by Tasha Black
“For what?” Tansy asked.
Sage grabbed a napkin off the tray and wiped her mouth.
“Um, egg donation,” Arden said. “You know, like if a couple can’t have a baby they sometimes want eggs from a younger woman to use.”
“Wow,” Tansy nodded.
“So anyway, they were offering a lot of money in compensation and I needed to get through my last semester,” Arden went on. “But they didn’t pick me. So the year passed and then I got a call. Dr. Bhimani asked me if I’d like to be a lab tech at her facility instead. I told her I was a botanist. She said the pay was fair and it included housing. I decided beggars couldn’t be choosers. And here I am.”
She took a sip of wine.
“What exactly do you do over there?” Sage asked.
“Oh, um, we interact with the men, help them understand how to use utensils, make their beds, basic manners, and, uh, we do some experiments,” Arden explained.
“What kind of experiments?” Tansy asked.
Arden bit her lip.
“She means the porn,” Sage pointed out helpfully.
Arden nodded looking down at her glass.
“Whoa,” Tansy said.
“What exactly is your role in that?” Sage asked.
“I just, uh, deliver the material,” Arden said. “You know, I set it up in the little room for them and then I go.”
“Hot,” Tansy nodded appreciatively. “And they all look like these three?”
“Pretty much,” Arden had to agree. Though in her mind they had all become bland to look at beside Drago.
“That’s a pretty sweet gig,” Tansy said decidedly.
“I never thought of it that way,” Arden admitted. “When I found out what the job was I almost left.”
“Why didn’t you?” Sage asked.
“Dr. Bhimani said it wouldn’t have been much different if I’d been working as a lab tech at an actual fertility clinic,” Arden said.
Tansy giggled.
Sage shrugged. “She’s probably not wrong.”
“So when did you and Drago fall in love?” Sage asked.
“Oh,” Arden said, feeling her cheeks go hot. “We’re not - I mean we didn’t…”
Tansy and Sage exchanged a look.
“It’s okay, Arden,” Tansy said. “We don’t have to talk about it.”
Arden sighed and put down her glass.
“I do care about him,” she said. “A lot. And I feel pretty dumb about it.”
“Why?” Tansy asked. “He’s drop dead gorgeous and he really likes you.”
“And he picks blueberries like a champ,” Sage added.
“Seriously?” Tansy asked as Arden laughed.
“Desperate times,” Sage said, shrugging.
“Are things really so desperate?” Arden asked.
Tansy bit her lip.
“It’s complicated,” Sage said.
“It’s not complicated at all,” Tansy said. “We’ll do whatever it takes to make this farm work.”
“That might not be in our control,” Sage said.
The note of sorrow in her voice wasn’t something Arden had heard before. Sage was always the confident older sister.
“I’ll do anything I can to help,” Arden said. “I’m sorry that it wasn’t the water.”
“Is that why you were mad at Drago?” Tansy asked.
Arden nodded. She should have known she couldn’t escape the subject so deftly.
“Why?” Sage asked.
“Because he tried his theory on me and I told him he was wrong,” Arden said. “And instead of talking about it, he just… put his foot down and said I was wrong.”
“That doesn’t seem like Drago,” Tansy said.
“I know,” Arden said. “I know - you’re right. I asked him why he thought it was the water and he wouldn’t tell me.”
“Sometimes you just get a feeling about something,” Sage offered.
“I’m a botanist,” Arden replied. “Besides, he didn’t tell me he had a feeling, or anything at all. He just wasn’t going to discuss it with me. Period. It felt like the kind of thing my step-dad used to pull - because I said so. I could never get involved with a man who behaved that way.”
Tansy and Sage exchanged another glance and Arden realized what they already knew.
“I guess I’m already involved,” she said, giving voice to the thought. “But I don’t want to be romantically involved anymore.”
“If it’s any consolation, it seems like he felt really bad,” Tansy said, handing Arden back her glass of wine.
“Maybe see how nicely he apologizes when he gets you alone?” Sage asked, with one brow raised.
“To hot men and sincere apologies,” Tansy cried, lifting her glass.
“I’ll drink to that,” Arden said, clinking glasses with the two women she was beginning to realize just might be her friends.
16
Drago
Drago peeled his t-shirt over his head and unbuttoned his jeans.
Burton was already wading into the pond, whistling to the ducks that floated along its dark surface.
Burton had an affinity for animals, which made their chore of feeding the chickens simpler than expected.
Drago was grateful.
His heart was heavy from having displeased his beautiful mate. He wanted desperately to earn her favor again, but he was afraid that his anxious mood would make things worse.
He looked forward to the refreshing exercise of a dip in the pond. Perhaps he would come back to her feeling calmer and more focused.
He stepped into the cool water and instantly felt his cares lessen.
Thundering footsteps behind him told him that Riggs was on his way.
Drago turned to see his enormous brother run and leap into the pond with a huge splash.
Burton cried out with surprise as the waves crashed into him.
