Primitive Nights (9 page)

Almost instantly, the thought was replaced with heat. Stronger arms wrapped around her, and the pressure of his mouth increased, deepening to a raw, sensual kiss. The memory of John’s scent faded, replaced by Damon’s male, earthy spice. His kiss had stolen all resistance, all intellectual reasoning until she’d felt like Jell-O in his arms.

His memory lingered long into the night.

Myla yawned as the first rays of the sun lit the jungle. She was certain the world outside the dense foliage was in full sunlight by now, but the trees kept her sheltered in deep shadows.

She’d barely slept. The soreness in her muscles doubled in intensity as she pushed up from the rocks and knocked the fronds away. Humidity already hung thick in the air. Her clothes were damp and she pulled them away from her skin. Today would be a scorcher.

Better to get moving while she could see. If there was any way to avoid spending another night in the jungle, she planned to do it. With careful steps, she climbed off the rocks and looked around at the jungle. Its beauty still amazed her. Everything was green. Lush, vibrant green. Grabbing the remaining fruit from her bag, she took a bite to quiet her rumbling stomach before forging ahead.

It was much later when she stopped to wipe at the sweat dripping down her neck. The sting on her palm reminded her of the slow-healing blisters and she dribbled a tiny amount of her water onto hands. She glanced at the beams of sunlight filtering through the trees and sighed. She had no idea how long she’d been walking, or if she was even going the right way. She’d walked in the opposite direction of the sun, reasoning that it had to be the correct way if Michelle had her follow it the previous evening. As time passed, doubts and fear were quickly replacing her earlier optimism.

What if she became hopelessly lost? As it stood, she didn’t think she could find her way back to Damon’s camp even if it were an option. She’d spent enough time during her studies traveling by helicopter to know the rainforest spread for hundreds of miles in all directions. And Damon’s tribe nestled quietly in the midst of it all.

No one would ever see her if she tried to signal for help. If a rescue party came after her, it would be from InterCorp, and she assumed they wouldn’t bother. Endurance International didn’t expect any contact from her for well over a week, so they wouldn’t have any knowledge she was missing. Panic seized her, and she stopped cold.

Escaping certain death by Tinjtol had seemed like the right thing at the time. The possibility that her absence might bring peace between Damon and his tribe had spurred her to action. Now, as she scanned her surroundings, she realized the folly of the decision. Unless a miracle occurred, she would die here. Alone.

Her head pounded with the sudden racing of her heart. Small lights began to flash in front of her eyes, and she took several deep breaths. Freaking out wasn’t going to do any good. She had to stay strong.
I am not going to panic.
Demanding her body to relax, her heart slowed and the deafening rush in her ears receded.

After several moments, she felt almost normal. It took only a moment more to push herself forward, her body aching with the demands she put on it. A low rushing sound in the distance jolted her forward. Water! It had to be. If she could reach the river, she could follow it back to civilization.

Her spirits renewed the closer she came to the sound. Only a short distance ahead, she was sure of it. She increased her pace. The moment she found the river, she had every intention of jumping in for a long soak. Though it wouldn’t be the thorough washing she would have liked, at least her clothes and body could lose a layer of grime.

When the river finally came into sight, Myla cried out softly. She stumbled in her haste and smashed her knee against a rock. Pain lanced through her sore leg. It took a few minutes before she could stand. Slowly.

Great. Limping would slow her down even more. It wasn’t enough that snake venom curdled her blood and sapped her strength? How long had Michelle said the effects of the bite would last? Days? Weeks?

She stumbled forward, needing to see the water. Needing a tiny bit of hope. She could almost imagine the cool water against her skin. It was too bad she didn’t have a raft. Floating along the river would have been a nice way to travel. Even if her destination remained a mystery.

Chapter Seven

Damon moved along the edge of the ravine, searching for more signs of Myla. How long could she survive?

Damn his mother and her interference.

She would have to be dealt with.

With Tinjtol’s banishment, he hoped the elders might be willing to listen. To consider a new future for their tribe. His people needed to believe in him as their leader. Tinjtol, his mother, even Myla had cast doubt in their minds. Damon could not abide that. He would set the discontent to rights.

For now, he had to find Myla.

Spending the night in the jungle must have terrified her. It was his way of life, but her own must be so different. Even the limited examples in his mother’s books could not compare to suddenly finding oneself surrounded by it. Her fear should have paralyzed her.

Finding her fresh tracks this morning had both surprised him and filled him with pride. The mango pit along her path told him she had managed to find food, and the water his mother admitted to supplying should have lasted her through the day and night until she could reach the river.
If
she reached the river. The lingering effects of the snake venom would sap her energy quickly.

He scanned the water as he made his way down to the river’s edge. She had to be close. The tracks from where she had stopped for the night led straight to the water. His heart hammered against his chest. Images of her drowning or being dragged away by Hounta men flashed through his mind.

Each thought had its own brutal element. The harsh rocks and turbulent water around the turn ahead could be as hazardous as a meeting with a rival tribe. He squinted against the bright sunlight bouncing off the surface of the water.

A slight movement below the depths caught his attention. The object moved under the surface, nearing the top until it, or rather she, burst through. She stood waist deep in the water, her hair slicked down over her back. Her clothing clung to her like another layer of skin, showing every curve of her body. She turned slowly, the smile on her face holding him hostage among the trees.

Pale skin was visible through the damp white fabric of her shirt. It gaped open in the front where tiny drops of water glistened in the sunlight, shimmering a path down her trim stomach. Dark nipples were visible against the cloth covering her breasts, and he groaned.

