by Aliyah Burke
Get. A. Grip! she admonished herself. Shockwaves beat through her as one callused fingertip skimmed over the pulse in her wrist. Jerking her gaze to his, she found it waiting for her. He blinked once and gently released his hold.
“It was a pleasure to meet you, Aida. If you’ll excuse me, I have to get back to work.” Turning his head, he nodded once. “Christopher.”
Aida watched him walk through the people, noting again how smooth and powerful his movements were. He stopped at the door and glanced over his shoulder at her, and that feeling of being prey popped back into her head. She blinked, and he was gone.
Damn!
“Aida, come on now, focus here. How much more is out there?”
Christopher’s voice snapped her from the trance Dane had put her in. “Four more boxes. I’ll head back tomorrow and grab the remainder of things I have. I couldn’t fit them all in.”
Tearing her gaze from the door, she looked at her friend. And immediately began comparing the two men. Squeezing her eyes tight, she stopped the mental image of Dane Sidorov from flashing before her. It took a bit of work, but Aida managed to keep the visual of the handsome man at bay.
A while later, Aida sat on a desk her feet propped up on the bench. The building sat in silence now, the kids and their treasures long gone. Parents had gone off to keep an eye on them and put things away of their own. Tilting her head back, Aida glanced up at the thatched roof.
“Man, I’m tired.”
With a sigh, she jumped off the scarred desktop and walked to the front door. To her left, she could see the kids playing soccer off in a field, and to her right, she saw path leading to the village huts. Aida wiped her hands off on her pants and began heading toward the game.
Thunk. Thunk. Thunk.
The noise caused her to pause in her stride. Peering down a small trail, she paused as her breath caught in her throat. Dane stood there chopping wood. Oh my…damn! He’d taken off the tight shirt and wore only those blessedly-fit jeans. His golden skin shone in the daylight, and as he swung the axe, the muscles he owned rippled effortlessly. Her gaze trailed over the defined arms, and she bit back a moan when he bent over to pick up another piece.
Closing her eyes, Aida fought for some control. When she dragged her eyelids back up again, she found Dane staring at her. The axe rested with ease against one shoulder, and she stared at his naked chest. She could see the defined abdominals and pectorals he had. I was right, not an ounce of fat. A shudder of longing raced through her.
The man didn’t say a word, just watched her as intently as she watched him. Aida lowered her gaze to the ground and drew it up slowly, starting at his black boots. Her mouth grew dry as she inched up across the muscular legs encased in tight jeans. Pants which did nothing to hide proof of his endowment. Despite the heat of the day, goose bumps broke out along her skin. He had lean hips and, above that, was his mouthwatering torso.
“Hi,” she managed to babble. “Didn’t mean to intrude.” Aida pointed her finger. “I was just on my way to watch the kids.”
Her pulse skyrocketed when he set the axe on the ground and moved toward her. Flowing like a predator hunting his prey. She locked her knees to keep from collapsing. Dane stopped in front of her, reached out with his hand to touch the one she’d used to point with, and took one of his fingers to aim it in the other direction.
“That’s where the children are and where you were headed.” His eyes held hers the entire time, and the side of his mouth curved up in a slight grin, as if he knew something she didn’t. “See you around, Aida.” Dane let go of her hand and spun around, going back to the axe and the dead tree he was chopping.
Struggling to calm her heart rate, Aida allowed herself one last ogle of Dane before making her feet take her away from him and on to where she’d set out to go. Even once she watched the kids play, her mind couldn’t let go of the image of Dane Sidorov in nothing but jeans and boots. His dark hair, golden skin, muscular body. She shifted on the stump she sat on, moisture flooding her pussy. Oh, what I wouldn’t give for one hour with him.
“Come play, Aida,” Tau invited, snapping her mind back to the here and now.
“Okay.”
She leaned down and unlaced her boots, removed them and her socks and jumped up. Aida got lost in the pure joy of playing football. Soccer… Man, I can tell I haven’t been to the US in a while.
