Rain (Stranger in the Woods Book 1) Read online

  “You speak Italian?”

  “Among other languages.”

  “Say something in Italian.”

  “Il mio sole sorge e splende per voi.”

  Ryder sounds so yummy I have forgotten my worries and have to stop myself from moaning in ecstasy. “What does that mean?”

  “My sun rises and shines for you.”

  I grin wildly. “That’s hot, Ryder.”

  “What’s hot? Are you burning?”

  “Oh, Ryder. I’m fine, but you have so much to learn.” I step over a fallen tree. “We don’t need towels?”

  “What for? You will be dry by the time we walk back.”

  “Okeydokey, Tarzan.”

  “Gunner has also called me Tarzan. I don’t understand.”

  “There’s a story about some kid who lived in the woods, raised by the animals. His name is Tarzan.”

  “I know of children being lost in the woods before, but we always lead them back to a place where humans can find them. Sometimes we’ve had to see them through the night, but no animals have ever adopted them.”

  I smile at Ryder, thinking of all the small miracles on the news when a child has been found, somehow not dead of the cold or large animals. Then I exhale heavily, so out of my element all of a sudden because, like those children, I’m trying to adapt to conditions most could not adapt to, not without assistance from, wow, elves. I look around, thinking how I thought I understood these woods. I feel clueless. “Here’s the thing, Ryder. I thought I was a country girl, but now I see I may indeed be a city girl.” And very human.

  Ryder gives a quizzical scowl.

  I inhale deeply, seeing as I’m getting nowhere. “So bath in the lake, huh?”

  He rolls his shoulders back and lifts his chin. “Yes, very refreshing.”

  My toes play in the dirt as I stand next to weapon holsters, watching Ryder enter the lake. “Not taking off your clothes?”

  Half in the water, he faces me. “Why? They need washing.”

  Taking a gander at my surroundings, I mumble to myself, “Open mind, Rose. Open mind.” This lake is serene in front of tree-covered mountains and is untouched by humans. At least I don’t see beer cans and trash like the lakes and springs closer to home—another embarrassing sign of us not appreciating the gift nature provides. As gorgeous as this view is, after dipping a toe in the water, I have one other thing to say. “You have lost your mind.”

  Unreserved, Ryder splashes around. “What’s wrong?”

  I back away. “Can you say, ice cube?”

  He runs up the shore in a blur. Wet, cold arms circle me, and into the water I go. “It’s not cold!”

  I receive a sudden case of lockjaw as the frigid water hits my skin, sending painful prickles to my nervous system.

  “See? Its fine.”

  Ryder stands me on my feet in shoulder-deep water. I simply can’t move. I can only watch him take off his pants so he can rub them for a rustic washing. After inspection, he rings them out, balls them up, and throws them onto the dirt embankment. I would shake my head at this idiocy if I wasn’t frozen stiff! Ryder observes me as he begins to remove my shirt. He stops mid-strip. “Why are your lips blue?”

  “C-C-Cold.”

  “You are serious?”

  I’m too frozen to respond. Ryder has me scooped up in his arms in a whiplash kind of speed, and is running me out of the water. “Oh, Rose, I thought you were kidding me.” He sits me down and runs away.

  Frozen lips have me rely on reflecting. Where are you going?

  Fire.

  I only witness occasional blurs as he rushes around me. In no time, there’s a pile of wood in front of me and two sticks being rubbed together at Superman speed. Then there’s smoke. I want to sigh, but my lungs refuse. Ryder blows, and a fire blazes heat.

  At first, I’m not sure what Ryder has in mind when he strips me. My muscles are forced to stretch so he can finish undressing me. Then I’m back in warm arms, naked, curled into a ball, resting in Ryder’s naked lap. His hands rub on my back, arms, and legs. His face leans to mine to bring me more immediate heat. “Rose, I will never forget you are human again. Gunner warned me, and I didn’t listen.”

  “Y-Y-You’re s-so w-w-warm.”

  “We are not affected by temperatures the way you are. What was I thinking?”

  “That I am s-strong w-woman. H-Hear me r-roar?”

