Chapter Three

Aida Roberts couldn’t explain what it was that told her to look up, but she did. What little moisture her mouth had vanished completely as she ingested the sight standing near the entrance of the building. Holy shit! While no stranger to attractive men, this one…made the rest of them fade into nothingness.

His eyes snared hers from the moment she looked up. Green-gold and tawny they were full of intelligence and yet she could sense some pain lingering in their depths, not to mention possessiveness. Strong angles made up his handsome face and it was covered by golden tan skin. No facial hair. He had shoulder-length black, jet-black, hair. The man’s entire body looked muscled, there wasn’t an ounce of fat on him and she longed to trail her hands over him, exploring each ridge and crevice.

Shivering at her train of thought, Aida continued her perusal. His light gray shirt molded to his torso, sleeves hugging his biceps. He wore tight dark blue jeans that made her think x-rated things. A wave of heat washed over her and she dragged her eyes back up to his lethal body to find his gaze waiting for hers.

Why do I feel like his dinner?

Ignoring the intense pounding of her heart, Aida smiled at him and with difficulty tore her gaze from the mouthwatering specimen to focus on something else. It didn’t work. All too soon, she caught herself staring back in his direction. He had moved to the wall and leaned against it lazily, appearing as if he hadn’t a care in the world. Although his eyes moved around the room and he interacted with others, she couldn’t help but feel he watched her.

That man is ready for anything. I’d bet everything I own, he knows exactly what’s going on around him.

“Who’s the man by the far wall, Christopher?” she asked with what she hoped was nonchalance.

“Him? That’s Dane. He’s been here for about a month.”

“Dane,” she murmured his name staring at him where he spoke to Lesedi. He lifted his tawny-green-gold gaze from the young girl and stared at her. Something deep, dark, and wild smoldered in his eyes as he watched her. Aida shivered. It’s like he heard me. “What’s he doing here?”

“Helping out. He’s one of the ones who helped finish the school. And before you ask, no I don’t think he’s with any specific organization. He’s just looking for something and who knows, he may find it here. Dane’s a good man, Aida.”

Although she heard Christopher’s words, Aida never took her gaze from the mesmerizing one that held her prisoner. The spell between them broke when Lesedi tugged on his sleeve. A smile—a private one it seemed only she was privy to—curved up his lips as he returned his attention to the child before him. Aida shuddered.

Damn! Man’s hot anyway, and then he goes and smiles. Her body thrummed with desire and she swallowed hard. Not what I’m here for. Forcing her attention back to Christopher she nodded. “I’ll take your word for it.”

“Find out for yourself,” Christopher said. “Here he comes.”

With a deep breath, Aida looked up only to be, again, blown away by the man who strode through the room toward them. He moved with such effortlessness. Fighting the urge to lick her lips when he stopped before them, she smiled instead.

“Dane, I’d like you to meet Aida Roberts. Aida this is Dane Sidorov.” Christopher made the introduction.

“Nice to meet you, Mr. Sidorov,” she said holding out her hand.

Her heart skipped a few beats when his large hand covered hers. His skin was callused and warm. Tremors ricocheted through her at the simple touch. Every synapse in her body flared as if electricity rocketed through her. She half expected to see smoke curling from where they touched.

“Dane, please. And the pleasure is all mine, Ms. Roberts.”

His voice came out in a purr and she fought the urge to arch her back in ecstasy as his tone flowed over her. It touched her in places she never envisioned a voice being able to do so.

“Aida,” she corrected, trying not to stare at the way his lips moved when he spoke. Get it together, Aida. He’s just a man. It was a lie and she knew it. Even when he’d been across the room she knew he wasn’t like the rest of the men she’d met. There was this wildness about him she felt drawn to.

He inclined his head slightly, still retaining his hold upon her hand. “Aida.”

Her inside flipped and flopped as her name rolled off his tongue. “Nice to meet you,” she said well aware she borderlined the babbling stage. He looked even more impressive up close. His golden skin shone with a sheen of sweat and the urge to get even sweatier with him popped into her mind.

Get. A. Grip! She admonished herself. Shockwaves beat through her as one callused fingertip skimmed over the pulse in her wrist. Jerking her gaze to his, she found it waiting for her. He blinked once and gently released his hold.

“It was a pleasure to meet you, Aida. If you’ll excuse me, I have to get back to work.” Turning his head, he nodded once. “Christopher.”

Aida watched him walk through the people, noting again how smooth and powerful his movements were. He stopped at the door and glanced over his shoulder at her and that feeling of being prey popped back into her head. She blinked and he was gone.

Damn!

“Aida, come on now, focus here. How much more is out there?”

Christopher’s voice snapped her from the trance Dane had put her in. “Four more boxes. I’ll head back tomorrow and grab the remainder of things I have. I couldn’t fit them all in.”

Tearing her gaze from the door she looked at her friend. And immediately began comparing the two men. Squeezing her eyes tight, she stopped the mental image of Dane Sidorov from flashing before her. It took a bit of work, but Aida managed to keep the visual of the handsome man at bay.

A while later, Aida sat on a desk her feet propped up on the bench. The building sat in silence now, the kids and their treasures long gone. Parents had gone off to keep an eye on them and put things away of their own. Tilting her head back, Aida glanced up at the thatched roof.

“Man I’m tired.”

With a sigh, she jumped off the scarred desktop and walked to the front door. To her left she could see the kids playing soccer off in a field and to her right she saw path leading to the village huts. Aida wiped her hands off on her pants and began heading toward the game.

Thunk. Thunk. Thunk.

The noise caused her to pause in her stride. Peering down a small trail her breath caught in her throat. Dane stood there chopping wood. Oh my…Damn! He’d taken off the tight shirt and wore only those blessedly-fit jeans. His golden skin shone in the daylight and as he swung the axe the muscles he owned rippled effortlessly. Her gaze trailed over the defined arms and she bit back a moan when he bent over to pick up another piece.

Closing her eyes, Aida fought for some control. When she dragged them back up again, she found Dane staring at her. The axe rested with ease against one shoulder and she stared at his naked chest. She could see the defined abdominals and pectorals he had. I was right, not an ounce of fat. A shudder of longing raced through her.

The man didn’t say a word, just watched her as intently as she watched him. Aida lowered her gaze to the ground and drew it up slowly starting at his black boots. Her mouth grew dry as she inched up across the muscular legs encased in tight jeans. Pants which did nothing to hide proof of his endowment. Despite the heat of the day goose bumps broke out along her skin. He had lean hips and above that was his mouthwatering torso.

“Hi,” she managed to babble. “Didn’t mean to intrude.” Aida pointed her finger. “I was just on my way to watch the kids.”

Her pulse skyrocketed when he set the axe on the ground and moved toward her. Flowing like a predator hunting his prey. She locked her knees to keep from collapsing. Dane stopped in front of her, reached out with his hand to touch the one she’d used to point with and took one of his fingers to aim it in the other direction.

“That’s where the children are and where you were headed.” His eyes held hers the entire time and the side of his mouth curved up in a slight grin, as if he knew something she didn't. “See you around, Aida.” Dane let go of her hand and spun around going back to the axe and the dead tree he was chopping.

Struggling to calm her heart rate, Aida allowed herself one last ogle of Dane before making her feet take her away from him and on to where she’d set out to go. Even once she watched the kids play, her mind couldn’t let go of the image of Dane Sidorov in nothing but jeans and boots. His dark hair, golden skin, muscular body. She shifted on the stump she sat on, moisture flooding her pussy. Oh what I wouldn’t give for one hour with him.