by Tamsin Baker
“Laura!” Tyler’s voice sung out as he bounced up the stairs and onto the deck.
God, he looked good in casual jeans and a T-shirt.
Laura’s heart thumped against her chest, deafening her as blood pumped into her ears.
“Tyler…”
Brandon slunk up behind him, looking reluctant, yet when his eyes rose to hers, the heat in their blue depths was enough to make Laura’s knees quiver.
“Brandon…” She couldn’t keep his name from sliding off her lips.
Renee let go of her arm and Laura 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 grinned at her brothers, then winked at Laura.
Laura stepped toward the men and moved back from the women a little. Tyler and Brandon moved into the empty places on either side of her, the sensation of protection oddly soothing.
“Sorry we didn’t greet you at the door. But it looks like you found our family all by yourself.”
Tyler took her hand in his and she felt that odd sensation, though it was more of a tingle this time. She looked up at him, not sure why she felt so safe when surrounded by these men. She let him link their fingers together, his smooth skin a testament to working a job that wasn’t manual.
“You wanna’ tour of the property?”
Laura looked from face to face, completely confused about why they were so happy to see her, but she would hold her tongue for the moment. While in wonderland she may as well see where the rabbit hole lead.
“Sure. I should also check on Cotton.”
Tyler chuckled and Renee smiled. “Did I miss something?”
Tyler grinned at his sister, but it was Brandon who answered. “She’s a vet.”
His voice was like liquid chocolate, smooth and deep.
Rosalie’s mouth dropped open and Renee began to giggle.
Laura looked back to Brandon, his mouth pulled tight. He obviously didn’t find it funny. “Is there something wrong?”
He grunted. “No. Let’s go.”
And he led the way, trudging down the stairs and moving through the crowd with practiced ease.
“Come on.”
Tyler escorted her through the family, interested glances being thrown their way, yet no one stopped them as Brandon opened the door to the barn.
“You wanna’ see the horses?”
Laura grinned at the big hulk of a man and stepped into the barn.
“Absolutely. One of God’s truly majestic creatures.” She stepped away from Tyler and walked up to the first stall, running a professional eye over the stunning dapple grey. They 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 they have people to help?”
She turned and leaned against the door, her heart kicking out at her when she saw Brandon staring at her from across the barn. He had the most intense blue eyes she’d ever seen—so stormy and deep. There was something special about him, and she hadn’t worked it out yet.
He coughed. “We all help, but mum does most of it.”
He stuffed his hands in his pockets and scuffed his boot into the dirt floor. He looked like a gorgeous little boy, all nervous and adorable.
She looked across at Tyler to see if he was making a similar statement, but found him sitting on a hay bale. He was waiting for something.
“Are you going to tell me about the hand thing?”
Brandon nodded slowly, leaning back against the wall behind him and making her knees almost give out beneath her. That man was way too sexy.
“Yeah, it’s something special, that only people with our type of connection feel.”
She caught her breath and locked her knees so they didn’t collapse beneath her. What did that mean?
“So it’s just a sort of chemical reaction?” She hoped that was all it was. Her 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.”
She bit her lip, not sure she wanted to know, yet she couldn’t walk away now.
“Like what?”
He took his hands out of his pockets and twirled one of his hands at her.
“Turn around and I’ll show you.”
“Pardon me?”
He smiled like the devil himself and she heard Tyler’s voice. “Brandon, don’t freak her out.”
She couldn’t pull her eyes away from Brandon’s face. Everything in her wanted to go to him and touch him, feel that connection again. Yet, she was a little frightened to know how deep it went.
“Laura?” Brandon twirled his hand at her and she huffed loudly enough to be heard around the barn.
“Fine.” She turned away and focused on the horse. What sort of parlor trick was he going to pull out while she wasn’t looking?
Warm hands ran up her arms and she jumped, electricity zinging along her skin. Softer than before but most sustained. She turned her head to find out which of the men’s touch had made her skin tingle and was unsurprised to see the more confident of the twins. Brandon was behind her.
“What are you doing?” she asked him as she spun around to face the blond Viking towering over her.
Brandon gripped her arms and pulled her against him, the strength of his body undeniable as her belly quivered in anticipation of what he would do with her.
“Showing you…”
And with that enigmatic statement he kissed her. His lips were hot and soft, strong, but unhurried.
Push him away! You don’t even know this guy! But her fingers were already moving toward his chest and up into his short hair. She moved her hands around to cup his scalp and moaned as his tongue slipped into her mouth. His sweet, orange taste overwhelmed every sense. Her knees weakened and she sagged against his large, strong body.
He pulled back and Laura’s eyes sprung open. Brandon was staring down at her with shock written across his face.
Tyler stepped up next to them and somehow managed to take her from Brandon. One minute she was in the Viking’s arms, and the next moment she was with a dark angel.
“What’s happening?” she asked, blinking slowly. Tyler had the most angelic face. She traced her fingers along his smooth jaw, dreamlike calm coming over her.
