“Lex.” He growled the other man’s name. If the handsome, cocky bastard had touched Becca he was living on borrowed time.
He took a deep breath, struggled for patience. He was dying to see her, touch her, breathe her in, drink from her lips…
Deep in the heart of the African jungle, he took shelter from the drizzling rain beneath large green leaves and observed the small house. His safe house. Restless energy had him amped up. Drawing on years of discipline, he stayed put. He wouldn’t let his impatience put everything that mattered most in the world to him in jeopardy.
Once he was sure his tail was clear, that he wasn’t leading danger straight to her, only then he would go to Becca.
If he had been followed, the person was highly skilled as Micah found no evidence of another presence. And the house he watched appeared secure.
The front door burst open and anticipation almost had him jumping from his covered position, racing across the distance. Musical laughter reached out, wrapped around his chest, squeezed. Hands fisted at his sides, he rocked forward on the balls of his feet for what felt like an eternity.
And then there she was, dancing in the rain. Too far away to see her eyes, he knew the smile on her sultry lips would extend to their moss green depths.
She stepped out of the door looking happy and healthy. A riot of dark silken hair flowed over slender shoulders to sway around her tiny waist. Rain quickly plastered the thin material of her tank top and shorts to her skin.
Damn, she was a beautiful sight for weary eyes.
His heart stopped and a huge lump clogged his throat.
“Becca.” He whispered her name in a broken voice. Many times over the long weeks he had feared failure and worried what would happen to her if he didn’t come for her.
A large form slipped from the door way, sharp eyes scanning the surroundings, lips returning her smile. Micah’s hackles rose and insidious rage soared. The fact he had sent Lex with her, asked the other man to protect his woman, did not penetrate the red haze of anger clouding his mind.
Mine!
As he watched, Lex drew Becca into his arms and began dancing with her, holding her wet body close to his much larger frame.
Without conscious thought or direction, his body began the familiar process of change. Muscles, bone and tendon reshaped. Short tan fur covered his body while around his face a lush mane appeared.
Before the man could protest the lion’s powerful legs drove him forward with single-minded purpose—reclaiming his mate.
* * * * *
Rebecca knew Lex didn’t buy her false smile, still she forced her expression to reflect happiness instead of worry and longing. She felt as if a heavy weight pressed down on her chest. Not even the thrill of studying all the various species of animals surrounding the safe house eased the ache.
A desperate compulsion filled her, drew her outside. She didn’t question the why of it.
She said yet another silent prayer, plastered on another happy face and danced out into the nearly constant rain. Since the Congo area of Africa where they’d hidden out got upward of eighty inches of rain a year there were only two options—sit inside and mope or get wet.
Lex was one step behind her leaving the house. He’d been so understanding and kind. The two of them had formed a strong friendship during their forced confinement. She thought of him as the big brother she’d always wished to have. At the thought, she flashed him a real smile.
He joined her, humming a tune as he twirled her around the clearing, lightening her mood.
The anguished roar of a big cat thundered through the jungle. Rebecca didn’t have to see him to know.
Micah had come for her.
At last!
Her spine went rigid as Lex tensed, his gaze frantically searching the area, and a gun appeared in his hand.
She didn’t get a chance to identify Micah or tell Lex not to shoot. One second she was scanning the immediate area, the next Micah hurtled through the air. Five-hundred pounds of pissed-off lion pinned Lex to the ground with his wrist held tight between all those sharp teeth. She didn’t know what had happened to the gun.
In different circumstances she would have had a good laugh over the remnants of shredded clothing clinging to the lion.
“Lex,” she spoke in the most soothing tone she could manage in the current life-or-death situation. “Don’t move unless you want to pull away a bloody stump.”
She slowly moved in closer, shushing Lex as he mumbled urgent warnings. The man was scared as hell, not that she blamed him. “Shut. Up. Micah won’t hurt me. You might warrant a second thought, but friendship isn’t going to save your ass now.”
Rebecca put her face right in front of the lion’s, staring into familiar eyes and stroking his luxurious mane. “Micah…honey.” She considered scolding him but wanted to keep his focus away from Lex. “I missed you so damn much.”
She kept speaking in a tone meant to soothe and words intended to coax him away from their friend. “You bite him and get all bloody and I’m not going to want to kiss you.”
He watched her for a moment before dropping Lex’s wrist. A brief glance had her sighing in relief. “That’s a good boy.” He’d left the imprint of his teeth in the soft flesh but had not clamped down hard enough to break through skin.
With her fingers buried deep in his thick mane, she began moving to one side, tugging him along. “Come back to me, Micah. Shift for me. I’ve missed being in your arms. I need you to hold me.”
Once they’d moved several paces from Lex, she knelt and threw herself against him. She wrapped her arms tightly around his neck, her face cushioned by his mane. “Please don’t make me wait any longer,” she implored. “I love you, Micah.”
She fell back as he shifted but didn’t release her hold on him. In the blink of an eye her body was covered with by solid male muscle. In particular, she noticed one extra-hard muscle as it nestled against the soft curve of her belly.
“I’ll, ah…just make myself scarce while you two catch up.”
