She kissed his throat, trailed little kisses up his jaw. “And I still think your elders stink. They didn’t recognize how courageous you were in going to them and admitting what you’d done.”

“It wasn’t courage. It was what she taught me. I chose to do something and I had to take the consequences. It was her rule and one I respected.” The joy burst through him like a rainbow of colors. Rachael had a way of making him feel worthwhile. Feel like someone special and amazing. He tied the rope around her waist and waded out into the fast-moving current. “We have to swim to shore. The current will take us a bit downstream but we have to angle for the other side of the river.”

She nodded to show him she understood. This time when she put her foot down in the water, she could rest her weight briefly on it. It was a good sign that she was finally healing. She had taken a close look at it in the cave and there would definitely be scarring, but at least she had the leg.

They were swept downriver even as they swam strongly toward shore. Rio reeled her in close to him and fought his way to the shore, dragging her along. He managed to catch a low-hanging branch and easily pulled himself up onto it, lifting her out of the water with his incredible strength.

Rachael clung to the tree branch, her feet still dangling in the water. The bark was rough on her bare skin and for some reason she was suddenly self-conscious of her nakedness. She looked around and saw only monkeys staring at her.

“If I get a leech on me, even one, I’m going to be upset,” she promised. “And make those monkeys stop staring. They’re making me feel naked.”

“You are naked.” He laughed as he pulled her completely from the water, holding her close to his body, her breasts mashed against his chest. “And you’re ruining the romantic ambience.”

Her eyebrow nearly reached her hairline. “Romantic ambience? What are you going on about?”

“I hardly think leeches should enter into a romantic walk through the forest, especially when your body is incredible sexy and bare at the moment.” He cradled her in his arms and leapt to the ground, landing softly.

She circled his neck with her arms and looked up into the trees. It seemed as if a thousand eyes were staring at them. “Rio. The monkeys really are staring.”