Camryn slapped at a large mosquito-like insect and wondered about diseases. Too late to worry now, and given the habits of the hell-horse, catching an illness from an insect bite was the least of her problems. A bird flitted from a tree branch on her left. It flew so close its wings almost touched her face, and she practically jumped out of her boots.
“
Eek!
”
Ry whirled so suddenly she screeched again. A feral expression stretched across his face and his weapon cleared his holster in seconds flat. “What is it?” His gaze roved the trees and the narrow path behind them, his stance taut and warrior ready. “Where?”
Heat stained her cheeks. “The bird gave me a fright.”
“A bird?” The incredulity in Kaya’s voice sent a renewed wash of color to her face.
“I’m sorry.” Camryn shrugged, attempting nonchalance but her cheeks flamed with her embarrassment. She wasn’t normally such a girl. God, she could do with a stiff drink right now.
Kaya muttered under her breath and continued down the narrow path winding between the trees. The leaves crackled beneath her boots with each confident step.
“You go first. I’ll bring up the rear,” Ry said.
Camryn nodded, following Kaya. The moist scent of decaying leaves and dampness filled every breath. Camryn shivered, feeling as if hidden eyes watched her. Firm footsteps sounded behind and the sense of someone observing her persisted. Her back prickled beneath the clinging fabric of her tunic, her senses working overtime.
She glanced over her shoulder and stumbled at the heat she saw in Ry’s green eyes. Her breath caught and she tripped over a jutting tree root.
“Easy.” Ry scooped her up and set her on her feet in one fluid motion. His hands spanned her waist, his touch searing hot.
Camryn bit back a stunned gasp. The desire to throw herself into his arms astonished her. Definitely unwanted, but her dismay didn’t stop the yearning. This yearning was worse than craving a shot of whiskey. She forced herself to turn away, to keep walking, one step after another. Her breasts strained against the cups of her bra while her tunic and trews rubbed her sensitized skin. She gulped, confused and irritated at the blast of arousal.
It was Ry. He’d done something alien and tricky to her body while she’d slept. Each step tortured her. Her hands shook while excitement thundered through her in waves. She wanted to turn and throw herself at him so bad, she ached with the desire. But Camryn continued walking, concentrating on taking one step at a time. The attraction and sheer lust for Ry wasn’t natural. She must fight. Gabriel. Concentrate on Gabriel—the good times, not the bad.
The track branched off, each fork leading deeper into the bush.
Kaya stopped. “Which way?”
“We need to get into open land,” Ry said. “We haven’t seen any wildlife apart from birds and insects. Can either of you hear the river?”
Camryn cocked her head to listen and couldn’t discern anything apart from the insect and birdsong.
“Nothing,” Kaya said.
Ry studied each path before saying, “The river is on our right. I can hear the water. We’ll keep going for another two hours before we head to the tender.”
Kaya moved off and Camryn followed. Two hours later they halted after forcing their way through heavy undergrowth and tall trees and seeing not a sign of open land or large animals.
“We’d better head back if we want to make it before nightfall.” Ry lifted his head, his nostrils flaring. “We don’t know if there are other large predators around.” He prowled back in the direction they’d come from.
Camryn stumbled after him, so tired she could barely lift her feet. She kept her gaze on his back and pushed her body to keep moving. Sweat dribbled down her face and trickled uncomfortably between her breasts. Her entire body ached with the unaccustomed exertion while her arms and face bore nicks and angry scratches from sharp branches and vines blocking their way.
Despite the approach of nightfall, the humid heat clung stubbornly, and Camryn felt as if a soggy blanket enclosed her body. Her steps started to waver and all she could think of was walking into the river and submerging her sweaty body in the cool water. Maybe a cold bath would make her stop thinking about Ry too.
“Captain!” Kaya hollered from behind her.
Ry stopped and trotted back to them. He took one look at Camryn and his expression tightened with irritation. “Why didn’t you say you were struggling?”
“I’ll be fine after a bath and a stiff drink.”
“Kaya, you go ahead. I’ll watch Camryn.”
Camryn started to protest but the savage determination on his face snapped her mouth shut. With a militant expression, she stomped after Kaya, her tiredness dissipating in a burst of temper. She didn’t need him to watch over her. She needed him to leave her alone.
