Second Chance Mates

by Sabrina Vance

  "I told you already, I came for a visit," said Cade.

  "And when are you leaving?" came Clara's rude reply.

  Luke held back a laugh. She wasn't what he expected at all. He'd expected frigid, or nasty or just plain horrible, but instead, the apparent love of Cade's life was a hot blonde with a feisty temper to match. He could imagine screaming rows then screaming orgasms as they made up with frantic, sweaty sex. He could imagine initiating such rows for the sole purpose of getting her all riled up just so he could take her over the table, or the floor, or on any damn surface she pleased. Stuffing a forkful of pasta in his mouth, Luke caught her looking at him from under her eyelashes and to his amusement, pink rose on her cheeks. She might not like him yet, but Luke had every intention of making sure she did.

  If something did pass between them, Cade didn't seem to notice. "Are you telling me you're asking your favorite brother-in-law to leave? Your manners have gotten worse since I last saw you."

  Luke watched with interest as Clara blushed fully this time, then picked up a fork and, ignoring them both, dug in. His tiger roused as he watched her rosebud mouth close around the fork, her tongue flicking out to catch a stray spot of sauce on her upper lip. Her eyes close as she savored the taste. He could imagine lots of other delicious things her tongue could do, most of them involving him, naked. With a shake of his shoulders, he shook that thought out.

  He'd only come along for the ride. Hadn’t he?

  It was coincidence, he told himself, that he happened to find himself free just as Cade announced the trip. It was certainly wrong that all afternoon his tiger had insinuated itself into the fierce feeling he felt that Clara should be his.

  Mate her. Now.

  What was with his beast?

  Glancing at Cade, who was watching Clara, he was fairly certain that his friend was thinking exactly the same thing. Well, the bit about tongues, getting naked, and mating anyway. He was pretty certain Luke’s instincts hadn’t figured into his best friend’s brain yet.

  What had gotten into him? He’d known her for less than a day. He had no intention of searching out a mate, not when he had a satisfyingly long list of willing-without-commitment females in his cell phone's contacts. He certainly had no intention of looking for a mate whose eyes alternated between absolute fire and an infinite sadness, and certainly not one who already had mated, and lost, and then there was the small matter of another potential mate she'd rejected.

  Hell, it chafed his very being that he was last in the fucking queue. Was this fate's idea of a joke? Wait until he started to question his no strings sex policy before landing him with a woman who most certainly did not want a mate?

  "What?" Clara snapped, dragging his attention back to her.

  "What?" he repeated, like a moron.

  "You were staring."

  "Perhaps you shouldn't be so cute," he replied, enjoying her indignant reaction, and that she'd already packed away half the pasta.

  "What happened to the dress?" asked Cade suddenly. "I picked out your favorite."

  "You put a lacy thong on top!"

  Luke snickered at his friend’s audacity. "Did you?"

  Cade held his hands up in protest. "It looked appropriate. Better than those granny panties you were wearing. Ow!" He flashed an angry look at Clara as he bent down to rub his shin and Luke had to shake his head. It wasn't often a female put Cade back in his place, so he was planning on enjoying every minute of this. Plus, it was a pleasant distraction from the tug he got in his groin every time she cast a speculative glance in his direction. He had to give Cade props for not moving away. They were clearly just as stubborn as each other.

  "You look very nice just as you are," Luke said, wondering if a compliment would help her wind down. Or, given her temperament, rile her up even more.

  Surprisingly, as she looked over at him the corners of her mouth flickered. "Thank you," she said, softly. Finishing her last forkful of pasta, she leaned back in her seat, casting her eyes first from him to Cade. "Now get out."

  "Excuse me?" Luke couldn't help the surprise in his voice. He couldn't recall the last time he'd been kicked out of a woman's house. Well, there was that time he'd had to climb out a window and make a swift exit via a back porch roof, but at least he'd gotten his leg over in a very enjoyable, very athletic afternoon first. And he never got kicked out when he cooked. It was his secret weapon.

  "You heard me. I don't know what your game is but I don't want any part of it. Pack up your stuff," she said, her eyes flickering over the packs they'd pulled in from the truck while she was unconscious and unable to protest. "And go wherever it is you were going."

  Cade chuckled, pushed his chair out and stretched his long legs. "This is the end of the road for us, honey."

  "Whatever are you talking about?" Her voice rose.

  Luke felt a pull on his heart at the sound of her panic. He wished he could stride around the table, pull her into his arms and tell her not to worry. He didn’t just want to sleep with her, he wanted to protect her from everything. Oh hell, this is that pure mating instinct I’ve heard about.

  "Like I said before, we've come to stay and you aren't getting rid of us that easily."

  "But, but..." she spluttered as she kicked back her chair and pointed at Luke. "I don't even know him!"

  Luke mirrored Cade's relaxed position as he pushed back from the table and crossed his arms. "Sure you do. We just met. I'm Luke."

  "That's not what I mean and you know it!" Clara turned back to Cade. "I don't want some strange man in my house."

  "I can assure you I'm not strange. Wicked, maybe, but strange? No. Besides, it looks like you need some help around here."

  "No, I don't," came her automatic protest.

  "Sure you do. Take that," said Cade twisting in his chair to point to the rear windows. "I know for a fact that deck was in the same state two years ago because Colton and I assembled the frame and you still haven't finished it. At this rate, it'll be twenty years before you can eat out there or even sunbathe."

  Luke closed his eyes at the sudden image of Clara out on the deck, her body oiled, an itsy bitsy bikini, or, even better, topless. His tiger started the pacing again. Make her our mate, his beast insisted with a plaintive whine.

