SHADOW CAT
THE STRIPED ONES
Copyright © 2011 by Reena Jacobs
All rights reserved. No part of this book may be used or reproduced in any manner whatsoever without written permission except in the case of brief quotations embodied in critical articles and reviews. For information email Reena Jacobs: reenajacobs@reenajacobs.com
Shadow Cat is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and incidents either are the product of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, events or locales is entirely coincidental.
ISBN-13: 978-1460914168
ISBN-10: 1460914163
eBook ASIN: B004IEA1C6
www.ReenaJacobs.com
SHADOW CAT
THE STRIPED ONES
By
Reena Jacobs
* * * * *
SMASHWORDS EDITION
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Smashwords Edition License Notes
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Warnings
You must be aged 18 years or older to purchase or read this eBook as it contains sexually explicit content.
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
I’ve been lucky to have quite a few people give me a leg up with Shadow Cat. Hugs and kisses to my husband, who only wants me to be happy and humors any venture I take on. Pouring out the love to my oldest daughter who read bits and pieces of my work then ranted when I said this is too adult for young eyes. Special thanks to Fiona Chan, also a wee too young for Shadow Cat, but graciously helped me with the translations. Extra special call out to Aimee Laine who ripped my work to shreds from beginning to end. Awesome critter, please don’t bombard her with requests because I’d like to save her for me. Stephannie Beman, though late to the game, offered wonderful encouragement and advice. Zoe Winters, thanks for the Zoe Who? videos and letting me pick your brain. If I hadn’t come across those videos, I doubt I would have taken the leap into publishing. Last but not least, all the beta readers and critters from the various sites I frequent. Love you all!
SHADOW
CAT
Reena Jacobs
THE STRIPED ONES ~ BOOK ONE
CHAPTER
ONE
Endau Rompin Rainforest, Malaysia
Berani raced between the trees. Behind her, the tiger crashed through the underbrush urging her forward, gaining with every second. She forced herself not to look back. If she lost her footing…
No. She couldn’t think like that.
Lungs burning, arms pumping, she redoubled her efforts. A wisp of hair snagged a low-hanging branch and ripped free. Searing pain shot through her scalp, but she didn’t falter. She couldn’t. Not if she wanted to escape.
There… a flicker of light? Yes! The sun broke through the dense foliage, promising safety.
A roar thundered loud and ferocious. Birds took flight, and her chest resonated with the sound of it. She missed a step and recovered, putting forth an extra burst of speed. She could make it. Only a couple more feet. If only—
A low growl was the only warning, vibrating so close it whispered in her ear. She spun mid-stride and tumbled backward. Her heart skipped a beat as a mass of orange flew at her. Great Spirit! She clamped her eyes shut. Her body tensed. The tiger hit, its shoulder slamming into her midsection. Jerked from her feet, she grunted as the air whooshed from her lungs, and her fingers clenched tight around fur.
Wind chilled her skin. Time lost meaning. Berani opened her mouth, but the scream caught in her throat, and she fell in silence.
The tiger rotated, putting her on top, and her eyes flew open. The ground rushed at neck-breaking speed, and she threw out her hands just in time to jar all the bones in her arms. Her shoulders threatened to pop out of the sockets as her hands scraped along the dirt and rocks.
Berani slid to a stop and lay stunned. With her wits too scattered for action, her only thought was: Alive. Her body kick started, taking over where mentally she could not. Like a baby inhaling its first gasp, her lungs expanded with a jerk and drew in a much needed breath.
The huge cat chuffed beneath her, shaking her with each sneeze-like sound. Laughter slowly replaced the chuffing as the fur faded, and the immense bulk of the tiger diminished. In place of the massive feline lay a young man.
Young man? She scoffed to herself, more akin to a boy barely entering adolescence. Berani pushed off him. Her deep breaths slowed to a steady rhythm as she let her head fall to the side, facing him.
A light sheen of sweat glistened on his tanned skin, flawless save for the ragged scar running down his belly. His body quaked with mirth, and his yellow catlike eyes stared back at her in amusement. “Not quick enough that time, Berani.”
She clenched her teeth. “If you were anyone but my brother, I would kill you.”
He might be approaching adulthood, but he had a long way to go in maturity, and his decision-making abilities left much to offer. Attacking with such force proved his lack of good judgment.
“You did not have to hit me so hard!” Berani said.
His snickers erupted into a full-bellied rumble.
“Sometimes I really hate you, Pejuang.” She slapped his bare chest and barely managed to stifle a moan as the sudden movement caused a sharp pain to radiate up her side. Berani struggled to sit, pressing an arm tightly around her middle. A hiss escaped her lips. “I think you cracked a rib.”
Pejuang froze. His eyes widened, and he scrambled to his feet. “Forgive me, Berani. You know I was only playing. I would never intentionally hurt you.” His face filled with concern as he held out a hand to her.
“Well, you did.” She closed her eyes and concentrated on breathing through the pain. “You are always so careless. You never think before you act. Anyone would know how dangerous it is to strike at a full sprint.” She lifted her gaze. “What if you had broken my neck or…”
The words caught in her throat. The regret flowing from him chipped at her heart, and she softened her voice. “You are not a cub anymore. You should know better.”
She removed her hand from her side and cringed. “This is horrible. Even after healing, bruises will remain. Look at this.”
Pejuang’s eyes flicked to the reddened patch of flesh already darkening to bluish-black. All remaining liveliness fell from his face, and his shoulders slumped as if he had the weight of a thousand elephants upon him.
Berani gingerly prodded the wound. As much as she loved him, she couldn’t keep the scold from her voice. “If mother finds out you injured me again, you will be banished. Your time with us is already limited. Even without this incident, it will not be long before you are forced out of the clan.”
“You are right,” he whispered, reaching for her.
