Free Hard and Easy [High-Country Shifters 5] (Siren Publishing Ménage Everlasting) by Melody Snow Monroe Page A

opening. A young girl stood there. He must have been slipping if he didn’t hear her.
    “Hello, there. Who are you?” He tried to keep his voice as unthreatening as possible.
    She clasped her hands behind her back. “I’m Frania.”
    He didn’t want to scare her, so he kept his distance. “Can we help you?” Maybe she was lost.
    She shook her head. “My history teacher, Ms. Madra, told us about these drawings, but then she had to stop. I’m studying them.”
    The name, Frania, finally sunk in. Her father had been the one to attack Madra. “Does your father know you’re here?”
    Her eyes widened. “No! He can’t find out either.” She moved toward him. “You won’t tell him, will you?”
    “No.”
    Larek stepped forward. “This is the first time we’ve been here. Maybe you can show us what you know.”
    “Really?”
    Frania’s enthusiasm spurred an idea. “Yes. Do you mind looking around for a bit? I need to discuss something with Larek.”
    “Okay.” She bounded to the far wall, slipped off her backpack, and extracted a tablet.
    He pulled his friend aside. “I think Madra should be here.”
    Larek’s chin jutted inward. “Why?”
    He wrapped an arm around his friend’s shoulder. “You and I both know that Madra won’t be happy until she finds a way to teach the kids the truth.”
    “I agree, but she hasn’t bought into her true calling yet. She doesn’t think it’s worth her losing her job over, and that’s the problem.” He glanced over at Frania. “What are you thinking?”
    Brin couldn’t keep the smile off his face. “What if she could find another way to accomplish her goals?”
    “How?”
    “What if we bring her out here and let her and Frania explore together? Madra will soon realize what she’s given up.”
    “You sly dog, you.”
    “Equally importantly, I bet this will motivate her to come up with a way to solve the problem herself.”
    Larek punched him in the arm. “How about I go get her? I know our date isn’t until tonight, but maybe she’ll be willing to join us sooner.”
    He glanced to the side to make sure the young girl was out of earshot. “Why don’t you pick up some other goodies just in case Frania isn’t planning to stay long?”
    “You are one devious bastard.” He nodded to the little girl. “Keep her occupied. I won’t be long.”
    “Be fast.”
    “By the way, I volunteered to get Madra only because I fear you might get too tired running.”
    “Smart-ass.” Now more than ever, he needed to work on staying in shape.
    In a flash Larek was gone. Brin’s cock twitched as he thought about the joy this weekend would hold.
    “Hey, Frania?”
    She spun around. “Yes?”
    “Guess who’s coming here?”
     
    * * * *
     
    Racing as fast as he could, Larek reached the opening to the underground in less than fifteen minutes. He probably should have called Madra to make sure she was home, but she had claimed she spent most of her weekends doing schoolwork at home.
    Just when he needed to be somewhere, the tram took forever to arrive. Once he hopped on, all of the cars were packed with people, and he was forced to stand in the back. This was one time he wished no one needed to get anywhere. His luck, the whole city seemed to be using public transportation.
    Madra’s place was one of the last ones, so his impatience built with each stop. When the tram got to her station, he exited and jogged to her house. As soon as she answered, he blew out a breath.
    “Larek! What are you doing here? Is something wrong?”
    All week they’d tried to find even a few minutes to meet, but between his job and her school commitments, the first time they were able to. “No.” He stepped inside. “I know we said Brin and I would pick you up at seven, but something came up. Are you free to go on an adventure?”
    Her eyes shone. “Right now?” A giggle escaped.
    “Yes.”
    “I’m not really dressed.”
    He figured she’d say that. “You look lovely the way you