Unable to find my voice, I bobbed my head, pushing back against the solid counter, trying to put a tiny bit more space between us.
He paused for another long moment before speaking. "Good."
I glanced out the corner of my eye, saw Cannibal standing there with his arms crossed over his chest. A rescue of the damsel in distress, namely me, didn't appear to be on his agenda or in my near future.
Pulling my arms up, I pushed both palms against the shifter's chest and gave a tentative shove. He didn't budge.
Instead, his head lowered as his eyes locked on my lips. I began to hyperventilate.
I wanted his kiss, right? Yummy bear Yetis were hard to come by, and who knew the next time we might trek to the middle of nowhere to find one. He obviously found me attractive and worth some energy testing out his manly stamina. The part poking me in the belly made his thoughts on the matter apparent. Maybe he made magic in bed. Perhaps some women begged for his attentions after a single kiss.
I shuddered and a whimper escaped. I don't want to be a Yeti addict. I'm a modern woman, after all. I just met the guy. What if he just wanted me for my body? What about Cannibal? You can't just tell one guy in the clothing-optional Yeti resort that you would share private parts with him and refuse the other. I learned in kindergarten that you had to share. It's only polite and what good people did.
But I didn't want to share. I didn't want to do the horizontal boogie with the Yeti or with Cannibal. Okay, maybe my body wanted to do such things if the tingling down below in Shy parts meant anything. My mind disagreed and won the debate. I just couldn't tromp five hundred miles up a mountain in the freezing cold and snow, uphill both ways, just to get be the turkey in a sandwich. That sounded overly desperate for sex. Desperate seemed to be a harsh word. Needy?
His lips brushed against mine.
"I can't!"
That gave him pause. His hands remained in place, trapping me in front of him, but his face didn't move closer.
"Why not?"
What could I say that wouldn't get me kicked out of the clothing-option Yeti resort for insulting the owner? "Just because." I chewed my bottom lip, while squirming under his intense gaze.
Cannibal moved closer, speaking up. "You're on vacation. We're here for the taking. For once, why don't you just let loose and have some fun?"
I blinked back at Cannibal, then Bear. Let loose and have some fun? Did they forget who they were dealing with? I didn't jump into bed for fun. Well, amend that. I wasn't about to just go wild and crazy on the rebound from Meat. Besides, there were two of them. I couldn't afford my therapy bills as they were, let alone what kinky and embarrassing things they would probably expose me to. Jasmine warned me of rebound sex already. Hot, hardcore, and downright naughty. On second thought, maybe that didn't sound so bad after all.
Wait. I don't want rebound sex, right? Shy parts perked up with a resounding 'yes!' My heart warned that I didn't love either of the men and it still held great affections for Meat while my practical mind pointed out that Cannibal happened to be my boss. Talk about awkward. That's two 'no' votes and one 'yes' vote. The no's have it.
One of Bear's hands slid over to my waist, giving the area a rub before moving slowly upward, breaking me from my thoughts.
"I can't."
"Again, why not?" Bear inquired, taking advantage of my stillness to continue exploring closer and closer to my chest.
"I… I…" Think. Think. I could hear the theme from Final Jeopardy in the background. "Well, ummmm… you see…" What did one say when two sexy single men were staring at you like you were a pineapple, a lot fruity but sweet to eat? I'm just not interested? Snort. They aren't blind enough to believe that. It's uhhh that time? Good excuse if it actually were. No sense lying about it when someone had the nose of a bear. I'm afraid I would do you bodily damage if your naked parts touched my naked parts? Actually, he might believe that one. Unfortunately, I'm sure he could and would either be willing to take the chance or suggest something to help rectify that issue that would probably mortify me. Think. It has to be good. I'm saving myself for marriage?
"I'm a born again virgin!" The words slipped out, even sounding halfway reasonable and sincere.
Both of them burst into laughter, nearly howling with their amusement.
Personally, I didn't see the humor in my declaration.
The hyenas continued to laugh so hard they doubled over, holding their stomachs.
