She couldn’t see anything.
What had Travis said about anacondas? They liked water.
She gulped. “Oh God.” Her first thought was to walk on water until a head popped up from the surface.
Mattie got out a scream before a hand slammed over her mouth.
“Shhhh, you’ll wake everyone.”
Immediately she stilled. She’d know that voice anywhere. His tone always sent tingles through her—turned her to a quivering bowl of mush.
As Mattie molded against him, the feel of his wet skin ignited a fire deep in her belly. Instantly she realized he was as naked as she was.
“You shouldn’t be out here by yourself,” he said in an unusually deep voice.
“I’m not.” She ran a hand through the sparse hair on his chest. “You’re with me.”
“I shouldn’t be.”
The words were said with such conviction that Mattie felt sucker-punched. Why was he fighting their attraction? Was it her looks? Body? Or something else?
“Why are you then?” Her tone held a sharpness she couldn’t hide. It hurt to think he fought his feelings.
Mattie backpedaled until his arms slid around her back to keep her close. He pulled her into him, his erection rubbing against her belly. He did want her and that knowledge reignited her passion. His mind might be trying to fight their attraction but his body clearly couldn’t.
He caressed her cheek. “You’re so beautiful in the moonlight.”
She snorted and turned away. He cupped her chin and drew her face back to look at him. “What?”
“I think your eyes are playing tricks on you.”
“Why would you say that? You’re breathtaking under lunar light. Even more so during the day. I’ve never been so mesmerized by a woman.”
Travis’s words were Mattie’s undoing. She melted into his chest, her lips covering his.
He groaned and slid his mouth over hers in a demanding kiss, all the while drawing them closer to the bank. Once their feet hit bottom, his hands moved over her, gliding across her sensitive skin, the water only intensifying the feeling.
When his palms covered her breasts, her nipples pebbled and Mattie moaned with pleasure against his mouth. No one had ever made her feel like this before, on a precipice, ready to fall.
She traced her fingers around his back, causing goose bumps to erupt over his skin. That in itself made her feel powerful. He experienced the same awareness as she, shared the powerful electricity being in each other’s arms evoked.
His tongue probed her lips; she opened her mouth and his tongue mated with hers, the taste and feel driving her beyond control. She wanted to make love to him. She didn’t care what happened after they shared their bodies—it didn’t matter. All she cared about was that Travis wanted her and she wanted him.
His mouth left hers and he trailed kisses down her neck, then lower, brushing his lips across her nipple, beading it tighter.
She threw back her head and relished the heat gathered in her belly, her womb spasming in anticipation.
With a blinding slowness, he slid his hands down her stomach, then between her legs, his fingers dipping inside her.
Mattie sighed, his touch sending heat coursing over her body. She yearned to feel him buried deep inside her, relieving the building tension.
“Oh Travis.”
He glanced at her, his pulse thudding wildly in his neck.
He was holding back for her.
She didn’t want him to, and taking matters into her own hands, Mattie encircled his cock and guided him to her.
Then she gave him the lead.
As he drove inside her, she wrapped a leg around his waist, the size of him taking her breath. She knew at that moment he was the man from her dream. There was no denying it. She’d forever remember how he felt deep inside her.
Mattie clung to him, her hands roaming over his strong, banded shoulders, savoring the feel of him as he plunged inside her, the water swirling around them only intensifying her pleasure. When her body coiled tight and her breathing labored to the point that she thought she'd die in his arms, her womb convulsed around his hard cock and she came.
He continued his steady rhythm, driving into her until he too reached climax.
Both held to the other as their breathing slowed.
Mattie wanted this moment to last an eternity, for them to remain in this dreamy state of euphoria until the end of time.
Too bad that was impossible. Life always got in the way.
One thing she was sure of: Travis definitely was the best lover she’d ever had—no man had even come close.
“We’d better get out and dress. We don’t want anyone to catch us.”
His words felt like a slap to the face.
She shoved away and waded to the bank, her anger escalating with each swooshing step.
At the edge of the pool, he caught up with her, grasped her arm, and spun her around. “I didn’t mean that the way you took it, Mattie. I want to keep this between us for now. I don’t want everyone to lose respect for either of us. That’s all.”
She inhaled, relief washing over her. Mattie had thought he’d been embarrassed about making love to her. But he wanted them to share their secret for now—not forever. She had no problem doing that as long as they could continue what they’d just started.
Chapter Eleven
Travis sneaked into the tent and slowly lowered himself to the cot, flinching when the wooden slats creaked. Once settled in the makeshift bed, he sighed with relief that he hadn’t awakened Galen.
He closed his eyes.
“Have a good time?”
“Shit.”
Galen chuckled.
Travis turned to his side to face his friend. “Keep this between you and me. Understand?”
“No problem. I’m just trying to figure out who you met in the moonlight. Was it the lovely, fair-haired Ms. Wentworth or the fiery Sara?”
“Who do you think?”
“I’d wager Mattie.”
