Eventide of the Bear (The Wild Hunt Legacy #3) (24 page)

Damned if he wasn’t going to get some answers from her. For now, he said, “You might consider taking classes, Emma. See how you do.”

“I-I never thought about it.” Her confusion was adorable. Sometimes she was fully as cute as Minette.

With a worried frown, Minette patted her thigh and received a kiss on the top of her head.

Bonnie smiled down at the cub before glancing at Ryder. “I’m envious. My little terrors are about the same age and sure aren’t learning their numbers. It’s a problem, actually.”

“Illiterate toddlers are a problem?” Ryder grinned, thinking she was joking.

“I’m serious. Pack cubs are tended by single females. Other Daonain children stay home. There isn’t any consistent or proficient instruction. The lack wasn’t a concern in the past since human cubs were treated much the same.”

“And now?” Emma asked.

“Now, most human children attend preschool, or have TV or computer preschool programs. Our cubs are behind when they start elementary school.”

Ryder frowned, realizing Bonnie’s concerns would apply to his daughter. Damned if he’d let his child be behind anyone. “Guess I need to get Minette on the computer. I’ll check out some of those preschool programs.”

“Relying on technology isn’t the answer.” Bonnie scowled at him. “Our children aren’t mindless trolls needing to be spoon-fed. They’re—”

“They’re losing the race to the humans,” Ryder snapped, then winced. “Sorry.”

Bonnie drew herself up straight. “I didn’t mean we should—”

“Actually,” Emma interrupted, “I can see where a…judicious…use of computers might serve our people well.”

Ryder stared at her. She agreed with him? A tradition-driven bard?

Catching his astonishment, she flushed. “We live in a world filled with humans. With technology. If we’re not going to get destroyed, we need to be at least knowledgeable of their tools. There’s no reason we can’t employ the best of both worlds.” Emma’s golden-brown eyes were alight and her body seemed to hum with energy.

As she and Bonnie discussed possibilities, Ryder studied the little bard. She was so fucking sincere. So open and easy to read, as if her years in the forest had driven any pretense out of her.

She had a past where something not good had happened. Although he wanted to know, it didn’t really matter, did it? They were friends, and he damned well stood by his friends. If someone had caused her grief in the past, well, he’d shred them to little pieces for her.

As Bonnie headed into the house, Ryder crouched down beside Emma, pleased with how she cradled Minette in her lap. Happy little kitten.

“Tonight, we can look for some good software programs for Minette,” he said. “You’d know better than me what we should be looking for.”

She tilted her head. “All right.”

As he inhaled her soft floral scent, he lost the hold on his control and took her hand. Kissing her fingers, he felt the beginning calluses from the guitar and saw the small red spots from where she’d been spattered with grease while learning to cook. “Thank you for your care of my cub.”

“I love looking after her,” Emma said.

“I’d better get moving; I have another house to check on today.” He bent and kissed Minette’s soft cheek, then dared more and kissed Emma’s as well.

When she stared up at him, speechless, he gave her a smile that promised next time he’d take her lips. “Later, bard.”

“I…um, later.”

As he headed away, he figured even when he was as old as Tullia, he’d still enjoy teasing the little bear…and winning her wide-eyed responses.

‡

O
n Tuesday, the
construction site reminded Emma of the bustle of an ant colony, each worker tending his job, almost oblivious to what his fellows were doing. The screech of a saw came from under a carport. Thudding noises came from inside the house’s new addition.

Ben and Ryder stood at a table near their vehicles, examining an oversized paper. Architectural drawings, she decided as she crossed the lawn toward them.

Ben spotted her first. “You going to join my crew, li’l bear?” He held out his hand.

“Um…no. I…” It would be rude to ignore his hand. So she set her hand in his. The way Ben had kissed her outside Tullia’s home two days ago had been unsettling. Different from his lighter kisses. She sure wasn’t experienced, but his grip had been tighter and more…possessive. And he’d taken his time, surrounding her with his strength, his clean masculine scent, until everything inside her had gone all gooey.

His fingers closed, trapping her in warmth. Over the past two days, he’d been going out of his way to touch her.

“Want to see the house drawings?” he murmured, pulling her up to the table…and trapping her there with her bottom pressed against the edge, her pelvis against his.

“I…” Under the hunger in his gaze, she felt as if the chill spring day had turned to the hottest day of summer. And he knew it, the beast. “Why do you keep doing this to me?”

“Doing what?” he asked innocently. Too innocently.

“Touching me. Making me…flustered. Uncomfortable.”

“You know why. We told you last night…after I kissed you goodnight.”

Oh, she remembered. He’d done it right in front of Ryder and she blushed. Laughing, Ryder had decided she wasn’t comfortable being handled by males…and the two decided to help her get past her fears. She’d thought they were joking.

“We worry about you.” Ryder stood beside her, and the sharp lines of his face smoothed out when he smiled at her. He took her free hand, opened her fingers, and put a kiss in the center of her palm.

How could she feel a kiss travel from her hand all the way to her center?

He was doing it, too. Were they trying to drive her crazy? “Why would you worry? I’m fine,” she said faintly.

“You said you don’t do male-female stuff or attend Gatherings,” Ben said. He ran his hand under her braid and closed his grip around her nape.

“We’ve noticed you look nervous…and your scent changes when the subject of Gatherings comes up.” Ryder took her hand, placing her palm over his jaw, scraping her palm over his light stubble. The sensation seemed to travel over her body in a wave until all of her skin zinged.

“Like we said, we’re going get you used to being touched.” Ben leaned in and kissed her lightly.

