Savage Hearts

 

 

By Michelle Love

 

 

“You want me inside now?”

His hand was bunching her hair at the nape of her neck, his lips close to hers. She could feel the heat from his body, the clean scent of his cologne. “Yes.” Breathless.

He smiled, the dangerous, sensual smile of a man completely dominating a beautiful woman’s body, and thrust his huge, rock-hard cock into her. Riley gasped at the feel of him inside her as they fucked, completely oblivious to the people walking along the streets at the end of the alley-way. She didn’t do this, she never did this, but god, when he’d stalked her, like a lion, at the party, she somehow knew the night would end like this.

“Fuck me,” she said, her teeth nipping his earlobe, “fuck me hard…”

Her lover, his intense green eyes burning, his rough hands on her body, rammed his hips hard and she cried out as his cock reamed deep inside her, again, and again, and again.

“I’m going to fuck you all night, beautiful girl…all night, in every way you’ve ever dreamed.”

Riley was helpless to resist. He made her come, Riley burying her cry in his neck, her fingers pulling on his messy dark curls, and she felt him groan as he pumped thick creamy semen into her. In her fog of delirium, it occurred to her that she should have insisted on a condom, but that was the effect this man had had on her. Was he even human? She’d never seen such a beautiful man in her life: tall, dark olive skin, bright green eyes, mustache and beard of the darkest, darkest brown and messy long curls. The moment she saw him staring at her across the room, ignoring the twittering bimbos that had honed in on him, she’d wanted him. The bimbos were mid-twitter when he suddenly stalked across the room and grabbed Riley’s hand. There was a moment when she almost pulled her hand away – the nerve of him – but he’d stopped, looked at her and simply asked “Yes?” His deep, accented voice alone nearly made her come.

God…yes…

He helped her right her clothes, made sure she was happy, then silently led her to his Porsche. “Where do you live, beautiful girl?”

“Not here. I’m at a hotel.” She named it, and he smiled.

“I know it.”

In the elevator up to her room, they shared it with an elderly couple, who smiled politely at them. Riley was sure they could guess just what the younger couple were about to do – the sexual tension was palpable.

In her room, her mysterious lover kissed her to the point of making her light-headed and then said. “You like this dress?”

She shook her head, grinning. “Not particularly.”

“Good.” And he ripped it from her body, dispatching her bra just as quickly and taking her nipple into his mouth as his hand snaked between her legs and caressed her through her damp panties. “Mio Dio, you’re beautiful…”

Italian then, Riley thought, but soon she could not make a coherent thought as her lover tumbled her to the floor, pressing her legs apart and thrusting deep inside her again. She clawed at his back, feeling more sexual and feral as they fucked than she had ever done. When he flipped her onto her stomach and pushed into her ass, she screamed out her pleasure, reveling in his machismo, wanting this night to never end. They showered together after that, needing the cool water on theit hot skin, then after he carried her back to bed, she took him in her mouth and sucked him while his mouth worked on her clit, her legs around his neck, no inhibitions at all.

It was almost dawn before they finally broke apart. Riley’s body felt like someone’s else, every nerve ending on fire. He kissed her belly, burying his face in it, as he caught his breath then moved up to kiss her sore mouth. Her vagina ached from the pounding of his impressive cock, still half-erect still. He was an athlete, a machine. Riley gazed up at him, and he met her gaze steadily.

“What’s your name?”

He smiled, brushing his lips on hers. “Do you really need to know?”

Riley considered then grinned. “No.” It was better like this, sexier that he was a mystery, that she’d had the night of her life with him. “I’ll let it go on condition you put that incredible cock back in me, right now.”

He laughed, and pushing her knees up to her chest, he studied her sore, still sensitive cunt. “That’s the most beautiful sight I’ll ever see right there, pretty girl.” He thrust deep inside her, but this time, it was a tender, slow lovemaking, more of connection than possession.

Riley fell asleep in the Italian’s arms, sated and happy, but in the morning when she woke, he was gone. She rolled onto her back and stared at the ceiling, feeling a little bereft. When she finally climbed out of bed, she went into the shower to find a crudely drawn heart on the mirror. Underneath was written.

A perfect night. A perfect woman. LP.

LP? His initials. Riley smiled. It was a sweet message, a pleasant way to say goodbye. Glancing at the clock, she saw it was almost ten a.m., here in Rio De Janeiro. Today was an important day for her. She sighed, pushing the memory of the previous night to the back of her mind.

 

At twenty-six, Riley Monckton was about to lead her very first expedition into the Amazon Rainforest. She had gotten funding from her alma mater, Cambridge University in England, to take four Ph.D. students with her – all men, much to her chagrin – to research a rumor of sightings of a much large colony of endangered Jaguars. If true, the significance of finding these rare creatures would mean a revision to the levels on the endangered list – and a feather in Riley’s cap as far as her career was going. She was passionate about conservation, often to be found berating big business for their cavalier attitudes to the planet’s resources.

It made her unpopular with men, but a heroine to women. Riley hated the extra publicity though- it was always about how she looked, rather than what she said. Long, dark wavy hair pulled up into a messy bun, big dark brown eyes, a full, sensual mouth, and skin the color of honey thanks to her Indian mother and her white American father. Her curvaceous figure, always dressed in t-shirt and shorts also was a matter of discussion, which annoyed Riley. She held a double Doctorate for chrissakes, she would moan to her best friend, Milly, but Milly, herself blessed in the looks department, had a different attitude. “Use what you’ve got, Riles,” she told her, “use their pathetic need to sexualize you to get your message across.”

But that wasn’t the way Riley worked. When she’d met the four young men she would be hiking into the jungle with, she’d fixed them with a steely eye after she’d heard one make a comment about her being ‘hot.’

“Hot, and way, way out of your league,” she’d bitten back, and they had laughed. “Now, can we get back to work?”

So now as she packed her things to take down to the jeep, Riley picked up the remnants of her party dress and grinned, remembering the feeling of her mysterious lover ripping it from her body. God, what a night.

