Shieldbrothers: Pride of the Kodiak

Chapter Two: Dowry Negotiations Part 2

Tyr glances back at Harper. The small human is following reluctantly behind him as they walk down the hall. Despite his best efforts to get Harper to wear something presentable this morning, like one of those nice blue shirts that he had bought, the human insisted on a particularly hideous acid green shirt. The only good thing one can say about the garment is that the shirt makes it easy to spot Harper.

He walks out onto the terrace and sees Diana already there on the wide grassy grounds spreading behind the house. She is wearing plain, functional black exercise clothes just as he is. She seems acceptably vigorous and athletic but this morning’s run will be a good opportunity to spot any hidden weaknesses or defects. She will be watching him for the same.

Tyr strides over to where Diana is stretching. She straightens and watches as he walks toward her. The morning sun glints attractively off her pale gold hair. A soft breeze blows a gold strand across her high cheekbone and Tyr strokes it back. “Good morning, Diana.”

“Good morning, Tyr.” Diana smiles warmly at him and brushes her lips over his palm. Her gray eyes focus coolly on Harper who is hovering and watching her.

Tyr glances over his shoulder at Harper. The blue gaze holds a cool remoteness that makes him feel uneasy. It was all he could do, this morning, to pull himself away from the exquisite feel of Harper’s cool hands on him. With the coupling set for tomorrow, he cannot accept such attentions from Harper no matter how badly he yearns for it. He will make it up to Harper later, afterwards. He offers the human a smile full of discreet promise.

“Oh, don’t mind me.” Harper offers a blatantly insincere smile to both of them. He sees Cerys perched on a horse, waiting under the shade of a trio of trees. He stalks over to her. The human woman looks lovely in deep purple leathers. Her vest features a low, scoop neck that provides an intriguing view of mostly bare bosom. Her long hair lies loose down her back, echoing the chestnut coat of the horse.

Harper slows his pace as he approaches. The horse turns its head to watch him. The big brown eyes do not look any friendlier than Diana’s gaze did. The closer he gets, the bigger the horse looks. Cerys sits on the horses back with an air of easy competence. Harper stops several feet away and looks up at her. “What’s this?”

“It’s a horse.” Cerys offers in a mock helpful tone.

Harper rolls his eyes. “I know it’s a horse, smarty pants. I want to know why you’re sitting on a horse.”

Cerys pushes her hair back. “You may be up to running with Nietzscheans this morning but I’m not.”

“Running?” Harper glances over his shoulder and sees that Tyr and Diana are both watching him and Cerys. He turns his back on them and moves closer; trying to ignore the way the horse is staring at him and slobbering around the bit.

“Yes. Diana and the Kodiak are going to run a few miles this morning.”

“A few…miles? How many miles are we talkin’?” Harper asks uneasily. He glances at the path that curves off over the grass and round the hills. Running is not his idea of fun. On the bright side, a run would provide no opportunities for any of those nauseating displays of fondling, giggling and flirting. He isn’t looking forward to watching a repeat of last night’s dinner.

Cerys shrugs, making her breasts quiver around the edges of her vest. “I’ve no idea. Until they get fatigued I suppose.”

“So, where’s my horse?”

“Do you ride?” Cerys raises a dubious brow.

“Well, ah….not exactly...” Harper takes a step back as the horse stomps a foot and looks him over.

“I thought not. Since we’re going to be out for a while this morning…I thought you’d want to ride along with me.” Cerys kicks her foot free of the stirrup. “We can talk while the Kodiak and Diana have their run.”

“His name is Tyr.” Harper snaps, squinting against the sun filtering through the deep green leaves.

“Okay,” Cerys sighs. “We can talk while Tyr and Diana run.”

“That’s better.” Harper walks closer, eyeing the horse suspiciously. “I’ve never ridden a horse before.”

“It’s not so bad. Just get on behind me and hang on. We’ll take it slow.” Cerys smiles encouragingly.

Harper sticks his foot in the stirrup and awkwardly heaves himself up behind her. Whoa, that suddenly looks like a long way down. Harper scoots forward pressing his body against Cerys. He wraps his arms tightly around her slender waist as the horse moves unexpectedly beneath him.