After what seemed like days, the canopy thinned and the oppressive gloominess lightened. Weak patches of sunlight left light and shadows on the ground while in the distance she heard the rush of the water.
“Almost there, sweetheart.” The husky voice sounded near her ear and she became aware of a strong hand grasping her right arm, keeping her vertical.
Camryn staggered into the clearing where they’d landed the tender. Up ahead, Kaya started running.
“A blue pox on it! Someone has broken into the tender.” She pulled out her weapon and circled their transport before advancing up the ramp.
“Stay here.” Ry pushed Camryn behind a tree. She collapsed to the ground, her exhausted legs refusing to hold her weight.
Ry darted forward. Camryn muttered a rude word under her breath and thought longingly of a drink. She couldn’t wait to remove her clothes and wash in the river.
“All clear,” Kaya snapped. “There’s no one here.”
“Damage?”
“Looks like they were after parts. Nanu is gonna be pissed. The thieves weren’t careful when they removed the parts they wanted.”
“Camryn, you can come out now.”
Camryn groaned. Fine for him. Quite frankly, she wasn’t sure her legs would hold her body up long enough to make the safety of the tender.
No sooner had she thought it then he stood in front of her. With gentle hands he scooped her up. A protest lodged in her throat but he bent his head and stopped it with his lips, rubbing them against hers until every thought of dissention faded.
“You did well,” he whispered when he lifted his head. He set her down in the middle of their campsite. “Take off your boots and relax. I’m going to check out the damage then change to cat to try and track whoever did this.”
“Stop reading my mind.” She had to talk to Mogens again about blocking.
“What, you don’t want to have a swim in the river?”
Camryn growled low in her throat, copying the same low-pitched sound she’d heard him make when they made love. He had the audacity to laugh, the rich chuckle fading when he entered the tender and disappeared from sight. She slumped, the craving for a drink and the comfort of Gabriel’s chair so strong she shook with it. The backs of her eyes smarted. She swallowed, her throat so tight it ached. Fatigue weighed her down, dragging her low into familiar despair. A tear trickled free, followed by another and another. A sob tore loose.
Gabriel. She needed him—the touch of his callused hand, his quirky smile, wise counsel and the way he’d made her feel secure. She hadn’t felt safe since he’d died two years ago.
Gabriel.
The rapid approach of footsteps froze her mid-sob. Camryn squeezed her eyes tightly closed.
“You okay?” Jannike’s stern demand held compassion.
“Yeah.” Camryn forced the answer past the knot in her throat. She sniffed. “I’m fine. Someone broke into the tender. Kaya is pissed.”
“Aw fukk.” Jannike took off at a run, her boots clomping up the tender ramp.
Camryn wiped her eyes. Staggering, she forced her tired body off the ground and headed to the edge of the river. She kicked off her boots and socks and sat on a rock to dip her feet into the water, sitting for a long time.
The huge sun, or whatever they called it here, dropped below the horizon, bright green and pink streamers coloring the clouds before darkness fell. Across the other side of the river, Camryn heard the growl and mock-fighting of animals. They splashed and frolicked in the water while taking an evening drink.
“Camryn, you need to come back to camp now. It’s not safe out here.” Ry prowled out of the darkness and her heart skipped a beat. His chest was bare and it was obvious he’d just returned from a run in feline form.
“I need to wash.”
“Not on your own.” Ry walked up to her and curved an arm around her waist. “If you want to wash do it now.” He pulled away and started to tug off his boots. “You have ten mins.”
Camryn wanted to tell him to go to hell, but he stepped behind her, smoothed his hand across her shoulder, his fingers drifted across her collarbone. The fight went out of her. Her body softened and she leaned into his strong, bare chest, her trepidation and precious memories of Gabriel fading. His heat warmed her cooling body and suddenly desire writhed through her veins.
“What are you?” she demanded, turning in his arms to glare up at him. The light hit his eyes and they glowed with unearthly brilliance. “What have you done to me?” She took a step back when the glow intensified.
“Camryn, you know what I am. You’ve seen me in my other form. Know I would never hurt you. Never.” Ry closed the distance between them again.
