His Darkest Embrace (Jaguar Warriors 2)

They continued to climb higher, pushing through the thick stands of mahogany and cedar that were abundant in this part of Belize. The pace set was relentless, and by early evening they achieved their goal: they reached the summit. The last bit of sun lay bright across the darkening sky, the view unfettered by the tall canopy below.

Jagger turned to Skye. She stood a few feet away, panting slightly from the exertion of the climb. Her face was raised, eyes closed, and the soft curve of her cheek was illuminated by the last dying beams of sunlight. All around her a fine mist from the clouds created an otherworld effect.

She looked ethereal. As if she weren’t real.

The sight held him still.

His gut tightened and a knot formed at the back of his throat. Jagger gave himself a mental shake. What the hell was wrong with him? So the lady enjoyed a bit of sunlight.

A loud call echoed down at them and they both turned to the right. A large bird drifted lazily on the wind, its wings spread languidly.

His eyes immediately fell to Skye but she was focused on the raptor. As it swooped lower, he was able to ascertain that it was indeed an eagle. The wind was blowing in the opposite direction. He couldn’t catch its scent. He didn’t know if it was otherworld.

“Is that one of yours?”

She just shook her head and answered softly, “No. That one is free.”

Skye turned toward him abruptly. “Can I have my satchel?”

They’d barely spoken all day and while his first instinct was to keep the bag, he found himself handing it over. He still felt like an utter ass for what had happened the night before.

He turned from her and looked out at the Maya Mountains. They ran along the western side of the Victoria, and even cloaked in the dull gray of early dusk, they were magnificent.

“We’ll camp here for the night. Make our way down into the basin by midmorning.”

Skye ignored him and grabbed a bunch of papers along with a tin of beans before she settled herself into a small crevice carved into the ground. Atop the exposed summit, there wasn’t much shelter, so they took what they could find.

They ate in silence, and as the long moments ticked by Jagger found himself growing more and more annoyed. He couldn’t take the silent treatment any longer.

“Look, I’m sorry I left you the way I did this morning, but I couldn’t take the chance you’d fly away.”

Silence still.

“For Christ sakes, Skye, give me a break. You would have done the same thing if the positions were reversed.”

Blue eyes pinned him with a look that could shred intestines.

“That’s bullshit.”

“No, it’s the truth.”

She shook her head and even though he could tell she was furious with him, Jagger preferred the anger to the total wall of silence he’d been treated to all day.

“You’re so full of it your eyes should be brown, not green,” she spat as she came to her knees.

The wind had picked up as the coming night began to blanket the horizon, and long wisps of her hair floated on the breeze. She pushed them away impatiently, chest heaving, eyes blazing with anger.

“Last night was about control and nothing more. You were pissed you didn’t get a little action and took it out on me. Last time I checked, a woman still has the right to say no.”

Her words stopped the automatic denial that lay on his lips. Truth was, he’d wanted to hurt her, humiliate her the way she’d done him.

She marched over and thumped him in the chest.

Hard.

“But what more could I expect from someone like you?” She shook her head. “You’re no different than the DaCostas.”

The insult hit him hard and his reaction was quick. “That is something you’ll not say again.” The whispered words were a deadly warning.