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  I kicked at a fir cone on the path. “He’s afraid to try. If he pushes her…”

  I trailed off, and Hellhound nodded understanding and slipped an arm around my shoulders. “Well, try not to worry, darlin’. Chances are nothin’ll happen in the next few days an’ she’ll just get sick of it here an’ take off. An’ I’ll stay, so there’ll be two of us to watch out for her.”

  “Thank you.” I halted to slide my arms around his neck. “Thank you from the bottom of my heart.” I reached up to kiss him. “And other parts of my body are feeling pretty thankful, too.”

  His hands roamed down my back to cup my ass. “Yep, you’re feelin’ pretty thankful to me, but I better check everythin’ out just to be sure.”

  “Oh, definitely.”

  Our next kiss was longer.

  At last Hellhound pulled away, grinning. “This time we’re gonna make it to your tent. Pushin’ in the bush is all fine an’ good, but I got things I wanna do to ya that’re gonna take some time.” He gave me a slow up-and-down look. “An’ I wanna enjoy the view.”

  I pressed close for another quick kiss. “Me, too. All I got to see earlier was a close-up of the stump.”

  He clasped my hand and pulled me down the path. “Can’t have that. This time I’ll give ya a close-up of my wood.”

  Laughing, we ducked into my tent and I secured the flap behind us. I stole another quick kiss before pulling away to check Orion’s tracker one more time.

  “Ha! Look at this.” I showed Hellhound the moving red dot. “It’s working! He’s moving around up by the garage.”

  He frowned. “Ya think we oughta watch for a while an’ see where he goes?”

  The dot halted, and I grinned. “Looks like he’s not leaving yet. I think we’d better find something to do to pass the time while we wait for him to move.”

  “Good plan.” He shrugged off his pack and flexed his shoulders with a sigh. “That’s better. Now, where was I?” He pulled me into a kiss. “Think I was here,” he mumbled against my lips. “Or maybe…” His whiskers traced a tingling path to my earlobe. “Here…”

  I shivered and pressed closer, pulling the tail of his T-shirt out of his jeans to slide my hands underneath.

  “Mmm. Or maybe here…” He nibbled a trail of kisses down my throat, easing the neck of my sweatshirt aside to find the magic spot near my collarbone.

  “Oh, yeah.” My voice came out on a gasp. “Yeah, there…”

  We moved toward the mattress, shedding clothes.

  “Mm, hang on a sec, darlin’.” Shirtless and barefoot, Hellhound released me long enough to delve into his backpack.

  I grinned at the sight of the jumbo box of condoms he placed beside the mattress. “I love a man who comes prepared.”

  He returned my grin. “I never come any other way. No glove, no love.”

  I giggled and shucked off my jeans. “Cover your stump before you hump.”

  He snickered, wrapping an arm around my waist to pull me down to the mattress. “Wrap it before ya tap it.”

  “You can’t go wrong when you cover your dong.” I grinned and unfastened my ankle holster, reaching over to tuck it down beside the mattress.

  “Mm, love that little red thong.” He eased me onto my back and traced the edge of the thong with his lips. “Don’t be a fool, sheathe your tool,” he mumbled against my belly, his whisker-tickles making me squirm and giggle.

  “Dress up your monkey before you get funky.” I tugged at his jeans and he rose to pull them off while I skinned out of my underwear.

  Reaching into the box of condoms, he extracted one and held it up with a wink. “Ya won’t get sick if ya wrap your dick.”

  I let my gaze roam appreciatively over the muscular nakedness towering above me and my mind went blank. “I can’t think of any more. Come here.”

  He grinned. “That’s the line I was waitin’ for.”

  He was just lowering himself to me when a wild shriek outside the tent made us both jerk with shock.

  Chapter 28

  “What the fuck?” Hellhound barked, lurching up to his hands and knees.

  I drew a breath, trying to calm my pounding heart as another feral shriek ripped the air outside my tent. “It’s okay.” I reached up to pull him down again. “It’s just a couple of tomcats squaring off outside. They’ve been battling it out over the ladies all spring.”

  Outside, spine-chilling growls rose and fell in a declaration of a fight to the death, or at least ignominious retreat.

