by Alicia White
When they finally reached the house, Kaden ushered Beth inside. He didn’t want her leaving. If he got his way, she would end up sleeping in his bed cuddled close to his side.
“Would you like to take a tour?”
“Yeah.” She smiled up at him, and Kaden tightened his hold, pulling her into his side. She fit against him so perfectly.
“Let’s get inside. I thought we could start with a tour and then, I have a couple of surprises in store for you.”
“More surprises, huh?”
“I’ve got to keep you interested.”
“I’m definitely interested,” she mumbled as she passed him.
Her voice was so low that if he hadn’t been a shifter, he never would’ve heard her.
Chapter 9
Beth had been thinking about Kaden all morning. She couldn’t get the previous day out of her mind. She walked around Mack’s in a daze, images of Kaden in her mind. He’d been everything she could want in a lover. He’d fulfilled every wish, dream, and desire.
After they’d gotten back from their hike, Kaden walked her back to his home. She was surprised when he led her into a huge bathroom and started a bubble bath for her. He’d stripped her down, picked her up and set her down in the hot water. Soon after that, Kaden followed her inside. He’d spent the next hour massaging every square inch of her body. Beth could still feel his hands on her, even now.
He’d washed and touched every square inch of her, working her to a fever pitch of utter sexual pleasure before taking her out of the tub and drying her off. He’d taken her to his bedroom them and laid her out, parting her labia and gently licked every inch of her pussy. Beth loved the rough feel of his stubble on the soft skin of her inner thighs. Her whole body flushed remembering the way he’d fucked her with his tongue before crawling up her body and fucking her into several orgasms.
They’d fallen asleep in each other’s arms, bodies intertwined and sweaty. She felt her cheeks cramp from the huge grin on her face. Her man…it felt wonderful to think of Kaden as hers. He might not know it, but Beth was hoping for a repeat performance tonight. She wanted that big cock of his in her mouth once more, but this time, she planned on sucking him to completion.
Beth looked down at her watch. Kaden should be coming in for dinner any time now. He usually walked through the door during the dinner rush. Although “dinner rush” wasn’t quite accurate. It was almost six and her shift ended at eight. Soon enough, she would get to take him to her house. Tonight, she wanted to sleep pressed up against his warm body. That was one ritual she could get used to.
Excitement bubbled up and spread through her body with just the thought of Kaden. Beth snapped back to reality when Mack yelled for her. Beth rushed toward the kitchen and picked up a few plates, setting them on her tray. She practically skipped to the table and served her customers.
She turned around and saw the front door open. Holding her breath, she waited to see who it was. A man walked in and she felt a tad disappointed until…Kaden stepped through the threshold. Their eyes met within seconds. It felt as if an invisible rope tethered them together. She was aware of him in a way she’d never been of a man before. Was this love at first sight?
Kaden smiled and then went to his usual table, the man with him following. She studied the two of them as they walked and noticed the obvious family resemblance. His brother, Jason. Kade spoke of him often, bringing him into almost every conversation. The two of them had a close relationship, and she hoped that Jason liked her. His opinion meant everything to Kaden. It was obvious.
Once the two of them sat down, Beth took a deep breath and built up her courage. She needed to do her job and take their orders. Walking toward the two of them, she pulled a pad and pen out of her apron. She was used to being judged by people. It reminded her of being with Kirk. He showed her off, flaunting her on his arm, wanting other men to check her out. She had to remind herself that this wasn’t the same. Kaden was a nice man. He was gentle, loving, and took the time to pamper and cuddle.
“Hi.” She smiled first at Kaden then at Jason. “Good evening, gentlemen. What can I get for you tonight?”
“Beth, I’d like to introduce you to my brother, Jason. Jason, this gorgeous woman is our…my…Beth.” He stumbled over a few words and she kept the smile plastered on her face as a wave of confusion hit her. Our what? Friend. My what? Girlfriend.
