Rockstar Untamed: A Single Dad Virgin Romance

by Michelle Love

  She stayed outside for a while, listening to the night until she suddenly felt prickles up and down her spin. All she could hear was her own breathing and her heart banging against her ribs, and she looked behind her. Nothing. But she felt as if she were being watched. The feeling continued, and eventually, she went back to her tent, tugging out her knife and putting it under her pillow. Paranoid? Maybe, she thought, but it made her feel comfortable enough to go back to sleep.

  At breakfast around the campfire, she told her teammates what she’d heard, and at last, they looked as excited as she was. They ate breakfast quickly, then packed up, eager to start the search and track the Jaguar. By noon, Riley found the scat of the big cat, and they followed a trail deeper into the jungle. They stopped at a small clearing next to the river. Riley bent down and scraped at the ground. “Look at that.” A very discernable paw print was buried in the mud. “And it’s fresh. God, this is fantastic.”

  Her good mood infected them all, and they had a good meal. “I’m going to suggest we work in shifts,” Riley said. “We take a couple of hours each in the night. Remember we’re here to observe, so do not infringe on the jaguar’s movements – it might just save your life. Have the sedative gun with you at all time, and do not lose focus. Remember it’s not just the Jag that will kill you out here. Who wants to take the first shift?”

  “I will.”

  “Good, thanks, Derek. I’ll do the two a.m. to four. That’s when I heard it last night.”

  Riley closed her eyes. She was disappointed that the Jaguar hadn’t appeared during her shift, but she hoped one of the guys might hear it. She desperately wanted to talk to someone about it, but after their initial excitement, the guys now seemed bored and listless.

  Am I fair, or it that I just want to talk to Lazlo about it? She smiled to herself. Usually, she reveled in the fact that out here, there was no cell phone signal, no wireless internet access but she wanted to talk to him, see his face.

  She was on the edge of R.E.M. sleep when she heard the Jaguar. Instantly awake, she scrambled out of her tent and into the night. She heard the men darting around searching out the sound. “Boys! Quiet!” She hissed into the darkness, but they ignored her. Cursing quietly, she ran to get her night vision goggles. Someone went past her, too close and whooped, making her jump. She heard the sound of a big cat yowling and crying, obviously annoyed at the intrusion and noise on her hunting ground. Terrified one of her team would be hurt, Riley grabbed her rifle and headed out in pursuit of her companions.

  A half hour later, she limped back to camp to find Derek alone. “Where are the others?”

  His eyes were wide. “I don’t know. As soon as they heard the cat, they were out of the tent, like they’d been expecting it. I’ve been searching, but I can’t see them anyway.”

  “Damn fools!” Riley was beyond angry now. “I knew I shouldn’t have brought these idiots with me.” She glanced at Derek. “Not you, Derek, you’re the only one with any sense.”

  “If I had sense, I would stand up to them,” he muttered, and Riley put her hand on his arm.

  “They’re morons, Derek. They’ve probably got themselves lost and maybe killed. Come on, it’s almost dawn. Let’s get set up for the day.”

  The other reappeared as Riley and Derek were having breakfast. They stood around sheepishly as Riley, apoplectic, bawled them out for ten minutes. Finally, she took a breath and Jonty fixed her with an insolent stare.

  “Riley…we did what we supposed to do. We tracked it to its lair. We know where it is.”

  “By terrifying it? By putting yourselves at risk? Jonty, I don’t want to hear it. After breakfast, we’ll follow your trail and hope to god she hasn’t abandoned it because of your idiocy.”

  Jonty’s face set in a patronizing grin. “You’ll be singing another song when we find the Jaguar. Oh, and by the way, your boyfriend’s not far ahead.”

  Riley froze and turned to face him slowly. “Excuse me?”

  Jonty grinned widely, and Riley wanted to pummel his face into the ground. “Lazlo Patron. Your fuck buddy. Come on, Riley, did you think we didn’t know?”

  Riley’s face set, but she could feel it burn red. “God, you really are a creep, you know that?”

