Total pages in book: 138
Estimated words: 127461 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 637(@200wpm)___ 510(@250wpm)___ 425(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 127461 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 637(@200wpm)___ 510(@250wpm)___ 425(@300wpm)
He felt sorrow for her—for himself. He stepped back, all too aware that the bond they’d formed when she was a child had strengthened and she could feel his every emotion. He was used to commanding every situation. He didn’t like feeling less than a man.
A slow smile curved her lips. “Silly. You’re more a man than any other I’ve ever met, because you admit your emotions to me. I feel as though I was born to be with you, and yet I have no idea if I can give you the things you need either. I want to. More than anything, Gorya, I want to be that woman for you. Your partner in every way, but like you, I’m not the person I was born to be.”
There was pain in her voice. Pain in her eyes. He felt that emotion coming off her in waves. “Maybe we were both meant to be exactly who we are now so we can be together,” he murmured. He smoothed back her hair. “I can’t imagine being with anyone else.”
“Let’s hope you’re right, Gorya. If you’re not, at least we have this time together.”
He liked that it mattered to her that they were together because it meant everything to him. “You ready for a run, Maya?”
“I’m looking forward to it,” she answered immediately, and stretched her arms over her head. “You have the advantage because you know the area.”
“We aren’t racing. This is a very hazardous section of the swamp. There are some places where the surface appears stable but it’s thin and you could fall through.”
She lifted an eyebrow. “I’ve got good instincts. And if I get into trouble, I’m sure you’ll rescue me.” She batted her eyelashes.
“Follow me and don’t get cocky.” He gave her his best scary face, but it didn’t seem to faze her.
She gave a little sniff of disdain. Her answering grin said she was teasing him.
Gorya turned and began to jog along a narrow path that led into the interior of the swamp. Long veils of moss hung in silvery drapes from branches, fluttering in the breeze. Ropes of woody vines spilled from the highest canopies to swing gently. Various varieties of flowers wound around tree trunks, climbing toward the sky and infusing the air with fragrances, adding to the smells of the swamp.
He ran along a thin track of land, leapt over a fallen log, avoided a termite mound that was nearly as tall as Maya and maneuvered through tangled brush that held sharp thorns. There wasn’t a sound behind him. He didn’t look over his shoulder to see if she was there. He felt her and knew she instinctively stepped in his footprints.
She kept up even when he quickened his pace. If a fallen log was higher than her head and he leapt over it, she cleared it without breaking stride. She had amazing springing capability. He was pleased to discover she had nerves of steel. Swerving close to the embankment where a bull alligator guarded his territory didn’t deter her in the least. She didn’t hesitate or try to swerve from the course. She always found foliage to cover her presence from above and around her. She had the advantage in that she was small enough to disappear into the vegetation.
He indicated they were going up into the trees as they approached the river, and she immediately leapt into the higher branches of a cypress tree and ran along the curving limb that stretched toward the next one. He chose a larger cypress growing beside the one she was in, racing her, using longer strides; the arboreal highway was one he knew intimately. The tree branches extended across a narrow spot in the river, and he ran lightly. Even with his weight, he didn’t disturb the leaves.
Maya was in the tree across from his, but he would never have known. She could have been a ghost, the wraith she called her leopard. There was no sound, no movement; he knew she was there, yet he couldn’t spot her. He had no doubt he wouldn’t have been able to see her leopard either. She was just behind him as he leapt from one tree to the next, clearing the large gap between branches to the opposite shore.
She laughed softly, the sound of joy filling the space between them. Gorya found his entire mind and body reacting to the sound. He hadn’t known happiness until Maya.
Do you see now? Rogue’s smug images mixed with the new emotions. Wraith and I made the decision for the two of you because you wouldn’t have chosen the right path.
Gorya had to admit the leopard was right. Maya would never have accepted him, and he wouldn’t have pushed for a relationship, not even for Rogue. He considered himself too far gone. The verdict isn’t in on whether or not this will work.