She batted him away. “Do not be so impatient. Wait.” Closing her eyes, she covered her injured ribs with a hand and channeled energy, her gift from the Great Spirit. The sacred incantations ingrained since birth flowed from her lips and provided focus. Warmth seeped through her fingertips to her side, sealing broken blood vessels, knitting ribs, and repairing bruised muscles. With a deep pain-free breath, she opened her eyes. She could do nothing about the blood already dispersed and trapped under the skin—her biggest concern and evidence of her brother’s harsh treatment. Nothing but time would make the discoloration fade.
She held out her hand, allowing his help as he wrapped his arms around her waist and lifted her gently to her feet. His hands went to work, plucking twigs and leaves from her hair like an orangutan grooming a child. Any moment, she expected him to find an insect and pop it in his mouth. Ridiculous. Berani slapped his hands away. “Being regretful early is advantageous; being regretful later is of no use.”
Pejuang’s arms fell to his sides, and he opened his mouth. A single raised eyebrow from Berani daring him to speak, and he snapped it shut. He looked into the distance before dropping his gaze. His long copper hair with just a hint of red, like his tiger pelt, fell in his face and covered his eyes.
She shook her head at him bowed in submission, so common for a reprimanded cub. His youthful appearance gave him a feminine attractiveness, yet his physique hinted at the adult he would become. While most boys his age were gangly, Pejuang was tall and sturdy. He lacked the muscular physique of a mature wehr-tiger, but he was close. In truth, he stood eye to eye with a few full-grown males. The combination alone might merit him an early exit from their clan.
Unmated adult males were not allowed to stay with their birth family. Soon, Pejuang would be forced to leave and tackle the world on his own. She feared with his maturity level, he would not survive long. He was so prone to rash decisions. Alone, he would have no one to save him from his own stupidity. She only wished she could find a way to keep him nearby.
“Sometimes I know not what to do with you. If I ever lost you…” Her throat tightened around the words.
He lifted his eyes to meet hers, defiance replacing guilt. “I can take care of myself.”
“So you say.” Despite his confidence, she still had doubts. She laughed. “You are just like the monkeys. Tomorrow, you will return to your old tricks.”
Pejuang’s nostrils flared, and his pupils dilated.
She smiled knowingly. “See? You get harder to control every day. How long do you think the clan will let you stay within its safety?”
Berani dismissed him with a wave of the hand. “Go home. I will be back in a couple of days.”
“I cannot return without you nor leave you alone out here. What will I tell the others?” His tone turned into a plea. “Please, Berani. Do not make me leave you. Let me stay and make sure you are okay. I will hunt for—“
“Pejuang.” Her voice sharpened. His begging put her on edge like nothing else. “I do not need you to hunt for me. I need you to grow up.”
His entire face lit with surprise before his features darkened, and his eyes narrowed to slits. He took a step forward, towering over her. “I am not the cub you used to push around, Sister.”
Berani held his gaze, refusing to back down. “Really? You could have fooled me.” She played a dangerous game, but she was not about to let an overgrown cub intimidate her.
Pejuang growled low in his throat, and his fangs lengthened.
She inched back a step before she could stop herself. Her brother’s display dimmed a light deep in her center, leaving her cold. Surely their relationship couldn’t have gotten so bad.
“You would attack me?” Her voice wavered, echoing her uncertainty.
Pejuang jerked back as if slapped.
“No, of course not.” The roughness in his voice revealed he barely contained his tiger. He closed his eyes and breathed deeply. His behavior proved why he couldn’t stay in the clan. A well-placed nip could bring a cub into submission. Pejuang, on the other hand, did not back down as easily. He met strength with strength. Already, he was beyond her physical control.
Reassured his behavior had little to do with her and everything to do with her little brother teetering between childhood and adulthood, she calmed. “I will be back soon.”
Pejuang opened his eyes, brows knitting together. “You think you can protect everyone. But you deceive yourself. No one can be everywhere all the time… and that is what you would have to be to save us all.”
He was right. She chastised him because it was true. If she could just keep him in line, she’d be able to protect him from the many dangers of the world. Then the clan wouldn’t make him leave. He just had to listen to her. The knowledge he wouldn’t weighed on her… drained her. “Just go home, Pejuang. There is nothing you can do here.”
A loud crash sent Berani nearly jumping out of her skin. No doubt, Pejuang’s wide eyes matched her own. She listened as a host of voices reached her ears. “The Great River maybe?”
Pejuang took a step toward the waterway, but Berani grabbed his arm. “Already you leap into trouble, so soon after your last folly.”
He shrugged her off. “Do you expect the noise to investigate itself?”
She searched his face and found only determination. “We go together.”
His mouth drew into a sneer. “Come then.” Back hunched, he walked away with a stiff gait, leaving her to follow at will.
She never should have pushed him so far. Too late to erase the past, she trailed after. By the time she reached him, he was at the tree line, lying down, concealed by the tall grass. She dropped to her belly and crept the remaining way.
On the other side of the river, about twenty humans laden with packs meandered. At least half of them were Malays from the city. Their facial features resembled her people, but their dark hair set them apart. Pale-pinkish skin and hair varying in shades from fair to dark marked the others in the party as strangers from distant lands. She’d never allow them to stay.
Berani held out a hand, palm up, and blew over its surface. A breeze rippled the water and grew stronger as it reached the strangers, lifting a hat from one head. The man scrambled for it, and she smiled.
Finding camp would be the least of the humans’ worries. She drew in a deeper breath and focused on the mound of supplies two men carried on a litter between them.
Pejuang’s hand clamped over her mouth as he yanked her wrist. “What are you doing?”
She bit his finger, and he jerked away.
“Regretful early,” she scolded. She inched back the way she came until well out of sight of the intruders and sat on her heels, waiting.
Her brother followed and knelt before her. He glowered as he examined his reddened finger ribbed with teeth marks. “Why did you do that?”
“How dare you interfere?” Berani demanded.
“You cannot do this.”
She scoffed. “If you could, you would not?”
“No, that is not the way.”
“They are here to destroy our forest. How easily you forget the refugees who passed through our lands. I will never allow them to stay.”
A muscle twitched in her brother’s cheek, and she found herself locked in a stare down. If she controlled any element other than air, she’d scourge the humans from her home. As it was, she could cause little more than mischief. A minor annoyance, but maybe enough to make them reconsider staying.
