Eat Prey Love (23 page)

She looked around. “Carlos?” He'd disappeared again.

He swam around the edge of the waterfall, pushing the bamboo tray in front of him. “I brought the soap.”

“That's very kind of you.”

“At your service.” He dipped his fingers into a bowl and tossed a glob of soap on her chest.

With a laugh, she moved closer to the ledge, where the water was only up to her waist. He followed her and smoothed the soap over her shoulders and down her arms.

She grabbed a blob of soap and rubbed it over his
broad shoulders and chest. “You're so beautiful.”

He snorted. “This is beauty.” He covered her breasts with his soapy palms and massaged gently.

With a groan, she arched toward him.

He pulled her against him, and their slick, soapy chests rubbed together. His erection pressed against her stomach, and a desperate need made her ache for him.

“Carlos.” She ran her hands up and down his back.

He kissed her brow, then trailed kisses down to her lips. When she opened her mouth for him, he kissed her with a ferocious hunger that made her fall limp against him.

He nibbled a path down her neck, then pulled back with a grimace. “Soap.” He splashed into the deeper water with her and ran his hands over her body to rinse off the soap.

She wrapped her legs around his waist and her arms around his neck. They kissed again, with the spray of the waterfall misting their faces.

He lifted her higher and with a growl, he nuzzled his face in her breasts. She giggled. His whiskers were ticklish.

She gasped when he sucked a nipple into his mouth. He suckled hard as he moved them back toward shallower water. He released her breast and reached for more soap. He slapped it on her rump, then massaged it onto her cheeks.

She dug her heels into his back and pressed herself against him.

“Ah.” He looked down. “My favorite part.” He
dipped a hand into more soap and slipped it between them. He rubbed her pubic hair, then delved deeper.

She gasped at the feel of his fingers exploring her folds.

“Lean back,” he whispered. “Float in the water.”

She fell back. He kept one arm under her hips to support her, and she locked her feet around his waist. Water lapped against her ears. The world was still and peaceful, and all she could feel were his fingers moving gently between her legs. It was sweet and delicious. She could do this for hours.

She jolted when he suddenly tweaked her clitoris.

“Something wrong?”

“I—” She gasped when he rubbed the nubbin between his thumb and forefinger. “Carlos?”

He launched into a full assault on her senses, and she floundered in the water. With a chuckle, he lifted her back into his arms, then resumed the exquisite torture.

She clutched at his shoulders, panting as tension coiled inside her.

“I want to taste you.” He set her on the ledge and dove between her legs.

She cried out at the feel of his tongue, licking and tickling her. His lips clamped onto her clitoris and suckled. She screamed as all the tension in her body shattered.

He grinned and pressed a hand against her. “I can feel you throbbing. You're wet and swollen.”

“I—I…” She gave up on speech. There were no words for it. Her body was still shuddering with
spasms. She reached for him and was glad when he took her into his arms. She was far too limp and ragged to support herself.

She rested her head on his shoulder and gave a sigh of contentment. “That was perfect.”

“That was just the beginning.”

She jolted when something hard nudged her where she was still sensitive and swollen. “Oh.”

“Wrap your legs around me.” He took hold of her hips and positioned her against his erection.

She glanced down. He was magnificent. Large and swollen. Moisture seeped from her, and her skin tingled where it pressed against the round tip.

He moved his hips from side to side, wedging himself between her folds. She shuddered. This was it. She'd wanted this from the first night she'd met him.

“Will you be mine?” he whispered.

“Yes.” She lifted her gaze to meet his. There was so much love in his eyes, she thought her heart would burst. She lay her hand on his cheek. “I love you, Carlos. I will always love you.”

“Catalina.” He kissed her lips, then rested his forehead against hers. With a sharp, sudden thrust and a pull on her hips, he buried himself deep inside her.

She gasped, stiffening a second, then slowly adjusting to his large size. “If you tell me you're only semi-aroused, I'm going to scream.”

He chuckled and kissed her brow. “My God, I love you.”

“Really?”

“Mmm.” He kissed her mouth. “I've known it for some time.”

“Really?”