  Hellhound resisted my pull, his brow furrowed in concern. “Are ya sure? What if it’s Peaches? What if somethin’s got her cornered? She wouldn’t be able to fight when she’s so pregnant…”

  “I’m sure. It happens all the time-”

  My words were drowned out by a cacophony of shrieks and growls, and Hellhound sprang up to drag on his jeans. “I gotta go check. Just in case.”

  As he shoved his feet into his boots the sounds of warfare faded as though the combatants were carrying the battle elsewhere, and I tried again. “They’re just about finished. They’ll be fine. Come back to bed.”

  “Hold that thought, darlin’. Be right back.” He ducked out the tent flap, and his voice and footsteps faded as he hurried away. “Peaches! Is that you, little lady? Peaches…”

  I blew out a breath of frustration mixed with fondness. Any other man would have ignored the feline battle and gone for sex without a second thought, but with Hellhound’s soft spot for cats and his reverence for motherhood in any form…

  I shook my head, smiling. What a marshmallow. One of the many reasons I loved him.

  Apparently the tomcats had taken the fight elsewhere. Silence had fallen, but I could still hear Hellhound’s voice calling faintly in the distance.

  I tucked my arms behind my head and settled in for a wait. He’d probably scour the woods in case one of the cats had been hurt and was hiding somewhere.

  A few minutes later the crunch of approaching footsteps on gravel indicated he was back already. I turned toward the open tent flap, surprised he’d given up so soon.

  “Aydan?”

  The voice outside made me bolt up in bed, a shock of recognition jolting through me.

  “John?” I gasped.

  Shit, shit, shit!

  I sprang to my feet, dragging the sheet around me. In the next moment Kane ducked through the open tent flap, his grey eyes locking onto me like lasers, his muscular arms already opening to embrace me.

  “You’re back!” I yelped. “Thank God you’re okay… oomph!” The breath squashed out of me as he crushed me in his arms and kissed me hard.

  “Aydan. So… good… to see you…” he mumbled, devouring my lips between words. He pulled away a fraction, cupping my face in his hands and apparently noticing for the first time that I was naked and wrapped in a sheet. Heat kindled in his eyes and his lips curved up.

  “Um, John…” I began, but he smothered my words with another kiss.

  “I came straight here…” he said against my lips. “I haven’t even…” He began to trace a line of kisses down my neck, speaking between kisses. “Called in… to Stemp yet… and…”

  “John…” I tried again.

  “Mmhmm.” He captured my mouth again before taking up where he’d left off near my collarbone. “And I’m staying… until-”

  Hellhound ducked through the open tent flap, kicking off his boots and beginning to shed his jeans. “Hey, darlin’, I’m back. Everybody’s okay an’ oh shit.” He froze, pants around his knees, knuckles whitening on the denim.

  Kane froze, too, his arms tightening possessively around me.

  “Uh… hey, Cap,” Hellhound said with a twisted smile. “Glad ya made it back okay, but your timin’ kinda sucks.”

  He hoisted his pants and Kane was just opening his mouth to reply when the sudden clamour of the Spirit bells made us all twitch.

  “Oh, for shit’s sake,” I muttered and tried to pull away, but Kane’s arms were still locked
around me.

  He opened his mouth again but hadn’t managed a word before Orion’s voice called from outside the tent. “Hey, Storm!”

  “I’m not coming!” I shouted, wincing at the unintentional double entendre. “Go without me!”

  “Don’t tell me I have to dump ice water on you again,” he sang out, and ducked in through the goddamn open tent flap.

  Everybody froze all over again, and I barely resisted the urge to beat my head against the nearest hard surface, which happened to be Kane’s shoulder.

  Orion stood slack-jawed, his shirt open over a bare and chiseled chest. Fuck, wouldn’t you know he’d pick this exact time to try to seduce me again…

  Hellhound sprang protectively to my side, still holding his jeans up with one hand. “Who the hell’re you?” he barked.

  “Uh… Orion. Moonjava,” Orion replied faintly, his gaze darting between Hellhound, Kane, and me. “And you are…?”

  “Hey, Aydan!” Nichele’s breathless voice sounded outside the tent.

  “Don’t come in!” I yelled.