During a break, she looked up and saw Christopher standing along the side and next to him was Dane. The men were talking but she would swear, again, that Dane watched her. The next time she looked up, he was gone and only Christopher remained. Aida played with the kids until her lungs burned and her legs ached. Then, she cried off. Sitting on the stump again, this time to put on her footwear, she smiled at Christopher when he walked to her.
“You looked great out there,” he said with a grin.
“Why weren’t you playing?”
“Would you believe I didn’t want to show you up?” He batted his eyes at her.
Aida laughed. “Not for a second.” Footwear secure, she got to her feet. “I’m hungry.”
“Come on. Let me get some food in you, at least to tide you until dinner. Big brouhaha tonight.”
She grinned. Aida loved the big meals, the family atmosphere. Being an only child, she loved watching the interactions between larger families. And this village, well, all the villages she visited were like family to her.
After dinner was over, Aida stood by her off-white 1967 International Scout 800. With all the dirt and grime on it, the color came across as more gray than anything. She currently loaded the rest of the empty boxes back in.
“Nice ride.” A silken voice wove out of the dusk to settle around her.
“Thanks,” she replied, momentarily gripping the side as another flash of heat seared her.
“I’m ready when you are,” he said.
Spinning around, Aida stared at Dane. “Excuse me?” Her eyes took their usual trip over his body, and she noticed he had a backpack over one shoulder. “What are you talking about?”
“Christopher didn’t tell you.” It wasn’t a question.
“Christopher didn’t tell me, what?”
“That I was going with you to help move the remaining boxes.”
Dane approached and reached over her head to fix some of the padding that was coming off the roll bar. The action totally enveloped her with his scent. Pure, masculine, fresh, and wild. He smelled so good Aida longed to taste him. Lick along his skin to learn the flavor of him. Her pulse shot up; all the while, she did her damndest to stem the flow of moisture within her.
“I can handle it.”
He looked down at her, his hair falling forward and giving him an almost innocent look. Almost. Okay, so maybe it’s more like he’s lying in wait for me to drop my guard before he pounces.
“I don’t mind. Christopher said they would be heavy.”
“Won’t be back until the day after tomorrow,” she said as he stepped back. Giving him the option of not going.
“That’s okay.” Dane tossed his bag in the back.
“Alrighty then. Let’s go.”
She stood by the door and watched him head for the front of her vehicle. One of the camp dogs came running out of the woods toward her, only to stop and whine as it looked at Dane. Glancing from him to the dog, she noticed it shaking before it spun around and ran back the way it came, tail firmly tucked between its legs.
“What’d you do to him?” she asked, opening the door and stepping up easily despite the three and a half inch lift the Scout had.
“Nothing. Dogs just don’t seem to like me much.”
Turning her head to the left, Aida looked at him and coolly arched a brow. “He seemed scared to death of you.”
He shrugged it off and glanced at her. The remaining light of day shone on him and hit his eyes, making them seem more golden. A tingle moved up her spine.
“It happens.”
“That it does.” She bit back a smile
, betting her life that her babies wouldn’t be scared of him.
“You don’t want to tell Christopher I’m accompanying you?”
Staring the engine, Aida smiled. “No. I’ll have a discussion with him when I get back.” Shifting into gear, she drove through the village, waving at people. She had no fear of this man accompanying her for had there been any doubt in Christopher’s mind he wouldn’t have even introduced them to one another.
“Like the dice,” Dane commented as the village fell behind them in the distance.
“Thanks. Got them from a friend, who said I needed something feminine in here. She says this is a man’s vehicle.”
“Pink fuzzy dice will do that. And I think this vehicle does fit you.”
“Masculine?” Aida looked at him, barely able to see his features for the night.
“No. Ready for anything. There is nothing masculine about you, Aida Roberts.”
She grinned as she faced forward, placing her attention back on the road. Nice to know you think so, Dane Sidorov. The warm night air raced over them as she sped along, keeping her eyes alert for wildlife.
