Tender Savage (Siren Publishing Allure) Read online

  Capturing his spasmodic cock, she closed her lips over its amazing length and began sucking, her hand moving backward and forward up and down its length, whilst her other hand lightly stroked his balls. His breathing laboured, Abraham held her head in place as his hips involuntarily rose up from the ground in the pursuit of satisfaction. Grunting softly, he thrust faster, and Eleanor, realising gratification was nigh, increased her devotions, sucking harder, drawing his cock more forcibly into her mouth and using her tongue with acrobatic accuracy. A shout and she realised he’d reached the pinnacle. Feeling an answering response, she felt the fizzing and sparkling of climax, followed by the pulsating and throbbing of satisfaction and the gratifying rush of heat as his seed surged into her mouth.

  Throwing herself onto the ground beside him, Eleanor, her breathing steadying, relaxed back and, still having the taste of him in her mouth, looked at the blue sky above her. Here the trees were not so dense, and she could see monkeys of some kind swinging happily from branch to branch, chattering noisily and curiously looking at the humans lying naked on the ground. She smiled, happy in her own skin, happy to be here in this place with the man she loved, and happy to have shared her body in such an intimate way with him.

  Rolling on her side to look at him, she gazed lovingly down into his face, hard and world weary, but she thought as she stroked a finger across his lips, she truly loved this man. However, she must not let him guess it. That would just be too humiliating by far. He’d made it clear right from the beginning that she shouldn’t fall in love with him, that their physical intimacy was just an itch that needed to be scratched. Briefly she closed her eyes, and yet she’d done it, hadn’t she! She’d fallen in love with the one man that didn’t want her love. Like a cloak, melancholy settled around her shoulders, and tears hovered, glistening like silver pearls along her lashes.

  Abraham’s eyes snapped open, and he lifted a hand, a concerned look briefly entering his eyes. “Are you crying?”

  Pinning on a smile, she quickly flicked at her eyes. “Of course not. You’re not so good you move me to tears,” she quipped jokingly, hoping to distract him.

  “Really!” Abraham responded, grinning happily, quickly adjusting their positions and twisting her onto her back.

  There followed a powerful mating, Eleanor yielding and feminine and Abraham masterful and commanding. Their hot breath drifting away on the morning air and their final cries of completion resonating through the trees, they slowly came back to earth. With a quick smile in her direction, Abraham rose to get some water, and she softly, to herself, whispered the gentle words of love she longed for him to hear and waited expectantly, hoping for she knew not what. However, it was merely the rustling of the trees that whispered back.

  Chapter Fourteen

  Watching Abraham’s naked body as he bent to pick up the canteen, Eleanor felt a yearning tugging at her heartstrings, a feeling she’d never felt before. Her eyes glazed, a small smile danced across her love-swollen lips. What would it be like to have Abraham’s child? They’d never used any protection, never even gave it a thought, well not on her part anyway. She wasn’t promiscuous, only having had one sexual partner in the past, and hadn’t ever carried condoms, foolishly leaving that responsibility to the man. As for Abraham, well, she didn’t imagine he would carry condoms into the jungle. Biting her lip, she looked quickly away as he glanced toward her, frightened at what he might see. A worried frown puckered her forehead. It was stupid to think such silly thoughts. What would she do with a child? She had a living to earn, and backstage at modelling venues was no place for a child, and anyway, there was still her brother to consider. His care took up all the money she earned. And what of Abraham. How would he feel about being saddled with a child he didn’t want or hadn’t asked for? She was almost certain he thought she’d taken care of the protection, probably assumed she was on the pill. After all, a woman of twenty-three was usually on the pill. He was not to know that due to unfortunate fainting fits when she was a teenager, she wasn’t able to take oral contraception. God! She smoothed a hand over her flat stomach. What if she was pregnant? But no, she shook her head. She couldn’t possibly be—could she?

  Handing over the canteen to Eleanor, Abraham started to dress, leaving her to take a deep, satisfying swig, grimacing slightly at the taste. The sterilizing tablets left a slightly bitter aftertaste.

  “Aren’t you coming in for a swim?”

  “No, and neither are you,” Abraham, spinning quickly, shot back at her.