Cerys pats his arm. “You’ll be fine.”

Harper looks up and sees Tyr frowning at him. Oh, so the big guy doesn’t like it when the tables are turned. Too damned bad. He glances quickly around. Diana is bent over in a stretch. Cerys is patting the horse and crooning to it. No one is watching him but Tyr.

Harper snuggles closer to Cerys and peeks over her shoulder, openly admiring the curves quivering below. Very, very nice. If he didn’t have Tyr he would be making a play for Cerys right now. Harper looks sidelong at Tyr. If the tight set of those lush lips are anything thing to go by the big guy definitely didn’t like his shield brother checking out Cerys’ assets. Good. Serves Tyr right.

A flash of motion catches his eye and Harper looks around to see two servants mounting horses. A packhorse is waiting patiently behind the servants. “So why the entourage?”

“Well, during the display the two people are not supposed to be alone for extended periods. That’s to ensure that both parties have witnesses to everything that transpires and it also protects them from a partner who might have…” Cerys pauses for a moment before continuing, “…less than honorable intentions.”

“You mean like forbidden sex?” Harper frowns as Tyr and Diana start to jog slowly alongside each other. They are managing to laugh and talk as they begin to slowly increase the pace. At least there isn’t any touching going on but they seem to be getting along annoyingly well.

Cerys nudges her horse into motion, heading down the path. “No, I mean like assassins.”

“Oh.” Harper’s eyes are round. Then he frowns. Is that a dig? Does Cerys know that Tyr was an assassin?

It’s kinda nice being snuggled up to a cozy armful like Cerys. Been a while since he held a woman in his arms. Much better than running. Or having to ride double with a Nietzschean. Cerys smells nice too. Not all doused with perfume but a mild, barely there fragrance. Something vaguely floral.

The place is pretty. All those green hills. A wide variety of trees. Tall spiky green ones that match Cerys’ eyes. White flowered vines crawling up and over some of the tall trees. Little bushy ones with blue-green leaves and purple fruit. A grove of trees with bright gold leaves. Harper grins. Beka would hate it on sight. He can hear her now, carrying on about the sunshine and dirt.

Harper looks ahead as Tyr and Diana increase their jog to a run. Tyr is so beautiful in motion. He sighs. Diana is keeping pace with him. He can’t see what Tyr finds attractive about Diana. Just look at her. Okay, so she moves well. So she’s a long, lean blonde. So what? Harper scowls at her back.

“But that hasn’t been a problem since Elssbett married Charlemagne.” Cerys tone is absent minded as she glowers at Tyr’s wide back.

“Did someone watch them?” Harper asks, glancing at Cerys.

“Oh yes. No one was going to take Charlemagne’s well-being for granted.”

“So with Tyr and Diana running.” Harper looks back at the merry couple. How could they run like that and still have breath enough to flirt? “How are we going to keep an eye on them?”

Cerys pulls a pair of field glasses from around her neck. “Here.”

“You come prepared. I like that in a woman.” Harper smiles and wiggles his eyebrows.
Cerys laughs in spite of herself.

Tyr runs easily along side Diana. He gives her an approving look. She is running smoothly and lightly, keeping pace. She has enough stamina to talk and run too. That bodes well. A giggle floats to his ears. Tyr frowns. That shield sister of Diana’s is deliberately provoking Harper. The way she keeps waving her cleavage under Harper’s nose is not acceptable. Tyr glances at Diana. “Can’t you keep your shieldsister under better control? She’s flirting with Harper.”

“She is not. She’s just being friendly. Your shieldbrother is the one that has his hands all over her. I can’t believe she hasn’t swatted him off that horse.” There is a sharp note in Diana’s voice.

“Harper is certainly behaving himself. I wonder what’s so funny?” Tyr risks a glance back as he hears Cerys laughing. Tyr’s eyes widen and then narrow. Harper is whispering in Cerys’ ear so close that his lips brush her cheek.