When she got downstairs her companions, were gathered around one of their iPads, watching a news conference. “What’s up?”

Jonty – her least favorite charge because of his superior attitude and overwhelming body odor - turned to her. He had dried egg in his black, unkempt beard which Riley tried to not focus on. “We’ve got competition. Lazlo Patron is going to the Amazon to find the jags too.”

“Are you kidding me?”

“Nope,” said Charlie, a blonde, preppy sort from New England. “You know who Lazlo Patron is, right? He owns this hotel and most of the rest of the planet. He’s ridiculously rich. He’ll have state of the art equipment, a huge team - fuck, this man will wipe our exhibition out.”

Derek, a quiet African-American, looked at Riley, sorrow in his eyes. “Should we cancel?”

“Hell, no,” Riley said, and held her hand out for the iPad, “Let me see this joker.”

Paul, the last member of her team, handed her the tablet.

Are you fucking kidding me?

LP.

Lazlo Patron

Lazlo Patron was speaking, his devastatingly handsome face dominating the screen, as he detailed his plans. Riley shook her head in abject horror as her sensational lover from the previous night spoke of his great love of exploration and the need to protect and preserve the Amazonian jaguar.

Riley hated that a pulse beat furiously between her legs for this man, even now. She turned the sound up.

God, that voice…but she focused on what he was saying. It sounded awfully familiar.

“Leaving aside the fact that deforestation has devastated the area, we are looking for an endangered species that we can help, that we can make a difference for. Surely that alone would be enough, but now we have an additional focus. We believe we can start a breeding program for these animals, one that is focused purely on swelling the numbers of this beautiful creature, for the Amazon, and for the planet.”

“Are you actually fucking kidding me?” This time, Riley yelled it aloud. He’d gone through her stuff, found the files on her laptop, while she slept. “Fucking mother fu…”

“Easy. boss,” Charlie said, looking over her shoulder. “How does he know about the breeding program? I thought that was ‘eyes only’ for us?”

Riley didn’t answer him. After all, how would ‘Well, he fucked me into a coma then snooped through my stuff and stole a chun of my statement.’ go down with these people? She handed the iPad back to Paul. “Fuck him. Let’s get going.”

“What you going to do if we run into him down there?”

Riley smiled grimly. “I’m going to kick his rich ass all over the jungle.”

 

Two days later, deep in the sweltering heat of the jungle, they got their first sighting of their rival team. On the other side of the Xingu River, they saw a team of men and women hiking, and as the river narrowed, both teams stopped and took stock of the other. Riley scanned the group, and when she saw him, standing on arock protruding from the bed of the river, he was staring at her in that same intense way he’d stared at during the party. Riley felt a curl of desire in her stomach, but she glared back at him, and slowly raised her middle finger to him. Lazlo Patron laughed loudly, his gorgeous face lighting up. He blew her a kiss then saluted her.

“I’ll see you at the meeting point,” he yelled across to her, pointing up river to where there was a clearing. Riley realized that both teams would have to camp at the same place and at the speed they were going, that meant they would meet at the same time. Damn it.

She stalked away from the river, muttering to herself. Derek caught up with her. He was the only member of her cohort that she actually liked, but she did wish he would man up a little; he always seemed so meek, so ready to follow whatever she said without believing he too could make decisions.

“What’ll you do when we meet them?” He said now, moving in step with her. She shot him an annoyed look then relented. He really was very sweet.

“Be civil but reserved. We don’t tell them anything, you got me?”

He agreed, giving her a smile. “Agreed.”

“But I don’t want a turf war, either. We have to focus on what’s best for the ecology of the region.” Riley sighed, then gave Derek a wicked grin. “But, if I get the chance to push the billionaire into the river, I’m sure as hell going to take it.”

 

Her heart was beating fast as they made their way into the clearing. For all her bravado, she was nervous…no, terrified, about seeing Lazlo again. The effect he had on her, the way her body betrayed her when she was with him. She prayed she could keep her composure.

He didn’t make his presence known for a while, and the Cambridge team settled into their tents which looked quite pathetic next to the Patron camp. His name was emblazoned across all of the frankly luxurious accommodation which took up three-quarters of the jungle clearing. The Cambridge crew took up half of what was left.

Eventually, team members began to drift over to say hello. Riley kept away from them, hiding out in the research tent at the far end of the clearing. She was typing furiously, trying to distract herself, when she heard his voice.

“So, aren’t you going to – how do you say? – open a whoop-ass can on my butt?”

Riley choked back a laugh but composed her face into a blank expression before she turned to him. “It’s ‘open a can of whoop-ass,' and I’m not that unprofessional, Mr. Patron.”

Lazlo looked amused and moved further into the tent, letting the flap drop behind him. “Come on, Riley. My cock has been inside your delicious cunt. I think you could call me Lazlo.”

Jesus, when he talked dirty in that accent… “Mr. Patron, when you steal my notes from my computer, you don’t get to use that language.”

Lazlo looked unrepentant. “I’m only telling the truth, Principessa.”

She backed up as he came closer. “Mr. Patron…”

“Dr. Monckton, shut that pretty mouth, please. You’re making it difficult for me to kiss it.”

Riley lost her temper. “You arrogant, conceited bastard. You targeted me, didn’t you?”

Lazlo looked unrepentant. “Yes.”

“Because you knew I was leading this expedition?”

“Because I wanted to fuck you.” His lips were so close to hers now that Riley had to fight to remain mad. He was intoxicating. “Because you’re the most beautiful woman I’ve ever seen. Because I’ve never had this animal urge to just fuck anyone like I do you, Riley.”

His lips were on hers then and Riley, to her own fury, found herself kissing him back. When his fingers were at the waistband of her shorts, her own were at his zipper, feeling how hard he was for her and then he was lifting her and thrusting hard into her. They fucked, both groaning and gasping for air as they clawed and tore at each other, their mouths rough on the others, almost violent in their lovemaking.

