Leopard 02 - Wild Rain

shirt up for her inspection. “What do you think?”
    “Looks good to me.” She started to struggle into a sitting position.
    “Just wait for me.” He slipped the sleeve very carefully over the makeshift splint on her wrist. “You’re in such a hurry.” He helped her sit, enfolding her in the shirt, his knuckles brushing soft flesh as he buttoned her into it. There was something satisfying about wrapping her in his favorite shirt, and he felt as if he’d done it a hundred times. “I think your temperature is beginning to climb again, damn it.”
    She pressed her fingertip over his mouth. “You swear too much.”
    “I do?” His eyebrow shot up. “I thought I was being very careful around you. The cats don’t mind.” He snapped his fingers and the two clouded leopards rushed to his side and pressed against his thigh.
    Rachael forced herself to remain absolutely still. Her insides turned to jelly, but long ago she had learned the benefits of appearing composed in the face of adversity, so she kept a small smile on her face and serenity in her expression. The rain beat a steady tattoo on the roof. She was very aware of the hum of insects and the rustle of leaves and branches against the side of the house. She swallowed the little knot of fear blocking her throat and inhaled Rio’s masculine scent. He smelled of danger and outdoors. “I’m certain the cats don’t care, they probably have already picked up your bad habits.”
    Rio leaned close to her as if sensing her fear, although he rubbed the ears of the cats pressing against his legs. She could see his temple where she’d struck him, a jagged line, already healing, but looking as if it should have had stitches. Before she could stop herself, she touched it. “That’s going to scar, Rio.
    I’m so sorry. You were so busy taking care of me, you didn’t really have time to take care of yourself.”
    She was ashamed of herself for hitting him. The details of the attack had faded in comparison to the nightmare images of men turning into leopards.
    “Are you going to keep finding reasons not to touch the leopards?” He took her hand. “This one is Fritz. His ear has a little chunk missing and his spots are in a pattern much like a map.” He stroked her palm over the animal’s neck and back. Her skin was burning again, dry and hot to his touch. Her eyes were glazing, taking on the overbright look he had become accustomed to seeing.
    Rachael made a supreme effort to keep from trembling. “Hello, Fritz. If you were the one chewing off my leg the other night, please refrain from ever doing so again.”

    The hard line of Rio’s mouth softened. “Nice greeting. I’m certain he’ll remember that. This one is Franz. He has a sweet disposition most of the time, until Fritz gets a little rough with him, then he has a bit of a temper. They disappear for days on end, but most of the time they stay with me. I leave it up to them whether they want to stay or go.” He pressed her hand into the cat’s fur.
    Rachael couldn’t help the small thrill that went through her at the thought of touching such a wild, elusive creature as a clouded leopard. “Hi, Franz. Don’t you know you’re supposed to be afraid of humans?” She frowned. “Haven’t you considered that by making them pets, you’ve made them more vulnerable to poachers who want their fur?”
    “They aren’t exactly tame, Rachael. The only reason they accept you is because my scent is all over you. We sleep together. That’s why I’m reinforcing their relationship with you, so no more mistakes.
    They hide from humans.”
    “We aren’t sleeping together,” she objected sharply. “And I don’t have a relationship with them and I can’t imagine ever having one. Has it occurred to you that you’re not exactly normal? This isn’t the way most people prefer to live.”
    Rio looked around his home. “I like it.”
    She sighed. “I didn’t mean to imply it wasn’t nice.” She moved again, shifting into another position in the hopes of easing the throbbing pain in her leg.
    He swept her hair back from the nape of her neck. It was damp with sweat. Rachael was becoming edgy and restless, shifting her position continually in an effort to ease her discomfort. “Rachael, just relax. I’ll fix a cool drink for you.”
    She bit her tongue as he stood up with his casual grace. He didn’t mean everything to sound like an order—she was hypersensitive. Rachael tried to push at the heavy