Page 94 of My Pleasure

Aiden will shake his head. “You’ve always had that particular superpower. Or did you think anyone could force you to do anything?”

“Yeah, but this way, it’s like having a magic word.”

Kiera turned to Rory. “Do you know what time the custody petition hearing got set up for?”

“Ten in the morning,” he replied.

Hunter stood and bent down to kiss her nose. “Be right back.”

“Okay,” she said, smiling at him.

She watched him walk into the kitchen. He can’t still be hungry, right?

*****

Hunter grabbed a basket from the top of the cabinets and stood looking into the pantry.

Bread? Yeah, but not the sliced kind. He grabbed a loaf of French bread.

Cheese? Absolutely. He grabbed an unopened pack of cracker cuts from the fridge.

Skittles? Why not?

Chocolate? For sure.

“Wine?” a voice asked.

Hunter turned to see Ryuu holding out a bottle. “It’s a screw cap, but a good bottle. Genevieve and Master Arlo drank two earlier this week.”

Hunter smiled. “I really suck at the handheld cork screws anyway. Great idea.”

By this time, Ryuu had already placed a pack of uncured meats and a small jar of peanut butter in the basket, along with cloth napkins, and several bottles of water.

“When you collect your mate, I’ll place the… what did denka call it? The glamper’s dream tent? I’ll place that along with several blankets in the camping tote by the back door.”

“Ryuu, you’re a lifesaver.”

“She has been through a lot these past couple days. You both need time for yourselves. She needs to be reminded that she’s Kiera, not an errant niece or protective older sister.”

“I need to do better in spoiling her,” Hunter admitted.

“You are much faster on the uptake than some other bear-shifters I could mention,” Ryuu said dryly.

Hunter chuckled as he passed the basket to Ryuu. “Wish me luck.”

“I do not think you need it. I will wish you peace instead.”

Hunter nodded, then walked back into the dining room. He went to her chair and held out his hand. “Come on.”

His mate looked up at him with wide eyes. “Hunter, it’s only seven o’clock. It’s a bit early for bed.”

“I have a surprise for you.”

She blushed, and he smiled wider. He turned to Caiden. “Can we get that bug spell?”

Caiden grinned and spoke low. “You both should be set.”

“Fucking love that spell,” Meryn admitted.