what Wamba announced. On this island, we’re married.” He drifted his fingers down her back and fumbled for the ties on her top and skirt. With little effort, the outfit fluttered to the floor. “How convenient,” he quipped.
With only flowers and beads in her hair, she stood before him. The breeze cooled her hot, naked skin.
He stripped off his wet shorts and pulled her down beside him on the cot. “You were angry with me the last time.”
“No, not at all. I was afraid of the risks we were taking.” Now, even those risks couldn’t affect how much she wanted him.
His demanding lips caressed hers in a long kiss. She relished the feel of his naked skin against hers. Being in his arms, with her mouth pressed to his, all seemed so right. She swirled again into a pool of desire.
“You’re not under the influence of too much kava?” he asked, his breath warm and fanning her ear.
“No,” she said with a sweet shiver. “It’s worn off.” At this point, she didn’t think either of them could have stopped, for he already nibbled a trail of kisses down the column of her throat.
His stubbled cheeks bristled against her bare shoulder. “Good. I want your full consent. Just promise me you won’t be sorry later.”
“I won’t be.”
His mouth sought hers and he kissed her tenderly, while his hands stroked her breasts. She ached inside, not only to satisfy their desire, but for something magical to happen between them. Although he might not want her love, she wanted to surrender her entire being to him.
While she moved her hands over him, his hands and lips touched her everywhere, stoking a fire. “I need you, Kelly.”
She responded by wrapping her hand around his erection and guiding him into her slick wetness.
Her surrender was more than the physical act of love, and she knew she’d never be the same without him. Whil
e he stroked inside her, their heartbeats beat in time together, a union of two souls.
Afterwards, she rested in the security of his arms, thinking uneasily about how much she loved him. What was she going to do?
* * *
The sun’s first rays crept through the window. Somewhere a rooster crowed. Alex traced his finger down Kelly’s bare spine, delighted when she wiggled her hips. His smile dimmed at the memory of yesterday. If he hadn’t brushed up on his martial arts fighting skills, enough to look good for his role in the The Spy . . . He hated to think of yesterday’s outcome if he’d lost the fight.
He leaned over and nibbled on the delectable curve between her neck and shoulder, while his fingers trailed up the silky skin of her warm stomach. She heaved a sigh and rolled over to face him.
She pulled the towel over her breasts. “After last night, I guess we’re shameless.”
He caressed an auburn curl and gazed into her sapphire eyes. “Having regrets already?”
She shook her head. “I’ll never regret being with you.”
Realizing his desire for her never remained extinguished for long, he sighed. “I’m glad as I had the most amazing night with you. What do you say we have a repeat performance, love?”
Her gaze traveled down to his bulge against the towel. She pulled it back for a peep. “Oh, I see,” she said, with an impish grin. “But it looks like a huge, personal problem to me.”
“Brat.” He tugged the towel out of her grasp. “But it’s you I don’t see enough of.” She laughed and let him look his fill. His blood stirred hotly as he cupped and molded her breasts with his hands. “I like to look at you. You have such a lovely body. I also want to touch and taste.” He leaned over and drew lazy circles with his tongue on her nipple, causing it to pucker. She gasped in pleasure. He smiled and ran his fingers over her bare stomach, working his way lower.
When he reached what he sought and sunk his fingers into her warmth, she sighed and relaxed on the pallet. “Oh my.”
He chuckled. “You heard what Wamba said. We might be here for a while, and I intend to enjoy every moment we work on this mutual sensual pleasure.” He leaned forward and kissed her sweet lips, taken aback by the depth of the emotions she stirred in him.
From outside the door of the hut, Wamba said, “Alex Drake, we need to talk.”
Kelly whispered, “Now?”
“Chief, we’ll be out in a moment.” He kissed her and then tapped her chin. “Later, love. All right?”
After dressing, they stepped out of the hut to find Wamba wrenching his hands. “Moto is running wild. The fool has set fire to one hut. We’ve tied him down, but we won’t be able to hold him forever. He says he’ll kill you for making him lose the respect of the people, and then he’ll claim Kelly as his wife. You won’t be safe here.”
Alex clasped Kelly’s hand in a reassuring grip. “But where can we go?”
“There is one place,” Wamba said in a rushed voice. “A small island close by. It belongs to an American. From there you should be able to make your way home. We have observed their boats occasionally, but mostly their island is uninhabited.”
Alex removed his diamond wedding band from his pocket. “We can pay you with this ring to take us there.”
Wamba pushed away his extended hand and the offering. “Keep it. You might need it to barter with these other people. If they don’t help you, we’ll take you with us to the mainland in six months.” He patted Alex’s back. “Moto’s angry, but you’ve done much for us, proving that Moto can be beaten. When I die, they will stand up to Motto and pick a more worthy leader until my son is grown to lead them.”
* * *
The trip took over an hour in the rundown motorboat. When they reached an island with a high peak, the natives motored into a cove where an unoccupied dock came into view. Alex didn’t see any other evidence of habitation until the men pointed up the hill to where a roof peeked out through heavy foliage. He hauled their bags out, and the islanders waved and left the cove.
“Seems rustic, but it’s a real house,” Kelly said in awe.
“I feel it. We’re closer to going home.”