Riggs surface, chortling.
“Did you see that, brother?” he called to Drago.
“Yes,” Drago said smiling. “I saw.”
Burton ducked his head under the water, then came up and smoothed his hair back, grinning. “This is fun,” he declared.
“Unless Drago is afraid there is something wrong with the water?” Riggs asked, with one eyebrow arched.
Gods, so his brothers knew.
“So you figured it out?” he asked.
“You said something bad was in the water. She said nothing was in the water. It all checks out,” Burton said with a shrug.
“Did she not believe you when you told her about your gift?” Riggs sounded sympathetic at least.
“I didn’t tell her,” Drago replied. “Dr. Bhimani said we couldn’t until we were mated.”
“You’re not mated?” Riggs asked, looking astonished. “But then why was Arden making a sound like—”
Burton elbowed Riggs hard in the ribs.
“Ouch,” Riggs said, looking at his brother in surprise.
“We almost mated,” Drago explained. “But Arden was not ready, to accept me so we did not mate.”
“You pleasured her,” Riggs said, nodding.
Drago nodded back. He didn’t want to talk about it. He was suddenly feeling fiercely protective about any discussion of his mate in that context.
Thankfully Burton seemed to understand.
“So why did you tell her you thought the trees needed their water supply cut off, if you didn’t tell her about your gift?” he asked.
“I… I didn’t tell her why,” Drago admitted.
“But she’s a scientist,” Riggs said.
“A botanist,” Burton added.
“I wasn’t thinking about her being a plant scientist,” Drago said sadly. “I didn’t think about her expertise at all. I remembered at the last moment that she couldn’t know about my gift. I couldn’t tell her the truth, but I also couldn’t lie to her, so I just… refused to tell her why I thought it was the water. And now she’s very angry.”
“Sh
e will forgive you,” Riggs said.
“I’m not sure,” Drago replied. “You didn’t hear what I said, or see her face when I said it.”
“You must apologize to her,” Burton said.
“How can he do that when he still can’t explain?” Riggs asked.
“This is a problem,” Burton agreed.
Drago looked out over the pond.
The solitary moon reflected on its surface, as if yearning for its own mate.
“I must go to her,” he heard himself say.
“But what will you do?” Riggs asked.
“I’m not sure,” Drago admitted. “But I’m hoping I’ll know when I see her. I just know that we’re not supposed to be apart.”
He scrambled onto the bank and waged a battle with his jeans, finally managing to slide them up over his hips. He would simply have to do without the t-shirt for now. He couldn’t stay away any longer.
“Good luck, brother,” Burton called after him.
Drago waved over his shoulder and jogged for the farmhouse.
The light in the window was warm, and yellow as the sun.
He hoped he could make his mate’s heart burn just as warm for him again.
17
Arden
Arden was relaxing on the floor, laughing and sipping her second glass of sangria as Tansy told a very funny story about the neighbor’s chickens when the front door burst open.
She, Tansy and Sage all jumped.
An enormous figure nearly filled the threshold.
Drago.
Shirtless and gleaming with droplets of water, he stared at Arden, his expression a mixture of hunger and despair.
“Uh, we’d better go clean up the kitchen,” Tansy said, scrambling up.
“Oh, no you don’t,” Arden said. “You two stay right here. If there is something this man wants to say to me, he can say it in front of you.”
“Oh dear,” Sage muttered.
“Arden,” Drago groaned, his voice deep and raspy.
She felt her body respond in spite of herself.
“What do you want?” she asked.
“I’m sorry, Arden,” he said. “Please forgive my stupidity.”
“Don’t worry about it,” she said without looking at him.
“I will worry about it,” he roared. “I’m very sorry.”
“Now, that’s a sincere apology,” Tansy said, raising her glass again.
“Look, let’s just drop it,” Arden said. “I want to get some sleep anyway. We can talk about it in the morning.”
She hopped up from the cushion only to wobble on her feet a bit. The sangria had gone to her head.
Drago was beside her, one arm around her waist, before she could blink.
“Are you okay?” he asked.
“Sure,” she said, trying to hang onto her dignity.
“We had sangria,” Tansy pointed out.
“What is that?” Drago asked.
“Wine with fruit,” Arden said.
“You’re a little tipsy, Arden,” Sage said worriedly.
“I’m fine,” Arden said, feeling mortified. She usually wasn’t much of a drinker, but the wine had been so sweet and delicious.
“I’ve got you,” Drago said immediately.
The next thing she knew he had hoisted her into his arms.
“Hey,” Arden said, trying not to notice how good it felt to be held, how strong his arms were, how good he smelled.
“We’ll see you in the morning,” Drago told Tansy and Sage.
Arden peeked over his shoulder to see her friends grinning at her wickedly.
She rolled her eyes at them and Tansy laughed.
Then Drago was carrying her out the back door and into the darkness.
“You know I can walk right?” she asked.
