by Jane Jamison
Chapter Four
Bree was everything that turned Burton on, but he couldn’t, wouldn’t tell her what she wanted to hear. He’d made a promise to Matt and Ridge, and he’d keep that promise. “Bree, I don’t know how many times I have to say this. I’m not a shifter.”
I hate like hell to lie to her, but what else can I do?
She swayed toward him, using her body as a lure as only the sexiest woman in the world could do. “It’s okay. Like I said, I won’t tell a soul. On my honor as a former Girl Scout.”
He ached to tell her. Yearned to give her his allure. But he couldn’t. After hearing about other shifters using their allure on a woman, only to figure out later that she wasn’t actually the “one,” they’d sworn to take things slowly.
At least that was what they’d decided.
His body, however, was all about giving in. His cock had deflated a little when she’d pushed for him to admit being a shifter, but as he took in the swell of her breasts, her taut nipples pushing against her shirt, his cock was back up and testing the limits of his jeans.
She kept moving toward him. He kept moving backward, even though he felt as though he was going in the wrong direction.
“Tell me about The Allure, Burton.” Her smile was that of a vixen, a wanton sex goddess dooming him to a life of servitude. “Or better yet, give it to me.” She made a show of inhaling slowly. “I can almost smell it now.”
If he wanted to admit to being a shifter, he could tell her that The Allure wasn’t in the normal breath of a werelion. They had to draw on a special “something” deep inside them then bring it upward and turn it loose with their breath. If was always a part of their breath, werelions would be alluring every person—man and woman—that they met.
“Puttin’, you’ve got to give this thing a rest.”
“I’ll give it a rest, all right.” Her wickedly sexy smile grew. “Once I’ve gotten on top of you and ridden you hard and long, then I’ll give it a rest.” Her fingertips walked down his chest.
His skin seemed to burn with her touch. Just as her fingers were about to take a walk under the dip of his jeans, he grabbed her hand and jerked it away. If she went any lower, he’d lose any resolve of keeping his hands off her. He should’ve never put them on her in the first place, but he was, after all, still a man. At that very moment, he was a man who wanted his woman so much it physically hurt.
“I know you want me,” she said in a breathy, needy voice. Her gaze dipped lower. “I can see that you want me.”
“You’re hot as hell. Of course, I want you. No sane man could ever turn you down.”
“Then does that mean you’re insane?” She pushed out her full lips in a pouty kind of way.
He groaned, torn between his promise and his desire. His brother and cousin would forgive him, wouldn’t they? They’d have to understand. He doubted either one of them could be strong enough to resist her. So why not give in? She was going to be their mate, anyway. What did it matter when that happened? Or who got to have her first?
“Yeah, I’m crazy.” Crazy for not taking you right here and now.
She pushed her breasts against him, and he could feel her nipples against his abs. Her hands, hot against his chest, took a slow walk downward then paused at just about the top of his jeans. She looked up at him, adoringly, her eyes clouded with need. “Give it to me, Burton. Give me your cock. Give me The Allure.”
He groaned again, uncaring that he’d done it out loud again. His hands betrayed him and slipped up her arms to skim his palms over the curves of her breasts. “If I do, there’s no turning back.” Not for her and not for him.
She put her body against his, capturing his hands between them. Seductively, she swept her tongue over her upper lip then parted her lips just enough to send a fresh pulsing through his already engorged cock. “Fuck me, Burton. Allure me then fuck me.”
He closed his eyes and concentrated on the one word that might save him.
Allure.
Shit. Why’d she have to say that word again? Was it really him she wanted? Or The Allure?
Gathering his strength of will, he pushed her back, almost too forcefully. “Damn it, Bree. Stop.”
“Stop what?”
He pivoted along with Bree to find Carol standing in the doorway. Knowing the smirk well enough, he wasn’t surprised at what she said next.
“What cha’ doing, cuz?”