“You kidnapped me from my home.” Not that her family would notice. They were probably relieved she wasn’t there to embarrass them any longer.
“Business. Everything else is very personal.” He trailed his fingers across her cheek.
Camryn gasped the instant he made contact. Heat flashed across her skin. It tugged across her breasts, pulling her nipples tight and zapping straight to her pussy. She gulped at the electric charge when he rubbed his fingers across the same part of her neck he’d bitten earlier. Her knees trembled and buckled. She sagged against him, burying her face against his naked chest.
Ry held her easily. With one hand he removed her thin tunic and tussled with her bra. “How do you get this thing off? Never mind.” He tugged the cups aside, revealing tight nipples. With a rumbling purr, he dipped his head and licked across the plump curve of her breast with a decadent stroke of his tongue. He finished with a quick flick across her nipple. Ry lifted his head, studied her reaction. The cool trail left by his mouth tingled. It wasn’t enough. She wanted more. She wanted his mouth on her nipple, sucking. Part of Camryn knew she’d regret it later. Right now she didn’t care. She hungered.
“Please, Ry. I ache. I need you to make it stop.”
“Let me take off your clothes.” With economy of movement, he pulled off her bra, trousers and panties, leaving her naked. Ry didn’t take his eyes off her while he stripped. His eyes glowed, yet again reminding her of his predator status.
Camryn swallowed, poised at the edge of the water. Gabriel. A picture from their last evening together flitted through her mind, but it dissipated the instant Ry grasped her hand and tugged her into the swirling water. She hesitated when the cool water hit her heated skin. Gooseflesh rose on her arms and legs. The current dragged at her legs, but Ry anchored her with his strength. He pulled her deeper into the river until it covered her breasts.
“Put your hands on my shoulders,” he whispered against her ear when he’d directed them into a calmer part of the water. “I don’t like getting wet. You make it fun.”
Camryn didn’t want to like him but his grin drew her. Slowly she grasped his shoulders and let the current brush their bodies together. She melted into him, rubbing against his groin to gain relief from the ache that had reignited the moment they’d touched. She rubbed fingers across his jaw, the dark stubble rough beneath her fingers. Her lips followed the same path. She nibbled along his jaw before she reached his ear. She licked across the delicate whorls, enjoying the way he offered himself and the soft purrs he made.
“Enough,” he growled, and he lifted her, curling her legs around his waist and opening her to his touch. His fingers probed slippery folds, dipped and delved and rubbed across her clit.
Camryn shivered, the contrast of her warm body and the cool water driving her high. Ry captured her mouth, and when she opened to him, he pushed his tongue inside, stroking against hers. Desire, liquid and molten, simmered inside. Quick and fast. Exactly what she needed. She wriggled against him, trying to capture his erection with her hand.
“Now,” she demanded. “Ry, now. Please.”
He tipped back his head, his eyes sparkling and catlike when they caught the scant light cast by the single moon. He leaned over to capture her lips and pressed into her open body, allowing her to control the pace.
Damn, that felt good. She sank down on his cock, feeling the slow stretch until fully impaled. He throbbed deep inside her channel and it kindled a fire storm inside her body.
“You feel perfect,” he murmured. “Hot and wet and so fraggin’ sweet.” He nuzzled her neck and bit down on the fleshy part of her shoulder. It should’ve hurt, but instead intense pleasure filled her. Her pussy flexed around his cock, gripping him hard and making her gasp.
The muscles of his stomach contracted when he lifted her. He let her body sink back onto his shaft. He pinched one nipple, the exquisite pain shooting straight to her core. Why was he so addictive? This was wrong yet she couldn’t stop, didn’t want to halt.
She leaned into him, kissing his neck, tasting the clean and salty tang of his skin. He thrust, increasing the pace of his strokes until pleasure coursed through her and she clung. She needed to move, she needed to touch and kiss. And some deep instinct bade she make her mark. She licked across his neck, grazed her teeth across the smooth column. Back and forth. Back and forth. Ry groaned. His body tensed when she bit down.
“Yes,” he hissed between clenched teeth. “Harder.”
Camryn let him feel her teeth. At the same time he pinched and tugged at her nipple. He changed the angle of his strokes, his thrust grazing across her swollen clit. Her hips jerked, the sensations intense.