Travis rolled onto his back and placed his forearm over his face. It had been wrong to make love to her but he couldn’t help himself. She was too tempting to resist.
At first, he’d been angry with her and with himself for not standing guard. She should’ve never been swimming by herself—not at night. Anything could have happened. Hell, a simple leg cramp could have drowned her. Not to mention a number of wild creatures that could have made a meal out of her. Something he could hardly blame them for. After their encounter, he’d like to eat her up himself.
“You know this could complicate things.” Galen’s observation was right. Making love to her could cause a lot of problems, but the damage was done.
“I know. But I’ll keep it under control.”
“Yes, but will she? You know women. They latch on like leeches. Try sucking the life out of you.”
Travis turned his head toward his friend. “Mattie isn’t like that. She’s more like my mother.”
“If you say so.” Galen looked skeptical. But if he knew about Drew, he’d think differently.
“Let’s talk about this tomorrow. I’m tired.”
“Yeah. I’ll bet you are. How was it anyway?”
“None of your damn business.”
Galen laughed. “Maybe there’s magic in the air.” His friend rose from his cot. “It’s my turn to try my luck in the moonlight. If nothing else, maybe I’ll be attacked by a lovely female howler monkey.”
“You’re depraved.”
He walked to the tent flap. “That’s why we’re friends.”
After he’d gone, Travis closed his eyes again. Instantly images of Mattie bombarded him. The woman had him tied up in knots. He wished she were with him now, curled next to him, soothing him into a restful sleep, something he desperately needed. Maybe with a clear head he could fight the feeling growing inside him. For whatever reason, Mattie had worked her way into his heart and that wasn’t acceptable. He’d never been in love in his li
fe and he never planned to be. With love came misery, and misery loved company. He was a loner—had been since the day his stepfather laid a hand on him in anger.
With that settled in his mind, he slowly drifted off to sleep.
“Travis,” an unfamiliar voiced called from beyond a thick mist now shrouding him. With caution, he stepped through the foggy haze.
“Travis,” the man called again. This time the voice sounded as if it were inside the mist.
Travis inched closer to the voice, the swirling cloud encompassing him, growing denser the farther he traveled. The stuff made it impossible for him to see past his hands. “Honor is everything,” the voice said behind him. “If you have none, you have nothing.” This time the voice was directly in front of him.
Travis swiveled around. No normal man could move that fast.
“Who are you?” He squinted through the haze, hoping to catch a glimpse of the person through the cloudy mist.
“You are not worthy of knowing. Until you are a man of honor, you will feel the emptiness you experience now.”
What the hell. Travis pushed his way toward the voice. The fog continued to grow thicker until it became impossible to move any farther and it closed in around him. He struggled until he could no longer move, the denseness encapsulating him to the point that he couldn’t breathe.
With a jerk, he woke, heavy perspiration coating his body.
He sucked in a breath and blew it out.
In the thirty-plus years he’d been alive, he’d never given much thought to a dream he’d had, but this one had affected him in a strange way—enough to have him analyzing it for a meaning—an action completely foreign to him.
* * * *
Mattie spent a few extra moments dressing for the day, feeling a sudden need to look her best. Too bad she had to wear her ugly glasses.
After she’d donned a sleeveless off-white cotton blouse and a pair of lightweight pants, she brushed her hair and pulled it into a ponytail. She’d found that wearing it up helped keep her cooler. It wasn’t all that flattering, but at this point, that didn’t matter as much as comfort did.
On exiting the tent she found Galen and Dana sitting at the table, engrossed in conversation.
Mattie walked over to the large coffeepot, grabbed a cup, and poured the steaming brew inside. She sat next to Dana. “Good morning.”
They both smiled at her.
“How’d you sleep?” Galen asked, then winked.
What was that about? Did he know about her and Travis’s tryst? Had Travis regaled his friend with all the sordid details?
Her skin warmed.
“Fine.” She hoped she didn’t sound odd. Dana didn’t seem to know what was going on and she wanted to keep it that way.
“How about you?” She thought if she didn’t inquire the same that Dana might become suspicious.
“Not so good.” He yawned for effect. “All the noise kept me awake.”
“The noise? Right.” Was he implying something? She couldn’t be sure. Then again, the man was a jungle guide. He had to be used to the sounds in the Amazon by now.
Mattie sipped her coffee and looked away, her face flaming. Had he been listening to her and Travis making love? Had they been that loud?
The thought alone made her want to crawl in a hole and hide.
Travis ducked from his tent, deep furrows lining his forehead.
Great. It was obvious Galen had heard them last night and Travis wished the whole thing had never happened. Would she ever be able to face either of them again?
Mattie took another sip of coffee and almost choked on it.
Why did she continue to make one mistake after another? First Gerald “Stalker” Elders, now Travis “Cool as a Cucumber” Kane.
Stupid woman.
Travis poured a cup of coffee and sat next to Galen. “I want to get things gathered quickly this morning so we can move out. I have an idea of where we’ll camp tonight. Make sure you all eat a good breakfast. It’s going to be a long drive, and we’re not stopping for lunch.”