They tumbled to the floor and Lazlo began to thrust harder and deeper, his eyes locked onto hers and when she came, he slid his hand gently over her mouth to muffle her cries, burying his face in her hair as he too reached his climax. They collapsed apart, panting for air for a moment, then Lazlo pulled up her t-shirt and kissed her belly, moving higher to suck at her nipples, tease the buds with his tongue. Riley closed her eyes, wanting to tell him to stop, to tell him this wasn’t what she wanted – but that would be a lie.

They made love again, slowly this time, exploring the other’s body until they were both exhausted and sated. After a minute, Riley sat up and started to put her t-shirt on, shaking her head. “I cannot believe we just did that.” She felt almost tearful. What the hell kind of professional was she?

She felt him sit up beside her, his hand on her back. “Hey, hey, hey,” Lazlo said softly, “It’s okay, you know.”

She turned to stare at him. “No, Lazlo, it isn’t. You stole from me, and now I’m putting my own reputation on the line for what? So you can brag to your rich buddies how you fucked the dumb woman leading the pissant little expedition… Jesus.”

A tear escaped from her eye then, and Lazlo kissed it away. “You have no faith in me, Principessa. There can be more than one reason for something to happen.”

Riley stopped, closing her eyes and was silent for a long moment. When she opened them, she studied his gorgeous face. He really was beautiful, and in his eyes, she could not see any triumph or smugness, just concern. “Do you care at all about the Jaguar?” She asked, genuinely wanting to know the answer. It would hurt less if he really were trying to help preserve the animal she cared so much about.

Lazlo nodded. “I do. Really, no bullshit. What we’re doing here is different from what you’re doing, Riley, we just couldn’t advertise what we’re really doing.”

“Which is?”

“Tracking poachers, and I’m not talking about small time chancers, I’m talking about the kind of people who will kill to get what they want. You have any idea how much Jaguar is worth on the black market? These men are rich, ruthless and I don’t want them anywhere near this Jaguar. Or you, Riley.” He leaned in and kissed her. “I’m sorry I had to cover my tracks, but I promise. There was only one reason that I seduced you that night, and it was because the moment I saw you, I wanted you. It was only later when you were asleep, and I was trying to check my emails on your laptop that I realized who you were.” He grinned. “Which is why I stole a part of your speech. I was kind of sending a message to you. Do you know how hard it was to leave you in that bed?”

Riley flushed with pleasure then. “It was the most incredible night of my life, I have to admit.”

Lazlo leaned in closer, and nuzzled her nose with his. “There could be many more of those, cara mia.”

She tried to look disapproving. “After the expedition.”

“Fair enough, although, right in this moment, you’re already naked and it would be such a waste…”

With a groan, she let him cover her body with his, and they made love again in the heat of the Brazilian night.

 

The next day, careful not to give away the palpable attraction between them, they kept their distance as the two groups moved to pack up their respective camps and move on. Only once did Lazlo and Riley find themselves alone and unseen – it was a fast, quick, exhilarating fuck and they both were left laughing and gasping. Lazlo kissed Riley tenderly as they said their goodbyes. “You take care of yourself, Riley Monckton, and when you get back to Rio, I’ll be waiting for you.”

“You will?” She was surprised but delighted. Lazlo nodded, smiling softly.

“You have enchanted me, Riley. I must see you again.”

She was still thinking about his words as her group moved into the jungle, deeper and deeper. Distracted, she jumped when Jonty suddenly stopped them with a hiss. For a moment, all Riley could hear was her beating heart. Jonty pulled a small plastic tub out of his backpack and scooped something up from the jungle floor. He stood, triumphant.

Riley backed off. Jonty had found himself a spider, a Brazilian Wandering Spider, and Riley wanted nothing to do with that, thank you very much. She walked on as the boys dawdled behind, studying the arachnid in Jonty’s custody.

A half hour later, and getting annoyed with them, she stopped. “Jonty, I hope you’re going to release that thing – and nowhere near where we camp tonight, either.”

“Scared of spiders, Riley?”

“Not scared,” she lied, “Just respectful. That thing could kill us all, and we don’t have any anti-venom. Grow up.”

Jonty flushed but nodded. “Will do.”

Another two hours into the jungle and they’d found nothing. Riley sighed, shooting her backpack from the shoulders, and rolling them, aching and sore. “Ok, let’s set up camp for tonight.”

She felt despondent that they hadn’t even come across scat or anything that could signify the jaguar’s presence. They only had a limited time here, and she was already irritated with her team. Only Derek seemed to be engaged with the actual mission - the other three were treating it like some kind of wild spring break with ‘like, creatures, dude.’ She couldn’t believe these clowns thought they could gain a Doctorate. If Riley heard one more ‘Woah, bruh’ from Charlie or Paul, she might just beat them to death with her torch.

Jonty was a different kettle of fish entirely. There was something about him she didn’t trust, and she wished she’d listened to her gut at the beginning of the trip and left him behind. Plus, his body odor was going from objectionable to ‘bio-hazard’ now, and she was glad she didn’t share a tent with him.

She crawled into her sleeping bag that night, utterly exhausted, but smiling at the memory of the previous night. Lazlo Patron…if he was playing her, she might just be okay with it. The sex was definitely, definitely worth it. She fell asleep thinking about the way he kissed her, the sound of his low, sensual voice, the way his cock felt buried inside her.

 

The roar was close. Riley’s eyes flew open as she sat up, straining to hear it again. The Jaguar roared again, and her heart started to beat. Yes, it was close – not in the camp – but somewhere outside it. She grabbed her night vision glasses and clambered as quietly as she could out her tent, cursing the zipper noise. Outside the heat had only dissipated a little, and the sounds of the jungle were all around, echoing in the blackness. She searched the darkest corners with her night vision glasses and saw nothing. She heard the roar again, much further away now, but she felt exhilarated. She wanted to tell someone, but there was no movement from the other two tents. She shook her head. Losers.

