His Lost Mate (A Steamy Paranormal Romance Novel) (11 page)

“Hmmm. I seem to remember I beat you at the gun range.”

Deven groaned. “How can I forget, you always manage to bring it up—even at your father’s cocktail parties.”

“Get over the macho attitude, Deven.” She linked her arm through his again. “Don’t worry. I won’t get in the way. It’s your project.”

Considering Sylvia’s temperament, Deven dreaded the idea of her carrying a gun. “I don’t expect any problems. I’ve been working on this project for five years and it’s the same rumors every year.”

The cool wind stirred the surface of the lake and small waves splashed against the rocks along the shoreline. Sylvia brushed her long brown hair out of her eyes. She glanced up at the sky. “It’s a beautiful night, no moon, no stars, no one to see us.” Her voice was soft and throaty. Grasping Deven’s hand, she turned to face him and moved closer.

He gently withdrew his hand. “We should head back. With that wind kicking up, it’ll rain soon.”

Sylvia didn’t move. “We’ve had some wonderful times together. Maybe we were too hasty to end things between us.”

“As I recall, it was your decision, because I didn’t fit into your social circle.”

Sylvia sighed loudly. “It wasn’t that. You traveled too much and you passed up a position to be on the board of directors at the museum.”

“I’m an archaeologist. Traveling is my job. I have no interest in being a stuffy board member.”

Sylvia slid both hands up his arms and around his neck then pressed her body against him. Her eyes were sultry and daring. “You love the adventure and carefree lifestyle of traveling from one country to the next. I understand that now.” She started rubbing his neck and running her fingers through his hair. “You used to like it when I did that,” she whispered as she leaned forward to kiss him.

“Don’t,” he said gently as he pulled her hands from around his neck, placed them at her sides and released them. “Sylvia, you know it wouldn’t work. We want different things. We’d make each other miserable. We made each other miserable.”

She stepped away and stared out over the water. “We’ve changed since then. We could be great together.” Tears sparkled in her eyes.

Deven shook his head and gave her a sad smile.

“So what’s up between you and Lauren? Does the lovely student have a crush on her professor?”

Deven remained silent. Had she noticed the way he’d been looking at Lauren? Was it obvious to everyone else too? He could see Sylvia searching his face, trying to read him.

“Or do you have a crush on her?” she added.

“It’s late. We have a busy day tomorrow.” He gave her a noncommittal smile, offered her his arm and led her back up the path to the hotel.

* * *

“Cimi, come with me to the pond.” Kayab drew her along the path in the jungle. Her delicate hand was lost in his and she had to hurry to keep up with his long strides. She gave him an admiring glance.

He wore only a dark cloth around his waist and as he walked, every muscle showed lean definition. Several necklaces made from clay beads and shells jangled against his broad chest. Similar adornments clinked between Cimi’s unclad breasts.

Bright beams of sunlight filtered through the tall treetops. Many of the high branches were bare and offered little shade. The scent of fragrant flowers drifted on the warm air.

He led her to a large rock at the edge of a crystal blue pond. They sat and dangled their feet into the cool water. At the far end of the lagoon, what had once been a great waterfall now was only a thin trickle of water over terraced stones.

Surrounding the shoreline, the leaves of many ferns and palmettos were brown and withered. Only a few birds twittered high in the trees. Just as the small creatures had moved out of the forest to find food, she and Kayab would be leaving soon too for a different reason.

Kayab grasped her hand between both of his. The sadness in his eyes stabbed at her heart. “I hate to leave this forest but Muan says we must go tonight.”

“Why now?” She wasn’t ready to abandon her father.

Kayab frowned. “It’s too dangerous to stay.”

She nodded, grieving for what she was forced to do.

He stood up and touched her cheek. “We have time before we must go back to the village. Come swim with me.” Casting her a sultry look, he removed his necklaces and untied the leather belt and pouch, then dropped the cloth wrapped around his waist in a pile on the rock. He stood naked before her.

She was startled, but couldn’t wrench her gaze from his magnificent body. His muscular thighs and buttocks flexed as he walked to the edge of the rock and dived into the water.

When he surfaced, he flung his long hair out of his face. Gleaming droplets of water sprayed out in all directions.

