Secrets of the Jaguar (Crimson Romance) (18 page)

Despite the tantalizing underwater kiss, Michelle couldn’t help but be miffed when she surfaced soaking wet. “Hey, what was that for?”

Duncan’s expression was serious, his jaw set. “Don’t ever question the power you have over me. I was seduced by your presence before I even saw you under the pier that night in Alameda. Ever since that moment, I have been obsessed with you, I long for your body as well as your heart. I let it slide this time, but don’t ever let me hear you falter in your belief in yourself.” For a moment, the two lingered in the water together, soaking in the revelation of all they had together. Michelle felt so complete, and let herself get lost in another kiss with Duncan, her legs wrapped around him as they floated together.

When the kiss was over, Michelle laughed. “For the record, you didn’t let it slide, you dunked me in the ocean!”

Duncan misted them both into his house and wrapped a towel around her before she had a chance to realize her surroundings. Strong hands pressed the towel against her body. “I guess I’m a softie.” Bringing her paw to his lips, Duncan kissed the soft pad of her feline paw. “Now let’s go have an adventure suitable for you animalistic needs. And later we’ll put the leftover excitement to use.”

Michelle could feel her body already shifting, no longer in her control. As her body completed the transformation, Duncan came to her and they disappeared from the house in a mist.

The jungle floor was moist beneath her paws and dark greenery surrounded her. Never before had she been so overwhelmed by beauty. The jungle was ancient and she felt so at home. Thin trees bending this way and that and gigantic trees jutted out of the leaf laden ground. She couldn’t see the sky, just a green, leafy canopy.

Michelle couldn’t contain her excitement to explore the jungle. Michelle jumped from her spot on the ground onto Duncan’s tall, strong body. Any other man would have toppled over under her impact, but Duncan was more than a man. Smiling, Duncan embraced the impact and didn’t even sway as he wrapped his arms around her.

From her perch against Duncan’s chest, Michelle couldn’t pass up the opportunity to leave Duncan with a big wet kiss. Opening her mouth wide, Michelle revealed fangs that rivaled Duncan’s, and unfurled her long, fat tongue against Duncan’s neck playfully before she jumped away from his body, no longer worrying about hurting him with her claws.

A large, mossy tree stood wide and proud and Michelle leapt onto it, latching her strong paws around it, gracefully climbing the tree. Duncan misted onto a high branch just her head, so she stopped short and batted a paw at him playfully. “Just so you know, I will be in need of a shower after that kiss, and I know the perfect place where you’ll join me after you have your way with these trees,” he said.

Michelle jumped over Duncan’s perch on the branch and landed gracefully behind him. She poked him with her tail as if to brag about her feline agility. She had never felt so strong and graceful. The forest was dark, but Michelle’s eyes were more than comfortable, they were in their element. Duncan, too, seemed to be right at home, his vampire traits serving him well in the darkness. Michelle bunched her hind muscles and launched herself onto a nearby branch and hissed excitedly, scaring a black howler monkey who fled screeching from the branch in a hurry.

Suddenly a slow growl came through the thick jungle underbrush. Michelle turned her head to see a large jaguar come through the brush drawing near her.

The sight of a male jaguar approaching her was not something she ever imagined she’d have to deal with. Michelle had always wondered what it would be like to frolic with jungle cats like herself, but clearly this male’s ideal of frolicking would not be okay.

Duncan was between Michelle and intruder in an instant. The massive jaguar hissed at Duncan’s sudden appearance. Crouching low, Duncan’s black eyes were fierce and he bared his fangs, letting the animal know he was one vampire not to be crossed. As if the jaguar sensed evil, it turned and left through the jungle as quickly as it had come.

Duncan stood, his eyes lightening a bit as the seconds passed. “I like to think that I’m an animal lover, but I won’t stand by while man or cat looks at my woman that way. I read in a
National Geographic
that big leopards spray each other as a mating ritual, but rest assured, darling, that is not happening.” Duncan’s dark eyes smiled with mischief. “Come, let’s race.”

In a flash, Duncan’s long length of muscular body was disappearing through the jungle, and Michelle’s heart pounded with excitement as she sprinted to catch up to him with an impressive speed she never knew she had. Of course, she knew Duncan was holding back, but she didn’t care. His speed was effortless; she could see it in his handsome face as she arrived at a graceful lope next to him. He flashed a smile at Michelle, his excitement evident in the presence of his slightly elongated fangs.

