by Lily Harlem
She found his mouth again, cupped his face, and kissed him with a need that threatened to overwhelm her. In that moment, she knew Paul was special. The way all her men were.
And he was hers.
“It’s been a while,” he said, slowing to a steady rock. “But damn, that was worth the wait.”
“I hope we haven’t broken this table.”
“Nah.” He smiled. “It was made by one of the villagers. Built to withstand elephants.”
“Hey, you calling me an elephant?”
“No, what you are is sexy and hot…and you fit so fucking snug around my cock.” He raised up and looked down at where they were joined.
She was breathing hard, her chest rising and falling fast, and remained laying flat with her legs around him.
“And this sweet spot,” he said, rubbing over her clit with his thumb. “Is so damn responsive.”
“Yes,” she managed. There was something so erotic about the way he was still buried deep, his attention focused on his cock in her pussy, and the way he was speaking.
“Do all your men make you come so fast?”
“Of course.”
“Including Lucas?”
“Especially Lucas.”
He smiled at little. “I’m glad. You’re a woman who deserves to have lots of orgasms.”
“I’m glad you think so.”
He rubbed over her clit again and she fluttered her eyes closed.
“Damn it,” he said. “If I didn’t have to go check on our patient I’d stay in here till I was hard again and fuck you some more.”
“But you do need to check Kwame.” She was reluctant to move, but did.
“Aye, I do.” He slipped out, turned away, and tucked his cock back into his pants.
Quickly, Olivia dressed, pulled on her boot, and ran her hand through her hair.
“Come on, I’ll see you back to the tent.” He opened the door.
“No, I’ll be okay.”
“There’s a damn leopard stalking the place. The guys would kill me if I let you walk alone. And I might be able to take on Lucas or Mason one to one, but they’d both gang up on me where you’re concerned and that would get ugly real quick.”
“Ah, yes, I take your point.”
They went down the steps.
“I’ll have to tell them,” she said. “About what we just did.”
“Yes. I know.” He was quiet for a moment. “For the record, I don’t regret it, and I’d do it again in a heartbeat.”
She looked up at him and smiled. “Me, too.”
Raul was stacking wood onto the fire, which was blazing outside the tent. When he saw Olivia approaching he smiled. “How is the patient?”
“He’ll live,” Paul said.
“That is very good news.”
“I’ll see you tomorrow.” Paul rested his hand on Olivia’s shoulder.
“Yes. You will. But if you need me to help with anything in the night, come and get me.”
“I appreciate that.” He turned and set off at a jog back to the hospital.
“Are you coming to bed?” she asked Raul.
“Not yet. I am getting this fire big to keep the leopard away.” He sighed. “They are the sharks of the desert.”
“I’m sure it will be fine as long as we’re careful.” She pressed a kiss to his cheek. “See you in the morning.”
The chemical toilet had been moved closer to the tent, and after using that—which involved flicking away a big black spider with a stick—Olivia had the quickest shower she could, then pulled on a fresh t-shirt and underwear.
The zipped screen to the compartment the twins used was half undone. Silently, she squeezed through the narrow gap.
A man-shaped mound occupied each bed. There was no way of telling which was Lucas and which was Mason. She was drawn to the one on the right and quickly lifted the blanket and slid in beside a warm body.
He murmured and pulled her close. “You okay, hen?”
Mason.
“Yes,” she whispered.
“How’s the patient?”
“He’s stable.”
“That’s good news.”
“How are you?” she asked. “It was pretty frightening back there.”
“Better now you’re at my side. It’s been a worrying turn of events.”
“But we’re safe in here.”
“We are.” He kissed the side of her head. “Perfectly safe.”
“Mason.”
“Mmm.”
Should she tell him about Paul? Put the cards on the table and confess not just that she’d had sex with his elder brother, but also that her feelings for him were growing with alarming speed?
“You got something on your mind?” he asked sleepily.