Pejuang broke eye contact first and stood, looking down on her. “We waste time. We need to tell Nenek.”
Her brother was right; their grandmother did need to know. Berani glanced toward the river hidden by the trees. “Yes. You go. I want to watch them. Perhaps I can learn more.”
“No, it is too dangerous.”
“I will be fine and cause no more trouble today.” She dropped to her stomach and crawled forward, but Pejuang caught her leg, impeding her progress. She glared at him.
“I cannot let you. If something happened, I would never be able to explain it to the others.”
“Let go. I do not need your protection.” She kicked out, knocking him away. “I said I will be fine.”
“What if you get caught?”
“The humans cannot see me through the brush.”
“What if—“
“I said…” Berani’s voice deepened to a rumble which bordered on a growl and left no room for debate. “I… am… staying.”
“You think your bravery will save you. I hope it does, but everyone has to depend on someone sometime.” Not waiting for a response, he shifted. His tanned skin mottled to orange as thick fur sprouted in waves over his body, and black and white stripes added contrast. Pejuang fell forward. His shape took the form of a tiger, and he gained an extraordinary amount of volume. Although he went through a massive transformation, the entire process only took seconds, with majority of the shift spent filling in his bulk. Fully changed, Pejuang shook his fur. He gave Berani one last glance then ran in the direction of their clan.
For a long while, Berani watched the path where Pejuang had disappeared. The bitter truth of his words stung. When had their roles changed? She had always protected him, not the other way around. To acknowledge that was to admit Pejuang was ready to leave the clan, and she was not prepared to accept his exile.
Even worse, her injury was mostly her fault. After all, she had started their play. If the clan forced Pejuang out because of it, she had only herself to blame. She blinked back tears which threatened to spill, hating the weakness. Wiping at her eyes, she laughed through blurred vision as she thought about the handful of fur she’d ripped out of Pejuang’s flank before she’d fled.
Berani lived to torment her brother but should have known he would retaliate with excessive force. He was a fighter and never one to let a slight go. She was proud of that side of him. He definitely was not an easy target. When the time came, and if he survived the recklessness of his youth, he would have no problem establishing his own territory. Reassured, Berani crawled back to the strangers.
CHAPTER
TWO
New York City
Three weeks later
Erickson Randall froze as the words on the menu turned into meaningless letters. Surely he’d misunderstood his assistant.
“Eric, did you hear me?” Bryan Hayes asked above the low drone of diners laughing and talking in the background. “I said they also lost the permits.”
The muscles in Eric’s jaws tightened. Lost the permits? Deported? He lowered the menu and released a controlled breath. “Everything is riding on this. The researchers were deported to Taiwan over a week ago, for Pete’s sake! And I’m just hearing about it now?”
The corners of Bryan’s mouth twitched in an uneasy smile. “Look, we can fix this. I have a few contacts…”
Bryan’s voice blended into the steady drone of the other patrons. On and on he rambled, each syllable jabbing like a stick prodding an open wound. Eric closed his eyes, trying to focus on a way out of the mess, but a single word continued to crop into his head: Failure. It was just a matter of time before everything his grandfather worked to achieve crumbled to dust.
“…Perhaps they’ll reinstate the research permits,” Bryan continued. “I can—“
“We can’t afford setbacks. Not with pharmaceutical sales going down the crapper. Hell! Nora Tech has already lost a shitload of money this year. This can’t be happening.” If Eric could reach through time and space and strangle those researchers, he would. No one in their right minds would clear a section of the rainforest without proper authorization. No one! And the ramifications. Holy hell! “The stockholders will have a field day if the money we’ve spent getting those scientist into Malaysia goes down the drain. Shit… William will be all over this.”
Bryan rolled his eyes. “I don’t know why you worry so much. The board voted you in, not him. Besides, William Fitzgerald is an idiot. I don’t think I’ve heard one intelligent word come out of his trap.” Arms crossed, he settled deeper in his chair. “Anyway, your grandfather founded Nora Tech.”
“You’re joking, right?” Eric gave a half laugh. “The stockholders don’t care about my personal business; they care about making money.” He muddled through his options and came up with only one lame-ass solution. And he couldn’t even claim it fully as his own. Leaning forward, he clasped his hands together and planted his elbows on the table. “Whatever you’ve got planned for the week, drop it. It’ll have to wait. This is what’s going to happen, Mr. ‘I’ve got connections’. You are going to book yourself a plane to Malaysia and talk the government into giving us back those permits. I want you on the first flight tomorrow morning. Got it?”
“Yeah. Sure. I’m on it, boss.”
Eric frowned at the nonchalance on his assistant’s face. “Boss? Are you being sarcastic?”
Bryan’s lips twitched into a smile.
Eric couldn’t help but return it. “Is everything fun and games with you? Serves me right for hiring a college roomie. You were a crackpot then. And you’re a crackpot now. What was I thinking?”
Bryan broke into a full laugh. “You were thinking I was the best of the best. Don’t worry about the Malaysia thing. I’ve got this.”
Eric looked his friend dead on. “I’m counting on it.”
“Here you go.” The waitress arrived with their drinks, sloshing liquid over the rim. “Sorry.” A smile quivered on her lips as she tucked a loose strand of blond hair behind her ear. “The first course includes a choice of—“
“Actually.” Bryan picked up his menu, and his eyes trailed down the fare. “I’ll start with the rack of lamb—rare, then the prime rib—also rare, and the cheeses for dessert.”
“Oh. Uh. Sir?” She walked behind Bryan and leaned over his shoulder. Using her pen, she tapped a staccato beat against the menu. “The rack of lamb isn’t a first course appetizer. It’s an entrée, along with the prime rib. You see?” The waitress turned her head, and her lips almost grazed Bryan’s cheek. A few flutters of her eyelashes, and she straightened, biting the side of her lip. She flushed a pretty shade of pink and returned to the front of the table, all the while following Bryan with her eyes.
