Desire flared in his eyes as she gave him her permission. His need to take her in the way no man had ever taken her echoed inside her. An overwhelming need to touch him had her reaching out and caressing those raised scars. He inhaled sharply as she ran her fingers over the crisscrossed welts. She leaned closer, bending her head, kissing the wide expanse of his chest, loving the downy hairs as they tingled against her lips. Her mouth whispered over his flesh and for a moment she was sorry for the pain he had endured beneath the whippings.

"This reminds me of the night before I left you to go to the tree shelter to see who was there," he said softly. "You did this same thing with your fingers. Your s.e.xy touch over my scars. It aroused me. That night I had wished to take you right then and there," he whispered, his fingers squeezing hers.

Kayla shuddered as she remembered that night and lifted her head to gaze into his eyes again. He looked so serious her heart ached for him.

"I was so scared for you that night, Taylor. I thought I would never see you again," she confessed.

His eyes twinkled in the moonlight with a wicked fierceness that gave her the indication she was the only woman in the world and her heart did some mighty nice flips.

"Seeing you again is what made me keep walking," he said. "It is what kept me from crawling beneath a tree and just lying there. I have no doubt I would have perished if not for my wanting to see you again. To take you again. You saved my life."

Tears p.r.i.c.ked her eyes. Just the thought of not having him in her life made her breath catch. He lifted a hand and, with his calloused fingers, tenderly brushed away a stray tear that ran down her left cheek. Gosh, but he was so gentle when he touched her.

He smiled and brushed his fingers across her trembling lips. "When the sun comes up again, I will bring you to your clan. I wish for us to remain together after that."

His saying they would be together seemed so right.

She nodded. "I think that can be arranged, Taylor. I think we can remain joined every night too." She wiggled her eyebrows at him and he chuckled, apparently catching her meaning.

He let go of her hand and slid his breechclout over his hips. She gasped as his immense erection burst free. Suddenly, she was desperate to have his flesh against hers. She ached to have him inside her.

Slipping her skirt over her hips, she dropped the filmy cloth to the ground and stepped out of it. And when she looked back up, he took her in a fierce kiss that sent her senses tumbling into a sensual whirlwind. To steady herself, she clutched his arms and his well-built muscles rippled beneath her fingers.

Such strength in those arms. Such power in his kiss.

When he broke the succulent kiss, they were both breathing heavily.

"Turn around, over there by the large rock. Place your hands on it. I wish to take you from behind."

The raw animalistic command made her heart hammer and Kayla swallowed as nervousness shifted aside her arousal. She walked over to the rock he'd indicated. Small sticks snapped beneath his bare feet and his breaths were heavy in the darkness as he approached from behind.

"Hands on the rock. Spread your legs."

She did as instructed, l.u.s.t bursting inside of her like a dam. This position reminded her of that first time he'd had s.e.x with her. He did seem to enjoy taking her that way, didn't he?

She grinned and waited anxiously. For several tense seconds he remained silent. Just as she was about to turn around, her eyes flew open in surprise and she tensed as hot air blew against her p.u.s.s.y.

Taylor chuckled...from beneath her!

She gasped as his mouth melted against her l.a.b.i.a lips and he pulled her flesh into his hot mouth. Oh wow! This was awesome.

His hands smoothed over her thighs and he held her tight, preventing her from moving. His teeth took part in the action too, skimming almost painfully along the length of her p.u.s.s.y lips, and then he let go, leaving behind a trail of exquisite fire. He moved his face ever so slightly, and she jerked as his tongue lapped up along her v.a.g.i.n.al opening and settled on a maddeningly erotic lashing against her sensitive c.l.i.t. She moaned softly as her v.a.g.i.n.a clenched. Her cream slid down her channel and he slurped it into his mouth. Then he returned to arousing her c.l.i.t, whipping against it like a fiery flame. Gosh, she loved the erotic trembles that shimmered then burst to life throughout her body.

She curled her hands into fists on the rock, stifling her moans as her p.u.s.s.y strained against his face. She cried out her frustration as he suddenly broke the intimate seduction.

"Your taste is the best of any female I have had," he whispered against her p.u.s.s.y, and then he drove his face against her again.

Huh! Any female?

Well, at least this time at the mention of other females she didn't experience jealousy. He belonged to her. No matter what, and that made all the difference.

She jerked as he lapped at her c.l.i.t. Moaned as his face pressed harder into her p.u.s.s.y. Her thighs quivered and her legs went rubbery with delightful weakness as he continued his sensual a.s.sault. Within seconds, he had her panting and writhing against his tight hold.