Never, even in her wildest dreams, did she imagine a man like this would want to kiss her.
“My turn.” He swooped in and kissed her with the most incredible passion. He kissed her slowly, exploring her mouth with his tongue and lips. It was completely different from the strength and possession she’d felt behind Brandon’s kiss, but it was just as amazing.
Her head was spinning when he finally pulled away.
“Wow.” Laura staggered away from Tyler’s warmth and landed with a thump on a hay bale. She definitely felt drunk.
Chapter Four
Oh God, she was the one. Her taste, oh fuck…her taste!
Fire was burning under Brandon’s skin and he couldn’t clear his mind of the sweetness of her mouth. Every inch of his body needed Laura to touch him again. He’d never craved such a thing before. He wanted to strip off every item of clothing he wore and beg her to lay her hands on him. How pathetic was that?
“What just happened?” Laura swayed a little from side to side where she sat on a hay bale, looking as intoxicated as though they’d fed her a bottle of whiskey.
Brandon shook his head and growled at his brother. He couldn’t talk, and he wasn’t explaining this to her. He felt wild. He only held onto his lion by the tips of his claws.
“It’s proof that you are meant to be ours.”
Brandon threw up his hands and walked to the far end of the stables, shaking his head and grunting.
Fuck, Tyler! I thought you’d be more eloquent than that.
He strutted back to the place where Ty and Laura sat, just in time to see Laura’s shocked expression turn to one of outrage.
“What?” She screeched, the sound bouncing around the barn.
Brandon glared at his brother and stepped into the exit so she couldn’t get away. Now that he’d tasted her, he knew she was the one, and there was no way in hell he was letting her get away.
In truth, he’d kissed her hoping to feel revulsion at her size, to dislike the way she kissed him. Anything to assure him that he had not found his mate, that he could continue to live the life of a carefree bachelor.
He’d been wrong. She was his and now he’d never let her go.
“I’m sorry, I shouldn’t have said it like that…”
Tyler really did have to work on his charm if that was the best he could do.
“Shouldn’t have said that? Shouldn’t have said what? What the hell is going on?”
Laura was really screeching now, and seemed to be hyperventilating as her breath wheezed in and out.
Tyler was doing nothing, and Brandon really didn’t like the noise.
He strode forward and grabbed her arms, silencing her with his mouth. She moaned and sunk into his embrace, making his body come alive. Her taste exploded through his senses, the perfect combination of sweetness and lust. He needed her.
Her hands slid under his shirt and stroked his skin. His lion leapt inside him, then settled to purr. She pulled away a little to whisper against his lips. “Why do I want you like this?”
Brandon couldn’t speak but he moved his hands down to her ass and gave it another good squeeze. Fuck, why did he like that so much?
“Brandon? Tyler?” Their mother’s voice called out to them and Brandon reluctantly stepped away from Laura. It almost hurt to do so. He hated the loss of warmth when her hands weren’t against his skin.
“Here you boys are.”
Their mum stood in the doorway, her lovely wide smile on full display as she looked between the three of them. She gestured to them.
“Laura. Come with me and meet some of the family.”
Laura looked up at him, her green eyes worried and open.
Brandon nodded once to her and she seemed to slump. She better not want him to protect her from his mum. That was never going to happen. To be honest, he wasn’t even sure it was possible.
Laura moved up next to their mother, her lovely cotton dress clinging to her curves. That ass just called out to him. Bend me over and fuck me, please.
He shook his head and growled in impatience. When would they be able to claim her?
Rosalie took Laura’s arm and looked back over her shoulder at them.
“Come on, boys. I think Laura needs to meet some of your cousins.”
Brandon groaned and shared a mutual aggravated look with his twin. Their courtship of Laura had just been completely taken over.
****
Rosalie took Laura’s hand and led her into a pack of men, all related somehow to the two that had just kissed her. Laura glanced around the group of massive males that were all staring at her and heat filled her cheeks. Why were they all looking at her like that?
“Laura, this is Jack and Scott. Another perfect pair like my boys.”
Two pairs of intense eyes swung her way and Laura actually tried to take a step back on pure instinct. These men were magnificent. Older than Tyler and Brandon, probably mid to late forties, but their aura was unmistakable. Virile, strong, protective males. Hang on, what had Rosalie said?
“Perfect pair? Sorry?”
Rosalie smiled up at her and squeezed her arm tightly as though to prevent her from going anywhere.
“Yes, in our family some of the men are born un-identical twins, and we call them perfect pairs.”
Laura glanced back at the two men again and began to see the similarities to her guys.
One was blond, though he was greying now, blue-eyed, hugely muscular, and taller. The other had brown hair shot through with white, brown eyes like Tyler, and was shorter but still fit and lithe.
“You mean because of the complete opposites in looks?” she asked and Rosalie nodded.