Somewhat insulted, I ducked away from Bear's slack arms and headed back to Cannibal's bedroom. Let the men hang out in the kitchen and flaunt their bodies. I would just shower and get dressed and let them cook me dinner. Besides, it would give me time to ponder this born again virgin idea and how it could work to save my virtue for the remainder of our stay. I only had to convince them and then myself.
I considered his choice of food for the evening meal. Sure, beans made a good meal, lots of nutrition in those little pieces. However, beans possessed a certain side effect. Goodness knows I had enough issues with gas while on the way here. Dang energy bars Cannibal fed to me. Ladies didn't pass gas in front of men, especially inside. Where was the Beano when you needed it? Giving a mental shrug, I decided to just not eat the beans. Better safe than sorry.
A few minutes later, I dressed and stepped from the bedroom, walking back to the living area. No laughter caught my attention, so hopefully they worked all the silliness out of their systems. With luck, they would even have clothes on.
I found them dressed and pulling on their heavy parkas, the good news of my afternoon.
"Where are we going?" I watched Bear pull a pair of rugged fur-lined leather gloves over his hands.
"Hunting."
I had visions of hunting mean old blood-sucking vampires. Or big bad criminals. I wouldn't think very many bad guys lived in the frozen tundra, but one never knows. No matter. We were off on a mission for justice and world betterment.
"We need to find something to eat and stockpile, and soon. Blizzard should arrive in a matter of hours," Cannibal quickly explained as he sighted down a rifle.
And, there was the bad news. "But… I…"
Cannibal strode over and nudged me sharply. "Get your coat and gloves on. We don't have time to dilly-dally around."
"But… why do I have to go?" I stammered out the question while furiously trying to pull the heavy protective gear on.
"I'd like to return home and find my house still standing in one piece. If we left you alone, I'm not sure that would be the case."
I snorted, but another shove toward the door ended any further arguments.
Ten minutes later, we were tromping through the frozen tundra once more. I shivered as an icy wind cut through my coat, freezing my still wet braid into a long brittle cord.
"What are we hunting for anyway?"
"Food."
"As in…?" For the life of me, I couldn't think of any edible plant or tree that grew in such a harsh environment.
"Deer. Mountain goats. Rabbits."
Cute little baby bunnies and Bambi? Images of their adorable faces appeared before my eyes. "Don't you get your meat from the supermarket like everyone else?" I trudged along behind them.
They paused long enough to gape back at me.
Okay. Rethink that statement. Not like a supermarket stood on the corner of the tree line and the frozen pond. Chalk it up to my beginning queasiness at the thought of Wild Kingdom, the Frozen Tundra Version, about to happen live in front of me.
I shrugged. Well, tried to in my multi-layered Eskimo outfit that made me look once again like the gingerbread man in Shrek. A bit higher and my voice would mimic his too.
"Did I mention I'm afraid of the dark?"
"Yet you climbed up here with that dumbass at night," Bear quickly retorted.
He had a point. "What if I step in something?"
"Then you wash your shoes off or leave them outside for the night," Cannibal suggested, walking along beside Yeti, not even bothering to slow h
is pace for my shorter legs.
"You didn't put a rope on me this time. What if I slip and fall off the cliff. I could smash onto the rocks, land in the snow, die of hypothermia, or get eaten by…" My voice trailed off as I remembered the men were predators looking for food on the hoof to eat.
"I think I just decided to go vegan. Plants scream less when you kill them."
Cannibal paused long enough to let me catch up a bit. "Circle of life, Shyanne. Circle of life."
"Yeah, but we never saw Simba and Nala take down an antelope, suffocate it by the throat, then dig into it with teeth and claws."
Bear shook his head. "Missing a few survival skills, huh?" He jerked his head in my direction, causing me to believe the question was addressed to Cannibal rather than me.
The Enforcer grinned in return. "What survival skills?"
Nodding, the tall blond agreed. "Figured."
Scurrying along behind them, I considered a potential way out of the mess. If we actually came across some animal to eat, if I yelled to scare it off, would they leave me out in the blizzard to succumb to hypothermia or would they simply teleport me somewhere even worse?
