*.*.*
“We need to plan for what’s ahead; you know that, don’t you?” Art Bearclaw stated, walking over to a small sidebar and pouring two small glasses of whiskey.
Ty watched his father from where he stood next to the windows in his office. They had retired to Ty’s office so they could talk in private. Tracy had received an important call and disappeared shortly after Ella and his mom had left the room. Ty ran his hand down over his face before he reached for the glass that his dad was holding out to him.
“You know things are bad when we are drinking whiskey after lunch,” Ty murmured, giving his dad a rueful shake of his head. “Yes, I know. Once word of Ella gets out, our lives will become a media circus.”
“Exactly. Every time there is a new archeological find it is all over the news,” Art replied with a sigh.
Ty sat down in the chair across from his father and stretched his legs out. He sipped the amber liquid, enjoying the fiery warmth as it slid down his throat. Drawing in a deep breath, he slowly released it.
“She needs time to get familiar with our world, Dad,” Ty finally replied, staring into his glass. “I’m afraid she’ll run.”
“I’ll call Michaela and warn her of what has happened,” Art replied.
Ty nodded. It helped that he was the nephew of the President of the United Species of North America. Michaela Bearclaw-Kodiak was a formidable ally to have on your side. Unfortunately, being related to such a powerful person would attract every coyote, badger, and bobcat looking for the story of the century. It would also attract the nutcases as well.
“I need to get Van and Peterson out here to upgrade the security system,” Ty said, looking up at his dad. “My first priority is protecting Ella.”
“I agree,” his father murmured thoughtfully.
Ty turned when he heard a soft knock on the door before it opened slightly. He raised an eyebrow at Martha’s flushed faced. Their housekeeper seldom looked flustered.
“I beg your pardon, sir, but you have a visitor in the front den,” Martha informed him in a stiff voice.
“Do you know who it is?” Ty asked, placing his near empty glass down on the small side table and rising to his feet.
“Dr. Theodore Badger,” Martha replied with a sniff.
“Tell him I will be there in a few minutes,” Ty replied.
“Yes, sir,” Martha said with a bow of her head.
The sound of his father’s dry chuckle made him grimace. “And so the fun begins,” Art muttered under his breath as he also stood up. “I’ll call Michaela and let her know what is going on.”
“I’ll deal with Theodore,” Ty muttered in distaste.
“If he becomes unpleasant, sic Martha on him. You know that Lynx can’t stand the damn beasts,” Art suggested with a snigger.
“Don’t tempt me, Dad,” Ty retorted, as he stepped out of the room.
Chapter 17
Theodore Badger carefully wiped at a spot of dirt on his long, elegant coat with distaste. He stared around the room with an envy he would never admit. First and Second edition books, priceless paintings and rare artifacts decorated the interior. Even though he had been in the room several times, he still felt the same sense of awe and gnawing jealousy. It really did matter which family you were born into.
He turned and waited when he heard the sound of footsteps along the rich hardwood floor. If this were his home, the first thing he would do is get rid of the haughty bitch who had opened the door and escorted him in. The second thing would be to replace the flooring with the finest marble he could find. It was much easier to see that it was clean.
Lifting his chin, he waited for Ty Bearclaw to enter. His lips pursed in aggravation when he heard the footsteps pause. Then the woman who had shown him in opened the door. His eyes narrowed on her face when she gave him an insincere smile.
“Mr. Bearclaw will be with you in a few minutes. Would you care for some refreshments while you wait?” The woman asked stiffly.
“No,” Theodore replied in a clipped tone.
“Very well,” the woman said and promptly closed the door, sealing him inside once again.
Irritation burned through him. He had declined the offer, mostly because he was concerned that the spiteful witch would slip poison into anything she served him. Lynx had no respect for anyone.
Turning around, Theodore walked over to the window and stood staring out at the cold, damp gardens. There had to be some way to remove Ty Bearclaw and his family from the Observatory. He needed to take control if the very lucrative contract he was working on to harvest the ancient forests was going to succeed. As curator, he would have control of the National Park system in Washington State.
The area was a treasure trove of resources for lumber and other natural minerals, and it. The forests had been closed off from development centuries ago in order to preserve them. The opportunities for tourism and private sport hunting alone would allow him to have a dozen homes like this if he wanted them. There were a lot of men, richer than the Bearclaws in the world, who missed being able to hunt prey the way they were born to do.
The world law prevented the hunting of wild animals, in an attempt to preserve and protect the limited resources of the world. These laws had stifled many predators. Instead the predators of today depended on video games of hunting for prey that had become popular almost a decade ago. There were those in elite circles who wanted more than a game. They wanted to hunt in their beast form and Theodore wanted to provide them that opportunity – for a hefty price.
“What the…?” Theodore muttered under his breath.
He watched as two women walked along the path out front toward a large garden area set off to the side of the driveway. He tilted his head, trying to get a better view. He immediately recognized Lena Bearclaw, but he didn’t recognize the other woman. There was something different about her.