She stayed outside for a while, listening to the night until she suddenly felt prickles up and down her spin. All she could hear was her own breathing and her heart banging against her ribs, and she looked behind her. Nothing. But she felt as if she were being watched. The feeling continued, and eventually, she went back to her tent, tugging out her knife and putting it under her pillow. Paranoid? Maybe, she thought, but it made her feel comfortable enough to go back to sleep.

 

At breakfast around the campfire, she told her teammates what she’d heard, and at last, they looked as excited as she was. They ate breakfast quickly, then packed up, eager to start the search and track the Jaguar. By noon, Riley found the scat of the big cat, and they followed a trail deeper into the jungle. They stopped at a small clearing next to the river. Riley bent down and scraped at the ground. “Look at that.” A very discernable paw print was buried in the mud. “And it’s fresh. God, this is fantastic.”

Her good mood infected them all, and they had a good meal. “I’m going to suggest we work in shifts,” Riley said. “We take a couple of hours each in the night. Remember we’re here to observe, so do not infringe on the jaguar’s movements – it might just save your life. Have the sedative gun with you at all time, and do not lose focus. Remember it’s not just the Jag that will kill you out here. Who wants to take the first shift?”

“I will.”

“Good, thanks, Derek. I’ll do the two a.m. to four. That’s when I heard it last night.”

 

Riley closed her eyes. She was disappointed that the Jaguar hadn’t appeared during her shift, but she hoped one of the guys might hear it. She desperately wanted to talk to someone about it, but after their initial excitement, the guys now seemed bored and listless.

Am I fair, or it that I just want to talk to Lazlo about it? She smiled to herself. Usually, she reveled in the fact that out here, there was no cell phone signal, no wireless internet access but she wanted to talk to him, see his face.

She was on the edge of R.E.M. sleep when she heard the Jaguar. Instantly awake, she scrambled out of her tent and into the night. She heard the men darting around searching out the sound. “Boys! Quiet!” She hissed into the darkness, but they ignored her. Cursing quietly, she ran to get her night vision goggles. Someone went past her, too close and whooped, making her jump. She heard the sound of a big cat yowling and crying, obviously annoyed at the intrusion and noise on her hunting ground. Terrified one of her team would be hurt, Riley grabbed her rifle and headed out in pursuit of her companions.

A half hour later, she limped back to camp to find Derek alone. “Where are the others?”

His eyes were wide. “I don’t know. As soon as they heard the cat, they were out of the tent, like they’d been expecting it. I’ve been searching, but I can’t see them anyway.”
“Damn fools!” Riley was beyond angry now. “I knew I shouldn’t have brought these idiots with me.” She glanced at Derek. “Not you, Derek, you’re the only one with any sense.”

“If I had sense, I would stand up to them,” he muttered, and Riley put her hand on his arm.

“They’re morons, Derek. They’ve probably got themselves lost and maybe killed. Come on, it’s almost dawn. Let’s get set up for the day.”

 

The other reappeared as Riley and Derek were having breakfast. They stood around sheepishly as Riley, apoplectic, bawled them out for ten minutes. Finally, she took a breath and Jonty fixed her with an insolent stare.

“Riley…we did what we supposed to do. We tracked it to its lair. We know where it is.”

“By terrifying it? By putting yourselves at risk? Jonty, I don’t want to hear it. After breakfast, we’ll follow your trail and hope to god she hasn’t abandoned it because of your idiocy.”

Jonty’s face set in a patronizing grin. “You’ll be singing another song when we find the Jaguar. Oh, and by the way, your boyfriend’s not far ahead.”

Riley froze and turned to face him slowly. “Excuse me?”

Jonty grinned widely, and Riley wanted to pummel his face into the ground. “Lazlo Patron. Your fuck buddy. Come on, Riley, did you think we didn’t know?”

Riley’s face set, but she could feel it burn red. “God, you really are a creep, you know that?”

He leaned forward, and she could smell his dank breath and nose-searing body odor. “And you open your legs for the nearest billionaire, so what does that make you?”

This time, she did punch him, putting all of her weight into the blow. Jonty, stunned, staggered back then lunged for her. Charlie and Paul dragged him away from her as Riley squared up for the fight. Despite the fact she was tiny in comparison to Jonty’s bulky, flabby form, she was ready for him, almost wanted him to try again but Paul stepped between them, and she felt Derek put his arm around her shoulder.

“Come away, Riley, he’s not worth it.”

 

It was with this tension that they made their way along the tracks that Paul and Charlie indicated. Jonty trailed at the back, sulking. Just as they said, they intersected with the Patron team again, and this time, Riley was open with them what they had found, knowing they were working towards the same goal. Lazlo watched her talking to his team with admiration in his eyes and then after, he asked her to join in in his trailer.

As she climbed the steps, she glanced around to see Jonty giving her nasty smile and making an obscene gesture.

“One minute,” she told Lazlo then went down to where Jonty was performing. She stalked up to him.

“Jonty, you’re fired. Get your stuff together, and I’ll radio for a helicopter. I want you out of here tonight.”

“You can’t fucking fire me, bitch,” he sneered, “I’m part of the Cambridge team – who the fuck do you think is funding this thing?”

“Well, as from now, me,” Riley heard Lazlo’s voice behind her, “If it means Riley can get rid you. Is it just this clown, Riley, or all of them?”

Riley’s eyes flicked to Paul and Charlie, who both looked nervous. “No. Just Jonty.”

“Consider him gone,” Lazlo’s voice was like ice. “We have a supply team coming in tonight. They can take him back to Rio.”

Riley smiled at Lazlo gratefully. “Thank you, Lazlo.”

His eyes softened as he touched her face, not caring who was watching. “My pleasure, Principessa.”

“Well, isn’t this just so fucking romantic?” Jonty wasn’t done yet. “Tell me, rich boy, does she fuck like a wild animal as well?”

Lazlo’s face changed then, and Riley shivered as his bright green eyes went from soft to murderous in a flash. Such savage beauty, she thought, what a dangerous, dangerous man…

Lazlo stepped towards Jonty, his presence at once magnetic and threatening. “You will apologize for that remark, figlio di puttana. Right now.”