Bryan closed his menu and handed it to her with his winning smile—the one which got him out of more trouble than Eric could remember. “Is there a problem with my order?”
“Uh... I…” She blinked. Her cheeks took on more color as she swallowed hard, scribbling on her pad. “No… I guess… I guess not.” Her dark brown eyes sparkled as she worried her bottom lip through a smiled and glanced at Eric. “And for you, sir?”
He hadn’t even decided yet. Damn Bryan and his news. He scratched his eyebrow and picked up the menu. “Uhm… how about the sea bass.…” Shit. Appetizer then entrée. Why did Bryan order everything at once? “No… the risotto, sea bass, and uh… just bring the dessert menu around when we’re done. Okay?”
“Of course.” The waitress grinned at Bryan, already dismissing Eric. His blockhead friend gave her a wink, and she giggled like a silly schoolgirl.
“I’ll just take this.” She collected Eric's menu and walked away with a spring in her step. She paused after a few feet and turned, pierced her lips together and blew an air kiss then disappeared around a corner. So much for fine dining and professionalism.
Eric shook his head. “Bryan… Bryan… Bryan.”
“What?” His friend reached under the table and pulled documents from his briefcase.
“Why do you have to make things so difficult?”
“What do you mean?” He laid half the stack of papers on the table and pushed them toward Eric.
“The waitress?”
Bryan shrugged, and a smile tugged at the corner of his lips. “She said it was no problem.” Flipping through the sheets, his brows creased as he studied the pages, seriousness replacing the smugness.
Eric shook his head. His friend had no qualms about using looks to his advantage, unscrupulous about it really. His features were proportioned in a way women might find him attractive. If they were into boyish looks on a grown man, that was. He still had a full head of hair, a plus. Too bad the light brown color bordered on red which had earned him the nickname “redheaded stepchild” on the college wrestling team. Of course on the mat, he’d had a way of getting them to call him ‘uncle.’ And those funky hazel eyes. How Bryan, part Malay, ended up with that hair and pale greenish-orange eyes was a mystery. The only thing he really had going for him was height. At six-four, he had a full inch on Eric.
“But Bryan, two entrées?”
“I need the protein. What are you worried about? We’ll burn it off in karate tonight.” All through college Bryan had been an even match for Eric on the wrestling team. Likewise, he made an equally impressive Jeet Kune Do sparring partner. Bryan patted the stack of papers he’d set on the table. “Will you look at those?”
Eric picked up the pile. “What am I looking at?”
“Expense reports.”
“Great. My favorite,” he said under his breath and sifted through them. “I don’t see anything out of the ordinary.”
Bryan reached across the table and pulled the papers down. “You need to suggest cuts at the meeting tomorrow.”
“Couldn’t this have waited until after we ate? You really know how to ruin a meal.”
Bryan shuffled through his own copies. “Page three, item four.”
Eric flipped through and found the number—The Norabelle Randall Foundation ($10M—Scholarships). “Okay, what about it?”
“Maybe cut that in half or even down to a million… perhaps a full ride to just five select candidates.”
“You’re crazy.” He flung the papers on the table. “You want to cut costs by scrapping the foundation my grandfather established in honor of my grandmother?”
“It’s not like that. I’m not saying to cut it entirely… just… cut back a little until the company is doing better.”
“Forget it. We’ll find another way.”
Bryan crossed his arms, crushing papers under his bicep. “Where?”
“I don’t know.” Eric snatched the top sheet, wrinkling the edge in his fist.
“Don’t you think you’re being a bit obsessive?”
“No!” Eric slammed his fist on the table, and the drinks sloshed, adding to the stains on the white linen. He leaned forward and tried to keep his voice controlled. “I will not dishonor my grandparents’ memories by trashing the things that meant the most to them.”
Of all the people, Bryan should understand—he’d gotten through college on a scholarship. Eric closed his eyes and pressed his fist to his forehead as he concentrated on calming his breathing. One. Two. Three. Four— Who the hell came up with the count-to-ten crap anyway? It didn’t do shit. He opened his eyes to find Bryan staring, mouth dangling open. Sweeping his gaze around the room, he found the rapt attention of almost every patron in the restaurant on him. Shit.
“Okay.” Eric flattened the crumbled paper on the table, avoiding the curious glances of the other diners. “Let’s go over this line by line. There’s got to be something else.” He grabbed his drink and swirled it under his nose before downing it in one gulp. The slight burn of the scotch trailed down his throat and momentarily distracted him from the stresses at hand. He closed his eyes and relaxed as the smoky finish saturated his senses—a respite in the chaos.
“Well, well, well… look what we have here.” Bryan’s voice pulled him out of the moment. The lazy smile on his friend’s face had Eric twisting in his chair to see what was worthy of so much attention.
A woman. Just like Bryan to let a pretty face sidetrack him from business. With her back to them, she allowed a slight, grey-haired man help remove her coat. Free of the heavy faux fur, she ran her hand up the back of her neck and under her hair, letting the auburn mane cascade in waves over her shoulder.
Eric frowned as he tried to place the vaguely familiar figure then smiled as recognition hit him. “Is that Angelica?”
“You better believe it,” Bryan said.
The man with her passed the coat to the attendant before addressing the maître d. Eric would know that face anywhere—William Fitzgerald.
“Speak of the devil.” Eric turned back to Bryan. “Could things get any worse?”
Bryan smirked. “Now that you mention it, they’re heading this way.”
“Great.” Eric struggled to keep a straight face as the heavy stench of cologne invaded every molecule of his personal bubble and announced William’s impending arrival.
“Fancy meeting you here.” William sneered down his nose, flaring nostrils with hairs sorely in need of clipping. Fitzgerald was of old money and played every bit the part. Only the best for him, the custom-tailored Brioni suit said it all. If he only knew his salt and pepper hair, slicked back with oil, emphasized his ever-thinning hairline. Old money? Yes. But sleazebag, nonetheless.
