Atlantean's Quest: Exodus Part 3

Anything? The question entered her mind on a whisper.

Jac's head whipped from side to side, looking as far behind her as possible, but no one was there. Her brows furrowed. Was she hearing things that weren't there? She searched the quiet campsite. A posted guard stood at the far end of the compound, but other than that, nothing stirred. Jac shook her head and closed her eyes. I'm losing it.

What would you give me, in return for your freedom? The voice spoke again, except this time there was no mistaking the deep rumblings for her imagination.

Jac's eyes flew open. She scanned the tents again. The guard faced the opposite direction, so he hadn't been the one talking. In fact, he didn't seem to be paying any attention to her at all. And there didn't seem to be anyone standing behind her.

I'm losing it.

The sky had gone from black to gray as the first signs of light appeared on the treetops. Jac looked around, searching for any sign of movement or subtle disturbance. h.e.l.l anything to prove she wasn't going crazy.

You're getting warmer. The voice teased.

Her eyes narrowed. "Why don't you show yourself and stop playing this childish game of hide and seek?" she murmured.

A laugh rumbled through her like the heavy ba.s.s of a stereo that had been turned up too loud.

"I don't like games," she grit out. Jac felt warmth brush over her nipples, in a light pennaceous caress. She sucked in a breath to keep from moaning.

I think that depends on who you are playing with. Masculine confidence rang out in his tone as her nipples puckered under the sensual a.s.sault.

The phantom from base camp was here. Jac s.h.i.+vered as she recalled exactly what he'd been able to do from a distance.

"What's it going to take for you to get me out of here?" She hated asking, but right now the bodiless voice was her only hope.

I'm afraid the price I ask is steep.

Jac struggled against her ties. "Just tell me what it is before the camp starts to wake up."

Very well...I want your total surrender.

Jac stilled, surely she hadn't heard him correctly. "You're kidding, right?" She pulled against the ropes again, twisting from side to side, rotating her arms, until her wrists bled.

Silence answered her.

"I've never surrendered to a man in my life and I'm not about to start now." Jac jerked against her confines, until her actions drew the attention of the guard.

Cautiously he approached her, rifle in hand.

Very well. I'll leave you to your fate.

The arrogance in his voice set her teeth on edge. How dare he leave her here? Who did he think he was?

The guard drew closer, his eyes taking in her struggles. Sweat beaded on Jac's skin causing her s.h.i.+rt to cling to her like a glove. It didn't help that her nipples ached due to the phantom's teasing. The guard glanced around as if to ensure their privacy and started to unfasten his clothes. d.a.m.n it, not again. Jac growled in frustration.

"Okay you win. I'll give you anything you want, just get me out of here." Her gaze darted from side to side, searching for an escape.

Confused, the guard hesitated, then continued forward, placing his gun against the side of the tree.

"If you touch me, I'll kill you," she threatened, knowing there wasn't a thing she could do in her present state.

The man chuckled and then proceeded to unbuckle his pants. He pulled out his c.o.c.k and inched forward. His eyes locked on her mouth. Jac was about to scream, when a blast of light temporarily blinded her. By the time she blinked away the spots, the guard lay dead at her feet, smoke rising from his body. Jac panicked, her lungs labored for breath, as she inhaled the sickening smell of burnt flesh.

Once again she scanned the trees, a slight movement catching her attention. It crept like a shadow, silent, deadly, blending with the fading darkness. Not a leaf rustled as the silhouette made its way from tree trunk to tree trunk. And then she saw him, in all his dark glory...the hunter who had been chasing her.

Relief washed over Jac leaving her mood buoyant.

Stealthily he made his way to her. His jade eyes glinted red against the dying firelight. The devil himself wouldn't strike as much fear in Jac as this man did. c.o.c.ksure, he worked his way around the encampment, until he stood directly behind her. His musky, wood enhanced scent surrounded her, drowning her in his presence. Heat radiated from his body, surging through her limbs until she could feel her hands again. This guy must have the body temperature of a furnace.

Jac heard the slice of a blade as he cut through the rope. She sagged forward, unable to hold up her weight. Jac tried to stumble to her feet, but her legs had fallen asleep. It felt like a thousand tiny needles stabbed through her at once, and she groaned aloud.

The men started to stir within the tents. Jac attempted to crawl into the jungle when a large hand reached out and grabbed her around the waist from behind. She felt herself being lifted and then her world tilted when the muscled demon tossed her over his shoulder as if she weighed no more than a hacky sack.

The man bolted, surging through the jungle at a dizzying speed. A shout came from behind them as one of the guides discovered the guard's body and cried out the alarm.

Pow! Ping! Pow! Shots rang out in an eruption of sound, as guns were fired into the rainforest. Loud cracks sent leaves splitting and bark flying from the trees, as the deadly missiles neared their target. Jac screamed, but the cry was m.u.f.fled against the phantom's salty skin.

Jac heard the shuffling of feet and several more shouts as the men scrambled in pursuit. The hunter raced through the brush, juggling Jac as if her weight was of no consequence. His muscles bunched and s.h.i.+fted beneath her hands. Long legs split with each stride. His hair brushed her face, carrying his unique spicy scent with it. Jac's fingers longed to twine themselves into the soft as silk thick strands.