Chapter Two
When morning’s first rays broke over the African horizon, Aida turned her gaze to the man riding with her. He slept. For part of the night, he’d stayed up talking to her until she finally convinced him to sleep. His thick lashes settled upon his cheeks, powerful arms were crossed over his chest, moving courtesy of the gentle rise and fall of his breathing.
“Keep staring at me like that, Aida, and I’ll think maybe I have drool on my face.”
She started, alarmed. I would have sworn he was asleep. Even so, the way her name rolled off his tongue made her think all kinds of things that she shouldn’t.
“Nothing like that.”
“Are we there?” he asked, still not opening his eyes.
“Almost. Maybe another hour. Would you like to stop?” She put her gaze back on the road.
“I’m good with whatever you wish.”
There’s a tempting offer. Let’s say you and me, on a blanket, enjoying whatever comes up. Against her better judgment, Aida pulled off the road to park the Scout near a grove of baobab trees. “I think a five-minute break is in order.” Without looking at him, she slipped from the vehicle and walked to the back. Leaning over the side, Aida reached for the cooler and opened it. “Water?” she hollered up to Dane.
“Please,” he said in a quiet voice.
Surprised, Aida glanced up to find him standing on the other side of the vehicle. Watching her with those incredible eyes of his. Damn, I didn’t know he moved. Never heard a sound from him. Tossing him a bottle, she shut the cooler and opened her water, groaning in pleasure as the cool liquid slid down her throat, offering some comfort. Didn’t do much to douse the feelings for the man with her. She stared at him as he drank, her eyes transfixed to the way his throat moved with each swallow. Lust slammed into her, and it was with difficulty she dragged her gaze from him.
She pushed away from the side of the 4x4 and walked away. A slight breeze rose, and she stood facing it. Off in the distance, a herd of elephants moved easily, bringing a smile to her face. There was nowhere else like this on earth.
“Beautiful,” Dane commented from beside her.
“Yes.” Her gaze drifted sideways to the man next to her. “We should get going. I have a bunch of things to get done before we head back.”
“I would have driven,” he said. “So you could have slept.”
One half of her mouth curved up. “Don’t worry about it. I’m used to it. Let’s go.” Turning away from him, Aida walked back and climbed in. Moments later, despite the openness of her vehicle, the interior felt smaller when Dane lifted his large body up to the seat. With a deep breath, she started the engine which had them back on the single lane, dirt, rut-filled road in no time.
The ride was silent but not awkward. Each lost in their own thoughts. Aida grinned when she saw her house come into view. Nothing fancy, but it was home and all hers.
Beside her, Dane sat up a little straighter. “Nice place.”
“Thanks. It’s coming along. Have a bit more refurbs to finish on it.” She parked beside the house and jumped out after turning off the engine. Reaching over the side, she grabbed a bag similar to the one Dane had thrown in and led the way to the front door. “Come on in and make yourself at home.”
Dane watched the sway of Aida’s hips within the confines of her pants as she walked before him. For a moment back at the village, he’d wondered what was between her and Christopher. A brief one, for it was of little consequence. Aida belonged to Dane. No other man would have her. Then, when he’d overheard Christopher talking about how he felt bad Aida had to go back and get more boxes alone, Dane had jumped at the chance. The desire to be with her overriding anything else. Even the slightly warning, slightly jealous glare Christopher bestowed upon him hadn’t mattered.
The important thing was he got a chance to be with Aida. Alone. She was all that mattered now.
“There’s a bathroom right through there and a bed in the room next to it, so feel free to crash if you want. Help yourself to anything in the kitchen.”
“Where are you going?” Dane was loath to let her out of his sight.
She looked at him over her shoulder. “Make some calls, shower, and change. I’ll be back in a few.”
The mental image of her naked body standing under cascading water called his cock to immediate attention. Not that I haven’t been aroused since I met her. Swallowing the moan which crept up, he nodded. “Okay. Mind if I go take a look around?”