Angelica linked an arm through William’s, scanning the table cluttered with papers. Her stiletto heels put her head to head with the old coot, though she couldn’t be taller than five-four barefoot. “I wish I had known you two would be here. Have you already eaten?”
William patted her hand, not turning his attention from Eric. “Angelica, surely they have personal business to discuss. Let’s not intrude.”
“Of course. You’re right, Daddy.” She winked at Eric. Her father, so focused, missed the gesture entirely, and Angelica’s mouth curled in a secret smile. Her red-painted lips glistened, adding the perfect contrast to her pale skin. The effect—naughty with just a hint of nice.
“Maybe next time,” Eric offered.
“I’ll hold you to that promise.” Angelica’s eyes sparkled mischievously as she walked away, sashaying her hips as she approached the head waiter standing at a discrete distance.
Eric’s gaze traveled up her legs and ended on her pert ass, her red dress enveloping it like a tight sleeve.
“I’ll see you at the meeting.” William glowered, his dull green eyes promising trouble.
Eric raised an eyebrow. “Don’t you always?”
“Humph.” William about faced and joined his daughter.
The host directed the Fitzgeralds to a table directly in Eric’s line of sight. The only upside was when Angelica took the seat facing him, leaving the one opposite for her father. Thank God for small favors. Looking at William’s ugly mug was the last thing he wanted to do while enjoying his meal.
Angelica caught Eric’s eyes. Smiling, she gave him a single-fingered wave and mouthed something to him. He squinted to catch it. Did she say, later?
“What was that all about?” Bryan’s voice broke his concentration.
Eric casually fiddled with the papers in front of him, musing over what ‘later’ might entail. “What are you talking about? You know how William is.”
“No, I mean Angelica.”
Eric jolted in his seat, his full attention on Bryan. “Huh? What?”
“I’m talking about that wink.”
Eric couldn’t help the smile that played on his lips. Sweet, delicious Angelica. He played with fire but had to admit, she was hot with her curvy figure and full breasts, such the daddy’s little girl in public, though anything but in the bedroom.
Bryan grinned. “Now, I definitely want to know what that look means.”
“Nothing.”
“Right.” Bryan twisted in his seat and stared in Angelica’s direction. “Sometimes it amazes me that William could produce a knockout like her.”
Eric grabbed his papers and turned to a random page. “We’re wasting time. What about this?” he asked, leaving the topic of Angelica behind.
CHAPTER
THREE
The sheets tangled around Eric’s legs as he flipped over. Three years of running his grandfather’s company and already the stocks plummeted. The venture in Malaysia was meant to revitalize and even that was in jeopardy.
He kicked off the blankets and got out of bed. The tension in his neck pulled so tight it was an effort to keep from scrunching his shoulders to his ears. He stretched and kneaded the muscles, working out the kinks.
Even Jeet Kune Do had done little to help him relax. If anything, karate had made the stress worse with Bryan taking full advantage of the distractions. His buddy had bitched slapped him so many times, he’d lost track.
Eric ambled to the bathroom and cringed as his feet hit the cold tiles. He flicked on the lights, resisting the urge to turn them back off when he caught sight of his reflection in the mirror. The puffy bags and dark circles under his eyes added ten years to his thirty-three. Gah! He needed a vacation.
He turned on the cold water, filled his cupped hands, and splashed his face. Eyes squeezed tight and water dripping down his chin, he reached for the towel rack as a knock came from his front door.
“What in the world?” He smacked the back of his wrist against the bar. “Damn it.” The thick cotton brushed the back of his hand, and he snatched it from the rail. He scrubbed his face and tossed it at the hamper. The towel dangled on the rim before slipping to the floor. Screw it. He strode into the living room, the pounding more persistent with every step.
“Be right there,” he yelled. That better not be you, Bryan. I’ve had enough bad news for one evening.
Eric peered out the peephole and saw the silver lining at the end of a hellish day. With a smile, he unlocked the door and opened it wide.
“Hi,” Angelica said, her smile every bit an invitation.
Eric pulled her close and slid a hand down the small of her back, massaging through the thick coat.
“My, this is quite a welcome.” She traced her lips with her tongue and ended by sucking the bottom one into her mouth, letting the plump flesh slide between her teeth with a soft smack.
Oh, that’s nice. He kicked the door shut with his foot and kissed her reddened lower lip.
“Eric, you have the sexiest body.” Her husky voice purred as she trailed a finger down his bare chest.
“I’m sure you wouldn’t have it any other way.” He reached to remove her coat, but Angelica interlocked her fingers with his, preventing him.
She pouted while twirling slow circles around his nipples with her perfectly manicured nail. “Eric… You really got Daddy riled tonight.”
He bent to kiss her, but she pulled back.
She gave the sweetest smile, lowering her lashes briefly before meeting his eyes. “You know… we can fix all this.”
“I’d like that.” Pulling her so close she stood on her toes, he leaned in for a kiss.
She pressed her hand against his chest, keeping her luscious mouth out of reach.
“Don’t tease, Angelica.” He wrapped his hand around her nape.
“Just think about it for a moment.”
“No thinking.” He bent her back and ran his tongue along her slender neck. “Mmmm.”
Her throat vibrated as she continued to talk. “Your stock plus Daddy’s, we’d hold the majority share.”
Eric froze. He pulled away and looked her dead in the eyes… calculating green eyes, so like her father’s. “What game are you playing?”
She snaked her arms around his back and raked her nails lightly down, sending a shiver through his body. Her smile turned cunning, and her eyes took on an unbecoming glint. “Think of it as a… merger.”
“A merger?” Eric frowned. “What are you talking about?”
She tilted her head back and laughed a grating tinkle. “Eric, you silly man, I’m talking about marriage.”
Eric dropped her like a bad marketing campaign.
Angelica stumbled a few steps, catching herself before falling. Her nose crinkled, but her face held a faint hint of amusement. “My goodness, Eric.”
He ran a hand down his face, wishing he could wipe the day from his memory. “Where is all this coming from?”