“Mmm.” He kissed her again.

“For how long?”

“Sweetheart, do you think we could talk after I finish screwing you?”

She feigned a huff of indignation. “Men. So incapable of multitasking.”

He swatted her rump, and she gasped. “That's it. Keep your mouth just like that.” He planted his lips on hers and invaded her open mouth with his tongue.

He moved her hips, rocking her against him, gently at first, then harder and harder. They stopped kissing when their breathing became more labored. Soon they were panting, and he was thrusting into her with a desperation that brought tears to her eyes.

She whimpered as her climax lifted her higher and higher, then screamed when it broke free. He let out a long groan as he pumped himself into her.

They held each other tight as their breathing slowly returned to normal.

“I can still feel you inside me, throbbing,” she whispered.

“Mmm.”

She smiled and rested her head on his shoulder.

A gong sounded in the distance.

He grunted. “I forgot we weren't alone in the world.”

“I wonder what they want now?”

He moved through the water, still holding her, and they rounded the waterfall.

A woman emerged from the forest with something folded in her hands.

“I think they're bringing us clothes,” Caitlyn murmured.

The woman set the folded material on the grass, then spoke in a dialect Caitlyn had never heard before. “Please dress yourselves, and join us for dinner.” She turned and hurried back into the forest.

Caitlyn repeated the request to Carlos, then they swam to the shore. He ran to fetch the clothes, then brought them back to her.

She quickly donned a blue tunic that hung past her knees, while Carlos put on the baggy blue pants.

She glanced back at the waterfall. “I'll always remember this.”

“We'll have lots of memories.” Carlos took her hand and led her to the forest.

Just inside the tree line, the woman waited with her eyes averted. “This way.” She scurried down a narrow path.

“Can you understand her?” Carlos asked.

“Yes, but it will be a while before I can talk to her.”

They came to a village that was similar to that of the Akha tribe. Wooden houses stood on stilts, and the villagers were gathered around a central fire. They grinned at her and Carlos and nodded their heads.

“Please, sit.” The woman motioned to a bamboo mat big enough for two.

Caitlyn took a seat and pressed a hand to her chest. “Cait.” She gestured toward the woman.

“I am Malai.” The woman smiled, then passed them a wooden plate filled with rice and some kind of grilled meat.

“I'm starving.” Carlos popped a piece of meat in his mouth. “It's good. Tastes like chicken.”

“Which means it could be a frog.” Caitlyn pointed across the village. “There are our clothes. They must have washed them.” They were hanging on a line to dry.

“Welcome.” A large man dressed in baggy green pants sat on the mat beside them. He had long black hair and golden eyes. He introduced himself.

“Oh.” Caitlyn was surprised. “This is Raghu,” she told Carlos. “He was much furrier the last time we saw him.” She smiled and bowed to him.

Carlos bowed. He pressed a hand to his chest. “Carlos.” He motioned to Caitlyn. “Cait.”

Raghu inclined his head. “He is a were-panther, yes?”

Caitlyn nodded and replied in English, “Yes.”

“You do not speak our language?”

She shook her head no. “Not yet.”

“But you understand me?”

She nodded. “Yes.”

“You can communicate with us when we are shifted.”

“Yes.”

“That is most unusual. I have never met a human with that ability.” Raghu accepted a plate of food from Malai. “She is beautiful, yes? She is my mate.”

“Ah.” Caitlyn nodded, then said “Yes” in his language.

Carlos leaned close to her. “What is he talking about?”

“He's married to Malai.” Caitlyn smiled at the woman. “I agreed that she's beautiful.”

“Oh.” Carlos went back to stuffing food down his mouth.

Raghu chewed on a piece of meat. “My mate came from the Lisu. They are known for their beauty.”

Caitlyn tilted her head. The Lisu were a hill tribe, completely mortal as far as she knew.

Raghu regarded her curiously. “I do not understand why you are still human.”

She gave him a perplexed look.

“Your mate is a were-panther, but you are still human. Is he reluctant to bite you?”

She sat back, confused. She wasn't fluent yet in the were-tiger's language, but she managed a few words. “Why…bite me?”

