by Aliyah Burke
He maneuvered through the bright sun to where the patio was set-up. It was easily fifteen to twenty degrees cooler in the shade, and it wasn’t all that late in the morning. He spotted a hammock tucked under some heavy foliage in the corner. With a smile, Dane strode toward it and settled himself in. Using his foot, he gave a gentle push and closed his eyes as it began to swing in a hypnotic easy motion.
Dane had no idea how long he’d been asleep when something woke him. Immediately awake, he lay there and ascertained if there was any danger. When that was a negative, he opened his eyes and listened again for what had interrupted his sleep. Aida. Her voice flowed to him from the front of her house. The smile her timbre brought to him faded the second he picked up on the tension her voice had.
With a powerful action, Dane left the hammock and headed around the house. He could hear the low almost nonexistent rumbles of Ruger and Kamau. Whomever it was the dogs didn’t approve. Scenting the air, he identified a male and a low rumble of disapproval left his throat. Composing his expression, Dane walked around the house, unsure of what he’d find.
Aida stood toe to toe with a tall man, his skin was pale despite the intensity of the sun which shone down. He wore all white and gripped a cane in his left hand. A bead of sweat rolled down his temple and crept toward the collar of his shirt. Aida, on the other hand, wore no shoes, had a colorful skirt on, knotted up mid-thigh on the right side and a white tank-top which highlighting her dark complexion. The blood rushed to Dane’s cock, and it jerked with a swell of desire.
Her arms were crossed, and she had one foot tapping a cadence on the hard-packed dirt. Dane glanced down again and fought a smile; he could see her big toenail had a painted flower on it with a fake purple gem in the center. Dragging his gaze back up, he skimmed over her lovely profile and the way her hair was still gathered haphazardly on top of her head.
I want to lower it, sink my hands into it and…go from there.
His sharp eyes picked up on her guardians lying near, one to each side of the man they didn’t like. And that made him focus on the intruder as opposed to what he’d love to do to Aida.
“You need a man around, Aida,” the one in white said.
“She has one around,” Dane inserted arrogantly, pleased the other male jumped in surprise.
“Who…who are you?”
“This is Dane Sidorov,” Aida said. “He’s here to help me load the rest of the things up to take to the villages.”
She looked at Dane and scanned him with her gaze before turning her dark eyes back to the one in white. Dane didn’t like the way she dismissed him. He stepped from his position at the side of the house and moved toward the man, stopping when he got to Aida’s side.
“And you are?” he asked the man.
“Just leaving,” Aida interrupted.
The venom in her voice was barely disguised, and Dane shoved down the immediate urge to punch the man in his face. Just on principle. He looked down at the woman beside him. Her arms were still crossed, and he could easily pick up on her attempt to control her emotions.
“Come now, Aida,” the man said in a placating voice.
“Don’t you ‘come now’ me. Go. Now.”
Dane watched the blue eyes swing up to him, and he arched his brow in return. Get lost, man. It wasn’t hard to tell the man was trying to decide if it was worth it to argue. Dane waited patiently, well aware of the outcome. That man would be leaving, willingly or with help.
With a sharp breath, the man tightened his hand around the top of his cane and nodded at them. “This will be continued later, Aida. I’ll see you when you get back.”
“There is nothing to discuss,” she insisted as he walked off and got into the back of his white older model Mercedes with tinted windows and drove away. “Low down, rotten…”
“Who was he?” Dane asked, keeping an eye on the retreating vehicle as she muttered.
“That was the illustrious Lord Devon Smythe.”
The name alone brought a bad taste to his mouth. “Illustrious, huh?” Dane focused on her and watched her hair move while she shook her head.
“That’s his way of thinking. He lives a bit away from here on one of the largest properties.”
“And he wants?”
“Him? He wants this place and a spot in my bed.”
Hell no! He barely stopped the beast within him from escaping. Running his tongue over his teeth, Dane asked as calmly as he could manage. “And you think?” Her eyes cut up toward him, and he could see the comment in them she didn’t voice. He nodded with understanding. “So it’s like that, is it?”
