Total pages in book: 138
Estimated words: 127461 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 637(@200wpm)___ 510(@250wpm)___ 425(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 127461 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 637(@200wpm)___ 510(@250wpm)___ 425(@300wpm)
“Gorya,” she called. This time, rather than being terrified, she felt triumphant. Joyful. “She’s ready. I’m burning up.”
The fire came on fast, flames rolling through her, consuming every part of her, waking every cell, bringing her alive. Heat banded in front of her eyes, and she stepped naked out of the small half stall that had been constructed for the crude shower.
Come out, Wraith. This is your time. You’ve waited. Rogue is close. Can you feel him? He thinks you’re the most beautiful leopard in the world because you are. Maya was so proud of her, and she wanted Wraith to know. You saved us all. Gorya thought I was going to be the miracle, and all along it was you.
We did it together, Maya. All of us. The cat was writhing, burning up in a fever of need.
Maya took one last look around her at the beauty of the rainforest using her human eyes. Then she stared into the eyes of the man she loved. Gorya Amurov. An Amurov. His eyes were going from silvery blue to a ghostly blue. His strong body went to the ground, on all fours, fur emerging as Rogue waited for his mate.
Maya stepped back and Wraith burst through with her smooth, practiced ease. She pushed her nose against Rogue’s and then whirled around and sprinted away. Rogue easily kept pace with her. She lifted her voice to the canopy with sawing calls declaring her need for her mate. Over and over, setting the night on fire with her desire.
Rogue answered, roaring a challenge to any male daring to cross into his territory. Wraith was his and he would fight to the death for her. Shifter or feral leopard, it mattered little, he would take on the challenge. He proclaimed his intention loudly, in no uncertain terms, the roar like thunder, echoing through the trees and rolling down the slopes and rivers.
They spent the rest of the night playing in the rainforest, exploring hollow logs and shallow creeks. They found great piles of leaves they could roll in together. They tumbled down slopes of grass and righted themselves, shaking off the debris and nudging each other affectionately with their muzzles.
Every few minutes Wraith crouched submissively, and Rogue covered her. They rested. Played. He blanketed her often throughout the night, assuaging the terrible burning heat until they were both completely sated.
At dawn, Rogue led the tired female back to the shower. Maya emerged there, in Gorya’s arms. They made their way up to the cabin. He carried her to the bed and followed her down, kissing her over and over, the heat blazing between them.
Gorya lifted his mouth from hers only to nip her earlobe. “How brave are you feeling?”
She tilted her chin at him, eyes sparkling. “Are you challenging me?”
He grinned at her. “Hands and knees, baby. Let’s try this and see how you do.”
“Let’s see how you do.”
“Now you’re challenging me.”
“You are quite a bit older than me, and it is dawn. You didn’t get any sleep. Rogue kept you out late.”
As she gave that little giggle that caught at his heart every time, he flipped her over and yanked her up onto her knees. She was so beautiful to him. He ran his palms along her sides, feeling the indentation of her waist and the flair of her hips. He nuzzled the length of her spine and then took his time kissing his way to her silky bottom.
She was ready for him. He bent his head to taste her. Just get one taste of that elusive marigold-and-snow combination. As he did, a whisper of sound alerted him. Alerted Maya. Wraith. Rogue. Something stalked them, stealthily climbing up the branches of the neighboring tree toward their snug little cabin.
Roque heard me calling out to the males that I was in heat, Wraith said.
He heard my challenge, Rogue said.
Good, Gorya answered. He came straight to us. We don’t have to search an entire rainforest for him.
A shot rang out. A second one. Nearly simultaneously. Both reverberated loudly through the dawn, setting the birds fleeing into the air and the howler monkeys shrieking. The sound of a heavy body crashing against branch after branch was loud as it fell through to the ground below. There was a thud, and then silence settled once more over the rainforest. The insects began their steady drone as if nothing had happened. The birds landed back in the trees. The chatter of the monkeys resumed.
Roque is down. You two carry on, Gedeon reported.
Maya giggled. Thanks, Gedeon, Meiling.
So glad we have your permission, Gorya said dryly. He bent his head once more to the temptation of the love of his life.