* * * *
Bree had almost stumbled over her feet when Burton had pushed her back. Both stunned and irritated, she was just about to let loose with a stinging retort when Carol showed up. She pulled her clothes together, straightening up. Without thinking, she blurted out, “Tell him, Carol. Tell him to give me The Allure. And to admit that he’s a shifter.”
Carol and Burton exchanged a look, one that told Bree everything she needed to know. There was no way in hell that either one of them was going to tell her the truth. And yet, with that one look, they’d admitted what she already knew. They were shifters.
“Bree, we’ve already been through this,” interjected Burton.
“Forget about shifters.” Carol plopped her purse down on the kitchen table. She raised her eyebrows. “Tell me what’s going on. Am I interrupting something?”
“No. You’re fine.” Burton shot her a scowl. “I was just leaving. You two have a good night.”
“But—” Yet finishing the sentence was useless. Burton was already gone.
“Are you a guest here?” Carol strolled past Bree, got a cup from the cupboard, then took out a bottle of orange juice from the fridge. “Which is fine with me, by the way. It’s not the first time Burton’s brought home a lady friend.”
A wave of jealousy swept over Bree. Was Carol trying to irk her? “Burton and your brothers invited us to use the bunkhouse while we’re here for the festival. My friend Winnie and me.”
Carol sipped at her drink and leaned back against the counter. “Is that so? All three of them, huh?”
“That’s right.”
“Then you must’ve made quite an impression on them.”
“I guess.” She hoped she had. Still… “Obviously, I didn’t make as big an impression on them as I’d hoped I would.”
Carol licked her lips. “Why do you say that?”
She had to know why and was just playing along. Bree’s irritation grew stronger. “Because they still won’t admit that they’re shifters. Or that you’re one, too.”
Carol’s smile was condescending. “They can’t tell you what isn’t true.”
Bree kind of lost it then. Clenching her hands, she turned her vexation free and stomped toward Carol. “Damn it! Come on. I know you’re all shifters. And I know they can give me The Allure, too.”
A flash of amber lightened Carol’s dark eyes. A fierceness, one born of savagery, hardened her expression. The tips of fangs peeked between Carol’s lips.
Bree abruptly stopped, her anger forgotten as she gaped at the sight. Yet, as quickly as the amber, the fierceness, and the fangs came, they were gone. Had she actually seen them? They’d been there, and then she’d blinked and they were gone.
Carol’s tension eased, replaced by a soft smile. “Okay. Just for the sake of the discussion, let’s say you’re right. Let’s say we’re all shifters. So what then? If you knew we were, what would you do next? Out us to the world? But would the world believe you? Or would they lock you away in an asylum?”
Bree shook her head. “I wouldn’t out you.”
“Then why do you care what we are?” She smiled as though trying to cover. “What you think we are, that is.”
“I’d care because I’d know the truth.” She swallowed and searched her feelings. “I’d know that what I saw last year was real. I’d know that I didn’t imagine it.” She dragged in a breath. “I’d know, that’s all. That alone would be enough.”
A softness came over Carol. “I wish I could tell you what you want to hear. But even if I could, how does that explain you wantin
g The Allure? They can’t give you what they don’t have.”
At first, Bree couldn’t answer. Once she finally realized why she couldn’t answer, it surprised her. Somehow, Carol caught on.
“Bree? Do you want to be someone’s mate?”
The question was asked quietly, but it hit Bree hard. “I don’t know.”
Yes, you do.
“Yes, you do,” said Carol as though she’d heard Bree’s thought. “Go on. Tell me.”
“Maybe. I don’t know.” Carol was confusing her. “Maybe I want to know what it’s like. Maybe that will confirm what they are.”
And maybe, just maybe, I’m fantasizing about being in love with a shifter.
Maybe even more than one shifter.
Carol took Bree’s hand and squeezed it. “I understand how someone can want a fantasy to become real, but it’s not going to happen. My brothers and cousin aren’t werelions. I’m sorry.”
Bree pulled her hand out of Carol’s grasp. “I get it. I do. You have to keep your secret. You have to protect each other.”
“Bree, it’s not that.”