  Ryder rocks me, laughing. “All I hear is your teeth chattering.”

  Once my inner ice block defrosts, Ryder, still deliciously naked, sets up some sticks and hangs my clothes to dry. After he scrubbed them in the lake, of course. I giggle as I make a mental note: as a baby shower gift, ask Mama for a washing machine and a long extension cord.

  I sit on the shore watching Ryder frolicking in the water like a madman. “What are you doing?” I stay huddled by the fire.

  He looks intently into the water. “Feeding you.” His splashing resumes. My jaw drops as a fish flies through the air and lands next to me, flopping around.

  I observe the poor fish. “I always did want a manly man all of my own.” Another fish plops next to me. “And now I have one.”

  Ryder exits the water, dripping wet. Instant awe.

  Never have I seen such beauty in its rarest form. Rustic doesn’t cover what I’m witnessing. Possibly nature at its finest? Water glistens in the sun behind him as his muscles efficiently carry him up the shore, his long hair dripping. Ryder kneels in front of me, and I think about how I can definitely get used to this woodsy life—

  Ryder pulls a knife from his sheath and proceeds to butcher the fish. Two heads fly through the air, back into the water. Fish flesh is skewered and held over the fire until it smells amazing.

  Ryder sits next to me, flashing his assets to our surroundings. His pants are still wet, and elves don’t seem to believe in underwear. He hands me a stick of grilled fish and takes a bite as an example. “Like this.” I grin and take a bite, following his lead, as if I don’t know how to eat meat off a stick. I would take the time to explain that I have been to a carnival or two in my lifetime, but my elf would probably just ask, “What is a carnival?” I’m too hungry, so I eat instead.

  When my eyes pop out of their sockets, Ryder’s do the same. “No good?”

  I take a deep breath to prepare for what I have to do next. My mouth opens, and I practically devour the fish whole. I moan with every swallow. “Ryder, this is the best fish ever.” I shamelessly lick at my stick until he holds his out for me. I bashfully reach for it. “Are you sure?” But before he can answer, my inner gremlin takes over, and his fish on a stick is halfway eaten.

  Ryder laughs. “No, I’m not sure. Give it back.”

  I choke. “You said a funny!”

  He pats my back. “Quick learner, remember?”

  With a full belly, my next need is clear as I yawn. Ryder pulls me to him, lying back against a log. With my head resting on his chest, I slip into the most romantic nap of my life.

  “Rose. Wake up.” The alarm in his whisper wakes me instantly. Before my eyes even open, I’m on my feet with my shirt being pulled over my head.

  When I finally see what is wrong, I freeze in panic. “It’s almost dark.”

  I finish dressing myself while Ryder throws on his pants and knife holders. “Get on my back. We’re running.” I climb on and hold tight, wrapping my legs around his waist and my arms around his thick neck. Ryder begins to run but stops at the edge of the clearing. Blue fluid drips down his neck. “Too late. Get down. We’re not alone.” As I get off him, he pulls out his knives and squats in a battle stance, protectively keeping me behind him. My heart beats out of my chest, and what I learn is, my fear is no longer for me. It’s for my baby. A nap out in the open was dumb, and my ignorance has p
ut her life in danger.

  “Ivar?” Ryder hesitantly calls out.

  “Ya. Shield yu wepon leetle, Ry-dore.” The accent coming from the woods in front of us is so strong I barely understand the speaker. Before my brain catches up, I hear bellowing laughter echoing off the trees.

  “Aye, taken a wee nap?” Another voice calls.

  Ryder stands back up, sheathing his weapons, and yanks me to him in relief. “The Vikes.”

  “Ry-dore, mark your female so yu no try to kill us. Bluidy hell.” I know this routine, so my fingers swipe Ryder’s neck then my cheeks. Ten huge, rough-looking men with barbaric weapons strapped to them cross the tree line. “And a good ting it’s os seence vee cot yu weeth your pants down.” They must have witnessed our quick dressing.

  Ryder exhales heavily. “Damn, it’s good to see you, males of worth.”

