“Here it is,” she said, handing him a copy of the signed order.
He read it, then read it again before handing it to the woman by his side. She tilted her head to the side as she read, and something about the gesture tugged at Tara’s memory.
“Pippa?” she asked, sure that she must be imagining it. “Pippa Gentry?”
The woman looked up, her brown eyes sparkling.
“That’s me.”
“Oh my gosh! I can’t believe you’re one of the villagers. I always wondered what happened to you after that reality show. I thought you took what you earned and moved to seclusion.”
“Nope. Took what I earned, went to a resort, and ended up staying. Well, sort of.” She handed the paper back to Tara. “You haven’t introduced yourself.”
“I’m Tara Strong.”
“You’re in the FBI? You look like you just stepped out of the jungle.”
Tara laughed. “To be fair, I did sleep in the jungle last night. But no, I’m an agent.”
“So, I get that you’re here to tell us we’re free, but there has to be more to it. The agents who showed up earlier and took Ian and his goons could have told us this.”
“They didn’t know. But that’s not the only reason I’m here. It’s my job to ensure that the people who want to stay on the island have the resources and support they need to build a happy and healthy life. We’re turning the GRE building into a school, and there will also be a doctor’s office. We need your input on that, and once I’ve gathered everything that you and the other villagers want me to know, I’ll put in for funding of the changes, and the changes will happen.”
“And if we all leave?”
“That’s fine, too, but I think that we would still put the school and doctor’s office in place. Maybe everyone wants to leave, but I have a feeling that some of the men who live at the resort might want to stay here and raise families. We want to make sure that everyone’s voice is heard.”
Pippa looked at her, appearing to consider her words.
“And when you’re done with that, then what? Are you just going to leave us here and forget about us?”
“No. No, of course not. They’ve created a task force to oversee anything shifter related to make sure that history and the culture of fear that drove us to this point years ago doesn’t repeat itself.”
“And who will be heading that? Some Washington bureaucrat who doesn’t know a thing about us?”
Her distaste was evident.
“No. It will be me.”
Pippa seemed surprised, her face openly registering the shock.
“Look,” Tara said, “give me a chance to show you that I’m here to make a difference, and you’ll see that I’m sincere. I grew up with a shifter in my neighborhood, and when a man attacked me and tried to kidnap me, that shifter saved my life. This isn’t a case of someone who is doing a job to move onto the next big promotion. This means a lot to me, and I’m going to do better than my best to make sure that you are all treated fairly and well.”
Luis squeezed her hand.
“So, what do you want from us?” Diego asked.
“I’m supposed to stay here for a week and get to know everyone. I’m going to help those who want to leave and take down the needs of those who want to stay and make sure that those needs are met.”
“And Luis?” Diego asked.
“I’m with her,” Luis said simply. “She’s a good person, and I think that you’ll find you have more in common than either of you realize. Give her a chance; I promise she’ll surprise you.”
Diego looked to Pippa, and Pippa nodded. “Alright, you can stay here, but Luis, I’m holding you accountable for her.”
“I understand.”
Pippa stepped forward then, her guarded expression gone and her face filled with a gentle smile. “You’ll have to forgive my husband. It’s been a long, hard day for us all, and we’ve lost loved ones today.”
“You have?” Tara said. “I was hoping that our men got here in time.”
“They did get here in time, for most of us. But Antonio and Megan disappeared during the fight, right before your people showed up. When the dust settled and all of Ian Cross’s men were in cuffs and gathered up by the FBI, we couldn’t find Megan and Antonio. We even sent men into the jungle to find them, but they came back empty-handed. We’ll probably never know what happened to them.”
Tara looked at Luis, who was smiling.
“They escaped,” he said. “They took a boat from GRE and left. They’re probably halfway to Los Angeles by now.”
“Are you sure it was them?” Diego asked.
“I’m sure. It seems they’re good at slipping away when all hell is busy breaking loose around them.”
“That’s fantastic news,” Pippa said, clapping her hands together, delighted. “You both look tired. We only have one house that isn’t occupied and is ready to live in. I’ll show you where that is so you can rest until dinner. And then, we celebrate.”
“Rest sounds good,” Tara said. “It’s been quite a day.”
“I’m sure it has. If you don’t mind me asking, who was the shifter that saved you? I know many were moved to other islands, but I was wondering if we knew him.”
“You do,” Tara smiled. “It was Martin who saved me, and today, I was able to return the favor. He’s in the hospital now, but he will be returning. I’ll be working closely with him after I leave to make sure that you all have everything that you need.”
Pippa smiled, tears welling in her eyes.
“I’m so glad that he’s safe. No one had heard from him since he tried to escape with the others, and we’d feared the worst.”
“I did, too, but we found him with the rest of the people that were missing. I’ve never been so relieved in my life.”
“I can imagine,” Pippa said. “Now, let’s show you to your home while you’re here. Will you be visiting the island often? If you are, we can make sure that you have a home that is yours and ready for you when you’re here.”