“No, I know it is. Just like I know werelions exist. I saw a lion change back into a woman. I saw it, so I know shifters are real. Sooner or later, I’m going to have you four tell me the truth.”
Carol put her cup down on the counter and gave Bree a small, sad smile. “Again. I’m sorry.” She eased past Bree and hurried out of the kitchen.
As much as Bree wanted to stop Carol, she didn’t. She knew it would be useless to try. The men and Carol were determined to keep their secret. Part of her didn’t blame them. After all, what would happen to them, to the town if the world found out? She could only imagine the horrors they might suffer. They’d probably get a range of reactions from people from shifter lovers to those who would want to dissect them and study them.
“They don’t know me yet,” she murmured. “Once they do, they’ll trust me enough to tell me what they are. To show me what they are. And then I’ll forgive them for lying to me.”
Until then, she’d just have to be patient. Yet she’d never been very good at being patient.
* * * *
Burton would catch hell later from Carol for leaving her alone in the kitchen with Bree. Of that he was certain. But he’d had no choice. If he’d stay a moment longer, he would’ve had Bree spread-eagled over the kitchen table. He was lucky Carol had walked in on them when she had.
Lucky? Or unlucky? If Carol hadn’t come in, I’d be between Bree’s legs right now.
Shifting just enough to bring out his sensitive hearing, he stopped and confirmed that the girls were still in the kitchen and still talking. But knowing Carol, they wouldn’t be talking for much longer. His cousin didn’t like getting trapped in conversations. Still, it would give him enough time to fill Matt and Ridge in on what had happened. At least, most of what had happened. He wasn’t about to tell them how close he’d come to giving her his allure then claiming her for his own.
He knocked on Ridge’s bedroom door once then barged right in. As was often the case, Matt was with his brother, a deck of cards and a pile of chips on the table for the poker game. Sometimes Burton joined in, but just as often, he’d leave the brothers to it. As brothers, Matt and Ridge would always enjoy a closer relationship than he had with either of them, but he didn’t begrudge them that joy. After moving in with them after the death of his parents, he’d felt welcomed by both men and their sister. Twisted Tree Ranch was the Dayton family home, yet they’d given him a fourth share in the ranch only two months of his arrival. He couldn’t have asked for anything more.
“Hey. We need to talk.”
* * * *
Ridge let out a snarl at Burton then realized his mistake. The straight he was holding was no good now. If he’d kept his mouth shut, Burton barging in and disrupting their game wouldn’t have mattered. As it was, Matt was smart enough to know that Ridge’s irritation meant he was holding a winning hand. There was no way Matt would up his bet now.
Matt threw down his cards. “I’m out.”
“Damn it, Burton, you’d better have a fucking excellent reason for screwing this up.” Ridge raked in the few chips in the pot and silently lamented the loss of what could’ve been a much bigger take.
“It’s about Bree.”
Ridge jerked his attention back to his cousin. “What about her?”
“She’s down in the kitchen.”
Ridge joined Matt in shoving their chairs back and starting for the door. “When’d she come inside?”
Burton, however, put his bulk in front of the door. “Slow the hell down. She’s been here awhile.”
“And you’re just now telling us?” demanded Ridge. He clenched his fist as his lion roared to life. His beast snarled, clawing at his insides, demanding to be set free. Amber filled his eyes and a drop of blood tempted his taste buds as his fangs erupted. If he wanted, he could unleash the beast and shift all the way. Then Burton would truly understand how much he’d fucked up.
Matt started to shove past Burton, but their cousin’s hand on his chest stopped him. “Don’t bother. Carol’s with her.”
The need, the hunger, the absolute thirst for Bree that had sprung to life inside Ridge quickly died. “Why’d she come inside? To see us?” If that were the case, they’d get Carol out of the way as fast as they could.
“No. She came in to get something to eat.”
Matt shot Ridge a look that told him he was thinking along the same lines. “There’s food in the bunkhouse.” Now that he thought about it, they would’ve been better off not stocking the place. Then they would’ve known she’d come into the main house to find food.
