She ran her hands over his body, inspecting him for damage after his long run. “You need rest, Rio. At least come to bed with me.”

It sounded good to him. He wanted to lie down beside her, hold her in his arms and feel her warmth after the terror of thinking someone was attacking her. He lay for a long time listening to the wind moaning in the trees. Listening to the songs of the rain through the canopy. Listening to the rhythm of her breathing. Holding her soft body next to his, her hair crushed in his hands, his body wrapped protectively around hers. He remembered thinking happiness was an illusion, that life was simply to live until it was over, giving service to his people. Happiness was this woman in his arms. He allowed himself to drift off with the scent of her filling his lungs and the feel of her imprinted into his flesh and bones.

Nineteen

Rachael gripped the railing and leaned over to peer at the forest floorbelow. “I think I’m going stir crazy.” She turned around to smile at Rio, half sitting on the banister. “Is that possible out here in this huge forest? And don’t say I’m in one of my little moods either!”

“Sure it is. Waiting is always the most difficult part. We know the mole passed the word, so it won’t be much longer. I received word that Armando and a huge party arrived and were making their way up the river. We’ve got people in place watching him. He brought four big-name game hunters with him, which did cause a bit of a problem as the officials don’t encourage that sort of thing.”

Rachael shivered. “Knowing that man is walking in the same forest is frightening. Armando is truly evil, Rio. It won’t take him long to send out his men.”

“I know, but it’s what we’ve been waiting for. This is probably our last chance for a little fun. They aren’t in our area yet.”

“I hate that Elijah is so close and I can’t go see him. I worry about him. I’ve always been afraid for him.”

Rio reached out to take her hand, holding her open palm over his heart. “At least this has given us some time for your leg to heal properly.”

She turned her calf this way and that, frowning. “Properly? Is that what you call it? At least I have a leg. And Fritz is better too. He went out this morning around dawn to hunt food with Franz. I thought that was such a good sign.”

Rio tugged on her hand until her body was tight against his. “We don’t have to stay here if you’d rather go play,” he invited softly.

Rachael looked up at him, his weathered, beloved face. She knew every inch of that face, by touch, by vision. There was a playful gleam in his eyes, one rarely seen by anyone other than Rachael. She loved that boyish, mischievous side of him that crept out at unexpected times. “Is it safe?”

“At the moment. I didn’t expect Armando to come himself so soon, but it doesn’t really change anything. I’m expecting your uncle’s assassin to come checking any day now, but the forest animals will alert us. We don’t have to stay here in this house if you want to stretch your legs and play a bit. I have one or two beautiful spots I haven’t had a chance to show you.” His fingers crushed strands of her hair, rubbed them together. “We’ve been putting all our energy toward rehearsals for the arrival of your uncle and we haven’t managed to take a much-needed break. The temporary hut is built, we’ve moved you in, we have people up and down the river and in the forest keeping an eye on them. I think we can take a small break.”

Rio hadn’t chanced a single late night run since her brother had shown up. He didn’t want to leave her alone and he felt it was better to give her leg a chance to fully heal. The lure of the forest was on him, calling continually.

Rachael’s smile widened and she peeled off the shirt she was wearing, flinging it aside without hesitation. It left her standing in her silky thong and nothing else. Rio inhaled sharply, drawing the scent of her into his lungs. Breathing Rachael in was becoming a habit. “Maybe we should just stay here,” he mur mured softly. Her breasts were beautiful, full and ripe and so perfect he had to touch them. His fingers whispered over her skin, tugged at her nipples just to see them peak for him.

“Maybe we shouldn’t. I want to go run. You can wait here for me though.” Rachael shimmied out of her thong, enjoying the way he watched her. She had never thought about being a sexual being until she was around Rio. He made her so aware of her own body, of his body. Of what they could have together.

She moved enticingly, wholly feminine, catching at a branch above her head. “You can be thinking about me while I’m gone,” she teased.

“You aren’t going anywhere without me,” he declared, hastily shedding clothes. She was already shifting, a sleek female leopard with rounded curves and a feline body built for speed and endurance.

She leapt to a neighboring branch and hurried along the slanting limb to the next overlapping one.

Rio didn’t take time to fold his clothes neatly. The wildness was already upon him, starting in the pit of his stomach, an uncontrollable longing for freedom. His muscles contorted and he shifted in the air, making a flying dive for the branches below him that intersected with the ones she was on.

Rachael leapt from branch to branch, fully aware that Rio was giving chase. If a leopard could have laughed aloud, she would have. She couldn’t believe the turn her life had taken. She’d made one small mistake, thinking his house was a hut travelers used, and it had been the best mistake she’d ever made.