Page 5 of His Fierce Fugitive (Earthly Possessions #2)
5
IRIS
" S tay behind me," Tak instructs, his voice low and steady. "I won't let it hurt you."
I nod, because…words. I mean, it’s early, I’m groggy, and kissing Tak has me turned me completely upside down.
And now there’s this thing at the mouth of the cave.
A mega bull? A hyena on steroids?
Whatever it is, it’s not happy.
If I find out it lives in this cave, I’m going to kill Tak.
If this beast doesn’t kill him first.
No, I won’t think like that. He’s got this. He already has that big knife in his hand.
I back away as he’s yelling at it, and look for something I can throw. A rock, maybe? He lunges, the weapon slicing through the air with precision.
The beast snarls and steps back, but jumps forward again. It’s quick for such an enormous animal. And that’s scary.
But as I watch Tak skillfully land blow after blow, my fears ease.
This creature is no match him, and after a final thrust of the blade into its face, the beast’s lifeless body crumples before us.
Tak pulls the carcass to the side of the cave and flips his long silver hair back like it was all in a day’s work.
He barely even broke a sweat.
“What’s wrong?” he asks, as he catches me staring. His eyes search mine. There’s concern there, but also something else I can't quite decipher.
I realize I'm trembling and not just from the adrenaline that surged through me as Tak fought off the alien beast. I’m achy between my legs. Watching him in pure strength and fearlessness has done something to me. His unwavering dedication to my safety in the face of danger stirs something deep within—a softness that, until now, I had forced into a forgotten corner of my heart.
"I...I'm fine," I stammer. “That was incredible.”
My breath catches in my throat when he comes close and brushes a strand of hair behind my ear, his fingers lingering against my cheek. “I told you you never have anything to fear when you’re with me.”
Except maybe losing my heart.
I thought I was done with trusting men after my ex-husband. But here I am, feeling vulnerable, yet safe in Tak's presence.
And wetter than I’ve ever been.
He smiles. "We should go," he says, cleaning off the blade in the gritty dirt, and packing up our things.
As we get back out into the jungle, my mind drifts back to our kiss. I’m not sure what made me kiss him. I’m more surprised than anyone that I did it. Just…being warm and safe in his arms made me remember how good it feels to be wanted and cherished. I let go for one teeny second.
I think of the pain, Gil, my asshole ex-husband, caused. Having an affair with a woman from his office, then blaming me for driving him to it…was devastating. The memories are a festering wound, reminding me why I erected these walls around me in the first place. But Tak's unflinching loyalty and devotion, despite my reticence, continues to chip away at my defenses.
As we walk, I’m suddenly overwhelmingly aware of my own pungent smell. Days of being cooped up in a nasty jail cell and then trekking through this jungle haven't been kind to my personal hygiene. I don’t know how Tak is able to stand it. Somehow he doesn’t smell nearly as bad as me.
“I stink,” I announce, unable to contain it any longer.
“You do not,” he says.
I glare at him. “Don’t patronize me.”
An amused glint appears in his electric green eyes. "I can sense we’re near water. We’ll stop and bathe."
“How can you tell?”
“Listen,” he says, cupping his tall, elven ear.
I strain, but all I hear is the rustle of foliage and maybe a few creatures—hopefully, harmless birds.
I shake my head. “Your ears are like five times the size of mine.”
He smiles. “Forgot about that.”
He leads me through some six feet tall brush—a wall of pink and white—that opens to a small secluded waterfall spilling into a serene purple lagoon. As I get closer I see the water is crystal clear and easy to spot anything within it.
"This place is breathtaking," I whisper in awe, taking in the lush foliage and the strange mist that dances in the air. “Is it safe?”
Tak's gaze travels around the perimeter. He nods. "It should be fine. But keep your shoes on, just in case."
“God,” I say, staring into the water, wondering what creature will pop up from the lagoon floor. Still, I haven't felt truly clean since I was abducted, and at this point, I'd risk almost anything to wash away the grime.
“You won’t be able to see whatever might be there,” he says, with a smirk, removing his shirt.
“Not help…ing…” I trail off as my eyes take in Tak’s body. Pecs, biceps, shoulders, and a washboard of delicious abs. I gulp. He goes to pull down his pants. He’s not going to drop trou right in front of?—
Ho, my lord!
I spin around to face the other way.
Yes, yes he is.
I pick up my jaw from the ground. “Tak, you can’t just get naked in front of me.”
“I’m going to bathe.”