He started to take a step closer to the window to get a better look when he heard another set of footsteps approaching. This time, he knew the sound belonged to Ty. Disappointment filled him when the women disappeared behind a tall hedge. Gripping his black gloves in his hands, he turned at the same time as the door opened.
“Ty,” Theodore greeted in a brisk tone. “It is good to see you are back from your trip.”
“Theodore, how can I help you?” Ty asked in a clipped tone.
“The Board of Directors is concerned about your recent behavior,” Theodore began without any pretense of further pleasantries.
Theodore continued speaking, but his mind was no longer focused on the original purpose of his trip. It was on the unusual woman. As he had expected, the meeting did not last long nor go well. He could tell that Ty was as distracted as he was. Theodore pulled his gloves back on and stepped out into the cold, damp weather, vaguely wondering if Ty’s distraction had anything to do with the strange woman.
Walking back to his car, he paused to look toward the garden. The women were nowhere in sight, but he still had a nagging feeling that there was something important he was missing. With a shake of his head, he opened the door, climbed into the SUV, started it and pulled away.
Pulling away, Theodore congratulated himself for planting the seed of doubt in Ty’s mind that the other members of the board were beginning to question Ty’s actions. He had set his plans in motion. Hopefully, it wouldn’t take long for the roots to take hold and he could influence the opinion of the board that it was time for a new director.
*.*.*
Ty watched as the dark SUV pulled away from the house. His hands were buried in his pockets. He had put them in his front pockets mostly to keep from wrapping them around Theodore’s neck. It had been so tempting. A frown of concern darkened his brow when he saw his mother and Ella emerge from the front gardens.
His gaze moved back to the SUV as it was pulling out of the front gate and there was no way the other man could have seen Ella from that angle. A sudden need to be near his mate overcame him.
Turning
on his heel, he quickly exited the room. He grabbed a coat out of the hall closet near the front door, slipped it on as he pulled the door open and stepped outside. Buttoning it, he jogged down the steps and headed toward Ella and his mom.
He shoved his hands into his pockets as he approached them. A slight, questioning smile curved his lips as he stared down at Ella. Her responding smile ignited a flame of warmth through him. He stepped forward and cupped her cold face.
“You’re cold again,” he murmured, lost in her eyes.
“It is beautiful out here,” she whispered.
“I leave you in good hands, Ella,” Lena chuckled. “It is beautiful, but cold. I’ll see you two later.”
“Thanks, Mom,” Ty replied, glancing at his mother with an expression of relief and appreciation.
Lena lifted her hand and rested it on Ty’s cheek for a moment in understanding before she pulled it away. He watched her walk back to the house before he returned his attention to Ella. His hands were still cupping her cheeks, trying to warm her.
“I saw you from the window,” he admitted, giving her a crooked grin. “I want to kiss you.”
Ella’s expression softened and she lifted her hands to his shoulders and stepped closer. “Good. My lips need to be warmed up,” she teased.
Ty bent his head as she rose up, and their lips hungrily connected. He didn’t know what his mother said, but he would be forever grateful for whatever she told Ella because it had taken the shadows from his mate’s eyes.
“It’s cold out here. Why don’t we find a warmer place to do this? Like our bed,” he muttered, pulling back just far enough to mutter the words against her lips.
Ella’s delighted laugh took him by surprise. The last thing he was expecting was for her to burst out laughing. He pulled further back and glowered at her.
“Your mother was right,” she giggled, threading her arms around his waist.
Ty raised an eyebrow. “About what?” He demanded with a slight pout.
Ella reached up and brushed her lips along his bottom lip. “That you like your creature comforts,” she retorted with an amused grin.
Ty’s face cleared, and he gave her a boyish grin and nodded. “Yep, give me a warm bed, a hot body, and a locked door and I’ll be happy forever,” he stated, suddenly bending and scooping her up into his arms.
Ella wrapped her arm around his neck and touched his nose. “She did mention a full belly and something called rugby as well,” she reflected.
“That, darling, is just the icing on the cake. I’ll feast on love and your delicious body,” Ty swore with a glimmer of devilment in his gaze. “We might have to add a little full body contact sport to keep things interesting as well, though.”
“Oh!” Ella whispered, her eyes growing wide when the meaning behind his words sank in. “Do I get to do it as well? The full body contact?”
Ty stumbled and his arms tightened around her. His body heated at the idea of the games they could play. The image of Ella on top of him….
“How did I ever get so lucky as to find you?” Ty asked in a husky voice.
Ella rubbed her thumb along his bottom lip and blinked. “I wished upon a falling star,” she answered with a slight smile.
“Well, that explains everything. I’m your wish come true,” he stated with a satisfied nod. He winced when she tugged on his hair.
Ella released the hold on his hair after giving it a good tug. “Don’t let it go to your head,” she teased.
“You, my dear, are about to find out what happens when you tease a grizzly bear,” Ty quipped, heading for the front door again.
“I can’t wait,” Ella whispered in his ear then ran her tongue along the lobe before she nipped it.
“Holy crud, but I’m going to be loving on you tonight,” Ty muttered, pushing the door open, then slamming it closed with one foot.
