Gato Negro

by Ali Katz

  At long last, Beth stretched, set the notebook aside and stood.

  He coughed softly to alert her before speaking. “How do you sit so still for so long?"

  Her face turned in his direction already wearing a brilliant smile. Her unabashed happiness at seeing him tugged at his heart.

  Exiting the shadows, Carlos moved one step closer to taking the leap he'd avoided for a hundred years. He was about to let himself fall in love. It was inevitable. The only question remaining was would she go home happy for his attentions.

  "Sitting for all this beauty isn't hard,” she said, walking toward him. “For instance, I could sit and stare at you all day—would be no chore at all.” Reaching up on her toes, she planted a welcoming kiss on his cheek that burned through to his loins. “This is my project, heliconia and hummingbirds—at least in part."

  The expectation in her face prompted a question.

  "What are you looking for?"

  "The unfortunate likelihood of losing two species because one is going extinct,” she said. “Let me get my camera.” She returned to her abandoned perch and began packing the equipment away. “Heliconia beckneri is dependent on the Sabrewing for pollination,” she continued. “But, the flower is on the endangered species list. I need to determine if the relationship is as strong in the other direction—if Beckneri's demise will affect the hummingbird population—and extrapolate the extent of the damage."

  All packed up, she stood in front of him expectantly. “It doesn't look good, actually."

  He took the pack from her hands and slid an arm about her waist. They walked together toward the compound.

  "So, the Sabrewing will be no more,” he said. “Sad to hear.” Another notch in his belt of failures.

  "It is a beautiful bird—worth saving, if possible. It might adapt, but Beckneri nectar has a much higher nutrient value than the other heliconia I've tested. But you know all this, don't you?"

  He answered with a grin.

  "I thought so. You could probably write my thesis for me right now."

  "No, the research so far proves only the relationship. Yours might save a beautiful creature from extinction,” he said, in no way wishing to subvert her enthusiasm for the project. If only he had a thousand more like her.

  His answer pleased her. The way her face lit up when she smiled stopped his breath.

  "But you didn't come looking for me to talk about birds and flowers, did you?"

  No, he came to court a broken heart and, in all likelihood, one for her as well. “There is a place I want to show you. Are you working this afternoon?"

  "You mean, like a date?” She grinned. “How does after lunch sound?"

  "A date after lunch sounds good. You'll need your swimming clothes—no fords this time."

  * * * *

  The Jeep bounced over a rutted track, hardly a road at all, in a direction Beth had not taken before. At first, Carlos's efforts to maintain his half of a conversation were obvious and endearing. He loosened up after a while, but his answers to any personal questions, though forthright enough, provided little information.

  "No family,” was all he said when she asked.

  "How old are you, Carlos? Carter told me you've been around at least as long as he has, but you can't be that old."

  "Older than I look.” The playful grin he threw in her direction softened the obvious avoidance.

  They came to an abrupt halt a few feet from a fallen tree blocking the road. Carlos leaped out to investigate.

  "You can't imagine you'll move that alone. Is there a way around?"

  "Wait in the car,” he said.

  She ignored the instructions. “Could we use the Jeep to push it out of the way?” she asked, coming up to him where he studied the end of the log.

  "Poachers. See how the end is cut, not broken. This is fresh.” He took her by the arm and led her to the driver's seat. “I have to take care of this. I want you to drive back to the compound."

  "No, I'm coming with you."

  "No, you are not.” He dug around in the back of the Jeep for his daypack and pulled out a gun and holster that he donned low on his hips. “Poaching in the reserve is a serious crime. These men will be dangerous."

  "How will you get back?"

  He pointed. “The compound is less than eight kilometers in that direction."

  "Through the jungle? No way. I'll wait here, and we'll go back together."

  "Beth, do you see the roadblock? They may be watching us now. Get in the car and drive. I have lived here all my life. I know these people."

  Beth stopped arguing. This was his job. Rather than continue to give him a hard time, she climbed back into the Jeep and started the engine, but watched as he disappeared into the trees.