Diana glances back as she runs alongside Tyr. “Does he have to sit so close? The poor thing can barely draw a breath because he’s holding her so tight.”

Harper hides a grin against Cerys’ neck. Ha. Take that, big guy. Not so much fun when you’re the one being forced to watch is it? That’s right. Maybe you oughta worry about what’s going on behind you instead of flirting with Diana.

Cerys whispers to Harper. “Don’t look now but I think we have someone’s attention. Watch what happens when I laugh.”

Cerys laughs gaily and leans back against Harper. She strokes her free hand sensually over his bare arm.

Harper watches in delight as Tyr stumbles over nothing and quickly recovers. He grins widely. “Oh yeah. I’d say we’ve got an audience.”

Harper smiles blandly as Tyr glances back again. He knows why Tyr is so interested in what is going on behind him but why does Diana keep looking back as well? Neither of them is paying any attention at all to the other, the Nietzscheans’ attention is firmly focused behind them. Hmmm. Why would Diana be concerned…unless. “Cerys. Do you mind if I ask a question?”

“What question?” Cerys glances over her shoulder.

Harper peeks at Tyr. Hmm. Tyr is beginning to look a trifle grim. Harper leans forward, whispering in Cerys ear. “It’s kind of personal. You can tell me it’s none of my business but I need to ask.”

“Okay. Ask.”

“What’s your relationship to Diana? I mean you said you’ve known the Bolivar family since you were a child. Are you like a sister?” Harper asks.

Cerys sighs. “In a manner of speaking…yes.”

Harper eyes the tense set of Tyr’s shoulders. Diana doesn’t look happy either. “What do you mean ‘in a manner of speaking’?”

“I’m Diana’s shieldsister. Do you know what that means?” Cerys turns her head to look at him.

“I do.” Harper nods. This is starting to make sense. But why hasn’t Tyr said anything to him? Why didn’t Tyr explain?

“How do you know? Ohh…are you Tyr’s shieldbrother?” Cerys’s green eyes light up.

“Yes.”

“A lot is beginning to make sense now.” Cerys smiles brightly at him.

“What do you mean?”

“When Charlemagne approached Diana about a potential mate he told her he had finally found someone who would understand and not judge her. I didn’t know what he meant and Diana didn’t tell me. How interesting.” Cerys toys with the horse’s long mane.

“Well, Tyr didn’t tell me anything either. He just let me stew in my own juices. He let me think he was going to go all out with Diana.” Harper directs a cold stare at the back of Tyr’s dark head.

“Diana behaved in the same manner.” Cerys confesses softly. She glances at Harper; her green eyes are darkening with the beginnings of anger. “She kept talking about how handsome the Kodiak…sorry…Tyr was. Just to get me upset.”

“Nietzscheans are pretty sneaky.” Harper sighs. Sneaky is part of the standard Nietzschean package. He knew that when he got involved with Tyr. It is a little late to be grousing about it now but he doesn’t like having that quality turned on him.

Cerys gasps and stiffens in his arms. The anger in her eyes softens and mingles with amusement. “You know what, Harper…they’re not only displaying for each other. They’ve been displaying for us…you and me.”

“What?” Harper blinks.

“Oh yes. That little scene at dinner last night.” Cerys frowns at Diana’s back. “That was for us. Think about it.”

“And we played right into it.” Harper’s eyes narrow thoughtfully. After all, he has been through…for Tyr to manipulate him like that. To deliberately arouse his jealousy. No. The Harper isn’t anyone’s chess piece. If Tyr doesn’t know that yet, the big guy is going to find out in no uncertain terms.

“Did Tyr make up for his behavior when you two were alone?” Cerys asks. A smugly reminiscent smile curls her lips. “Diana did.”

“Yeah.” Harper’s anger softens at the memory. Last night, parts of it had been very good indeed but then things had taken a sharp downward turn this morning. He leans forward to ask, “So. They’re really not going to mate?”

“I think they’re definitely going to. Diana has insisted that I witness the coupling.” Cerys sighs. Her delicate shoulders droop. “So I believe they intend to go through with it. Politically it will be advantageous to both of them.”