They trudged up the steep hill. From the beach, the two-story house had been barely detectable, blending in with the natural surroundings. From further up, they saw the building took advantage of its perch overlooking the ocean. An antenna, satellite dish, and a large array of solar panels were mounted on the roof.
“Alex, do you think they’ll take us to the mainland?”
“We’ll give them my ring, with the promise to pay more, but it doesn’t look as if they’re in need of money.”
Her brow wrinkled with worry. “My thoughts, too. I wonder what business they’re in.”
He shrugged. “It’s probably some rich man’s holiday home.” He didn’t feel as confident as his words and chalked his uneasiness up to the fact that it was hard to believe their luck could be changing. He reassured Kelly with a grin. “Let’s find out if anyone’s home.”
Before he knocked on the door, he glanced at Kelly. His smile faded. Her provocative beauty had gotten him into trouble with the natives. His sore ribs and face attested to that fact.
He didn’t want to chance her generating more problems on this island. “Come here.” He smoothed her hair with his hands, but her thick auburn curls would not behave. Frowning, he straightened the worn and ripped t-shirt that exposed her left shoulder. She raised her gaze to his, silently questioning his actions.
He gave her a weak smile. “You look entirely too enticing and adorable for our own good.” Heaven help them if these people weren’t honorable. “Let me do the talking.”
He knocked on the door. When no one answered, they walked around to the side of the house and peered into the windows––still no sign of anyone. “Let’s check the lower level.”
When they found everything locked, Alex picked up a rock.
Kelly grabbed his arm. “You’re not going to break a window?”
“If I have to, love. These aren’t normal circumstances. We can’t wait out here for their return. But if it makes you feel better, I’ll try something else first.” He retrieved the rope from one of the bags and knotted it tightly to the rock. “Jack Stone, my character in The Spy, had to do this.”
Her lips pursed and she crossed her arms over her chest.
“Now don’t frown at me like I’m crazy . . . Let’s give it a go.” He threw the rock a few times until the rope wrapped around the railing. He yanked and lodged the stone securely, then scaled the wall to the second floor. “The door is unlocked,” he yelled over the balcony.
A minute later, he opened the door on the lower level. With a bow, he gestured for her to enter the room. “I’ve had enough rusticating, haven’t you? Welcome to our temporary home.”
* * *
While she explored the house, Kelly tried to push aside her guilt about invading someone’s home.
“Don’t worry so much,” Alex said, “We’ll explain our situation and pay them handsomely for the use of everything, once we get home.”
A living area with a television, bar, table, sofa and a galley kitchen, with a well-stocked pantry, took up most of the lower floor. Game machines and a pool table were located on one end. She frowned, perplexed by the nearby utility room with a row of bunk beds.
Upstairs, they found three, nicely furnished bedrooms, each with a private bathroom, and another living area with an entertainment center and a more elaborate kitchen. Kelly stepped through sliding glass doors onto a large balcony. Over the treetops, one could see the ocean and anyone who approached the house.
Her stomach growled so she headed to the kitchen and rummaged through the cabinets.
Alex walked in. “The two-way radio doesn’t work because the power supply has been removed, and the computer requires a password.”
Kelly sighed. “We had such hope. What do we do now?”
“It’s only a setback, love.”
She pulle
d out a box of spaghetti from the pantry. “Are you hungry?”
“Famished.”
She took a saucepan from a cabinet. “At least we’ll live in comparative luxury while we wait for the owners. There’s plenty of food.”
Alex walked to the bar. “Let’s celebrate some good fortune then.” He opened a bottle of red wine and handed her a glass. “We are going to make ourselves at home.”
The nagging in the back of her mind refused to be stilled. “I can’t help it, but I feel weird taking over their house. And there is something about this place I don’t like.”
“We’ll explain our situation when the owners arrive.” She knew he always thought everything would work out, but her stomach tensed into a tight ball of nerves.
She blew out a deep breath, deciding to shove away her doubts. “You’re right. These aren’t ordinary circumstances. As long as you think they’ll understand,” she added with a rueful smile. “I like the comforts of a house as much as you do. I’ve found coffee and books. It’s like we’ve died and gone to Heaven.” She held her wine glass out to him for a toast. “To getting home.”
He clinked his glass to hers. “To going home.” They sipped the dry, fruity wine.
“This tastes great, but before I drink it, I’m taking a shower. I found scissors. When I’m finished, will you trim my hair?”
“Sure. Can I trust you with mine as well?” he asked.
Kelly entered a bathroom, stripped off her clothes and stepped into the large shower. She basked in the welcome luxury of warm water, shampoo, and scented soap.
Alex opened the frosted glass door. His gaze traveled down her naked body. “Since our hosts aren’t here, do you mind if I join you?” he asked, his voice turning husky.
She smiled. “There’s room for two.”
He joined her in the shower and lathered himself with soap, but then he couldn’t seem to keep his hands off her. He bent and drank the water running off one of her breasts and then latched onto her nipple. Heat exploded through her. She threaded her fingers through his hair. He lifted his head and kissed her lips while running his soapy hands over her body, caressing her. Kelly arched her back and moaned. When his fingers stroked her intimately, her knees grew weak and she clung to him for support.
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