  “…hurry up, we’re missing the Calling-” She burst in through the gaping tent flap. “Omigod-omigod!”

  She clapped her hands over her eyes, then sensibly relocated them to clamp over her mouth instead, the better to check out the man-candy crowding my tent.

  “OUT!” I bellowed, clutching the sheet to my chest along with the tattered remains of my dignity. “EVERYBODY GET OUT OF MY T-”

  “Storm Cloud Dancer, whatever is the matter? …oh.” Moonbeam joined the throng, her question fading into a pregnant silence.

  Time slowed to a crawl. My mortified gaze took in all the sordid details as if to create an extra-vivid memory to be revisited for future humiliation.

  Me, wearing nothing but a sheet and a fiery blush, sandwiched between Kane’s embrace and Hellhound’s near-nudity and garnished with a half-dressed Orion. Discarded clothes littering the floor. My skimpy red underwear draped shamelessly on the mattress next to the giant box of condoms. Hellhound still holding up his jeans, the open zipper displaying his fine attributes to all and sundry. The air practically reeking of sex and testosterone.

  “Somebody shoot me now,” I muttered.

  As if released from a spell everybody began to babble apologies and explanations while they made for the tent flap en masse, generating a fresh wave of apologies while they jockeyed for escape.

  Soon only Hellhound and I remained, the bells of the Calling still jangling like sardonic laughter in the background.

  I turned to him and opened my mouth but nothing came out.

  He gave me a resigned shrug and did up his jeans. Then he shot a wicked glance at the mattress and bounced his eyebrows. Hysterical giggles seized me.

  He began to laugh, and I lost it completely. Hooting and gasping, I collapsed to my knees to hug my aching midsection while tears of pain-wracked hilarity poured down my cheeks.

  At last I sprawled panting on the floor, still twitching with feeble giggles. Hellhound knelt beside me and dangled the incriminating red thong between two fingers, and I would have dissolved into hysterics again if not for Moonbeam’s reproving voice issuing from outside the tent flap.

  “Storm Cloud Dancer and Blessed Soul Dream, your presence is still required at the Calling. Hurry up, now. I’ve sent the others on.”

  “We’re coming,” I gasped.

  “Speak for yourself,” Hellhound groused sotto voce. “I’m just breathin’ hard.”

  An explosive snort of laughter escaped me, and I clapped a hand over my mouth and jabbed a finger at the tent flap. He gave me an unrepentant grin and rose to don his T-shirt, boots, and backpack while I scurried around retrieving various articles of my clothing and trying not to giggle.

  At last I managed to get fully dressed and strap my gun back onto my ankle. With my lumpy jacket tucked under my arm, I poked my head cautiously out the tent flap, but Moonbeam had left and the path was mercifully deserted.

  Hellhound and I jogged to the main building and appropriated the two mats that had been left at the entrance to the meditation room before creeping guiltily to our assigned places.

  Kane lay on the other side of the room, and I detected the gleam of watchful eyes under his lashes. Of course. He’d never lie unaware in a room full of strangers.

  Nichele was peeking, too. As I lay down she mouthed, “O. M. G.” and fanned her cheeks. I flipped up my middle finger and she let out a giggle that earned a shush and glare from my tight-assed neighbour.

  The peace of the meditation was wasted on me.

  My mind hurtled around my skull in a roller-derby of anxiety. Oh, God, what if this spoiled the lifelong friendship between Kane and Hellhound? Hellhound didn’t care who I slept with, but maybe Kane had been lying four months ago when he’d said he was okay with not having an exclusive relationship.

  I managed not to thump my forehead. Of course he’d been lying; I knew damn well he had. I had believed him because I wanted it to be true.

  The memory of his possessive arms tightening around me dragged a little groan of chagrin from my throat. Speaking of tomcats squaring off…

  Dammit, I’d find a way to make this come out right. I wouldn’t choose a lover at the cost of their friendship.

  But maybe the decision was already out of my hands…

  The gong roused me from my miserable contemplation, and I plodded out to kneel in the field with glum resignation.

