His Lost Mate (A Steamy Paranormal Romance Novel) (27 page)

The thought of being alone in this ancient ruin with him gave her a tingling sensation in the pit of her stomach, as if she was riding in an airplane that suddenly hit an air pocket. Water dripped off the ends of his dark hair, and she watched the droplets slowly glide down his back and disappear beneath the waistband of his soaked khaki shorts. Rivulets of water also ran down his legs, matting the dark hairs against his tanned skin.

Every nerve sizzled in her body. Thinking about his mouth on her, on her breasts, made her nipples harder. Did he have any idea what he was doing to her?

“This isn’t going to let up for a while,” he said. “I hope Justin and Kyle managed to find cover.”

A restless burning need shot through her. She had to touch him. Walking up behind him, she hesitated for a long moment then gently ran her hand down his shoulder and along his arm.

Deven turned and took both of her hands. His eyes were shaded by damp eyelashes. For a moment she thought he was going to turn her away, but then he tugged her hands and drew her against him. Her gaze fell to his mouth—his mouth that had given her so much pleasure a few nights ago. Her hands slid around his waist. At the curve of his spine, she felt curled hairs beneath her fingers. His body was hard and hot and glistening from the rain.

“I missed you,” he said as his fingers slid over her cheek and chin. His eyes had a mischievous glint.

“Oh? How much?” she teased.

“Mmmm. Very much,” he whispered against her lips, then he claimed her mouth. The tip of his tongue opened her mouth, then probed and glided around her tongue. When their lips parted for a moment, she gasped and sucked in air. His kiss was intoxicating, demanding and teasing. She shivered as his mouth trailed over to her ear and down to her neck. He pressed his body to hers and she felt his erection harden against her lower belly.

Sliding his hands under her tank top, he squeezed her breasts. She arched into his hands and moaned. Then he rubbed her nipples with his thumbs, sending little jolts of pleasure through her body. Seconds later, he slipped her shirt over her head and tossed it on the platform next to his shirt.

He teased her nipple with his mouth, sucking and capturing the peak gently between his teeth and teasing the sensitive tip with his tongue. He then moved to the other one. Her body quivered as she savored the feel of his mouth, his hard body pressed against her. Every nerve sizzled under his touch. The heavy throbbing between her legs increased and she rocked her hips against his erection.

Suddenly, he stood back from her. The devouring look on his face stole the breath from her. “I burn for you.”

Her body went rigid. Why did those words sound so familiar?

“Are you okay?” he asked.

“I’m fine.” She trailed kisses along his neck while her mind searched her memory. “Kayab,” she said.

“What?”

“Nothing.” In one of her visions, those were Kayab’s words, when they made love at the waterfall. She tried dismissing it as one of those synchronistic events that frequently happened to her. Like when she thought of a song, one she hadn’t heard in years, and suddenly it was played on the radio. Kayab. Remembering her most recent vision, she wondered if he died when the warrior struck him. Was Cimi sacrificed? Or did they escape? She shivered and tried putting the sad thoughts out of her mind.

“You’re shivering, but it’s warm in here.” Deven pulled her hard against his body, stroking her back with his hands, teasing her ear with his mouth. Lauren put her memories aside.

“I’m not cold. I feel delicious.” She tried hiding her sudden melancholy.

“You are delicious. Have you ever made love in the rain?” he asked.

“Not yet.” The sad memories quickly faded as the urgency of her need soared. His hands and mouth explored her body. She wanted more. He bent over, untied his hiking boots and kicked them off, then untied hers. Boots and socks were scattered around the floor. The slow lazy kissing and touching turned to frantic movements, undoing buttons and zippers, wriggling out of shorts, until they both stood naked, panting in each other’s arms.

“The grass would be more comfortable than this stone bed,” he said.

“Tempting. What if someone comes?”

“No one is out in this storm and there’s a private area behind the ruins. It’s out of sight from the trail. The thunder and lightning has stopped. It’s safe,” he whispered against her ear. He slid his hand down to touch her most intimate place. “Your call.”

She laughed and nodded. “Now. Let’s go now.”

* * *

Deven snatched a condom out of his wallet and pulled her into his arms. “I saved one from the other night. Remind me to thank your brother.”