“No, I just…” She paused. “I need you to hold me, all night.”
“You know I will.”
*
Before heading to work on the Jeep’s engine, which was almost reconstructed, Olivia slipped into the hospital.
Paul had bags under his eyes, and his clothes were even more crumpled than they had been.
“How’s he doing?” she asked, nodding at Kwame.
“He’s been asleep for a while. I filled him up with analgesia once I was happy he had no neurological symptoms.”
“And his arm? His fingernails still pink and his hand warm?”
Paul smiled. “Yes, blood supply is fine.”
She nodded and jerked her thumb over her shoulder. “I should get going. To the Jeep.”
“Be careful over there.”
“I will.”
“Olivia.”
“Yes?”
“Are you all right?”
She nodded. “Yes. I’m fine.”
It wasn’t quite the truth. Mason had kept her enveloped in his embrace all night, and while in his arms she’d felt as though nothing could hurt her, or ever trouble her.
But since she’d eaten breakfast, with the guys milling about enjoying their usual banter after they’d heard Kwame was doing okay, nagging doubt had set up residence in her chain of thought.
When she’d fucked Paul, she’d been sure it would all be hunky dory with her men. That none of them would mind her taking another lover. She had five already, what difference would a sixth make?
But now, in the harsh light of day and without lust raging around her system, she wasn’t so sure.
Mason and Lucas she felt would take it the best. But that was no guarantee. Perhaps they’d be furious their elder brother had invaded their territory—kind of like the adult equivalent of stealing toys.
Evan was so easygoing about most things. But would this be one of the things with which he wasn’t? He’d lost it with Paul in the past, and she’d been at the center of the argument then.
Raul, she hoped would take it in his stride. But like Evan, there was a percentage of his personality where testosterone took over and his usual buoyant energy could switch to something else.
Harry…there was no telling. And he had a gun.
She swallowed. A bitter taste had laced her tongue, despite the fact she’d eaten bread and honey for breakfast.
“Olivia,” Paul said, resting his hand on her arm.
“I need to get on.” She forced a smile. “I’ll come and visit Kwame later. Perhaps we should offer to feed his family tonight.”
“That’s a good idea.” He smiled, though she could tell by his eyes he didn’t quite believe that she was ‘fine’.
She hurried outside and around the back of the hospital. Harry and Evan were watching as Lucas and Raul adjusted the angle of the wind turbine. Several loose wires hung from the control box, and Mason had them gathered in his hand.
“That should do it,” Mason said, looking upward.
“Yeah, I reckon you’re right.” Evan nodded and folded his arms.
As usual, his chest was bare and his knife was tucked in his waistband. His skin had turned an even darker shade of gold, and his curly hair was almost
white-blond at the tips. “Hey, babe,” he said, spotting her. “You going to the Jeep?”
“Yes. I’m hoping to get the engine finished today, then I can start on the bodywork and sort out the tires.”
“Good, that means you can drive it a bit closer,” Harry said. “Away from those bushes.”
“Oh, there’s just something small in there, a prairie dog I think, nothing too scary.”
Harry shoved his hands into his pockets. “Keep your eyes and ears peeled, Liv. I know it’s daytime and most creatures with sense sleep in the heat, but you can never be too careful.”
“I’ll be careful.”
When she reached the Jeep it was as she’d left it the day before. Hood down to prevent dust blowing into the fixed parts, toolbox at the side, and the last components of the gearbox laid on the ground waiting to be cleaned and put back together.
“Right,” she said, slapping on her cap and watching a small lizard scoot away from her tools. “Down to work.”
Soon she was engrossed in her task. The smaller parts she’d wrapped in a rag, and they were fiddly to put back together and required concentration. She was pleased to have something to focus on rather than memories of her time with Paul and figuring out how to tell her boyfriends what she’d done.
Is Paul one of my boyfriends now?