“Hi, it’s nice to meet you, Jason.” Beth held out her hand.
Jason took her hand gently, his larger one covering hers completely. He rubbed his thumb back and forth, giving her goose bumps. To her surprise, he leaned down and kissed the back of her hand. It was a really sweet gesture. He held her hand longer than a regular “meet and greet,” before sniffing her. He inhaled deeply and closed his eyes. The look on his face transformed before her very eyes. He looked as if he were in heaven. She wanted to jerk her hand back, but she was oddly fascinated.
The clearing of a throat had Beth jerking her attention toward Kaden. He smiled at her, his eyes sparkling, and Beth felt slightly embarrassed even though she hadn’t technically done anything wrong. Pulling her hand away from Jason, she focused on work. She had a job to do right now. She could talk to Kaden later.
“What can I get you, gentlemen?” She somehow managed to speak in a calm, clear voice when she felt completely frazzled.
“Can we get two specials and a couple of beers?”
“Sure.” Kaden ordered the same thing every night. You’d think that she would stop asking, but it was her job after all.
Beth turned and headed straight for the kitchen. She didn’t stop until she was hidden behind the door. She placed their order on the counter before leaning back against the wall. Closing her eyes, Beth chastised herself for her behavior. She should’ve pulled her hand away before Kaden cleared his throat. Before he noticed that she allowed his brother to flirt. He was flirting with her, right?
What the hell is wrong with me? I finally meet a man I like and his brother affects me? She hated that Kirk introduced her to men, with the end goal being meaningless sex. He threatened her every time she said no, telling her that she would end up with nothing. And now she just put herself in that same situation. Flirting with her “almost” boyfriend’s brother, that was a big no-no. Fuck! I’m not going to think about him anymore. Kaden is not Kirk.
Shaking her head, she cleared him out of her mind. She had to stop thinking about the past. It would never happen again. She would not be the weak woman ever again, so the past didn’t matter.
“Beth, order up.” Mack smiled at her before winking.
He’d been acting a little silly all day. Normally, the man was gruff. Today, he was giving her a wide berth as if she smelled bad. She didn’t. In fact, Beth had gone into the restroom and applied deodorant multiple times, giving herself a sniff. She was baby-powder fresh.
Beth loaded up her tray with Kaden and Jason’s order. She headed toward the door and pushed it open with her hip, sliding out of the kitchen.
* * * *
Jason Schiller had been driving ever since the phone call from his brother. He couldn’t believe his luck. He’d left town in search of their mate and somehow the woman showed up here at Mack’s while he was gone. When he’d received the frantic phone call from Kaden telling him to get his ass home, Jase packed up his meager belongings from the temporary motel room and started speeding. He must have the worst luck because one speeding ticket, a busted carburetor, and road construction kept him away too long.
Kaden had claimed Beth without him. He’d only just walked into the door and dropped his things when the two of them headed to Mack’s. On the drive over, Kaden confessed to marking and claiming Beth. It hadn’t bothered him, not at all, until now. The scent coming off her was a mixture of them both, and his polar bear was pacing around completely pissed. His mate, their mate had already been marked. She was walking around without his own mark gracing her shoulder.
He was tired, hungry, and grumpy. It was hard
to put his feelings into words, so he kept his mouth shut. He didn’t want to start something with Kaden without really knowing what was bothering him. He felt so out of sorts, so unlike his normal carefree self, and it scared him slightly. Was he pissed that Kaden had claimed Beth without him? Was it the stress from being on the road, driving for so many hours without sleep? He couldn’t seem to get a handle on his emotions.
Meeting her had been the single most amazing moment of his life. He’d waited years to see the woman that fate chose for him and Kaden. After most of their close friends had found their mates, he’d felt a huge gap in his heart. Jason decided to leave and search, hoping that he’d be bringing a woman home. He’d sworn not to claim her without Kaden. They had seen other mated ménages have a lot of problems and he’d planned to do everything right. He wouldn’t be like Conner or Chayton. No, he wouldn’t keep his mate away from Kaden for any amount of time.