“Surely, you didn’t think this arrangement would last forever.” She waved her hand around the room, sauntering back to him. “Look at us… hiding from Daddy like teenagers. I think it’s about time to remove all that animosity, don’t you?” She wrapped her arms about his neck. Her tongue slithered out and licked his nipple before she blew cool air over it.
His arms remained dead at his side, every ounce of arousal sapped from his body. “But you came to me. What happened to just scratching an itch?”
“Hmmm. I did say that, didn’t I?” Her hand slid under his hair and stroked the back of his head. “Well, just think of this as one more itch you can scratch.”
Damn him for being blind. The entire time she’d been using him for his family fortune? He should have expected as much from a Fitzgerald. His lips curled in disgust at the thought of being shackled to the manipulating woman as he pried her hands from his neck. “I’m not marrying you.”
“Eric, I don’t get you.” She crossed her arms and let them plop against her chest. “We were made for each other. We have everything in common—similar childhoods, same lifestyle. We’re smart, ambitious.” Her hips tilted to the side as her fists landed on them. “And we have chemistry. Why are you so resistant?”
“Are you done?”
Angelica’s eyes widened. “Well, no… I… well, I mean… I guess.”
He walked past her and opened the door. “Good. It’s time for you to leave.”
She opened her mouth and then snapped it shut. Her eyes narrowed to slits, and she stomped to him, jabbing her finger into his pectoral. “You’re making a big mistake.”
“I can live with that.” He took her by the arm and helped her over the threshold.
“Hey!” She struggled to pull free. “Let me go.”
“Fine.” He released her, took a step back, and slammed the door.
On the other side, Angelica released a shrill screech.
He leaned his forehead against the door and closed his eyes. What a nightmare. Angelica pounded the door, and it bounced against his head. Pain reverberated through his skull, adding to his already growing headache.
~ ~ ~ ~ ~
Eric shoved his papers in his briefcase as the board members filed out the conference room. He hated meetings. And the smirk on Fitzgerald’s face after notifying the trustees the researchers had lost the permits didn’t help either.
He slammed his case shut and snapped the latches. He should have sent someone to Malaysia to babysit those researchers. Idiots. What made them think tearing down a section of the rainforest was okay? Damn it. They weren’t loggers. He jerked his briefcase from the table, strode to the exit, and froze. It couldn’t get any worse.
Deep in conversation, William huddled in the hallway with his daughter. What were they plotting? Angelica spotted Eric, and her lip curled as she raked him from head to toe. She caught her father by the arm and led him away, still engrossed in their schemes.
Eric tightened his grip on his briefcase. He needed to do something, anything before his life spiraled out of control.
“No calls,” he barked at his secretary when he reached his office. He snapped the door shut, threw his briefcase in a corner chair on the way to his granite desk, and dropped in his seat. The sudden swoosh of air created by his carelessness caused papers to flutter to the floor. With his life falling apart, they were just one more mess to add to the chaos.
A knock rapped at his door, and Eric slammed his fist on the desk, scattering more papers. “I said, NO CALLS!”
The door cracked open, and Bryan popped his head in. “Bad day?”
“What the hell are you doing here? You should be halfway to Malaysia by now. Damn it. Doesn’t anyone listen?”
Bryan walked in with a smile and pushed the door shut behind him. “Cool it. There aren’t any flights available until tomorrow. I just wanted you to know.”
“This’ll be another wasted day.” Eric let out a long, slow breath. He rested his elbow on the cool surface of his desk and propped his head on his fists. “Have a seat, Bryan.”
“What’s gotten into you? You used to be a lot of fun.” His friend walked to the two-seater against the wall, plopped down, and hooked a leg over the arm.
“Argh.” Eric tilted his seat back and pressed his head against the back of the leather chair as he stared at the ceiling. ”I’m screwing myself left and right.”
“What’s up?”
Eric brought his chair forward and considered his buddy who’d taken to hanging his head over the other arm of the love seat. As stupid as his friend looked with his oddly colored hair dangling wildly, he hesitated. “You’re going to think I’m an idiot.”
“Trust me.” Bryan laughed. “You’ve done plenty of idiotic things before. I doubt you could surprise me.”
Eric glared. “A lot of help you are. I don’t know why I bother. You can’t take anything seriously.”
Bryan lifted his head with the stupid grin still plastered on his face. “Come on, man. Spit it out.”
“Fine. Effin’ Angelica’s got my number… asked me to marry her last night.”
Bryan sat straight, all hint of amusement gone. “What?”
“Damn it. I’ve been sleeping with her for months. I didn’t—“
“You’ve been sleeping with her for months?” Bryan crossed the room and slapped his hands on the desk. “Have you lost your mind?”
“Get off my back.” Pushing away, Eric left Bryan hovering over his workspace and took up residence in front of the window. Beautiful skyscrapers towered New York City, playing tribute to his corporate world. While below, cars lined the streets, jam packed like a congested road in Sim City—the tangled mess a replica of his life. “It just happened.”
“Are you crazy? Things like that don’t just happen. She probably planned it with her old man. He’s been gunning for your job since before your parents died.”
“I know. I know. Damn, you don’t have to tell me.”
“What did you say to her?”
Eric faced his friend. “What do you think I told her? I said no and kicked her out.”
Bryan brought a hand up and grinned behind his fist. “No you didn’t, man.”
“Grow up, Bryan. I’m sinking fast. I need a freakin’ break.”
“Okay.” Bryan’s smile faded as he shook his head. “I feel for ya. I really do.”
A deafening silence followed.
“Hey,” Bryan said. “Come to Malaysia with me. After we get those permits back, we’ll make a vacation of it. I don’t remember you taking any time for yourself since you took chair three years ago.” He smiled. “It’ll be an experience of a lifetime.”
“I don’t know.” Eric’s gaze wandered to the papers scattered across his desk, the piles mounting higher every day.
Bryan closed the distance and locked eyes with Eric, not a trace of humor on his face. “You need this. You keep going like you’re going, and you’ll burn out. Then you’ll be useless to the company. Even workaholics need breaks from time to time.”
Eric let out an audible breath, releasing some of the tension. “You’re right.”
