Rakahnja's Haven Read online

  An Ellora’s Cave Romantica Publication

  www.ellorascave.com

  Rakahnja’s Haven

  ISBN 9781419912160

  ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.

  Rakahnja’s Haven Copyright© 2007 Nicole Austin

  Edited by Shannon Combs.

  Cover art by Syneca.

  Electronic book Publication August 2007

  This book may not be reproduced or used in whole or in part by any means existing without written permission from the publisher, Ellora’s Cave Publishing, Inc.® 1056 Home Avenue, Akron OH 44310-3502.

  This book is a work of fiction and any resemblance to persons, living or dead, or places, events or locales is purely coincidental. The characters are productions of the authors’ imagination and used fictitiously.

  Rakahnja’s Haven

  Nicole Austin

  Dedication

  To my all the ladies, hussies and alphas of the playground. Thank you for making my home away from home such a wonderful place to be.

  To Jackie. Thanks for the inspiration.

  To the sister of my heart. The journey is only beginning so sit back, relax and enjoy the amazing ride.

  Trademarks Acknowledgement

  The author acknowledges the trademarked status and trademark owners of the following wordmarks mentioned in this work of fiction:

  The Twilight Zone: CBS Broadcasting Inc. Corporation

  Chapter One

  “I’m going to die…alone.”

  That was the harsh truth of her situation. Ready for it or not, short of a miracle, she did not have much time remaining.

  Time.

  The word no longer held any true meaning for Anita Bennett as she wandered aimlessly through the wilderness. Dehydration fogged her mental processes and left her in an endless haze with little reality remaining.

  She was somewhere in her beloved Rocky Mountains of Colorado and knew it was summertime because of the spectacular splashes of botanical colors along the hillsides and meadows she encountered.

  She was also being stalked by a gorgeous black jaguar.

  “Keep it together, woman. You’ve gotten through tough spots before.” The weak sound of her raspy voice was not very reassuring.

  Anita realized her need for food and water had become desperate. Although she had one remaining protein bar in the small pack slung around her waist, she would not eat it before finding another source of nutrients. That last bit of food was her final lifeline, one she was not prepared to give up. All things considered, her survival instincts had kicked in and she would do whatever it took to live another day.

  “Keep moving, girl. One foot in front of the other.”

  What she didn’t know was how long she’d been wandering or where she’d ended up. There were no familiar landmarks in sight and the varied terrain produced no spark in her spotty memory.

  How she’d ended up in this sad state was also a mystery.

  Then there was the presence of the jaguar to consider. While not normal, it didn’t disturb her. In fact, she felt some comfort knowing he was there and she wasn’t quite so alone. Anita was happy to have the sense of companionship and safety of having him near. He helped to lessen the perceived threat and kept her anxiety at bay.

  It was the other presence that bothered her. The human eyes she felt tracking her progress seemed menacing, creating a prickling sensation along the fine hairs on the back of her neck. She never caught sight of them but did not doubt their existence. No doubt they were up to no good.

  “Keep moving. Gotta keep moving.” Anything else was unacceptable.

  For thirty years she’d hiked alone in the Rocky Mountains, making camp in whatever area struck her fancy, communing with the wilderness through an innate relationship with every rock, tree, stream and creature. Never before had she become lost, disoriented and frightened, or faced mortality as she did now.

  What a mess. Somewhere along the way she’d screwed up big time. If she made it out of this…

  No! She wouldn’t adopt a defeatist attitude. When she made it out of this, she might have to rethink the wisdom of her insistence she was safe alone in the mountains.

  When she hiked, Anita felt as one with nature, self-assured and confident. The elk, bears, coyotes, big cats, winged creatures and scores of other animals that inhabited the area were her friends. She existed for the sole purpose of drinking in the grandeur and lush plant life, from pine forest to grassy hillside, wildflower-filled meadow and slow-moving stream.

  On this current trek, she walked at a high elevation. The terrain was rocky with sparse vegetation, the blackened bodies of spruce and pine trees bent and gnarled, reflecting the effects of harsh summers and even harsher winters. Even though she understood it would be best to work her way to a lower, milder elevation, Anita lacked the clarity necessary to take action.

  Since she had awoken—shivering, cold and hungry—she’d both felt and seen the presence of the dark creature shadowing her every movement. Had it been hours or days?

  “Doesn’t matter.”

  Anita’s rational mind told her he couldn’t possibly exist here, but he was as solid and real as she was. Glimpses of a shiny black pelt, which shimmered with undertones of silver, flirted with her imagination and heightened her senses. Fleeting impressions of golden eyes peeking from behind various plants and trees captured her attention.

  The magnificent creature had remained in her peripheral vision for the most part, yet as the day wore on he became bolder, moving more to the forefront.

  In a moment of lucidity, Anita figured she must be hallucinating. Black jaguars did not exist in Colorado. They could generally be found only in dense rainforests, savannahs and swamps on other continents, so there was no way she was seeing one here.

  The other presence she detected, the humans, had more probability of being real, but her mind wouldn’t focus on the danger they represented.