Her pulse was hammering. “Oh, so this is all for me?” she managed to say.

Ben moved back, and then Ryder had her pinned against the table, his hand on her nape. “Oh, little bear, you know we’re enjoying the hell out of doing this to you.” His voice, so low and smooth, slid along the nerve endings he’d awakened.

And he kissed her, his lips teasing hers, nipping lightly at her bottom lip until it softened. Holding her firmly, he deepened the kiss, taking her under.

Oh my Goddess
.

He pulled her closer, one hand curving under her ass. He lifted his head a millimeter, his breath on her lips. “Yeah. I wouldn’t mind touching you all day long.”

The thought sparked a fire in her center. And the feeling was terrifying. “No. I don’t want you to.”

Ben rumbled a laugh and lifted her wrist, blatantly sniffing. Oh, yes, her interest in them was evident to anyone with a nose, as was theirs for her.

When she inhaled their intoxicating scents, she wanted to put her hands all over them. Only being aroused by males hadn’t gone so well for her three years ago.

“Hey, Ben. Got a minute—when you’re through there?” The call came from the house.

“Guess we’re setting a bad example,” Ryder said. He looked down at her with a slight smile. “You’re definitely worth corrupting the lads though.”

Oh, they made her feel so good. So…wanted.

Nevertheless, they did have work to do. “I just came by to tell you Minette’s playing with Bonnie’s children at her house. I’m going to Angie’s Diner for a while.”

“Got it. I’ll pick the cub up on my way home,” Ryder said. He brushed his lips over hers and released her.

She had one second of freedom before Ben’s arms enclosed her. “Have fun, honey bear.” And he kissed her until every thought in her head drained out into the ground.

*

Angie’s kitchen was
fragrant with mouth-watering scents. A roast beef and trimmings baked in one oven. Cupcakes were in another. As Emma stirred a thick, smoked ham and bean soup, she daydreamed a little about providing a wonderful meal for Ben, Ryder, and Minette. They’d all sit down at the oak dining table, and she could pretend they were her family.

Of course, she certainly wouldn’t travel that path, but there was no law about daydreaming.

When the swinging door sent the steam swirling over the pot, Emma looked up.

Angie and Bree had been restocking the glass cabinets with Bree’s newly cooked desserts. Bree walked through first, followed by Angie.

“You doing all right there?” Angie asked Emma.

“I’m getting hungry. This smells incredible.”

“It does, doesn’t it?” Angie nodded toward the wall of ovens. “But I’m in the mood for dessert first.”

Bree pulled a pan of cupcakes out to assess for doneness. The perfectly puffed cupcakes looked delicious. “See how the cake springs back, Emma? And how the tops are light golden-brown?”

Emma watched, memorizing her words, the color. “Got it.” Since she’d gotten to lick the bowl after she and Bree had made them, she knew they’d taste fantastic.

“After we whip up some frosting, you’ll be ready to practice making them at home,” Bree said.

The males adored sweets—Ben, especially. Bears were sweet-o-holics.

The thought of feeding her…family…something she’d made herself was thrilling. “I can’t thank you enough for helping me learn to manage in a kitchen. You’re sure I can keep coming?”

“Honey, you’ve been a big help. Come anytime you’re free.” Angie’s forthright invitation made Emma’s eyes sting.

She was useful. Liked. Wanted. “I will. I have Bonnie’s children and Minette in the mornings, but Bonnie wants to pay me back by taking Minette in the late afternoons after she gets off dispatch duty.”

“Excellent. I can put you to good use,” Angie said.

“Hey, Angie, I’m here. Want me to start taking orders?” A young brunette adolescent stuck her head into the kitchen.

“Yes, Lacey. Get to work and let me know if you get behind.” After the girl grabbed an apron and popped back out, Angie said to Bree. “I’m glad you sent her to me. All her bouncy energy keeps the dining room lively.”

“Actually, we appreciate you taking her on,” Bree said softly. “Shay’s been worried about her. It was bad enough that Klaus taught her to fear males, but now Chad and a couple of the Gerhard-influenced wolves are harassing her after school lets out.”

“Bet they don’t pull any crap around Zeb or Shay,” Angie said in a dry voice.

Emma remembered the two cahirs. The dark one had been seriously scary-looking.

“Hardly. Last year when Zeb caught Chad manhandling her, he showed the little snot how it feels to be shoved around.” Bree half-grinned. “Their behavior mostly happens at school where they’re unlikely to get caught. Damn Klaus and Gerhard for giving the youngsters a taste for abuse.”

Poor Lacey. Emma understood how she must feel. She had plenty of memories of being picked on, shoved, poked, and derided.

“Such behavior is difficult to break.” Angie checked on her roast in the oven.

“Shay is working with the males. We hope having Jody as a mentor and working with you will show Lacey how tough females really are, and that they don’t take crap from anyone.”

Emma smiled. Angie’s expression would give any young male second thoughts.

But who was Klaus? And Gerhard? “Um…” With a puff of frustration, Emma bit back her questions. Curiosity was rude, her mother had said. Emma’d begun to think anything interesting was rude.

Bree burst out laughing. “Look at you. You’re just dying to ask what happened.”

A flush heated Emma’s cheeks. “I’m sorry.”

“So, why don’t you ask?” Bree’s brows drew together.

“I… Because it’s rude to be nosy.” At their questioning expressions, she added, “Isn’t it?”

“Not among friends. Especially if we’re discussing it in front of you,” Angie said gently. “Why don’t you know that, Emma?”