  She hated leaving him. She threw the car into reverse and stretched to keep her eyes on the road behind. Backing up was not her strong point, but the rutted track was too narrow and overhung to turn around. She moved backward at a snail's pace until she found a spot wide enough, maybe, for a five-point turn. Carefully, slowly, she eased the rear end to the right.

  The vegetation muffled the loud bang when the tire blew.

  She slammed her hands on the steering wheel and cursed.

  What choice did she have? Beth snatched her pack from the back seat and set off after him.

  [Back to Table of Contents]

  CINCO

  Carlos found the place where the poachers’ vehicle had been parked—two men, gone now, but not long. The smell of their exhaust still lingered. They'd probably fled when they heard the Jeep drive up to the roadblock.

  They'd left a wake of litter and torn vegetation. He sifted through some of it, looking for a hint to who these men were or which village they'd come from, but found nothing that would stand as evidence. He'd need to come back here with the right equipment to clean up. After propping up a few saplings that might be saved, he tracked their path into the forest to survey the extent of the damage.

  This was why TE'ele brought him here—to stop these men, two of hundreds driven as much by need as greed. The job was like trying to halt a landslide one pebble at a time.

  Before he'd gone far, Beth ran up to him out of the trees.

  "I got a flat tire,” she said, hanging her head. “I thought I'd be safer with you than alone on the track trying to change it."

  Speechless, he stared. How did she find me?

  The trees whispered the answer. The forest had delivered her to him. His heart soared with gratitude. Could this mean TE'ele approved?

  Still, Beth had taken too big a risk. He opened his mouth to tell her so, but took her in his arms instead. “They're gone."

  "Thank God!” The relief on her face was palpable. “What damage did they do?"

  "They got a couple capuchin babies, I think. Hear the mothers wailing?” Each mournful hoot the tiny monkeys voiced tore at his heart. So little left after five hundred years of man, yet the rape of his forest continued. “The price they will get for those babies will keep two families for a year. Other than that, probably birds. A breeding pair of scarlet macaws nests in the area. I would like to know they're safe before calling this in.” He glanced up, checking the light. “We have two hours before we will have to start back. Would you help me try to find them?"

  They walked a ways, heads up, checking the canopy for the brilliant plumage. At the sound of running water, Carlos took her hand and, clearing a path through the dense foliage, led her to the river's edge.

  "Look,” he said, grinning and pointing as she stepped onto the rocky bank right behind him. "Ara macao cyanoptera."

  * * * *

  "Show off."

  A little upstream, the jungle encroached on a crystal pool carved into a layer of moss-covered rocks by three waterfalls cascading over gray cliffs. The lush greenery, scent of flowers and the susurrus of running water brought instant tranquility.

  Where Carlos pointed, a pair of scarlet macaws perched, decorating the cliffs in bright reds and bl
ues.

  "They eat the clay from between the rocks,” he said.

  "You knew they'd be here, didn't you? Is this the place you wanted to show me? It's beautiful, Carlos."

  "No, we will save that place for another day. Come. Do you swim? No current here.” He was teasing her. She hadn't thought it possible.

  "Last one in is a rotten egg,” she shouted, stripping off her shirt while running sure-footed over the rocks.

  Beth dropped to a seat on a large flat rock at the edge of the pool and was still struggling with her boot when Carlos appeared on the ledge between the two upper falls. She gasped. All the blood in her body rushed to her sex. She couldn't move.

  He was wet, having parted the waters of the smaller fall, and he was naked. Head thrown back, he let the spray sluice over his face and body in an act akin to worship. Mouth agape, she followed its course from his shoulder to his feet over a form sculpted by imagination.

  Even as her eyes took in the powerful muscles of chest and arms, the long sinews of his thighs, the flawless skin stretched taut over all, she thought such perfection could not be part of the natural world.

