Primal Touch

by Amber Jacobs

  “We can’t wait forever, Ash,” Grady stated in a matter-of-fact tone. “The plane’ll leave whether we’re on it or not.”

  “She’ll be here,” Ashley insisted. “She promised.”

  “Then where is she?” Grady hesitated, clearly not wanting to test her temper by pushing the issue. After a few moments, the silence grew too heavy. “Look, maybe she changed her mind. Maybe she’s—”

  “She’s coming.” Ashley pinned her partner with a determined glare, her lips pulling into a stern line, as she set her hands firmly on her hips. “Leandra wouldn’t lie to me about wanting to leave here, and even if she did, she wouldn’t let me go without at least saying good-bye. She’ll be here.”

  Grady didn’t argue, though Ashley thought she heard a quiet, exasperated sigh when he turned away and made a subtle gesture to Tarun indicating they were going to need a little longer. Tarun shrugged, and went to explain the situation to the impatient but curious rangers.

  Turning back to the jungle, Ashley tried to keep her stomach from tying itself into knots as she scanned for any sign of Leandra. She will be here, she insisted silently, gnawing at her lower lip in a nervous habit. And if she doesn’t come, I’m not leaving. I don’t care about the consequences, I’m not letting her get away with chickening out at the last moment.

  Standing in the deeper shadows of the undergrowth, Leandra observed the group of people gathered around a trio of fully loaded Jeeps parked in the clearing. She could tell, even from a distance, that Ashley was getting worried she wasn’t going to show up, and felt a pang of regret for her slow start this morning. She would have liked to be able to place the blame on a need to pack or prepare for their departure, but the truth was far simpler—even after saying her farewells, it was difficult to leave this place.

  “Well… No need to keep a lady waiting,” she whispered under her breath, steeling herself for the journey to come. Stepping from the concealing shadows, Leandra made her way toward the party, letting her hands brush against the lush foliage along the way.

  The moment she caught sight of her, Ashley’s entire expression shifted in a heartbeat from tense and edgy to glowing and relieved. She glanced back to the group waiting behind her and called, “See, I told you!” before rushing forward to greet her.

  Ashley stopped a few paces from her, staring at the changes in her appearance. After running her gaze up and down Leandra’s frame, she gave a low whistle of approval. “Very nice!”

  Leandra rolled her eyes and chuckled. “Thanks.” Without the paint and primal markings, her pale skin glistened under a fine layer of sweat in the Indian humidity. She’d pulled her long braided hair back into a thick ponytail, revealing her classic, angular features and highlighting her stunning eyes. After seeing the picture on her passport, taken almost five years ago, Leandra had realized just how much her appearance had changed during her jungle exile.

  “You look so…” Ashley trailed off. “I mean, it’s weird to see you without all the stripes and stuff.”

  “I can’t very well walk out of here wearing tiger-fur clothes and carrying claws, can I?” Leandra plucked at her new clothes awkwardly. “I feel kind of naked without them, to tell the truth. And I couldn’t stand the shoes, so…”

  “That’s okay, you don’t have to wear them if you don’t want to. Maybe sandals would be more comfortable?” Noticing a small rucksack slung over Leandra’s shoulder, she cocked an eyebrow. “What’s in there?”

  “Just a few mementos. My clothes, my claws, and my passport and identification.” Leandra looked chagrined. “I hope they don’t ask too many questions at the airport. I look a bit different now than when I came here.”

  “I’m sure we’ll manage. But will you be able to get tiger claws onto the plane? Isn’t that illegal?”

  Leandra’s smile turned into a roguish grin. “You’re forgetting, my love, what I used to be. Just because I’m not a smuggler anymore doesn’t mean I’ve forgotten how to do it. Believe me, customs won’t find them.”

  “I’m not going to ask any questions,” Ashley said, and laughed. “Just don’t get caught. I don’t want them shipping you off to jail just when I’m about to get you home.”