"I would make an offering of you to the Yeti."
Bear's words startled me for a moment before I remembered the Neanderthal could read minds.
I blinked in confusion. "But I thought you were the Yeti."
He slowed long enough for me to move abreast before resuming those long-legged strides. "Oh, no. There's a real Yeti."
"Really?" I perked up, hearing such an announcement. "You know him?"
Cannibal remained mute, but listened intently to the conversation as he walked along.
"We've met a few times. He's not the social type."
You could say that again. Oh, I guess he was talking about the real Yeti, not the not-so-real one.
His words replayed in my mind. "Wait. Why would you make an offering of me? What does he do with humans?" My heart sped in near panic at the thought of what a Yeti would do with little old me, anything from human stew to knife target practice dummy.
"No one knows what he does with humans."
Gasping, I tossed out another question. "Then why would you want to give me to him?"
"Because, every few years, the villagers pick one woman as the offering to the Yeti. They march her up to a small clearing and leave her for him."
My eyes widened, and my mouth fell open. "They just leave her there? No one knows her fate, but they just abandon one of their family members to whatever may happen?" Outrage flew through my system. I was all for open-mindedness for diverse cultures, but that seemed more than cruel. What happened to human rights? Women's rights? The right to bear arms and castrate evil men?
"For the offering, the Yeti leaves the villagers alone to live their lives in peace."
Yeah, well, goody for the Yeti and the male villagers.
"It's just one virgin every few years," Bear added.
"You sacrifice a virgin to the Yeti?" Shocked, my mouth fell open once more.
He nodded. "Just ahead is the clearing, in fact."
Coming to a sudden realization, I nearly stumbled over my own feet. "But… you can't. I… I'm not a… virgin. I don't fit… the requirements." Words stuttered from my cold lips as I tried to frantically make my overwhelmed mind spin with efficiency.
"But, just an hour ago, you declared you were." Cannibal chose this time to add his two cents worth.
I wanted to kick him in the shin. He was supposed to be opposed to a virginal Shy sacrifice to the frozen volcano god otherwise known as the Yeti. Instead, he was way too helpful. Baboon.
Both men stopped to look down at me. I squirmed. I fidgeted. "I… but… well…" Hanging my head, I took a moment to think a way out of this mess. I forced my chin up and met their eyes. "I don't think the Yeti would want me." There! That told them.
"What's not to want? You're female and a virgin. That's all the requirements he has."
"Yeah, but I'm a born again virgin, not a true virgin. Thus, I don't fit the requirements."
Bear shook his head. "Semantics. The Yeti won't care either way."
I wanted to bend over, grab a handful of snow, and throw it in the bear's face. My bottom lip trembled.
He shrugged. "Make the Yeti happy, the villagers would live in continued peace, you wouldn't be yanking Cannibal off the cliff. Sounds like a win-win all around to me."
"I don't wanna be a Yeti virginal sacrifice!"
A split second later, some huge white hairy creature appeared just in front of me. I barely managed to squeal before it grabbed me by the arm.
The men stopped in their tracks, eyes wide as saucers.
My mouth opened to scream when the world transformed from frozen mountain landscapes with blowing snow, to one of a recently familiar room, one where heat radiated enough to warm a person's cold bones.
Chapter 6
"Please don't make a racket. I'm not sure my ears could handle such noise in a small enclosed area like this."
I spun to stare at the monster that kidnapped me. A few seconds of hyperventilation followed as I looked up at his great height and size. He easily topped the men by a good foot, while those not quite human-looking arms and legs shouted power and sheer strength. White hair covered him from head to toe, making me think of a white version of Bigfoot.
"You… you're… the Yeti?" The words stammered out as I continued to stare at him from where I stood in the middle of the room.
"Yes. I'm the real deal." The words in English, though accented, didn't have my mouth falling open once more. Instead, the voice stunned me. Certainly I knew nothing about Yetis, but based on that voice, I would have to label he a she.