Raghu's golden eyes shifted from her to Carlos. “He must bite you in order to make you a were-panther.”

“What?”
Caitlyn scrambled to her feet.

Carlos jumped up. “What? What's wrong?”

Her shock quickly sizzled into anger. “You—You jerk!”

“What?” He glanced at the empty plate in his hands. “Okay, I ate all the food, but it's not the end of the world. I'll get you some more.”

“You can bite me and make me a were-panther?” she cried.

His face paled and the plate tumbled from his hands.

T
ears blurred Caitlyn's vision and she trembled with anger. How could he not tell her something so vitally important? “Why didn't you tell me?”

He leaned over to set the wooden plate on the bamboo mat. “I can explain.”

“You should have explained weeks ago! What the hell are we even doing here?”

“We can discuss it later in private.”

“I'm upset
now
!” She glanced around the circle of villagers who were watching her curiously. Damn, she was providing them with a soap opera. She lowered her voice, but it still shook with emotion. “At least tell me if it's true. Can you turn me into a were-panther by simply biting me?”

A pained expression crossed his face. “In theory, yes.”

“Then in theory, you never had to come here
to look for a were-panther mate. You could have taken me!”

“Catalina—”

“What was wrong with me?” Her old fear came reeling back at full force. “You didn't think I was good enough?”

He scoffed. “You're all I've ever wanted. I'm not giving you up, even if I find a jillion were-panther women.”

She blinked. “You—You're staying with me?”

“Yes.” He scowled at her. “I thought I made that clear in the grotto.”

She scowled back. “I thought that was…sex talk.”

“That was love. I told you I love you.” He pulled her into his arms and fastened one hand to her jaw to force her to meet his hungry gaze.

The village women sighed in unison.

Caitlyn thought she might melt at his feet. “So you don't want to marry a were-panther now?”

“No. I want you.”

“When did you decide that?” She didn't know whether to kiss him or slap him. He had her so confused.

“I've been considering it for a while.”

“And you didn't tell me?” She pushed away from him. “I'm still angry at you.”

He gave her a bewildered look, then picked up the plate and handed it to Malai. “Can you get her some food?” He pointed at the plate, then at Caitlyn.

Malai nodded and scurried away.

Caitlyn snorted. “It's not about food, Carlos. It's about honesty.”

He stiffened. “I haven't lied to you.”

“You kept the truth from me. You didn't tell me you were planning to stay with me.”

“I didn't realize I needed to. As far as I'm concerned, we're already married.”

“Well, it would have been nice if you had told me. And what about your little habit of dying every now and then? You should have told me about that. I suffered needlessly.”

He arched a brow. “I suffered a bit myself.”

She winced. He had a point there. “You still should have told me. I'm detecting a pattern here, and I need you to be upfront with me so I can trust you.”

He scoffed. “Caitlyn, I died last night to protect you. You can trust me.”

She folded her arms over her chest, frowning.

Malai returned with another plate filled with food and set it on the bamboo mat. “You were right, husband,” she whispered to Raghu. “They bicker too much.”

He nodded. “She's a fiery one. He should wear her out with a long bout of sex.”

The village men nodded in agreement while the women giggled.

Caitlyn's face grew warm.

“What did they say?” Carlos asked.

“Nothing,” she grumbled.

He arched a brow. “Something about me being hen-pecked?”

She groaned inwardly. “I…was wrong to doubt your trustworthiness. You were willing to sacrifice yourself in order to protect me, and I'm more grateful than I can say.”

When he reached for her, she stepped back and lifted her hands to stop him. “But I'm still upset that you didn't tell me I could be turned into a were-panther. You knew all along that I could be your mate and a mother for your children.”

“And I knew the transformation would most likely kill you.”

She paused, stunned.

“It's true, Catalina. I've seen mortals die in agony, unable to survive the transformation.”

She swallowed hard. “Are you serious?”

“My cousin married a mortal, and when she attempted to go through the transformation, she died a miserable, painful death. Her father was so enraged, he massacred my people.”

Caitlyn swayed from the impact of his words. All those people had died because a woman hadn't survived the transformation?

