“Is anything the matter? Are you not feeling well?” Frank Giles enquired, apparently alarmed at Coral’s sudden reaction. “My car is not too far, just there behind the black Cadillac.”
Having recovered her composure, Coral smiled up at him. “I’m fine, absolutely fine. It was only the shock of fresh air after confinement.”
Rafe had now come out of the building. He strolled across the road, making his way to the Cadillac. This time, the uniformed chauffeur was prompt enough and had opened the back door. Rafe disappeared into the car, but not before Coral had noted the broad smile on his face.
“We’ll let them go first, shall we?” Frank told her.
She nodded her assent and smiled wryly.
A sense of loss swept over her as she watched the black beast roar into life and move off into the night.
CHAPTER EIGHT
The days that followed were difficult. As she recuperated, Coral had to contend with Dale’s unwelcome advances, as he seemed to think that the accident had somehow “brought them closer together,” Cybil’s inquisitiveness about her time at Dr. Giles’ clinic with Rafe, and Aluna’s over-protective fussing. Most of the time, not quite recovered enough to get out and about, Coral skulked about the house, feeling annoyed and smothered. Besides, Rafe was still away, and she missed him. Lady Langley had told her over lunch one day that Rafe was a paying guest and he used the Kongoni estate as a base whenever he was called on business in the neighborhood, which was the case at the moment, and it was an arrangement that suited them both very well.
Coral was lucid enough to realize that her feelings toward Rafe had taken a new turn. However much she inwardly kicked and screamed against the lunacy of it, however much she had tried to ignore her terror at getting hurt again, her heart could not deny it now. She was beginning to fall in love with him. The more Coral had gotten to know Rafe, the more she had caught glimpses of the man behind the infamous reputation, and the less she could find to justify Aluna’s hostile words about him or the disparaging hearsay echoed by her friends. Rafe was naturally charming and compassionate; people were drawn to him. Coral had noticed the courteous and friendly way he always treated the servants at the estate, and they in turn all seemed to respect him and genuinely like him — hardly the devil he was painted. Apart from his teasing, which she often found outrageous, he had never been anything but kind to her. Added to that, Rafe was certainly cultured and knew so much. Coral recalled the evening she had spent with him at his plantation. It had been wonderful; he had thought out every detail to make the occasion a complete pleasure for her.
Even though it was painful to admit, she knew this feeling Rafe aroused in her was more than sexual desire. Yes, he was a born womanizer and a flirt, but the only reason this needled Coral so much was because he stirred her emotions to the very core. Of course women like Cybil and Morgana were drawn to him like to a magnet, and Coral knew that the jealousy that cut through her whenever she imagined Rafe with one of them left a telling mark.
Still, Rafe’s caginess bothered her. Why was he so evasive if he had nothing to hide? Sometimes when he looked at her, Coral glimpsed sadness in his eyes that betrayed the aching loneliness of his soul. Was that because he felt guilty about having an affair with his best friend’s wife? She recalled Cybil’s words on the beach: Walter is out of the way now. You have no excuse. It was ambiguous — could it mean that he had not engaged in any relationship with her stepmother while her father was alive? Despite his reputation, it didn’t seem to fit Rafe’s personality to be underhanded; he was too direct.
Rafe flirted with Cybil like he would with any woman. But Coral had watched them together, and even then, he seemed to keep her stepmother at arm’s length; it was always Cybil that sought out his company. Thinking back, at Lady Langley’s party, when Coral had gotten upset seeing them dancing together, it had been Cybil who was clinging to Rafe, but she did not remember seeing Rafe returning her stepmother’s ardent attention.
Coral could see that Rafe never looked at Cybil in the way he looked at her. That night at Whispering Palms, his tender words had made her think that he was falling in love with her, that his attraction was not only to her body. Did his feelings for her run deeper too? But then he had left without a word, letting Morgana confront Coral.
