Reya's office was perfect for what he needed to do. The woman had everything-state-of-the-art laptop and full-sized desktop computers with all the bells and whistles, including both satellite high-speed internet, phones and, thankfully, a very comfortable futon. It was a bit short for his six-foot-four frame, but he'd make do.
While he worked on getting her agreement to either join him in Colorado or be his woman here in Belize, he could catch up on work. And earn his keep.
Quickly showered and dressed, Aaron put on his own clothes for the first time in almost two weeks. After spending so much time in nothing but a pair of shorts and Reya's sheets, he was thankful she'd had the foresight to have someone wash every article of clothing packed in the black duffel she'd rescued from the plane.
In a form-fitting black tee shirt, comfortable black jeans and a pair of comfortable all-terrain half boots, he made his way down the stairs and into the dining hall.
He almost burst out laughing as Reya looked up from her table where she sat with Dr. Matons and Bethsaida. The woman's mouth had fallen open, and even with Bethsaida poking her in the ribs, it took her awhile to finally manage to close it. He walked past her, winked and headed straight into the kitchen.
When he emerged with a crisp white apron tied around his waist and a tray of beverages, one of the young men was showing him which patrons waited for their breakfast drinks. Aaron felt Reya's eyes on him as he delivered a large tray of goodies to a table full of guests across the room.
He was tiring quickly, but damn it, he had a woman to chase and he didn't have time to waste on getting back up to his full strength. That would come with hard work and nothing less. So he may as well get to it, and now was as good a time as any.
Lazing in the limbs of a broad tree near the perimeter of the woman's home, he watched through the window. A low growl escaped his throat as his future mate ogled the weak human who'd crashed in their jungle not long ago. He should have finished the man then, but couldn't without harming Reya. And he wanted her to come to him wild and unbroken of spirit … so he could enjoy breaking her.
Baring his teeth, he watched the human male move through the food area. Reya's eyes were plastered on the human male as he moved around the room serving other humans. He would have to do something about the man's attempt to insinuate himself into Reya's daily life. It would ruin his plans to ensure she wanted no one but him. And even if she did, she would have no one but him. The woman was a jaguar shifter, and she would mate a jaguar shifter. Period.
Reya belonged to him whether she realized it or not. And if she didn't fall in line soon, he would simply take her by force and make her feel the wrath of his bite.
Aaron leaned against the wall in what he hoped was a casual stance. Sweat poured down his back as he tried to make himself useful, running all over the dining room, helping the staff and serving Reya's guests and fellow rangers. How the hell did Reya and Bethsaida run this place by themselves? There was never an idle moment and always something to do. After sitting in bed for a week, he suddenly wished he was back there, at least long enough to get a second wind. A coal black brow rose in question when a short, bulky young man dressed like a ranger strode through the dining area and headed straight for Reya.
As Aaron's eyes followed the bulky man, another one, young, thin but athletic, walked up to him, placed an ice cold pineapple juice in his hands and joined him against the wall, eyes on Reya and Mr. Bulky. Both of them pushed away from the wall and stood at the ready when Reya's back went ramrod straight and her lips tightened.
"So you're the man who crashed in our jungle, eh?" his companion said easily.
Aaron turned and looked at the man in the eye. Something about the guy struck him as odd, but he detected no malice. In fact, he looked like an overgrown kid.
"Yep, that's me," Aaron said, holding his hand out in a friendly gesture. "I'm Aaron James. Nice to meet you."
"I'm Marc, one of the rangers. I do patrol with Reya sometimes."
The two moved to a nearby table, sipping cold juice, watching Reya deal with her obviously unwanted company.
"Who's the guy talking to Reya?" Aaron questioned, forcing his voice to sound calm and unconcerned. If he'd been a dog, his ears would be pointing straight up and his hackles showing.
"Name's Trefor, the new director of the sanctuary. She doesn't like him very much," Marc said quietly.
