Cult of the Black Jaguar by JG Faherty Page B

trees surrounding the camp, just past the light thrown by the fires.
    Ethan swung around, pistol out and aimed towards the sound, finger ready on the trigger, just in time to see Rory Amos, clothes torn and sweat-soaked blond hair plastered wildly across his head, burst from the trees.
    â€œIt’s coming! Right behind me!”
    Ethan Foster grabbed Rory Amos’s arm just before the other man collapsed to the ground.
    â€œRory! What’s going on? Who’s coming?” Ethan held tight to his assistant, nearly pulling him into an embrace to keep the shaking man on his feet.
    Sweat and spittle flew from Amos’s lips as he gasped out his words. “I don’t know. Something’s out there. Something big. I couldn’t see it clearly, but it’s fast. Some kind of animal. Pacing me.” He bent over, fighting to draw air into his oxygen-starved lungs.
    A deep, gut-wrenching howl shook the night and scattered birds from their roosts. The clatter of wings and the raucous cries of startled jungle denizens added to the confusion.
    â€œ Balamob! ” Popi pointed into the blackness.
    For one brief moment, firelight reflected on ghostly yellow-green eyes. Then they were gone.
    â€œNot a god, but a jaguar for sure,” Ethan said.
    Gun raised and ready, he advanced towards the place where they’d seen the animal, only to find his way blocked by Jenny Pascal, her fists on her hips and her cheeks flushed with anger. She stared up at him with a defiant glare.
    â€œEthan Foster! You can’t possibly be thinking about shooting some poor animal?”
    Ethan raised an eyebrow at the woman he’d known since the day she was born.
    â€œ Doctor Pascal, you better believe I’m thinking about it. Your father hired me to get you through the jungle safely, and I’m—”
    He stopped speaking and threw himself onto her, knocking the young professor to the ground a split-second before a giant black form speared through the space where they’d been standing.
    Ethan rolled halfway off her and fired his Colt just as the jungle cat landed. His first shot caught the animal in the meaty part of one back leg. With an ear-piercing shriek, the ferocious beast tumbled awkwardly onto its side, rolled over, and then got to its feet. A low, raspy snarl came from its throat as it prepared to leap once more.
    Ethan rose to one knee and took careful aim. His pistol roared again and the enormous feline crumpled to the ground, a gaping hole at the base of its neck. It shuddered once before exhaling a final, long breath.
    The smell of hot, fresh blood teased Ethan’s nose in waves of copper and death. His belly growled in reaction.
    Hands clutched his arm and two soft mounds of womanly flesh pressed against his back, distracting him from a dangerous path. Jenny’s scent, a combination of sweat, woman and shampoo, wafted over his shoulder and pushed aside the odors of the dead beast.
    â€œYou saved my life,” she whispered into his ear. Her breath caressed the flesh of his neck and made the tiny hairs there stand on end.
    Ethan turned his head and found himself staring directly into large, emerald eyes that were partly closed. The barest hint of a smile tilted up the corners of her full, pink lips.
    He leaned in for the kiss that was due him, a kiss years in the making, his body already responding to hers.
    â€œJenny, come see this. Ethan has shot a melanistic jaguar. A magnificent beast, well over one hundred kilograms.”
    â€œOh! We must get pictures!” The gentle pressure of Jenny’s hand on Ethan’s broad chest grew firmer and then disappeared as she pushed away from him and hurried to her father’s side.
    Damn Heathcliff Pascal for bringing his daughter!
    Ethan clenched his jaw and stayed on his knees for moment, getting control of his emotions, before rising to his feet.
    This is why you don’t have women on expeditions.
    Jenny caught the movement,