Reining in the desire her wet body created, he walked in her direction. She had yet to notice he was there and dove into the water again. He waited until she submerged before wading into the river. Her inattention could get her killed. Anger created a tight sensation in his chest.

He followed her movements through the water, moving so he would be as close to her as possible when she surfaced. What was she thinking? The danger she left herself open to… It seemed to take forever. Finally, she broke the surface, her eyes closed.

“Do you not understand the dangers of this jungle?”

Her screech scattered birds into the sky. “Damon, you scared the hell out of me.” She stormed forward furiously, her eyes flashing through damp lashes. “That wasn’t very nice of you.”

“You should be more careful.”

In her anger, she did not bother to close her shirt, and the rapid rise and fall of her chest pushed her breasts forward in silent temptation.

She stopped inches away. “What are you doing here?”

Wading deeper into the water until it covered his waist, he grabbed her arms. “I came to find you. You need protection.”

Her eyes flashed. “I made it through the night, didn’t I?”

She had. Luckily. “You would rather be alone than with me? You dislike me this much?”

“It’s not that.” She sighed, pulling out of his grasp.

“You enjoy my touch?”

“Yes.”

Color crawled up her cheeks, and he shifted closer. “You wanted more of my kiss?”

“Yes,” she breathed.

“And your body wants what mine also craves?”

She did not have to answer. The heat between them vibrated through the air. Crushing her close, he took her mouth, tasting her, demanding her reaction until her slight moan filled his mouth. She felt so fragile under his hands. He broke away from the kiss, leaning his forehead against hers. “I learned my mother sent you away, and I came to take you back.”

She shook her head, her breathing harsh. “I can’t say I’m not happy to see you, but don’t you see that taking me back will only cause more problems? Your brother was going to kill—”

She gasped, covering her mouth.

“I did not kill him, Myla.”

“Then how are you alive?” She eyed him carefully. “You said—to the death.”

“He was banished.” His gaze refused to stray from the smooth skin exposed by her unbuttoned shirt and he curled his hands into fists to keep from touching it.

“You weren’t hurt?” Her hands fluttered over his arms and chest as she searched for wounds.

He let her look, enjoying her concern as much as her touch. “Nothing more than scratches.”

Her gaze rested on the small cut on his arm, and she ran a finger near it. “Did he do this?”

“It is nothing.” Glad the water hid the stab wound in his leg, he shrugged.

Her hands dropped to her sides. “I’m so sorry. Everything I’ve done for the past year has been to help your tribe. In the last two days, I’ve managed nothing more than to cause problems.”

Her fingers trailed through the water, and she refused to meet his eyes. He reached for her hand. “Tinjtol has been a source of discontent for some time. That is not your doing.” As much as he wished to reassure her, what she said stirred a ray of hope for his people. Bringing her hand up to his chest, he ran his fingers over hers. “In what ways have you tried to help us?”

She sighed heavily. “I belong to an agency that works to bring awareness of tribes like yours to the attention of government officials. Endurance International, or E.I. as we call it, tries to convince the government to protect the lands you call home.”

“So we are not as anonymous as I would have thought?” He pulled her with him toward the shore until the cool water lapped at the bottoms of her pants.

She sat on the rocks at the river’s edge. “No. Actually, the man I came here with, his name was John, made huge strides in bringing awareness of your tribe’s plight to E.I. We have pictures and tons of research. Though I’m fairly new to E.I. by others’ standards, my relationship with John gave me more chances to study your tribe as well.”

“And this John? Where is he now?” Subtle pressure pressed in his chest at her mention this other man. Foolish emotions. She was not his. He sat down next to her and waited.

Scooping a handful of the smooth river rocks, she tossed one into the water. “He died. Over a year ago now.”

“I am sorry you lost him.”

Another rock sailed into the water. “It was difficult. When he disappeared, I took over where he left off.” She turned to glance at him. “When it became apparent that InterCorp Oil had no intention of complying with the government sanctions and regulations, I took a job with them. To see what I could discover.”

That explained her uniform. She ran a hand through her hair, and his fingers itched to touch the silken strands. Instead, he shifted back to lean against the rocks. “A dangerous way to gather information for a tribe you know nothing about and have no loyalty to.”

Her features softened and a small smile curved her lips. “You and your people are a part of humanity as a whole. You have withstood the onslaught of technology, living alongside of us, though in a world so much different it’s astounding. Our people, with all the resources we already have, find it necessary to encroach on the meager lands you have left to you. What else could I do but try to help?”

“Many would not.” Numerous others chose such a path.

“True. But that’s because a lot of people have no idea you exist. Half of our efforts are to teach awareness about tribes like yours.”

Stunned. That could only explain the strange emotions her words caused. There were people who actually wanted to help. Besides the man who had come to him in friendship, he had only seen the men who wished to cause harm. “There are many you say, but which numbers weigh heavier? The men that kill or the people who wish to help?”

Her hand stopped mid-throw and she met his gaze. “I think with what E.I. has accomplished, there are more that want to help.” She shifted before waving her hand around at the jungle. “You have to understand, there are any number of other atrocities happening all over the world. It takes time to recruit enough people to a cause before we will make a marked difference.”

He scowled at that. “What could be more important than the survival of my people?”

Her soft laughter drifted over the sound of the rushing water. “Damon, to you, there is nothing as important. But if a neighboring tribe was starving, and you only had enough food stores for your own people, would you give it away?”