Man of Passion by Lindsay McKenna

What a bright color against the chocolate brown of the Amazon and the deep green of the jungle."
    "Spoken like a true artist," Rafe said with a smile as he divvied up the bacon and eggs between the two plates. "You see things in terms of color, light and hues. I like that."
    Sighing, Ari watched the unfolding of the sky's colors. "You're right. I never realized that until just now. Look at the dawn. I've never seen anything like this anywhere. Ever."
    Rafe handed her a plate and flatware. "Get used to it. Amazonia has her own special magic that she works on those who visit her. In time, she'll cast her spell on you, and you'll never want to leave." He sat down near her, but not near enough to make Ari feel uncomfortable. Setting his coffee cup on the ground next to his boot, he dug into the scrambled eggs with relish.
    Sighing, Ari followed his lead. She salted her eggs, realizing once again how hungry she was. As they sat there, eating in silence, the sounds that surrounded them were melodic and caressing. Facing the slow-moving Amazon River and watching the bird population come to life as the sun broached the horizon was all Ari wanted. She saw scarlet-and-gold macaws flying rapidly from one side of the river to the other, always in that squadronlike formation. And then she saw another flight of smaller green-and-red parrots fly over their camp.
    "Color…it's everywhere," Ari said reverently as she caught Rafe's gaze. He was wolfing down his large breakfast. She was picking slowly at her food, too excited by all that she was absorbing into her heart and soul to eat, despite her rumbling stomach. "I know my mother would have cried to see this. I had no idea how beautiful Amazonia really is. Books can paint word pictures, but to be here, to feel her… "
    He smiled a little. "Yes, it's a her . You feel her, don't you?"
    Giving him a confused look, Ari picked up a bit of bacon and chewed thoughtfully on it. "What is it, Rafe ? What's this feeling I sense in and around me? I've never had this sensation before. Am I crazy? Is it my wild imagination taking off again?"
    Chuckling, he picked up his coffee and took a sip. Setting it back down at his feet, he said, "No. The Indians call it onca , jaguar energy. Onca is Portuguese for Jaguar. It is said that the jaguar is the queen of the jungle and she rules it in the name of Mother Earth. Jaguar energy is said to be alive and fertile—more powerful than any other energy or animal anywhere in the world."
    "It almost feels like there's an invisible river flowing slowly through and around me."
    Nodding, Rafe said, "Yes."
    "And everyone can feel or sense this?"
    "Everyone I know does." And then he smiled. "But then, my life is here in Amazonia , with the Indians. They are very sensitive to this energy. They can tell you when there is an onca , jaguar, nearby. Each village has a jaguar priest or priestess. There is the Jaguar Clan, which is steeped in mystery and myths that go back hundreds, thousands of years, from what I can tell from my conversations with the Indians. Information about this mysterious and powerful clan is carried down to each new generation by word of mouth. Nothing has ever been written about the clan, or the people who train to work with jaguar medicine and energy."
    Her eyes widened. "I must go get my journal. You're telling me so many wonderful stories! I don't want to miss a word of it, Rafe ." She quickly set her breakfast aside and trotted back to the houseboat.
    Chuckling indulgently, Rafe enjoyed watching Ari. She was an excited child. Yet she moved like a lithe gazelle, or maybe one of those blue or white herons that lived in the hundreds of igarapes along the Amazon river . He felt his heart swell with so many good feelings. Putting his own plate aside, he picked up his coffee and simply enjoyed the coming dawn. He hadn't realized how lonely he'd become without the presence of a woman, until now.
    Sipping the dark, fragrant coffee, Rafe didn't try to fool