  He leaned forward, and she could smell his dank breath and nose-searing body odor. “And you open your legs for the nearest billionaire, so what does that make you?”

  This time, she did punch him, putting all of her weight into the blow. Jonty, stunned, staggered back then lunged for her. Charlie and Paul dragged him away from her as Riley squared up for the fight. Despite the fact she was tiny in comparison to Jonty’s bulky, flabby form, she was ready for him, almost wanted him to try again but Paul stepped between them, and she felt Derek put his arm around her shoulder.

  “Come away, Riley, he’s not worth it.”

  It was with this tension that they made their way along the tracks that Paul and Charlie indicated. Jonty trailed at the back, sulking. Just as they said, they intersected with the Patron team again, and this time, Riley was open with them what they had found, knowing they were working towards the same goal. Lazlo watched her talking to his team with admiration in his eyes and then after, he asked her to join in in his trailer.

  As she climbed the steps, she glanced around to see Jonty giving her nasty smile and making an obscene gesture.

  “One minute,” she told Lazlo then went down to where Jonty was performing. She stalked up to him.

  “Jonty, you’re fired. Get your stuff together, and I’ll radio for a helicopter. I want you out of here tonight.”

  “You can’t fucking fire me, bitch,” he sneered, “I’m part of the Cambridge team – who the fuck do you think is funding this thing?”

  “Well, as from now, me,” Riley heard Lazlo’s voice behind her, “If it means Riley can get rid you. Is it just this clown, Riley, or all of them?”

  Riley’s eyes flicked to Paul and Charlie, who both looked nervous. “No. Just Jonty.”

  “Consider him gone,” Lazlo’s voice was like ice. “We have a supply team coming in tonight. They can take him back to Rio.”

  Riley smiled at Lazlo gratefully. “Thank you, Lazlo.”

  His eyes softened as he touched her face, not caring who was watching. “My pleasure, Principessa.”

  “Well, isn’t this just so fucking romantic?” Jonty wasn’t done yet. “Tell me, rich boy, does she fuck like a wild animal as well?”

  Lazlo’s face changed then, and Riley shivered as his bright green eyes went from soft to murderous in a flash. Such savage beauty, she thought, what a dangerous, dangerous man…

  Lazlo stepped towards Jonty, his presence at once magnetic and threatening. “You will apologize for that remark, figlio di puttana. Right now.”

  Jonty quelled under the big man’s towering machismo. “Sorry,” he shot at Riley, who put her hand on Lazlo’s arm.

  “Ignore the loser, Laz. Let’s go talk.”

  Lazlo stared at Jonty until the other man made himself scarce then turned back to Riley, taking her hand and leading her to his trailer. Inside, he let out a long breath.

  “That’s who they gave you to work with? I’d demand a refund.”

  Riley laughed. “I’m considering it.”

  Lazlo stroked her hair back behind her ear. “I’ve missed you.”

  She grinned. “It’s been two days, Laz.”

  “I still missed you.” He kissed her gently, and she sighed happily.

  “I missed you too. I heard a Jaguar, heard her roar and you were the first person I wanted to tell. That’s crazy, huh?”

  Lazlo shook his head. “I feel the same way. We heard her last night and went out to listen, only to hear those idiotic crashing through the jungle.” He was unbuttoning her shirt as he spoke and she grinned at him.

  “I’m sorry about them.” Her shirt was open now, and Lazlo pulled the lacy cup of her bra down and took her nipple into his mouth. Riley closed her eyes, focusing solely on
the sensations he was sending through her body. “God, Laz…”

  They stripped each other slowly, then as Lazlo laid on the small bunk in the trailer, Riley climbed on top of him, stroking his huge cock as it hardened and quivered in her hand. Lazlo’s eyes roamed all over her body as his fingers caressed her breasts, her belly, before clamping onto her hips, lifting her and impaling her on his cock. Riley moaned softly as they began to move together.

  Breathless, Riley moved her hips harder each time, wanting to take him in deeper and deeper, until she was crying with desire. She came, and Lazlo flipped around, hitching her legs around him as he fucked her again and again. He took her on the floor, in the shower, pressed hard against the wall of the trailer as he fucked her from behind. They kissed, and tore at each other, completely absorbed in their coupling.