“Yes, but it’s more than that. Their personalities are perfect opposites, yet completely complimentary, too. One will be more intelligent, the other stronger. One will be more protective, and the other will be the more affectionate. Think of it as having everything you could ask for in a man split into two, so that you don’t miss out on anything.”
Laura looked over the men again and watched the way their mouths turned down in disapproval. She wondered if their disapproval was over what Rosalie said, though they weren’t correcting her.
Tyler and Brandon had moved closer now, and Laura giggled a little to see the similarities in the two sets of twins.
“Wow, you guys have strong genes.”
The men shuffled their feet and looked anywhere but at her. Hmm, they did say that the truth hurt, but why would such a compliment be a bad thing? They were beautiful, all of them.
“Am I missing something?” she asked the group as a whole.
Scott, the bigger twin, looked at her and answered her question.
“Rosalie has just left off the most important thing about perfect pairs. The bloody curse.”
Rosalie tsked loudly and held tight to Laura’s arm. She was going to have bruises tomorrow if the woman kept up that hold.
“It is not a curse! Just because you both stupidly followed your gonads rather than tradition does not mean it’s a curse. She’s still out there, you just have to find her.”
Both men rolled their eyes and a rather stunning adolescent woman ran up.
“Dad, we need you for a minute.”
Scott smiled apologetically and bobbed his head.
“Nice to meet you.”
Jack saluted and headed off as well, following the girl who was sprinting off toward the side of the house.
“What’s their problem?” Laura asked, confused by the multitude of emotions she felt radiating around her.
The men had seemed possessive, jealous even, and sad. She turned toward her guys for more details. Brandon and Tyler looked at each other for a moment before Tyler stepped forward.
“Perfect pairs only have one mate. A woman they share that is made only for them.”
When he paused for breath, Laura inhaled sharply, pain clamping down on her chest. He couldn’t be serious.
Tyler continued. “But Scott and Jack chose not to do that. They both married and had kids with women that have made them miserable. And we…” He paused again, looking back at Brandon before continuing, “are not going to make the same mistake.”
“Are you telling me that you expect me to...do what, exactly?”
She shook her head and blinked several times. She couldn’t actually be listening to this, or understanding it correctly.
“You two can't both want me!”
Her voice had risen in both tone and pitch, and for the first time in her life, Laura was feeling hysterical. They had to be kidding.
“Of course we do.” Tyler's tone was so smooth and placating, she began to laugh. Then she snorted and giggled. Very elegant.
She pried herself away from Rosalie's grip and staggered toward the house. She felt woozy and numb. She couldn’t stand up straight.
Renee came toward her, grabbing her and gently maneuvering her so that she ended up sitting on the porch.
That woman was awesome.
“Can you believe...” Laura wheezed, grabbing Renee's hand and once again feeling intoxicated. Maybe there was something in the air out here.
“What?” Renee asked, sounding excited and interested.
“Your brothers say they both want me. This has to be some sort of cruel joke, because it’s not possible.”
That sobered her pretty quickly.
What was it—“make fun of the fat sister” week?
Renee smiled kindly at her, like one would when explaining something to a child.
“Why would it be a joke? You're beautiful and kind, and if that magnificent aura you give off is anything to go by, you'll be a great mate.”
Oh my God! They’re all crazy!
Laura pushed herself away from the strange redhead and stood up. Her legs were shaky but she didn't need a lot of strength. She was leaving.
“Last night Brandon took my sister home!” she practically yelled at Renee. She could feel Tyler and Brandon nearby but couldn't bring herself to focus on them.
"She’s blonde, a size four, and wouldn't know one end of a horse from the other!"
A muffled laugh sounded and Laura finally faced the two men who had both kissed her mere moments ago.
“You two will never convince me that you truly both want me—not with me as I am. Big, loud, opinionated, and I’m certainly not ever going to fall meekly into some…some…” She struggled to find the word, “Weird ménage relationship!”
Both men opened their mouths and she turned to run away. She got through the house and held tight to the bag still slung over her shoulder.
The front path seemed much longer the second time around, and her heart was thumping in anticipation as she hurried along the road to her car. One of them would follow her, she was sure of it.
“Laura wait!”
Brandon. Shit. Laura fumbled with her keys and opened the car door just as Brandon caught up with her.
“Don't you dare touch me!” He stopped in his tracks, backed up, and came around her car, talking over the roof.
“I'm sorry we laid all that on you at once. We didn't mean to scare you off.”
Hot tears pricked her eyes to see the big macho jerk looking sorry.
“What?” she demanded, blinking rapidly to dispel the tears.
“Look, I don’t believe the legends either, but…”
“But what?” Laura looked at him, watching the fidgety restlessness in his hands as they moved from his hips to the car and back again.
“You’re special.”
Laura rolled her eyes and huffed. She’d heard those lines before, and not once had they been anything more than words.
“I won’t believe that. Not after last night. You’ll never convince me that you could like me after I know you picked up my sister.”