“Not at all. Help yourself. I do have dogs, just so you know. Try not to scare them.”
Be careful with that offer, Aida. I may just take you up on that. “Thanks.” He headed in the other direction and put his bag inside the room she said he could sleep in then went back outside. Dogs are the least of my concerns. He’d not met dogs who weren’t afraid of him. Even the military dogs, he had to take care to keep away from. And while he wasn’t a huge fan of canines, if Aida had dogs, he didn’t want to give them a heart attack. He wondered what she had. She didn’t strike him as a toy dog owner.
The clean yet arid air of the area flowed through him, bringing with it a sense of contentment. A feeling he hadn’t been familiar with in a very long time. His gaze drifted back over to the dwelling where Aida lived. Smaller than his log home back in Savoy Valley—not that his place was huge. His brother Heller lived in a large stone mansion while Dane personally preferred the intimacy of his log cabin over the prestige of a massive dwelling. His other siblings lived in larger homes as well. Aida’s was still a very nice place. Two bedrooms and one bath, the living area was a mixture of office and living room.
Trees grew around the outside, offering shade to the house. Not much in the way of grass but there was a nice stone patio with some furniture on it. All of it shaded by a portcullis with some vines growing on it.
A sliver of warning snaked up his spine, and he turned at the same time a low growl filled the air. Before him stood a dog, a deep red wheaten color, powerful, corded muscles running through its stocky sleek-coated body. A line of hair grew backwards up his spine like a small ridge. And he could see the brilliant white fangs as it stared at him. There was no collar or anything on this animal. Dane hissed at it.
Unlike all the other dogs he’d faced, this one didn’t back down. In fact, the warning it emitted grew louder, and from the corner of his eye, Dane noticed another dog, similar to the first one, just slightly larger, come around a tree with the same attitude, teeth bared, growling, fearless attitude. This one had scars on his face and body.
Dane felt his beast roar in anger within him, and he hissed again. The dogs growled louder, and one began to bark. There was no fear in either of these dogs, and he couldn’t explain it.
“Kamau. Ruger. Enough! He’s a friend.” Aida’s voice filled the air.
Dane watched her come up near the scarred one. Silence r
eigned, but neither dog let down their guard.
“I don’t think your dogs like me,” he commented offhandedly while his beast paced and chuffed in fury.
“They don’t know you,” she responded in a bland tone.
Why aren’t they running from me? “What kind of dogs are they?”
A smile filled her features, lighting up her entire face, and his heart skipped more than just a few beats. “Rhodesian Ridgebacks. That one is Kamau. And this scarred baby is Ruger.”
The one she called Kamau moved closer to her, and she crouched down. Dane watched her rub their heads with obvious affection. He relaxed a bit, not too much though.
“What happened to Ruger?” He could feel her tense as much as see it, and the dogs immediately became rigid and much more alert.
“The man who believed he had the right to own him beat him.” She stood and sent him a terse smile. “So I kept Ruger and the man went on his way.”
Arching a brow, Dane stared at her. I’m sure there is way more to it than that. “I see. And Kamau?”
“I got him from a breeder. The week after I brought him home, I got Ruger, so they grew up together.”
“They are very steady. It’s been a while since a dog has looked at me like it wanted to tear my head off.”
“My babies don’t get scared.” She yawned. “I’m going to go lay down for about an hour. Feel free to eat, sleep, whatever.” Aida turned around. “Come on, boys, let’s go to bed.”
Lucky damn dogs! What I wouldn’t give to curl up with her. Dane watched her and the two canine guardians walk back to a side door of her home and disappear inside. With a few deep breaths to calm his raging libido and his beast, Dane wandered off toward the shed in the back. The scent of cut wood reached him as he entered. It didn’t take long for his eyes to adjust to the darkness, and he scanned the interior, looking for more insight on Aida Roberts. Like the house, the shed was neat and orderly.
