Free JaguarintheSun by Anya Richards Page A

her.
    That knowledge was the only thing holding her together. If
she reneged on her duty even Xbal would cease to exist, and that was a thought
so heinous she refused to contemplate it.
    “Tell me why.” The demand in his voice was unmistakable.
“Tell me why you won’t acknowledge the connection between us, won’t even
consider there is more to what’s happening between us than just the physical.”
    “I can’t.” The words were jerked from her throat, a hoarse
plea. “Just take me at my word, Xbal. This afternoon is all we have. This—” She
lifted her lower body to press against his, gasping as the motion brought a
sharp, somehow surprising spasm of desire. “This is all I can give you.”
    He searched her eyes, his body growing tenser with each
second that passed, until he seemed coiled to the breaking point. A beast about
to strike, full of untamed intent. Yet she felt no fear, only a rapid rise of
renewed passion and even more powerful need. It was only when he spoke again,
the words little more than a growl, that she knew the first frisson of unease.
    “Then I’ll take it all. Everything you have, Cassandra. More
than you ever thought you could give.”

Chapter Seven
     
    There was a hard slam of magic, which stole her breath and
made her stomach drop and roll. Everything around them warped, only Xbal’s eyes
remaining in focus. When the magic dissipated Cassie realized the softness of
the bed beneath her and the brightness of the afternoon sun were gone. Instead
she was lying on cool, slightly rough stone and they were surrounded by dim,
green-hued light.
    Xbal was still above her, but as she tried to get her
bearings he straightened and pulled back, disengaging their bodies and leaving
her feeling empty.
    When he walked away she was bereft, unable to fight a rush
of sadness and loss.
    After a moment she forced back the emotions and sat up,
looking around. The sight that met her eyes made her gasp.
    It was a temple, apparently long abandoned. The roof was
gone, replaced with thick, twisted vines which, with the sunlight filtering
through them, gave the space its green glow. At the opposite end of the temple
was a thick, raised stone slab, an altar of some type she thought, with a
throne-like stone seat behind it. On either side of the wide room was a
colonnade, freestanding columns at least thirty feet high, and through the
encroaching vines carved figures and unfamiliar symbols were visible. High up
on the outer walls and set between each column were niches, each one containing
a huge stone statue she easily recognized as the figure she’d often seen on the
interior of the Music Roars elevator.
    And every one of those stone Xbals seemed to be looking
right at her.
    It made a strange shiver—not quite apprehension, not quite
excitement—trickle down her spine.
    Xbal was walking toward the altar, his feet making no sound
despite the thick carpet of fallen leaves and other detritus on the ground. In
that instant she saw his jaguar nature clearly, as though man and cat were
transposed, one atop the other, stalking toward some battle only he could see.
A rush of heat, which owed nothing to the humid jungle air, flared over her
skin, and her mouth went dry.
    With a graceful, effortless leap Xbal jumped up onto the
altar and turned to face her, his gorgeous, aroused body unselfconsciously
displayed by his wide-legged stance. Even with the entire length of the massive
room between them, Cassie felt his gaze settle on her and she shivered, her
nipples tightening, passion unfurling to twist through her veins. Just like
that, within the space of a heartbeat, she was ready for him again, craving a
sweet ache in her belly and between her legs.
    Licking her lips, she found the wherewithal to ask, “Where
are we?”
    “Deep in the jungles of South America, on the human side of
the Veil.” He tilted his head slightly, a small smile flirting at the corners
of his lips. “Strangely enough, this is where I am