From the very beginning, Rafe had blown hot and cold: one minute he was passionate, sensitive, and tender; the next, the shutters came down, he was elusive, and he became Rafe the womanizing charmer again, leaving her plagued with doubts. Coral would never find out the truth once and for all unless she risked telling him how she felt and challenged him about the rumors and gossip. What was he was hiding from her? If this was what love was like, did she have a strong enough stomach for it?
On the way back from the clinic, in the doctor’s battered old Jeep, Coral at least had found out a little more. As they’d talked, she’d learned that Rafe and Dr. Giles’s friendship dated back a long time. Frank’s parents were missionaries in Tanzania. He had studied medicine in England on a scholarship and then had gone back to Tanzania to open a clinic. It was there he had met Rafe and become close friends with him. Frank had come out to Kenya only a couple of years ago to help set up one of the new hospitals.
“So, do you have a family out here?” Coral had asked.
“No. No family. Unfortunately, I became married to my work instead, and time just seemed to fly by. I’ve always felt so dedicated to my patients that I never seem to have the chance to meet anyone,” he had explained a little sadly. She had tried to quiz him about Rafe but met with a brick wall, apart from his obvious dislike of Cybil.
“I’m afraid that Cybil is the sort of woman who likes to get her own way, particularly where men are concerned. She has an uncanny way of finding their weakness and exploiting them for her own ends. Luckily, I’ve always been immune to her charms.” Frank had given a short laugh. “And perhaps that’s why she’s never liked me very much either.” Coral had spent the rest of the drive back to the Kongoni estate in quiet contemplation.
Now she spent her days going for long drives, wandering around the markets taking pictures, talking to people, and writing scripts. Coral always kept to well-known roads and tracks, generally making sure that someone at the plantation knew of her whereabouts. She had made friends among the natives; they liked her sweet and quiet nature and seemed charmed by her delicate, elfin looks. Down at the markets, Coral found it great fun to barter with the traders, who were loath to set prices for their wares. “What do you want to give me for this?” they would demand cheerfully. She had learned from Aluna to ask for their best price, walk away, and wait to see if the seller would let her go or call her back for further bargaining.
Coral wanted to return to the falls to capture its dramatic scenery on film, but was met with blank expressions whenever she enquired about them; no one had heard of the lake, so nobody was able to give her directions. Rafe’s little haven was obviously a well-kept secret.
One mid-afternoon as Coral was driving around, she came to a junction. The scenery seemed vaguely familiar, but she had explored so many places and most parts of the jungle looked alike. She drove up a small lane haphazardly. It was muddy and rather awkward to tackle as there were bushes blocking part of the track. Was this the way she had come with Rafe? At the time, she had been distracted, so maybe that was why it all looked so unfamiliar. Suddenly she saw the eagle. The king of the air was performing his undulating flight as he rose and fell over the countryside. Rafe’s voice resonated clearly in her ears: These creatures never venture far from their territory.
Excited, she got out of the Jeep. The lake must be close by; it might be better to continue her investigation on foot. It was still quite hot, but dressed in shorts and a light skimpy top, she did not feel the heat. The eagle had disappeared, and Coral scanned the cloudless sky for the bird, a hand across her forehead shielding her eyes from the blinding sun. A few seconds more and the sound of the crashing water became audible; Coral turn
ed a corner, and the hidden falls appeared at once in front of her.
She had come in from a different side, but this was the place, and her heart leaped with joy. At last she had found it. Hurrying back to the Jeep, she retrieved her camera and notebook.
She sat in the flickering shade of the flame tree where Rafe had stretched out a couple of weeks before, admiring the lake and the jagged peaks that reared up behind it into the heavy air. The radiance of the sun glowed on the water, transforming it into a great mirror of gold. In the heat of the afternoon, nature was out, blooming and contented. The air was trembling with the hum of insects, the fluttering of vivid butterflies, and the faint rustling of leaves. There was trilling and cooing in the foliage around her, while the steady roar of the waterfalls resounded in the background. From her vantage point, she had a full view of the black rocks, like mysterious giants, fringed by splendid trees. Coral spent a few minutes taking some photographs and then lay there gazing at the wild beauty of the crystalline cascade.