He felt slightly betrayed by Kaden’s actions. He knew deep down that his brother would never do anything to hurt him, but it did hurt. Jason had been gone, searching for Beth and here she was already starting a relationship with Kaden, without him. From their brief meeting, Jase could easily detect her feelings for his brother. Her eyes sparkled, and the smile she gave him was so genuine.
She’d looked at him with guilt. She didn’t want a connection. It was written all over her face. He knew the truth and it cut bone deep. He sat there feeling so numb.
“I’m sorry.” Kaden’s voice was so sincere and it sparked the anger Jason was feeling.
“What are you sorry for exactly, Kaden?” He hissed. “Are you planning on keeping her to yourself or are you going to let me have her as well?” Jason had no idea where that question came from.
He was going to tell Kaden not to worry, that everything would be fine. Instead, he asked if Kaden was going to keep Beth to himself. Was he really that pathetically insecure? He was tired. That’s the only thing that made sense. Jason wasn’t the jealous, insecure type.
* * * *
Beth heard every word that Jason said. She stood behind them, holding the serving tray up high, completely frozen. Are you planning on keeping her to yourself or are you going to let me have her as well? That could only mean sex. There wasn’t any way she could be confused by his words, right? Did that mean Kaden liked to share his girlfriends with his brother? No, no, Kaden isn’t like that. It’s some sort of misunderstanding, that’s all.
“I can’t believe you would ask that, Jason. She’s meant for the both of us.” Kaden’s words rang clear, leaving no misinterpretation.
How exactly am I meant for both of them? Her arm started shaking, the tray becoming too heavy, but still she stood there completely floored by what she’d heard. As much as she liked Kaden, she couldn’t allow herself to be put in the same situation she’d escaped from. She came here to start her life over, a fresh start.
“Beth?” Kaden’s voice broke through the confusion in her head.
He looked concerned, his eyes full of compassion. It felt as if he wanted to say more but didn’t. They stared at each other for a minute before her feet seemed to magically break free from the floor. Beth placed their plates on the table without saying a single word. She couldn’t speak. A lump the size of Texas was stuck in her throat preventing her. As soon as her task was done, she held the large tray in front of her as she sprinted back to the kitchen. She had to get out of this place. She needed to get home.
“Mack, I’m not feeling very good. I—I need to go home.”
“Of course. Go ahead, honey. Gavin and I can take care of the customers.”
“Thanks,” Beth rushed into the employee break room, grabbed her purse, and ran out the back door.
Beth was shaking by the time she reached her SUV. It was a good thing for automatic locks. Otherwise, she wouldn’t have been able to get into her car. Sitting in the driver’s seat, she took a few calming breaths before starting the engine. It took her a few minutes to get her emotions under control. It was just so hard to believe that Kaden was anything like that man she’d married, but she’d heard the conversation. Kaden wants to share me with Jason. Is there some sort of “slut” stamp on my forehead that I’m not seeing?
A loud tap on the window made Beth shriek and jerk sideways. Her heart practically galloped out of her chest from the scare. She looked at Kaden standing there, watching her. He kept his arms down at his sides and took a step back, appearing nonthreatening. He waited patiently for her to make the decision about what she wanted to do.
Beth didn’t want to talk, but it would be incredibly immature to just drive off without some sort of explanation. They had been spending the last week flirting and getting to know one another at Mack’s. Then there was the amazing afternoon yesterday in the woods. That was one day she would never forget. Hell, she was hoping for a repeat performance tonight. Making up her mind, Beth rolled down her window.
“I’m not some sort of whore you can share with your brother, friends, or random strangers. I don’t want that. I’m a person, not a toy. I have feelings. I thought you were better than that.” Beth’s eyes widened as she bit her lip, hard. Oh, God, did I really just spew that out?