“It’s like that. I don’t need a man; I’m surviving just fine by myself. I have the perfect life.” Aida turned away and walked to the door, a miniscule hand gesture bringing the dogs to her side instantly.
“I’m of the mind that you do, Aida,” Dane murmured, watching her stride away. But need one or not, you have one now.
When the door closed behind her, Dane looked around and took a deep breath. It took him a moment to figure out what it was that was different. But then it hit him. There was more than just contentment. I’m at peace. The inner turmoil that had boiled within him for centuries had quieted. It wasn’t gone—he could feel the darkness lurking—but it seemed more controllable. Less of a strain to keep it at bay.
Good news is such a double-edged sword. Yet he smiled again. Something he’d been doing a lot more of ever since meeting Aida Roberts.
“You coming in, Dane? Or were you planning on staying out there?” Aida’s voice reached him.
“On my way,” he called out and headed for the door. Stepping through, he saw her placing some plates on a table.
“Chow’s on,” she said without looking up.
His smile caught when he noticed the way the dogs watched him. “Great. And after, if you want, I can fix the rest of the roof. I noticed you have everything needed.”
“Hey,” she commented, glancing up and smiling. “If you want to fix that, I’ll not argue with you.”
“I love working with my hands,” he said, holding her gaze.
Aida shivered at the promise lacing his words. Grateful to have something to do, she faced away from him, grabbed the plate of fruit she’d cut up, and placed it on the table. His eyes were still on her when she snuck a peek up at him, and they still brimmed with unwavering promise.
Her body temperature skyrocketed. Even a damn ice bath wouldn’t cool me down any. She gestured to a chair. “Grab a seat and dig in. I don’t stand much on formality here.”
From beneath lowered lashes, she watched him pull out a seat and sit. Heat welled up in her belly as his muscled legs settled him gently in the chair. It’s like there’s no effort at all, and sweet goddess, does he have to be so damn fine and strong?
“Tell me about yourself, Aida,” he said, reaching for the salad prongs and dishing some up for her then him.
Needing a moment, Aida glanced down at her dogs who kept an eye on her guest as if unsure on whether or not he was friend or foe. “Not much to tell, really. I’m an only child, born and raised here, educated in the United States and came back here as fast as I could.” She kept her shudder in check as she recalled the last time she had been in the United States.
“And your parents?”
“Alive and well in the American Southwest. I miss them but don’t go to the States very often. They’ll be coming here soon, so it will be wonderful to see them.” She shrugged and ate some salad. “What about you?”
Aida watched him. His eyes closed briefly before he placed his gaze back on her.
“I have two brothers, Heller and Ryinier, and two sisters, Tairen and Sirantha. I’m the eldest, then the order is: Sirantha, Heller, Tairen, and Ryinier.” His voice was deeper and thick with unspoken emotion. “Haven’t seen any of them in a while either.”
“You’re a military man. It comes with the territory.”
His black brows converged, and he tilted his head before asking
, “What makes you say that?”
Aida smiled slightly. “I’ve met a lot of them in my time. You tend to carry yourselves in the same manner. There is an assuredness about you. Couldn’t tell if you still serve, but you have had some time in the service.”
His face softened totally when he smiled at her, and Aida felt her insides melt. “You are a very observant woman, Aida.”
Determined to ignore how he made her feel, Aida asked, “What brought you here? To South Africa?”
Those amazing eyes of his filled with a flash of pain, so quick she wasn’t sure it wasn’t just a figment of her imagination. She didn’t mention it, just waited for him to answer her.
“I needed a change of scenery.” Those eyes grew heated. “And I have to say, I like the scenery around here.”
Her body grew near its boiling point. Aida shifted against the seat and prayed she didn’t make a fool of herself and throw herself at this mouthwatering specimen of a man. Thought you had everything you wanted. Had no need for a man, her brain taunted. Oh, but she wanted this one.