The eagle was back, perched grandly on a tree quite nearby. It puffed out its feathers, and Coral picked up her camera again. Looking through the viewfinder, she was able to appreciate in much more detail the contrast between the white upper body and tail, the chestnut belly, and the magnificent black wings. She took more photographs, moving as stealthily as possible so as not to disturb him, until the bird swooped off again. Coral watched an electric blue and fire-red lizard scurry down the bark of a tree to steal up on some wasps; it paused and looked back at her, examining her without moving, as though he knew she was staring at him. The sun made his brightly tinted scales look as if an artist had daubed him with big blobs of color. A few seconds later, he raced away and disappeared into the undergrowth.
Coral felt relaxed and happy as she bit into the apple she had brought and took a sip from the Thermos flask of cold water she always carried with her on her treks. After writing a few lines in her scrapbook, she felt a little drowsy and lay down on the green moss, drifting off to sleep.
When she woke up, the sun was setting rapidly, casting its reflection on the treetops, the rocks, and the water, painting them with the most beautiful shades of orange, purple, and crimson. The vague recollection of a dream played on the edge of her mind in which Rafe whispered her name tenderly and brushed her lips with a kiss. Coral dragged herself up on her elbows, her eyes still filled with sleep, her body still numb with a pleasurable indolence. She blinked, and then her eyes widened. Was she still dreaming?
He emerged out of the lake, the declining sun drenching him with aureate light, the droplets on his body iridescent in their beams. He walked confidently toward her, almost every inch of his sculptured body exposed in his black swimsuit. Each sharp contour of muscle glistened, each limb unfolded with lithe grace as he approached, his eyes riveted on her. Coral watched spellbound, a yearning surging up within her, eager and expectant. The air around them trembled with infinite anticipation.
He was taking his time, and Coral felt that he was deliberately delaying, tormenting them both with the ache of unsatisfied desire until it was so overwhelming that neither of them could bear it any longer.
A few paces from her, Rafe stilled. Coral stared up at him, her lips slightly parted, and their eyes met and held. He reached out a hand, his face intent. His evident arousal sent waves of excitement rippling through her. Instinctively her head went back, she licked her dry lips with the tip of her tongue and then, holding his gaze, arched her back, every nerve ending of her body inviting.
In a sudden, decisive movement, he pulled her up to him, and she shuddered, feeling the strength of his virility as their bodies touched. He ran his hands down her curves, lingering on her hips; he lifted her a little, welding her to him, creating a frenzied urge in her body. A deep savage groan was torn from his throat as her nipples hardened, pressing against the wall of his chest, and she knew that he craved her as passionately as she hungered for him. He cupped her chin and tipped her head back a little, his burnished eyes boring deep into hers with a new fever and intensity. Pleasure surged through her as his warm lips moved tenderly over her face, showering butterfly kisses that sent tiny electric shocks through her limbs, making her melt in his arms.
Then he claimed her lips. His kiss was soft to begin with, tasting her slowly, and then he became more and more demanding, almost savage. He thrust his tongue deeper, exploring, teasing the inside of her mouth. His hand at the small of her back was binding her slender frame to him, letting her feel the extent of his arousal. The more she felt him dominating her, the more she desired to submit. She felt a moist warmth pulsate between her thighs. Tremors of pleasure surged through her, and at that moment she knew beyond a doubt that she wanted to give herself to him more than anything in the world.
With a sudden boldness she would not have suspected herself capable of, Coral slid her hand downward, and Rafe tensed as her fingers probed the hardness of his masculinity. He groaned as she stroked him, responding with a shudder that told her the extent of the pleasure she was giving him. His kiss deepened, and the ache down below intensified, the wave of passion for him escalating so that the only thing that mattered was the two of them.
“I want you. Make love to me,” she breathed, her heart and senses trembling for him in anticipation. “Make love to me, Rafe.” Rafe’s eyes turned to soft amber, his breathing quickened, and his strong hands moved over her back, his arm encircled her waist as he gently slid her down onto the grass.