“You don’t have to do that. I’m sure we’ll convert one or two of the rooms at GRE for overnight stay.”
“It’s no trouble at all. Besides, if you’re Luis’ mate, then you’re part of the family.”
“Thank you,” Tara said. “It means a lot.”
Pippa stopped, turning to look her dead in the eye. “What you’re doing means a lot. You have no idea what it’s like to be trapped somewhere because of what you are. It’s a horrible experience, and knowing that our men are now free and we can move back home if we want is the greatest gift.”
She led them to a house almost in the center of the village, stopping on the front stoop and suddenly hugging Tara.
“Thank you,” Pippa said, her voice heavy with unshed tears. “Thank you for standing up for us when no one else would.”
Tara hugged her back, feeling for the first time that her new job was going to mean something and not just be another way to pass the time and pay the bills. If she could hold on to this moment and never forget why she was doing what she did, Tara would be unstoppable.
“We’ll leave you two to rest now,” Pippa said, releasing her. “There are linens in the closets and towels as well. I’ll come get you when dinner is almost ready. Until then, I’m in that house over there if you need anything.”
“Thank you,” Tara said.
Pippa and the others left almost as quickly as they had appeared, and Luis opened the door and followed Tara in. The house was about what she expected. Similar to the military housing that was common throughout southern California, this house was a square that looked like all the rest. It had two bedrooms that were side by side and one bathroom in between them. The third bedroom was the master bedroom, which also had a master bath and a good-sized closet. The living room was a nice size, but this one was unfurnished. As Tara looked around, she realized that only the master bedroom was furnished, which she found a little surprising.
“Why is that?” she asked Luis.
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“The villagers make most of their own furniture, and there is no kitchen because everyone eats together in one communal meal. It’s just the way it is. The village was set up quickly when GRE realized that women would stick around to be with their shifter. That’s why it’s the military-style housing.”
“It reminds me so much of my childhood. Except we had a kitchen.”
“I think that was out of necessity. They weren’t going to be giving people appliances and other creature comforts. I was surprised that they went to the trouble of putting solar panels on all the houses and making the houses self-sustaining, right down to the plumbing, but at least they went that far.”
“I think one of the things that I need to do is find out what type of furniture the villagers would like to have on hand. I’m sure one of those store rooms is big enough to hold furniture. We can get them what they want, and then keep a few extras for new inhabitants or if something breaks.”
“Or they have more children?”
“That too,” she laughed. “I wasn’t thinking about that.”
“By the end of the week, you’ll probably have a list a mile long of things that need to be done or changed to make this place comfortable. You’ll have a lot of ideas to wade through, but I know you’ll do fine.”
“It’s a bigger job than I imagined.” She laughed softly. “I’m not sure what about this made Andrew think that this would be a vacation.”
“Don’t worry,” Luis said, pulling Tara into his arms and kissing her soft lips. “I’ll make sure that this is the best working vacation you’ve ever had.”
“I’m sure you will,” she said, a light in her eye that could only mean one thing.
She grabbed his hand and started tugging him toward the hall.
“I thought you needed rest,” he said, chuckling softly.
“There are some things that are more important than rest.”
And with that, she let his hand go and left him to follow her down the hallway. She didn’t have to wait long to see if he would.
CHAPTER 15
Luis was right on her heels as she walked into the room, his hands on her shoulders turning her almost roughly around to face him. He pulled her into his arms, pressing his lips against hers and kissing her so fiercely that it took her breath away.
He pulled her shirt up over her head, and she let her arms go up to help him. As her shirt floated to the floor, she helped him pull off his own shirt, then locked her lips to his again.
They moved around the room, kissing deeply and shedding clothes as they went. He laid her down on the bed, falling into bed beside her and finally breaking their kiss.
“I thought I’d lost you when you blew me off earlier. I didn’t know what I had done.”
Tara bit her lip. “I’m so sorry. I didn’t mean to hurt you like that. I just thought it would be easier if I accepted that you were happy here and left without making you feel guilty.”
“I would have chased you all over the world until I found you.”
“You would have?” she smiled at the thought. “How romantic of you.”
“What can I say? I’m a romantic kind of guy.”
She looked at him from where she lay, naked and beneath him, feeling so vulnerable. She took a deep breath and reached out to him, cupping his jaw in her hand. He pressed his jaw into her outstretched hand and closed his eyes, kissing her palm and then opening his hazel eyes to stare into her blue ones.
“I love you,” she whispered, in awe of the intense feelings that were running through her body. It was more than lust and more than attraction. She needed him right down to the depths of her very soul.
“I love you,” he said, kissing her gently. “I don’t know when it happened, but the thought of losing you fills me with so much pain. Please don’t leave me here. I’ll go where you go.”
“I just don’t want you to resent me for taking you from this place.”
“We can visit. We can always visit. Nothing is forever, except for my love for you.”
His words tore at her heart, filling her with so much love and tenderness that it was almost overwhelming. She couldn’t imagine spending a day without this man, let alone the rest of her life.