Jonty quelled under the big man’s towering machismo. “Sorry,” he shot at Riley, who put her hand on Lazlo’s arm.

“Ignore the loser, Laz. Let’s go talk.”

Lazlo stared at Jonty until the other man made himself scarce then turned back to Riley, taking her hand and leading her to his trailer. Inside, he let out a long breath.

“That’s who they gave you to work with? I’d demand a refund.”

Riley laughed. “I’m considering it.”

Lazlo stroked her hair back behind her ear. “I’ve missed you.”

She grinned. “It’s been two days, Laz.”

“I still missed you.” He kissed her gently, and she sighed happily.

“I missed you too. I heard a Jaguar, heard her roar and you were the first person I wanted to tell. That’s crazy, huh?”

Lazlo shook his head. “I feel the same way. We heard her last night and went out to listen, only to hear those idiotic crashing through the jungle.” He was unbuttoning her shirt as he spoke and she grinned at him.

“I’m sorry about them.” Her shirt was open now, and Lazlo pulled the lacy cup of her bra down and took her nipple into his mouth. Riley closed her eyes, focusing solely on the sensations he was sending through her body. “God, Laz…”

They stripped each other slowly, then as Lazlo laid on the small bunk in the trailer, Riley climbed on top of him, stroking his huge cock as it hardened and quivered in her hand. Lazlo’s eyes roamed all over her body as his fingers caressed her breasts, her belly, before clamping onto her hips, lifting her and impaling her on his cock. Riley moaned softly as they began to move together.

Breathless, Riley moved her hips harder each time, wanting to take him in deeper and deeper, until she was crying with desire. She came, and Lazlo flipped around, hitching her legs around him as he fucked her again and again. He took her on the floor, in the shower, pressed hard against the wall of the trailer as he fucked her from behind. They kissed, and tore at each other, completely absorbed in their coupling.

Eventually, they stopped, breathing hard, embracing softly as they recovered. “God, you are an incredible woman, Riley Monckton,” he said, stroking the flat of his hand down her belly. “When we get back to Rio, I’m going to romance you properly, dinner, dancing.”

She grinned up at him. “You know what though, Lazlo? This is my fantasy, not those things. It’s nirvana for me, being out here in the wild, with a gloriously sexy man who looks at me like you’re looking at me right now. I don’t need dinner and dancing and diamonds and pearls. I just need you and the open air.”

He kissed her, his smile wide. “I feel the same, despite my wealth. Did you know, that while I made my fortune in property, my passion has always been conservation? My degree is actually in marine biology – I know that’s not the same thing but even at eighteen, I know there had to be something other than making money. I’m not saying I don’t enjoy the wealth – I would be a stupid man to say that – and it has allowed me to finally follow my passion. And in my doing so, I found a new passion.”

Riley flushed with pleasure. “You are the most incredible man. “Lazlo bent his head to kiss her, and they began where they had left off.

 

Later, at dinner around the campfire, Riley began to talk to some of Lazlo’s team and found them all friendly and inclusive. She regretted being so stuffy before, and as they chatted, suddenly the noise of a helicopter came overhead.

Lazlo stood up. “The supply run. Go get the idiot, and I’ll ask them to take him back to Rio.”

Riley went to find Jonty but found only Paul, Charlie, and Derek. “Where’s Jonty?”

“Gone.” Derek’s voice was flat. “We’ve been looking for him, but he’s nowhere. His stuff is gone. We think he’s gone back into the jungle.”

Riley gave a hiss. “Bloody idiot. Well, that’s his call. The idiot will probably get himself killed but to be honest, I don’t care. We don’t have the time or the resources to look for him. You three okay to head out again in the morning?”

They all nodded, but Riley sensed tension there. “Look, guys…Jonty was bad news. And I don’t mean to say that because he insulted me, I couldn’t give a crap about that. He was lazy and non-committal, and his instincts were shoddy. We’ll do better without him.”

“So, you’re just going to leave him in the jungle?” Paul’s voice was hard.

“I’m not leaving him anywhere,” Riley said, “Jonty made a choice. If you need me, I’ll be in Lazlo’s trailer.”

None of them made a comment as she walked out and Riley wondered if she shouldn’t stay in the tent with them. They’re big boys, she told herself, and, besides, there’s no way I’m not taking every second I can get with Lazlo.

 

It was just before midnight before the camp turned in. Lazlo and Riley made love slowly then talked until the early hours. Lazlo told her about his family back in Italy. “Four sisters, all older,” he laughed, “I adore all of them. They’re doctors and scientists and writers, all of them and when I’m home – which is all too rare these days – I am very much the little brother.”

Riley smiled, and he brushed his lips against hers. “What about you?”

“No siblings,” she said, “Mom died of cancer a few years ago.”

“That’s rough,” he sympathized, “so it’s just you and your father?”

She shook her head. “No. He’s not in my life. Hasn’t been since I was five.”

“I’m sorry.”

Riley shrugged. “I’m not. I learned to look after myself pretty young. Mom was sick for a long time.”

Lazlo looked down at her with concern in his eyes. “Who looks after you when you can’t look after yourself?”

Riley shrugged, feeling uncomfortable and Lazlo kissed her. “I have the feeling, Principessa, that you don’t trust easily.”

She nodded. “That is true, Lazlo.”

“Then I am sorry that, after our first night, I wasn’t honest with you. I promise you, Riley, I will always be truthful with you from now on.”

And she believed him.

 

Lazlo had tried to persuade her to join their teams, but Riley had refused gently. “I need to do this if only for the headache of red tape it’ll save us. The University can get very funny about cross-pollination if it means they don’t get the win.”

Lazlo laughed. “Fair enough, but look, at least let’s make a plan to meet again in a couple of days see where we are. We’re heading a little north of here for the next day.”

Riley nodded. “Perfect.” They arranged to meet at anther clearing in two days’ time, then made love again before breakfast. Lazlo kissed her goodbye in front of everyone, not caring what they thought.

“Two days, cara mia,” he said softly, and she nodded.

