Page 31 of Risk It All
Chapter Twelve
Madeleine
Ithink of myself as a strong, independent woman, but I have to admit, I find comfort in Max's arms as the jungle comes alive around us. His nearness, his hard body and the steel length of him pressing against me, even in our dire situation, makes my senses sizzle. I'm grateful for the sensual feelings that distract me from the fact that even if the poachers don't get us, something else in the jungle might. I'm sure I have cuts and scrapes made from branches and the fall down the slope that can easily get infected. That alone could be a problem, but if they'd been made by poisonous plants, it could be worse. Then there are spiders and snakes and who knows what else prowling for a meal.
Max pulls me closer, kissing my temple, reminding me that at the moment we are safe. I'm glad I have my back to him because I have this overwhelming desire to have him remind me in the most basic way that I'm alive, even though now is the worst time for intimacy. Perhaps I'll let him show me his dream after all. When we get home, of course.
For now, we need to rest. I close my eyes, knowing that every breeze, every rustle, every animal cry will wake me. Even if my brain doesn't turn off and my fearful heart won't slow to normal, I can at least rest my limbs. I focus on my breathing, on Max's breathing in my ear, to lull me to sleep.
“Madeleine.”
“Hmmm?”
“It's getting lighter,” Max whispers in my ear.
I startle awake, wondering why I'm on the floor of the jungle wrapped in Max's arms. Then I remember.Poachers.Immediately my mind goes to Bastu and hopes that he was able to save himself.
It's still dark, but the changing color in the jungle indicates that the sun will be rising soon. I wonder if we should use our flashlights and hope that the poachers are long gone or won't notice us. Or maybe we should wait until the sun is high enough that we can move without the flashlights. I'm not quite sure where we are or how far away help is. Ultimately, I determine the sooner we get started, the better.
“We should go.”
Max helps me up first, which takes some effort, because the muscles that don't hurt are asleep. I, in turn, help him up. The low groan and slowness with which he moves suggests he's suffering a similar fate.
He stretches and then smiles. “Was it good for you too?”
I smirk. “I think we can do better.”
Both of his dark brows rise in surprise, and this his smile grows wider, somehow more sensual. “Until next time then.”
He pulls me into his arms and kisses me. At first the kiss is light, like our banter, but slowly it settles into something more. As if we both know that possibly our time is limited and so we should savor whatever good moments we have left.
When he pulls away, I open my pack. “We can use my flashlight.”
“You think they're gone?”
“I hope so. We should eat something too. But let's eat and move at the same time.”
Max opens his pack and pulls out water and a nutrition bar.
Looking at my compass, I point. “If Henri was right, we need to move in that direction toward the boundary of the mine, then head south.”
“We missed the rendezvous last night. Do you think he'll be back?”
“I don't know. If he does come back, we can still miss him. But I don't know what else to try at this point.” This feels like our best chance, but I’m not confident that I’m right.
“Let's start with getting to the mine and then to the road. We'll have plenty of time to figure things out on the way there.”
He's right. We have several hours of walking ahead of us. I just hope we aren't walking into danger.
Hours later, I see the edge of the mine. Following Henri's instructions, we head down the hill along the boundary of the mine while still staying hidden in the trees.
“When I was a kid, I used to imagine myself in all sorts of adventures, but lost in a Nigerian jungle wasn't one of them,” Max says.
“No?” I sip the last of my water, hoping I won't dehydrate before we get to help. “Maybe the Amazon jungle?”
“No jungles. What about you?”
“I never imagined myself lost. But when I was little, I wanted a monkey and threatened to run away to the Amazon to get one.”
