by Alicia White
“Of course. You two look so much alike. So, what are you both doing here this morning? What’s going on? I would’ve asked Josh, but I didn’t want to scare him. I kept thinking that he might cut something useful off if I did.” She giggled a little, feeling nervous under his scrutiny, and of course, she babbled too, which made an awful combination.
He stared at her, moving a bit closer, and Nicole wanted to step back but held firm. She didn’t have any reason to fear this man. She felt something inside her uncoil and knew he was safe. “Josh said that you might need a little yard work done so I volunteered to help him.” He smiled, but it seemed a bit forced, and she got the feeling that he really didn’t want to be doing yard work. “Hey, Josh!” he yelled, and Josh immediately turned around, shutting off the electric saw.
“Hey, Nicole, how are you this morning?” Josh asked. He acted as if he belonged there in her yard doing work. He put the saw on the ground and grabbed his shirt, wiping the dirt off his face.
“Hi. Um, I’m not sure what you’re doing here?” Not wanting to sound rude, she pasted a smile on her face and acted like she didn’t care that he was cutting down the plants that protected her house from the wildlife. She liked feeling hidden.
“Well, I just thought that these bushes were in the way. You can’t see anything from your front door. It could be a security risk. Also, on my way out yesterday, I noticed your woodpile was looking low, so I thought my brother here could help chop some for you. Oh… I’m sorry. Did you meet my brother, Gabe?” He looked back and forth between them, and Nicole nodded, holding her hand out. Gabe stalked closer. The way he moved reminded her of a predator, which meant she was his prey.
He took her hand in his, and she was surprised by how gentle he was. He rubbed his thumb along her knuckles before bringing his face down and kissing her wrist. He took his time, and she could feel his breath on her palm. It was all so interesting, and she couldn’t stop staring at his face. He looked so content, standing next to her, holding her hand and sniffing her. She didn’t want to pull away, his features seemed to relax the more she allowed him to explore. He closed his eyes. She caught a smile curve his lips as she heard a quiet growl.
“Okay.” Josh got his attention, and Gabe immediately dropped her hand. He stepped back, looking guilty, and she missed his warmth right away. “So, uh, we’re gonna do some work out here for you. I’m sure you need to get back to writing. Don’t let us stop you.” Josh turned her around so that she was facing her house and gave a little push.
Nicole took an unstable step, feeling a little shaky. She wondered if she should protest or, at the very least, send them home, but he was right that she had work to do. She knew they wouldn’t leave, and she really did need some yard work done. Closing the front door, she went back to writing.
Taking a deep breath she sat down in front of her computer, cracking her knuckles and rolling her wrists. It was going to be a long day. She could hear Josh start up the electrical saw, and she hummed, trying to drown out the sound. She stared at the computer screen and quickly started typing.
* * * *
“Seriously?” Josh whispered harshly, not wanting Nicole to hear their conversation. When he had first introduced them, he thought that Gabe might just nod, but instead he practically assaulted her hand.
“What?” Gabe asked, looking completely confused. Josh just shook his head. He knew that he had his work cut out for him, but his brother was going to make things even more difficult.
“Just get back to work.” Josh grabbed the saw and started it back up. He wanted to cut back all the bushes that surrounded her house. It was obvious that she wanted to keep herself locked away from the outside world, and he wanted to break through the barriers so that she could get to know them better. He had a few different plans and hoped that he could keep Gabe in line long enough to fulfill them.
The first step was to be helpful and to show her that they were nice, safe, and sincere. The second was the romantic phase. He wanted to show her that having two men in her life could be very satisfying. The third step in his plan was to become needed. If she needed them, then she would want them around. Finally, at the fourth stage, she would accept them as her mates. It seemed like an easy enough idea, but for some reason his brother sucked at socializing. He was way too intense, and Josh wasn’t sure if Nicole was ready for that.
Josh did a full loop around her house. He cut all the bushes back, opening up the yard so that she could see out. He didn’t want her to stay locked in anymore. Their job, their responsibility was to now take care of Nicole. He wanted to make sure they helped her to overcome the issue she seemed to have keeping her distance from people. She stayed locked up, only coming out when she was out of food.
He hoped that he could shake things up a bit and pull her out of her world and into theirs. He had gone to town daily, hoping to see her, but not once did he actually confront her or try to talk to her. What changed his mind? Why did he go against orders after two years to finally say something? Maybe the waiting was getting to him, or maybe he was truly ready for a mate, ready to settle down and be the man she deserved. The sun beat down hot and hard against his skin, and he could feel the sweat trickle down his back. Josh wiped off his face with his clean T-shirt and picked up his water bottle.
It was an abnormally warm day for northern Minnesota, even odder since winter was approaching. He expected cool weather, and the stormy season was due to arrive soon. He could smell it in the air. The wind shifted, and he knew that it would be raining within the next couple of days. Josh went around the house searching for Gabe. He wanted to get more work done. The last thing he wanted was for Nicole to think they were slacking.
