“He’s been a hunter for about eight years, and all this time he’s had a girlfriend waiting for him in his pack.”
“Eight years? She’s been waiting for eight years? How could she stand to be without him for so long?”
Jeez, that was a lot of cold showers and lonely Friday nights. All the time Carrie spent waiting for Riker seemed trivial in comparison.
“He goes home a couple of times a year, but as far as I can tell neither of them have been faithful.”
“Oh.”
Carrie prickled uneasily. She hadn’t ventured to ask Riker whether he had been with another woman since her. He had suggested it had been a while since he was with a female, but she had not dared ask him the truth.
“I don’t really see him that much, but he was always complaining about his nagging girlfriend back home. She always wanted him to come home and get a different job. I think he would have left her years ago, but she’s the alpha’s daughter and she pretty much clung onto him, no matter how hard he tried to get away.”
Carrie felt her heart clench. She really didn’t want to fall into the nagging girlfriend category either, but she wanted Riker at home with her, and she didn’t want him to be a hunter either.
“But now she’s having a baby,” ventured Carrie.
“Yeah,” chuckled Riker, re-reading the texts. “Now he feels like he doesn’t have a choice, and Bee reckons he isn’t too happy about it. Lucky has this idea she got pregnant on purpose to make him come home and mate her, and that’s not what’s happening here.”
“W-what?” she stuttered.
Carrie blinked in shock as Riker pinned her with a sharp look.
“I can almost hear the wheels turning in your head, babe, and what’s happening with that idiot, Lucky is not the same as our situation. I know you didn’t get pregnant on purpose, and I don’t resent being here.” His expression softened slightly, but still held the same firmness. “I want to be here.”
“Oh, I ah… no, I didn’t think it was the same,” she said, a little untruthfully.
Riker cocked his head and she flushed, knowing he could read her like a book. Well, given that every chapter was all about him and Mikey it wasn’t hard.
She cleared her throat. “This is hardly the dark ages, if he doesn’t want to mate her, then why is he doing it – why not just support her financially?”
Carrie cringed. What she said reminded her of Riker’s words the night of the party, and he must have noticed too because his eyes hooded slightly as he watched her warily. But, she just maintained an impassive expression. She really wasn’t trying to draw comparisons.
“It’s the alpha,” Riker said finally, “according to Bee – who is a damn nosy bear shifter – he would kick all of Lucky’s family out of the pack if he didn’t make an honest wolf out of her. Lucky supports like half a dozen younger siblings since his dad took off.”
“Oh.” They looked at each other for a few beats and Carrie tried to lighten the mood a little – it had taken a little sour turn and she didn’t like it. “Sounds like it’s going to be a really fun party.”
Riker relaxed a little. “Yeah, I’ll tell them I can’t make it.”
“But, don’t you want to go and see your friends?”
He rolled a shoulder. “I could do with talking to Bee – I got something I need to ask him, and I’d rather do it in person than on the phone.”
“Him?” she whispered before she could stop herself.
Riker grinned. “Yeah, babe, him – got the nickname bumblebee because he loves honey so much. Damn bear.”
“Oh, I thought…” She blushed and Riker roared with laughter.
“I know what you thought, babe. But no, there’s no other woman in my life. Hasn’t been any other women since I met you.”
Her reindeer hooted in happiness to hear it.
“Really? You know I haven’t been with another man either.”
“Good,” he said in such a way that suggested any other answer would not have been tolerated.
“What’s your nickname?” she asked, changing the subject away from that area.
Riker shrugged. “I don’t have one.” A slow, leer spread across his face. “But I wouldn’t object if you wanted to start calling me sex machine or something.”
“I’ll bear it in mind.” Carrie shook her head. “Seriously, I don’t want to stop you from seeing your friends.”
Riker wavered. “I’m not really that friendly with most of them. They’re more like work colleagues. It would just be a quick drink in a seedy bar, late at night with a handful of hunters and their girlfriends.” He thought about it. “What about Mikey?”