  Then the haze invaded again and she began to wonder if she was still in the United States. Either she didn’t know where she was or she was imagining the dark creature that stalked her. No other explanation fit.

  A brief glimpse of striking black fur gliding over sleek muscle straight ahead allowed her to track the movements of the jaguar that no longer followed. Instead, he led the way. To where, she had no idea or true concern about at the time. Anita simply followed.

  “Lead on,” she muttered.

  Good Lord, that had to be a sure sign her sanity had fled. There was no way she was walking in the Rocky Mountains, being led to an as-yet-unknown location by a black jaguar. She was even talking to herself.

  Talk about your bizarre, out-there experiences…wow! This one took the blue ribbon.

  Still the most puzzling aspect of the splendid creature came with the recognition he appeared as a man at times. One who seemed vaguely familiar. The unexpected sight of a masculine, human form where the beast had lurked only moments before formed a baffling dichotomy in her mind.

  Was this the human presence she’d sensed?

  Anita shook off the idea. No, this man was different. She was relaxed in his presence.

  Now she was certain she’d lost it. There was no way a jaguar could suddenly transform into a human. Such nonsense was the stuff of fantasy fiction novels.

  She’d nearly tripped over her own feet upon first seeing the lean man who greatly resembled the jaguar, moving with feline grace between two towering pine trees. He stood tall, easily topping six feet. Silky, ebony hair teased broad shoulders, framing an angular face and those stunning amber eyes. His was an aristocratic countenance with a sharp, chiseled bone structure she found both rugged and beautiful.

  “Gorgeous.”

  The man was so striking he could obtain a top-dollar mo
deling contract with one of the most elite agencies. Sexy and natural. Completely breathtaking.

  Bare skin glistened in the sun, the color reminding her of the rich, creamy-brown latté coffee drink she favored. Then he changed again and the animal’s flesh rippled and played over sinuous muscle, the sight making her skin shiver and prickle with goose bumps.

  “Amazing.”

  Come to me. Follow me to safety.

  The words echoed through her head in a deep, resonating male voice every time their eyes connected across the distance. This latest development was like some weird tale straight out of The Twilight Zone. There was no way the man-jaguar mystical creature was talking in her head, yet not once did she question the actual words. Nor did she question his shifting ability. With blind faith and implicit trust, she followed him as the sun dipped low over the horizon and evening approached.

  She was drawn to the sensual fantasy luring her toward either safety or certain demise, the end result no longer mattering. He conquered what focus she had left and dominated her senses. Dream, illusion or insane hallucination…Anita knew with a soul-deep assurance she must follow. There was no other option. Her very life depended on him.

  Something about the mysterious jaguar gave her the feeling of being protected when she should feel like prey. She harbored no misconception that such an abnormally large cat, with its muscular body, strong jaws and teeth, was not a dangerous killer.

  This was no domesticated house cat. Quite the opposite. This cat probably weighed at least two-hundred pounds and had lethal instincts, yet she trusted him anyway.

  As the distance between them lessened with their continued forward progress, Anita noticed the spotted pattern revealed when the fading sun hit his gorgeous hide in just the right way. The elegant markings were primarily detectable on his hind legs and flanks. She imagined tracing her fingers over the light-colored lines separating the square-shaped spots, his short coat tickling her hands.

  Mmm…it would be such a sensual experience to feel his soft pelt rub against her sensitive skin as her fingers slid over his radiant hide.

  “I need…” The thought died on her lips. What did she need?

  I know, love. I’ll make it all right.

  She accepted his bold statement as fact and stopped worrying, choosing instead to put her faith in the fascinating creature. She watched in silent appreciation as the jaguar’s powerful legs propelled him in a graceful leap from a wide tree branch to settle light as a feather on a nearby boulder. He paused for only a moment, looking over his shoulder as if ensuring she still followed.

  Anita read reassurance in his bright gaze and heard his soothing voice in her mind offering comfort.

  Keep coming. We’re almost there. Safety waits not far ahead.

  A very elusive, yet familiar word rolled through her mind, spoken in the smooth, sensual voice she’d come to associate with the jaguar. She struggled to capture the arousing word, coveting the warm, tactile vibrations it invoked within her. Each syllable was drawn out slow and salacious as it rolled from his tongue, escaping as a rumbling purr that stroked her mind.

  Rah-kahn-jah.

  A shiver raced down her spine and every muscle trembled. The beautiful word created a heated response, easing any lingering fear and confusion, morphing into a sexual energy, propelling her forward. Intuition told Anita this word was the very essence of the jaguar, his unique identity. As names went, it was the sexiest one she’d ever heard.

  “Rakahnja.” Her attempt to speak resulted in a dry, pain-filled broken whisper barely making it past her cracked lips.

  Yes, love. Follow Rakahnja.

  “Rakahnja,” she repeated.

  Just the way his name rolled off her own parched tongue started a spasm of longing centered in her core. As the word stalled on her lips, the jaguar turned, staring into her eyes. A wealth of emotion and desire passed between them in the heated exchange. She moved toward the big cat with a new, single-minded determination.