Harper frowns. “I don’t know about you but I’m not looking forward to that little scene.”

“No. I’m not.” Cerys shakes her head.

“At least it will be over fairly quickly. I mean it’s not like they can go all night.” Harper offers in an attempt at comforting.

Cerys looks over her shoulder. “I keep forgetting you were not raised around Nietzscheans. You don’t know about couplings. Harper…Nietzscheans can ‘go’, as you put it, for a very long time.”

“How long?” Harper feels uneasy at the dismay reflected in those large, green eyes.

“Hours.”

“Hours?” Harper eyes her suspiciously. “You’re kidding me, right?”

“I’m afraid not.” Cerys shakes her head. “The coupling will start in the early evening and continue all night. Possibly until dawn.”

“And we have to be there for the whole thing?”

“Yes.”

“You know what, Cerys. I think we need to make them pay for what they’re doing.” Harper’s mouth thins into a determined line as he stares at Tyr and Diana.

“What do you mean?”

“Not something harsh just…I don’t know…something.”

“Well. We can do something about that little display they’ve been doing. If you’re willing.” Cerys grins mischievously at him.

“Give them a bit of their own medicine?” Harper asks with interest. Oh, yeah. He’s already being playing that game a little this morning and it seems to be working fine. Tyr is looking at him more often than that Diana.

“Precisely.” Cerys nods firmly.

“I’m more than willing to give ‘the Kodiak’ a bit of his own back.” Harper grumbles as he catches Tyr’s grim, amber eyes on him. Harper smiles with deliberate charm at Cerys.

Cerys laughs, softly, seductively. She makes a show of staring at his mouth before raising her eyes to meet his gaze. “I definitely think the ‘Jaguar Ice Princess’ needs a little thawing.”

“When do we start?” Harper grins, flashing his dimples.

“Before we do I have a question for you, Harper.”

“What kind of question?”

“Last evening you mentioned that Tyr is a good father. He has children?”

“Yes.” Harper limits himself to the one word. As annoyed as he may be with Tyr, he isn’t giving away information that Tyr may not want given out.

Cerys frowns. “Does he have wives?”

“No.”

She considers for a moment and asks, “Has he been married?”

“Yes.”

“But he’s not married now?” Cerys asks with strained patience.

“No.”

“Are you not going to elaborate?”

“No. I answered your question…which, I might add, turned into questions.”

Cerys directs a brooding stare at Tyr’s wide back. “I don’t want him to hurt her.”

He’s damn sure that Diana had better not hurt Tyr. Harper gives Cerys an affectionate squeeze. “He won’t.”

Harper looks around they circle around one of the curves in the path and stop. A large lake is shimmering between two hills. A lacy, white marble gazebo overlooks the lake. A grove of those trees with gold leaves circle behind it. As he watches the servants head for the gazebo and begin setting up for lunch. Harper frowns. This is an ominously romantic setting. He doesn’t like it one bit.

Cerys leans back against him. Her hand strokes down the side of his face as she looks into his eyes. “Shall we start our own display, Harper?”

“What are we going to do? I don’t want to make Tyr mad.” At least not too mad. A little mad would do just fine. Let Tyr see what it feels like to be on the other side of the window. Harper brushes his lips over her fingers.

“Oh, no. We’ll just give them a bit to think about.”

Harper smiles. “I’m all for that.”

“Good. Now leave the first part to me. Follow my lead.” Cerys guides her horse toward the gazebo.

Harper drops to the ground and stands next to the horse, looking up a Cerys, waiting for his cue to whatever mischief she has in mind. Cerys swings her leg over and gives Harper a significant look. Harper grins and reaches up to place his hands on her narrow waist. Cerys grips his shoulders and slowly slides all the way down his body. She remains, pressed close against him with her hands stroking over his shoulders. Harper smiles at her as if completely unaware of Tyr and Diana striding closer.

“Cerys!” Diana snaps. “I need some help over here.”

Cerys does not even look around. She leans closer to Harper and whispers. “She sounds a little peeved doesn’t she?”