Bryan placed his hand on Eric’s shoulder. “You good?”
“Yeah.” Eric walked around his friend to his desk and busied himself moving random papers. “Book the company jet. We don’t have time to wait. Stop by my place and grab me some stuff. I have a few things I need to handle before we go. Give me a couple of hours.”
“Right.” Bryan’s footsteps fell on soft carpet, and the door opened.
“Oh… and call the Corporate Angel Network and see if they have any patients who need a ride along our route.”
“Of course.” The door clicked closed.
Eric turned around, alone again in his office. A trip to Malaysia sounded good—tropical weather, maybe some rafting, and a little relaxation. If nothing else, it might give Angelica time to cool… and hopefully move on.
He focused on his crammed briefcase. Besides, he could always telecommute.
CHAPTER
FOUR
Endau Rompin Rainforest, Malaysia
Berani crouched in the underbrush with the low rumble of the Great River flowing in the distance. She flicked her ear as a bit of moisture dribbled inside. With the rain relenting, humidity hung heavy in the air. Giant droplets clung from leaves high overhead and splattered on the ground, providing life-giving water to the foliage below. The sun trickling through the canopy played on the misty residue and cast a dim haze of green throughout the forest.
A gurgle moved through her stomach, a reminder of her fruitless night wandering in search of food. Her muscles ached. She wanted nothing more than a long cat nap, yet refused to return to her clan with an empty stomach and her tail tucked between her legs. Hiding indefinitely in the secluded cave she’d found days earlier while eating a measly meal of berries was preferable to that alternative. No one would call her a failure.
Several feet away lay a trail worn by animals too lazy to find their own path to the waterway. A chance they took; an opportunity she exploited.
Before long, the wind carried the sound of leaves slipping on wet soil. Careless in its approach, her breakfast tromped through the forest, ever growing closer. As long as it filled her to stuffing, she didn’t care what came her way. Only a few more seconds and her prey would emerge from the tree line.
She licked her lips, and her tongue scraped against her fangs. Her heart quickened with anticipation. She tensed her hind legs and pawed the ground, ready to spring.
Then she saw it… him. A tall, dark-haired human emerge, jogging along the animal path. Her stomach contracted. How could she be so oblivious to the auditory signs? Only a human would tread so recklessly without fear of the dangers which lurked in the shadows. Cruel beyond belief, they dominated the lands, raping everything in their paths and leaving nothing but a barren husk. It was only a matter of time before they’d destroyed her rainforest and along with it, her people. Even now, only a few scattered clans remained in the Malaysian jungles.
Too late to flee without detection, she waited as he drew closer.
Sweat covered his face and plastered a lock of hair to his forehead. The loose curls varied from brown to near black as moisture darkened the color at the nape and around the edges to deep rich tones. He brushed a few strands aside, flexing a well-muscled arm with the motion. His tight, blue shirt clung to his chest and complemented grey-blue eyes, while his shorts stretched taut around thick thighs.
She just made out his deep, steady breathing as he passed within a yard of her, closer than she’d ever been to a human. The pack on his back bounced with every stride as he continued in the direction of the river and disappeared from sight.
Berani smiled inwardly. Humans—a bat’s eyesight was better than theirs.
The risk of discovery past, she allowed her tail to swing freely. She’d have to report him. Nenek would want to know the humans had returned.
The damage the species had done to the forest weeks earlier sickened Berani. It would take decades before the area even remotely recovered. She hesitated only a moment before, trailing him to the Great River. The more information she could provide Nenek, the better equipped her clan would be to deal with the human threat.
Hidden safely in the bushes, Berani watched the human tug off his shoes, walk to the water’s edge, and dip his foot. The current, more forceful than usual due to the quick rain, rippled around his toes.
He pulled his shirt over his head. The muscles in his back flexed as he exposed broad shoulders and tossed the shirt toward a nearby boulder. It landed in a heap beside his pack. He twisted and stretched, revealing an abdomen ribbed with definition and pectorals so well-defined, the muscles rippled with every move.
Berani never imagined a human’s body could rival that of a male wehr-tiger’s. Firm… virile—his did, and her body answered unexpectedly. Her heart thumped and caused an unwanted rush of blood to course through her body, heating her from the inside out. At the same time, her stomach flipped and tightened with disgust. The idea of being attracted to a human, even on a subconscious level, unnerved her.
Great Spirit! What was happening to her? The line between animalistic need and realistic thoughts blurred. She wanted to control her physical reactions but found it impossible against the sight of his masculine form. No, even more—his spirit called to her. Captivated yet repulsed, she panted from her concealment, drawn to him like a rhinoceros to the wallows.
He bent and removed his shorts, revealing a firm butt and powerful thighs designed for endurance. Light hair dusted his legs and thickened toward calves so sinewy, the strands contracted visibly as he stepped out of his clothes. Clasping his hands together, he reached for the sky. His dangling shorts swayed from his fingertips as he leaned to the side, tightening his buttocks.
Her breath lodged in her throat as primal desires coursed through her. She repressed the basal impulses he’d awakened and put the need to seek a male of superior quality to the front of her mind. A human would never make a suitable mate, regardless of his incredible physique.
The human walked a few steps toward the large rock and flung his shorts where it joined the shirt in a haphazard pile. His lack of arousal did nothing to hide the thick length of his shaft with dark curls sprinkling wildly at the base.
The clenching in her stomach increased as if driving her blood lower, creating a swollen fullness between her thighs. Would she find the texture of the spiraled coils coarse? Soft? No. She diverted her eyes. Her purpose for being here was reconnaissance. She couldn’t let herself get distracted. A splash attracted her attention.
The human waded to the middle of the shallow river, leaned back, and floated, only to stand again with his hair dripping and thoroughly darkened. He shook his head and a spray of water flew in an arc. He ran his hand through the locks, slicking them back, then dived forward, stretching his body as he swam. His long, powerful strokes caused the muscles in his arms to bunch and relax as he pulled himself through the current. Like a wehr-tiger, he moved as if swimming were second nature.
