by Tia Fanning
It was now or never.
“Ori, I need to tell you something.”
She opened her eyes and turned her head to look at him. “Do I detect a note of doom?”
“Yeah, um… Well, I’ll just come out and say it—”
“Wait,” Jordan interjected. “Do you really love us? Could you find it in your heart to forgive us if we wronged you?”
Oriana leaned up on her elbows. “Yes, I think I do—I’m sure I do love you. And yes, I would most likely forgive you. But what is this all about?”
“We lied to you,” Jon said quietly. “About your plane.”
“It’s not broken,” Jordan added.
She darted her gaze between them. “You fixed it?”
“No, it wasn’t broken to begin with.” Jordan sat up. “It works just fine. Jon even took it for a test flight—”
“I assure you, it was broken. I had to make an emergency landing. You must have done something to fix it.”
Jon sat up as well. “No, we didn’t. But Ori, that’s not the point. The point is we lied to you about it—well, not so much to you as to Jack because we didn’t want him to send you away, but still. You’ve stayed here because you thought you had no way home.”
“I stayed because I wanted to. Plane or not, I could have demanded that you call for help. I could have had someone come and pick me up.”
“But Jordan said you didn’t want to draw attention to us—”
“And did Jordan tell you that I also said I wanted to hang out here for a while?”
Jon nodded.
“There you go. I’m here because I want to be here.”
“But we lied—”
“Ah, to hell with it,” she said, waving him off. She lay back down and closed her eyes again.
Jon looked at his brother, who just shrugged.
“To hell with it?” Jon asked.
“Sure. You lied. You told me. You’re forgiven.” She smiled. “No big deal.”
He just stared at her, stunned. “That’s it?”
She opened her eyes again. “What? Do you want me to be mad?”
“Not want, per se,” he said slowly. “Just expected, I guess. Wow, Ori. You’re so cool.”
She rolled over to her side, propping her head up on her hand. “And had I been mad? Then what? What would you have done?”
“Apologized profusely, begged for your forgiveness, taken you back to your plane if you wanted, or if you chose to remain, spent the rest of your time here trying to make it up to you.”
“So more pampering?”
“Yeah,” Jon chuckled.
Oriana sat up. “You two pamper me enough. If I get pampered any more, I’ll end up a spoiled brat and Jack might end up spanking me like some naughty little girl.”
“Jack likes being a disciplinarian,” Jordan said.
“Wait until we tell him about the plane,” Jon muttered. “Then you get to see both of us dunked in hot water.”
“Really? You get spanked too?” She laughed. “Oh, my God! That’s too hilarious. I can’t imagine it!”
“No, instead he’ll dock our pay and make us do menial chores on our time off.”
“If he’s that bad, then why work for him?”
Jordan shrugged. “He’s not bad. He’s very honest and fair. A good boss. Pays well, gives bonuses, doesn’t take advantage of us, gives time off when we need it. As for the penalties when Jon or I mess up, he’s the dominant male, the den leader, and unless Jon or I could win a—”
“What my brother means,” Jon interrupted, “is that Jack is the eldest. We were raised in a clan-type environment, and still follow those traditions. Jack is the head of our family unit. He leads, we follow.”
“Wow. I didn’t think people still did that. So who punishes Jack when he does something wrong?”
“He doesn’t do anything wrong.” Jordan shook his head. “Ever.”
“Yeah, the man is so straight-laced I doubt he’s even jaywalked before.”
“He has to be that way.” Jordan explained. “He must set the example for the family—even as small as ours is at the moment. But we’re hoping you’ll join it.”
“Careful, Jordan,” Ori giggled. “I might think you’re proposing to me.”
“And if we were, would you say yes?” Jon asked.
She erupted into laughter again. “Sure! Why not? Let’s go to the courthouse right now. I’ll marry you both.”
“Damn, Ori. You don’t have to be sarcastic,” his brother mumbled.