  On the return trip, her gaze lingered at his groin. His relaxed scrotum hung loose from its dark nest, his flaccid cock resting neatly between his balls. As she studied him, it stiffened and pulled away to stand on its own an inch or two from his thighs.

  When she discovered him watching, she flushed, embarrassed to be caught examining him, but the expression he wore held no amusement, just a hint of concern that confused her a moment.

  With a downward glance, he dove gracefully into the pool.

  He took to the water like an otter, coming up for air and diving back to the bottom. When he came up the second time, he swam over to her with strong, smooth strokes. The sight of him stole her breath away.

  He rested his arms on her rock, watching, with his upper torso above the water. His long black hair washed back to reveal the whole of his face. Heart-shaped, with a small widow's peak at the hairline. But it was his eyes that held her, wide-spread, golden orbs, deep-set and shadowy. He had a dangerous look about him.

  "Kiss me, or stop looking like that at me.” His voice was silk over gravel.

  Eyes locked to his, she slowly finished removing her boots and socks and slipped out of her shorts. Down to swim trunks and bra, she rolled onto her stomach, and taking his head between both hands, had her way with his mouth.

  At first, he stood still for her gentle nibbles and licks, lips parted, wearing a tiny smile. She grew bolder, sucking. His taste was cool, fresh. She wanted more and took it, invading the moist warmth, exploring every crevasse. Deep inside, the smoldering coals of her desire ignited.

  On cue, he took possession of the kiss with a needy hunger of his own until she had to come up for air.

  She rolled onto her back and lay over the boulder so she could inspect his face, upside down.

  "I dream about you,” she admitted.

  "What do you dream?” His fingers played with her hair, unraveling the braid, combing through the long locks until they flowed over the mossy rock and touched the water below.

  "I dream you come to my room in the dark and make love to me."

  His eyes widened a little and locked with hers. The silence went on too long. Had she made a mistake, baring such an intimate detail?

  "Do you enjoy these dreams?"

  For a moment, she hesitated, fearing this was too much too soon. But Beth didn't want to settle for the dream any longer. “Very much. I'd like them even better if they were real."

  To avoid seeing his reaction, she pulled him into an inverted kiss.

  The earth moved. He took her mouth with slow, sucking strokes until her lips parted for his tongue. Fingers entwined in her hair, he held her to his mouth like some ripe fruit and supped.

  He lowered her head to its mossy pillow and kicked away from the rock. Throwing himself backward into the water, he floated, staring through the canopy at the sky.

  Beth sat up to watch, holding her knees to her chest. What was he thinking? Any minute now, he'd come back and tell her it was all a misunderstanding. He wanted to be friends.

  But when he did come back, he pulled himself out of the water and stood over her in all his naked glory, inviting her eyes to feast as long as they cared to.

  "What you see is what I have to offer, colibrí."

  She glanced up, eyeing his beautiful body on the way and bit back the glib response she had prepared. He was dead serious.

  "Will it be enough?” he asked.

  Her gaze slid back to his impressive erection jutting from its nest of black curls. He couldn't possibly be asking...

  Not quite understanding, Beth had no answer.

  "Because, when Antonio returns, I must leave.” His voice had lowered to a hoarse whisper.

  A dagger twisted in her heart. She believed him. “What if I don't want you to leave? What if you don't want to go?"

  "Already I don't want to go.” There was pain in his voice and in his eyes. “But I will."

  She reached for his hands and pulled him to the ground beside her. For a long time, neither said a word. Her fingers toyed with his hair, then traced the curve of his neck and shoulders, his arms, finally her hand splayed over his heart, she asked, “Is it a deal-breaker?"

  "What?"

  "Your secret—will it change how I feel about you."

  "Yes."

  She paused only a moment at the honest answer given without hesitation. Her eyes swept over him and all rational thought escaped. “In that case, I don't want to know. Make love to me."

  Still he hesitated, so she took the initiative. Getting to her knees, she straddled his legs, took his face between her hands and laid her hungry mouth on his.