Neither one of them acknowledged Lex’s soft whisper. Micah figured his friend was smart enough to know when to get good and scarce.
Rebecca’s busy hands were everywhere, touching every inch of skin she could reach, further arousing him. Tears gathered at the corners of her eyes, making his heart turn over in his chest.
“You’re not hurt anywhere, are you?” Her brow furrowed with concern. “If you’ve come back to me hurt there’s going to be hell to pay.”
He couldn’t help smiling over her threat. So small and delicate beneath him, but his woman was no softie. Her strong spirit more than made up for what she lacked in stature.
God, the way she made him feel. This was home—she was home. Being in her arms brought him a sense of joy he’d never known possible.
“I’m fine, baby. Not a scratch on me.”
She stilled, stared into his eyes. “What about the lab? Did you get Nash out?” He felt a shudder run through her. “Hurry up and tell me so we can make love.”
He raced through a very brief explanation between planting loud, smacking kisses all over her sweet face. “Everything is handled. Crosby’s fine. Found another ‘subject’—a woman. She’ll be okay.” He paused, hovering above her lips. “We’ll talk more later. Need you now, Becca!”
“Yes,” she sobbed. “Here. Now.”
Clothes tore, were tossed to the side. Becca spread her sexy legs in welcome. He traced two fingers along her slit, growling when he found her wet and ready. With one measured thrust he filled her balls-deep, covered her body and learned the meaning of ecstasy.
He didn’t so much as breathe—just soaked in the glorious feeling of being held in the hot, velvet clasp of his woman’s body.
Having other ideas, Becca sunk her teeth into his shoulder and writhed against him, spurring Micah into action. He reared back then plunged deep, taking her hard and fast, the way he knew she enjoyed.
“Yes, Micah,” she cri
ed. “Hard. Good. So good.”
He loosened the lion’s leash, gave in to his animal side knowing she’d accept all of him. Strong arms and legs held him tight, not allowing him much room to move. And it was beyond good. Everything he’d never known he wanted and more.
The gentle rain washed over them, rolled down his back. He ignored everything but her. Powerful sensations built, gathered at the base of his spine but didn’t slow him down. Not until Becca’s entire body tensed then spasmed, taking him soaring with her.
As they settled back to earth, Micah rolled to his side and rested his palm over her belly, imagining her growing large with their child. His world, his future. Nothing else mattered.
“Where should we go?” He stared into her bright green eyes. “We’ll make a home and raise the baby anywhere you want.”
“I don’t care where we go, Micah, as long as we’re together.”
“There has to be someplace you’d like to go.”
“Hmm. Well, I have always wanted to see Paris, Madrid, Rome, Athens…”
“Then Europe it is, baby.”
“Are you two done yet? Is it safe to come out?” Lex bellowed from somewhere off in the jungle, sending them both into gales of laughter. “There’s a seriously huge python smacking its lips at me.”
“No,” Becca giggled.
“Come back later,” Micah added.
Much later.
He still had a lot of catching up to do. At least they’d have a lot of years together in which to do so.
He knew they’d have their ups and downs. There would be hard times to balance the good. Difficulties to overcome because of his ability to shift. But Micah sensed there would be more laughter than tears and he felt sure, all the way down to the marrow of his bones, they’d always face life’s challenges together.
“How are we going to get rid of him?”
“Don’t worry, baby. I’ve got plans for Lex. He’s going to be very busy.”
Rolling to his back, he kept their bodies joined.
“I’ve been waiting forever for you to ride me again. Don’t keep me waiting.”
Her sultry smile filled his heart with joy and had him looking forward to many years with this amazing woman.
“I love you,” she gasped and began rocking her hips. “Do that meow thing for me.”
Unable to deny her anything he let loose a joy-filled roar that had the native wildlife, along with a human medic, running for cover.
About the Author
Nicole Austin lives on the sheltered Gulf Coast of Florida, where inspiration can be readily found sitting under a big shade umbrella on the beach while sipping cold margaritas. A voracious reader, she never goes anywhere without a book. All those delicious romances combined with a vivid imagination naturally created steamy fantasies and characters in her mind.
Discovering Ellora’s Cave paved the path to freeing them, as well as manifesting an intoxicating passion for Romantica®. The positive response of family and friends to her stories propelled Nicole into an incredible world where fantasy comes boldly to life. Now she stays busy working as a certified CT scan technologist, finishing her third college degree, reading, writing and keeping up with family. Oh yeah, and did we mention all the hard work involved with research? Well, that’s the fun job—certainly a labor of love.
Nicole welcomes comments from readers. You can find her website and email address on her author bio page at www.ellorascave.com.
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Also by Nicole Austin
Candyman
Ellora’s Cavemen: Dreams of the Oasis I anthology
Enough
Erotique
Flyboy
Have a Little Faith in Me
Master’s Thief
Passionate Realities
Rakahnja’s Haven
Restless
Savannah’s Vision
The Boy Next Door
Trip My Switch
Discover for yourself why readers can’t get enough of the multiple award-winning publisher Ellora’s Cave. Whether you prefer e-books or paperbacks, be sure to visit EC on the web at www.ellorascave.com for an erotic reading experience that will leave you breathless.
www.ellorascave.com
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