Suddenly a terrifying sound, between an explosive cry and a barking cough, startled them out of their embrace, making them spring to their feet. Rafe looked up sharply. At the top of the rocks loomed an enormous creature, half crouching, half standing, his long muscular arms akimbo, his jet-black sunken eyes staring fiercely down at them through the thick foliage of the trees.
“Mon Dieu!” Rafe sucked in his breath, smothering a cry of awe. “A silverback gorilla!” Coral had recoiled into his arms, clinging at his chest, tremors of terror replacing the pleasure that had shaken her body earlier. “They are quite unusual around here, but no need to be alarmed,” Rafe murmured reassuringly, stroking her head. “He’s too far away to get to us; besides, these gentle giants are quite shy and don’t attack unless they feel threatened.”
Rafe’s confident, low voice dispelled Coral’s apprehensions. She looked up hesitantly, realizing there may never be a similar opportunity. The shock had acted like a cold shower, making her attentive and alert. Suddenly her wits were about her, and the reporter and the photographer in her took over. “Can I use my camera?”
“No, definitely not,” he cautioned. “Gorillas don’t like to be stared at — to them, because the whites of our eyes are more visible, eye contact makes them nervous.”
The enormous animal abruptly shifted his posture, rising to his full height, a majestic figure in his shining black coat as he continued to glower fixedly down at the young couple. The bellow erupted again like thunder, its echo making the mountains and the bush shudder around them.
Coral jumped in fright. “Let’s go,” she said in a muffled voice. “It’s getting dark, and this place is really eerie.” They both looked up again. The great silverback was thumping his chest furiously with his large black hands, stomping and growling. Rafe and Coral moved off slowly.
“I came in a different way than the one you showed me last time,” Coral told him.
“I know. When I arrived earlier and found you here, I realized that, so I moved my car. It’s now parked next to yours.” He beamed at her.
The sun had set, turning the bluish shadow of the trees to violet. The bush was now hushed, but soon the couple would be faced with the sounds that split the jet black curtain of African nights.
Rafe had swiftly pulled on a pair of trousers and a shirt that he took from the Land Rover. “I’ll drive,” he said, sliding into his shoes as Coral got into the Jeep.
“Why? What about your Land Rover? Or don’t you think I’m capable of driving? I did ge
t myself here.”
“Get into the Jeep, you irritating creature, and stop arguing.” He grinned down at her as he took the keys from her hands. “I’m not letting you drive at night around here in an open Jeep, especially not after what happened to you last week.”
“May I remind you that I was not the one driving that night?” She looked at him askance. “You really do think I’m incapable, don’t you?”
“No, I don’t think you’re incapable, but I do think that these roads have no lights, that we’re not in London, and that I would be devastated if that pretty little face of yours was mangled in any way.”
“You don’t mince your words either, do you?”
“I’ve told you before, rosebud, I only have your interests at heart.” He ushered her into the Jeep.
“What about your Land Rover?”
“That can wait. I’ll come back for it tomorrow. Anyhow, it’s locked and out of the way. No one knows about this place, so it’ll be safe here.”
“You’re probably right. I tried asking many people for directions to the lake during the past week, but nobody could give me an answer. I came by it quite by accident this afternoon. It was the eagle that guided my steps, really. I wasn’t too far when I saw it and remembered what you said about it not straying far from its territory. How did you know I was there anyway?”
“I didn’t. When I got back to the plantation this afternoon, I saw you weren’t there. Someone mentioned that you’d been asking about a lake, so I assumed you’d gone looking. And not underestimating your determination, I thought you’d probably find it, so I took my chance.”
“You must have seen me. Why didn’t you wake me?”
“I must admit that it was tempting. I did actually call you, but you looked so angelic lying there, your body completely relaxed, that I couldn’t bring myself to disturb such a beautiful picture and was content just to gently kiss your lips while you were asleep.” Rafe glanced at her with a smile.
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