Harper chuckles softly. His hands flex against Cerys’ waist. “She sure does and Tyr is looking peeved as well.”

“Cerys!”

“I’m coming.” Cerys pulls slowly away from Harper and strolls over to Diana.

“Harper!” Tyr stalks toward him. “Could you come here a moment?”

Harper ambles toward Tyr but keeps his eyes on Cerys who looks back at him over her shoulder and lowers her lashes coyly. Harper widens his smile. He bounces off Tyr’s hard frame and grabs Tyr’s arms to steady himself. “Whoa! Didn’t see ya there, big guy.”

“I’m not surprised. You seem to be very…comfortable…with the little human.” Tyr slides a possessive hand over Harper’s nape.

“You told me to be civil. So, I’m being civil.” Harper shrugs. He peeks around Tyr in Cerys direction again. “What did you need?”

Tyr shifts to block Harper’s view of the human woman. “What?”

“You called me over here. What do you want?” Harper asks. Oh, now, Tyr wants some contact with him. This morning, the big guy couldn’t get away from him fast enough. He had wakened with Tyr curled warmly around him. Then when he reached down to fill his hands with the velvet heat of Tyr’s shaft, the Nietzschean had claimed a lack of time and hurried off to the shower, leaving Harper alone in the big bed. It still hurt to think about that and Tyr had kept his distance all morning. Until now.

Tyr strokes his thumb over the skin around Harper’s dataport. “I thought we’d sit and talk for a bit.”

“Um.” Harper shivers under the knowing caress. “I thought you were supposed to be talking to Diana and making sure she knows how potent your genes are. I don’t want to slow down the display. You two seem to be going so well.”

Tyr frowns as he studies Harper’s face. The blue eyes are still bland and seemingly indifferent. He can smell Cerys scent on Harper. He wants badly to seize Harper and mark the human thoroughly with his own scent. His mind is not on his words but the smooth, cool skin under his hand. “We are. She is very…capable.”

“Capable. You call the future mother of your children capable. How romantic.”

Tyr leans closer. His hand tightens demandingly on Harper’s nape. “Harper, you know romance has nothing to do with this.”

“Do I?” Harper asks coolly. He twists away and steps back. “You seemed very romantic last night. You can’t look at her without getting a hardon.”

“Harper…”

“I understand. It’s not personal. You’re just engineered that way.” Harper recites. He rolls his eyes. “You know what. I think I’m gonna go for a walk. You and Diana need more time to ‘bond’, right?”

Tyr frowns as he watches his human stalk away toward the lake. This is not going the way he planned. His lips lift in a snarl as Cerys calls out to Harper and Harper pauses, waiting for her to run over. Cerys smiles up at Harper and takes his arm. Tyr has had quite enough of Diana’s top-heavy companion. He turns a dark look onto Diana. “Diana. Your shieldsister is beginning to annoy me.”

“Not nearly as much as your shieldbrother is annoying me.” Diana stomps into the gazebo. She stands in front of the buffet table, scowling at the food. “Why does he have to paw her all the time?”

“He’s not pawing her. She is the one who latched onto his arm like a lamprey.” Tyr walks over to the table and sits. His gaze never leaves Harper as the human couple walks toward the lake.

“She did not! Cerys is a very social person. She’s just happy for some human companionship. I’m sure that’s it.” Diana picks up a roll and absently shreds it as she stares after Cerys. “Where are they going?”

“I have no idea. Should we follow them?” Tyr leans around a column to keep the two humans in view as they take a curve in the path. He growls as he sees Harper lean closer to Cerys.

“Did your human just kiss her?” Diana stiffens. “I’ll not tolerate this. He’s taking advantage of her.”

A peal of gentle feminine laughter reaches their genetically enhanced hearing. Tyr turns toward Diana. “I’m not so sure who is taking advantage of whom.” He turns back and realizes that he can’t see the couple any longer. He stands up. “Where did they go?”

“They were just right there a moment ago.” Diana scans the edge of the lake.

“Could they be lost? Harper doesn’t know his way around this planet.” Tyr frowns as he searches for a telltale patch of acid green among the trees and bushes.