Mattie refused to look at Travis. She could just imagine what he thought of her. They’d known each other for exactly four days and she’d already had sex with him. Where did one go from there? What more would a man like him want?
Angry and embarrassed, she rose and started for her tent. She felt a crying jag coming on and she didn’t want anyone to see. “Mattie,” Travis called, stopping her in her tracks.
She turned to look at him. “Yes.” She was surprised she could keep the trembling from her voice.
“I’d like you to ride with me today. I need to talk to you about something.”
Mattie wasn’t sure what he wanted to discuss but she was happy to spend the day in his company instead of Galen’s.
“All right.”
She went into the tent and gathered her things. She couldn’t think of anything but being in the cab with Travis, sitting near him all day, no matter what he had to tell her.
Dana and Sara entered the tent just as Mattie had gotten her cot folded and ready to load.
“Are you all right, Mattie?” Dana asked while gathering her bedding.
“I’m fine.” She smiled with effort, hoping her colleague would drop the subject. She hated to lie. She wasn’t very good at it.
“What do you think Mr. Kane wants to talk to you about?” Sara’s gaze was trained on Mattie. It was clear she was jealous of Mattie riding with him.
Mattie shrugged. “I imagine it has to do with the expedition.”
Sara stared at her for an uncomfortable amount of time, then finally walked to her side of the tent and started to gather her things.
Mattie let out a sigh of relief. She was terrible at hiding her feelings and she was sure Sara had sensed something.
With that, she grabbed her belongings and left the tent. She went to load them onto the truck. With her mind running amok, she had to keep busy. That way she wouldn’t think about what Travis had to tell her.
Chapter Twelve
Travis packed the last of the camp’s supplies away and glanced at Galen, who was getting into the other four-wheel drive with Sara and Dana. Travis ambled to the lead truck and opened the door. He planned to have a relaxing day with Mattie at his side.
As soon as he’d seen her that morning, he knew she was worried about what had happened between them. He wanted to reassure her that everything was all right, that he meant what he’d said last night. It was too late to take it all back. Nor did he want to. Things had changed between them and now that they were lovers, he wanted to get to know her a little better. All he knew was that she was a botanist. He didn’t even know where she was from.
He jumped in the cab and glanced her way. “Are you ready?”
She gave him an unsure look that gripped his stomach. He could tell she wasn’t sure what he wanted to talk to her about. Probably thought he was going to tell her it was over.
“Relax, Mattie. There’s nothing to worry about.”
The deep lines around her eyes eased.
Travis exhaled and started the truck, then slammed it into first.
Once they were on the road again, he checked his rearview mirror to see Galen following some twenty feet behind him.
Now he could concentrate on Mattie. “About last night,” he started, looking at her, while her face paled.
He reached for her hand. “I don’t regret it, Mattie. Don’t ever think that.”
“Are you sure? You didn’t look all that happy this morning when you came from your tent.”
“That had nothing to do with you. I had a strange dream. My mind was focused on it.”
She squeezed his hand tight. “Care to talk about it?”
“I would but I’m still trying to figure out what it meant.”
“Okay, but if you do, I’m willing to listen.”
“Thanks. Would you care if I asked you a question?”
She smiled, a curl of her lips that made his cock stir. He glanced
at the road, then back to her.
“No. Go ahead.”
“How long have you and Drew been together?”
“Together? What do you mean?” The wrinkles in her forehead returned.
“You know, as a couple.”
She laughed so loud the sound bounced around the cab.
Her reaction angered him. Travis didn’t think it was funny at all. “Why do you find the question amusing? Do you think Drew would?”
“Yes, I know he would.”
Why would her boyfriend find humor in his question?
“Look, Travis. Drew isn’t my boyfriend. He’d actually find you attractive before he would me.”
“I don’t understand what you mean.”
“He’s gay.”
Travis was taken aback. The memory of the crew’s first meeting came rushing back. Drew had been watching him.
Christ.
He saw it all clearly now. Boy, did he feel stupid.
“You and he are just friends?”
She nodded, then rubbed his arm. “That’s all.”
“I’m sorry. It’s just when he got sick you refused to leave his side, said some things that I just assumed meant more than what they obviously did.”
“Drew would have done the same for me. He’s helped me through some rough times. I love him like a brother.”
“Want to talk about the rough patch? Or maybe where you were born and raised?”
“I was raised in Atlantic City. I moved to St. Louis where I got my teaching position at Washington University.” Mattie quickly changed the subject. “What about you? Where are you from?”
He turned his full attention to the road. “All over.” He didn’t want to talk about his life. He focused the conversation back on her. “If you’re a teacher, why are you here in Manu?”
“I have a degree in botany. It was a dream of mine.” The look on her face said there was more to it than that. He wouldn’t push the issue now, but he planned to find out what the real reason was in the future.
“What about your family? Do you have a good relationship with your parents?”
She looked out the window. “Not anymore.”
“I’m sorry.”
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