He grabbed her arm. “Are you all right?”

“I…” She shook her head. She could actually die? This couldn't be right. It was too cruel a twist of fate. She and Carlos were perfect for each other. It had nearly killed her when she'd thought he was dead. And now, if she tried to become his mate, she could die?

“Come, sit down.” Carlos tugged on her arm. He waited for her to sit beside him, then placed the plate of food in her lap. “You look pale. You should eat.”

She glanced down at the food without seeing it.

Then she looked around the circle of villagers who were all watching her like she was on prime-time television.

She attempted speaking the were-tiger language
to Raghu. “Your mate is from the Lisu tribe? She's human?”

“Malai is were-tiger now,” Raghu answered proudly and smiled at his wife.

“Was it hard for her to change?” Caitlyn asked.

Raghu's smile faded. “Very hard, but my Malai is strong. Only those with the heart of a tiger survive it.”

Caitlyn gulped.

“Akkarat,” Raghu said to one of the men. “You tell our guest your story.”

A young slim man inclined his head. “I am Akkarat from the Akha village. I ventured into tiger territory a year ago, searching for my cousin. I found him here. He'd fallen in love and didn't want to leave. When I met his mate's sister, I didn't want to leave either.”

The young woman seated next to Akkarat gazed up at him with adoring eyes.

“My cousin and I decided to become were-tigers so we could be fitting husbands and worthy of our chosen mates.” Akkarat glanced sadly at a young woman who sat alone with tears in her eyes. “My cousin did not survive the transformation.”

“I'm so sorry.” Caitlyn's heart sank. What Carlos had said was true. She could die. “I was at the Akha village, and Ajay mentioned you and your cousin. They believe you were both killed by a man-eating creature.”

Akkarat snorted. “We fell in love.”

Raghu growled deep in his throat. “Everyone accuses us of being man-eaters.” He pointed at the plate in her lap. “We eat chicken. Try it.”

She bit into a piece of grilled chicken and nodded.
“It's very good. We're actually on our way back to the Akha village. I could tell Ajay that Akkarat is alive and well.”

“No, you must not,” Raghu said. “It is good that they fear coming into our territory. We must keep our existence secret.”

She nodded. “I understand.” If Carlos's tribe had kept their secret better, they might still be alive. She glanced at him. He was watching her with a worried look.

“What have they been saying?” he whispered.

“They confirmed what you told me. Not everyone survives the transformation.” She set the plate of food aside, too tired and depressed to eat.

“You look worn-out. You didn't sleep at all last night.”

She gave him a wry look. “You slept like the dead.”

He smiled and brushed her damp hair back from her brow. “Maybe you should rest for a while before we continue our trip.”

“I would love that.” She was suddenly feeling very weary. The night in the cave had been emotionally wrenching. Booby-traps, Tanit's death, Carlos's death and resurrection, the finding of an American soldier trapped in a forty-year-long coma. It was a lot to take in. And now she had another emotional quandary to deal with. Should she risk death to become a were-panther?

She turned to Raghu. “Is there a place where we can rest for a while?”

“Of course. Your clothes will not be dry until tomorrow, so you will be spending the night.”

“Thank you. You are very kind.”

Raghu inclined his head. “We are honored to have a were-panther and his mate as our guests. He fears losing you, doesn't he? That is why he hasn't bitten you.”

“Yes.”

“A man must conquer his fear so he can be with his chosen mate.” Raghu glanced at Malai with love in his eyes. “Now we are expecting our first child.”

“That's wonderful.”

He turned toward Caitlyn. “You cannot give him were-panther children if you do not transform. If you remain human, your children will be human.”

She closed her eyes briefly. Everything had seemed so perfect in the grotto, and now it all seemed wrong. “He needs to have were-panther children. His people are in danger of extinction.”

“He is searching for other were-panthers?” Raghu asked. When Caitlyn nodded, he continued, “There are a few panthers south of here, but they are not shifters.”

“Oh.” Her heart plummeted further.

“There are a larger number of panthers east of Chiang Mai, close to Laos,” Raghu said. “He may have better luck there.”