  “What do you mean? I thought that was why you’d brought me here.”

  “I never said that, Eleanor. You can wash, but don’t go in the water. It’s teeming with bacteria and God knows what else as well, and you don’t want any unpleasant side effects from something wanting to creep into your body parts.”

  Eleanor looked deep into the clear water.

  “I can’t see anything in it. It looks perfectly okay to me.”

  Catching hold of her arm, Abraham drew her to her feet.

  “Looks can be deceptive, Eleanor. Believe me when I say it’s not safe. I’m more experienced in these matters than you, so just for once, do as you’re told, mmm?”

  Looking mulishly at him, she nodded reluctantly, her lips pouting in disappointment.

  Grinning, he tweaked at her chin and strode off back to the encampment.

  Teeth clenched, she rubbed her chin in annoyance. Just how old did he think she was?

  Stooping down at the water’s edge, she cupped a handful of the cool water and splashed her face. Instead of bending to scoop another handful, she sat on the bank and dangled her feet. The water felt lovely, soothing her sore feet and easing the tiredness away. Wriggling her toes, she laughed as some small fish nibbled at her ankles. It was almost like having a Garra fish massage. Closing her eyes, she enjoyed the feeling of cleanliness on her skin and the soothing lap of the water at her calves. It was so hot. She glanced up at the sun, feeling sticky, sweat drying on her skin. It would be just heaven to slip into the water and wash away the dirt, to cleanse her hair and body. Hesitating, Abraham’s warning coming to the fore, she peered into the water. It looked harmless. The little fishes were now paying her no heed, and there was nothing else to see. It appeared so inviting, clear, and pure. Abraham was obviously just being overcautious, and anyway, she’d only stay in a minute. With that thought, she slipped into the water, quickly looking around, ensuring nothing sinister had appeared at her entry. She then, with a blissful sigh, closed her eyes and lay back, enjoying the sensation of the water caressing and relaxing her limbs.

  Time passed, and forgetting her good intentions of staying in for only a minute, she frolicked and played, dipping under the water and racing after the little fish. Finally, feeling clean for the first time in days, she swam back to the bank. Levering herself out, she threw herself onto the ground and lay back, enjoying the peace and tranquillity and enjoying being in paradise, if only for a moment.

  Hearing Abraham calling out for her, Eleanor roused herself, so relaxed was she from her ablutions she must have dozed off. Disregarding her bra, she searched for her blouse. Pushing her arms into the sleeves, she froze. There was something on her arm…

  In the process of drawing off the garment she looked down, and rubbing frantically at her skin, she started screaming, a shrill, high-pitched scream that signified real fear.

  Abraham erupted through the vegetation, his knife already drawn. Ignoring her screams, he quickly surveyed the area. There was no would-be attacker or wild animal in sight. Grabbing hold of her arms, he shook her slightly. The screams stilling in her throat, she threw herself into his arms, sobbing brokenly.

  Unable to comprehend exactly what the screams were all about, he pushed her slightly away from him and, in one glance, identified the situation. Eleanor was covered in leeches, their bodies already becoming engorged from feeding off her blood.

  “Little fool! You went into the pool didn’t you?”

  Not wa
iting for her hysterical reply, he drew her arm close and, using a finger, began prising the bloated creatures from her limbs.

  “The rain forest is teeming with leeches. They’re not aquatic, but the vegetation around the pool is a veritable breeding ground for the creatures, and you just had to go in the water, didn’t you!”

  “Yes, yes, all right. Stop repeating yourself. Don’t you think I’ve suffered enough from these bloody things without you going on at me? Anyone would think you’re my father.”

  “Your father—no, but it might have been an idea for him to give you a sound walloping now and again, and stop your bloody swearing. You’ve a mouth that would put a navvy to shame.”