  This was going to get ugly; I just knew it. Maybe I should hide in the woods and wait for them both to leave. I could sleep in the shed with Misty and the kittens; sneak into the kitchen for provisions in the dark of night…

  “The blessings of the Earth Spirit are upon you!” Aurora’s unwelcome voice came far too soon.

  By the time I got to my feet, Kane and Hellhound were vectoring toward me from opposite sides of the field and there was no escape.

  If all else fails, pretend to be oblivious.

  I plastered a smile on my face as they strode up and offered a hand to each of them. “Come on, let’s go get some supper. I’m starving!” My voice almost cracked with perkiness and I suppressed a wince.

  They exchanged wary glances and fell into step on either side of me. Bracketed by the two towering men, I felt as though I’d regressed to grade school. With a supreme effort of will I prevented myself from skipping and swinging our clasped hands.

  Nichele caught my eye and I gave her a stare that promised slow and certain death if she came anywhere near us. She returned a smirk and a wink and turned away to chatter with Aurora, and I eased out a breath. She’d expect a play-by-play with excruciating detail later, but it was a small price to pay for her silence now.

  “So, John, where did you blow in from?” I chirped.

  “Victoria.” He sounded decidedly terse.

  I repressed the urge to say ‘no shit’. It wasn’t like there was any other way to get here.

  I tried again. “Where were you before Victoria?”

  His gaze flicked over the scattered commune members but none were in earshot.

  “Classified,” he grunted.

  All right. Fine. Time for a different conversational gambit.

  I lowered my voice. “We had an exciting afternoon…”

  “So I saw.” Kane’s reply was distinctly edged.

  A spurt of irritation dissolved my discomfort. “That’s not what I meant, wiseass,” I snapped. “Our excitement involved four guys with bayonets.”

  “What?” For the first time Kane met my eyes squarely, then glanced at Hellhound’s scowl before returning his attention to me. “What happened?” Concern had replaced his distant tone, and I drew a breath of relief.

  “It’s a long story. A lot has happened since you were here last. You remember I mentioned I was suspicious of Orion…”

  I paused long enough for him to nod before continuing, “…well, it turns out he’s chummy with a group that’s renting commune land across the river and they’re some
kind of wacko paramilitary group. I’m not quite sure what that means, but I have a bad feeling I might find out soon. That’s why Arnie’s here. I needed backup. So I’m glad you’re here, too.”

  I squeezed his hand. “And I’m really glad you made it back okay from wherever you were. I was worried after not hearing anything for so long.”

  “I was undercover.” He sounded curt and defensive, and I suppressed my eye roll and held onto my warm tone.

  “I know, and I didn’t expect you to call. I was just worried about you. That’s what friends do.”

  After a moment of silence he sighed and turned to face me fully, the hard lines of his face easing. “I know. I’m sorry. I just…” He hesitated before finishing, “It was a tough mission. I didn’t mean to take it out on you.” He looked beyond me to Hellhound’s stony profile. “I’m sorry. I was being a jerk.”

  Hellhound thawed immediately. “No sweat, Cap. Tough mission; been there.”

  “Thanks.”

  We fell silent as we caught up with the scattered groups of people straggling toward the kitchen. I garnered curious stares as people took in Hellhound’s forbidding face and tattooed bulk on one side of me and Kane’s square handsome features and eye-popping physique on the other.

  I led them to one of the vacant tables and eyed the electric lights gratefully. “Good, the power’s on. We can microwave our dinner instead of cooking on the woodstoves…” I trailed off at the sight of the lineup in front of the microwave. “…oh, hell, never mind. It’s probably faster to use a woodstove. They’re always hot.”

  “Can I help?” Kane inquired.

  “No, that’s okay. I’m just going to heat up some stew.” I leaned closer to whisper, “I bought beef when I was in town the other day. Don’t tell the vegetarians.”

  Both men chuckled, and I hurried to the icebox to retrieve the contraband stew. By the time I had unearthed buns and butter and cheese from the pantry and bowls and utensils from the long counter, the stew was bubbling on the stove. We loaded our dishes and silence fell again while we ate.

  As soon as his bowl was scraped clean, Hellhound rose. “Thanks for dinner, darlin’.” He leaned in to drop a kiss on my forehead and whispered, “I’m gonna go scout around a bit more. Gonna be at least two hours.”