Instead, she held herself perfectly still, afraid the smallest movement would give her original captors the advantage they'd need to catch up.

Tarzan continued to run, his flight swift, his feet silent upon the ground. A fine sheen of sweat covered his tanned skin, giving him a healthy after s.e.x glow. Jac tried, without success, to stop imagining their bodies intertwined as he drove into her hot, aching sheath.

His step faltered as the thought flitted through her mind.

The guide's voices began to fade, until Jac could no longer hear them. Hope swept through her. Maybe they'd actually been able to lose them.

They arrived at the river within an hour. The hunter put Jac down, his breath steady, not winded like she'd have expected.

"Do you think you can make it across?" His eyes strayed to the swift moving water behind her.

Indignant, Jac crossed her arms over her chest and arched a brow. "I out swam you, didn't I?"

His eyes locked onto hers and then turned molten. A wicked smile kicked up the corners of his hard sensuous mouth. Jac's heart skipped a beat at the promise written in his jade gaze. She tilted her head so she could see him better. Dark and menacing, sinfully seductive, the man was made for s.e.x. Long legs led to a washboard stomach. A tribal tattoo wrapped around his trim waist, disappearing beneath the lip of his loincloth.

Jac forced her mind away from where the permanent paint led. His wide chest seemed made for resting her head after a long night of lovemaking. And his hair, the color of raven's feathers framed his warrior's face to perfection. The temptation to run her hands over his muscled length overwhelmed Jac.

"We'll discuss earlier events later." He stepped forward, crowding her personal s.p.a.ce, dwarfing her.

The air's temperature seemed to rise exponentially with his nearness. Jac had never felt small and vulnerable in her life-til' now. She pulled at her collar to loosen it. Once again Jac reminded herself to breathe. She raised her hand to push him back. Big mistake. The second her fingers made contact with the muscled wall of his chest, all thoughts spilled from her head.

Jac's palm heated to inferno and her nipples grew erect beneath her't-s.h.i.+rt. She flexed her fingertips, but he was so solid...no give at all. Every erotic dream, fantasy, or thought she'd ever had flooded her mind. It took about two nanoseconds for her brain to quickly replace all her previous lovers with the man standing before her.

He was s.e.x incarnate. And she'd promised him total surrender for helping her escape.

Jac's knees started to shake as she pushed away and waded into the water. She needed to put some distance between herself and this man. He did something no man had managed to do-scare her.

Instinctively, Jac knew this giant of a man would never physically harm her, but that fact didn't set her mind at ease. There was something about this demon in a loincloth that made Jac nervous-really nervous. It was as if he could reach into her very soul with those jade colored eyes and take away any thoughts of freedom she secretly harbored. And she'd give them to him willingly.

Jac dove into the water, swimming as though Satan himself were after her. She knew in her heart of hearts there would be no escaping the hunter this time, so she didn't even try. He easily kept pace with her, the water not even rippling as he sliced through it. They reached the far sh.o.r.e in record time. He helped her from the water, his grip firm on her arm. Jac tried to pull away from him, but he refused to release her.

From a distance she heard the chopping of plants and small trees, then the sound of voices drawing nearer. So much for losing Rumsinger. As they stepped into the jungle the professor and his men broke through the trees on the opposite sh.o.r.eline. The giant hurried her deeper into the cover of the jungle, protectively placing his body between Jac and the professor.

Rumsinger's angry shouts reached Jac's ears. She had the overwhelming urge to turn back around and fight, but seeing as though one of the professor's men had confiscated her weapons, it would be suicide to try.

The hunter led Jac through the jungle, taking care to ensure their tracks were well hidden. They walked throughout the rest of the morning and into the late afternoon. He'd tossed her a banana when she mentioned they hadn't eaten. Jac kept up, refusing to let herself slow him down.

At dusk they reached a tiny clearing and her rescuer stopped. "We'll camp here tonight."

Jac s.h.i.+fted her weight from side to side to alleviate the strain in her legs, with the circulation gradually returning to normal, they'd been hurting for hours. "What about the professor?"

The man didn't answer. He simply walked up to her and picked her up. Jac yelped, her hands automatically flying to encircle his neck, for fear he'd drop her. With no effort, he gently laid her on the ground.

"What are you doing?" she struggled to sit up.

He pushed her back down, his palm resting on her breast. Suddenly the hand on her right leg began to glow. Jac felt her eyes widen. Heat spread over her body, through her limbs, and into her tired muscles. Within moments the pain disappeared and she felt refreshed. He slipped to her other leg and repeated the process.

"Who are you?" She continued to watch his hands. "Better yet, what are you?"

At that question his gaze met hers, Jac gulped despite herself. His hands prevented her from scooting away.

"I am Ares."

He moved his hands away from her body and she felt a shock, much like static electricity. Jac sat up, her gaze never wavering from his face. She debated what to do next, deciding civility would get her further than conflict.

"Interesting name..." She arched a brow, "I'm Jaclyn Ward," and held out her hand.