  A cheer sings out. “Warrior!”

  Many hugs are given out as Ryder says, “Everyone, this is Rose.”

  “Wee little ting to cause all dis ruckus.”

  Ryder points. “Rose, meet Saxi, Gizor, Finn, Varin, Alrik, Kar, Manni, Thord, Olaf, second in command. And Ivar, their leader.”

  “Sweet lord,” I reply as I attempt to make mental notes of faces, trying to match names. These men appear to have just stepped off a Viking ship and are not of this century. They sport orange and blond unruly heads of long hair with beards to match. I know I will never forget them or their weathered faces. “It’s very nice to meet you all.”

  Ivar says, “Parker eez gonna be serchen for yu?”

  Ryder gestures for me to get back on his back. “Yes, we should go.” He hands me a homemade ponytail holder. I tighten my legs for balance and tie back his beautiful hair, letting his two braids fall forward. I don’t know why, but like when I first came to the village and was overwhelmed, I’m holding these braids again. They somehow bring me security. Ryder doesn’t seem to mind and doesn’t complain if I tug on them a little when bouncing on his back during our travels.

  They talk as we walk into the darkening woods and keep talking when they stop for some unknown reason. Movement in the trees above us has me tightening my hold around Ryder’s neck. All of a sudden, five women fall out of the trees and land on selected male’s backs. I scream! The Vikes gaze at me as if nothing unusual took place and I have lost my mind. Ryder tries to calm me. “It’s okay. These females are their mates.”

  My eyes bulge out of my head as I try to catch my breath. Ivar, their leader with enchanting blue eyes, affectionately touches my hair. “Aye, yu hav had sum scares.” Ryder rubs my legs, nodding to confirm my recent weeks have been a bit disheartening.

  The women are dressed like they either belong in the woods or just stepped out of a calendar for “sexy woods women of the winter.” Animal fur and leather have never looked so lusty. They wear short skirts over long legs that most likely could wrap up any man into a lustful evening. Two of them have little pouches on their backs.

  Olaf says to me, “Oh, nuthing to fear, leetle one. Yu Vike brothors ur heer now.”

  With a woman on his back, Manni says, “We hid de females teel we know if yu no een truble. Vee hav yung wid us.” I glance at the little bundles and realize babies are inside them. “Dis female eez Dalla.”

  “Dis wun eez Svala,” Varin says about the female perched on his back.

  Finn thumbs over his shoulder. “Dis bute eez Helga.” I quickly learn that the name Helga is for very attractive women, too.

  Thord introduces a female with a young. “Did eez Inga.”

  Ivar points proudly to the female on Olaf’s back. “And dis eez Asta.” I can’t help wondering why he’s so taken with someone else’s female.

  The females wave to me and say, “Ello, young Warrior,” to Ryder.

  Now, I understand what Ryder means by, “it is our way.” These women cling to backs as if it is an everyday action. Ryder tells the newcomers, “Many anxious females and males await you in the village.”

  Ivar is a leader for sure. His presence is demanding like Parker’s. “Den lets go,” he bellows with excitement.

  Over his shoulder, Ryder explains to me, “We run faster than females. In a hurry, we carry. Hold on. I hope you don’t get sick, but I have no herbs and the sun is down.” I nod and hunker down, slightly nervous about what my body can handle.

  As if a gun shot off to start a race, my body jolts backward. We’re flying through the woods at such a speed I can’t make heads or tails of our direction. My body flies forward against Ryder’s back when he stops on a dime, along with the whole group as if they all sense something. Everyone quietly holds still. The females don’t ask questions, which I’m dying to do. They just stay put and search for what they and their males hear.

  Within two seconds all but me sigh in relief. Parker, Gunner, Hunter, Chase, Sage, and Blaze run up to us. They collide and hug while they all talk at the same time.

  Gunner studies my face. “You’re marked. What happened?”

  Thord laughs. “We snoock up on heez female. No so guud.”

  Gunner asks me, “You okay?”

  “A little queasy.” I lean my head on the back of Ryder’s head.