“There isn’t another place like it in the world. I feel so alive here.” She looked at him, found his stare fixed upon her face. “Do you know what I mean? What it’s like to feel so close to something, it’s as if it flows through your veins instead of blood and pumps your heart.” With a shrug, Aida shook her head. “I don’t know how to explain it. But I understand the need for a change of scenery. Until you find the one place, you keep traveling and looking.”
If possible, more heat flared in his gaze. “Yes. Everyone has that one thing that makes them feel whole and complete.”
For a brief moment in time, Aida felt as if his words were about her. With a strong mental shake, she shoved down her fantasy and focused on the man across from her. So powerful, such a presence about him, he made her think things, things she had no business thinking about a man who after another forty-eight hours she wouldn’t see again.
“I suppose they do,” she acquiesced. “Now, I can tell you’re a private man. So tell me something about you which you wouldn’t mind sharing.”
A sexy smile curved up the left side of his mouth and his tawny-green-gold eyes burned with feral heat. “I’m single.”
Aida couldn’t help it, she laughed. Dane arched a brow at her waiting with endless patience until she found a way to control her mirth.
“The fact that I’m single is amusing to you, solnyshko moyo?” he questioned.
Holding up her hand, Aida licked her lips. “I don’t think I want to know what you called me. I figured you were. You don’t have a woman with you, and there is no ring on your finger, which I bet you would be wearing if you were attached. I can’t imagine anyone letting you wander around without some sign of claimage.”
“Claimage?” He stared at her over the rim of his glass, amusement lurking in his eyes behind the heat.
“Isn’t that a word?” She shrugged easily. “Well, you get the idea. Unless, of course, you’re telling me you’re here on some top-secret clandestine operation.”
“No,” he said, his tone kind of sharp. “Not anything like that. My motives were pure when I arrived here.”
She arched a brow. “Were?”
Dane’s eyes flared even hotter. “Yes, were.”
Her belly flipped and flopped as his gaze singed her. Sweet goddess, this man could seriously get it. Aida wasn’t sure what to make of the small grin that turned up the corner of his kissable lips. I would love to experience everything beneath those clothes that only highlight his fineness. Dane shifted on his chair, and his gaze flared again.
“Thank you for the meal, but I should get to work on that roof.” He pushed back from the table and slipped out the door before she could say another word to him.
“Men are strange creatures,” she muttered. Ruger and Kamau stared at her and whined. Getting up from the table, she shook her head at them. “I didn’t mean you two. I love you guys.” Apparently, they were appeased by that, for both dogs laid their broad heads down and sighed contentedly. She worked quickly at cleaning up. There wasn’t much to put away so it didn’t take her long.
Finished, Aida walked to a window and watched Dane stride by carrying the ladder. He’d removed his shirt, and the sun gleamed off his tanned skin. A tool belt rode low on his lean hips, and she groaned, shifting her legs to try and stem the flow of moisture. It didn’t work.
“Damn, that man is all kinds of fine.”
Allowing herself one more ogle of the fineness that climbed a ladder, Aida forced herself to walk away from the view and focus on the projects at hand she had to complete. The pounding of a hammer brought a smile to her face as she worked.
“Well, Smythe was right about one thing; it is kind of nice to have a man around.”
About two hours later, Aida walked out into the blazing sun and moved to the ladder. She licked her lips as she stared at Dane. “How about a break?” she hollered up to him.
He lifted his head and looked down at her. “Sounds good to me.”
She bit back a groan as he backed down the ladder. “I have some cold drinks set up in the shade as well as some cookies.”
Dane smiled and wiped some of the sweat off his face. “Thank you.”
They walked side by side, and Aida couldn’t stop sneaking sidelong glances at him. His skin shone with the sweat he’d gotten from working in the sweltering sun. The drops ran over the defined muscles, and she bit back a whimper. Never had she felt such a strong attraction to a man before. And it wasn’t just a sexual one. There was a deeper connection between them she didn’t fully understand. Not sure I want to pursue that either.