The sun rose, and she became thirsty. She reached into the Jeep where she’d left her water bottle in the shade, and standing with the door open, she drank deep.
A rustle nearby caught her attention, and she scanned the bushes, thinking she might see a prairie dog. But there was nothing there.
As she drank more and then tossed the water bottle onto the driver’s seat, she heard the noise again. This time the bush seemed to shiver and a twig snapped.
“Hello?” she said. “Come out little cutie.”
She stepped closer. The bush was so dense and spiky she was sure it couldn’t be anything large. But she had a sudden sense of danger; it was as if her sixth sense had kicked in. The hairs on the back of her neck tingled. She peered downward.
“Shit.” A huge paw print, like the one Evan had found by flashlight, was imprinted in the sand, right next to her boot.
Fear gripped her. Her belly clenched.
Another rustle.
And then she saw it.
Two huge, pale yellow eyes set in a wide head—staring straight at her.
Leopard.
Seemingly uncaring about the vicious bush, it had placed itself deep within the dense branches.
Her mouth dried, and adrenaline shot into her system. She had to get away. Run.
Where?
The Jeep.
It was only six feet behind her. If she could get to it, shut the door, lock herself in the cab.
She went to turn but stopped herself. Instead, she maintained eye contact with the creature, who’d tried to eat a man twice her size the night before.
Keep calm, Olivia. Keep calm.
Calm was not easy to harness, but as her heart thudded she took a slow step backward.
‘Never turn your back on a leopard.’
Anya’s words echoed in her mind—sly creatures, opportunistic with a taste for human blood.
“Olivia.” Evan’s voice, quiet and composed and coming just to her left.
What’s he doing here?
“We’re going to go real slowly, okay, and get in the cab,” he said calmly. “Whatever you do, don’t turn around and run.”
“Not…going…to.” She took another step backward. A new wave of terror went through her. Now she was scared for Evan as well as herself.
“Real slow,” he said.
She could see him in her peripheral vision now.
“So slow, babe.”
“Can you see it, Evan?”
“Yes.”
She was close to him now, they were both at the Jeep door. But one fast leap from the leopard and it would be upon them.
The bush moved, and the huge cat showed itself clearly.
“Fuck, get in,” he said.
He shoved her, but she was already propeling herself forward, and making room for him, too. She landed on the passenger seat and turned in time to see him jump in behind her, his knife at the ready and pull up the door.
It shut with a resounding bang as the leopard hurtled itself at it.
The Jeep rocked.
Olivia screamed, the sound hurting her eardrums.
“Is this shut properly?” Evan reached across her, checking the other door.
“Yes, it doesn’t open.” She pulled in a lungful of air and checked in the side mirrors. “Where is it?”
“I don’t fucking know.” He was looking about, pressing against the glass, his movements fast and efficient.
“Where are the others?” she said, wishing she’d towed the Jeep closer to the tent days ago.
Suddenly the leopard jumped onto the bonnet. The Jeep rocked again under the impact and the hood creaked.
The sheer size of the creature was terrifying—paws as big as her face, a huge body made of solid muscle, and a wide head with powerful jaws.
It peered at them, eyes narrowed, and let out a strange yowl. It then crouched, its shoulder blades sticking upward, and stared through the glass at them.
“Fucking hell,” Evan muttered.
“I had sex with Paul.”
“What?”
“Yesterday.” She swallowed.
He glanced at her. His cheeks were red, perspiration sat above his top lip, and he was holding his knife ready to attack. “And you’re telling me this now?”
“I don’t want to die with secrets from you. I was going to tell you anyway, all of you, but—”
“Shut the fuck up, Olivia.”
Chapter Twenty-One
Olivia clamped her mouth shut. Her throat was tight, and her hands shaking.
“You’re not going to die. Neither of us are, okay?” Evan held his hand over the steering wheel. “Does the horn on this thing work?”
“Yes.”
“Good.” He pressed down on it.
A loud beep filled the air. He kept it going, long and solid.