Tsking, she reached over and put her hand over his Jordan’s. “I wasn’t being sarcastic, I was being facetious. And I thought you were being hypothetical for the fun of it. However, if you want to talk serious, I couldn’t marry you anyway. Not because I don’t want to or I don’t love you, or because we’ve only known each other for a little over a week—though I know you two better than my ex-fiancé, who I dated for years. The problem lies with a society that doesn’t allow a woman to marry multiple men. The law frowns on bigamy.”
Smiling again, Jordan waved her concern off. “Oh, that’s not a problem. You’d only be ‘legally’ married to one of us—Jack, since he’s the eldest.”
Her eyebrows rose. “Oh, wow…well…um… You know, I don’t think Jack feels that way about me. I think he’s fond of me, but not the way you two are.” She squeezed Jordan’s hand. “But hey, I’ll tell you what. If he ever asks, I’ll say yes.”
Before his brother could respond, Ori removed her hand. “Can I ask you a personal question?”
He nodded.
“Why only one woman for three men? You and your brothers are like every woman’s fantasy. I can’t believe you all couldn’t find a separate woman for each of you.”
“It has become a necessary implementation for our safety—of our secrets,” Jordan offered cryptically.
“You’re cyberspies, right?”
“Ah…”
Rolling her eyes, Ori tapped the bottom of Jordan’s chin so he’d shut his open mouth. “I’m not as oblivious as I seem. I just didn’t press the issue.”
“What would make you think we’re cyberspies?” Jordan croaked.
“Um, you live in a decked-out military bunker in the middle of nowhere. Besides seeing all the hi-tech equipment inside and out of it, Jack implied you all were hackers. I also saw the various government files in Jonathan’s desk…” She then leaned forward, fluttering her eyes, and whispered with a note of awe, “Do you really know how to read all those languages?”
Jon realized that Ori was very good at enchanting his brother. She managed to disarm Jordan of his unease in record time.
“Actually, between my brothers and me, we’re only fluent in ten languages,” Jordan explained. “But I’ve invented a program that translates data as we troll—”
“And this is exactly why it’s safer to have the kind of household we are trying to implement,” he broke in flatly, glaring at Jordan in mild exasperation.
Jon turned his attention to Ori. “To answer your question on why one woman instead of three… Imagine how hard it would be for the three of us to each find someone we’re attracted to, could fall in love with, who is also trustworthy, who would accept us for who and what we are, who’d be willing to live in seclusion and secrecy, and would have a caring, friendly personality that allows them to get along with everyone else in the household without turning our home into the bickering plotline of a reality show.”
“And you think it’d be easier to find one woman who met all those requirements and be willing to live and love and have a relationship with three men?”
“You’re here, aren’t you?”
She shook her head. “I haven’t met all your requirements. Jack cares about me, is attracted to me, but he…he doesn’t love me.”
“Yes he does,” he and Jordan replied in unison.
“He told you that?” she asked softly, lowering her eyes.
“No,” Jon chuckled. “He would never admit it to us. Bu
t we know him. Jack’s just…well…”
“He’s the ‘strong and silent, brooding hero’ type?” she offered.
“Exactly.”
“What else?”
“What do you mean?”
“Talk him up. You’re his brothers. What is admirable about him in your eyes? You’ve told me he’s straight-laced, a good boss, fair… What else?”
“Ah…” What did he like about his brother? “He’s honest, has integrity, honorable. He served in the military while Jordan and I were still in school,” Jon said. “So I guess brave, as well. Courageous—”
“He’s very intelligent,” Jordan added. “Likes to learn new things. Open to new ideas. Thinks outside the box. Good business sense.”
“Family oriented. Family comes first.”
“Responsible. Hard worker. Focused. Detailed. Meticulous.”
“Traditional—old school ideals. Like our father. You know, chivalrous, all about respect for women, which is why we’re not to curse in front of you.”