  Ignoring him, she drew a trembling breath as the vile little creatures dropped off her soft flesh and lay unmoving on the ground. Still shuddering in fear and disgust, blood running profusely from the wounds, she went to throw herself into his arms again but was stopped from doing so by him ordering her to turn around. Unquestionably she did as bidden, realising that the little horrors were probably on her back as well. Squeezing her eyes tightly shut, she caught her breath, clenching her teeth at the miniature stings which indicated the creatures’ demise, then patiently remained still when he minutely examined every embarrassing inch of her body, including between her buttocks and her love-swollen pussy, explaining in a gruff voice that she probably had ticks on her as well. Finally it was over, and sparing the pests no more than a shuddering look, she relaunched herself into his arms and started crying all over again. Unfeelingly, he firmly put her from him and, drawing out an antiseptic spray, spayed each of the tiny wounds in turn, then in a tone which brooked no argument, ordered her to get dressed.

  Snivelling resentfully to herself and with limbs still trembling from the trauma, she pulled on her clothes. An involuntarily glance at the water had her looking just as quickly away. What had once been a haven of calm and enjoyment was now the scene of fear and shock, the peaceful, deceptive-looking pool finally displaying its loathsome underbelly. Her oasis not what she had thought had her scurrying hurriedly away, bitterly realizing that as with all Edens, there was always the equivalent serpent.

  * * * *

  Abraham doused the fire with dirt. It was time to get underway. They had been at the encampment now for two days, and the delay was making him antsy. He looked over at Eleanor, watching as she did up her boots. Having her near to him, sleeping in his arms had been difficult. He was worried that her feelings for him were becoming something more than lust, but, as to his own feelings, he ignored the slight fluttering of his heart. He didn’t need that kind of complication.

  Eleanor, feeling Abraham’s gaze on her, smiled a slow, soft smile that lit up her face. Glad to be on the move again she felt a touch of regret that the intimate time of playing house with Abraham for two days was over. But, she thought and sighed tremulously, to stay any longer would be folly. He didn’t love her, and she could tell from the impatient way he packed up the camp that he couldn’t wait to be rid of her. Oh, she was fine for sex, great in fact, and beneath the vast green canopy their passion had known no bounds, but for any longer—for life —it was a no-go.

  Marching out of the clearing, Eleanor cast a last look back. Funny, but the time spent in the clearing would always have a special place in her heart, even though parts of it had been just horrendous. She gave a visible shudder at the thought of the fat, disgusting leeches that had made a gluttonous meal of her blood.

  * * * *

  It was noon before Abraham called a halt. Thankfully, Eleanor dropped the pack from her shoulders and wearily sat down on it. This morning’s walk had been a hard slog, and with every step her resentment for Abraham grew. Why couldn’t he ease up a little? Didn’t he realise she wasn’t one of his men! Ready to march into God knows where at a lift of his finger. Loath to do more than watch Abraham as he took trail mix from his pack, she stared steadily at his broad shoulders. He looked disgustingly fresh, and she hated him for it.

  Abraham handed her some of the mix, surreptitiously scrutinising her face. She looked weary and cross.

  Ignoring her mutinous expression, he turned from her and crouched to his pack. To engage her in conversation would result in a fiery exchange of words. He could see it in her eyes.

  “Well!” Eleanor exclaimed.

  Abraham’s shoulders stiffened. So much for ignoring her.

  He swivelled to look at her. “Well, what?”

  “Well, how much longer is this going to go on?”

  Abraham lifted an enquiring eyebrow.

  “This?”

  She ground her teeth.

  “This!” She waved a vague hand. “This frog march through the jungle, this pretence that I mean nothing to you, that’s what I mean.”

  Suppressing a smile, Abraham rose to his feet, and, arms akimbo, he studied her. She wanted a row, that was plain to see, but she also looked a touch vulnerable. All that had happened in the last few days was finally catching up with her.

  “First of all, I think you mean route march, not frog march. Second, I estimate if we continue to travel at the pace we have been travelling today, it could take us another three days, but if we go slower—who knows. And as for you meaning nothing to me—I don’t mean to sound callous, but you don’t, not in the way you want me to feel. I care about you, of course I do. We’ve spent the last four days and nights together. I’ve used your body and you mine, and it was great, no more, no less. And I’m sorry if I’m hurting you, but I did warn you not to go imagining yourself in love with me.”

  Wounded by his words, Eleanor checked the tears and, wanting to hurt him the way she had been hurt, lifted her chin and stared at him defiantly.