Kaden stood still, his muscles flexed and ready to pounce. The look on his face was one of utter shock and disgust. “Wait! What?” He looked so confused that it made Beth doubt what she’d heard. “I would never pass you around. That’s sick. I don’t want another man pawing you. What the hell did I do?” The last question was barely a whisper as if he were asking himself what he’d done.
* * * *
Kade knew that Beth had heard part of his conversation with Jason. It was the expression on her face that gave her away. After waiting for her to come back with their beer, he’d decided to check on her in the kitchen. When Mack told him she’d left, he tripped over his own feet on the way out, hoping to catch her. He spotted her sitting inside her SUV, the motor running. She looked so lost and worried that he’d wanted to hold and protect her. There were so many things he needed to say.
What the hell had he done? He moved way too fast, claiming and marking his mate before explaining anything. Hell, she didn’t have any clue that she was in a town surrounded by shifters. She didn’t know what a mate was or that sharing between siblings was normal. Instead, she thought he was going to pass her around to other men. It made him feel sick to his stomach. The only other person allowed to touch Beth was Jason. This was his fault, and he didn’t know how to fix it. If he told her everything now, there was a very good chance she would bolt.
He was in the middle of a rock and a hard place. On one hand, he wanted to tell her everything, but it seemed that she might not accept them both. What then? He couldn’t leave Jason out of their relationship. She was his mate as well. Kaden knew he had to do something, but having this conversation in the parking lot wasn’t the best idea.
“Can I come with you so that we can talk in private?”
“Umm, I guess.”
“Let me run inside and tell Jason that I’m going with you. Please, wait for me.”
“I will.”
Kaden turned on his heel and strode back into Mack’s. How was he supposed to tell Jason that he was going with Beth? How was he going to explain to his younger brother that he’d screwed this up? Guilt weighed heavily on his heart. Kaden spotted Jason still sitting at the table, eating.
“Is everything okay? Where’s Beth?”
“Listen, Jason, I’m sorry man.” Kaden shook his head, trying to figure out what exactly to say. “I screwed up. I didn’t tell Beth anything about shifters, mates, or sharing her with you. I thought we’d have time, but she’s really upset about the idea. I’m hoping to change her mind. Do you mind driving the truck home and waiting for me?”
Jason didn’t say anything for a while. He didn’t need to. The look of sheer disappointment was enough. If he’d only waited longer before claiming her, things might’ve been easier on them all. As it was now, Jason was going to be l
eft out until Kade could convince Beth otherwise.
“I’m supposed to go home and sit there alone while you go home with Beth?”
“Jason, I don’t know how to make this right.”
“What if she’s never okay with me sharing her? What then?”
“I don’t know. We both go without a mate?”
“No, don’t say that.” Kade watched Jason’s Adam’s apple bob as he swallowed. He looked as if it were taking a great amount of strength not to cry. He could only imagine what Jason was feeling. To have his mate so close and not be able to touch her was pure torture. “If she doesn’t want me, I still want you to have her. I won’t be able to stay here and watch, but I don’t want you to be without her as well.”
“I’ll make this right, I swear.” He would do everything in his power to show Beth how wonderful life could be with the two of them.
“Yeah.” Jason’s voice lacked confidence. He didn’t really believe that Kaden could fix this with Beth.
He didn’t want to leave Jason sitting at Mack’s by himself, but Beth was outside with the engine running. He felt as if he were being pulled to two different directions. Both of the people he loved most in the word were hurting. How was he supposed to fix this? Without another word and with a heavy heart, Kaden left.
Chapter 10
Jason watched Kaden leave. He sat stone still for a long time, uncertainty warring with utter heartbreak. He couldn’t even remember what he’d said, but whatever it was, his words had hurt Beth enough to make her leave work before her shift was over. He’d been living on adrenaline while driving back home and now, his body was ready to crash. He felt so tired.
“Hey, Jason, when did you get back into town?” Jason cleared his throat before focusing on his friend.