The leopard stood. Looked around, then jumped down beside the bushes. It didn’t appear particularly scared of the noise.
“Here comes Harry.” Olivia sat forward as she saw him wandering their way, his bare shoulders swinging and his pants pressing on his thighs with each step. “And the others. Oh, God, it’ll attack them.”
“Warn him,” Evan said. “Out of your side if the window works.”
“Yes, yes it does.” It was an old-fashioned manual handle, so she wound it down a fraction.
Evan stopped blasting the horn.
“Leopard,” she yelled though the gap. “Here in the bushes.”
Harry’s expression changed. He whipped out his gun and turned to the others. Shouted something. He then stepped forward, alone, his weapon poised and his eyes narrowed.
“Is it still there?” Olivia asked, winding up the window. She didn’t want to give the creature any opportunity.
“Yes,” Evan said, “it’s crouching, as if ready to pounce.”
“Oh, my God… Harry.”
“He’ll be okay. He’s a good shot.” Evan paused. “Or so he tells me.”
“I hope he is, but I don’t want him to shoot the leopard, not to kill.”
“If it’s about to kill him…or us, it’ll have to die. The way the snake did on Elysium.”
“Yes. I know.” She held in a sob. She wouldn’t cry. Despite her fears for Harry, and Evan and herself, she would hold it together.
Evan gestured out of the front window, letting Harry know where the creature was.
Harry nodded, his mouth a tight straight line.
Lucas and Mason were behind him now, each holding one of the long steel poles that would secure the turbine.
Harry stopped.
He straightened his arm and dipped his head slightly.
Olivia k
new he had the leopard in his sights.
He fired.
The gunshot rang around the Jeep.
“Oh, my God,” Olivia said, jumping off the seat by a few inches. “Did he get it?”
“No,” Evan said, studying the wing mirror. “He hit the ground right in front of it. It’s running, away from us.”
“Away from the village?”
“Yes.”
Another shot assaulted her eardrums as Harry drew level with the Jeep. He yanked open the driver’s door. “All clear,” he said. “It’s gone west.”
Evan jumped out, still holding his knife. “Big bastard, huh.”
“Yeah, and looking for lunch.” Harry put his gun away and then reached into the cab. “Come here, Liv.”
She was shaking, her knees were weak, but she scooted out of the cab and was happy to feel Harry’s arms around her. “You didn’t shoot it.”
“No. I didn’t want to kill it, just let it know it’s not welcome around here.” He kissed the top of her head. “You okay?”
“Yes. It was a fright. If Evan hadn’t come when he did…”
“You’d have been just fine.” Evan nodded. “You’d have got in the Jeep, then blasted the horn.” He was paler than usual and he was breathing fast.
“Olivia,” Lucas said, his voice low and firm. “Come here.”
“Yes.” Harry released her. “Go with the twins, get into the tent for a while. Have a cup of tea or something.”
She went into Lucas’s waiting arms and allowed both him and Mason to lead her away.
When she reached the tent, she glanced over her shoulder.
Harry and Evan were still standing by the bushes. Evan said something then nipped the bridge of his nose and closed his eyes. He appeared more upset than he’d let on in front of her.
Harry tugged him into a hug. It didn’t last more than two seconds, but it was the way he circled Evan’s body with one arm and with the other cupped the back of Evan’s head, that made Olivia keep her attention on them.
Until Raul appeared before her, hopping on the spot. “Mi niña hermosa, you were nearly leopard dinner. Come, come, sit down. In the tent, safe. Oh, this is terrible.”
Olivia remained in the tent for several hours as Raul fussed over her and the twins lurked by the entrance, stacking a fire ready for when dusk fell, and setting up several gasoline torches to place farther out. Eventually, after three cups of sweet tea and four biscuits, she decided to go to the hospital and check on Kwame. She couldn’t hide in the tent the rest of their time in Kaskum.
