She slapped his arm. “Funny. No, that’s not what I mean. I’m not on birth control.”
“Oh, that.” He flopped onto his body, seemingly undisturbed by her revelation.
He’d thrown her with what he’d said, but did his eyes have less amber in them? “Oh, that? Because unless you snuck on a condom, we might regret what we did.”
He rolled back onto his side. “I could never regret making love with you.”
Wow. Did he just say that?
“Besides, Callie, it’s not a problem.”
“Huh? What does that mean?” Was he sterile? Or snipped?
“Hey, Pete.”
She gasped and grabbed for her clothes at the sound of the voice outside the tent. Pete signaled that it was nothing to worry about.
“Yeah, Luke?”
“They want to see you in there.”
To her surprise, he jumped to his feet and pulled on his jeans. He didn’t bother picking up his shirt. “I’m coming.”
“Hey, hang on. We have things to talk about.”
“It’ll have to wait.”
She clutched her clothes over her body and sat up. “But you guys are going to take me down the mountain tomorrow, right?”
The expression on his face didn’t give her reassurance.
“I’m sorry, Callie, but that will depend on what Charlton and the rest of The Council decide. Until then, you have to stay here.” He motioned around him. “Feel free to make yourself at home. My brothers and I will return as soon as we can, but that may not be until the morning.”
“Wait. You’re leaving me? Alone?”
“Not really. Someone will stand guard over you.” He hurried to add the rest. “To protect you, of course.”
“To protect me from what?” Or is it to keep me from running?
But he was gone before she could get an answer.
Chapter Four
Callie pushed through the flaps of the tent. Pete was nowhere to be seen, but then it was difficult to see past the very large man standing in her way.
“Excuse me, but did you see where Pete went?” She hoped the man knew who Pete was.
“Yup.”
Okay, he’s not much of a talker.
She put on her sweetest smile. Why did he remind her of a stuffed teddy bear? “Do you know where he went?”
“Yup.”
Oh. My. God. Really. Is he a one-word man?
But she didn’t let her exasperation show. Maybe she needed to get more personal with the big lug. “You wouldn’t happen to be Luke, would you?”
“Yup.”
She nodded, thinking that it might encourage him to elaborate. But that tactic failed. “Great. Um, you’re a big, strong guy, huh?”
“Guess so.”
“I bet you have lots of women throwing themselves at you.”
He didn’t answer, letting his perplexed expression do his talking.
So much for getting more chummy with him. “Do you think you could take me to him? Or to Blue or Raine?”
“Nope.”
She blinked, maybe because she’d just noticed that he hadn’t blinked at all. “Why not?”
“Can’t.”
I’ve never wanted to shake an answer out of anyone more than I do right now.
“Why can’t you?”
“Just can’t.”
The last thread of her patience broke. “Look, big guy. If you can’t, then how about you pointing me in the right direction and I’ll find them myself?”
“I’m yours.”
His large, flat face scrunched up in what she thought might be a pout. “I’m sorry? How are you mine?” Did every man she met in the woods want her?
“I’m the one Blue picked to watch you.”
“Oh, he did, did he?” But what did that mean? Again she had to wonder if Blue had gotten him to watch her to keep her safe? Or to watch her to keep her from leaving?
“Tell you what, Luke. I’m going to have a look around the camp.” She held up her hand in what she thought was the Girl Scout salute. “I promise I won’t go into the woods. Is that good?”
He nodded vigorously, shaking the mane of dark hair to spill around his face. His bare chest was even broader than Blue’s and covered with hair. He was a bear of a man in more than his size. “Stay in the camp. The woods can be bad at night.”
She didn’t bother asking how the woods could be bad since she had other matters to attend to. First, she’d find the men and then she’d extract a promise from them to take her down the mountain in the morning. Or at least put her in a place where she could find her own way home.
“Great. Then that’s settled.” She started past him when he thrust out a huge paw of a hand.
“Nope. Stay put.”