Tiger Prince

She tried to pull her hand away, but his hand closed on her own.

"No." He met her gaze. "Let me touch you. I have to get near you some way."

He was getting too near, she thought breathlessly. For the past days he had been companion and ally, damping down any hint of physical sexuality, but now the sensuality that was so much a part of him was there before her.

"I wouldn't do this if there were any other way," he said thickly. "It's not what I want for us." He laughed desperately. "Correction. I want it like hell. It's just not all I want and I'm afraid I'll scare you off if I reach out and grab." His fingers moved up and stroked the thin skin of her wrist.

A hot shiver went through her. "Let me go, Ruel."

"Why?" He glanced at the crowd of laborers around the campfire as his fingers continued to feather the sensitive skin at her wrist. "No one is paying any attention. The Ci

She knew that was true and Ruel's caress was probably not even visible to most of them, half hidden as it was between their bodies. The knowledge did nothing to rid her of this feeling of excruciating intimacy.

"Besides, you like it. You want it. Let me come to your tent tonight," he murmured. "I'll make you—"

Li Sung sat down next to them. "I have something to talk to you about."

Jane drew a quivering breath of relief as Ruel's hand dropped away from her wrist.

Ruel shot her a look that was composed equally of frustration and ruefulness. He picked up his coffee cup and turned his gaze to Li Sung. "Talk."

Li Sung said, "I believe I know a way to make the construction go faster."

"How?"

"By using the elephants," Li Sung said. "Our slowdown right now is because of the clearing problem. In Kasanpore, elephants were sometimes used for clear-ing."

"Wild elephants?"

"No, elephants that had been trained for years by their handlers, their mahouts. But I have talked to Dilam about this and, if I can get Danor to clear the trees I want him to clear, she thinks the other elephants will follow him. Since they have to consume such vast quantities of leaves anyway, we might as well guide them in the way that's most useful to us."

Ruel turned to Jane. "Do you think it will work?"

"I'll have to think about it. This is as much a surprise to me as it is to you. Li Sung didn't mention the plan to me."

"I forgot," Li Sung said absently, and then went on. "If you and Jane combine crews, Dilam and I will be freed to take the elephants and go on ahead to clear the terrain along the track route from here to the canyon wall."

"Just the two of you?"

"I'll need three Ci

Ruel turned to Jane. "Well?"

"We could try it," she said slowly. "If we can get the Ci

"They will." Li Sung smiled confidently. "I visited Dilam's village last night and spoke to them. The handlers will be here tomorrow."

"I'm surprised they gave in so easily," Ruel said. "They're very careful of the safety of their people."

Li Sung smiled. "I took the precaution of making a splendid entrance into the village on Danor's back. They were very impressed."

"Well, you seem to have everything under control." Jane smiled with an effort. "It's a fine idea. We'll have to see if it works."

"It will work." Li Sung stood up. "I'll go tell Dilam you approve."

"Yes, do that." Ruel smiled as he watched Li Sung walk away. He added in a lower voice to Jane, "Not that it matters. I have an idea he would have gone ahead and done it anyway. Our Li Sung is changing. You won't find him in your shadow these days."

"He was never in my shadow," she protested.

"Wasn't he?"

"I never meant—" She stopped, appalled. "Did I make him feel that?"

Ruel shook his head. "No, he stayed there because he had no reason to step out . . . until now."

Jane watched Li Sung move across the clearing to where Dilam was sitting with a group of Ci

She looked down at the coffee in her cup. "The Ci

"Power." Ruel's gaze was still on Li Sung. "I think the elephant shared his power with him, but now Li Sung knows he doesn't need it."

"What do you mean?"

"He's found it in himself." Ruel suddenly chuckled. "God, how smugly profound I sound. But it's true. At this rate, he may be invited to sit on their council before I do."

"Perhaps." Jane threw the remainder of her coffee into the flames and abruptly stood up. "I'm going to my tent."

Ruel's smile faded. "You don't have to run away from me. I'm too much an opportunist not to realize I can't do anything more tonight. I would never have even started it if I hadn't wanted to find out why you were upset with me."

"I'm not upset with you," she burst out. "Everything in my world doesn't revolve around you. There are other things that—" She turned on her heel. "Good night."

"Other things? What other—" He stopped, paused and then said, "Good night."

She could feel his thoughtful gaze on her back until she entered the shadows beyond the firelight.

Shadows. The word reminded her of Ruel's words about Li Sung. She had never wanted to keep Li Sung in her shadow. She had always wanted sunlight and happiness for him, to give him everything he wanted and needed.

But he did not need anything from her any more and what he wanted he could win for himself.

She would just have to become accustomed to this new Li Sung.

"It's hard to believe," Ruel murmured as he watched Danor press his forehead against the bole of a young tree and push against it. "I've never seen this before. Amazing. . . "

Danor pushed again and the tree moved, the roots tore from the earth, and the tree toppled to the ground. Jane nodded. "Li Sung seems to be able to do anything with that elephant. I think we're going to be able to give you your railroad in those two months. We're up to almost five miles a day." She smiled with an effort. "I'm very grateful, of course."

"Are you?"

She turned to see Ruel's gaze fixed on her face. "Do i you doubt it?"

"Yes." He held up his hand. "Oh, I'm sure you're happy about the increase in production, but there's something wrong."

"What could be wrong?"

"Li Sung," Ruel said softly. "He doesn't need you anymore."

Pain twisted within her. "He never needed me. Li Sung was always completely independent."

"Not this independent. He relied on you for understanding and affection."

"We're still friends and friends always need each other."