Berani willed herself to return to Nenek with news, yet remained transfixed. All self-preservation and responsibility eluded her as she flirted with the idea of mating a human. Her desires were wrong—an unnatural yearning which overpowered sensibility. Yet, she had to know more about him. She tore her gaze away and slipped into the jungle. Apprehensive but eager to confront him on her terms, she raced along the same path the human had taken until she came to a tall flame tree already in bloom.
Small brown berries and bright yellow clusters of flowers surrounded thin stems and bathed Berani in a sweet fragrance. The wide trunk, at least a yard thick, prevented her from shimmying it in her human form as she would the coconut palm. Still the large low-hanging limbs were ideal for her purpose. She made a vertical leap and scrambled up the trunk. Her back claws ripped through the bark as she struggled to find purchase and just managed to drag herself to the lowest limb which sagged under her bulk. She paused. Catching her breath, she spied a thicker branch overhead. But the brief climb had already taxed her limited skills as a cat, putting the more stable limb out of reach. No matter. She crept along the branch and listened for any tell-tale cracking which would indicate a lack of integrity. Directly over the path, she settled as the limb dipped precariously low and waited. Such was the life of a tiger.
~ ~ ~ ~ ~
Eric washed his sweaty clothes in the river and placed them on a rock to dry while he searched through his backpack. He pulled out a change and reached in again. “Crap.”
A vision of his towel lying on his sleeping bag came to mind, and he dropped the pack. No sense crying over spilled milk. One trait he’d learned from running a multi-billion dollar corporation was adaptability. The pharmaceutical business constantly changed, and those who couldn’t keep up went under. He’d never let that happen to Nora Tech, not with his family’s legacy at stake.
Picking up the button-down, he donned it and disregarded the sticky feeling as the damned thing clung to his skin. Uncomfortable for the moment, but it’d pass, just like the troubles his company faced now. He tugged on his boxer briefs and followed them with a pair of jeans. At least he’d remembered his socks. He pulled them up his calves, drying his legs in the process, and shoved his foot into the shoes, lacing them tight.
After the full cardio workout, an easy stroll back to the research site was exactly the kind of cool down he needed. He crammed his still damp clothes into his backpack and headed back to camp.
Shortly into his walk, he stopped in front of a cluster of small vase-like plants growing a foot off the path. The dank stench of old gym clothes permeated the air acting like a repellent to his senses. The outer portions of the vessels were speckled brown and tan, like a pinto bean, and the inside a lime green with liquid resting in the base.
A large green insect, resembling a grasshopper with a narrow head, walked around the rim of the plant until it lost its footing and fell inside. Eric knelt on both knees and leaned over the plant, careful to “look but don’t touch,” as Bryan had warned him. The insect floated in the fluid, thrashing its thin legs in a frenzied fight for life. Not a minute passed and the insect stilled, tipping on its side.
Eric sat on his heels and reflected on the gruesome finality of living in the jungles. Interesting to visit but not a place he’d choose to live. Already he tired of the forest scene. He’d leave the role of nature lover to the researchers. As for him, one typical day in the office provided more than enough excitement.
Still, the fluid might have medicinal properties or the entire plant for that matter. Just one breakthrough and it’d make the money invested in the Malaysian venture worth all the effort, bringing his company back in the black.
A movement caught his eyes as he stood. He stared at the flowers of a yellow tree, hoping to catch the motion again. He’d learned the rainforest was full of wonders if he kept his eyes opened and remained patient. There! Hidden in the tree, a black and orange corded object waved, the colors camouflaged by the profuse foliage.
He squinted and followed the thick line to its source, but lost track of it behind a concentrated stretch of leaves. He did a double take. Where did she come from?
The faint light flickering through the tree cast a glow on the exquisite bronze skin of a woman lounging on a limb, while the dense leaves concealed her legs completely. She licked her full lips, a pinkish brown, which were made for kissing. Malaysian characteristics dominated her face—high cheekbones with a slight blush. Thick, untamed brows arched high. Beautiful. Straight tresses lifted in the breeze—strawberry blond with streaks of dark brown and copper, as well as a shade so light it appeared white. Her features combined with her distinctive hair hinted at her obvious mixed ancestry. The contrast was spectacular against her honey-colored skin. A light brown, halter-like bra covered her full breasts, allowing just a hint of the fleshy mounds to peak over the top. The yellow flowers provided the perfect disguise for her.
She rose from her recline and stood on the branch, balancing on bare and dainty feet with cute, kissable toes. He traced the shape of her legs, toned and lithe, which seemed to travel forever before disappearing behind an obtrusive bit of vegetation.
She dropped from the tree.
“No.” He reached out as his stomach plummeted with her fall.
The woman landed ten feet below in a crouch, while a pitiful scrap of loincloth brushed the ground between her legs.
His brain cranked into gear. She was okay. His heart beat so hard, it threatened to jump out of his chest. Even his run had not gotten him so excited.
She rose from her squat and approached him. Her bare hips flared and narrowed toward the contours of her waist, while the indentation of her belly-button tantalized him.
Already working overtime, his heart rushed blood straight to his cock as it pulsated to the rhythm of her swaying breasts. Entranced, he wondered if the nipples creating points in the thin fabric corresponded with the color of her lips. His jeans tightened, and he resisted the urge to adjust himself as the woman sauntered ever closer, stalking him like prey, assessing him with eyes the color of an amber sunrise.
He smiled at the sultry advance of the curvaceous female. I can definitely work with this. She appeared fearless as she came within arm’s reach, and her feminine scent washed over him, a combination of cool mint and fresh rain. Enticing. Quite tall for Malaysian standards or any woman in general for that matter, she stood about a half foot shorter than Eric. No doubt she’d mold seamlessly to him.
She cocked her head to the side. As if in a dream, time slowed. The wind teased her hair, and the silky strands floated and caressed her shoulders.
Spellbound by the fascinating colors, he lifted his hand. A simple touch. Nothing more. So close. “Heavenly.”
With lightning speed, she batted him away.