The Jaguar Prince

Thank you. Rogar grabbed the soap and began to lather his body. A pleasant smell reached his nostrils. Maybe he would take some things back with him to introduce to their world. His mother and sisters would like the scented soaps. They were always anxious to try new aromas.

Our genes have mixed so we share some of the same traits, Balam continued. You get your strength and agility from me. Also, your prowess with the women.

Rogar snorted. Balam was full of himself. And what do you get from me?

Silence.

It is rather one-sided, isn’t it? Balam stated matter-of-factly.

Now you’re a comedian.

Thank you.

Rogar shook his head as he finished rinsing the soap from his body, then turned off the water, and stepped out of the shower. After drying, he slung a towel around his hips, and knotted it at his waist.

When he walked out of the bathroom, her eyes were open, but she had that sleepy, seductive look about her, and it made him want her all over again.

“Good. I liked Balam, but I’d rather snuggle with you,” she said with a yawn.

He chuckled. “I would rather snuggle with you, too.”

Her cheeks tinged a rosy red. How could she still be embarrassed, after they had been so intimate with each other?

He strolled to his side of the bed, then unknotted the towel, letting it fall to the floor. He watched her face, saw her pupils widen, and more—he saw the hunger in her eyes. Maybe it wouldn’t be so hard to convince her to return with him.

“Next time we’ll shower together. I would like soaping your body,” he told her.

She visibly swallowed, her gaze finally moving to his face. “I don’t think we would have gotten very much showering done.”

“True.” He pulled the cover back and saw she had on a thick nightgown. He shook his head.

“What?”

“You are wearing clothes to bed again.”

She frowned. “It gets cold at night.”

“Not when you’re sleeping with me.” He reached down and tried to tug the gown up, but it was stuck under her. Her face turned a darker shade of red.

“Fine.” She pulled it off and tossed it on the floor, before jerking the cover up to her chin.

“I enjoy looking at your body as much as you enjoy looking at mine.”

Her eyes widened. “I don’t!”

He raised his eyebrows.

“I mean…you have a great body and all….” Her forehead wrinkled. “Okay, I do enjoy looking at you.” To give credence to her words, her gaze drifted over him. She sighed. “You have a magnificent body.”

He grinned.

Her frowned deepened. “And a big…ego.”

He switched off the light and crawled beneath the cover, pulling her body close to his. “Go to sleep.” He kissed the top of her head. Having Callie next to him felt so right. He wouldn’t like it if she wasn’t there. Balam was right. Now Rogar had to convince her that leaving with him would be the correct thing to do.

Callie snuggled closer to Rogar, and tried not to think about someday. Not having him lying close like this was too painful. She’d always taken things one day at a time, and if something good happened, then that was great, but if it didn’t, then she wouldn’t feel the deep disappointment that was sure to come.

It had taken her a long time to stop looking forward to things that never happened. Like when the children were paraded in front of perspective parents. She always hoped that someone would adopt her, but they never did.

Unresolved legal issues and red tape had been the case in the beginning. By the time that was settled, she’d known she was different. She supposed the prospective parents had sensed it as well.

Once, when she was eight, she thought she might have a good chance of being adopted. A nice older couple took her home for a trial period. Callie fell in love with them. So much that she told them about the voice who spoke to her.

They brought her back quick enough. Shortly after that, she was taken to see the doctor. By the time she learned to stop listening, to make the voice go away, no one wanted an older child who had been seen by a psychiatrist.

It was hard to be positive when she was surrounded by negativity.

She suddenly smiled. But getting a little back felt pretty good. Tonight had been…kind of fun. For once, she had come out on top.

She nibbled her bottom lip. Pooping on Constance hadn’t been very nice. Not that she hadn’t deserved it. She should’ve been pooped on years ago. Callie wondered how hard it would be to change into a bird again. The bird wasn’t her animal guide, so it might prove difficult. Besides, it would be just her luck there’d be a hunter close by and pop a shot off. Kersplat. That would be the end of her.

She snuggled closer to Rogar, heard his even breathing, and knew he slept. She inhaled, then smiled when she caught the floral smell of the bath soap DeeDee’s mom always used. It was a nice scent. Not very manly, but nice all the same. Not that Rogar had to prove he was a man. No, he certainly didn’t need to prove anything in that area.

She yawned, just before drifting off to sleep. Her dreams were filled with her and Rogar living on New Symtaria. The two of them roaming the valleys and walking on the beaches. Peace and tranquility.

Callie came awake slowly, her eyes fluttering open. She glanced at the clock. After nine. She never slept this late. She yawned and stretched, her arm reaching across the bed, but the other side was empty.

She listened, but didn’t hear sounds from any other part of the cabin. Where was Rogar? She sniffed. He wasn’t burning anything. There was plenty of junk food in the kitchen, though, so maybe he’d gotten hungry. She’d probably find him eating the rest of the cream-filled cookies.

Tossing the cover off, she got out of bed, and strolled to the bathroom naked. She caught her reflection in the mirror, and realized she was becoming more comfortable in her own skin. She shook her head. There had been a lot of changes in her life since Rogar had come into it.

Hmm, she wasn’t sure they had all been for the better. He had turned her world upside down. Plus, Zerod had found her, and now wanted to kill her. If Rogar hadn’t shown up, Callie might have lived her life in complete obscurity.

And boredom.

Her thought?

Callie’s hand stilled as she was about to turn on the faucet. She didn’t think so.

“You’re here, aren’t you?” she asked.

Silence.

“I remember you. We were friends once.”

But you wanted me to go away.

Callie inhaled a sharp breath. “I was young and afraid. I didn’t know what was happening to me. I want to get to know you.”

Only to send me away again. You are not ready to accept that part of yourself.

Callie opened her mouth, but no words came out. What could she say? That they could live in harmony for the rest of their lives?

“I’m so confused.”

Silence. Callie knew her guide had buried herself again.

She washed her face, then turned off the water, and reached for a towel. When she looked into the mirror, she thought for a brief moment she saw different eyes staring back at her. Dark eyes flecked with gold. She blinked, and the image was gone, and she once more stared back at her own face.

Had it been a trick of the light? Suddenly, she felt drained. She needed to talk to Rogar about what was happening. She grabbed the white terry cloth robe off the hook on the door, and slipped her arms inside. After