  Eventually, they stopped, breathing hard, embracing softly as they recovered. “God, you are an incredible woman, Riley Monckton,” he said, stroking the flat of his hand down her belly. “When we get back to Rio, I’m going to romance you properly, dinner, dancing.”

  She grinned up at him. “You know what though, Lazlo? This is my fantasy, not those things. It’s nirvana for me, being out here in the wild, with a gloriously sexy man who looks at me like you’re looking at me right now. I don’t need dinner and dancing and diamonds and pearls. I just need you and the open air.”

  He kissed her, his smile wide. “I feel the same, despite my wealth. Did you know, that while I made my fortune in property, my passion has always been conservation? My degree is actually in marine biology – I know that’s not the same thing but even at eighteen, I know there had to be something other than making money. I’m not saying I don’t enjoy the wealth – I would be a stupid man to say that – and it has allowed me to finally follow my passion. And in my doing so, I found a new passion.”

  Riley flushed with pleasure. “You are the most incredible man. “Lazlo bent his head to kiss her, and they began where they had left off.

  Later, at dinner around the campfire, Riley began to talk to some of Lazlo’s team and found them all friendly and inclusive. She regretted being so stuffy before, and as they chatted, suddenly the noise of a helicopter came overhead.

  Lazlo stood up. “The supply run. Go get the idiot, and I’ll ask them to take him back to Rio.”

  Riley went to find Jonty but found only Paul, Charlie, and Derek. “Where’s Jonty?”

  “Gone.” Derek’s voice was flat. “We’ve been looking for him, but he’s nowhere. His stuff is gone. We think he’s gone back into the jungle.”

  Riley gave a hiss. “Bloody idiot. Well, that’s his call. The idiot will probably get himself killed but to be honest, I don’t care. We don’t have the time or the resources to look for him. You three okay to head out again in the morning?”

  They all nodded, but Riley sensed tension there. “Look, guys…Jonty was bad news. And I don’t mean to say that because he insulted me, I couldn’t give a crap about that. He was lazy and non-committal, and his instincts were shoddy. We’ll do better without him.”

  “So, you’re just going to leave him in the jungle?” Paul’s voice was hard.

  “I’m not leaving him anywhere,” Riley said, “Jonty made a choice. If you need me, I’ll be in Lazlo’s trailer.”

  None of them made a comment as she walked out and Riley wondered if she shouldn’t stay in the tent with them. They’re big boys, she told herself, and, besides, there’s no way I’m not taking every second I can get with Lazlo.

  It was just before midnight before the camp turned in. Lazlo and Riley made love slowly then talked until the early hours. Lazlo told her about his family back in Italy. “Four sisters, all older,” he laughed, “I adore all of them. They’re doctors and scientists and writers, all of them and when I’m home – which is all too rare these days – I am very much the little brother.”

  Riley smiled, and he brushed his lips against hers. “What about you?”

  “No siblings,” she said, “Mom died of cancer a few years ago.”

  “That’s rough,” he sympathized, “so it’s just you and your father?”

  She shook her head. “No. He’s not in my life. Hasn’t been since I was five.”

  “I’m sorry.”

  Riley shrugged. “I’m not. I learned to look after myself pretty young. Mom was sick for a long time.”

  Lazlo looked down at her with concern in his eyes. “Who looks after you when you can’t look after yourself?”

  Riley shrugged, feeling uncomfortable and Lazlo kissed her. “I have the feeling, Principessa, that you don’t trust easily.”

  She nodded. “That is true, Lazlo.”

  “Then I am sorry that, after our first night, I wasn’t honest with you. I promise you, Riley, I will always be truthful with you from now on.”

  And she believed him.

  Lazlo had tried to persuade her to join their teams, but Riley had refused gently. “I need to do this if only for the headache of red tape it’ll save us. The University can get very funny about cross-pollination if it means they don’t get the win.”

  Lazlo laughed. “Fair enough, but look, at least let’s make a plan to meet again in a couple of days see where we are. We’re heading a little north of here for the next day.”

