Just her response was enough to send a surge of heat through his body. Leopards often could hear lies, and Isabeau never lied to him. She loved attending his body and she lavished him with her attention.

She laughed softly, feeling his erection thickening, growing harder as he gently pushed deeper into her. His fingers tightened on her hips as he lifted his head to the sky. The wind shifted just a little and Conner’s head snapped around, his eyes blazing as he scanned the tree line and canopy. Very slowly, he straightened, still on his knees, his body buried tight in hers. Deep inside his leopard snarled and raked, fury bursting through him.

He inhaled deeply and scented—enemy. It was a brief, barely there scent that disappeared almost immediately, as if the male leopard had shifted position with the wind. There was no warning from the canopy, nothing to indicate there was an enemy close, but Conner knew he wasn’t mistaken—he had scented another male leopard briefly. He remained still, his gaze sweeping the surrounding forest.

“Is something wrong?” Isabeau asked, recognizing the stillness in him. She started to turn her head, but he dug his fingers into her hips and surged forward, sending ripples of aftershocks spreading through her.

“Don’t move. Just look at me.”

“Oh my God,” she whispered. “Is someone watching us?” She shivered, suddenly frightened. The rain forest had never scared her, yet now shadows seemed to be lurking behind every tree.

“He’s out there. Watching us.”

She didn’t have to ask who “he” was. Ottila Zorba. “How long has he been there?”

“I have no idea. We’re going inside. I want you to lock yourself in. You know how to shoot. I’ll call for backup and then I’m going to shift and hunt him.”

She wanted to shake her head, afraid for him. He pulled away from her and moved his body to block Ottila’s view of her while he helped her up and yanked open the door, nearly shoving her inside.

Ottila hadn’t cut the communication off, probably not wanting to tip them to his presence. Conner made the call to Rio and then began to move through the cabin, preparing to leave her.

“Wait for Rio, Conner,” Isabeau cautioned. “There’s something about him that’s just plain scary. I’ll feel better if you wait.”

His leopard wouldn’t let him. He doubted if the man would. She had no idea how much nature and instincts played a part in their lives, dominating even good sense at times. His cat raged, a black, jealous haze spreading through his mind. He dragged weapons out and showed each to her, taping one beneath the tabletop, putting another in a drawer, hiding four guns and two knives for her.