“I’m not taking any chances,” he replied. “I already behaved like an oaf today. The least I can do is prevent you from breaking a leg on the stairs.”
She decided not to argue and instead closed her eyes and breathed him in for a moment.
Maybe it was the sangria talking, but all she could think about was last night and the way he’d made her feel.
Concentrate, Arden, her inner critic said. Think about how he made you feel this afternoon.
She managed to tear her thoughts away from how good he smelled and focus on why this wouldn’t work.
No matter how attractive he was, or how sorry he felt right now, if he was the kind of guy who refused to engage in a discussion when they disagreed, it just wasn’t going to work. And Arden was too smart to think otherwise. She wanted a partner, not a boss.
And the way it worked with these guys, she couldn’t try things out and hope he could change. Once he clicked, it was for life. And Arden wasn’t cruel enough to play around with that.
By the time they made it up to the tackle room in the barn, she had made up her mind, and was determined not to let herself soften.
Drago placed her gently on her feet next to the window.
“Are you okay?” he asked her.
She nodded, unable to resist looking up into his eyes.
But Drago was looking at something out the window.
“What is—” she began
But he put his finger to her lips and inclined his chin toward the window.
She stepped closer and looked.
A figure was moving slowly in the darkness, not close to the barn like last time, but up near the end of the berry fields where the hillside began.
Arden held her breath.
If the government was investigating tonight there could be trouble. Especially since Burton and Riggs were still out at the pond.
And there was no way to warn them.
They watched in silence as the intruder disappeared behind one of the old sheds.
A moment later the figure was silhouetted against the moonlight, growing smaller and smaller as it made for the hedge line.
18
Drago
Drago watched the intruder disappear into the night.
He worried for his brothers, but his whole body thrummed with the urgent need to protect his mate.
“Thank god,” she sighed. “But why do they never actually come into the barn or the house?”
“I don’t know,” Drago said.
“They must be pretty convinced we’re someplace else,” Arden said thoughtfully. “Maybe that was the guy from last time, the one who wanted to check more thoroughly.”
“I hope he saw all he needed to see this time,” Drago said. “But if he comes back I will protect you. I would die to protect you.”
“Look,” Arden said, taking a step back. “I think we need to talk.”
There was something in her voice, a terrible sympathy that made his stomach clench.
“Okay,” he managed. “What would you like to talk about?”
She walked to the bed and sat on the edge, patting the area beside her for him to sit too.
He knelt at her feet instead.
“You are a good man, Drago,” she told him.
“I’m not a man,” he said. “Not yet.”
She bit her lip.
“But thank you,” he added gently. “I hope to be a very good man once I have clicked.”
“And you will,” she said. “I know you will and the woman you click with will be a very lucky woman. But it won’t be me.”
The walls seemed to be closing in and heat prickled his eyelids.
Drago fought for control. He knew a man should play it cool. He shouldn’t beg.
“I know we had an argument today,” he said carefully. “And I want you to know that I am deeply sorry for having offended you. I am new to this place. I will learn to do better. I want to make you happy.”
“We are who we are,” Arden said, shaking her head. “And there is no need for you to change. We’re friends and I will help you until you find a mate of your own. But I’m going to grad school in the fall like I planned.”
“I want no
other mate,” Drago said. “I will go with you.”
“Please don’t make this harder for me than it is,” Arden said, her eyes gleaming with unshed tears.
“Why won’t you let me try?” Drago asked. “Why not give me a chance?”
“Why did you think the problem with the trees was the water?” Arden asked.
Drago opened his mouth and closed it again.
“I- I cannot tell you,” he said softly.
Arden bit her lip and nodded.
Drago felt his chest disintegrating, heart collapsing in on itself, shattering into a million pieces.
“I’m going to sleep,” she said.
“I will watch over you,” he told her.
Arden curled herself into a tiny ball on the bed.
He longed to hold her, to comfort her, to whisper all his secrets in her ear.
Instead he forced himself to get up and walk to the window.
He could hear his brothers on the stairs, quietly coming home to go to sleep.
He felt a momentary jealousy. Their hearts were light - the world was wide with possibilities for them.
His own heart was tied irrevocably to Arden’s, though she had not accepted him. There would be no relief from this torment for Drago.
19
Drago
As Drago watched the sun rising pink over the hillside, he knew what he had to do.
It would be a short while yet before the others were awake.
Across the room, Arden slept on, her body still curled up like a cat under the sheet.
He went to her, trailed his fingers down the curve between her rib and her hip.
“Arden,” he whispered, trying not to lose himself in the seductive heat of her.
She stretched and blinked up at him, a sleepy angel.
“It’s early,” she whispered reproachfully.
“I want to show you something,” he whispered back.
She slid out of bed and padded into the bathroom.
Drago allowed himself to fall back into the bed for a moment. Arden’s pillowcase smelled like ripe peaches.
He closed his eyes and tried not to think about touching her, but it was no use. Behind his eyelids she sighed and moaned, an ocean of creamy thighs and pink sex.
