Primitive Nights (36 page)

Myla’s heart constricted. He would make a wonderful leader.

She stepped forward and was met by Laylika. The Hounta princess held out a hand and bowed her head reverently. Michelle stood next to her, holding a headdress of white orchids. Laylika placed a necklace of white shells and beads over Myla’s head. The gift sat heavy and cool against her skin. The woman spoke low, her voice almost haunting in the silence, and Michelle interpreted her words.

“Today, two people give their hearts to each other in the presence of their tribe. The elders have given their blessing to accept you as a daughter of Maglayo, daughter of Hounta, daughter of mother jungle who sustains all life and prolongs all hearts.”

Michelle placed the ring of flowers on her head. “You look lovely, daughter.”

Myla sensed Damon’s presence before he came to stand beside her. He stood stoic, tall, his skin painted in the same fashion as Seiret’s.

Laylika continued, “Maglayo Damon, take the hand of the woman you will have as your mate. Walk to the altar and give your tribute for long life, health and endurance, prosperity and children, but most of all for eternal devotion and love.”

Damon’s warm fingers closed around hers. The power of his touch, given because he wanted to fuse their lives as one, unleashed her tears. They walked side by side through the people assembled to witness their union. Damon’s hand tightened around hers. “Do not cry.”

“They are tears of happiness.” There were some things she would never be able to make him understand.

Seiret smiled as they approached. He kissed Myla on both cheeks and clasped Damon’s shoulder. His voice rang out over the clearing, and even if she didn’t know what he said, she knew his words were poignant.

Damon leaned close. “He is blessing our union. He says that you have brought peace to our land, peace between our tribes and peace to me. For this you will always have his deepest gratitude and the heart of his people.”

Seiret smiled and took her hand. “Thank you.”

Startled by the perfect clarity of those two words spoken in her own language, her tears started all over again and Cuklho hugged her.

Seiret looked to Damon. “What have I done?”

Damon chuckled. “My wife is emotional. You did nothing.”

With a small shake of his head, Seiret placed the food and an array of bright flowers on the altar. “Damon and Myla are as one. Joined by heart, by souls, by love. We witness this bond and bless it before their union.”

A great cheer went up from his people, and a deep pride exploded within him. He drew Myla into his arms and kissed her tears away before claiming her mouth. His love, his
alogu
.

He hugged her close, and the soft trill of a bird drew his attention. Perched high above the altar, on the edge of a thick limb, sat his omen of their life to come.

“Myla, look. Dry your tears, for we are blessed.”

She followed his direction and when she saw the pair of
maliki
birds, she sucked in a breath. “Oh, Damon.”

“See, you must trust me. Even the
maliki
know we are meant to be together.”

She hugged him back. “You’re right, of course.”

“I am the boss?”

“That you are.”

Epilogue

Myla sat in the canoe. She leaned back to enjoy the last rays of the setting sun. Her back ached from the amount of walking they’d had to do that day, but it had been a very fruitful journey.

There was much more room in the canoe now compared to when they had first arrived. The second canoe tied behind them was empty as well. Every bag and box of supplies they’d brought had been accepted by the Lijibra tribe.

It was Damon’s first official assignment as tribal liaison. He’d had a difficult time with the training E.I. personnel had determined necessary, but by the time he’d completed five months of courses, he had a much better understanding of what he could and couldn’t do, and how E.I. worked.

She’d been so proud as he’d talked with the tribal leaders farther up the river and though it was a slow process, she was beginning to understand his language. She’d understood a bit of what he had imparted to the tribal leader, and in the end, the leaders had accepted their help. They’d even agreed to allow the doctors to come and give immunizations and needed medical care.

They hadn’t agreed to move onto protected lands, but Damon had told her he was certain they would in time. It was more than either of them had expected.

InterCorp had become a shining standard for other corporations, but there were still other oil companies who would try to take more than they were allowed. It would be a fight that would continue for years. A new fight brewed with the logging companies as well.

As the new president of InterCorp, Mr. Harrison worked closely with E.I. and the government to preserve natural resources and sustain the native way of life. He’d gone so far as to set aside a percentage of profits to replenish the resources utilized by the company.

Myla shifted against the seat, trying to alleviate the dull ache in her back. She was looking forward to stopping by Damon’s tribe for a visit. Seiret and Cuklho were expecting them, though by the looks of the setting sun, they were much later than they had planned. She was certain their friends wouldn’t mind.

Actually, she hoped they could stay for a couple nights. She missed everyone, and it was good for Damon to have some time with them as well. He had adapted to their new life with more ease than she’d expected. It was a difficult transition for both of them, and she enjoyed watching him return to his tribe and revert to the native that was so much a part of him.

Michelle had also recently returned from her visit to Oklahoma. She’d been very nervous about finding her extended family, or what remained of it. She even planned a future trip back to England some day. The letters they’d received in the months she’d been gone had been full of happiness and undisguised pride for the half brother she’d found and the numerous nieces and nephews, including grand nieces and nephews she now had. She’d even been given a sweet name by the little critters—as she lovingly called them.

Grand Auntie Tarzana.

A soft rustle in the trees alerted her to a presence. The whistle of a
maliki
bird told her it was Damon. It was a sound that would always bring her peace.

He stepped from the trees and smiled.

Her breath caught. He was so handsome.

In his tribal clothes, he looked very much like the man who had walked out of the jungle that first night so many months ago. She never would have guessed he would capture her heart. The love they shared, steady and strong, made her life complete. Settled in their home, locked between the two worlds they had connected, she found a contentment most people could only dream about.