  Leandra ducked down to plant a soft kiss on Ashley’s lips. “Don’t worry. I’ll be fine.” Straightening, she turned her attention to the three vehicles and their waiting occupants. She took a deep breath. “Guess it’s time to go, huh?”

  “Yep.” Ashley took Leandra’s hand in her own, clearly sensing her anxiety. “It’s okay to be nervous, Leandra, but they won’t hurt you. They’re all very nice people.”

  “Will you be sitting next to me?”

  “Uh huh, it’s all been arranged. I’ll be right with you the whole way. It’s a long trip. I know it won’t be easy for you, but you can relax when it’s all over.”

  Leandra swallowed nervously, then looked seriously into Ashley’s frank gaze. “I haven’t had to be a human for a long time,” she whispered, uncertain how to express her fears properly. “I don’t know how I’ll react.”

  “I understand,” Ashley said in a calming tone. “We’ll take it slow, just like I said. Don’t worry, Leandra. You’ll do fine, I’m sure of it.”

  Leandra trusted the absolute confidence she saw in the expressive eyes of the younger woman. “Okay then. Let’s get this over with.”

  Hands clasped together, the two women approached the Jeeps. Leandra’s nostrils twitched as she caught the unfamiliar scents of steel and gas and rubber—scents she’d never really noticed before her exile but which now seemed almost overwhelming. As she met each set of curious eyes in turn, Leandra realized just how sharp her senses had grown. She could almost detect each person’s individual scent, could hear every rustle of plastic and cloth. Reaching the first Jeep, she smiled tentatively at the people watching her with interest and, she noted, not a little caution.

  As they drew alongside the first mud-tracked vehicle, Ashley released her hand and waved her companions closer. “Leandra, I’d like you to meet our guide, Tarun.” Leandra met the man’s cool, appraising gaze and offered a nod. “And this is Simon Reynolds, our zoologist, and his assistant, Grace Stirling. They’ll be joining us on the flight back to the States.”

  Leandra nodded politely, her eyes still shy. “Nice to meet you both.” Her voice was quiet and raspy, but Simon bobbed his head in return and offered a broad, excited smile.

  “We’ve heard a lot about you from Ashley,” he said enthusiastically, holding out his hand. Leandra recoiled slightly, and Simon quickly withdrew, his smile faltering. But he plunged ahead. “Um… I was wondering if perhaps on the ride out, you might be willing to answer a few questions? Nothing big, just a few things about the tigers, if that would be okay? I mean, it’s a rather unique situation, meeting someone like yourself with such an intimate understanding of the cats. I don’t want to be a bother, especially since this is probably very stressful for you, but perhaps…” He produced a somewhat owlish expression of hopeful anticipation, and Leandra couldn’t help but smile.

  “I think that would be okay.”

  “Excellent!” Simon’s eyes lit up with excitement, and he squeezed his slender form against the far side of the back seat to make room. “Please sit here, if you don’t mind?”

  With a quick glance toward the rangers and the occupants of the other two Jeeps, Leandra leapt gracefully in beside Simon, crouching on the vinyl seat in a tense, feline posture that was more comfortable to her than sitting normally. Ashley shot her a wry grin and climbed in after her.

  Leandra started slightly when the vehicle’s engine roared to life, but she settled down when Ashley laid a comforting hand on her knee. As they began the drive out of the park, Leandra managed to distract herself by concentrating on answering Simon’s questions about the habits of the tigers she’d observed—their favorite locations, social interactions, and so on. Still, it to
ok every ounce of willpower she possessed to sit still inside the lurching, mechanical beast as it made its clumsy way through the jungle along one of the more worn tracks. Leandra tried not to think about the fact that, very soon, she would be surrounded by hundreds, maybe even thousands, of people. And that she would have to endure a torturous, extremely long plane ride that would take her halfway around the world before she could relax. As she talked, she thought about the various intricacies of human social interaction that she’d all but abandoned during her life out here; little niceties that had once been second nature, but which served no purpose in the jungle and had therefore been discarded.