  Riley nodded. “Perfect.” They arranged to meet at anther clearing in two days’ time, then made love again before breakfast. Lazlo kissed her goodbye in front of everyone, not caring what they thought.

  “Two days, cara mia,” he said softly, and she nodded.

  “Two days.”

  The Cambridge team set out south along the river. As the sun beat down, Riley found the jaguar’s scat and they began to track it. Riley was getting excited now. As they stopped for water along the river, Riley grinned at her teammates. “It’s close.”

  “Told you so.”

  The voice came from behind her and Riley’s heart sank as Jonty stepped out of the tree line.

  “What the fuck are you doing here, Jonty?”

  He smiled. “About to get my reward.” He made a move with his head, and Paul and Charlie grabbed Riley and wrestled her to the ground. Derek yelled, but Jonty simply stepped up to him and punched him. Derek tottered for a moment then fell into the river. Riley was shouting and struggling against Paula and Charlie’s hold.

  “Hold her down,” Jonty barked, but Riley was gaining traction, their grip was loosening. Then Jonty straddled her legs and sat on top of her. Riley was crying now, so angry and terrified, and when Jonty drew the knife from his pocket, pure ice ran in her veins.

  Jonty put his face close to hers. “Stop struggling, you little bitch, or I’ll gut you and leave you to the animals. Want to be eaten alive?”

  Riley stopped struggling. Jonty pulled out a hypodermic syringe from his pocket and smiling he flicked off the from the needle.

  “What the fuck is that?” Charlie looked askance. Jonty grinned.

  “Just a little gift from our pet arachnid.” He sought a vein on Riley’s arm, and she knew she was in serious, serious trouble here, and there was no way out.

  “Why are you doing this?” She panted, trying to struggle again but Jonty laughed.

  “You didn’t think we came out here to preserve the cute kitty cat, did you? We’re going to make millions, Riley, fucking millions, thanks to some friend we met in Rio. And you, well, you’re going to die a very, very painful death – a tragedy. Don’t worry, we’ll make sure you’re known as a heroine back home, that despite the bad luck of a fatal spider bite, you fought to the last. Lazlo Patron and his prick will mourn you, sweetheart, I’m sure.”

  “Fuck’s sake, Jonty, this is over-the-top,” Paul looked disgusted. “Just stick the knife in her and let’s get out of here.”

  Jonty’s face was grim. “That would be a kindness, Paul, and this bitch doesn’t deserve it. Besides a spider bite fatality can be explained; a stabbing not so much. Hold still, sweetheart.”

  Riley sucked in a deep
breath as Jonty injected the spider venom into her vein and she screamed as loudly as she could. Jonty slapped her viciously across the face. “Shut up, you little cunt. Now, you should start feeling the symptoms very soon, beautiful. Uncontrollable shivering, sweating then comes the pain. By the time anyone thinks to come looking for you, you’ll be long dead. Goodbye, Dr. Monckton.”

  They let her go then and disappeared into the trees. Riley lay panting for a few minutes, considering her options. If she ran, the poison would course through her veins quickly. If she stayed where she was…god, she almost wished Jonty had stabbed her, at least she might have a chance that the knife would miss her arteries or major organs. She felt a wave of nausea and rolled to throw up. The poison wasn’t her only fear of course – anything could crawl out of the river or out of the jungle and finish her.

  “Fuck it!” She growled and began to crawl, slowly, along the river mud, distracting herself from dying, by search the river with her eyes for any sign of Derek. If he was alive, he was her only hope.

  Half an hour later, she could no longer move – all she could do was scream. The pain had caused such severe abdominal cramps that now she was throwing up and up, and nothing was coming up, but her entire being was in agony. When she could no longer scream, then came the delirium. Night fell, and Riley lay on the river mud, waiting to die.

  She hallucinated that Lazlo was there and that he was making love to her while she was screaming in agony, and that no matter how much she begged, he would not help her. Riley’s last coherent thought before she gave into unconsciousness was regret that she would never know what their future might be.