  “Unfortunately, baby, from what I’m gathering, this is a common way for you to travel. We need to build up your stamina on his back.”

  “Says the half-breed who’s finding all this a piece of cake.”

  He kisses my cheek. “Love you.”

  Watching the other females and how natural all this is for them, I notice that they don’t have their legs wrapped around their males’ waists the way I do. Their legs are bent under them, like a frog’s, and the balls of their feet rest in little holders strapped to the back of the males’ thick leather belts. It seems to keep their legs out of the way.

  Inga watches me inspect her getup and says, “Ve weel meek yu one, Rose.” She pushes off Thord and has way more control of her descent than I would if I tried the same maneuver.

  Thord keeps talking while pulling a little baby from Inga’s back. She, in the middle of all these males, simply whips out her breast. When handed her child, she goes about her business, as does everyone else, that is, except for Gunner who is looking at everything but this female feeding her child. His cheeks positively catch fire when Thord notices. “Vee got a shy un heer.” Thord grabs Gunner’s hand and places it upon Inga’s breast.

  “Holy shit!” Gunner yells and retracts his hand as if touching a hot stove burner. The laughter echoes in the woods. Even Inga laughs as she continues to feed her baby with no reservations or shyness. Thord helps her tie the baby to her front, so it’s snuggled securely and able to continue to feed. She climbs aboard his back again—a little more upright to make room for the addition—and is ready to travel.

  Blaze tells Gunner, “We don’t understand humans’ hesitation with naked bodies.” That explains my lunch experience. “Ivar was just breaking you in—his way.” Gunner nods, still not sure what to do with his guilty hand.

  The elves talk and catch up as Ryder continues to carry me back to the village at a relaxed pace. I ask, “We’re not in a hurry anymore?”

  His back vibrates against my chest. “No Blood Demons would be dumb enough to attack us with so many fighters present.”

  “So why are you still carrying me?”

  “You’re pregnant and a tad slow.”

  Dalla purrs from Manni’s back, “And vee ure spoiled.”

  “Rotten,” Finn agrees. He has Helga on his back, even though he appears not to notice the extra weight. She moans another language in his ear. From the mischievous grin on his face, I know he likes what he’s hearing.

  Back at the village, the females hop off backs and rush to open arms. High-pitched voices carry on as they talk about how much they’ve missed each other. Sadly, th
is is the first time I really feel out of place. These people have a history I’m not part of.

  Ryder takes me by the hand and pulls me behind a tree, away from everyone. It’s dark. Only the fire and moon light us. He grasps my face in his strong hands and kisses me. In between kisses he tells me, “You are my history.”

  Kiss.

  “And my future.”

  Kiss.

  As we all sit around the fire, Crystal questions Gunner. “What about pain tolerance?” I sit on a log because there are no chairs here, with Gunner’s blanket wrapped around me for extra warmth.

  “Well, I was only one when my mom birthed my sister. So I don’t remember.”

  “If you were twelve months, she was delivering far too early. And of course, she wouldn’t go to a human hospital.”

  “No, my dad said she insisted on a home birth, like she had with me. Makes more sense now. Blood work and all. Uh, he said she was very strong—’til the end.” I go to him, knowing what’s coming next and hold his hand. “My… my mom didn’t make it, and my sister didn’t last long without her.”

  Crystal is kind. “I grieve your loss. Sadly, your story is a common one for our females.” I notice everyone going quiet, even the Vikes. “Childbirth for elves is a dangerous time.”

  “Dis is true. We hev lost many,” Ivar says with a heavy heart.

  Morning Star says to Gunner, “And your sister, being half elf, could not have survived without breast milk. That is why when you see one pregnant female, you see another pregnancy at same time. Nature found a way for us.”

  Everyone looks at me, then slowly heads turn to another female. Ryder begins to pace by the fire as she stands to show a little bump in her belly. My jaw hangs. Storm and I are pregnant at the same time in case one of us doesn’t survive. I’m flabbergasted with this elf, who I barely know, having a significant part in my life. She has long, shiny, dark hair and haunting silver eyes.