He found Gabe leaning against the wall, peeking inside of her house, trying to get a look at her. He shook his head, wondering how his brother had stayed away so long. Although, technically, he hadn’t stayed away, he had come to her each night in his wolf form. He snapped his fingers, trying to get his attention without Nicole noticing that Gabe was standing there staring at her. Gabe jolted and quickly ducked down, pretending to work, picking weeds from under her windowsill.
Josh rolled his eyes and moved on. They could talk later when Nicole wasn’t within earshot.
Hearing a branch break, Josh turned around. Gabe moved fast, grabbing his arm and pulling him toward the tree line.
“Were you spying on her?” Josh said, wanting to laugh. He really didn’t care.
Shaking his head, Gabe said, “There was an odd scent by her window. I recognize it, but I can’t place it.”
“It shouldn’t be anyone in the pack. Everyone knows that Nicole’s place is off limits.” Josh knew that he would need to go back around her house and check it. He was just glad that they were here now, doing some yard work.
“I’ve been here every night, except last night. The scent is fresh.” Concern marked his face, and Josh wasn’t sure if he should be worried.
“Let’s get back to work. It will come to me soon.” Gabe walked out of the tree line and back to Nicole’s house.
* * * *
Nicole put the final changes on her book, making sure that it was ready to send to her publisher before she clicked the send button. She had been writing this particular book for a few months, and she was so excited when she typed those last two words, The End. It made it final. She smiled broadly as she stared at the screen. She stood up and stretched her muscles, feeling a bit tired. She was beginning to realize that sitting in front of her computer all day wasn’t good for her. She needed some activity in her life.
She looked at the clock and couldn’t believe it was already after lunchtime. She had completely forgotten about Josh and Gabe, too busy throwing herself into the book she had been writing. Nicole went into her room getting ready for a much needed shower before she went outside. The last thing she wanted was for them to see her in her pajamas again.
Quickly pulling off her nightclothes, Nicole rushed into the bathroom, turning on the hot w
ater. She stepped in and soaped up, wanting to see them both again. She went fast, hoping that they would like the way she looked when she actually cleaned up a bit and looked her best. The stress from the day washed away, and Nicole smiled, feeling lighthearted. Whenever she wrote, she worried that she wasn’t going to make the deadline. Pushing the send button relaxed her. Shutting off the water, she jumped out and dried off.
She walked back into her bedroom and grabbed clean clothes. Pulling on her favorite jeans, she checked out her ass in the mirror, loving the way the material hugged her curves so perfectly. She pulled on a long-sleeve V-neck T-shirt that outlined her breasts, hoping that maybe Josh and Gabe would check her out. She combed her long, curly hair, trying to calm down the huge ringlets, keeping her hair natural. She grabbed her compact and wiped the cotton disk over her face, making her skin look even.
Looking at herself once more, she gave a nod of approval to the mirror and went in search of Josh and Gabe. She opened the front door and stepped outside. The wind blew through her hair, and she lifted her face to the sun, letting the heat soak into her skin. She took a deep breath, filling her lungs with fresh mountain air before walking around her house. She was shocked to see all the work they had done. The bushes were smaller, the weeds were gone, and she had a huge supply of wood that had been cut and piled up high.
She couldn’t believe the changes. Her house looked adorable, now that someone had taken the time to fix it up.
“What do you think?” Josh asked, and she turned around. He was absolute perfection. His dirty T-shirt hung over one shoulder, and he had smudges of dirt on his face. Sweat trickled down his chest, and she wondered what he would taste like. She looked him up and down a few times, noticing the bulge in his pants grow and become hard before her eyes. The man was a god.
“So sexy.” She gasped when she realized she had spoken aloud and jerked her eyes up to his face. “I–I mean the place looks amazing. Thank you for everything.”
He stared at her for a minute and then started laughing. She couldn’t help herself. She laughed, too. He had caught her staring at him, and instead of being offended, the man just threw his head back and laughed aloud. She felt her heart squeeze in her chest and knew that she was starting too really like him.
“It’s okay, Nicole, you can check me out.” He opened his arms out wide, and she gulped, trying not to take a peek at his moist skin. She stared at his gorgeous eyes and fought a losing battle not to look at his muscles. Finally, after a few moments, her eyes strayed down, and she devoured him.
“It feels like you’re touching me,” he whispered, and she bit her lip, looking back at him. She wanted to be touching him, craved him even. She didn’t want to seem too eager, though, so she held herself back, wishing that she was wilder.
“I—um, thank you, Josh. Can I make you and your brother dinner?” She wasn’t a very good cook, but she did want to do something for them both, especially after all their hard work.
“Let’s take her on a picnic. What do you think, Josh?” Gabe walked up, and Nicole craned her neck to catch his eye. Gabe towered over her, his brown eyes appearing darker than she remembered. He stared at her, and the moment felt intimate, making her nipples tighten and her stomach clench. She stared at him, noticing the scar on his face. It wasn’t that obvious before, but now that the sun was shining on his face, she could really appreciate all the sharp, strong lines. She shifted restlessly, and moisture dampened her thighs. She finally looked away and stepped back, needing a moment.
She looked at the ground, needing to get her body under control. Every time she looked at either of these men, her body seemed to take over and prepare for them to take her.