Lauren groaned. “Don’t you dare.”

He hadn’t felt this giddy in a long time. In fact, he hadn’t ever felt this way about another woman. Fucking in the jungle was something Sylvia would never do.

Lauren brought out the adventurous side in him. Fantasies of her in the jungle, by the waterfall, in his tent, by the pyramids were always erotic and entertained his thoughts constantly. She made him long to have her near him, wake up feeling her warm body beside him, share every day with her. He hadn’t believed love could have this intense bond beyond lust and infatuation. He hadn’t believed in love for himself. He felt that powerful connection with Lauren and he wouldn’t let go.

Giggling, she pushed him back, took his hand and pulled him through the rooms and out the back entrance. “God, you’re beautiful,” he said.

They stopped running when they reached the cover of trees. The grass was a soft cushion beneath their feet. He drew her close and kissed her hard and deep. As much as he enjoyed her mouth, he wanted all of her now. He wanted to possess her, enjoy her pleasured sighs as he buried his cock deep into her wet pussy. The warm rain streamed down their bodies making their skin slick.

She slid her hand down his wet chest, across his stomach, then wrapped her hand around his cock. He moaned and relished her urgency. Just as well. He had to have her. He slid the condom on. Damn, his hands were shaking.

“Nervous?” she asked.

“Excited,” he replied. Picking her up in his arms, he gently laid her on the soft, wet grass. He inhaled the loamy scent of grass and earth.

Deven ached with need. God, she was hot. He took a breath and breathed it out slowly. As she wrapped her legs around his hips, pulling him down, he knew he couldn’t wait. He thrust his cock into her warm, slick depths.

Her breath rushed out then she pulled his mouth down on hers while he pumped rhythmically and rocked his hips against her. He was deep inside her and felt her muscles clenching around his shaft.

He shifted his weight and eased his hand down her belly. With his thumb, he found her engorged clit and started stroking it. She gasped and her breathing turned to pants. Her eyes now closed. “You like this?”

“God yes. Yes,” she moaned. “Faster.”

“I could stop,” he teased.

She groaned and her hips quivered. “Hell no. Don’t you dare. It’s too good.”

“You sure?”

“Yes. Oh yes, oh yes.”

He was moving in and out of her slowly. Her legs were spread wide, and her hands stroked his back. Her nub was swollen and wet with her juices. “Come for me.”

His body sizzled with pleasure, strained for release. Moments later, she gripped his hips with her hands. Unstoppable, her ecstasy ripped free.

He felt her body shudder, felt her cling to him. He plunged deeper into her, hard, slamming thrusts that quickly sent a wave of pleasure pulsing through him as his body found complete, sensual release.

He held her close while their breathing and pulse rates slowed. Rain streamed down her face and stuck her eyelashes together. He kissed the top of her head, breathing in the scent of rain and grass and sex.

“We should go back inside and dry off before we get dressed,” he said.

She moaned into his neck. “You’re right. While it’s still raining hard, I should stand and rinse off the grass sticking to my butt.”

He laughed and stood. Holding out his hand, he pulled her to her feet. “Let me see.” Spinning her around, he admired her rear view. “Yep, you’re covered in grass.”

They stood in the teeming rain and brushed grass and leaves from each other then returned to the ruins.

The next night after dinner, instead of sitting around the campfire with the field crew, Lauren decided to stay in her tent and study. She sat cross-legged on her cot with notebook in hand and tried, unsuccessfully, to concentrate on her notes. Deven and Sylvia had been in the CUB for two hours. Lauren hoped they were discussing how to obtain the permit for the northwest site so she could search for the jade owl. Were they also having a more personal talk, and was Sylvia still attempting to reconcile?

Deven’s kisses at the ruins still burned in her memory. At the thought of his touch, her heart lurched in her chest and a tingling sensation surged through her body. She’d never imagined sex in the rain could be so amazing.

She shook her herself. She’d been staring at the same page for the last twenty minutes. Listening to Jim’s slow, sensual guitar music and the background buzz of crickets and nighttime jungle noises bored a hole in her heart, making her restless.

Someone knocked on the wooden frame of her tent. She jumped. “Yes?”

“Lauren, do you have a minute?” Deven said in a serious tone. “I need to show you something.”