“Oh, I think he might be a little too young to go to bars.”
Riker reached around and swatted her butt as she squeaked in amusement. “Not what I meant.”
No, he meant that he was specifically taking time away from the hunters to be with Mikey, and, while he didn’t say it, he felt guilty for going for a drink when he could be with his pup.
“If it’s at night, he’d be asleep anyway,” she countered. “Honestly, all you’d be missing is listening to him snoring on the baby monitor.”
“I guess I’ll go,” he rumbled reluctantly.
“What time do you think you’ll be back?” she asked, wondering whether it was worth staying up for him, or perhaps just ordering him to wake her when he got in.
“You don’t want to come?” he asked.
Carrie straightened in surprise. “I’m invited?”
It hadn’t occurred to her she would be. Mal had certainly never wanted to introduce her to any of the hunters back when he still was one.
“Sure, whatever current females the other hunters have will be there.”
“Does that make me your current female?” she teased.
Riker pinned her with a look that could stop a rampaging rhino in its tracks. “You’re my female, end of.”
Carrie squirmed uneasily. If these were his friends – even if he didn’t seem keen to claim them as friends – wouldn’t they be a little suspicious of the reindeer shifter who had just turned up with a baby in tow. Her reindeer huffed at her. Yes, yes, she knew it didn’t happen like that, but how would his friends see it?
“You won’t be ashamed, will you?”
Riker considered the question and she wilted in mild disappointment. “I wouldn’t say ashamed,” he replied thoughtfully. “I know they can be complete assholes, but if any of them do something asinine it won’t be my fault, and we can just leave if they do.”
Carrie giggled and flushed. “No, I meant ashamed of me.”
Riker gaped in astonishment. She hadn’t seen him so amazed since he found out he was a father.
“Why on earth would I be ashamed of you?” he asked slowly as he walked around the counter.
She twisted to look at him and shrugged. He placed one hand on the counter on either side of her and leaned toward her. He rubbed his cheek against hers and rumbled lowly.
“Any guy would be lucky to have you – not that I’ll allow any other guy to have you.” His eyes flashed wolfishly.
Carrie sighed and placed her hand on his biceps. “No, I just worried that it would be embarrassing for you to introduce me to everyone. I mean, how would we explain to everyone what happened, and how we already have a son together despite the fact that two weeks ago, you were… well, two weeks ago, you didn’t have a son!”
Riker grasped her ass and lifted her onto the counter. He nestled between her legs and kissed her soundly.
“So what will you say?” she murmured insistently.
Riker growled gently. “Nothing.”
“Nothing?”
“Nothing. It’s nobody’s business. I’ll introduce you as Carrie – or Anne if you prefer.” She slapped his shoulder. “And if anyone dares question or upset you I may just rip their throats out.”
His tone was light, like he was joking, but she wasn’t entirely sure he was. It shouldn’t have been
a turn on, but it kind of was. Hoot!
“You think we can get a sitter for Mikey?” he asked.
“I’m sure Trini or Tamra will do it.”
Riker grunted and buried his face in her shoulder. “Maybe we should just take him to the bar.”
Carrie giggled, melting against his embrace. Well, he certainly wasn’t ashamed of her or Mikey, and that swelled her heart even more.
“Ooh, soup,” she whimpered.
“Yeah, soup,” he growled.
“No, the soup is boiling over!”
Chapter Twenty
Riker snarled lowly as he looked at the bar. His inner beast prowled. He wouldn’t have thought twice about going into this place a few weeks ago, and didn’t really mind it for himself, but this wasn’t the place for Carrie. It reminded him of the bar where they first met, and while that brought up quite a lot of warm and fuzzy feelings, he still didn’t like Carrie going in there. But, he had invited her because he wanted her there. Not because he wanted her to meet the other hunters – that bunch of predatory bastards better keep their hands, eyes, and dirty remarks to themselves. But he wanted Carrie by his side because she was his, and he wanted her in his life.
