He slid his arms around her waist to make sure she’d completely gained her balance. “You hungry?”
She stilled. “Hungry?”
“For food.” He hid a smile. Getting her off balance had just become his favorite pastime. “Bear stopped so we could have a snack.”
“Oh.” She moved across the leaves and tripped, eyeing the now burned bush warily.
He reached for her hand.
She pulled back. “Everyone will know…that we, um...”
He tugged her toward him, willing to wait all day if she needed time. “You’re riding with a bunch of bear shifters. Half of them are off getting naked in the woods right now.”
Her peel of laughter caught him off guard and made his already hard dick pound with a need so great even his ears heated. “I hadn’t thought of that.” Her eyes sparkled. “I was looking for an adventure, and I guess I’ve found one. But I’m calling the shots on my future. Don’t forget that.”
“Right.” He led her out of the trees toward where Nessa had already stockpiled a picnic table full of treats for those few who hadn’t suddenly disappeared into the trees.
A partially burned tree was next to her with a fire extinguisher at its base. Sam winced. So that explained the yelling. He’d started a fire on his way through.
One thing at a time. “You need to eat something, and then we’re going to ride for a while longer. Keep up your energy, baby. I haven’t even started with you yet.”
Her quick indrawn breath made him smile.
Again.
Chapter Thirteen
Honor sat on a blanket beneath the boughs of a generous pine tree, munching happily on a sandwich. A turkey, ham, and salami sandwich that was probably the best one she’d ever tasted. Nessa was amazing with a picnic basket. During the long ride, they’d stopped three more times for bathroom and food breaks, and she and Sam had stuck to the food except for the first time—and they hadn’t started any more fires. Her body still hummed, and she wanted to ask what he’d meant by not being through with her.
Oh, she knew what he’d meant. It was a little embarrassing that the stolen moment in the trees had resulted in the best orgasm of her life. The guy had barely touched her. But she still wasn’t sure what mating entailed. It was time to stop admiring the man and get some answers. After dinner.
Folks bustled about, preparing tents for the night. Sam had set down the blanket, handed her a sandwich, and told her to sit tight. Her legs were tired from riding all day, as was her body, so she’d complied.
Now she watched him cross back and forth by a glade of cottonwoods, a cell phone to his ear. Again. During their brief stops, he’d taken a call from his brother Zane, who turned out to be the demon king. Zane needed an update on Garrett as well as advice about some sort of treaty with a vampire group out of Montana. Then younger brother Logan called, needing advice about an upcoming meeting with the witch nation as well as help dealing with a crazy-assed fairy named Mercy who apparently Sam adored because he always took her side.
Sam had called his mother to check in on his younger sister, who was trying to date a dork named Bobby. His advice was to allow said sister to date the dork, because it would only last an hour. His sister was too smart for dorks. But in case she wasn’t, Sam had advised that somebody named Paxton should check Bobby out and scare the shit out of him if necessary—and to keep Daire away from Bobby to avoid some sort of internal war. She was still guessing who Daire might be.
Right now, Sam was talking to another king. Honor knew this because he’d started the last sentence with, “You might be the fucking king, but you have your head up your ass right now. Stop and think, Dage.”
Huh. She reached for her open bottle of tea and drank some down, cooling her throat. Fascinating. Absolutely fascinating.
Garrett whistled from over by a stand of trees, gestured, and waited for Sam to point toward Honor. Then Garrett hefted a large pack over his massive shoulder and headed her way with the cute brunette trailing behind him. She carried a backpack and picked her way carefully across the grassy way.
“Hey,” Garrett said; they’d formally met again during one of the other stops.
“Hey,” Honor replied. “Sam’s talking to a king.”
Garrett nodded. “My uncle. Sam runs interference sometimes.” The brunette was still out of earshot.
“He does a lot more than that,” Honor murmured, her gaze moving back to the hybrid pacing by the river.
Garrett paused and focused on her face, his gaze appraising behind his tinted glasses. “You caught that, did you?” His perusal was more than casual, as if he was seeing her for the first time. A slow smile tipped his lips.
She returned the smile. “Most people don’t?”
Garrett shook his head. “Not even close. He’s the middle brother sandwiched between an older brother who’s a king and younger one who’s destined for something big that I can’t go into with you. Most folks don’t look beneath the surface and think Sam’s the peacemaker. The wanderer and the…other brother.”
She laughed out loud. “Only because that’s what he wants them to think.”
Garrett lifted his chin. “You’re not just a pretty face with Enhanced gifts, now are you?”
Heat flooded into her face. The hottie thought she was pretty? Man, she was a dork. “Sam’s awfully good at this, right?”
“Right.” Garrett gave her the full force of his smile, and it was something to see. Then he winked before turning to the brunette who’d just caught up to them. The pretty woman had disappeared into the trees with Garrett at every stop during the day and now sported whisker burn across her chin as well as a very sleepy and satisfied smile. “I don’t think you two have met yet today. Honor, this is Juliet, also affectionately now known as Doc Julie. She’s new to the group.”
Ah. So she didn’t know about shifters and vampires and the rest? Honor was on the inside of this one, apparently. She nodded to show that she’d understood.
“Juliet, stick with Honor for a couple of minutes, would you? I’ll set up our tent.” Garrett took Juliet’s arm with the gentlest looking of touches and settled her with Honor.
“Sure,” Juliet said, extending her legs on the blanket. She’d piled her burnished brown hair up on her head, and in the waning twilight, her skin glowed a soft peach. She filled out her pink shirt like it had been made for her. “Thanks, Garrett.” Her voice was sweet and slightly tired. Then she handed over the small backpack. “Garrett mentioned you didn’t have clothes, and I have an extra set. We’re about the same size.”