In the shade, he used his discarded shirt to wipe the moisture from his face. Aida watched from the corner of her eye as she poured him a tall glass of water.
“Thank you,” he said, taking a long drink. “Oh, that hit the spot.” Dane lowered his powerful body into a chair and stretched out his jean encased legs. He reached for a cookie and ate it.
“Don’t push it. I don’t need you to collapse on me here,” she said, only partially teasing. In truth, she couldn’t take her eyes off the way his mouth moved. Her pussy throbbed.
“Won’t give me CPR?”
She shook her head. “That’s not it. There’s not a hospital within miles of here. And while I know I’m strong, even I highly doubt I could lift you into my vehicle to get you there.”
He arched a brow at her. “So you would give me CPR.” A sex-infused grin filled his features.
Running her tongue over her top teeth, Aida picked up her glass, took a sip, and nodded. “Yes, I’d give you CPR.” Quite happily.
He toasted her with his own glass. “That’s good to know.” Dane smiled at her, and she shivered with longing.
Unable to form a sentence, Aida just kept the rim up to her lips and allowed a tiny stream of water to pour into her mouth. This man, this mysterious man, called to her in ways she didn’t even want to begin to explore. Liar! Her brain called her on her bluff. His intense eyes held hers as she drank. They flared with concentrated passion when she lowered the empty glass and licked the remaining moisture off her lips.
“I should get back to work,” he uttered before rising to his feet. “I’m almost done with the roof.”
Almost done? Damn! That would have taken me a hell of a lot longer. “Thank you for fixing it. Can I help in any way? I feel bad bringing you out here and using you like this.”
Her breath caught in the back of her throat when his gaze pinned her. If she’d thought the passion in them before had been intense, she was wrong. It was like comparing a summer breeze to a typhoon. The heat in his eyes seared her from the inside out, setting her blood boiling. Dane licked his lips as he continued to stare, and she had to struggle not to squirm under his gaze.
“My pleasure,” he purred in a tone that sounded an awful lot like a promise. Then he left.
Chapter Three
Dane rolled his head on his neck as he stood
up on the roof. Done! He hadn’t lied to Aida; he loved working with his hands. It was one of the reasons he loved his cabin so much. He’d built it himself. To him, it was more of a home than larger dwellings. It was made for him, to his specifications, and that he’d done it himself added to his comfort. He liked doing this for her. Aida. And just like that his mind spiraled back to the woman who was his mate. Regardless if she knew it or not.
Even the heat of the African sun couldn’t compare to the heat Aida Roberts created within him. He had to get away from her before he took her to bed.
Would that really be a bad thing? Shaking his head, he ignored his libido.
He sat on the roof with a low groan. No matter how attracted he was to her, he couldn’t act on it.
Why not? his beast demanded. We can’t ignore her. She is part of us.
Dane raked a hand through his hair. He wanted her so bad he could taste it.
Ignore her and you condemn us.
“But I protect her,” he muttered. His animal roared in fury and struck out from within. He winced from the swipes of razor-sharp claws.
Deep inside him, the darkness began to rise, and Dane battled back. He wasn’t completely sure what was happening to him. He didn’t understand every bit of it. However, he was figuring it out, like he did everything, methodically. All he knew was every time he relied on his powers, the darkness fed and grew stronger. When he’d come into contact with Aida for the first time, everything became easier. He wasn’t a fool; he knew she was his saving grace. The one who could save him. His solnyshko moyo. Not to mention his mate. But Dane had already condemned himself to a life of solitude.
Closing his eyes, he immediately conjured up the image of Aida Roberts. The huge smile she had on her face as she interacted with the villagers, the love she had in her eyes as she looked at her dogs. There was such life within her. He didn’t want to kill it, and if he instigated the mating bond and tied them together, there was a very good chance he would be doing just that.
“I’m getting tired,” he admitted to the air.
