sorry for her death. I felt like I mourned her alone. I felt rage and I felt shame. d.a.m.n it, Rachael, I hated that."

"They're the ones who should be ashamed with their no forgiveness." There was a fierce, protective instinct welling up in her. "They don't know the difference between good and evil. They aren't very wise."

"And you do?" He lifted an eyebrow at her.

Outside the birds shrieked and several monkeys screamed a warning. Rio stood up, the water pouring off of him. He turned his head alertly toward the door, taking the towel she handed him. "You need clothes on, Rachael," Rio said. "Company's coming and coming fast."

"I thought you said I didn't need clothes and I had to get over my civilized inhibited ways."

Her voice teased his senses, whispered over his skin like a silken glove. She made life worth living. He caught her hair gently, tugged her head to him and fastened his mouth to hers. He was instantly, ravenously hungry all over again.

"You're killing me, sestrilla, I'm not going to survive. I don't think I have the stamina."

She laughed softly and flung her arms around him, holding him to her as if he were the most precious thing in the world. She peppered kisses all over his face. "You do just fine. I need to start cooking for you, build up your strength."

He couldn't stop his roving hands from sliding down her back, shaping the curve of her hip, cupping her bare b.u.t.tocks. Rio allowed himself the luxury of burying his face against her soft throat. Love filled him up, burst out of him, a tide he couldn't stem, but he couldn't find the words to say it without choking. He held her, feeling her alive and warm and real in his arms. "d.a.m.n it, Rachael."

His voice was gruff as he pushed her way, holding her at arm's length. "You're turning me into a poodle."

Her entire face lit up, her dark eyes laughing, her mouth curved and soft and beautiful. He ached to kiss her again, but tossed her a pair of jeans instead.

"Stop laughing at me and put your clothes on."

254.

"A poodle? Have you ever seen a poodle?" She finger-combed her hair, grinning at him. "I have the hair, maybe we can make a match." The sunlight pooled around her, soft rays that barely filtered through the canopy but found her, were drawn to her in the same way he was drawn. She looked radiant, filled with joy.

He had been so filled with pain and shame and anger the night before. In a few hours of bliss, she had shaken his world, turned it so that he could only feel joy and laughter and a paradise of pleasure. "You're tempting me, woman, and I'm going to throw you back in that bed."

She arched an eyebrow at him. "I doubt if I'm in any danger when you were just complaining about stamina. Wimpy male."

He tackled her, driving her back onto the mattress, throwing his body over hers.

She was laughing so hard she could barely breathe. He pressed his erection against her, rubbing back and forth to show her what stamina was all about.

Rachael didn't seem very impressed, laughing until he stopped her with his kisses.

The whoop, whoop of warning by the birds just outside on the railing of the verandah forced him to leave the temptation of her body. She lay on the bed, laughter fading into a smile as she looked at him. Something about her mysterious, feminine smile set his heart pounding. -

Deliberately she began to pull his jeans slowly up her bare legs, wiggling to bring them over her hips and bare bottom. She left them open, exposing the triangle of tiny black curls. She stood there with her bare b.r.e.a.s.t.s thrusting toward him invitingly. "I can't find my shut."

His mouth was dry. "You shameless hussy. You're deliberately provoking me." His fingers crushed the material of the shirt, his gaze drinking her in.

"Is it working?"

"d.a.m.n right it is. Put the shirt on before we shock poor Kim."

255.

Rachael looked alarmed. "Kim? The guide?" She held out her hand for the shirt.

He held the shirt to his chest. "Gome and get it."

Rachael went without hesitation, one arm sliding around his neck, pressing her b.r.e.a.s.t.s against his chest while her other hand slipped between his legs and began to caress and dance and cup him right through the material of his jeans.

Her lips were at his throat, tongue swirling in a small, deliberate caress. Rio rocked against her hand, wanting her all over again with such an urgency it was as if he'd never once made love to her. Or as if his body remembered every magical moment and was obsessed.

Franz coughed a warning. Rio groaned and dragged the shirt around her, b.u.t.toning it quickly. It was the only safe thing to do. Barefoot, he pulled her with him onto the verandah to wait for their guest.

Rachael looked down to see Kim climbing the tree. He wasn't as fast or as efficient as Rio, but he was sure and steady. He gained the lower branches and made his way up to them.

"What brings you so far from home?" Rio greeted.

"My father sent me with news and I wanted to tell you about the man from the church group who was missing." Kim smiled at Rachael. "You look so much better, Miss Rachael. How is your leg?"

"It's far better, Kim. I see you're looking good. I hate to admit this, and let's not tell your brother, but his green gunk works."

