Desire Untamed (Feral Warriors #1)(14)

His huge palm closed around hers. "At your service, Radiant." To her surprise, his other hand landed softly on her shoulder, and he started to. close the distance between them as if he meant to hug her.

Kara stiffened involuntarily. Wulfe's scowl returned full force as he jerked back and turned away. She opened her mouth, uncertain what to say to apologize, but an arm around her shoulders startled her into silence.

"Welcome, Radiant." She looked up into the face of the redhead. He was definitely younger than the others, his eyes friendly. "I'm Foxx." He pulled her against his side and slid his hand down her arm.

Were they all coming on to her? Or were they just way too touchy-feely?

She didn't move, couldn't move without risking offending him, too. Finally, he released her and stepped away. All she wanted to do was step back and establish a little personal space, but there were still two men crowding around her.

Tighe stroked her hair gently, then stepped back, as if sensing her keen discomfort. His dimpled smile helped to calm her. "How'd you sleep?"

"Hi, Tighe. I… slept fine."

"I'm glad. You hungry?"

She felt a true smile lift her lips and make it all the way to her eyes.

"Starved." She'd almost forgotten the fourth man until he moved beside Tighe. He was as tall as the others, but without the heavy musculature.

He kept his hands clasped behind his back as he smiled at her. His face was long and strong-boned, his brown eyes alight with curiosity beneath a pair of dark, sharply winged brows. Unlike the others, he made no move to touch her, and she relaxed further.

"I'm Hawke, Radiant."

Hawke was a cool name. So was… Kara blinked. Wulfe. And Foxx. And Lyon. Her gaze flying from one man to the next. "You're all named after animals."

Hawke started to say something, but Tighe coughed, and the man went quiet. "Nicknames, Kara. Someone once said we had the manners of a bunch of wild animals, so we decided to call ourselves by their names."

Kara cocked her head, "Then why are you just Tighe?"

He grinned. "Tiger."

Kara smiled, but the fear that had ridden her since she woke tightened her throat. She sensed nothing amiss. The men were all friendly enough, in their way, yet the feeling she was in danger persisted, as did the certainty that only one man could keep her safe.

"Where's Lyon?"

"You won't find him here." Foxx started back around to the seat she'd seen him in when she entered. "Our chief never eats with his foot soldiers."

"Lyon keeps to himself." Tighe pulled out the chair he'd been sitting in for her, moving his plate down a space to seat her between Foxx and himself. He smiled at her with those incongruous sunglasses, a flirtatious smile that should have had her pulse racing. "Have a seat, pretty girl. When you're through eating, I'll take you to him. Unless I can convince you to stay with me." His grin turned boyish, carving dimples into his cheeks.

Kara found herself smiling back. She hesitated only a moment before she nodded and sat. Tighe grabbed a clean plate from a stack in the middle of the table and handed it to her.

"We have pork medallions, ham steaks, and roast beef. What are you in the mood for?"

Kara looked at the three platters. The only food on the table. "It's all meat."

The men stilled, an odd tension rippling through the air of the room.

Kara wished she could crawl under the table. "It looks wonderful." She felt like she'd made a terrible gaffe. They'd offered her a king's feast, and she'd had to comment.

"I can have Pink make you something else," Tighe said.

"No, this is fine. I didn't mean to imply… I wasn't complaining. I like meat."

As she reached for the serving fork on the nearest platter, Foxx leaned toward her, dipping his head until his face was only inches from her own.

"So, where have you been all my life?"

Kara bit her tongue to keep from laughing. All his life? He couldn't be more than twenty. But at the same time, she felt her cheeks heat from the obvious come-on.

"Have some mercy on her, Foxx." Hawke shook his head, his expression sympathetic. "Why don't you tell us something about yourself, Kara?"

But Foxx wasn't through toying with her. He looped his arm around her shoulders and tilted his head toward her, conspiratorially. "Be careful of Hawke, Radiant. Once he starts asking questions, he never stops. You'll be crying for mercy within the hour."

Hawke's smile was bland. "Better that than having her crying from boredom, kit."

Foxx's smile turned wicked. "Give me an hour with any woman, and she'll be crying, all right. Crying for more."

Kara's cheeks went from warm to hot, her body stiffening. She needed space. She wanted Lyon.

"Cool it, Foxx," Tighe said sharply. "Show a little respect. She's not used to us, yet."

Foxx made a sound deep in his throat that almost sounded like an animal's growl, but his arm slipped from around her shoulders.

Tighe gave her shoulder a quick, gentle nudge with his. "Eat, Kara. You've got to be hungry."

"I… yes. I am. Thanks."

"She can answer your questions later, Hawke,".

Finally, they began to talk around her, the discussion turning to knives and how far they could throw different kinds of blades. At the rabid one-upmanship, so typical of any Friday night bar party in Spearsville, Kara began to relax enough to be able to eat, and even taste the food, which was truly delicious.