Part 12 (1/2)

He did not have time to dwell on his reaction. They were standing out in the open. Easy prey for any enemy. For all he knew, the footprints could belong to the two women who'd enslaved them. They may have brought along slave male trackers to hunt him and the female. He didn't want to frighten Kayla unnecessarily, but it was best to keep her safe.

”There may be trouble. We need to get out of the open and to be very quiet.”

He'd expected an argument from her or, at the very least, for her to look frightened. She was neither.

Instead she merely nodded as her eyes blazed with a seriousness he'd not seen in her. Most of the l.u.s.t fever had gone and he believed she could now think clearly, without the thoughts of him f.u.c.king her.

f.u.c.king her had done good. So had the rest and food and drink. He liked that she had a cool head under pressure. A hot body and cool head, a very enticing combination. His attraction for her grew several notches.

”Keep pace with me. Do as I tell you without hesitation. Are we clear?”

She nodded.

”We go.”

He did not take her hand to lead her, to keep her close. Instead he opted to keep his and her hands free. Just in case.

With ease, they moved into the cover of the jungle. He made sure not to keep to the tiny trail he and Jarod had allowed themselves to the tree house.

In the years since coming here to hide, they'd grown lax. Their error showed in the weave of trails they'd created.

His heart sank. They would have to part with their tree house and move deeper into the Outer Limits. They'd enjoyed their freedom here. Had worked hard to create the shelters in the trees.

He caught the scent of smoke as he neared the area of their tree shelter. It had grown dark, but his eyes had become accustomed to the dim light. But he was still too far from their shelter and could not tell if Jarod and Piper were alone, if they had company or if-G.o.ddess of Freedom forbid-they might have been captured.

He dared not bring Kayla any closer, just in case. Urging her behind a boulder, he slid the knife from the scabbard he'd woven out of leaves and held it up to her.

Her eyes widened in the gloomy darkness.

”In case I do not return,” he said as she accepted the weapon. ”Stay here and do not show yourself under any circ.u.mstances. Only I will return for you. If I don't, leave. Follow the river. Stay in it so you leave no tracks. Go down river for a day. You will see a meadow. It is the second one to your right. At the far end of that meadow you will find a shelter that Jarod and I built. It will be hard to find, so look closely. Stay there until the storms are over.”

”How will I know when they are over?”

”You'll know. Near the shelter you will find a swamp. There will be a boat. It is well-hidden, so you will have to search hard. On the morning of the second day without storms, follow the sun through the swamps. Continue until the very end where you will see a river. Stay at the mouth of the river until your brothers find you.”

He hoped the Heroes had not grown lax in their posting of a lookout near the tiny village they had created. For if they did, Kayla would most likely perish. But he could not think of that possibility. Dared not consider it or his heart would break.

”If I do not return for you soon, run and do not look back.”

She was about to protest. He could see it in the defiant tilt of her chin and the flare of anger in her eyes, but he cut her off by fusing his mouth over hers. She moaned and melted into his arms, obviously enjoying the kiss. Her body was hot and her breathing rough as he kissed her lush mouth hard and fast.

His c.o.c.k pulsed and swelled as he thought about removing his loincloth, pulling down her garment and plunging into her warm, tight sweetness. She would welcome his c.o.c.k inside her. Soft whimpers arose deep in her throat as he firmly pressed his erection against her lower belly.

She parted her lips and pressed her tongue boldly into his mouth. When their tongues clashed, his knees just about melted as arousal exploded through him. Before he lost himself in the intoxicating s.e.xual insanity, he forced himself to break the kiss.

They were both breathing hard in the darkness and he hoped to the G.o.ddess of Freedom no one was nearby, for they would surely hear.

In the darkness, she took a breath as if to speak. Instead she smiled and touched a finger to a scar that ran along his upper chest. He had no idea how she could see it. Or perhaps she was going merely by the line of the raised welt, but her finger ignited an arrow of fire. He needed to explore this sensation if he returned.

”Be safe,” she whispered and dropped her finger.

The loss of her touch left him oddly cold and so alone as he stepped away and jogged off into the nearby jungle.

Chapter Seven.

The knife Taylor gave her was heavy and cold in Kayla's hand. Could she use it if she had to? Sure, she'd been taught self-defense before coming on this mission, but it had all been simulated. This was the real deal and it scared the s.h.i.+t out of her. Just like watching Taylor disappear into the darkness.

She hadn't really been too frightened when he'd been with her, but the instant he'd gone fear wrapped around her like a smothering blanket. She should have insisted she go with him, as backup. She gripped the handle of the knife tighter and peered into blackness.

No sights. No sounds. He'd vanished like a ghost. Like he'd never been here. Like he didn't even exist.

The thought of slipping into the night and just leaving him entered her mind. Not because she thought he might hurt her, but because of the way she reacted around him.

Dependant.

She'd never liked that word. Never liked being dependant on anyone. At an early age she'd struck out on her own, much to her parents' disappointment. They'd liked having their kids around. A big, happy family. Everyone living in the same town. Everyone within walking distance for visits.

Man! How were her parents holding together with all their kids in s.p.a.ce? Knowing their kids may not return yet having to follow her brothers' private instructions and keep this mission a secret from friends and even NASA, so NASA wouldn't send out search parties.

She would kill her brothers when she found them. The idiots. Why keep Paradise a secret? Why pretend they were dead? Why not let their parents contact NASA and have them send a search party to let the inhabitants of Paradise know they were not alone in the universe? And pick up her stupid brothers while they were at it?

She blew out a slow, agonizing breath of concern. What was taking Taylor so long? Shouldn't he be back by now? She hadn't even thought to ask how far this shelter of his might be.

Everything had happened so fast. One minute he'd been showing her the pretty golden sunset and the next she'd been touching a scar on his chest, telling him to be safe and kissing the guy goodbye.

Frustration swept through her and she almost cried out. What if he never came back? What if she never saw him again? If he didn't, she knew what to do. She would go where he'd said. But what about him? What if something terrible happened to him?

G.o.d, why did men have to be such idiots and go off on their own without realizing their women might be worried about them?

Sweet mercy! She was not his woman! She'd just met the guy for crying out loud.

Okay, focus, Kayla. Stop being an idiot and get a grip. Panicking now is not an option.

She forced herself to concentrate on the night sounds. A light breeze made a clicking as it whispered through the dense foliage. Far away in the distance came the distinct murmur of thunder.

Okay, he'd mentioned storms. She could handle a storm. What she couldn't handle was getting recaptured by those women or those creepy Death Valley Boys.

A soft sob escaped her mouth. Another thing she couldn't handle was losing Taylor. Terror for his safety once again lashed at her and she s.h.i.+fted the knife into her other hand.

And waited for him to return.

He was risking his life being so close to the intruders who sat huddled in front of a blazing fire beneath the tree shelters, but at least he could see them.

There were two males and two females. No sign of the third male, nor any sign of Jarod and Piper. Either they had left before this party arrived, escaping into the woods, or they were being held in the tree house by the third male.

He recognized their faces. They came from Death Valley. Perhaps this was a hunting party. Or maybe word had gotten out that a male and female had escaped the trip to Death Valley and this party was tracking him and Kayla.