“I'll tell him. Thank you.” She rose to her feet, and Carlos stood beside her. “I'd like to rest now, if you don't mind.”

 

Carlos woke when Caitlyn stirred in his arms. They'd been shown to a small house on stilts on the edge of the tiger village. Their backpacks were
inside, and he'd quickly checked on their weapons. Then he'd stretched out on the pallet beside Caitlyn and they'd slept.

She stretched and opened her eyes.

He smiled. He always loved looking at the beautiful turquoise color. “Sleep well?”

“I dreamed the Terra-Cotta Warriors were chasing me through the jungle.” She sighed. “What time is it?”

“The sun's still up. I estimate late afternoon, but I'm not sure. I suspect one of the tiger children is sporting a new watch.”

“You took yours off when we stripped?”

He nodded. “How are you?”

“I'm wondering what I'm doing in Thailand when you never really needed to search for a mate.”

“I still need to find more of my species.”

She frowned. “Raghu said the panthers south of here aren't shifters.”

Carlos rolled onto his back and stared at the thatched roof. Had he come all this way for nothing?

“He said there are more panthers east of Chiang Mai close to the Laos border,” she continued.

There was still hope. “We'll go there after we take care of the soldier in the cave.”

She sat up and hugged her knees. “I need to decide if I should become a were-panther.”

“No.” He sat up beside her. “We can't risk it. We'll just live like normal people.”

“With normal children? What about your endangered species?”

He shrugged. “It can't be helped. I suppose the were-panther children will have more children when they grow older.”

“We can't unload that burden on them. And I want my children to be like you, Carlos. I love you. I want little were-kittens like you.”

“It's not going to happen. I'm not risking your life.”

“It's my life, so it's my decision to make.”

He winced. This was what he had feared would happen. It was the main reason he had avoided telling her the truth. “I'm not allowing you to sacrifice yourself.”

“Then you would sacrifice your species? How could you live with me as a mortal without hating me someday for forcing you to give up who you are?”

“How could I live with myself if you died? It would kill me, Caitlyn.”

She rested a hand on his cheek. “We can't be sure I would die. I'm terribly stubborn you know.”

He snorted. “Sheer willpower might not be enough.”

“How about love?” She smoothed her hand through his hair. “I love you so much.”

“I love you, too.” He kissed her brow. “I couldn't bear to lose you.”

She tilted her head to meet his mouth, and he kissed her slowly and thoroughly. Her mouth parted for him and he stroked her tongue with his.

Already his groin was tightening, but he refused to take her quickly. He wanted to explore every inch of her. He was curious to see how she looked and tasted, curious to watch her body react to his
lovemaking. Something about being a cat, he supposed.

He nibbled on her neck as he slid a hand down her thigh to the hem of her tunic. When he pulled it up, she lifted her hips to help him. He tugged it over her head, then pushed her gently down on the pallet.

Her nipples fascinated him. With just a look he could make them pebble. With some suckling he could turn them a darker color of red. With a flick of his tongue he could make the tips harden into tight buds.

Caitlyn's moans were like music, and each time she gasped his name, he wanted to roar with victory. His woman. His wife. The muscles in her stomach trembled as he kissed and nibbled his way to the feast between her legs.

With a moan she opened for him. He rested his head on her thigh so he could watch her reactions to his fingers. She shuddered, and moisture seeped from her core. Her scent made him grow harder. Her folds grew swollen and wet. Her clitoris darkened to a delicious looking red. Her passage was tight and slick around his fingers.

He stroked the inside of her as he leaned closer to flick his tongue on her clitoris. She jolted and let out a keening cry. So close. He sucked her clitoris into his mouth, and she screamed. Her passage clamped down on his fingers.

It was more than he could bear. He withdrew his fingers and plunged inside her. He didn't last long. She was still throbbing, and it sent him over the edge. With a hoarse cry, he pumped into her, then collapsed beside her.

He gathered her into his arms and held her tight. He would never risk losing her. Even if she decided she wanted to risk the transformation, he had the power to stop her. All he had to do was refuse to bite her.