“We’re still in the Bolivar compound. Cerys knows this place as well as I do.” Diana spears a cube of pink melon and frowns at it. “She won’t get lost.”

“Then where are they?” Tyr consciously forces his bone blades to settle against his forearm. Before he seduced Harper, the human was always chasing women. Every time, he would look around there Harper would be flirting with a woman. His eyes darken ominously. Harper seems quite taken with Cerys and her over inflated cleavage. Every time he looked around today, Harper was eyeing it.

“This is so unlike Cerys.” Diana stabs a cube of purple melon. Her gaze restlessly roams the shoreline. “She usually stays right by my side.”

“Are you so unsure of your human that you keep her on such a short leash?”

“Hardly.” Diana sniffs. “Cerys is devoted to me. I would think you’d have better control over your human shieldbrother. He seems very flirtatious with Cerys. I know she doesn’t appreciate the unwanted attention.”

Tyr looks down at his wife-to-be. It did not seem to him that Harper’s attentions were undesired by Cerys. The woman is practically begging for Harper’s attention. “Harper is not being ungentlemanly…I hope.”

“You hope?” Diana glowers at him. Her head turns sharply at the sound of a shriek and loud splash.

Tyr charges out of the gazebo and toward the lake with Diana right beside him. If that woman of Diana’s has led Harper into danger…He growls and increases his pace. His pace slows as a purple vest dangling from a tree branch catches his gaze. An acid green shirt is tossed over a bush.

Tyr slows to a jog and then a walk. Harper’s cargo pants sprawl in the middle of the path. A few feet further, purple leather pants lounge on a scattering of white flowers. Tyr stares at a pair of blue boxers crumpled on the grass. Across the way is a scrap of black lace.

Diana picks up the black lace and turns to stare at Tyr. “What in the world…”

“I have no idea.” Tyr cocks his head at the sound of splashing and giggling. He growls in displeasure and slips softly in to shadows. He ignores Diana slinking less silently in his wake. He pulls himself up into a tree while Diana settles behind a cluster of berry bushes. Tyr moves higher in the tree, concealing himself among the heavy foliage before stretching out along a limb. His fingers dig into the bark at the sight of his Harper and that Cerys swimming nude around a secluded nook of the lake.

“Harper I couldn’t stand that hot leather a second more,” Cerys declares as she spots the glint of Diana’s pale blond hair through the leaves. “I’m glad we decided to cool off.”

“Oh yeah…the water is definitely just what the doctor ordered.” Harper turns his back on foliage that Cerys is eyeing with such glee. He grins at Cerys. “But we didn’t bring anything with us to dry off with.”

“We can lie in the sun for a bit and dry that way.” Cerys slicks her wet hair back and smiles seductively at Harper.

“I love a woman who thinks like I do.” Harper chuckles. He swims closer to Cerys. His eyes widen when he hears Diana’s faint growl.

“Should we check on Diana and Tyr?” Cerys asks innocently.

Harper laces his tone with indifference. “Nah. They probably want some time alone.”

“But I’m getting hungry.” Cerys pouts.

Harper presses a finger to her mouth and traces the lines of her lips. “You’re cute when you pout, did you know that?”

“Really?” Cerys kisses his finger.

“Oh yeah.”

A growl rumbles in Tyr’s throat. It was only last night that Harper finally allowed him to see the human nude; to feel the bare press of his lover’s skin against his. And here, Harper is flaunting himself in front of this top-heavy female. He can see the eager rise of Harper’s shaft through the clear water. He can smell the faint scent of Harper’s arousal. Harper is his. His lips lift in a snarl as Cerys plasters herself against Harper’s chest, her arms sliding around Harper’s neck, her hands stroking over Harper’s shoulders. When Harper leans down as if he intends to kiss her, Tyr drops from the tree. “Harper!”

Diana fumes. Cerys has never expressed even a passing interest in a male before and here she is swimming with her breasts exposed like ripe fruit. Just wait until she has her alone tonight. She’s going to really give her a piece of her mind. Diana rises up in a fury from the concealing bushes. “Cerys!”

