AllFreeNovel
Share Us
Mist once more crawled up Nico’s body and Jagger stood back as the energy within crackled and sparks flew everywhere. The tattoos that adorned his body were different from any he’d ever seen. They moved and glowed as the magick began to take hold.
Nico was strong—one of the strongest warriors he’d ever come across, and that quality alone garnered much respect.
Jagger turned and led the animal back to where he’d left Skye. She was slumbering against the tree trunk, her arms held loosely against her midsection as if she were trying to wring some small bit of comfort from her cold body.
The cat inched forward, its great tail twitching back and forth in agitation. Jagger growled at it and the animal stopped, its canines exposed as it barked and hissed.
“She’s mine.”
The words slipped from Jagger’s mouth before he even realized he’d spoken them. Two little words, but suddenly so heavy with meaning, emotion. Christ, he sounded like Tarzan, and from what little he knew about Skye, she sure as hell wouldn’t be content as Jane.
Hell, she’d be kicking Tarzan’s ass from here to Mexico.
He shook his head and ran his fingers through his hair. His eyes traced the gentle curve of her chin, the fullness of her mouth, and the delicate area underneath her ear. Somehow, in such a short time, this woman had insinuated herself deeply into his psyche. She’d given it meaning again, after he had spent months wandering the jungle aimlessly. Half alive. Half dead.
That was no longer.
Jagger quickly crossed to Skye and scooped her up in his protective embrace.
His body trembled as the force of his thoughts washed over him. How could he ever have thought to leave her when this whole mess was done and over with? He’d never met a woman like her before and he doubted there was another. She filled the ache inside of him so that he could breathe again.
She moaned softly, and as his arms tightened around her, he whispered, “You won’t be getting rid of me so easily, my little bird.”
The jaguar turned and crossed the creek, with Jagger following closely behind. They disappeared into the thick foliage that lined the opposite bank, and the jungle claimed them whole.
Many hours later they stopped at the edge of the town of Placencia. They’d been lucky and hadn’t come across any of the commandos that had been dispatched to the jungle in search of Skye.
She had become more and more lethargic as the day progressed, and the urgency Jagger felt was becoming a physical manifestation. Nervous energy clawed at him. He could feel it building. The waiting was driving him fucking crazy.
He watched as Nico returned to his human form. The tall warrior took a deep draw of water and stretched out his long, lean limbs. “The healer, Mary, lives about a mile from here. I’ll bring her back.”
Nico swung his head back, the dark of his eyes glittering diamonds in the early-evening gloom.
“Can’t we just take Skye to her?” Jagger was getting anxious. They’d come so far.
“That wouldn’t be a good idea. She doesn’t like strangers.” Nico turned from him, “I
’ll do my best to convince her that your woman is worthy. I won’t be long.”
“You’d better do more than convince,” Jagger muttered, but the warrior had already disappeared.
Jagger took a few moments to grab some food from his bag. Being a former black ops soldier, he was used to going days without sleep and food, but even he’d found the last few to be some of the most exhausting he’d ever had.
He ate quickly, holding the shivering Skye against his chest. A long strand of her hair fell across her face and as each breath was expelled from her body, it moved. He reached for it, his dark, rough fingers carefully rolling the silky strands between them. He bent down, nuzzled the soft skin along the side of her neck, and felt his animal tremble with emotion.
She moaned softly and turned into him, her arms going around his neck as her heated flesh pressed against his bare chest. He could feel her breasts, soft, curved, full, and his body began to tighten painfully.
What the hell was wrong with him? The woman lay in his arms, ill from the effects of demon poison, and all he could think about was how much he wanted to touch every inch of her. Kiss away her pain.
His body was rock hard and he clenched his teeth tightly, until the pain along his jaw became too great.
After a few moments he was able to relax, and blew out a deep breath as he sat down and leaned back against a tree, Skye nestled protectively in his arms.
He knew they weren’t far from the Caribbean Sea. The smell of salt lay heavy in the humid air. It tugged at something inside of him, leaving a bittersweet melancholy in its wake.
Here, on the banks of the Monkey River, the jungle seemed untouched by the darkness that was slowly seeping into the local landscape. There was no smell of demon, shifters, or black magick.
It was as it always had been.