“Two days.”

 

The Cambridge team set out south along the river. As the sun beat down, Riley found the jaguar’s scat and they began to track it. Riley was getting excited now. As they stopped for water along the river, Riley grinned at her teammates. “It’s close.”

“Told you so.”

The voice came from behind her and Riley’s heart sank as Jonty stepped out of the tree line.

“What the fuck are you doing here, Jonty?”

He smiled. “About to get my reward.” He made a move with his head, and Paul and Charlie grabbed Riley and wrestled her to the ground. Derek yelled, but Jonty simply stepped up to him and punched him. Derek tottered for a moment then fell into the river. Riley was shouting and struggling against Paula and Charlie’s hold.

“Hold her down,” Jonty barked, but Riley was gaining traction, their grip was loosening. Then Jonty straddled her legs and sat on top of her. Riley was crying now, so angry and terrified, and when Jonty drew the knife from his pocket, pure ice ran in her veins.

Jonty put his face close to hers. “Stop struggling, you little bitch, or I’ll gut you and leave you to the animals. Want to be eaten alive?”

Riley stopped struggling. Jonty pulled out a hypodermic syringe from his pocket and smiling he flicked off the from the needle.

“What the fuck is that?” Charlie looked askance. Jonty grinned.

“Just a little gift from our pet arachnid.” He sought a vein on Riley’s arm, and she knew she was in serious, serious trouble here, and there was no way out.

“Why are you doing this?” She panted, trying to struggle again but Jonty laughed.

“You didn’t think we came out here to preserve the cute kitty cat, did you? We’re going to make millions, Riley, fucking millions, thanks to some friend we met in Rio. And you, well, you’re going to die a very, very painful death – a tragedy. Don’t worry, we’ll make sure you’re known as a heroine back home, that despite the bad luck of a fatal spider bite, you fought to the last. Lazlo Patron and his prick will mourn you, sweetheart, I’m sure.”

“Fuck’s sake, Jonty, this is over-the-top,” Paul looked disgusted. “Just stick the knife in her and let’s get out of here.”

Jonty’s face was grim. “That would be a kindness, Paul, and this bitch doesn’t deserve it. Besides a spider bite fatality can be explained; a stabbing not so much. Hold still, sweetheart.”

Riley sucked in a deep breath as Jonty injected the spider venom into her vein and she screamed as loudly as she could. Jonty slapped her viciously across the face. “Shut up, you little cunt. Now, you should start feeling the symptoms very soon, beautiful. Uncontrollable shivering, sweating then comes the pain. By the time anyone thinks to come looking for you, you’ll be long dead. Goodbye, Dr. Monckton.”

 

They let her go then and disappeared into the trees. Riley lay panting for a few minutes, considering her options. If she ran, the poison would course through her veins quickly. If she stayed where she was…god, she almost wished Jonty had stabbed her, at least she might have a chance that the knife would miss her arteries or major organs. She felt a wave of nausea and rolled to throw up. The poison wasn’t her only fear of course – anything could crawl out of the river or out of the jungle and finish her.

“Fuck it!” She growled and began to crawl, slowly, along the river mud, distracting herself from dying, by search the river with her eyes for any sign of Derek. If he was alive, he was her only hope.

Half an hour later, she could no longer move – all she could do was scream. The pain had caused such severe abdominal cramps that now she was throwing up and up, and nothing was coming up, but her entire being was in agony. When she could no longer scream, then came the delirium. Night fell, and Riley lay on the river mud, waiting to die.

She hallucinated that Lazlo was there and that he was making love to her while she was screaming in agony, and that no matter how much she begged, he would not help her. Riley’s last coherent thought before she gave into unconsciousness was regret that she would never know what their future might be.

After the darkness, she opened her eyes, every movement torture, and she saw Derek, covered in mud, hovering over her, begging her to breathe. It was only then she noticed it was getting harder and harder to do so.

“Brazilian Wandering spider venom,” she managed to croak, “Jonty murdered me.”

Derek was crying. “No, no, I’ll run get help, please Riley, try, fight…”

She was fading fast now. “Double back to last night’s place and head north. Find Lazlo, he’ll help you. Tell him I’m sorry, that he was the closest thing to love I ever knew. Run, Derek…”

And then there was a sharp, unrelenting pain and she lost all of her senses as she began to spasm. This is the end.

This is the end.

 

Lazlo stepped his team before they had even gone for two hours. Something was wrong, he felt it in his bones. Jonty’s disappearance last night…he hated the fact they didn’t know where he was. Derek, Riley’s only trusted companion had spoken to him in confidence, told him about the fight between Jonty and Riley, and Lazlo was nervous. She was a fighter, yes, but so tiny, so fragile. If anything happened to her…

He went to speak to his team leader. “Coleen, I want to go back, find the Cambridge team. Something is wrong, I know it.”

Coleen, an animal breeding expert from Australia, studied him. “It’ll cost the expedition thousands of dollars.”

He met her gaze steadily, and when he spoke, his voice was gruff with emotion. “Her life is worth more to me than any amount of money.”

Coleen saw he was close to breaking and nodded. “Okay, boss, no worries. We’ll send out a scout ahead of us.”

“No,” Lazlo said, stronger now, “I’ll go ahead. If there’s anything…well, you know.”

Coleen didn’t look happy, but she had known Lazlo for years and had never seen him so crazy about one of his women. But then Dr. Riley Monckton wasn’t just one of the models or socialites that Lazlo usually dated for a half hour before he got bored. She had gotten under her boss’s skin. “Take a weapon,” she urged, going to the cabinet and taking out a rifle. “At least do that for me.”

Lazlo nodded, taking the rifle and grabbing his backpack, heading out of the trailer. He stopped and looked back at Coleen. “Just in case, if I don’t come back, and Riley is in Rio, tell her…I was already…”

Coleen smiled at him. “I will, boss, I promise.”

“Thanks.” Lazlo was moved. “And, get the medical tent ready. Again, just in case.”

“I will. Good luck, boss.”