  Why do humans have to be so much more complicated than other animals? Why do they… Why do we have to place so much importance on so many things that don’t matter? As she considered all the changes she was going to have to adjust to, Leandra felt herself becoming overwhelmed. She felt exposed and vulnerable without the shadows of the jungle around her, without the tawny stripes that had been her protection for so long. What the hell am I thinking? I must be out of my mind! I can’t do this. Why am I even trying?

  Only when she looked to the side and found dark, sympathetic eyes gazing back at her did Leandra’s mind grow calm. Ashley’s quiet smile and comforting presence eased her fears and gave her the courage to face the challenges that lay ahead.

  Smiling in return, Leandra focused her attention back on Simon.

  That’s why I’m doing this, she thought peacefully. For her. For the way she makes me feel. As long as I know that she’ll be with me—every time I turn around, every time I wake up, every time I make a mistake, or feel like it’s all too hard—as long as I can see that love in her eyes, this is worth whatever hardships it costs.

  And as the jungle began to give way to the first signs of rural life, Leandra concentrated on the feel of Ashley’s hand as it gently stroked her leg. She was willing to ignore the rest of the world just to enjoy the solace of her lover’s touch.

  “Look, Leandra, I’m not arguing that it was unprofessional for the stewardess to be hitting on you like that, okay? I’m just saying you could have simply asked her politely to remove her hand, instead of growling at her.”

  “It worked, didn’t it?” Leandra gave Ashley a most rakish grin, her eyes glinting wickedly. “She took her hand off my thigh so fast you’d think I had the plague, and she didn’t bother me for the rest of the flight.”

  Ashley did a bad job of trying to hold on to a stern expression. “Yeah, well, she didn’t seem to notice me glaring daggers at her, even though I was sitting right next to you. I swear, if she’d come sidling up one more time with her ‘Just let me know if there’s anything else I can do to make your flight more enjoyable,’ she might have found my teeth marks in her hand.”

  “Maybe we should just be grateful it didn’t come to that,” Leandra said, a little bemused by Ashley’s possessive tone.

  “Well, we’re almost home now…another ten minutes or so. I don’t know about you, but I’m looking forward to kicking my shoes off, lying down on the couch, and spending the next twenty-four hours imitating moss.”

  “Mmm…sounds good to me.” Gazing out the window of the taxi as it cruised along quiet, neatly groomed streets of the Vermont suburbs, Leandra observed her new surroundings with interest. She had been having nightmare flashes of busy city streets and a suffocating throng of people (even though she was well aware that Ashley didn’t live in a city), but what she could see looked quite pleasant. Before long, they ventured into pleasant woodlands, with only a few houses spaced every now and then along the route.

  The trip had been every bit as difficult as she’d anticipated, despite the fact that it was—almost miraculously—disaster free. No one had questioned her somewhat dated passport. No one had searched her luggage and found the concealed tiger parts. The plane ride had been quiet and uneventful, with the minor exception of the overly friendly young stewardess and her lingering hands. Leandra had even managed a few minutes of restless sleep on the long flight, although the seats felt strange against her body and the air smelled stale and cloying. International travel was stressful even under ideal circumstances, and Leandra was looking forward to being alone again with the one woman she felt truly comfortable around.

  Soon enough, they reached their destination. The cab pulled over to the curb outside a sprawling, two-story, brick-veneer house set among the trees of a tranquil forest. As Ashley thanked the driver and handed over a few bills, Leandra exited the vehicle with a sigh of relief. It was going to take a while to get used to things like cars again, she acknowledged, stretching her arms above her head and grunting. The tension and stress of the journey back to civilization made her right shoulder ache, and the pain was making her a little grumpy. Her mood brightened quickly, though, as soon as she reminded herself it was all over now.