  “I don’t know how it can be, but I’m certain you are really here and won’t hurt me. This is no mere dream or hallucination.” Her voice had taken on a husky, breathless quality, almost unrecognizable to her ears.

  Come to me, love. Come to Rakahnja.

  Their gazes remained locked as she moved in a trancelike state closer to the large predator. She wasn’t his prey though. His soothing voice, even if only in her mind, gave her the sense of being treasured, cherished. Heated need and warm tendrils of love emanated through the link that seemed to connect them.

  In some distant place, her mind registered the notion she should be moving away from the big animal, afraid of these intense emotions. She ignored the idea, advancing at a steady pace. Seeking the comfort, protection and love of the jaguar-man seemed natural.

  Her hand trembled as she held her palm toward him. She wasn’t sure what to expect, but the last thing she’d anticipated was the velvety soft rub of his nose against her skin. The warm, wet swipe of his big tongue over her flesh sent a jolt of lust spreading up her arm and through her entire body. Her breasts swelled, nipples puckering as her womb clenched, a gush of hot juices rushing to coat the lips of her sex.

  The excitement of being so close to the dangerous, primal animal with no means of protection should he decide she looked like dinner was a major rush. Watching the impressive cat move with stealth and grace, then feeling his hot breath on her hand, stirred a previously unrevealed wildness within her.

  Anita felt free-spirited, impulsive and even somewhat reckless.

  “How can this be happening? You can’t be real.” Her mind fought to assimilate the perplexing events. Fantasy and reality battled within her. She didn’t know what was true anymore and had forgotten all about the needs of her deprived body.

  Touch me. I am as real and solid as the rocks, as bending as the trees, warm as the sun. I live and breathe, just like you do.

  When she didn’t respond immediately, the words became a firm command echoing through her muddled, over-stimulated mind.

  Touch me, love!

  Chapter Two

  There was no way she’d refuse his order or resist the fierce need to obey. Anita didn’t consider herself to be submissive—she had a tendency to be stubbornly resistant to authority—but something about Rakahnja made deferring to his will and pleasing him her greatest desire.

  Her fingers slid over the bulk of his large head. The hard bone was covered with a soft pelt that tickled and teased her fingertips. The solid muscles of his neck revealed massive strength. When her hand stroked his rock-solid flank, her knees nearly buckled.

  “You are real.” Each of her senses zeroed in on the clear proof. A deep level of wonder and curiosity she hadn’t possessed in a long time made her pulse beat faster. Her eyes took in his magnificent form, each breath flooded her lungs with his musky scent and his voice caressed her mind as her fingers played over his warm, sturdy mass.

  Come now, love. We must replenish your body.

  She tried speaking to him through her mind, determined to express her joy and wonder, but it didn’t work. Must be only something he was able to do.

  “This is all so incredible.” The words were barely a whisper, but he seemed to nod in acknowledgement.

  Time and distance passed unnoticed as Anita deliberated on this strange new world she’d stumbled upon. Obscure impressions flitted through her head. There were fuzzy memories of setting out for a few days in her beloved wilds to decompress from the stress of daily life. It seemed like years ago she’d had the argument with her boss over the handling of an emergency call in her job at the dispatch center.

  Had it really only been days since she’d left her life behind?

  Fleeting images played in her hazy memory, comprehension remaining just out of reach. There’d been a misstep on an exposed root, followed by a tumble down a rocky slope and now the question of if these things had occurred. The indistinct ramblings of her normally sharp mind were frustrating, leaving her entangled
in a thick miasma of confusion.

  “Unh.”A sharp pang of hunger shot through her abdomen, muscles clenching tight. She panted and gasped, doubling over, riding out the cramp until it passed. When she was once again able to move, the cat was right there, urging her on in his seductive voice, filling her mind and exciting her body.

  You must keep moving.

  The constant presence of the jaguar was so strange. Being escorted through the Rocky Mountains by a big, man-eater cat had never entered her dreams. Not even her most improbable, sleep-induced fantasies, yet that’s exactly what her world currently consisted of.

  She found herself following the fearsome hunter with blind faith. Instinct said he guided her to his home—a safe haven where she’d find food, water and much-needed rest. The little voice in the back of her head encouraged her forward, assuring her he’d also revive her heart and soul.

  He stayed very close now, and on occasion, Anita let her dangling hand brush over the silky fur along his muscular back. His warmth against her cold hands reassured her and the contact with another living being meant she was still alive and kicking. As long as she breathed, there was hope.

  She realized her cold feet and hands were incongruous with the warm summer breeze, her rapid breathing and pulse inconsistent with the lethargic movements of her body. Why this information was significant, however, escaped her.

  Rakahnja often pressed his nose or paw against her calf, then appeared to observe the delayed time it took for the small indentation to fill back out. In what was becoming a rare moment of understanding, Anita realized he was checking how long it took her capillaries to deliver blood to her skin. In her emergency medical training the instructors called this “cap refill” and used the simple test when assessing a patient’s condition.

  How an animal knew to check this response was beyond her current ability to figure out.