“I know, but it’s not…appropriate.”
He sighs, and I can tell by his tone he truly didn’t know. “Sorry, Iris. Should I put my clothing back on?”
“No, just…get in the water enough so I can’t see everything. ”
I hear him wade into the water.
I turn back around and the water is about rib high on him.
“Is this acceptable?” he asks.
I nod. “Now, look away for a moment. I need to undress.”
He does and I quickly rip off my top and bottoms, and slide into the lagoon.
It feels amazing—so cool and fresh on my skin.
“Can I turn back around now?” Tak asks.
“Yes,” I reply.
He dips under the water, wetting his hair.
“You don’t happen to have any soap, do you?” I ask.
He shakes his head, then looks to one of the rock-covered banks. I watch as he swims over and scrapes what looks like a blue moss off one of the rocks and then moves back over to me. I try not to look down into the water, because it really does nothing to hide what’s in it.
“This moss acts like a cleanser. It has moisturizing properties, too.”
“Perfect.” I open my palms for him to give me some of it, but he just smiles.
“May I wash your hair?”
Normally, I’d only allow a man to wash my hair if he was my hair stylist. But nothing about where I am or who I’m with is normal .
I duck down under the water and come up, running my hands through my tangled nest of knots. “You may.”
He begins massaging the moss onto the top of my head. "Your hair..." His tone is soft, almost reverent. "It flows like spun gold." He works the lather into my locks with slow, deliberate motions. His fingers are strong yet gentle, and I can feel the hardened spots unraveling under his palms.
A soft moan escapes my lips, and I sink deeper into the water, closing my eyes as his hands knead my scalp, sending shivers down my back.
A knot of longing forms in my belly.
Okay, that’s enough of that. I pull away. “Thank you.”
His eyes are that dark, dark green again, but he merely nods. “Of course.”
We get more moss and wash ourselves until we’re as clean as possible. It's blissful as the water laps at my skin, washing away the dirt and sweat of the last few days.
Finally, I emerge from the water, stepping through some foliage to reach for my clothes.
But suddenly I notice the vines have wrapped around my ankles.
Then they tug me down.
“Tak!” I yell, as the plant pulls me lower, then starts snaking around my wrists. I struggle, kicking and fighting, panicking, as Tak kneels down and grabs my arm.
"Don’t fight it, Iris. This plant has a unique method of attracting insects to pollinate it. It uses other animals as bait. The Strangle Vine, as we call it, reacts to tension. Relax your muscles, and it will release you."
Strangle Vine? “What? How am I supposed to relax when it wants to use me to lure in those gigantic insects?” I try to do as he says, but it's easier said than done, especially with my heart racing.
Tak's hands rest gently on my shoulders, and I realize I’m still naked and his dark eyes are roving over me as slowly as possible. I should be scolding him. Yelling at him to help me, not eye-fuck me. But dammit, all it’s doing is turning me on.
He kneads my shoulder and inhales, his eyes closing briefly. My entire body flushes with heat. Can he smell my arousal?
"I promise I won't let anything hurt you," he says, his eyes so dark.
“Then get me out of this thing,” I whisper.
“Do you trust me?” he asks, lifting my chin to look at him.
“What?”
“Do you trust me?” he says slower this time. “I need you to say it.”
This is getting weird, but the hunger in his eyes won’t let me do anything but nod.
“Say it, Iris. Please.”
“I trust you, Tak,” I finally say, as he leans in, his lips brushing mine in a soft, tentative kiss. My body buzzes with electricity, and I respond, kissing him back as the vines hold my wrists up and apart.
His kiss deepens, and unlike before when I kissed him, his tongue strokes over mine. I moan, the suede-like texture so strange and exciting. I think of how it might feel on other parts of my body as his hands begin to roam. Pleasure sparks at each point where he touches, my nerves coming alive under his exploring fingers.
His mouth moves down my neck, tongue trailing over my collar bone, its path hot and wet. His cheek rubs against my breasts, and my breath catches. And when he sucks my nipple into his mouth I arch into him, a desperate noise emerging from my throat.
“You’re so beautiful,” he groans, when his fingers slip between my legs, finding the soaked evidence of my desire.
I shudder.
"Let me take care of you. I can show you how you deserve to be treated," he whispers against my belly, as his fingers slide against my wet folds, making me tremble.
“Yes,” I sigh, as I relax my thighs outward.
His kisses travel down to my hips, and I’m already rocking them up to meet his mouth.
“Patience, sweet one,” he says.