Jungle Fire
Amazon Chronicles, Book 2
by Sarah Mäkelä
Changeling Press
eBook ISBN: 978-1-60521-668-3
In the Amazon Rainforest, traditions are important. They’ve long led to survival for the Amazon warrior women.
Kyle Reynolds, ruler of the werepumas, is ready to fly in the face of those treasured customs for the love of Rubia Costa, who will soon be out of his grasp if he can’t win her affection before allies of the Amazons steal her away from him forever.
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Chapter One
Rubia Costa tied down her hammock in a peaceful spot where she went to get away. She’d told no one of this spot, and yet she was within yelling distance of her people. Help would come if the need arose.
She didn’t dare venture far from her village. But these days, her village wasn’t as calm and mundane as it once had been. So far, she wasn’t sure whether that was good or bad. Life and traditions were changing, and she couldn’t hold back confusion as pieces of what she’d been taught now unraveled around her.
She climbed onto the hammock and gazed at the trees above her. The hammock swung gently, lulling her into the relaxed state she so desired. She closed her eyes and sighed softly.
The dream world rose up to greet her. The sound of dry leaves crunching underfoot forced her back to alertness. Her eyes shot open to see a tall, dark-haired man staring at her.
She lunged for her spear, stuck in the ground nearby. Gradually, the realization dawned on her who this man was, and she settled back, her nerves still tense and ready to fight.
“Some reflexes you have there,” Kyle Reynolds said. A grin stretched across his lips, brightening his face. At ease, he leaned against the tree near her feet while she admired his broad, muscular shoulders that narrowed down to a slim waist.
She rolled her eyes and crossed her arms, unwilling to show the impact his presence had on her. “What are you doing here? How did you find me?”
“My sense of smell isn’t as acute as other animals’, but it’s good enough to find where you went. I wanted to make sure you’re not out getting in trouble.” His grin turned into a smirk, and he pushed off from the tree.
“What? Like my friend…” She grimaced. Although they still talked, Adara had so much going on. They didn’t spend as much time together as they had before, especially now with Rei in Adara’s life.
“I don’t know what you’re talking about.” He winked and sat next to her in the hammock. It tilted enough that she slid closer to him.
Her hip bumped his, and her nerves tingled. She crawled away. Unfortunately, he must have taken that as an invitation to come closer, since he lay next to her. “What are you doing? Get out of my hammock.” She scooted farther away as her body started to slip toward his once again.
Kyle grabbed her wrist and kissed her knuckles. His gaze held something she’d seen in glances between Rei and Adara. Those kinds of emotions were unfamiliar to her. Vaguely, she realized their meaning, but why would Kyle project that toward her?
He trailed his lips over her wrist and slowly moved up her arm. His warm breath tickled her flesh. She couldn’t drag her gaze from his. Her voice escaped in a whisper. “What are you doing?”
“Something I’ve wanted to do for a while now. You don’t make this easy for me, Rubia.” He rolled over carefully. His body hovered over hers, and he pressed his lips against her shoulder and then her neck.
Sensations of pleasure spread between her legs, warming her body to a fever pitch. What were they doing? Panic rose up within her, and she shoved hard at Kyle’s chest, throwing him off balance. The hammock tilted, and air rushed by just before her body hit the ground with a thud.
Pain throbbed throughout her back, and a groan welled from her throat. She blinked her eyes open.
Kyle knelt next to her. Concern etched soft lines at the corner of his mouth. “Are you okay?”
The ache in her back sharpened, and she fought not to wince. Instead, she pushed against Kyle’s chest. “I’m fine. I can walk.”
Kyle stared at her with a raised eyebrow. He shook his head. “I’ll carry you. It’s no trouble.”
Great. She didn’t want her tribeswomen to see him carting her around as if he was her protector or had… claimed her. Let alone the state she was in. They might worry she’d been injured, which wasn’t far from the truth since she wasn’t feeling too well at the moment.
She shoved against him, but it was like trying to move a solid tree trunk. He didn’t budge an inch. Her people had studied the werecats, since they lived in such close proximity, but she had a hard time getting used to one being so close. She wasn’t sure she wanted to be intimate with Kyle.
Something about him was alluring, but she couldn’t dream of becoming tied to the werepumas’ leader and shirking her responsibilities as an Amazon. She wanted to lead a peaceful, simple life. Those words were foreign when Kyle was involved.
He stood just out of sight from the village’s catwalks, and she wriggled in his arms.
“Set me down. Right now.” She lowered her voice and glared at him. If only he didn’t have such a solid grip on her spear, but there was no chance she’d be able to wrestle it away from him. Not if he didn’t want her to.