“Traditional in some ways, yes, but not others. He’s definitely not ‘conservative’ by definition.” Jordan looked thoughtful. “Jon, didn’t you say you thought he used to be a Dom—”
“Okay, Jordan. I was joking about that.” He gave Ori a wary glance, shaking his head quickly. “I was joking.”
Jordan frowned. “You were?”
Ori pressed her palm over her mouth and stared at her lap.
Jon glared at his brother before giving his attention to Ori, rubbing her back. “Jack is really a great guy. You don’t have to be scared of him. He would never force you to do anything you didn’t want to do.”
“Well, not really,” Jordan mumbled. “Sometimes he might.”
Her eyes watered.
“God damn it, Jordan. Shut up. You’re scaring her.”
She quickly removed her hand. “No, no,” she squeaked. “Not scared. Just surprised…” She bit her lip, momentarily. “Just surprised by the thoroughness of your list,” she rushed before smothering her mouth again.
Jon realized what was happening. Oriana was trying desperately not to laugh.
He relaxed. “So you’re not upset?”
She shook her head.
“Then talk to us.”
“That’s why he liked that picture,” she blurted out. She clutched her chest as tried to catch her breath. “Oh, my God! And I told him how much I enjoyed doing the shoot!”
“Picture?”
“I used to be a model.”
“We know. Jack told us,” Jordan remarked, clearly confused.
“For fetish wear.” She covered her face and laughed.
“Oh,” Jon said, grinning at Jordan. “That’s wonderful.”
Chapter Ten
The late afternoon sun filtered through the forest canopy, painting the area in speckled shades of gold and dusky shadows. Like the stealth predator he was, Jon padded along the narrow dirt ridge jutting from the side of the steep knoll, expertly navigating the precarious ledge despite the thick foliage, his heavy bulk, and the damp, slippery undergrowth that shifted under his paws.
Jon wasn’t worried about losing his balance and falling over the side, nor was he concerned with the very real possibility that the root and soil overhang he treaded upon might crumple beneath his massive weight. Either way, it would be a fairly short drop—one he would survive.
He looked over the brush that lined the edge, glancing down to the level ground below. He doubted he’d even suffer an injury. After all, the ridge was only a few feet above the hill’s base.
The only reason he bothered to stay up on the unstable ridge rather than walk the usual path was for Oriana. He didn’t want her to notice his “fresh” paw prints and get scared. He figured that revealing himself in his shifted form was going to be traumatic enough. There was no need to add undue stress before the big revelation.
Jon had left the hot spring a tad earlier than Jordan and Ori, claiming that he needed to search again for the missing helicopter keys. As to not lie, Jon had done just that—even though the real reason he’d left early was so he could initiate the “bear” plan he and Jordan had agreed on earlier that morning.
While Jon didn’t find the keys, he wasn’t worried. They still had plenty of supplies. However, they would have to restock someday, and Jon knew Jack would have his ass if he didn’t locate the keys before that day came.
Fuck it, he thought. I’ll just replace everything. When he got a free moment, he would order new door locks and a new fuel cap from the manufacture and have the parts express shipped. Once the order was delivered to his P.O. Box, he’d ask Ori to give him a ride to town so he could pick them up. He was sure she wouldn’t mind—
Shit.
Jack would want to know how he was able to get the package from the post office.
Oh well, he’d have to confess the “broken-plane” lie to his eldest brother sooner or later. Might as well be sooner.
Feminine laughter flitted on the breeze and his ears peaked. Jon stilled, listening, gauging Ori and Jordan’s location by the sound of their footfalls—the crunching of the rock and leaves beneath their shoes, the loud snapping of twigs under the weight. Jon sniffed the air, catching their scent.
They had caught up to him much faster than he’d anticipated. He wasn’t even prepared for his performance.
Careful to keep his movements to a minimum, he turned slightly, searching the path that meandered below the dirt ledge. A minute later, they came around the bend, following the barely trodden trail that wrapped around the hill’s base.