If it weren’t past his bedtime, and this place wasn’t so terrible, he would have brought Mikey too. Though, it wasn’t Mikey he really needed to prove he wanted to be there - Mikey already seemed convinced. His mother however… Riker glanced down at Carrie and was struck anew by her loveliness. She needed more convincing. How on earth could she think he would be ashamed of her? If he were prone to boasting – which he wasn’t – he would be downright swaggering about the fact that this beauty was actually falling in love with him. Rawr.
Riker placed a hand on the back of Carrie’s neck and she shivered under his touch as a little bit more arousal seeped into her scent. He liked that, but didn’t really like others being able to scent it – and they were about to wander into a bar full of hunters, and also general scumbags who hung out in this crappy neighborhood. He’d never thought about it before, but hunters rarely went to nice bars – they always ended up in dives like this. Probably something to do with hunters generally not being nice people. That, and places like these afforded a higher chance of getting involved in bar fights.
“Don’t go too far from me,” said Riker gruffly as they walked into the bar. “I want you in my line of sight at all times.”
Carrie frowned but didn’t argue.
“And if you need to go to the bathroom, I will escort you.”
“Anyone would think I was in danger of being kidnapped,” she teased.
Riker grunted. He wouldn’t be that surprised. He’d chased down plenty of shifters who had abducted females from much nicer places than this, and he didn’t like to think about what happened to them.
“But don’t worry, I’m not about to run off, and you couldn’t pay me to use the bathroom in this place.”
“That’s my girl.”
Carrie flushed and he brushed a quick kiss over her hairline. The bar was pretty full, and he spotted half a dozen hunters immediately. They were at the back of the bar hanging around the pool table while Bee and Mick played a game. They were doing a good job of blending in – hunters always did in places like these – but they kind of broke their cover when they saw Riker, and started gaping at him for openly showing affection to a woman.
Riker nodded at them impassively, and they nodded back before turning their attention squarely in Carrie’s direction. He led her back there, wishing he had insisted on staying home that night, or maybe wishing Mikey had chewed on his phone and ruined the damn thing before he got the messages about tonight.
He sensed a wave of nervousness from Carrie and rumbled gently and reassuringly. They wouldn’t bite – he’d murder any of them that tried.
Riker grunted at his fellow hunters and they gave him various hellos in return. He noted that Lucky’s intended mate was there, looking rather pleased with herself, while Lucky looked like he had been drinking straight for three days.
Mick grinned. “Hey, Carrie, good to see you again, you’re looking great.”
His eyes roamed up and down her and Riker growled. Mick was doing it to annoy Riker, but in spite of knowing that Mick had no real interest in her, he was still annoyed, and the noise he made sparked further interest in the hunters around him.
“It’s nice to see you again,” said Carrie politely.
“This is Mal’s sister, Carrie,” added Mick.
That sparked even further interest in the hunters, though if Mick had already been flapping his mouth, then they probably knew that Riker had slept with her. Given the fact that he had his hand on her, and had brought her to the bar, they had to know he was still sleeping with her.
Bee, the oversized bear shifter, tossed his pool cue at Mick and grinned at Carrie. Bear shifters were on the large side, and Riker was always surprised that they managed to pass unnoticed so easily. Bear shifters did tend to be quite handsome, so maybe it was just their looks that made them fit in – because a handsome bear was easier to take than a rough-looking wolf shifter. It had never bothered Riker until this moment, never bothered him until he thought about Carrie looking at another male and finding one more attractive than him.
“Nice to meet you, I’m Bee,” grinned Bee, unaware of the grumbling thoughts now racing through Riker’s head.
He started to stick out his huge hand to her but Riker let out a sharp sound and Bee quickly removed his paw and folded his arms over his chest instead. Touching would not be tolerated – especially not from a younger, more handsome bear shifter.
Carrie smiled. “Michael said your nickname is bumblebee, right?”
