Christine Feehan – [Leopard 2] Wild Rain

19

RACHAEL gripped the railing and leaned over to peer at the forest floor below. “I think I’m going stir crazy.” She turned around to smile at Rio, half sitting on the banister. “Is that possible out here in this huge forest? And don’t say I’m in one of my little moods either!”

“Sure it is. Waiting is always the most difficult part. We know the mole passed the word, so it won’t be much longer. I received word that Armando and a huge party arrived and were making their way up the river. We’ve got people in place watching him. He brought four big-name game hunters with him, which did cause a bit of a problem as the officials don’t encourage that sort of thing.”

Rachael shivered. “Knowing that man is walking in the same forest is frightening. Armando is truly evil, Rio. It won’t take him long to send out his men.”

“I know, but it’s what we’ve been waiting for. This is probably our last chance for a little fun. They aren’t in our area yet.”

“I hate that Elijah is so close and I can’t go see him. I

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Christine Feehan

Rio reached out to take her hand, holding her open palm over his heart. “At least this has given us some time for your leg to heal properly.”

She turned her calf this way and that, frowning. “Properly? Is that what you call it? At least I have a leg. And Fritz is better too. He went out this morning around dawn to hunt food with Franz. I thought that was such a good sign.”

Rio tugged on her hand until her body was tight against his. “We don’t have to stay here if you’d rather go play,” he invited softly.

Rachael looked up at him, his weathered, beloved face. She knew every inch of that face, by touch, by vision. There was a playful gleam in his eyes, one rarely seen by anyone other than Rachael. She loved that boyish, mischievous side of him that crept out at unexpected times. “Is it safe?”

“At the moment. I didn’t expect Armando to come himself so soon, but it doesn’t really change anything. I’m expecting your uncle’s assassin to come checking any day now, but the forest animals will alert us. We don’t have to stay here in this house if you want to stretch your legs and play a bit. I have one or two beautiful spots I haven’t had a chance to show you.” His fingers crushed strands of her hair, rubbed them together. “We’ve been putting all our energy toward rehearsals for the arrival of your uncle and we haven’t managed to take a much-needed break. The temporary hut is built, we’ve moved you in, we have people up and down the river and in the forest keeping an eye on them. I think we can take a small break.”

Rio hadn’t chanced a single late night run since her brother had shown up. He didn’t want to leave her alone and he felt it was better to give her leg a chance to fully heal. The lure of the forest was on him, calling continually.

Rachael’s smile widened and she peeled off the shirt she was wearing, flinging it aside without hesitation. It left

her standing in her silky thong and nothing else. Rio

WILD RAIN

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Breathing Rachael in was becoming a habit. “Maybe we should just stay here,” he murmured softly. Her breasts were beautiful, full and ripe and so perfect he had to touch them. His fingers whispered over her skin, tugged at her nipples just to see them peak for him.

“Maybe we shouldn’t. I want to go run. You can wait here for me though.” Rachael shimmied out of her thong, enjoying the way he watched her. She had never thought about being a sexual being until she was around Rio. He made her so aware of her own body, of his body. Of what they could have together. She moved enticingly, wholly feminine, catching at a branch above her head. “You can be thinking about me while I’m gone,” she teased.

“You aren’t going anywhere without me,” he declared, hastily shedding clothes. She was already shifting, a sleek female leopard with rounded curves and a feline body built for speed and endurance. She leapt to a neighboring branch and hurried along the slanting limb to the next overlapping one.