Speeding up a little so he would be ahead of her, Duncan turned and cut through the jungle. Moments later, Michelle arrived into a clearing just behind him. Lush greenery surrounded an azure pool of water, a gentle waterfall cascading like a soft veil over one hundred feet. It was a scene of sheer serenity. Duncan offered her a devilish smile that transcended language. “This is Misol-Ha.”

Stepping toward the crystal turquoise pool, Duncan reached down to tug his shirt free of his jeans, revealing a strong, masculine body that could reduce a woman to a molten hot puddle. Duncan unbuttoned his jeans and removed them as well, and Michelle was lucky her fur disguised her heavy blush that she swore she could still feel in jaguar form.

“Are you gonna help me wash my neck?” Duncan looked deep into Michelle’s gold eyes playfully. “After all, you did slobber all over me.”

Gathering her courage to join the sex god before her in the water, Michelle began the shift back into her womanly form. This time shifting was different; it was strangely erotic before Duncan while he stood waiting naked in the water, the azure pool coming just up to his hips.

As she walked, doing the best she could to saunter, her thick furry membrane began to shrink back into tight, delicate skin. Still shy, Michelle focused on the hard expanse of his stomach before finally meeting his intent gaze. He spoke to her like a poet as she walked towards him with her arms across her chest.

“You’re beautiful, Michelle, please don’t hide. Whether by the moonlight or by the sun in the sky, your beautiful body, your sweet face, is a dream.”

Letting her skin be painted by moonlight, Michelle dropped her arms and approached Duncan, feeling sexier in her own skin than ever. As she waded into the cool water and met Duncan under the soft mist of the waterfall, she angled her lips toward him for a kiss to seal her commitment. Duncan’s soft, hot tongue met with Michelle’s in a slow dance of erotic bliss. The Yucatan breeze was warm against Michelle’s skin, but the cool water spilling down softly from the waterfall ensured she felt every inch of her body come alive. And Duncan seemed set on exploring every inch as he crouched in the pool, his hands slowly gliding up Michelle’s leg.

Michelle gasped as Duncan’s fingers slipped past the water’s edge and caressed higher up her thigh. Duncan looked up at Michelle, his gaze a smoldering fire for her. The tips of his fingers each carried an electrical current within them that made Michelle’s skin sizzle. The man kneeling before her, the gentle waves billowing against his muscular form, was absolutely mouthwatering. And speaking of mouthwatering …

Reaching one hand to Michelle’s rear, Duncan gripped her ample bottom and grinned with sexual intent. And then he nuzzled her thigh, anticipation racking Michelle’s body.

Her knees almost buckled from under her as Duncan gripped her ass, bringing her even closer if it was possible, and Duncan nuzzled the front of his face against her thigh. And then he pressed her to his lips. Duncan kissed her sweetest spot, setting her olive skin glowing under a Mayan moon. The fall cascaded softly behind her, and beads of water graced her soft curves.

Satisfaction flooded Michelle as he kissed her sweetest spot, keeping his eyes angled upward as if he didn’t want to miss a moment of her pleasure. A gasp escaped Michelle’s lips and Duncan looked as if he would come just from bringing her to ecstasy. Her chin pointed towards the stars and her hair fell back, its long ebony length dipping into water, and Michelle felt like a sex goddess.

Duncan lapped out with his tongue with expert precision, taking her clit in his lips and sucked. Michelle moaned from the erotic surprise. The fingers that had a needy grip on her ass released her. She glanced down in time to watch Duncan slip a finger inside of her. Michelle hovered at the edge.

Duncan worked his finger and his tongue. His dark eyes consumed her as she neared ecstasy. He licked and sucked and slid his finger deeper and deeper in long slow strokes. His growl against her flesh sent explosions through her body. Heat melted between her legs and she was coming. Her thighs clenched around his fingers and the pleasure became too much to take. As ecstasy overtook her, she fell backward under the gentle mist of the waterfall and into Duncan’s arms.

The mist from the falls slipped past her nipples; her skin tingling against the breeze. Duncan lapped the cold water against her clit and Michelle screamed in ecstasy. Pleasure wracked her body until she couldn’t take it anymore and sank into the water. Duncan slowly released his finger from Michelle. “I love you.” Duncan’s lips met with Michelle’s as their bodies molded together under the water. “God, I love you.”