*.*.*
Several hours later, Ella woke from a deep sleep. She swallowed and forced her breathing to slow down. It was just a nightmare, that was all, just a bad dream. Turning her head on the pillow, her gaze softened as she stared at Ty’s relaxed face. A slight smile curved her lips when he released a soft snore.
She carefully slid out from under the arm he had draped over her. He murmured in his sleep and rolled over but didn’t wake up. Grabbing the shirt she had worn earlier, she pulled it on and padded to the bathroom. She quickly used it before her gaze turned to the large tub.
Biting her lip, Ella quietly closed the door and stripped the shirt off again. She climbed into the tub and stared at the faucet. It didn’t take her long to figure out how to work it. Soon, she was leaning back as the tub filled with nice, warm water. It felt good against her tender body. Ty hadn’t been kidding when he said he was going to love her all night long. He had stayed awake until almost sunrise before he passed out from exhaustion.
Ella’s fingers moved around on a set of buttons near the tub. Unsure of what they did, she pushed one and barely covered her mouth in time to stifle the small scream that escaped when the water began to bubble around her. Fascinated, she spent the next five minutes testing each one until she found the perfect combination. With a shake of her head, she leaned back again and grinned.
This world was incredible! There was no other way to describe all the wonderful things just in this house alone, never mind, the flying metal bird, the metal transport she had seen earlier, the warmth that came through the vents, or the fire that came on by itself.
Her head turned and she looked out of the window above the tub. Lifting her left foot up, she turned off the water with her toes and relaxed. In the faint morning light, she could see that it was snowing again.
Ella started when the bathroom door suddenly opened. Ty stood against the doorframe. He looked wild and disheveled as he frantically surveyed the room until he saw her move. A tender smile curved her lips when she saw his large frame shudder before he walked over to where she was enjoying the bath.
“I woke up and couldn’t feel you. I had a nightmare that you weren’t real. For a moment, I was terrified that had you were only a dream. Fortunately, bears have an excellent sense of smell,” he murmured, sinking down beside the tub. He reached out and touched her hair, brushing it back from her face. “I see that you figured out how to work the Jacuzzi.”
Ella nodded. “It scared me when it first came on,” she replied. “I like it.”
“I do, too,” Ty muttered, watching the water dance around her breasts. “Do you mind if I join you?”
“No, there’s plenty of room,” Ella whispered, staring at his lips as her body tightened with a familiar desire she felt whenever she was near him.
“Give me a second,” Ty muttered, rising to his feet.
Ella watched as he quickly stepped into the other section of the bathroom. She grinned when she heard his sigh of relief followed by the sound of the toilet flushing. She felt the same when she had used it. It was much easier, better, and all the other wonderful adjectives she could think of compared to a quiet spot in the woods and the icy wind on her rear- end.
She sat forward when he hurried back into the room and climbed in behind her. His arms wrapped around her and he pulled her onto his lap as he stretched his long legs out. They both leaned back, enjoying the calm of the morning, the sound of the water bubbling, and each other.
“Your mother said she was going to order clothing for me. I have nothing to give her in exchange,” Ella finally said, wrapping her hands over his when he slid them around her and pulled her against him.
“You don’t have to worry about giving her anything. I can easily afford to purchase anything you want,” Ty said, rubbing his chin against her head. “I need to shave.”
Ella giggled when she felt the tug of her hair as it caught in his whiskers. His facial hair grew much more quickly than Mitchell’s or the other men in her clan. He lifted a hand and pulled her hair free before dropping it back down under the water and rubbing her stomach.
“You are
hairier than the men of my clan. My father was hairy as well, but not as much as you,” she said, tilting her head so she could look up at him.
Ty grimaced. “The hazards of being a grizzly-shifter. Still, I’d rather have it on my face than to have a head full like Ben. He used to get his hair cut every couple of weeks. Now, he just pulls it back and goes about once a month. Barbers love lion shifters,” he joked.
Ella laughed and shook her head. “Oh, to have such problems. For us, it is having enough wood for the fires, furs to keep us warm, or food for our bellies. The men shave, but only after the cold has passed. They get all bushy and scary-looking,” she reminisced.
“I noticed that you don’t have any hair on your legs or under your arms. Are all the women like that? I mean, I know what the women here do, but I wouldn’t have expected humans to do it also,” he hastily explained.
“We use beeswax. A thin layer, when melted and allowed to harden on your skin, works better than a knife and is not as dangerous. It also lasts longer. It is said that if we look less like a beast and we are caught you would be more likely to kill us faster,” she explained, lifting one leg up out of the water. “I guess the tales were not true.”
“Definitely not true,” Ty agreed, admiring the smooth, creamy flesh. “It’s more of a personal thing. There are some shifters who do not shave the hair from their bodies, while there are others who have difficulty growing it.”
“My mother did not have much hair on her arms and legs. I take after her,” Ella murmured, lowering her leg back into the water.
“I never thought to ask if your parents are still alive. I’m assuming that they would have fought against your banishment if they were,” Ty muttered. “I really don’t know much about you.”