Prowling Their Mate

by Tamsin Baker

  I scoffed and stood up, staring down into Laura’s beautiful heart-shaped face. “What, you wanna pay for a salad? Next time, order some real food and we can fight about it then.”

  Laura glanced away and picked up her things, standing slowly and facing me with that grim tightness around her mouth again.

  God, she’s stubborn... and why do I love that?

  “I’m trying to lose weight,” she said, and I could see the hurt in her eyes. I wasn’t having that. It was bullshit.

  I scoffed again and said the first thing that came into my head. “Why the fuck would you do that? You’re perfect just as you are.”

  The gasp of the patrons around me was loud but I didn’t let it distract me from focusing on Laura and driving home the point.

  Somewhere inside my head I marveled at the words. I’d always been drawn to skinny little blondes, but what I’d said was the truth.

  I didn’t lie. Laura was a major turn-on with all the ass.

  Her eyes widened and her pretty mouth opened and shut like a fish.

  I took advantage of the silence. “So, you gonna’ come to Mom and Dad’s thing? And make sure you bring an appetite with you, their pig on the spit is top shelf.”

  Laura stepped away and turned to look at Tyler. “You said you’d explain about the hand thing.”

  I glared at my brother. “Did he now?”

  And how was he going to explain a perfect mate’s bond to a human?

  Tyler smiled at Laura with genuine warmth and my lion growled and paced inside me. I stepped away, toward the door, uncomfortable with the sensations flooding through me. I didn’t like how much Tyler and Laura had bonded already. Being ignored was not a sensation I was used to.

  I heard them walk up behind me so I opened the door and inhaled deeply through my nose, enjoying the fresh scent in the air that spring always seemed to bring.

  Tyler was speaking behind me. “It would be so much easier if you came this afternoon. There will be quite a few people there and you’ll be safe, I promise.”

  I rolled my eyes and turned to watch my brother “wooing” our mate. She looked at me for a moment with hesitation, then went back to talking to my brother.

  “Why do I feel so safe with you guys? I know I must sound like an idiot, but I feel like I... completely trust you already, and I shouldn’t. I barely know you and I’m generally suspicious of people in general..”

  And why do I want to take you home and mate you right now, even though I know it’ll be the end of my life as I know it?

  Damn curse!

  Tyler chuckled. “It’s all linked to the same things. Please come?”

  Laura frowned, then nodded, crossing her arms over her big boobs in a move that had me swallowing a moan. My cock was stiffening in my jeans faster than a teenager with his first dirty magazine.

  Fuck, I wanted her.

  “So, you’ll come?” Tyler’s voice had risen an octave and I rolled my eyes again. If I didn’t know better, I’d think we were both sixteen again and courting our first woman. I’d never felt so uncool.

  Laura nodded and sighed, letting her arms drop. “Yes. I think I have to, or this will haunt me. Not knowing.”

  “Great. Our folks’ place is only about five minutes from our house—201 Grange Road, Jasper.”

  Laura pulled out her phone, typed on it quickly then tucked it back into her bag.

  “What time?” she asked, her voice stronger and deeper than before.

  “About three?”

  Yeah, that’s perfect. There’d be a few people there already and she wouldn’t feel as isolated.

  “Great. See you both then.” Laura backed away and slowly got into her car.

  I couldn’t help mirroring Tyler as we moved forward, shadowing her, making sure she was safe as she waved and pulled away from the café.

  As soon as she was out of sight, Tyler slapped me on the back, his feet actually leaving the ground as he jumped into the air.

  “We’ve almost got her!”

  I grunted at my too-enthusiastic brother.

  Don’t count your chickens, dude.

  “Women are a lot more complicated than that, Ty. Especially one like Laura. You think we’d get sent a simple mate?” I shook my head. “Let’s go.”

  Tyler gave me a strange look. “You’re joking, right?”

  I grunted and we headed off to our cars.

  I knew why Tyler hadn’t believed my assessment. I sounded like a hypocrite. I’d always claimed that women were simple-minded and easy to manipulate.