Finally recovering her speech after the intense lingering pleasure, Michelle smiled lazily, the smile of a very satisfied lover. “God, I love you, too.”

“So?” Duncan traced his fingers down Michelle’s soft shoulder. “On the sand or in our bed?”

“Both.”

A couple hours later, Michelle was sure that the night couldn’t get any better. After what seemed like endless hours of pleasure, Michelle realized that she wasn’t just in love with Duncan, she was addicted.

Back at the house, Duncan grabbed some clothes for Michelle. “For the rest of our adventure … ”

“Hiking boots?” Michelle asked.

“This isn’t just any jungle, my love, I brought us to a very beautiful place just beyond the way, and nighttime is the only time you and I will have it to ourselves.”

“Ohhhh.” Michelle smiled, excited for Duncan to reveal the surprise location. Duncan wrapped his arms around Michelle in a tight hug and misted them closer to the edge of the jungle brush.

Michelle opened her eyes slowly when she realized they had resurfaced. “Oh my god.” Michelle’s voice was soft and in awe. The darkness could not mask the brilliant white stone temples of Palenque, the most beautiful Mayan ruins in Mexico. “I can’t believe you brought me to Palenque. It’s … ”

Michelle turned and brought her body closer into Duncan’s, kissing him deeply. “It’s so breathtaking.”

Low hanging branches cradled the view of the temple that lay before them amid the evening fog. Michelle recognized the aging limestone steps as those of the Palace of Inscriptions. Just behind the six-story temple was more thick jungle, which was a dark contrast against the glow of the white stone. “Six hundred eight-three AD. Incredible. I can’t believe we have it all to ourselves.”

Smiling, Duncan boasted, “You think this is beautiful? Ready yourself for an even better view, my love.” Duncan grabbed Michelle’s waist and misted them to the top of the highest temple in the ancient city.

The jungle-surrounded city stretched out below them. “The white stones look like they’re glowing in the dark. It’s so beautiful.” Bending carefully, Michelle sat on the ledge of the pyramid to enjoy the view: No modern city in sight, only the ancient stones of Palenque, and acres and acres of wild forest. Her hiking boots dangled over the glittering limestone temple. “Why did you make me wear hiking boots if you were just gonna flash me up here anyway?” Michelle laughed playfully.

Copping a squat next to Michelle, Duncan held her in his arms. “I guess I got too excited.” Duncan planted a kiss on Michelle’s cheek as she enjoyed the view.

“The Palace of the Inscriptions is so called because it contains the longest known set of inscriptions, over six hundred glyphic blocks. Oh, and do you know how the stones of the temples are still so pristine?” she couldn’t help but ask.

Duncan grinned mischievously. “Ancient Mayan magic?”

“Pressure washing.”

“Okay, modern magic.” Duncan winked. “Pressure washing ancient ruins — doesn’t seem right at all. Should I take us inside, my love?”

Michelle looked at Duncan sheepishly. “In the dark? Are you crazy?”

“The girl who just gave the finger to an ancient vampire a couple days ago is afraid of a dark tomb?”

“I hate to admit it, but I think it’d be creepy in there. You have no idea what the archaeologists had to go through when they first discovered this place. Let’s just say there were snakes and scorpions galore.” Michelle laughed. “I don’t know about you, but I think I’d prefer our romantic seaside cabana than a pitch-black death chamber.”

“Point taken. We’ll stick to the tourist path for now.” Winking at Michelle they held hands and descended down the pyramid to tour the grounds of the ancient Mayan city. Tonight was a night of peace.

• • •

The next day, Duncan roused Michelle much too early. The scent of eggs and fresh-made salsa was intoxicating, but she couldn’t help but rebel. “Pleeeeeease, just five more minutes.”

But Duncan continued to kiss Michelle while she dozed, encouraging her to wake. “I thought eggs might not be enough to tempt you … ” Taking the initiative, Duncan kissed lower and lower, and finally Michelle opened her eyes to the sexy image of Duncan effortlessly turning her on. Michelle arched her back against the pleasure that Duncan brought to their bed. Michelle smiled as relished the attention. “Good morning, handsome.”

An hour or two later — who was keeping time — Duncan made a second batch of
huevos rancheros
since the first batch had long gone cold. Pouring Michelle some orange juice, Duncan’s face shifted from pleasure to business.