  Carlos caught her around the waist and stood in one smooth move, lifting her with him. Holding her tight, he invaded her mouth with persistent pressure of his ravenous tongue. Blood rushed through her veins like distant thunder.

  Beth hadn't noticed her feet didn't touch the ground until he set her down. His hands trembled against her back. The clasp of her bathing suit released, spilling her breasts against his chest. She shook the top down her arms and tossed it aside.

  Carlos broke the kiss, standing back to look.

  She lifted her eyes to his face and forgot to breathe. Unfiltered lust darkened his brow as he bent to take a turgid nipple between his lips. His arms caught her as she swooned into the rising tempest his mouth created in her.

  With kisses and nips to her torso, he lowered himself to his knees. He tugged at her trunks, baring her bottom to his caresses as his tongue circled and plunged into her navel. Tugged lower, and buried his face in the nest of curls at the juncture of her thighs.

  His chest expanded in a slow, deep inhale as his hands on her ass pressed her tight. His tongue reached out, licked a path through the wiry curls, delved between her lips and found her clit. A few strokes set her body trembling.

  "Carlos, please.” She didn't know yet if she begged for more or less.

  He lowered the shorts to the ground, lifting one foot free, then the other, replacing them at a distance that left her open to the tickling warmth of his breath against her sex. A fresh wash of arousal bathed her secret parts. His hands stroked the back of her legs firmly on the way up, slipping between her thighs at the top, spreading her swollen labia.

  His tongue reached to capture the moisture.

  Her legs turned to rubber. “Carlos.” Afraid to fall, Beth clung to his shoulders, trembling, sure now she couldn't take any more without crashing to the ground.

  Cool hands glided up her body, leaving chills in their wake as he rose to his feet. Imprisoning her wrists behind her back, he pulled her tight against the blazing heat of his naked flesh.

  It was so right, this heat, his rock hard cock gliding against her belly as he rocked, unthinking. His balls tapped, tapped at the apex of her thighs like a slow, pulsing orgasm.

  He dipped his head to
take her mouth, the kiss hard, demanding, possessive.

  Too soon, he drew away. His lips moved over hers whispering, “Follow me."

  Still holding one hand, he took her to the edge of the rock, met her eyes as he let go and dove. A few seconds later, he surfaced in the middle of the pool, shaking the water from his face. With an intent expression, he said, “Don't make me wait."

  She dove in after him.

  The water was clear as crystal and warm. She searched for him below the surface and found his legs by their gentle movement. Swimming to him, her arms circled his thighs and smoothed up the swell of his buttocks. Her cheeks and lips brushed his erection. As she kicked to the surface, the water surged between them in a full body caress, while her breasts grazed him from knees to chest. He gave her a second to breathe, then covered her mouth with his.

  Breaking the kiss, Carlos wrapped an arm about her and kicked them to the side of the pool. The muscles of his chest stretched and bunched with each single-armed stroke. Water cascaded around her as he floated away and pulled her to the rocks between the falls where she'd first seen him. Letting go, he lifted himself onto the ledge and reached down to pull her up beside him.

  "Here,” he said, over the roar of the falls. He pulled her through the bridal-veil where an overhang left a small, mossy place just wide enough for two bodies to lie close. He lowered her to the spongy bed and knelt beside her. “I want to make love to you here."

  One arm stretched above his head, resting against the overhanging rock. The other shoulder captured an occasional splash from the water falling just inches behind.

  Beth found herself mesmerized by the way the rivulets ran over his body. She let her fingers trace their paths over dark pecs and nipples, then leaned in for a taste. The cool, clear liquid captured a bit of the salty flavor of his skin. She lapped at the flow over his rippled abs, drinking her fill.

  Her gaze and fingers skimmed his torso, awed by their power to raise a storm of quivering muscle along their path.

  Even in daylight, with the evidence plain before her, something deep inside expected to wake from the dream. And she would. She believed him. Six weeks from now when he left, she would wake alone in her bed one morning, and this little time they'd had together would be a vaporous dream.