Page 31 of Love in the Wild

“Can I? I would love to take pictures of the elephants and the waterfall.” Her gaze flicked to the gold and diamonds and the carvings on the walls. “And maybe the place where you found those?” She would take pictures of his display as well. She wanted to be able to document everything as best she could.

His hand rose to the leafy crown on his brow, and he frowned.

“Would that be okay?”

“Yes. But cave is dark.”

“Not a problem.” Eden knelt by her camera bag and pulled out a flashlight. She clicked it on and shone the light on the wooden floor. Thorne tensed, then suddenly smiled at her.

“You carry sunlight.”

“Sort of.” She motioned him forward and handed him the flashlight. She showed him how to flip the switch to turn it on and off. He did it several times, grinning. Even jungle-raised wild men loved technology, it seemed.

“Can we leave now? I would like to take some pictures.” She put her camera bag over her head and slung it across her body.

Thorne glanced at the empty palm fronds he’d left by the bed, then agreed. It was weirdly cute that he was so thoughtful about her needs.

She climbed onto his back, and he stepped out into the webbing of thick branches.

“You hold me,” he instructed. One of his hands tapped her knee as if to remind her she needed to keep a tight grip on him.

“I’m holding on as tight as I can,” she assured him.

Thorne grabbed the nearest thick vine, his muscles bulging as he wound his fingers around it.

“We aren’t climbing?” Panic rocketed through her as she realized what he meant to do. “Oh no, no-no-no—!”

He leapt off the branch before she could finish, and her words turned to a shriek as she closed her eyes. The pit of her stomach dropped as they entered a brief freefall before the vine Thorne held caught their weight. She heard the chatter of birds and felt the breeze whip her face and hair as they swung. She dared to open her eyes just as Thorne caught another vine and they swung yet again. They were flying, or close to it, and Eden suddenly laughed.

For a few glorious seconds, her past life no longer existed. There was only this moment with Thorne, the jungle, the humidity clinging to them and the wild world ahead with its endless beauty.

Their swinging slowed, and Thorne dropped down to the ground with panther-like grace. She had to practically peel herself off his back from the sweat. She plucked at her clothes, more than a little embarrassed, but Thorne watched her with a sweet, knowing smile that held a hint of mischief.

“What?”

He shrugged and started walking toward the open trail where they had first seen Tembo and his herd.

“Tell me!” She rushed to catch up to him. “Seriously, what?” She reached for his hand, and he turned amused eyes on her.

“You like to hold me with your body.” He spoke the words carefully, getting better at his English every time he practiced.

“I do not,” she lied.

Thorne merely smiled wider. “You do. We are dating. I am pleased.”

He was indeed—he practically gleamed with pride. Eden was torn. He had never had a human companion, at least not since he’d lost his parents, but now he had her. And part of her, a far too big part of her, loved the idea that she was the first woman he had ever kissed and that he wanted to be her man, to care for her and cherish her.

Last night as she fell asleep, he had spoken to her softly about mates and how he had dreamed of one, and how he would give everything that was his to have her. He’d spoken of love, too, but what did love mean to a man raised in the wild? Did he understand the intricacies of falling and staying in love? It was possible here in the jungle that it was easy to love, but in the modern world it seemed infinitely more difficult.

He slid an arm around her waist and pulled her close, so their bodies were flush against each other. He cupped the back of her head and brought his lips to hers. She groaned against his mouth as his tongue played with hers. He was becoming a master of this, seducing her slowly and exquisitely into a state of wild arousal. Eden wanted him to never stop touching her and never wanted to feel his mouth leave hers unless it was to kiss other parts of her. By the time he was done, she’d completely forgotten whatever they had been talking about. Her body was vibrating with the need for more.

“Good kiss?” he asked, his face flushed.

“Verygood. I’m regretting that I taught you how to do that.” She chuckled and bit her lip as though to hide a smile. He looked almost bashful, and that made her flush with wild hungers that would have embarrassed her, but Thorne didn’t make her ashamed of her body or what it wanted.

“I like kissing you. It pleases me.” He swept his gaze over her body in a way that made her fully aware of where his thoughts were headed. Hers weren’t far behind.

“Thorne—”

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