  Her new surroundings cheered her, too. In every direction, tall maple and aspens spread their branches high into the air, sheltering smaller saplings and underbrush beneath their boughs. Although it was a far cry from the humid jungle and sprawling grass plains that had been her home in India, Leandra felt a good deal more comfortable just being in a natural setting. There was a sense of safety to be found in the gently shifting shadows of the trees, and she took a moment to listen to the unfamiliar birdcalls that filled the air before turning her attention to studying the house itself.

  The gardens leading up to the house looked somewhat wild and overgrown, but Leandra realized quickly that they had been purposely nurtured to appear that way. The garden suited the forest setting perfectly—not trying to bring order to the scene, but rather, complementing it with a harmonious design that probably required very little maintenance. The house continued this embrace of the natural world, sporting many large-paned windows and even a few stained-glass designs of kingfishers and other birds.

  The cab pulled away, and Ashley joined her, the younger woman lifting her heavy backpack and fumbling for a set of keys.

  “Home, sweet home,” Ashley said in a warm voice. “Come on, I’ll show you around.”

  Leandra followed her along a twisting rock pathway that ran up a few steps to the front entrance of the house. Ashley unlocked the door and knocked it open with her hip, gesturing for Leandra to precede her inside. Leandra accepted the invitation, looking around with great interest at what was to be her new home.

  The first thing that struck her was the sense of openness and space. The many huge windows allowed natural light to flow in from outside, and Leandra appreciated the feeling of freedom it created. Hardwood floors covered by a few Indian-style rugs shone in the sunlight, and the interior walls were dotted with dozens of framed photographs, each a spectacular shot of one animal or another. In the center of the room was a sunken sitting area, with a large screen television and a comfortable-looking sectional couch. An archway to the right led into a neatly arranged dining area and kitchen, and a closed door on the left led to what Leandra assumed was a bedroom. A set of stairs ran up the far wall, giving access to the second floor of the house. Numerous indoor plants set tastefully around the room continued the natural theme. The air smelled clean and fresh, and Leandra felt her tensions drift farther away.

  Ashley dumped her backpack on the hardwood floor and blew her bangs from her eyes. “What do you think?”

  “I think I should have looked more seriously at pursuing a career in photography,” Leandra said, genuinely impressed. “How can you afford a place like this?”

  “A combination of raw talent, good luck, and generous parents.” Laughing a little, Ashley took Leandra’s hand in hers and guided her around the sunken living room. “I get paid well for my work, but that’s not how it is for most photographers. I just happen to be one of the best in my field.” Leading Leandra over to the far wall, she pointed out a number of plaques and framed awards displayed proudly beside pictures of various animals. “See? When you get this much p
raise, your talent comes at a much higher price.”

  Leandra leaned forward and studied the awards, reading the elegant words of glowing approbation from Ashley’s peers. “I’m impressed.”

  “Yeah, well…” Ashley shuffled her feet unassumingly. “Like I said, part of it is just having luck on your side.”

  Leandra gestured to the many photographs hanging on the walls. “Did you take all these?”

  “Uh huh. They’re my favorites. The best of the best.”

  “They’re magnificent.” Leandra wandered around, pausing to study a fantastic underwater shot of a humpback whale and her calf. “You’re more than lucky, Ashley. This is pure talent.”

  Ashley blushed at the praise. “Thank you.”

  “Still, this house must have cost a fortune, especially for someone as young as you to be able to afford.”

  “My parents helped me,” Ashley admitted. “They live nearby, and I guess they were willing to support me a bit if it meant keeping me close to them, at least when I’m not traveling. They did the same for my sister, who lives a few minutes up the road.”

  Leandra nodded, still looking around. “No pets?”

  “Only Melanie.” Ashley pointed to a cabinet that was recessed in the right wall of the living room. Wandering over to investigate, Leandra’s eyes searched among the rocks and tree branches inside until she made out the shiny, serpentine body within. Looking closer, she saw a pale, slightly dusky-colored snake with a head that looked as though it had been dipped in black ink.

  “A black-headed python,” Leandra identified quickly. “These only live in Australia.”