  Well, that may have been the case for the one-night stands I’d indulged in over the years, but it didn’t take a genius to know that Laura was special.

  If she really was our mate, which I’d find out today, then she would be harder to handle than any woman we’d ever met.

  LAURA

  I parked my car about fifty yards down from the address Tyler had given me. I couldn’t get any closer. There were cars everywhere.

  How big was this family shindig anyway?

  I stepped out of the car, tugging on the long summer dress I’d chosen to wear.

  Why was I even here?

  My decision to come made no rational sense whatsoever. I knew nothing about these men, and there was no reason at all to trust them.

  Yet, here I was.

  The pecan pie I’d made in a nervous flurry when I’d gotten home was still warm. I picked it up from the front seat and locked the car.

  Ready? Okay. Just breathe.

  I began walking, thinking about the reasons why I was here. The main one being I had to know what this ridiculous attraction was all about. How could I have such a subconscious and strong physical reaction to two men, and brothers at that? And they were just so different.

  I walked along the grassy footpath, inhaling the smell of the mountains around me. I’d thought Tyler and Brandon’s house was beautiful when I’d seen it last night, but this place took the cake.

  I stood in front of a double-story massive home, with a wraparound verandah and acres of land behind the house. My stomach tightened on a wave on anxious nerves. “Wow.”

  “It’s pretty amazing, isn’t it?” a chirpy female voice said behind me.

  I turned around and smiled hesitantly at the tall, gorgeous redhead who had walked up behind me. Wow, was right. This woman was exactly what I had always wanted to be. Gorgeous. Thin. Confident.

  “Hi, I’m Renee.” The redhead greeted me with a familiar smile, gesturing for me to follow her up the path to the house.

  She was obviously family. She was too relaxed and comfortable here.

  “I’m Laura.”

  Renee smiled with genuine warmth and opened the front door as though she owned the place. “What brings you here, Laura?”

  My mind whirled as I stepped into the magnificent house that had the feel of warmth and family love about it, even from the entranceway.

  “Ah, Tyler invited me.”

  “Oh, really?” Renee asked, her voice rising in excitement.

  I looked closer at her. Renee didn’t have any of Tyler’s coloring, but there was something about the shape of her eyes, and her smile. “You’re their sister.”

  Renee chuckled, amusement sparkling in her green eyes. “Got it in one. I’m impressed.”

  Renee linked one arm through mine and took the pie with the other hand, holding it up like a waitress bearing a plate. “Let’s go meet my parents.”

  Panic rose.

  Shit, no! Where the hell was Tyler?

  “Oh, I’m not anyone special...I just...”

  Renee laughed as she continued to lead me through the house. “Don’t be silly. You have to meet the hosts of the barbeque.”

  The sound of Renee’s voice was strangely as soothing to me as Tyler’s presence. Strange.

  “Renee, who do you have there?” The melodic voice of a woman who simply had to be Tyler’s mother rounded the corner and smiled up at me.

  But although she so
unded like Tyler, Brandon obviously took after her in a physical sense. She had beautiful blue eyes and blonde hair that was the same shade as her son’s.

  “Mom, this is Laura. Laura, this is my mother, Rosalie.”

  “Lovely to meet you,” I greeted my hostess, stepping a little closer to Renee for support.

  Rosalie surveyed me quickly, smiling broadly as she took the pie Renee offered her. “Oh, thank you, Laura, you really didn’t need to bring anything.”

  “Oh, it’s nothing. Thank you for having me.”

  Rosalie bustled off with a smile, then Renee grabbed my arm and dragged me through the house.

  “Come on! I’ll give you a tour.”

  We made our way through the kitchen full of laughing women, and into the backyard filled with talking men.

  I froze at the intimidating sight. Whoa, what a family. There wasn’t a man under six feet in the whole group.

  “Laura!” Tyler’s voice sang out as he bounced up the stairs and onto the deck.

  God, he looks good in casual jeans and a t-shirt.