With one hand he let go of her thigh and at the same time moved his face away from her p.u.s.s.y. She held her breath as he slowly slid the plug from her. The pressure disappearing from her body left her with an emptiness she ached to have filled by him.

A moment later, he dipped his fingers into the little box of lube he'd made. Her heart began to beat faster as he pressed a finger against her sphincter. His finger slid inside her, the cool smoothness of the lube stroking her tense muscles, and she moaned her appreciation at being filled again.

While his lubed finger explored her back end, excitement zipped through her as he pressed his face against her p.u.s.s.y, his tongue thrusting against her c.l.i.t like a miniature c.o.c.k.

The man certainly knew what he was doing because she was moaning and gyrating her hips as more cream flowed down her channel and into his greedy mouth. She gave a strangled cry and bucked against him, wanting more pressure and more pleasure.

He withdrew his finger and moved his face away, leaving her gasping and wanting. He inserted two lubed fingers into her a.s.s. The soothing lube was a welcome relief, but when his hot mouth fused over her p.u.s.s.y and his tongue dipped into her v.a.g.i.n.a, she twisted into the ecstasy.

Impatience made her grind her p.u.s.s.y into his face and he began a hard tongue plunge into her v.a.g.i.n.a. The two fingers in her a.s.s began an accompanying stroke that had her craving a deeper penetration back there.

He inserted three lubed fingers and the bite of pleasure-pain stretched into her. This time when his mouth slipped over her p.u.s.s.y his teeth began a torturous nibbling against her c.l.i.t and the sweet bite rocked her entire being. Without warning, she bucked and jerked, her body trembling as an o.r.g.a.s.m s...o...b..lled through her in a fierce explosion.

She gyrated wildly against his face, loving the carnal shudders that ripped through her body, enjoying the spasms rocking deep inside her v.a.g.i.n.a. As her a.n.a.l muscles tightly gripped Taylor's quickly plunging fingers, she gasped in awe at the intoxicating bite.

He withdrew his fingers and while she whimpered at the loss, Taylor scrambled from between her legs. His firm hands settled onto her hips and she couldn't stop the strangled cry of relief and need for him as the tip of his c.o.c.k head slipped into her a.s.s.

She'd gotten used to the plug, but the velvety hot feel of Taylor's c.o.c.k stretching her tender muscles and thrusting into her was something she'd never experienced before. The awesome pressure had her gasping with shocked disbelief and need. Exquisite heat from his c.o.c.k sank deep inside of her and he groaned as her muscles longingly gripped his thick, long shaft.

Oh she could get used to this hot invasion. For sure.

The shock of his c.o.c.k sliding into her a.s.s had pushed aside her o.r.g.a.s.m, and as he thrust in and out of her, pleasure shifted back through her again, building and building, but her o.r.g.a.s.m seemed just out of reach.

She moaned in frustration and Taylor chuckled. Before she could curse at him, his hand left her hip, slipped around to her belly and lowered right between her thighs. While he f.u.c.ked her a.s.s, he began a quick, beautiful, circular ma.s.sage on her c.l.i.t and within seconds, she twisted into another magnificent climax.

Breathing harshly, she eagerly accepted the sensual rush that raced through her body. Yeah, she needed this loving. Loved it. Craved it. Wanted it.

Suddenly she had the idea she'd met her soul mate and Kayla sensed that everything was going to be okay from here on out.

The next morning, Kayla awoke to a blazing sun that splashed over her in such a hot fury, she couldn't help but moan at the stickiness against her skin. To her surprise, she discovered Taylor had thrown the hair blanket over her.

Odd gesture, because the humidity had returned thick and heavy and having a blanket on top of her warm body wasn't something she wanted. What she did want, however, was Taylor. When she reached out from beneath the blanket to grab him for a quick morning f.u.c.k, her hand came upon empty air.

He must have gone for a swim.

She opened her eyes. Suddenly, a shadowy silhouette hovered right in front of her, blocking the sunshine.

"Taylor?" she asked as she blinked and tried to clear the sleepiness from her eyes.

Whoever was standing over her was not Taylor. This silhouette was different. He was a very tall man. A stranger.

Clad only in a loincloth, he had long, black hair parted in the middle and wore a black patch like a pirate over one eye, a jagged, half-moon scar coming out from beneath the patch. The other eye was intense blue and he glared down at her with curiosity.

Paralyzing fear ripped into her like a knife as she stared up at him.

"Kayla." A familiar voice she immediately recognized as Piper split her momentary terror, and before Kayla knew what was happening, her pet.i.te sister was crouching down beside her.