“Diana!” Cerys exclaims in mock shock.

Harper quickly moves in front of Cerys to shield her. He snaps, “What?!”

“What are you two doing?” Diana fumes. She plants her hands on her lean hips. “We thought you had gotten lost, didn’t we, Tyr?”

“Yes. We were expecting you to join us for lunch.” Tyr walks over to stand next to Diana.

Cerys shrugs, sending waves bobbing over her breasts. “Well, we decided to go for a swim.”

“You didn’t say you were going to do that.” Tyr folds his arms over his chest.

“So…what? We have to ask permission?” Harper snipes. “You two were occupied and we decided to enjoy the water. What is the problem?”

“Diana, you know I like to swim.” Cerys directs a wide-eyed, innocent stare at her lover. “I thought you’d be pleased that we were out of your hair.”

“Don’t forget yourself, Cerys.” Diana snaps. Her bone blades flicker and rise.

Cerys’ eyes darken with anger as she glances at the exposed bone blades. “Are you threatening me?”

Diana turns on her heel. “Get out of the water and come to lunch.”

Tyr lingers a moment glaring at Harper. “We have a lot to talk about, little man.”

“I hate it when he calls me that.” Harper grouses to Cerys as the Nietzscheans stalk off.

Cerys looks at Harper and begins laughing. “We’re going to have to pay for this little escapade but it was worth it.”

“Oh yeah. I love the look on Diana’s face when she saw us together.” Harper grins. Payback is good. Now, Diana knows how he feels every time he is forced to watch her pawing Tyr.

“Diana? What about Tyr? He looked like he’d tear us apart limb from limb.” Cerys begins swimming toward the bank.

“Come on.” Harper pulls himself out and gives Cerys a hand up. “Let’s get back before they have time to regroup.”

They walk around gathering up their clothes. Harper pulls on his boxers and tosses Cerys his tee shirt to wear. They stroll back, laughing and talking as they carry the leather clothes and shoes back to the gazebo. Tyr and Diana are waiting at the table, glowering as Harper and Cerys amble in.

“What is that you’re wearing?” Diana demands. Her full mouth flattens in annoyance.

Cerys looks down. The acid green tee shirt faithfully molds itself to every curve of her breasts and erect nipples. The hem just barely covers her bottom. She looks back up at Diana and shrugs. “Harper’s shirt. I was too wet to wear my leathers.”

Harper looks at Tyr and pretends to be oblivious to the way his damp boxers cling to his swollen shaft. He coolly meets Tyr’s hot glare. That’s right, big guy. Just ‘cause you don’t want it, don’t mean that no one else will. Maybe you oughta think about that, huh? “I couldn’t let a lady walk around in her birthday suit, could I, big guy?”

Cerys walks up to the table and stands beside Diana, studying the array of food. Diana is staring furiously at her lover’s barely covered backside. “Goodness, I’m starved! Oh, Harper, look, they brought those little crustaceans you liked so much last night.”

Harper moves to stand beside Tyr. He glances at the dish and gives Cerys a questioning look. She grins at him and plucks one off the tray and leans forward, offering the tidbit to Harper and giving Diana a view of her bare bottom. Harper leans over and delicately takes the crustacean from her fingers. He brushes a kiss against her fingertips.

“Cerys!” Diana snaps. She yanks Cerys back, firmly pulling the hem of the shirt down. She directs a glare at Harper.

Cerys stares at her, all innocence. “What?”

Diana takes a deep breath, clearly fighting for control. “Why don’t you go shower off that lake water and give Harper his shirt back?”

“Sure.” Cerys smiles brightly. She turns to Harper, “Come on Harper let’s go get cleaned up.”

“NO!” Tyr and Diana exclaim in unison.

Harper trades an amused glance with Cerys before shaking his head in mock bewilderment. Harper drops down in the chair next to Tyr. “What is up with you two? I think you got too much sun. You may want to have a little dip in the lake.”

“Oh yes. Quite refreshing.” Cerys adopts an air of languid satisfaction and sinks down next to Diana. She smiles innocently at Harper and winks.

TBC