  My heart raced in my chest, deafening me as blood pumped in my ears.

  “Tyler...”

  Brandon crept up behind him, looking like a reluctant school kid being dragged to the principal’s office. And yet, when his eyes rose to meet mine, the heat in their blue depths was enough to make my knees quiver.

  Not so reluctant after all?

  “Brandon...” I couldn’t keep his name from sliding off my lips too.

  Renee let go of my arm and I glanced over to see ecstatic smiles stretching across both Rosalie and her daughter’s faces.

  “I knew you were special the moment I saw you,” Renee said, then turned to grin at her brothers.

  I stepped toward the men and away from the women a little, the effect calming my nerves instantly.

  Tyler and Brandon moved into the empty places on either side of me, the sensation of protection oddly soothing.

  “Sorry we didn’t greet you at the door. But it looks like you found our family anyway.” Tyler took my hand in his and that odd sensation pulsed in my fingers, but this time it was more of a tingle.

  I looked up at him, not sure why I felt so safe when surrounded by these men. I let him link our fingers together, his smooth skin a testament to working a job that wasn’t manual.

  “You want a tour of the property?”

  I looked from Tyler’s face to Brandon’s, completely confused about why these two gorgeous men were so happy to see me. But I would hold my tongue for the moment.

  While in wonderland, I may as well see where the rabbit hole led. “Sure. I should also check on Cotton while I’m here.”

  Tyler chuckled and Renee asked, “Did I miss something?”

  Tyler grinned at his sister, but it was Brandon who answered. “She’s a vet.” Brandon’s voice was even sexier than Tyler’s, if that was possible. Like liquid chocolate, smooth and deep.

  Rosalie’s mouth dropped open and Renee began to giggle and put her hand over her mouth.

  I looked up at Brandon, his mouth pulled tight. He obviously didn’t find it funny. “Is there something wrong?”

  He grunted, “No. Let’s go.”

  Brandon led the way, trudging down the stairs and moving through the crowd with practiced ease. “Come on.”

  Now that was a talent! I could walk behind him forever and never run into anyone.

  Tyler escorted me through the crowd, interested glances being thrown our way, yet no one stopped us as Brandon opened the door to the barn.

  “You wanna’ see the horses?”

  I grinned at the hulk of a man and stepped into the barn. “Absolutely. One of God’s truly majestic creatures.”

  I stepped away from Tyler and walked up to the first stall, running a professional eye over the stunning dapple grey. The family had good taste in horses and obviously took good care of them. This gelding’s coat was sparkling with health. “These animals are incredible. Do your parents look after them, or do you have barn help?”

  I leaned against the stall door, my heart kicking out when I saw Brandon staring at me. He had the most intense blue eyes I’d ever seen—so stormy and deep. There was something special about him, and I hadn’t worked it out yet.

  He coughed. “We all help, but Mom does most of it.”

  He stuffed his hands in his pockets and scuffed his boot in the dirt floor. He looked like a gorgeous little boy, all nervous and adorable.

  I looked across at Tyler to see if his body language was similar, but found him sitting on a hay bale. He was waiting for something.

  “Are you going to tell me about the hand thing?”

  I glanced back at Brandon, who nodded slowly. He leaned against the wall behind him and my knees almost gave out beneath me.

  This man was way too sexy for my own good.

  “Yeah, it’s something special that only people with our type of connection feel.”

  My breath caught in my throat and I locked my knees so they didn’t collapse beneath me. What did that mean?

  “So... it’s a sort of chemical reaction?” I hoped that was all it was. My scientific brain struggled with the idea of it being anything else.

  Brandon straightened up and nodded. “Yes, but it’s pretty rare. The hand touching thing is only the first step. There’s a lot more to it.”

  I bit my lip, not sure I wanted to know the answer to my next question, yet I couldn’t walk away now. “Like what?”

  He took his hands out of his pockets and twirled one of his hands.

  “Turn around and I’ll show you.”

  “Pardon me?”

  He smiled like the devil himself and I heard Tyler’s voice say. “Brandon, don’t freak her out.”