Ares's lips twitched as he looked from her hand back to her face. He enveloped her palm within his and shook it twice. "I know who you are."

Jac frowned. "How? Did you hear the professor mention my name?"

His jade gaze dropped to the front of her s.h.i.+rt. Jac felt an inkling of warmth and then an invisible stroke across her nipples.

The tactic had worked, as Ares had antic.i.p.ated. She'd forgotten all about her previous question. He wasn't ready to share how he had come to know of her existence until after the taming was complete.

"It was you that day at base camp." It was a statement.

His gaze lazily flicked over her abdomen, dropping further still, leaving a trail of heat behind. Jac swallowed hard. For the first time in her life, she was in over her head.

"Are you thinking about backing out of our agreement?" He s.h.i.+fted, a slight movement that sent his muscles rippling beneath his tanned skin.

Jac's jaw clenched and her eyes narrowed. "I'd never go back on my word."

"Good." His eyes sparked and her channel flooded.

She sucked in a quick breath. "Don't you believe in foreplay?" Jac nervously rubbed her neck and scooted a fraction further away.

He growled. "I thought that's what I was doing." A s.e.xy grin tugged at his mouth, softening his fierce features.

Ares stared long and hard at her body. Jac tensed, her eyes growing impossibly wider, as she felt him enter her. She could no longer remain upright. Pleasure swamped her. His smile widened and the unmistakable sensation of his tongue, swirling inside her sent Jac over the edge. Her body shuddered. She flushed as her blood rushed close to the surface of her skin. She couldn't seem to catch her breath.

"d.a.m.n you," she finally spit out and hit the ground with her fist.

He threw his head back and laughed. "Is that anyway to speak to your new mate?"

Jac stilled as his words registered in her ecstasy filled mind. Had he called her his mate? What exactly did he mean by that? She struggled to sit up again, her sated body refusing to cooperate. Jac pushed herself to her elbows, so that she could see him clearly.

"What are you talking about?"

Ares stopped laughing and looked at her. Pure possession etched his rugged features. "You know of which I speak."

Jac rolled her eyes. "No, I don't. You better fill me in."

"As you wish." Ares eyes flashed again as his gaze bulleted to her p.u.s.s.y. By the time Jac realized his intent, it was too late to stop him. She felt the familiar pressure building inside about a second before her body convulsed with another o.r.g.a.s.m.

When she'd finally recovered, it took all Jac had not to knock that arrogant expression right off Ares's face. He knew what she'd meant. He played with her, like a cat fiddling with a mouse right before the feline eats its prey. Jac squeezed her legs together as she pictured the dark warrior's head buried between her thighs. Her imagination went on to show his six and a half inch tongue slipping inside her p.u.s.s.y. She groaned. This train of thought got her nowhere. She needed answers and she wanted them now.

Before she could utter a word, Ares rose and walked a few feet away, gathering wood to build a fire. With a pile neatly stacked, he crouched down, placing his hands above the logs. Jac watched as his palms started to glow. In a flash the kindling burst into flames, providing them with protection from the encroaching darkness.

He glanced at her and she raised an eyebrow in question. "That's a neat trick, what else can you do?"

The expression on his face turned from mild amus.e.m.e.nt to out and out feral. Jac crossed her arms over her chest.

"Don't even think about it," she warned.

He gave her a knowing smile and turned back to the fire.

She didn't want to know, but she had to ask again. "What did you mean earlier when you said you were my mate?"

Ares dropped more wood on the fire as if he hadn't heard her question. When he finished he returned to her side and sat. He stared, his gaze distant, as if pondering her words. Finally he spoke. "If I choose to answer, you will not like it."

"Try me." Jac s.h.i.+fted, the ground suddenly growing extremely uncomfortable beneath her.

Ares released a breath. "You will sleep by my side, bear my young, and welcome me with open arms and legs for as long as we draw breath on this planet."

Jac's mouth dropped open, she couldn't help but gape. After the bear my young part Ares might as well have been Charlie Brown's teacher, because all she heard was waa, wa, wawa, wa. The trembling started with her hands and continued to rise until Jac's body vibrated like a top. She was pretty sure steam came out her ears.

Of all the antiquated, Neanderthal, bulls.h.i.+t ideas she'd ever heard, this one took the cake.

Jac jumped to her feet. There was no way she would to put up with this c.r.a.p from him or any other guy. She didn't care how gorgeous he was. Her vision blurred, as the jungle took on a red haze. Jac clenched her hands into painful fists. She'd thank him and be on her way, obviously he was delusional.

"I appreciate you coming to my rescue, Conan," she said through gritted teeth.

"My name is Ares." He s.h.i.+fted, but didn't attempt to stop her.

"Whatever." She shrugged, the tiny motion making her tense muscles feel as if they would snap in two. "You've got the wrong girl for the job, so I'll be on my way."

Jac pivoted and strode into the jungle. She'd made it about ten yards when she slammed into something solid. She looked up and jade eyes flashed, capturing hers. The heat from his body flowed over her, melting her intentions, dissolving all thought from her mind, leaving her with nothing but the physical reaction created by his nearness.