"But… you're… female?"
A smile crossed her face, making her appear a bit less threatening. "How observant." She must have noticed my sheer puzzlement as she continued. "Did you think that the Yeti was only one and only male?"
I gave a small shrug. "I don't know much about them… you… to be honest."
She twirled around the room, giving everything a onceover. "Nice taste for a bear."
For the first time, I really noticed my surroundings. Sure enough, we had flashed into the living room at the Yeti's… errr… make that Bear's home.
"You know him well?" I quietly asked. She would have to know about his home anyway to teleport us there.
She returned my shrug. "We've shared this territory for a while."
"Oh."
"It's getting a might bit toasty in here for this outfit." A blink later, she shifted and stood before me as a human. Well, obviously not human, but rather, in human form. Her shifter abilities didn't come as a total shock. She stood a bit taller than me, with much more curves and shape than I could ever possess. The deep red short dress clung just enough to flatter those dips and valleys in all the right places, while accentuating her narrow waist. Matching heels completed the outfit.
Using both hands, she smoothed out invisible wrinkles, then turned her attention back to me. "You're wondering why I grabbed you."
I nodded.
Her blue eyes lit up with her smile as she turned toward the kitchen. Shoulder-length straight blonde hair sashayed with the movement. "Basically, I got tired of listening to that brute bear slander my name. Sacrificing virgins to me in exchange for peace at the village. What rubbish." She snorted and strode off toward the kitchen.
"So what do we do now?" I slowly followed, still unsure what was happening.
She reached into a cabinet and pulled out a cardboard box. "Ah ha. I knew I smelled chocolate in here." Setting it on the countertop, she pulled out two packages of hot chocolate mix. She grabbed a nearby tea kettle, filled it with hot water, and set it on the stove. "We are going to have some hot chocolate, get all warmed up, have a nice girl chat, and wait for those bumbling clowns to come searching for you."
I headed toward the kitchen table and took a seat. She followed suit, taking the chair across from me. "I'm still not sure…
"
Reaching out, she patted my hand gently. "A Yeti gets lonely up here. I haven't had another woman to talk to in months."
"Oh, okay."
"And, I couldn't resist the opportunity to get under the skin of that all too sexy Bear."
My light bulb clicked on. The lonely Yeti chose to steal me for a couple of reasons, namely to have another female to talk to for a little bit and to yank Bear's chain in the process.
"But what do I call you?"
She grinned. "By my name, of course."
"Which is?"
"Yeti." She walked over to check on the teapot.
"But I thought Bear was the Yeti?"
She gestured with her hand before reaching in another cabinet for a couple of mugs. "As I said, I'm the real deal. Bear is just a Yeti wannabe."
"Oh…"
Two hours later, we sat sipping hot chocolate, curled up on the Bear's expensive leather furniture in front of a roaring fire. Yeti turned out to be quite a woman. She told me all kinds of things. We spoke of everything from the benefits of eunuchs to Yeti survival skills.
"Damn it. Like calling would do any good…"
The angry words cut across the room as the main door flew open to allow Bear and Cannibal to enter.
Yeti and I both looked at them, not bothering to move from our comfortable positions.
"About time you got here." Yeti tossed out the first pitch.
Bear swung at it. "What in the hell did you think you were doing? You can't go around kidnapping someone under my protection like that. We've been looking for two fucking hours for her, worried sick because you got a harebrained stick up your ass."
She stood and slowly walked over, only to stop a few steps in front of him. "And what gives you the right to scare this poor girl half to death with stories of virgin sacrifices? Talk about cruel, not to mention slandering my good name."
Bear growled, his hands fisted against his sides. Yeti appeared a bit calmer, but her pale face flushed with color while her back straightened.
"It was only meant as a joke, damn it. Payback for her injuring me," he shot back.
"You deserved everything you got. Walking about naked with company. Where did you learn your manners? In a cave?" She stepped closer, pausing when she stood nearly nose to nose with the slightly taller man. "You red-assed baboon."
Entangled Interaction Page 5