“Be right there.” She put her notebooks aside and finger-combed her hair, then stepped out of her tent.

“It’s about the artifacts you’ve collected.” By the cold tone to his voice, she doubted it was good news. “The artifacts are in the CUB.”

Lauren tried to figure out what he wanted to talk to her about. At first she thought he was looking for an excuse to get her alone, but he seemed too concerned and serious for a secret rendezvous.

Inside the CUB, Sylvia stood beside a table with several bags of artifacts spread out on top. “These items were collected by you?” Sylvia crossed her arms.

Lauren picked up each bag and noticed her initials. The bags contained pieces of flint, fragments of pottery and a couple sewing needles made from bone or antler. “Yes. I collected these.”

“What grid have you been digging in?” Deven asked.

Sylvia looked on, her face stern. Lauren thought she also looked amused.

“I was in N10 x E10. The one I’ve been working in since I got here.”

Deven nodded. “Sylvia discovered a discrepancy with the labeling of the bags. These bags were labeled N10 x E20.”

“What?” Lauren snatched a bag from Deven. “I’m sure I labeled them correctly.” Her stomach flipped when she saw that the label said N10 x E20. How did she label them wrongly? She shook her head. “I don’t know how that happened. Is the logbook wrong too?”

“No, the logbook is correct. The collection bags were mislabeled,” Sylvia said. “This must be your first excavation. It’s understandable to make a mistake while you’re learning.” Her condescending tone irritated Lauren.

“No. This isn’t my first excavation and I’m very meticulous about documentation. I don’t know how this happened. I’m sorry about the error. It’s not like me to make a mistake like that. It won’t happen again.” Lauren tried to keep the annoyance out of her voice and remain professional. She was sure she had labeled those bags correctly. It was very odd.

“All right, Lauren. I know you understand how important proper documentation is. Be extra careful.”

“I will. Thank you.”

“Tomorrow I’m going into town with Sylvia. We have a meeting with the local officials about the northwest site. Margaret will supervise the dig. Please have her check your labeling tomorrow as a precaution. I’ll be back in the late afternoon.”

Damn. Her reputation certainly took a hit. Now she’d be treated like a first-year student. She strode off to her tent, zipped herself inside and dropped onto her cot. She’d have to be careful and prove herself again.

* * *

Cimi crumpled to the ground next to Kayab’s motionless body while sobs wracked her body. She didn’t care anymore. She had no desire to fight, no desire to live.

The two warriors yanked her to her feet. She refused to stand, refused to walk. They would have to drag her to the top of the pyramid.

Fear clutched at her gut as she was half-carried up the temple. The sharp stone steps slashed her skin, smearing her with her blood and grit. When they reached the top, the warriors placed her on the altar stone and held her down.

Her thoughts focused on Kayab. Soon, my love, we will be in the Otherworld together. Soon we will be together forever.

While the warriors held her down, King Yaxkin Caan Chac, holding a long knife in both hands, slowly raised it over her. “I offer this humble sacrifice to Chac, the Lord of Rains. As her blood is shed, may Chac shed his blood and bring rains to our kingdom.” He then plunged the knife into her chest.

* * *

Opening her eyes, Lauren realized she was face down in her pillow. She’s fallen asleep. Horrible, horrible dream. Tears streamed down her face. She sobbed into the pillow. Oh Cimi and Kayab. What a tragic way to die. They hadn’t left the village in time. Cimi didn’t escape, dying by the most horrible death possible—human sacrifice. And she had to witness Kayab, her lover, murdered before her own violent death. Lauren’s body shook as the terrifying memories flooded her thoughts, making her relive every detail. God, she could still smell the smoke and her chest ached where the knife plunged deep.

It was still dark and she listened for sounds outside her tent. Thankfully, all she heard were the sounds of the jungle. She didn’t want anyone to know she continued to have the dreams and visions.

She rolled over on her back and closed her eyes, willing herself back to sleep. She was startled at the sound of a soft rustling next to her cot. Standing beside her cot was Muan. She bolted upright, moving to the top of her cot away from Muan.

“I’m sorry I had to show you that, my daughter. I did not want you to relive that terrible time,” Muan said.

She thought she saw tears welling in his eyes. Can ghosts cry?