 

Derek staggered through the undergrowth, ignoring the various bugs and spider webs he encountered. Riley was dying, and he was the only one who could save her. If only he’d had enough guts to tell her what he really thought of Jonty all those days before. That he’d overheard a suspicious phone call back in Rio; that he’d seen Jonty with that god damned spider, seemingly harvesting the venom. Why hadn’t he guessed what the other man had been planning?

Fuck. It was his fault Riley was dying now. After Jonty, and Paul and Charlie had attacked his boss, he’d tried but all it took was one punch from Jonty, and he’d been in the river. He was dazed, and by the time he’d struggled to shore and double-backed, it was too late.

Derek started to cry as the light in the jungle was getting too dense to see the trail. He was still only nineteen, a scholarship kid from a broken home and he’d never thought he would get the chance to do this. Now he was fighting for not just his own life, but the life of the only person whom he looked up to.

He heard something crashing through the jungle ahead of him and froze. He closed his eyes. Just kill me quickly, whatever you are.

Then he heard breathing – a human breathing. “Hello?”

“Derek?”

Lazlo Patron flicked on his torch and Derek could have sobbed, he was so happy to see him, but he had a far more important job to do now.

“Please, Mr. Patron, you have to come. They tried to kill her. I think she’s dying.”

 

There were voices, and for a time, they made no sense. The black tunnel she was in didn’t get lighter or darker or, crucially, less agonizingly painful.

But soon there was a voice that sent warmth through her seared veins. Riley tried to concentrate on the voice, the voice of love, that deep, sensual musical accent telling her to live, begging her to live so he could love her.

Lazlo…

How was it possible that he could love her after so short a time? But right now, hovering on the edge of death, she’d take it. She began to feel sensation in her limbs again. His lips against the back of her hand, against her sore, swollen mouth.

“Come back to me. Come back to me, my beautiful love, please.”

I’m trying, my sweet love, I’m trying.

“Riley Monckton, I’m not losing you now. Breathe. Fight.”

 

She opened her eyes. “Lazlo…” But her throat was too dry to make any sound. She blinked a couple of times and stared up at what was definitely not a tent or a trailer. The hum of medical equipment, the quiet chatter of voices way down a hallway. She was in the hospital, and by the looks of the room she was in, a private one.

Riley felt discombobulated. She felt pain still, even though she could see she had a morphine pump, but it wasn’t the racking pain of the poison in her veins. More that her body had been battered and every vein and artery in her body stripped by acid. She breathed in a great lungful of air from the mask covering her face and was relieved that she no longer had that excruciatingly tight band around her chest that had threatened to asphyxiate her back in the jungle.

She looked over as the door opened and there he was. His smile at seeing her awake made her heart pound. Lazlo was at her side in a second.

“Mio Dio, mio Dio, you are awake…oh, my love, my love…”

She pulled the face mask off as he bent his face to her and kissed her. She stroked his dark curls, feeling dampness from the tears on his cheeks.

After the longest kiss she’d ever known, he sat down next to her and took her hand in his, holding against his cheek. She could see the dark violet circles under his green eyes, the inch-long growth on his dark beard. Her head still whirled – probably the morphine – and she smiled at him.

“You’re the only man who could make exhaustion look sexy, Patron, “ she croaked.

He laughed a little. “That’s the morphine talking but thank you. God, Riley, when I found you, I thought you were dead.”

“I thought I was dead too. I never expected to wake up again and it broke my heart because the thought of never seeing you again…” She got choked then, and her tinder-dry throat made her cough.

Lazlo helped her sip some water, and relieved, she lay back, gazing at him. “You saved me.”

Lazlo’s shoulders slumped. “We tried, in the camp. We gave you all the anti-venom we had but you didn’t respond. We got the emergency team out and they flew you and I back to Rio. Which is where we are now. God, Riley, they didn’t think they could save you but you’re a fighter, you beautiful, strong, amazing woman.”

“This isn’t the public hospital though, is it?” She grinned at him, already knowing the answer. He kissed the back of her fingers.

“There was never any question that I would want the best for the woman I love,” he said seriously, and Riley felt warmth flood through her.

“You love me?”

“Completely. Fuck society’s rules about how long it should take to say you’re in love. I love you, Riley Monckton.”

“I love you too,” she whispered, tears spilling out of her eyes, her smile wide. “I love you so much, you crazy lunatic.”

Lazlo laughed and stroked her face. “Cara mia, when you are better, we will go back to the jungle and work together to save that jaguar. Your mission will not have been in vain.”

Riley grinned. “You are the sweetest man; you know exactly what I was thinking. Oh, hey, how’s Derek? I know he must have been the one to tell you what happened. Is he okay?”

Lazlo smiled. “He is absolutely fine now he knows you’re going to be well again. That boy hero-worships you. Or heroine-worships. He’s fine, they checked him out here, and he’s at my hotel, enjoying being pampered. That boy…what he did for you and me, Riley, I can never repay.”

“No, me either,” she said. “I feel a little ashamed. Although I liked and trusted him, I kind of wrote him off as weak. Nothing could have been further from the truth.”

“Agreed. I have already told him that his future is secure. I’ll fund the rest of his Doctorate in whatever institution he wants, cover his rent, his expenses. And when he’s ready, if he wants to, there is a job waiting for him in my organization – and not a grunt level job either.”

“That is so sweet, Lazlo, so generous. I can’t hope to give him that much.”

“It’s only money, Riley. I can’t begin to repay the debt I owe him.” He leaned forward and kissed her again, lingering, his lips soft against hers.

Riley leaned into his touch, her smile fading a little.

“Lazlo?”

He sighed. “We’re searching for them. We found Paul’s body on the first day; his throat had been cut. We’ll find them. When we do…” He breathed a deep lungful of air in to quell his anger. “They will be subjected to justice.”

Riley nodded. “Laz…you mean the police, right?”

He hesitated then nodded. “As you wish.”

She touched his face. “We don’t need to sink to his level. Besides, if he’s already been paid by whoever sent him in…and he hasn’t come up with the goods as far as we know then we won’t have to chose anyway.”