“What makes you smile?”

Myla shaded her eyes and looked up at her husband. “You do.”

He settled in the canoe and with a quick wave toward the trees, he pushed them away from the shore. Broad strokes moved them through the water.

She scanned the beach and the trees beyond. As always, it seemed nothing was there. “Are they watching?”

He nodded. “Look what I found.”

He slipped a hand into the small pouch slung over his shoulder. The bright white petals of the
bochinii
flower caught her attention. “Oh, Damon. It’s beautiful.”

“This flower blooms for us.” He tucked the fragrant flower behind her ear.

Turning her cheek into his hand, she sighed. “It scares me sometimes that I can love you so much.”

A slight frown slanted his eyebrows. “Do not be scared.”

She arched her back again, then settled back. “It’s an expression.”

He nodded. “Are you well?”

“I’m fine, a little stiff.”

Pulling the paddle into the boat, he slid closer and placed a hand over her belly. “My child grows quickly.”

Myla closed her eyes. That was an understatement. Her belly protruded as if she carried a watermelon. And there were still several months to go. “Yes. He will have your strength if his kicks are any indication.” She slid him a quick glance. “Or maybe he’ll have legs like the
chunchabe
.”

He chuckled. “He would look rather odd. Besides, I thought you had forgiven me that small falsehood.”

“Oh, I did.” She laughed as well. “Huge spiders. It wasn’t very nice of you to scare me like that.”

“You needed quieting.”

“You are terrible.”

“Only with you.”

“Let’s hope your son doesn’t get that from you.”

“No.” His warm lips brushed over hers. “But it would be wonderful if our daughter inherited the beautiful eyes of her mother. The eyes—of my
alogu
.”

About the Author

Candi Wall is probably the only person whose real name is more epic than any pseudonym she could have come up with—even as an author! She writes because the voices in her head have to come out somehow. Animal rescue-ess, mother of four and soccer mom by day, she spends her free time writing—often on napkins at kids’ games because she never knows when a juicy story will reveal its delicious self. She once wrote a sex scene at a wrestling meet. Shhhhhh!

You can find her on
Musetracks
,
Twitter
,
Facebook
,
www.CandiWallBooks.com
, and via
e-mail
.

A second chance at love is worth fighting for.

Afternoon Rhapsody

© 2012 Jess Dee

Bandicoot Cove: The Wedding, Book 1

Bianca Rogers is one signature away from finalizing her divorce. And she
will
finalize it just as soon as she gets home. But for this weekend, she’s putting her troubles aside and enjoying the gorgeous, sunlit luxury of Bandicoot Cove, the resort where her brother is getting married. The last thing she expects is to be knocked off her feet—literally—by gorgeous Brody Evans.

The fireworks are instantaneous. Brody is just her type: sexy, warm, friendly, and in the same boat as her: in the process of getting a divorce.

Spending time together is a mutual no-brainer. Attraction quickly grows to full-blown lust. But flying sparks come with increasingly personal conversations, and soon neither of them can ignore their past mistakes or the circumstances that have led them to the island.
 

Now it’s time to determine whether old hurts and sudden doubts will prevent love from leading them to a whole new happily ever after.

Warning: If you don’t believe in second chances, never thought it was possible to fall in love again and aren’t interested in scrumptious, hot love scenes, then this story probably isn’t for you. You’d be missing out—big time—but yeah…it’s probably not for you.

Enjoy the following excerpt for
Afternoon Rhapsody:

“A pool?” He looked from her to the water and back again in disbelief. “This is your idea of exciting and stimulating?”

She grinned at him. “A cool dip on a hot day. Stimulating, for sure.”

He held up his hands in defeat and gave a soft snort. “Okay. I’ll admit it. You got me good with that one. A swim was the last thing on my mind.”

She gazed at him with wide-eyed innocence. “You thought I was referring to something else?”

He didn’t gaze back, exactly. No, she’d never describe the smoldering, sensual look he shot her as a gaze. Devastating, perhaps. A jumpstart to her libido, maybe, but not a gaze.

“Not thought. Hoped.”

“Brody…” Without realizing it, she’d placed her hand on his chest. Suddenly her palm was smoking, burning against his firm pecs and smooth skin.

Sheesh, what was it with her and touching him? She just couldn’t seem to help herself. But then his chest did feel incredible beneath her palm. Hot. Strong. Appealing.

So very, very appealing.

“Yeah?” He placed his hand over hers, holding it close to that warm, strong and appealing chest of his. His heart beat a steady rhythm beneath her hand, reminding her again of how alive she’d felt since barreling into him.

Bianca shook her head. “I have no idea what I wanted to say.” His eyes were so blue and so green and so beautiful, she found herself getting lost in them.

The air between them crackled. Well, not really, but it sure felt like it did to Bianca. Felt as if something electric zipped between them, from his chest into her hand. An awareness, a connection.

She liked the feeling. It heated her blood. Made her breasts perk up with interest and her belly flutter with anticipation.

It was Brody who broke the connection, but only to let his gaze wander away from her eyes, down past her neck and breasts…although it settled there for a few brief seconds before continuing on.

He might as well have run his hands over her skin, the way his gaze burned wherever it landed. It gave her both goose bumps and shivers at the same time, and she knew he’d see the telltale signs of her arousal in the millions of fine hairs standing to attention all the way down her arms.