“That’s what she said she was doing, but I think she came in for something else.”
Ridge studied Burton’s expression. He could tell that his cousin was holding something back. He could also tell that Burton’s beast had come to the surface even if only briefly. Burton’s eyes were still flecked with amber. From lust? Most probably.
“So? Tell us. Why’d she come in?” asked Matt.
“She was pushing me to admit to being a shifter again.”
Ridge let out a low curse. He wished she’d back off on that for now. Eventually, of course, they’d tell her. But it was too soon. Hell, they’d barely had a chance to talk about her amongst themselves.
“And what’d you say?” Matt crossed his arms, his eyes narrowed suspiciously at Burton.
Burton’s lip lifted into a snarl. “I told her what we’ve already told her. That we’re not shifters.”
“And did she believe it this time?” Ridge already knew the answer.
“Nope. She’s like a determined dog with a bone.”
Matt groaned. “Damn it, man. Don’t call our mate a dog. Not now. Not for any reason. Not ever.”
“So what happened? Why is she still in the kitchen?” Ridge glanced at the door, ready to rush down the stairs to see her.
“Like I said. I told her we aren’t shifters.” He cleared his throat and shifted his weight from one foot to the other.
“And?” Matt jerked his chin out at their cousin.
“And she came on to me.”
Ridge gaped at Burton. “She came on to you?” Surprise morphed into anger fast enough. His lion, ready to protect his mate, growled. Without realizing it, Ridge grabbed Burton by the shoulders and shoved him back against the door. “What did you do to her, man?”
Burton’s eyes flamed to amber as fangs appeared. He shoved Ridge back. Ridge snarled and hurled his body toward Burton, but Matt latched onto his arm and held him back.
“Tell us what happened, cuz.” Matt’s tone was level, but there was a hard edge to it.
Burton glancing away wasn’t a good sign. “Nothing much. I kissed her is all.”
“That’s it? You just kissed her?” Ridge thrust off Matt’s hold. “Or did you do more? Did you give her your allure?”
Burton shook his head. “No. I didn’t. That’s not sa
ying I didn’t want to, though. She came on to me pretty hard. It took everything I had to keep from taking her.”
“But you didn’t.” It was both a question and a demand from Matt.
“I said I didn’t, didn’t I?” Burton stuck his hands in his pockets. “But she’s not going to let up. You know she won’t.”
Realization hit Ridge. “You didn’t stop on your own, did you? You stopped because Carol walked in on you two. I’m right, aren’t I?”
Burton didn’t have to answer. The truth was written on his face. Instead of answering, he countered. “Why don’t we go ahead and tell her? I’m pretty damn sure she’s the one. Call it a gut feeling or whatever, but I’m ready to give her The Allure. Hell, she wants it. Why not give it to her? At least a taste of it?”
“It’s too damn soon.”
Ridge looked at both men. Although he understood Matt wanting to wait, he had to agree with Burton. Maybe it didn’t make sense telling her so soon in a rational way, but physically, emotionally, he’d been hungering for her from the first moment he’d seen her. “I’m with Burton. Why not tell her right now?”
“Besides, if she keeps being so…persistent, I’m not sure I can resist her a second time,” added Burton. He blew out a breath and repositioned his cock in his jeans.
“Just a little allure, Matt,” offered Ridge, hoping to find a compromise. “Enough to keep her safe from other werelions. Hell, you can even be the one to give it to her.”
Matt arched an eyebrow and chuckled. “You’re that desperate, huh? So much that I can be the one to allure her?”
“Yeah, we’re that desperate,” agreed Burton. “You didn’t see her, man. You didn’t feel her next to you. Or how her tits felt.”
“Her tits?” Ridge was floored. He and Matt turned on Burton. “You touched her tits? You said all you did was kiss her.” Anger and jealousy formed a hard knot in his stomach.
“What else did you do?” Matt was as angry as Ridge as he fisted his hands and amber flared in his eyes.