She ran her fingers down his chest, loving the feel of his smooth skin beneath her fingertips. She could still smell the salty sea air and the jungle on him, and her nostrils flared in response. Her need for him was animalistic and all consuming.
Her hands were on his flat, chiseled abs, working their way down his body, when he inhaled sharply. She smiled at him, the expression wicked and more than a little naughty.
When her hands curled over his shaft, he closed his eyes and groaned with pleasure. She worked him, stroking slowly at first, then picking up the pace as his body responded in her capable hands.
A myriad of emotions played across his face as she teased him. He was breathing hard, and Tara was enjoying the power that she had over him in this moment.
Except that he wasn’t the only one dying for the intimacy. Tara was ready for him, and she was struggling to hold off even as she enjoyed toying with him.
She released him slowly, running her fingers back up his body while she lifted her hips off the bed to press herself against him.
Her hands went to his hair; her fingers shoved into the thick strands and pulled him down for a passionate kiss.
“I want to feel you inside me,” she said in his ear when she broke the kiss. “Don’t take your time. I can’t wait.”
He growled low in his throat, her words pushing him over the edge. He plunged into her in one smooth move, thrusting into her rapidly and driving her body into a frenzy quicker than she’d ever felt before. She clapped her hand over her mouth when she heard her voice, worried that her satisfied cries would carry out the open window to the village beyond.
Luis moved her hand, covering her mouth with his as he drove into her relentlessly. The first cry of the most powerful orgasm of her life was muffled by his deep kisses, and Tara found that she was out of breath. She pushed his mouth away, wrapping her arms around his neck and clinging to him while she buried her face into his shoulder and let it all out. She bit him then, not hard but enough to stifle her cries as she rode wave after wave of pleasure. She felt his body stiffen then the complete surrender of every fiber of his being as he gave way to his own climax and buried himself inside her searing heat.
He yelled her name in a frantic, low voice, threading his fingers through her long, wind-tangled hair and squeezing almost roughly, forcing her to release his shoulder so that he could capture her mouth in his once more.
Her nerves were raw as he rode out his orgasm, pulling every last drop of pleasure out of both of their bodies until neither of them had anything left to give to each other.
Luis shuddered then collapsed onto Tara, rolling so that he was laying on his side beside her. He was still inside her, but she was too exhausted to move. They lay like that for a long while, both of them breathing hard and laughing, their eyes locked and their bodies intertwined.
His arm was under her head, his body so hot that she didn’t mind the fan blowing down on them, nor the fact that the covers had fallen onto the clean tile floors. Everything was perfect right then, in that moment, and she wasn’t going to be the one to move and break the spell.
She was aware that she was drifting off to sleep, but she didn’t try to fight it. Her eyes were closed, and the darkness had started to overtake her when she decided that she couldn’t wait to tell him one last thing. Fighting the heavy bonds of deep sleep, she opened her eyes, looked into his, and smiled. “I love you. More than words can say, I love you more than my own life.”
Before he could respond, her eyes were closed again. She had fallen into the deep, blissful sleep of a well-loved woman still held in the arms of her lover.
***
Tara was still sleeping hard when there was a gentle knock on the front door. She heard the knock, but in her sleepy state, she didn
’t register what it meant. She was in the haze of a well-loved woman, still hovering between the waking world and her dreams, not even aware of where in the world she was.
She felt the bed move when Luis got up to answer, but still, she didn’t move. He was gone for a moment when she heard low voices floating down the hallway, but she couldn’t make out what they were saying. The front door closed, and Luis’s even gait came down the tiled hallway.
Tara was falling back to sleep when she felt a gentle hand on her arm.
“They’re starting dinner, so you have time to take a shower and change before we’re expected there.”
Tara blinked, looking around the room and trying to get her bearings. She was surprised to see that she was covered with a light blanket, the very blanket that had ended up on the floor in their mad dash to the bed earlier in the day. He’d also picked up their clothes that had been thrown about the room. She lay there in bed, wondering how long she had been asleep and staring at the ceiling above her head with a soft smile on her face.
A lone gecko walked on the ceiling casually as if it had no worries about the two humans in the room with it. Watching the gecko move about brought her back to reality, and a slow smile spread across her face.
“This place is beautiful,” she said. “I wasn’t sure about them keeping a house for us, but I think I could enjoy living here a few weeks out of the year.”
Luis stopped what he was doing, going to the bed to sit down beside her.
“Are you sure about that?”
“I really am,” she said. “It’s beautiful here, and the way my schedule is going to work, we can come here anytime the city gets overwhelming. I really feel like we can make this work so that we’re both happy.”
“I’m happy wherever you are,” he said.
“You say that, but we both know that you would be miserable living in the States year-round without a break. I don’t want to live in DC, but we’d still be really close to the city, and that would get hard for you after a while.”
He took a deep breath, reaching out to push a silvery blonde tendril from her face.
“What did I do to deserve you?” he asked.
Her Undercover Panther : A Paranormal Shapeshifter Romance Page 15