Desire coursed through her, a liquid heat that settled low in her belly. When she stood, she was aware of the trickle of wetness between her legs. Dropping her black woven skirt, she stood naked at the edge of the rock and relished Kayab’s admiration.

Boldly she slowly caressed her breasts.

Kayab’s eyes widened and he smiled. He stayed as still as the maize god’s stone monument.

Cimi’s body throbbed and she ached for him, ached to have him touch her intimately. She smoothed her hands down over her flat belly and between her legs. She was slick and caught the scent of her tangy desire.

“Come. Be with me, Cimi.” His expression was serious and wild, his voice husky.

She dived into the cool water and swam to him.

He yanked her into his arms and kissed her hard and hungrily, searching her mouth with his tongue. As he glided his rough hands over the sensitive skin beneath her breasts, his erection bobbed against her belly and the water lapped around their heated bodies.

Melting into him, she begged for more. With a sigh, she surrendered to her sexual hunger and reached down and gripped his shaft.

He gasped, then trailed kisses down her neck. “Oh Cimi, I burn for you.” He sucked hard on her nipples and every tug sent ripples of pleasure through her body. Underwater, she felt his hand slide along her stomach, to her slick folds between her legs. His fingers teased and probed and gently opened her, making her ready for him. She rocked her hips, her body trembling.

This was right. Two lovers sharing their gifts from the gods.

“Kayab…take me.” She pressed his cock against her sensitive flesh.

Kayab groaned as he grabbed her buttocks and lifted her, spreading her thighs to hug his hips, then eased inside her channel until she moaned from the pleasure. He drove into her, using the buoyancy of the water to rock and thrust deeper and harder. She cried out in sheer joy.

His dark eyes held her gaze as her pleasures mounted and the rhythmic sensations in her body soared to a decadent release. Her body jerked and Kayab held her tightly while the climax shuddered through her. Then he thrust rapidly into her channel. The muscles in his neck strained and his fingers dug into her buttocks as passion claimed his control.

Soft moans escaped her lips as he continued to plunge into her, then his body convulsed when he found his own release. Growling out soft curses, he pulled her against his chest.

She clung to him, enjoying the heated pulses inside her channel. When his breathing slowed, he slid from her body and she felt hollow.

Her hands stroked his hard chest and she kissed his neck. “Kayab, lie with me in the grass.”

He smiled, his eyes heavy lidded. “Oh my beautiful Cimi.” He pressed her against his chest, kissing the top of her head, caressing her back. “It is late. We must go back or we will be missed.”

“Why don’t we leave the forest now?”

“Your father said to wait until this evening when Chac and the shamans are in the temple.”

She trusted this man with her life. Even though he asked her to abandon the village, her friends, her father, but she knew she had no other choice. Chac would choose her soon. And by helping her, Kayab was risking his life.

He stroked her cheek with his fingers then kissed her hard, quickly taking the fear away and sending a wave of desire to her groin. Then he gathered her up in his arms, carried her to the shoreline and laid her on the grass. A low groan rose within him as he eyed her naked form. Cimi saw he was aroused again and laughed.

“I burn for you, Cimi.” He smiled wickedly, then his smile faded. “We must go now. Don’t be afraid. I promise I’ll always protect and love you.”

* * *

The image of Kayab and Cimi making love moved swiftly away. Lauren blinked her eyes and extreme sadness filled her.

A gentle hand stroked her hair, like a parent would stroke a child’s head after a nightmare. Lauren sighed in relief— she had gone to bed alone.

Her eyes widened in horror. A cold chill ran in icy ripples down her spine. Who was touching her?

She bolted up, swung around and sat up straight in bed.

At the side of the bed stood the ancient Mayan shaman, his diaphanous form hovering above the tile floor. Lauren’s breath caught in her lungs and her body shook violently. Muan put his hand out to her then brought it back to rest against his chest. His head bowed and Lauren saw his shoulders shake.

He looked up, tears streaming down his face. “I am sorry, Cimi. Kayab and I could not save you.”

Lauren couldn’t gulp enough air into her lungs to speak or scream.

He frowned, his expression was grave. “You are in danger, Lauren. You must find the owl.”

The sound of her name spoken by the ghost slammed against her like a wrecking ball. She sucked in air and released a scream that echoed against the stucco walls in her room. Muan disappeared.