"You don't say," Aaron said distractedly, his irritation rising by the second when the Trefor person sat down next to Reya and wrapped his fingers around her arms, causing her to yank away. Noting the contrast between the other man's golden skin and Reya's darker tones, one side of Aaron's lip curled up, not wanting any other skin against hers but his, damn it. Aaron didn't care if he was the director. Hell, he could be king for all he cared. If Trefor touched his woman one more time, he was going to get pounded into the floor, right here and now.
"So how long you gonna be here?" Marc queried, pulling Aaron's mind from his murderous thoughts. Setting his cup down, he turned and cocked a brow at the smiling young man. He looked just out of college. Probably had a crush on Reya. What young man in his right mind wouldn't want such a beautiful, self-sufficient woman on his arm? Too bad, this one was taken. Time to make it clear.
"How long? As long as the lady will have me. Clear enough?"
The smile remained on Marc's face, but a chill seeped into it as he nodded and said, "Just make sure you're worthy of her."
With that and a final sip of juice, Marc strode away and made a beeline to Reya's table. One of his hands landed lightly on her shoulder and Aaron's frown was instant as she looked up at Marc and appeared to immediately relax. With a smart-looking smile on his face, Marc said something to Trefor. Two seconds later Mr. Bulky stomped out of the room. As Aaron watched him barrel toward the front door, he couldn't help but notice everyone was talking to someone, whether guest or ranger. He was the only one sitting alone. He felt very much the outsider, and the conspiratorial smile shared between Reya and Marc made him grind his back teeth.
Reya should be looking at him like that, not Marc or any other man. He was, after all, her new best friend, whether she realized it or not.
Chapter Six
Reya slipped out of the kitchen's back door and strode purposefully into the jungle. Moving at a good clip, and thankful for well-worn trails and her unusual strength and speed, she figured to make her half-mile trek to the Sittee River in less than ten minutes.
Her stomach danced and the hair on the back of her neck stood on end from the moment she stepped into the dense fauna of deep jungle. A couple of times she'd actually stopped to look around, allowing her eyes to shift to enhance her vision. Everything appeared normal but didn't feel normal.
"Goddamn it, Trefor," she yelled when the idiot jumped out at her from somewhere to the right of the path she'd been traveling. He knew she had a diving appointment today and must have come out to head her off after she'd told him to kiss her ass earlier at the breakfast table.
"This seems to be the only way I can get you alone, Reya," he said cockily with a too-confident smile.
"Look, how many times do I have to tell you? I don't want to be alone with you. Not now. Not ever. Not for any reason. Now go away!"
Turning her back on him, she took two steps before his meaty hand landed on her shoulder and spun her around. That hand moved down to her biceps and squeezed brutally. Her shifter senses might be muted in her human form, but they weren't non-existent. If he didn't watch it, she'd have to give him a jaguar ass whipping and see how he liked that. Idiot.
"You're interested in that black-haired giant staying at your place, aren't you?" he snarled into her face. "Everyone is talking about the two of you!"
Snatching her arm away, she snarled right back. "It's none of your goddamned business, Trefor!"
Grabbing her arm again, he pulled her roughly against his chest. She almost giggled at how much shorter he was. Even if she'd wanted to kiss him-and the thought was too disgusting to imagine-she'd have to bend her head to do it. Not like kissing Aaron. Her mind drifted to how it felt to raise her head for his kisses, and how he liked to grab her by her hair and pull her head back so he could nibble on the sweet spot just under her jaw line, and …
"Damn it, Reya, I'll wipe him from your mind if it's the last thing I do!" Trefor yelled as he grabbed at the front of her camo shirt, ripping the first two buttons off. Now that pissed her off.
The change pressed and pushed at Reya, urging her to allow the cat to come out and play. And Trefor would be the toy to her cat as she swatted him between her massive paws. But he didn't deserve to see the majesty of her shifted form. The numbskull wasn't good enough to lay eyes on such beauty. So she shoved him away from her with enough force to make him leave his feet and land hard against the trunk of the nearest tree.