Shanee found herself nodding, agreeing withTariq, intrigued by the golden glints in his amber eyes, and did as he said.His voice was soothing, mellow, sensual, and what he said made perfect sense.There was no disagreeing with his words. It would only be later as she lay uponthe soft mattress in his and Bahiya’s hut that she would realize he had beenusing subliminals on her as easily as taking a breath. By then it was too latefor the LRC had left and she realized with shock that she was stranded onTheristes without a vid-com link.
“How did you do that?” she snapped atTariq. “You made me forget about all contact with my superiors and…”
“All Reapers know how to do these things,Shanee,” he told her that next morning.
Be careful when you meet Ailyn Harmattanthen, she warned herself as she trekked through thejungle behind her guide, a very shy and gangly youth named Barat. Out ofconsideration for her, Tariq had bid the young man to clothe himself and it wasevident with every step he took that Barat was chafing under the fabric he wasunaccustomed to wearing. He was carrying her compact travel bag and for thatshe was very grateful.
The jungle was lush and green andsmelled—not of fecund earth—but of exotic flowers and fresh spring waters.Extraordinary birds of every hue under the rainbow flitted through theoverhanging branches of the tallest trees Shanee had ever seen. Unusual animalsswung from vine to vine or leapt from branch to branch, keeping pace with thetwo humans walking through this striking domain. Strange sounds wafted throughthe air—some comical, some unsettling.
“How much farther?” she asked.
“Less than one hour,” Barat replied.
They were skirting a meandering stream intowhich a fan-shaped waterfall cascaded. Large white flowers grew in lushabundance on the banks of the stream and lent a heavenly scent to the alreadysweet, intoxicating air. Thick grass covered the banks and with the rippling ofthe stream over sparkling boulders in the water, it was a serene place, anastonishing little piece of heaven set down in the midst of the jungle.
Shanee was not used to the intense heat andhumidity. No wonder the people of Theristes preferred to go “sky clad” asBahiya called it. Already perspiring heavily in this tropical climate, shearmed the sweat from her forehead and stopped long enough to take out herbottle of water. Tipping it up, she drank deeply.
“I will take it from here, Barat.”
It was not the softness of the voicespeaking but the sultry quality of it that washed through Shanee as though thewater she was consuming were iced and not tepid. She slowly lowered the bottleand turned her head to take in the speaker.
Rory Quinn had not been Shanee’s first mannor had he been her last when their brief interlude ended. She had lain withenough males, enjoyed her romps with them, but not even Quinn had ever made herwomb clench and her juices flow as did the man who had suddenly appeared therein the jungle.
Handsome did not adequately describe thetall, muscular male who wore only an abbreviated breechclout over his hips. Hislong legs—like the rest of his spectacular body—were deeply tanned and soperfectly formed his creation had to be at the hands of the goddess Herself.Gleaming black hair in the form of a thick braid lay over his shoulder buttendrils had escaped the careless plaiting to curl gently around his face. Eyesthe color of topaz gems were framed behind long, sooty eyelashes and sexilyarched thick brows. His lips were full, perfectly shaped, and his nose was inperfect proportion and size for his face. With high cheekbones, a deep cleft inhis chin and—by the goddess!—dimples when he smiled, he was a living, breathinggod himself come to earth.
Shanee became aware of Barat hurrying backthe way they’d come, stripping off his offending clothing as he walked.“T-thank you, Barat,” she managed to say, her gaze never leaving the man infront of her.
Reluctantly her attention went from hisfaultless form to the tall spear he carried as though it were a naturalextension of his powerful physique. She was reminded of tales of ancientlegendary warriors from such places as an Éigipt and an Ghréig
“Ailyn Harmattan?” she asked, picking upher travel bag.
“Aye. Come, little Amazeen,” he said, andheld out his hand.
Almost as though in a trance, she droppedthe water bottle and moved toward him. “You know who I am?” she asked as sheslipped her hand in his. The moment her flesh touched his, she knew she waslost.
“I have been reading your thoughts sinceyou crossed the stream near the Rain Tree,” he replied. “Is your bag too heavyfor you to carry? If so, I will carry it for you.”
“No,” she mumbled. “I’m good.”
He glanced down at her. “Not always I wouldimagine.”
Shanee blushed beneath that penetratingamber gaze and could have kicked herself for showing such a feminine weakness.With his firm grip surrounding her fingers, he led her down the path and awayfrom the beautiful stream. She looked back longingly at its inviting waters andsighed.
“You are hot and the water beckons,” hesaid in his mesmerizing voice.
“I would love to take a swim,” she said,and was stunned that her voice had taken on a low, very feminine quality.
“When we reach my home, you can do that,”he said.
She was keenly aware of his physicality asthey walked. He was barefoot and looking down at his feet, she realized thateverything she could see of his was absolute perfection—even down to his toes.
His hand tightening around hers and herface flamed. She knew he had intercepted that silly thought.
“Have you news of the Burgon?” he asked ashe used his tall spear to push aside broad leaves for her to pass under theiremerald umbrella.
Shanee had to swallow before she answeredfor her mouth had gone dry as dust. “The last we heard he was in the AneasQuadrant.”
“He’ll catch his quarry,” he said evenly.“Reapers always do.”
“I would not like to be O’Shay,” she said.
“Nor would I,” he replied.
It was to a cave that he led her.
