Chapter Five

When morning’s first rays broke over the African horizon, Aida turned her gaze to the man riding with her. He slept. For part of the night, he’d stayed up talking to her until she finally convinced him to sleep. His thick lashes settled upon his cheeks, powerful arms were crossed over his chest, moving courtesy of the gentle rise and fall of his breathing.

“Keep staring at me like that, Aida and I’ll think maybe I have drool on my face.”

She started, alarmed. I would have sworn he was asleep. Even so the way her name rolled off his tongue, made her think all kinds of things that she shouldn’t.

“Nothing like that.”

“Are we there?” he asked, still not opening his eyes.

“Almost. Maybe another hour. Would you like to stop?” She put her gaze back on the road.

“I’m good with whatever you wish.”

There’s a tempting offer. Let say you and me, on a blanket, enjoying whatever comes up. Against her better judgment, Aida pulled off the road and headed to park the Scout near a grove of baobab trees. “I think a five minute break is in order.” Without looking at him, she slipped from the vehicle and walked to the back. Leaning over the side, Aida reached for the cooler and opened it. “Water?” she hollered up to Dane.

“Please,” he said in a quiet voice.

Surprised, Aida glanced up to find him standing on the other side of the vehicle. Watching her with those damnable eyes of his. Damn, I didn’t know he moved. Never heard a sound from him. Tossing him one, she shut the cooler and opened her water, sighing in pleasure as the cool liquid slid down her throat offering some comfort. Didn’t do much to douse the feelings for the man with her. She stared at him as he drank, her eyes transfixed to the way his throat moved with each swallow. Lust slammed into her and it was with difficulty she dragged her gaze from him.

She pushed away from the side of the 4x4 and walked away. A slight breeze rose and she stood facing it. Off in the distance a herd of elephants moved easily bringing a smile to her face. There was nowhere else like this on earth.

“Beautiful,” Dane commented from beside her.

“Yes.” Her gaze drifted sideways to the man next to her. “We should get going. I have a bunch of things to get done before we head back.”

“I would have driven,” he said. “So you could have slept.”

One half of her mouth curved up. “Don’t worry about it. I’m used to it. Let’s go.” Turning away from him, Aida walked back and climbed in. Moments later, despite the openness of her vehicle, the interior felt smaller when Dane lifted his large body up to the seat. With a deep breath she started the engine and soon had them back on the single lane, dirt, rut-filled road.

The ride was silent but not awkward. Each lost in their own thoughts. Aida grinned when she saw her house come into view. Nothing fancy, but it was home and all hers.

Beside her, Dane sat up a little straighter. “Nice place.”

“Thanks. It’s coming along. Have a bit more refurbs to finish on it.” She drove up beside the house and jumped out after turning off the engine. Reaching over the side, she grabbed a bag similar to the one Dane had thrown in and led the way to the front door. “Come on in and make yourself at home.”

Dane watched the sway of her hips within the confines of her pants as she walked before him. For a moment back at the village, he’d wondered what was between her and Christopher. A brief one, for it was of little consequence. Aida belonged to him. No other man would have her. Then when he overheard Christopher talking about how he felt bad Aida had to go back and get more boxes alone, he’d jumped at the chance. The desire to be with her overriding anything else. Even the slightly warning, slightly jealous glare Christopher bestowed upon him didn’t matter.

The important thing was he got a chance to be with Aida. Alone. She was all that mattered now.

“There’s a bathroom right through there and a bed in the room next to it, so feel free to crash if you want. Help yourself to anything in the kitchen.”

“Where are you going?” Dane was loathe to let her out of his sight.

She looked at him over her shoulder. “Make some calls, shower, and change. I’ll be back in a few.”

The mental image of her naked body standing under some cascading water, called his cock to immediate attention. Not that I’ve not been aroused since I met her. Swallowing the moan which crept up he nodded. “Okay. Mind if I go take a look around?”

“Not at all. Help yourself. I do have dogs, just so you know. Try not to scare them.”

Be careful with that offer, Aida. I may just take you up on that. “Thanks.” He headed in the other direction and put his bag inside the room she said he could sleep in then went back outside. Dogs are the least of my concern. He’d not met dogs who weren’t afraid of him. Even the military dogs, he had to take care to keep away from. And while he wasn’t a huge fan of canines if Aida had dogs, he didn’t want to give them a heart attack. He wondered what she had. She didn’t strike him as a toy dog owner.

The clean yet arid air of the area flowed through him, bringing with it a sense of contentment. A feeling he hadn’t been familiar with in a very long time. His gaze drifted back over to the dwelling where Aida lived. Smaller than his log home back in Savoy Valley—not that his place was huge, his brother Heller lived in a large stone mansion while Dane personally preferred the intimacy of his log cabin over the prestige of a massive dwelling. His other siblings lived in larger homes as well. Aida’s was still a very nice place. Two bedroom and one bath, the living area was a mixture of office and living room.

The outside had trees planted around offering shade to the house. Not much in the way of grass but there was a nice stone patio with some furniture on it. All of it shaded by a portcullis with some vines growing on it.

A sliver of warning snaked up his spine and he turned at the same time a low growl filled the air. Before him stood a dog, a deep red wheaten color, powerful, corded muscles running through its stocky sleek-coated body. A line of hair grew backwards up his spine like a small ridge. And he could see the brilliant white fangs as it stared at him. There was no collar or anything on this animal. Dane hissed at it.

Unlike all the other dogs he’d faced this one didn’t back down. In fact, it growled louder and from the corner of his eye, he noticed another dog, similar to that one, just slightly larger, come around a tree with the same teeth bared, growling, fearless attitude. This one had scars on his face and body.

He felt his beast roar in anger within him and he hissed again. The dogs growled louder and one began to bark. There was no fear in either of these dogs and he couldn’t explain it.