Bee frowned and everyone else murmured a little. “Michael?”
“My first name,” gritted Riker.
“No kidding!” Bee looked between Riker and Carrie in amazement before shrugging. “Uh, yeah, it’s because I like honey.”
“That and he got stung by a thousand bumble bees while trying to steal honey from a nest during his first hunt,” snickered Mick.
“Really?” asked Carrie.
Bee shrugged and beamed. “Yeah, I still managed to catch the guy I was chasing though. Can I get you a drink, Carrie, Mal’s sister and Riker’s… ah…”
“Just a coke, please,” said Carrie quickly.
“I’ll get it,” rumbled Riker. “Mick, introduce Carrie to everyone.”
Riker inclined his head at Bee, showing him that he wanted a word, and squeezed Carrie’s nape before walking to the bar, certain that Bee was following.
He gestured to the bartender and watched as Mick made a show of introducing Carrie. She smiled her pretty smile at all those low life hunters, and Riker’s inner wolf howled. He watched her out of the corner of his eye as he half-turned to Bee.
“So,” started Bee, leaning on the bar, “Mal’s sister, huh?” Riker glared at him. “Not what you wanted to talk about?”
“Of course not.”
“We’re all just surprised, you know? All these years you’ve never… And Mal, he doesn’t even like people borrowing his truck.”
“She isn’t a truck,” growled Riker stiffly.
Bee glanced over at her. “No, she is not. Is it true you’ve got a kid with her? Because Mick said something about…”
Another glare and Bee cleared his throat and changed the subject. “Lucas is going mental.”
“Yeah?”
Riker wasn’t at all surprised to hear it. He didn’t care either.
Bee chuckled. “Yeah, it’s pretty funny. The guy’s a little time bomb at the best of times, but you should see him now – goes all red like he’s about to explode. I swear I thought he was going to drop to the ground and have a tantrum the other day.”
“Really?” murmured Riker, not particularly interested, though his wolf thought it was pretty funny.
“Yeah, something about a bear shifter he wanted you to catch.”
Riker prickled. He didn’t par
ticularly like turning down hunting jobs. A part of him thought he should be out there now, hunting, but it wasn’t like he could do everything. He couldn’t take on all the damn hunts, and it wasn’t like he could hunt forever – he wasn’t freaking Superman. Surely, he was coming to the end of his career as a hunter anyway. Lucas had to start relying on other hunters more. Carrie and Mikey may be the catalyst for him starting to ease back on his hunting duties, but they weren’t the reason. Well, they weren’t the whole reason.
“Can you do something for me?” asked Riker.
“Sure, anything.”
Riker watched as Carrie smiled at those unworthy hunter bastards again, and he knew he was making the right decision.
*
They were looking at her like she was a newly discovered species of reindeer or something. It was a little unnerving to be in a strange bar and under the scrutiny of strange predators, though she knew Riker wouldn’t let anything happen to her. She could feel his eyes on her at all times, and it was both reassuring and arousing.
She was introduced to all the hunters, a couple of their girlfriends – whom she gathered were not serious girlfriends as they had wandered away and started flirting with other men in the bar, and Lucky’s mate to be, Jane. Carrie gave them both her congratulations, to which Jane preened and Lucky grunted and downed some more beer.
Nearly all the hunters appeared to have gained an interesting nickname, and were all happy to tell her the story behind the nickname.
“So, how come Michael doesn’t have a nickname?” she asked.
There was a pause and then some laughter.
“Sorry,” laughed Mariska – the only female hunter there and also a bear shifter. “We just had no idea he was called Michael – it’s such a wholesome name, isn’t it? Michael!”
Apparently, Carrie was the only one who called him that. Well, she couldn’t very well call him by his last name, could she? She couldn’t scream that as he brought her to completion…
“As for the nickname, we wouldn’t dare give him one.”
The Reindeer's New Year Love (Reindeer Holidays Book 7) Page 14