Lauren wanted to get out of bed and turn on the light. Her body trembled and wasn’t sure if she could stand. A loud knocking rattled her door. Her hand flew to her mouth to stifle a shout. Her eyes were wide with terror.

“Lauren, are you all right? Open the door.”

Deven? Lauren shook her head in disbelief.

“Lauren! Open up!” Deven shouted louder.

“Just a minute.” Lauren swung her legs off the bed and ran to the door. Her knees shook so badly she thought she might collapse. She pulled back the bolt and flung open the door.

Deven stood there eyes wide and bare-chested. His jean shorts were unbuttoned and partly unzipped. Bursting through the door, he searched the room, his gaze darting back and forth, apparently looking for an intruder. Another jolt of fear hit her when she noticed Deven grasping a hand gun.

“What happened? I heard you scream.” He looked her up and down. “You’re shaking like a leaf. Go sit down.” She didn’t move. After closing the door, he grabbed her arm and led her over to the bed.

He flicked on the small lamp on the nightstand, laid the gun there and went to fill a glass of water from the bathroom. Offering the water to her, he sat down on the bed next to her.

“Oh, I shouldn’t drink the tap water. I have bottled water in my suitcase.” She started to get it, but he stopped her.

He rolled his eyes. “I’ll get it.” He threw open her suitcase and pulled out a bottle, then handed it to her. “Now tell me, what happened?”

Lauren shook her head. “I’m so sorry I woke you. I saw a…” She hesitated. Deven had told Margaret that ghosts were just superstitions. He said that she only imagined the voice in the tunnel at the Great Plaza. Then there was her blackout on top of the pyramid. He had brushed that off as having too much sun. If she told him about the ghost, he would think that she was hysterical and mentally unstable. He might even decide to send her home early.

She wouldn’t let that happen.

Deven grasped her hand. “You’re like ice. What happened?”

Lauren squeezed her eyes shut and shook her head. “I’m so sorry I woke you. It was only a nightmare.”

“That’s all? It sounded like someone was attacking you.”

“No, only a nightmare.” She tried to smile, but had to clench her teeth to keep them from chattering. She willed her voice to stay steady. “You know the kind where someone is chasing you?”

Deven searched her face. He didn’t look convinced. “Do you always have dreams like this?”

“Oh no, hardly ever. Must’ve been all those enchiladas I ate for dinner. Green peppers don’t agree with me and the shot of tequila that Kyle and Justin coaxed me into probably didn’t help either.” Don’t overdo it, she told herself.

“No, I’m sure the tequila didn’t help,” he said, running his hand through his hair. “Stick to beer or something non-alcoholic.”

Glancing at the nightstand, she noticed his gun. “What are you doing with a gun?”

Deven arched an eyebrow and a smile crept along the edges of his mouth. He didn’t look so worried anymore.

Lauren started to feel better. Her body wasn’t shaking as much and the panicky feelings had subsided.

“It’s not unusual for archaeologists to carry a gun. There are many modern-day pirates out there trying to steal artifacts.”

Lauren nodded. He was sitting so close to her that she was aware of heat radiating from his body. Knowing he wasn’t wearing a shirt and that the top of his jeans was undone was unnerving. She couldn’t help but take a sideways glance and admire the man next to her.

A knot tightened in her chest and she imagined running her hands over his chest, up to his face and pulling him down to her mouth and tasting him again. A wicked fantasy played in her mind. What would he do if she slid her hand down his stomach and inside his open jeans and held his cock, teasing him with her hand, her mouth, until he was aroused, then drew him down to lie with her on the bed?

Her nipples tingled at the thought, their nerves acutely sensitive, tightened into hard points, showing through the thin silk of her nightgown. The tingling sensations became deeper, more intense and drifted down between her legs. A shudder shook her body.

“Cold?”

“I’m fine.” Her voice sounded raspy. Actually, she was feeling very warm. Flashes of her sexual dream of the Mayan warrior fueled her fantasies of what she’d like to do with Deven.

Deven stood up, closed and locked the sliding glass door and then buttoned and zipped his jeans. “Sorry, I ran out of my room so fast when I heard you scream.”

She willed herself not to look at his pants to search for evidence of him being as turned on as she was. After nearly throwing herself at him by the lake, she had better show a little self-control. Besides, what was between him and Sylvia? Could Sylvia be waiting for him back in his room?