Ori chatted away happily, relaxed, pointing out various plants and trees as they walked. Tension radiated from Jordan—nervousness, anticipation. In his bear form, which came complete with heightened senses, Jon could literally smell his brother’s anxiety.
He decided it would be better to approach them at the next bend where the hill was not so steep or overgrown with vegetation, allowing Jordan time to spot him and reassure Oriana of her safety. Jon crouched low behind the foliage and held his breath, hoping they didn’t notice him when they passed.
As he silently watched the two draw near his position, he registered the sensation of sinking, and realized his paws were sliding ever-so slowly into the moist soil. But Jon didn’t dare move a muscle, not even to adjust his footing.
Oriana skipped ahead, leaving his brother behind. She passed so close to Jon’s hiding spot that he could have reached out his paw and caught her hair in his claws.
“Come on, Jordan,” she laughed, walking backwards and swinging her basket. “We’re only two minutes away. Surely you can find the energy to walk faster. I want a bath before dinner…and I would like you to join me. We’ll make Jonathan cook tonight.”
“You really want pancakes for supper?” Jordan asked absently, his gaze searching around them.
Try not to appear too suspicious, dumb ass. And fucking get a move on! Stop dragging your feet. Jordan had to be the only straight guy in the whole freaking world who would ignore the pleas of a beautiful woman begging him to hurry along so they could get home faster and bathe together.
Jon’s paws slid forward an inch, causing the brush around him to rustle.
Jordan froze. “Did you hear that?”
Oriana stopped as well. “Hear what?”
The dirt beneath Jon’s paws broke off and tumbled down the embankment, leaving him teetering on the ledge. He barely maintained his balance as he slipped a little more, the undergrowth protesting the movement with reverberating snaps.
For the love of God, Jordan. Leave! I can’t hold much longer!
Instead, his brother slowly approached his hiding spot.
Fuck!
Suddenly, a loud crack marred the tense silence and the undergrowth shifted. The ground instantly crumbled. He found himself pitched forward, plummeting through the foliage, but instead of seeing the ground, he saw Jordan’s astonished face.
Jon roared in warning.
Tha
nkfully, his brother managed to shift a split second before impact.
The world blurred, a collision of sinew and fur, and Jon landed sprawled on top of Jordan.
There was snarling, flashes of fang and claw, and Jordan immediately shoved him away. Jon fell back in a hard rolling tumble, but quickly recovered, roaring in outrage at his brother’s unnecessary use of force. Jordan growled in return, and Jon could almost hear him bitching. You nearly squashed me, you dumb fuck.
There was a quiet thud.
Automatically, he swung his head, investigating the cause of the sound. Oriana had dropped her picnic basket, the contents of which lay spilled out at her feet. His first thought was to go over and help her pick everything up, but her stance drew his attention.
Frozen in place, her eyes wide and unblinking, her mouth hanging open, she looked… Oh, great. She looked positively petrified—literally immobilized with fear.
A bloodcurdling scream rent the air.
The sound of rapidly retreating footsteps immediately followed.
Okay, obviously not “immobilized” with fear.
Shifting back into his human form, Jon watched helplessly as Ori disappeared around the next bend. Jordan came up beside him.
“That didn’t go well,” his brother stated flatly.
Jon shook his head. “Jack’s gonna fucking kill us.”
* * * *
Jack locked his terminal and got up from his desk, rubbing the tension from the back of his neck. He supposed he should make dinner so Oriana and his brothers would have something to eat when they finally decided to return.
He was passing through the living room on his way to the kitchen when the front door slammed open. Spinning around, he somehow managed to catch the golden blur that tried to dart past him.
Though he was holding her in place by her shoulders, and she was staring up at him, he might as well have been invisible. She wasn’t seeing him. Jack took in her labored breath, her ashen pallor, and her wide, glossy eyes. Apprehension gripped his chest.
“What happened?” he asked.
Blank stare.
He shook her gently. “Oriana, talk to me. What happened?”
She blinked, recognition dawning. Her lips quivered, but no sound came out.