Piper was wearing one of their brothers' t-shirts. The white shirt with NASA blazed in navy blue across the chest reached Piper's knees, dwarfing her pet.i.te body.

Her sister's face and twinkling green eyes sent relief splashing through Kayla.

"Oh man, I'm dreaming you, aren't I?" Kayla breathed as she struggled to keep the blanket on her body as she sat up.

Piper almost knocked her right back down as she thrust her arms around Kayla and hugged her so fiercely that, for a moment, Kayla thought surely she had to be dreaming.

"No, I'm here. It's me." Piper laughed as she drew away from Kayla. Tears rolled down her flushed face and she quickly brushed them aside.

Wow, it was really good to see her sister again. Considering the short time they'd been separated, Piper looked quite different. She had a healthy, tanned glow to her skin and her eyes twinkled with something Kayla had never seen there before.

Was it love?

"Your...um...guy friend...went for medical supplies," Piper said, breaking into Kayla's thoughts. "He said he knew where to get some without too much trouble. He was going to raid some village."

Anger rushed through Kayla as she surveyed her surroundings. The swamp still looked creepy and she couldn't stop the cold shiver of fear for Taylor's safety. "Medical supplies? You let him go alone? He's just coming off a serious injury."

"Taylor can take care of himself," pirate eye patch said.

His coolness at the situation made her even more furious.

Piper came to the man's rescue before Kayla could tell him off. "He asked us not to wake you until he had left. He said you wouldn't have let him go."

"He's right. I wouldn't have. How long ago did he leave?"

"Half an hour at least."

"You will never catch him. He paddles quickly," the guy broke in. Gosh, but he was a tall one, wasn't he? And his body was covered in raised welts and scars just like Taylor's.

Jarod. This guy must be Jarod. The fellow Taylor had mentioned was with Piper.

"He got that right. I'm going to kill him when he comes back."

If he comes back. d.a.m.ned a.s.shole!

Piper's voice took on a serious tone. "We need your help, Kayla. Joe's woman, Dr. Annie, has gone into labor and the baby isn't coming out."

Kayla's thoughts went into a confused whirl. Joe's woman? Dr. Annie? Was giving birth? What in the world?

"We're so glad Jarod saw the fire last night. He was on lookout and we waited until it was daylight before coming to investigate. Come, please hurry. You must know what to do."

Me? She was a veterinarian, for crying out loud.

Kayla gazed around the campsite for her clothes as anxiety zipped through her. Some strange woman was in a troubled labor and Piper thought she could help?

Oh dear.

"Here." The one-eyed giant thrust her flimsy clothing in front of her face and she suddenly realized she couldn't change in front of this guy. Nor could she wear see-through items around her brothers.

"Jarod, turn around while she gets dressed," Piper instructed. He did as she asked and Piper winked at Kayla, a smile on her face. Piper had trained this guy well, hadn't she?

"The blanket should cover everything," Piper said as she helped Kayla dress. "I'll get you some proper clothes when we get back to the village. Oh my gosh, everyone is going to be so happy to see you safe."

"Kinley? Is she there?"

The happiness on Piper's face caved and Kayla's gut hollowed out as if she were on a runaway elevator.

"No sign of her."

Oh no.

Where the heck was Kinley?

Taylor had three men glaring at him as if they wanted to kill him. He suspected they would have too had his friend Jarod not intervened when he entered their camp with medical supplies needed for the woman in troubled labor.

"Do you think Miss Annie will be okay?" he asked Jarod as the two of them stood at the outskirts of the small village where the three Hero brothers and their women lived.

"I think you arrived just in time, but it took you long enough to bring the missing female named Kayla to her brothers."

Taylor shifted uneasily as his face flamed.

"We were sidetracked because of my wound and the storms," he admitted.

Jarod gazed at him with his one eye, his curious stare dropping to the bandage Kayla had washed and then rewrapped around Taylor's waist to keep the wound clean. His friend pursed his lips thoughtfully and looked smug.

"Hmmm... It does appear as if she did a good job in nursing you back to health."

"What makes you think she cares? Women do not care for males," Taylor snapped. He did not appreciate the self-satisfied smile on Jarod's face. It irritated him.

"The Hero women are different. At least Piper is."

"As is Kayla," Taylor admitted, not wanting Jarod to think badly of Kayla.

"Did you two enjoy each other?" There was no fooling Jarod, according to the knowing smirk on his face. He knew exactly what had happened between Taylor and the woman.

"We did."

Jarod smiled and slapped Taylor on his back, hard enough to make him grimace from the pain.

"This is good. We each have found our mates."

"Mates?" Taylor did not understand.