Wild Rain (Leopard People 1)

"Well then, consider yourself married. And stop doing that thing with your teeth because I'm having one hell of a reaction to it."

"That sounds like it has possibilities. But I've been thinking. Why wouldn't some horrible reptile have discovered your handiwork and made a little nest inside your cave? If I were an alligator I'd be happy to use your hideaway. And if you came to visit, all to the good. Meals are hard to come by sometimes."

He laughed. "You have no faith, woman. I put in a plug to keep the creatures out. I unfastened the locks and opened the door, that's why we were in the tube so long."

"You didn't close the door."

"I'm taking you to high ground first. That's the gentleman in me."

She nuzzled his neck. "I do appreciate it, Rio, I really do, but in this one instance, I'll be happy to sort of stand here while you go back and secure the tube. I'm not ready for visitors yet, especially reptilian ones."

Rio caught the little tremor in her voice. "I'll do that immediately, Rachael. We're already in the cavern. Fortunately we're back far enough and the cave opens up into a wide chamber here so we can light a lamp. I brought several with me over a period of time." He set her down on a flat surface.

Rachael waited anxiously while he lit one of the lamps and hooked it above their heads for maximum coverage. She looked around her. The chamber was fairly large. Roots protruded and water dripped continually from several walls. There was no sign of alligators. Rio had quite a supply of items in the cave.

There was a large plastic container she assumed was waterproof inside a cage of roots. She could see there were several blankets and one of his many medical kits inside. She was sitting on a flat slab of stone. It was the only rock she could see in the entire cave. The floor around the walls was damp, but most of the water ran back toward the river. Rio had hollowed out a ditch to keep the water from dampening the floor of the cave.

"So what do you think?" Rio returned, soaking wet, sweeping his hair back with careless fingers. "Not too bad."

"I think it's wonderful," Rachael said. She was soaked and uncomfortable. She looked down at the shirt and realized it didn't do her much good. As wet as her shirt was, it was nearly transparent. "If you don't mind, I'd like to get out of these clothes. You should too, Rio."

"I've got a few things packed in waterproof bags for us," he said. He opened the container and rummaged through the supplies until he found a towel.

Rio knelt beside her and unbuttoned the shirt, dragging it off her wet skin and tossing it aside. "Come on, sestrilla, stand up so I can get rid of these jeans."

His voice was gentle, tender even. Rachael allowed him to help her up, leaning into his body as he peeled the material from her hips. He wrapped the towel around her and began rubbing the drops of water from her skin. She swayed with weariness and it embarrassed her. He was the one who had jogged through miles of forest with her in his arms. He had been the one to use his strength to keep them from being swept apart in the river. And he was as soaked as she was.

"I've never met anyone like you," Rachael said. "Sometimes I'm not certain you're real."

Rio wrapped her in a dry shirt. "I have my good side," he teased. "Unfortunately, it just doesn't come out that often." He laid a mat on the slab of rock and covered it with a thick sleeping bag before helping her to sit down. Rubbing the thick mass of curls, he studied her leg. "The green gunk held up. We want to get that off the puncture wounds in case they still need to drain."

"It does feel better," Rachael said. "I'll have to remember to tell Tama he's a miracle worker."

Rio made certain she was comfortable before he peeled off his own clothes and rubbed the towel over his body.

"How long do you think we'll have to stay here?" Rachael asked.

"I'm going to use the rest of the night to hunt the shooter. He's leaving his own trail and he was injured. It will be easier for me to find him. I'll know you're safe and won't worry about him circling back and finding you alone in the house. Franz is already scouting for me. He'll pick up the trail, and he knows how to stay out of sight."

Rachael's eyes widened in shock. "You can't do that, Rio. Not after what you told me."

"He's hunting us. The only way to stop him is to go after him. Did you think we were going to live in a cave for the rest of our lives?"

"No." Rachael wanted to pull the covers over her head. There was no way to shield Rio from her past. "But before you go out and risk your life maybe you'd better find out who you're risking your life for."

"I know who you are."

"No you don't. You have no idea who my family is."

"I don't need to know about your family, Rachael. We'll talk about it when I get back. Wait here for at least forty-eight hours. If something goes wrong, head upriver toward Kim and Tama's village. Ask them to take you to the elders. The Han Vol Dan is your first changing. You can't allow it to happen until your leg is strong enough to stand up to the change. You'll have problems with sexual feelings. Emotions will continue to heighten, the heat, the need, the edgy, moody feelings you can barely control. You have to stay in control, especially if you haven't gone through the Han Vol Dan. The combination of the two passages can be explosive."

"Do you know how completely ridiculous that soun

ds? If I was watching a movie, I'd burst out laughing."

"Except you know what I'm saying is true. You've felt the animal roaring to get out. I've seen you come close to the change."

"Why wouldn't my mother tell me? In all the stories she told me, she never once mentioned I could assume another form."

"I don't know, Rachael, but I'm certain you're one of us."

"And if I'm not?" Her dark eyes moved over his face. "If you're wrong, would that mean that we can't be together? Are you allowed to be with someone that isn't a part of your people?"

His palm cupped her face, his thumb sliding over her skin. "I've been banished, sestrilla, no one can tell me what I can or cannot do." He leaned down to kiss her. "I'm coming back for you."

"You'd better come back for me. I don't want to wrestle alligators by myself." She tried not to cling to him, although she wanted to hold him to her. There was nothing she could say or do to stop him. Rachael knew how stubborn he could be. It was impossible to argue with him when he made up his mind to do something. She shook her head to clear her thoughts. Whatever past they may have had seemed to intrude at the worst times. She knew him. She knew what he was like. "Just go, now, while it's dark. Remember, if you're right and he followed us, he could already be searching the riverbanks to see where we came out."

"You're upset."

"Of course I'm upset. I'm stuck here with this stupid leg and you're going to risk your life to stop this hit man." She shoved her hand through her hair, angry and near tears. "Don't you realize he'll send another? And one after that? And another and another? He'll never stop."

Rio nodded. "I figured as much. It doesn't matter, Rachael. We'll take them one at time and if necessary, I'll have a little talk with him."

Her face drained of all color. "No. No, promise me, Rio. You can't ever try to get near him. Not for any reason. You can't hurt him. And you can't try to see him."

The anxiety on Rachael's face twisted at his insides. "Rachael, I'm coming back."

"I know you will." He had to. She couldn't stay in a cave beneath the riverbank forever--unless he was with her. She might be able to live anywhere with him. The thought was frightening. She'd never considered that she might want to spend her life with someone. A lifetime seemed a long time to want to be with someone, yet, if she could have him, she would want more than one lifetime with Rio.