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There was an expansive deck around the whole outside of the house, and he led the way to a door that seemed to open by magic. It was ornately carved, as was the rest of the home, and when they were inside, she was stunned by the care given to each exquisite detail. The carvings inside mirrored much of the temple art, and there were grand tapestries hanging on the walls. The living area was plush, with cushions spread all over. There was a small kitchen area off to the side.
“One moment,” he said.
He disappeared into another room and returned a moment later with a silk robe on a hanger. “You should get into something that hasn’t been rained on, and I can dry your dress.”
“Oh, I...”
Her heart thundered wildly and she couldn’t quite say why.
“You may change in there.” He gestured off to the left, and she found her feet doing his bidding, even while her mind continued to question both him and herself.
She should ask him to call her a car.
She should ask if he could take her back to...to where? They didn’t have a hostel booked. But she could find a hostel on her own. With just a little help. She was going to have to accept that she couldn’t count on Jaia and company anyway.
And she would.
After her dress was dry. Because she really was uncomfortable.
When she walked into the room he’d sent her to, it took her a moment to gather her wits because she felt transported. Unlike the front of the tree house, the bathroom was modern, and much more lavishly appointed than she could have imagined a tree house might accommodate.
Who was this man?
She undressed slowly, shivering as she peeled the thin fabric of her dress away from her skin and let it pool at her feet. She realized she was standing naked in a strange man’s tree house bathroom and she laughed. She couldn’t help herself.
This wasn’t the adventure she had imagined going on, but it was an adventure. And maybe that was good enough.
Well, it was happening no matter what, so she supposed what she felt about it was irrelevant.
The robe was luxuriously beautiful. All jade and gold silk with cranes winging their way across the decadent landscape. She had never given much thought to her looks. Being beautiful didn’t help her survive and at worst, it attracted the kind of attention from men she just didn’t want. But right now, in this strange place in the middle of the jungle, she felt beautiful.
And maybe that should concern her. Because she was alone with a man she didn’t know. But she wasn’t afraid.
He was still a tiger. It was only she didn’t fear what he might do.
She exited the bathroom slowly, holding the edges of the robe needlessly together at her bust line.
And he was there, wearing silk pants in blue, his bare chest on display. She was momentarily stunned by the sight of him. Lean, hard cut muscle exposed and gleaming in the light. Every ridge, every dip, was cut hard and well defined.
And there he was, lounging on the cushions, a pot of tea and two cups in front of him. As if he weren’t lethal.
As if he weren’t the most beautiful thing she had ever seen.
Krav, he said his name was Krav. His accent wasn’t Cambodian, but something else. She’d never heard the name before. But then, few people had heard hers. She could see the legacy of this beautiful country in some of the angles of his face. He seemed like a man who might fit anywhere and nowhere all at once. Like he could find a way to be a part of any culture. But at the same time...he would always be separate.
He was too singular to blend.
“Come,” he said. “Have a warm drink.”
Outside she could still hear the rain pounding down, hard and insistent.
“All right.”
She crossed to where he sat and lowered herself down onto the pillows across from him.
“So you came here for a spiritual quest? Did you imagine it might earn you clout on the internet to take selfies at a sacred ruin?”
She shook her head. “No. I’m not on the internet. Not like that. I’ve never traveled before and it seemed like an amazing opportunity.”