  “Don’t flatter yourself, Abraham. You don’t mean a thing to me, you were just a dalliance, that’s all, and believe me, not such a good a fuck as you would imagine.”

  “Good.” Abraham nodded and swung his pack back onto his shoulders.

  “Then, as we both know where we stand, let’s cut out the histrionics and get a move on.”

  Chapter Fifteen

  Following Abraham out of the clearing, Eleanor tried desperately not to cry. She had hoped he felt more for her than he was letting on, but obviously she was mistaken. She looked up as another drenching soaked through her clothes. It was almost as if the weather knew how she was feeling. His words had cut her to the quick, and her eyes swam with tears. Oh how she wished she’d never fallen for his rugged charm, and how desperately she wished she hadn’t given into her baser instincts and let him bed her.

  * * * *

  It was beginning to grow dark. High up through the canopy, Eleanor could see the pink glow of the sun just beginning to set. She was tired to the bone, every step spine jarring. The weather seemed to have matched her mood, being particularly bad with heavy showers every few minutes, and then the sun, burning in its intensity, drying her clothes within seconds, only to be soaked again minutes later. They had barely stopped for any rest, and Abraham had set a pace that would test even the toughest of men. She’d followed silently, not giving him the satisfaction of asking for a rest, but with every weary step, she had hated him even more.

  “We’ll stop here.” Abraham at last gave the order to rest.

  Throwing her pack to the ground, Eleanor plonked herself down on it, rudely snatching from him the water bottle he offered. Unscrewing the top, she took the requisite two gulps and silently handed it back. Abraham stared at her, but, saying nothing, rescrewed the cap and began setting up camp.

  * * * *

  The fire was burning brightly. Abraham placed a couple of fish he’d caught at the river’s edge on a simple rotisserie made from sticks over the licking flames. The aroma of baking fish filled Eleanor’s nostrils and whetted her appetite. She’d spent the time since they’d set up camp consciously ignoring him, keeping her distance and not even looking in his direction, but finally, unable to resist any longer, she picked up her bag and moved toward the fire. Dumping her pack b
ack on the ground, still quiet and distant, she settled down to enjoy the warmth.

  Abraham lifted his head at her movements but said nothing, continuously tending the fire and turning the fish. At last the meal was ready, and Eleanor gratefully received the offering with outstretched hands and a watering mouth.

  “Careful,” Abraham intoned. “It’s hot.”

  Ignoring his warning, Eleanor eagerly picked at the fish, shovelling bits of it delicately into her mouth. The fish was as ugly as sin, but boy did it taste good!

  The meal finished, she sat back, replete. All she needed now was a good cup of rich, aromatic coffee.

  “Coffee?” Abraham asked, holding out a plastic cup that had been filched from the aircraft.

  “What! You can’t mean—have you really got coffee?” Eleanor was stunned. It had been almost like he could read her mind.

  “Mmm, just enough for a cup each. It might taste a bit strange, as I’ve used the last of the sterile water from the canteens to make it, but it is coffee.”

  Gratefully, Eleanor took the cup and, after first blowing on it, took a sip of the dark, steaming liquid. It tasted like ambrosia!

  Silence reigned as they drank their coffee, the only sounds those of the rustling trees and the gentle vibrations of the night insects.

  Eleanor felt contentment steal over her. The jungle was beautiful. She’d never appreciated it before, but she supposed feeling warm and having enough to eat for once changed her perspective. She’d never in a million years thought she would find something as simple as a campfire captivating, but the enchantment of the rain forest seemed magically to steel over her, catching her unawares. She glanced across to Abraham, who was leaning back against his pack gazing up at the stars, and dejection momentarily settled in her heart. Oh why couldn’t he love her the way she did him? Tonight would have been perfect if he did. In a beautiful jungle surrounded by the miracles of nature, under a star-studded sky, replete with good food and wine—well, coffee, and with the man she loved and who loved her back by her side, what could be more perfect? But, she thought and silently sighed, he didn’t and never would. He’d made that doubly plain now, so she should stop tormenting herself with what might have been and take what she could get and enjoy the moment, pretend he loved her and make the most of what time they had left together.