He watched her, and his lips twisted. Determination set in his jaw, but he gently placed her feet on the ground. “Fine. Go show everyone how strong and brave you are.” He muttered under his breath, “Silly woman.”
Her eyes narrowed at him, and she thrust out her hand, wanting her spear back. “Don’t think you can demean me. I won’t tolerate such abuse.”
His soft lips tightened into a thin, pink line, and he handed over her spear. “You shouldn’t be alone outside of the village.”
“I’m not your concern. Shouldn’t you be off leading your werepumas instead of keeping me from enjoying a moment’s peace alone?” Her fist clenched around the sturdy wooden shaft, and she straightened her spine to her full height. Even so, Kyle stood taller than she.
Movement came from the left, and she turned her head to see a large, tan feline with a white belly sprinting toward them. The puma began changing its shape but didn’t stop running. As it drew near, it became more human with each step. He stopped a couple feet away, completely naked. The man glanced between Kyle and her.
Rubia kept her gaze from dipping below the sleek man’s bronze waist. Just barely, though. She refused to become interested in these men who shapeshifted with such ease.
“Kyle, the men –” the werepuma said, slightly out of breath.
Kyle growled a low rumbling sound and nodded to the side, away from Rubia. The man bowed his head and stalked away from them to wait. Kyle turned his attention back to her. “We’re not done. I’ll see you later.”
She held his stare and remained silent.
He turned away and moved at speeds faster than her eyes could follow.
Probably to intimidate, or even impress her. Well, it hadn’t worked. She wouldn’t allow herself to be easily charmed.
* * *
Kyle stopped running once he was well away from the tall, gorgeous Amazon who constantly disregarded him. His jaw clenched, and he turned to face his second in command. The way she’d only just kept her curious gaze from taking in the other man’s body made jealousy surge through him. Who was he becoming? This wasn’t like him.
He sucked in a breath and let it out slowly. “What do you want, Jorge? What about the men?”
“We were concerned. You didn’t tell us about your departure.” Jorge lowered his head slightly, which was a customary greeting for their kind when talking with the leader. Kyle had done the same with his predecessor, who had fallen during the attack on the Amazon’s camp. The former leader had let jealousy rage through him when Rei mating with the Amazon princess, claiming her as his own. Why the leader had thought he had a chance with Adara, Kyle had no clue.
Kyle shook the thought from his head. He hadn’t understood the man’s motive then, and he couldn’t fully grasp it now. “What troubles the camp? Why did you seek me out?”
“You called together a meeting that’s to begin soon.” Jorge glanced over his shoulder toward the direction of their camp before looking back at Kyle.
“Right. I guess I got a little distracted.” How foolish. Did Rubia really have that kind of hold on him? He grimaced.
Jorge’s lips curved in a grin, and he clasped a hand on Kyle’s shoulder. “With a fine woman like that, there’s little wonder. Any man would feel the same.”
Kyle narrowed his eyes at the comment and barely restrained his beast from growling. But Jorge was one of the werepumas he knew was loyal to him. Others had accepted his right to rule after the death of the old leader, but the rumors he’d heard around camp told him he wouldn’t have been their prime choice.
They weren’t thrilled about an outsider ruling over them. Nevertheless, they’d have to learn to respect him since he wasn’t going anywhere. Not away from the Pride, his position, or this land. Besides, he’d arranged peace between themselves and the Amazons, not an easy task since the warrior women kept very much to themselves.
Then again, his connection to Rei had probably helped more than he wanted to admit.
Kyle strode forward, breaking away from Jorge’s amiable grip. His thoughts turned back to the way Rubia felt beneath him. To her wide eyes staring up at him as the scent of her arousal teased his nose. He forced away the memory. “We should head back. The meeting waits.”
Jorge matched his stride. “Good, good. What will you talk about today?”
“I’m going to address the people about the recent rumors.” Simple as that. He’d give them a piece of his mind. Everyone needed to get on the same page.
Jorge stopped suddenly and cleared his throat. “What? Are you sure you should do something like that? We’re not entirely sure about the position of some members of the camp. You shouldn’t put yourself in danger like this. The people don’t need yet another leader dead in such a short period of time. The Pride needs someone who will last.”
“Which is exactly why I’m doing this. I don’t plan on going anywhere.” Kyle gave Jorge a small smile. “Trust me, okay?”
Jorge’s frown deepened a second before it disappeared. “Right. I trust you.”
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Changeling Press
New Release: 07 October 2011