“Well, quite.” Lazlo sighed, and Riley pulled him closer.

“Come lay down beside me.” She shifted over in the bed, and Lazlo kicked off his sneakers and lay down beside her, cradling her in his arms.

“How long do you think I’ll be in here? How long until I’m fully fit?” She said, gazing up at him, and then grinning when she saw the twinkle in his eyes. “I mean, health-wise, you horn dog.”

Lazlo laughed. “Probably a week, ten days they said, depending on when you woke and how you felt. Are you still in pain?”

She nodded. “But nothing like I was, and being in your arms is the best medicine.”

Lazlo locked eyes with her and smiled. “Riley…you are going to marry me, aren’t you?”

Riley laughed. “Ask me again when I’m not hopped up on morphine. I promise I’ll say yes.”

 

Ten days later…

 

Rome.

 

Riley stretched her body out as she awoke in Lazlo’s penthouse. Lazlo had brought her home from the hospital yesterday in his private jet, and he’d insisted she get some rest before he showed her around the city of his birth.

“And I want you completely rested because I’m going to exhaust you over and over again, il mia amore.”

She’d laughed at his wicked grin. “Well, you’d better.”

And she had needed the rest; she’d tried to stay awake during the drive back from the airport to see Rome at night, and then to appreciate the opulence of Lazlo’s home, but she had fallen asleep in his arms and woken up in his vast bed.

The bed was empty beside her, and she got up, snagging his robe from behind the door. She buried her face in the fabric, smelling his scent of fresh air and expensive cologne.

Lazlo was in his study, and as she knocked gently at the door, he looked up and grinned. “What are you knocking for? Come in, beautiful.”

He stood and took her in his arms. “Good morning, my love. How did you sleep?”

“Wonderfully, thank you. You were right, I needed it.”

Lazlo kissed her. “And how are you feeling now?”

“Much, much more…energetic,” she chuckled as he pulled open the robe and pulled it from her shoulders.

“Energetic, is that right?”

She slid her hand down and cupped his growing hard-on. “Oh, yes…so much energy…”

In a flash, he had laid her down on his desk and was unzipping his fly. She loved that she was naked, while he was mostly dressed…she loved being vulnerable in this man’s presence and oh! He launched his rock-hard cock into her, and she gasped, wrapping her legs around his waist as they fucked, hard and fast, as their animal instincts took over.

Afterward, she straddled him as they made love on the carpet, then in the shower, Riley dropping to her knees to take him in her mouth and bring him to a shuddering climax as he shot creamy thick come onto her tongue. He repaid the favor in bed, his tongue lashing around her clit then driving deep into her cunt as she writhed in ecstasy.

They stayed in bed most of the day, making love and talking, finding out about each other. Lazlo, for all his swagger, she discovered was just as much of a nerd as she was – she found the evidence of such on his overstuffed bookcases.

He took her out for dinner at a little trattoria down a secluded back street. They lingered over dinner, drinking wine and talking late into the night. They walked back to his building, the city still alive in the early hours of the morning.

Lazlo looked down at her and smiled. “You like my city?”

“It’s beautiful,” Riley sighed, her hand in his. “So alive, so magnetic. It’s you, in city form.”

He laughed. “I’m glad you think so. Maybe you could see yourself living here?”

Riley thought back to her cramped little studio flat in cold, wet Cambridge without much enthusiasm. “Very much. I would have to find a job here.”

Lazlo rolled his eyes but nodded. “Every university, every research facility here will know your name, and they’ll be kicking down your door.”

Riley chuckled. “You have so much faith in me. But that does sound exciting.”

 

Back at their penthouse – Lazlo’s word ‘their’ – Lazlo excused himself for a moment. “I have a message to call my team leader down in Brazil – this could be something important.”

“Of course, baby.”

Riley went to the bedroom and took off her dress, remembering the first time they’d met and Lazlo ripping that particular dress to shreds. She was still smiling as she went to take a shower, rubbing moisturizer into her skin, already feeling horny.

She waited for Lazlo, laying naked on the bed, but when he hadn’t reappeared after a while, she grabbed his robe and went to his study. He was still talking on the phone but waved her in anyway. In a moment, he put his phone down and came to sit with her.

“Darling, that was my team leader. They found Jonty and Charlie. Charlie’s singing like a bird - he’s terrified.”

“Good.”

“Quite. And Jonty…he’s been arrested and charged with a whole fleet of crimes, the most important being, he’s been charged with your attempted murder. He’ll be in prison for a long, long time, and Brazilian prisons? He won’t have a good time. Not at all.”

Riley let out a long deep breath. “God. Thank you, Laz, for everything.”

He stroked her hair. “And some more good news? Because of what Charlie has been saying to the police, we caught the ringleader of the poachers who hired Jonty. The police sent a team into the jungle. There’s a lot more work to do, but for now, the jaguar – however many of them are in there, are safe.”

Hearing that made tears spring into Riley’s eyes. “Oh, god, Lazlo, that’s wonderful. Just wonderful.”

He kissed her then and once again, she lost her robe as he pulled her onto the couch and covered her body with his. “Ti amo, Riley, ti amo.”

She smiled through her tears. “Ti amo, Lazlo Patron…”

 

Three months later…

 

In the heat of the Amazon rainforest, in a luxuriously outfitted trailer, Lazlo Patron looked up into the face of the woman he loved, the magnificent woman who was straddling him, his cock buried deep in her cunt as they made love, her breasts in his hands.

“Riley, my beautiful Principessa…there’s a question I’ve been meaning to ask you for a while now.”

Riley, breathless from riding him hard, grinned, knowing exactly what he was going to say. “Your timing is exquisite.”

He laughed as he saw the familiar flush of pre-climax creep over her skin. “Dr. Riley Monckton…would you do me the great honor of becoming my wife?”

He was great with timing, Riley thought, as she came, shivering and gasping and crying. “Yes…yes…yes…”

 

The End.