  I couldn’t pull my eyes away from Brandon’s face. Everything in me wanted to go to him and touch him, feel that connection again. Yet, I was a little frightened to know how deep it went.

  “Laura?” Brandon twirled his hand again and I huffed loudly enough to be heard around the barn.

  “Fine.” I turned away and focused on the horse. What sort of parlor trick was he going to pull out while I wasn’t looking?

  Warm hands ran up my arms and I jumped, electricity zinging along my skin. Softer than before but more sustained.

  I turned my head to find out which of the men’s touch had made my skin tingle and was unsurprised to see the more confident of the twins behind me.

  “Brandon, what are you doing?” I asked him as I spun around to face the blond Viking towering over me.

  Brandon gripped my arms and pulled me against him, the strength of his body undeniable as my belly quivered in anticipation of what he would do next.

  “Showing you...”

  And with that enigmatic statement, he dropped his head and kissed me. His lips were hot and soft against mine, strong, but unhurried in their movements.

  Push him away! You don’t even know this guy!

  But my hands were already moving toward his chest and up into his short hair. I moved them around to cup his skull and moaned as his tongue slipped into my mouth. His sweet, minty taste overwhelmed every sense. My knees weakened and I sagged against his large, strong body.

  He pulled back and my eyes sprung open. Brandon was staring down at me with shock written across his face.

  Tyler stepped up next to us and somehow managed to take me from Brandon. One minute I was in the Viking’s arms, and the next moment I was with a dark angel.

  “What’s happening?” I asked and I ran my tongue over my suddenly dry lips.

  Tyler had the most angelic face. I had to touch him. I traced my fingers along his smooth jaw, a dreamlike calm coming over her.

  Never, even in my wildest dreams had I imagined a man like this would want to kiss me.

  “My turn.” Tyler swooped in and kissed me with incredible passion.

  He kissed me deeply, exploring my mouth with his tongue and lips.

  It was completely different from
the strength and possession I’d felt behind Brandon’s kiss, but it was just as amazing.

  My head was spinning when Tyler finally pulled away.

  “Wow.” I staggered away from Tyler’s warmth and landed with a thump on a hay bale. I was kiss drunk.

  Chapter Four

  Brandon.

  Oh, God, she was the one. Her taste, oh fuck...her taste!

  Fire was burning under my skin and I couldn’t clear my mind of the memory of the sweetness of her mouth. Every inch of my body desperately needed Laura to touch me again.

  I’d never craved such a thing before. True closeness, where I didn’t know where she ended and I began.

  I wanted to strip off every item of clothing I wore and beg her to lay her hands on me.

  How pathetic was that?

  “What just happened?” Laura swayed from side to side where she sat on a hay bale, looking intoxicated. If someone from the outside was looking in, they would assume we’d fed her a bottle of whiskey.

  I shook my head and growled at my brother. I couldn’t talk, and I wasn’t explaining this to her. I felt wild. I only kept a grip on my lion thanks to years of practice, and even now, it was barely by the tips of my claws.

  Tyler faced Laura and said, “It’s proof that you’re meant to be ours.”

  I threw up my hands and walked to the far end of the stable, shaking my head and grunting.

  Fuck, Tyler! I thought you’d be more subtle than that.

  I strutted back to the place where Ty and Laura sat just in time to see her shocked expression turn to one of outrage.

  “What?” she screeched, the sound ricocheting around the barn.

  I glared at my brother and stepped into the exit so she couldn’t get away. Now that I’d tasted her, I knew she was the one, and there was no way in hell I was letting her run from this.

  In truth, I’d kissed her hoping to feel revulsion at her size, to dislike the way she kissed me. Anything to assure me that I had not found my mate. That I could continue to live the life of a carefree bachelor.

  I’d been wrong. So very wrong.

  Laura was mine... and now I’d never let her go.

  “I’m sorry, I shouldn’t have said it like that.”

  Tyler really did have to work on his wooing skills if that was the best he could manage.