She heard Gabe move and saw his shoes right next to her. She stood still, wondering what he would do next. He leaned in toward her, and she froze in place as he leaned toward her and inhaled deeply. He groaned but stepped back, giving her the space she craved.
“I think a picnic sounds perfect. Nicole?” Josh said, his voice calm, and she looked up at him and nodded. She didn’t want to let them go. She wasn’t ready to say good-bye yet. “Why don’t you grab your keys and lock up? We can go to our house, and Gabe and I will get cleaned up. We have an amazing piece of land. We could take a hike to the lake and have a nice little dinner.”
“That sounds great.” She walked to the house quickly, grabbing her keys off the side table before moving to close and lock the front door. By the time she returned, Josh and Gabe were by the truck, ready to head out. She stood taller, pushing her shoulders back, and walked to them, letting her hips sway. Gabe climbed into the passenger seat and closed the door. Leaning back, he stared at her, and she licked her lips. When she reached the driver’s-side door, she felt a moment of anxiety run through her, unsure if she should be getting in a truck with these two men.
Josh held the door open and waited for her to climb in. She took a deep breath. She didn’t have any bad feelings. She always followed her gut, so Nicole climbed in the truck and crawled over the driver’s seat. She moved toward Gabe, and he stiffened. Before she could touch him, she sat up and got comfortable in the seat. He growled, and she smiled to herself, knowing that she affected him as much as he affected her.
Chapter 5
Gabe was having a hard time holding it together. Her scent filled the cab of the truck, and the sweet, tangy aroma drove him crazy. His cock throbbed in his pants, and he shifted, trying to push it down so that Nicole wouldn’t know how turned on he was. She was such an enigma, one minute wild and the next shy. He didn’t want to come on too strong but his patience was running out. He knew if they spent much more time together that he might lose control. He cursed himself for suggesting a picnic, for wanting to spend more time in her presence, but he couldn’t help himself.
Josh drove them up the mountain toward home, and Gabe stared straight ahead, trying not to look at her but failing miserably. He watched every move she made and could see that she was becoming restless sitting between them. Her breathing changed, becoming more erratic, and he looked over at Josh, arching his brow in question. Josh shrugged and continued driving.
“Have you ever been up the mountain before?” he asked. Most of the people in the area loved the outdoors, but Nicole seemed frightened and he blamed himself. That night haunted him, would always make him question his own sanity. His wolf recognized her, and instead of taking control, he marked her. He pushed a hand through his hair and shook his head. Why had he lost control?
“Um, no, not really,” she said, and her voice shook a little, letting him know that he was right. She was a little scared, but she was also aroused. She was attracted to them both, and she didn’t know what to do. He wouldn’t take things too slow. He planned to ravish her and show her that she could have them both. He preferred her sassy and wild. This shy, quiet girl wasn’t someone he could relate to. He wanted to protect her, wrap her in bubble wrap, and keep her inside the house, hidden from the outside world.
“It’s really beautiful here. Our house sits on a nice piece of land. The…uh…most of the community here like to go hunting, fishing, and running.” He almost said pack. The word had been on the tip of his tongue, but he had caught himself. He knew that it was way too soon to share that with her. He had no idea when she would be ready for the truth, but he knew that they wouldn’t be able to fully claim her without honesty.
“I’ve never been much of an outdoor person, but it is really beautiful here.” She turned her body and faced him. Gabe took a deep breath and turned his body as well. He liked looking at her beautiful face. Her eyes were big and innocent, her nose small and round, but her lips drew him in. They were plump, and he dreamed about them constantly. He couldn’t seem to focus on what she was saying as he stared at her mouth. She was talking and smiling, moving her hands, but he couldn’t hear a word.
He was fighting an internal battle, holding himself stiff, trying to lean back so that he didn’t pounce, but he didn’t have any more willpower. She ha
d been haunting him for years, and he was sick of staying away. In one smooth movement, Gabe grabbed her and pulled her into his lap. “I want you.” He ignored the gasp and went in for the kill. He swooped down and took possession of her lips. He forced his tongue between her lips, parting them, possessing her completely. He wanted to brand her, to own her. He wanted to rip her clothes off and impale her on his hard cock, but instead, he focused on her mouth.
Her body arched into his, and she wrapped her arms around his neck, holding him tight. Gabe growled and held her close, rubbing himself against her, marking her with his scent. Their tongues danced and moved together. Gabe was lost. He had been waiting for his mate, waiting silently, hoping that she would accept him someday. She was so receptive to his touch, silently begging for more, and he wasn’t going to disappoint her. Gabe moved one hand up and covered her breast, holding it, feeling the weight in his hand. Nicole shivered and groaned.
He tried to move them, wanting more space, and finally realized that they were still in the cab of the truck. He needed a bed. He needed an open space to give her what her body was demanding. Josh was driving slowly, and he was grateful. He was running out of precious time. Gabe moved his hand down, promising to give her breasts the attention they deserved later. Right now, he wanted her to come apart in his arms. He touched her pussy through her jeans, and groaned at how wet she was for him. Her breathing was becoming more erratic, but he refused to stop kissing her. He couldn’t get enough of her lips.