Kim nodded seriously, willing to be a conspirator. "Tama is renowned for his healing skills. It was foul-looking though, wasn't it?" He exchanged a smile of understanding with her.

"Which man got away from the bandits?" Rachael asked.

"The one called Duncan Powell."

She remembered Duncan well. He stayed to himself a lot, but was always extremely polite. "I hope he managed to get away safely."

256.

"That is what you both need to know. The man who escaped on his own from Tomas was one of your kind, Rio. He shifted into the form of a cat and mauled a guard, escaping into the forest. None of Tomas's people spoke of it, but two of the church group saw the shadow of the leopard on the rocks. They said they saw the guard ripped up and it had to have been a large cat."

"The men are very superst.i.tious," Rio explained to Rachael. "They believe that the bigger cats are deities. Leopards are rare in these forests, so seeing one, especially attacking a guard at night, means many things to them. Unfortunately, it will also bring poachers here. The attack will most likely be talked about and the incident will grow into multiple incidents and the gossip will be we have a man killer on our hands." Rio sighed and pushed his hand through his hair. "d.a.m.n that idiot anyway. He could have gotten out of the camp without being seen and no one would have been the wiser."

"The guard had beaten him," Kim said.

A humorless smile curved Rio's mouth. "We never forget, that's one thing about our people."

"He will most likely come here," Rim pointed out.

"He's dead," Rio said abruptly. "He tried to kill us a couple of nights ago and I took Rachael to a safe place and tracked him. He's dead. Drake destroyed the body. Have you heard anything about the raid last night? I understand Drake took a hit. I've heard nothing on the radio. How bad was it?"

"He lost a lot of blood and his leg was shattered. They've flown him to a hospital for surgery. One of your own doctors is attempting to repair the damage. He'll live, but I don't know if they can save his leg."

Rachael put her hand on Rio's shoulder when she heard him swear softly under his breath. "He's strong, Rio."

"No man wants to lose his leg."

Her fingers went to the nape of his neck in a slow ma.s.sage. "No they don't.

Let's hope that's not what happens,"

257.

She rubbed her face along Rio's arm, much like a cat giving affection. "Kim, Rio told me a man named Joshua was hurt last night too. Have you heard anything about him?"

"He is going to be down for a long while, but he will recover."

"Why did your father send you to us?" Rio asked abruptly.

"There's a large party moving through the forest, Rio." Kim's face was open and friendly, but there was a hint of shadow in his eyes. "A man came to our village seeking my father's counsel. He said he needed help, that he does medical research and was looking for a variety of plants for his work. He knew all of the old traditions. He was very respectful and he gifted my father with a spear."

Rio's head went up. Rachael could see Ms frown. "He gave your father a spear?"

"It was old, very old. And it was one of ours. He claimed that the spear was handed down two generations. That it was given to honor his grandfather for saving the life of a child, and that if it was returned, a debt of honor would be repaid."

"This man is a doctor?"

Kim shook his head. "I don't think so. I think he is not telling the truth. He asked for a guide and father sent Tama with Mm and then sent me to find you. My father believes this man is looking for Miss Rachael."

"Why would he think that?" Rachael asked. "Did he ask about me?"

"My father had a vision. He saw this man standing beside you with a gun in his hand. He sent me to warn Rio." Kim looked at Rachael. "I see disbelief in your eyes, Miss Rachael. Don't discount my father's visions because you have not experienced such a thing. He has kept our people from harm over many years."

"He's a powerful medicine man," Rio added. "I won't allow Rachael to take chances, Kim. Thank you for warning us. You've come a long way. Come in and have something to drink. I can fix us a meal."

258.

Kim stepped into the house and glanced across the room toward the rumbled bed.

Rachael found herself blushing. Rio laced his fingers through hers and drew her hand to his mouth, teeth nibbling gently before pressing a kiss against her knuckles. "Does this doctor have a large party with him?"

Kim nodded. "Many men. All are armed. Why would a research team need guns? Where would they get such guns just coming into the country? Money changed hands, a lot of it, for this man to have those weapons available to him. They have supplies enough for several weeks. The luggage is top of the line. Whoever it is, he has money and doesn't mind spending it. There are no women along, and that's a bad sign. All of the men in his party are warriors."

Rio brought Rachael's hand to his heart. She didn't look at him. She was staring out the door into the forest. There was regret and sadness on her face. He caught the sheen of tears in her eyes. Rio pressed her hand tighter to his chest. "It doesn't change anything, Rachael."

"It changes everything. You know it does. You know who he is. I never thought he'd go this far." Her voice was choked with tears.

"Rachael, this is my world. If I have to ..."