  "I didn't see any workers around when we drove up," continued Luke, trying to remember exactly how large this property was and trying not to think about her oiled and half naked. His cock was so hard he could probably use it to ram nails and finish the deck himself. "Who've you got helping you?"

  "No one. I can do everything by myself. I don't need help." Clara crossed her arms defensively.

  "Like hell," said Cade. "You ever want this place finished, you're going to need a help and you just scored yourself two big, strapping men."

  "You can't stay here."

  "I'm not sleeping in the barn," said Cade.

  "Me neither," added Luke, wondering if the upstairs was furnished. His eyes flickered towards the ceiling.

  "Oh no," she said, catching his ceiling-ward glance. "You're not moving in."

  "Honey," said Cade, softly. "I think we just did. And if you want to try and manhandle us…" He smirked. "Be my guest. My guess is your wolf would enjoy that tussle just as much as mine."

  Clara scrambled from her chair and stepped back. Though the table was still between them, her arms tightened protectively about herself and Luke had to struggle not to either laugh at the audacity of his friend's remarks, or thump him for suggesting manhandling the pretty little wolf because there was no way his tiger would let that happen, no matter how surly or obstinate she was. He would do anything to make her happy and keep he safe.

  With a lurch, for the first time ever, Luke saw his best friend as a rival.

  No, he couldn’t let that happen. It was just the situation and the burning need to touch her.

  Luke stood and moved towards her, his movements lithe and gentle because he'd been brought up understanding his size could be intimidating,
especially to little females. To his surprise, she didn't move away, instead holding her ground. He placed one hand on her shoulder and she wrenched her gaze from Cade to him, her eyelashes fluttering prettily as her nostrils flared ever so slightly. If he wasn't mistaken, she was sniffing him, inhaling his scent, and he had to admit, he liked it. He wanted her to like him. Not just tolerate, but actually like him. He wanted her to gain the innate understanding that not only was he not a threat, but that he could probably be a whole lot more to her, if she let him.

  And there his tiger went again, making trouble for him.

  Except, as he looked down at her pretty, troubled, eyes, he couldn't help the surge of sympathy and pride that emanated from him. She had been to hell and back and refused to succumb to it. She was smart and pretty and hardworking, and she could handle two big stubborn men better than most men could. She was stunning in a way that could make his head turn whenever she moved, and make his body react in a way that he couldn't altogether control but he would never harm a hair on her head. Instead he had the sudden feeling that life would be very lonely without her in it. He wanted to mark her, mate her and love her.

  Damn it, tiger. I make my own decisions.

  Except, maybe they agreed. Clara was the one he didn't know he was looking for.

  "I'll make sure Cade behaves," he said, his voice a soft rumble. "Besides seems kind of lonely out here, away from town and family. You might enjoy having some company." What he didn't add was I want you to enjoy my company.

  Then, like she had been in a trance, she shook her head, her curls tumbling about her shoulders and her eyes narrowed. "Don't bank on it," she snapped.

  Chapter Five

  "That went well," said Cade, helping gather the dishes. Both of them paused to stare as Clara strode off, her cute butt swinging as she made a fast getaway.

  "She's not what I thought she'd be," admitted Luke, making his way through to the kitchen. He felt oddly domestic here. He liked to cook, but usually it was something fast to go before they headed out to a bar or went to catch a game, or before he took on a double shift. Occasionally for a date. Rarely did he take his time clearing away, or admiring someone else's house. And the house was beautiful. All natural woods, the furnishings comfortable and in pale tones, with a huge fireplace and a rug he could imagine rolling around on—naked, of course, and not alone—with huge folding windows that had obviously been situated to give the best view of the glorious landscape stretching out beyond. Excepting the unfinished deck, it was gorgeous. One look was all it took to make him think home.

  He shook his head. Half a day and he'd already moved in.

  "What did you imagine?"

  "To be honest, I kind of thought she'd be an uptight bitch but she doesn't come off like that at all. Sad, yes, and lonely, but not nasty and not cruel."

  "I never said she was cruel."

  "You didn't exactly say her actions weren't."

  "True," admitted Cade as he followed Luke to the kitchen. "I've been pretty hard on her."

  "And it's been hard on you."

  "Like you wouldn't believe."

  Thing was, Luke could believe it now. He could believe the pain it had caused Cade, and the heartache that had driven him away. He could understand how hard it must have been to return, knowing that he might expect the same treatment. Who knows what's going through the poor guy’s head. Though, even given that, he couldn't bring himself to think of Clara as some evil harpy. She was sweet and gentle and clearly very unhappy. He would do anything to put a light back in her eyes, to hear her laugh, to be the person who gave her joy again.

  "She's damn pretty too." The words slipped out.

  Cade gave him a sharp look. "Yeah," was all he said.

  "So what now?" Luke turned away before he said something else stupid. It wouldn’t do to announce his own feelings while they talked. Cade didn’t need that laying on him. Not now.

  Cade shrugged.

  Luke persisted. "You still planning on claiming her?" He hoped the edge in his voice didn’t show as he glanced at his friend.

  Cade gave a sharp nod of his head, just once. "Yes, I am. I am not going home without her. She's mine, she knows she's mine. No more games. She needs to accept for once and all what destiny gave us. This time I'm not leaving. I can't."

  "There might be a small problem with your plan," Luke said hesitantly, wondering exactly how he was supposed to broach such a delicate topic. Oh hell, he had to do it. He couldn’t pretend like nothing happened. The sooner Cade knew, the better.

  "Yeah? What's that?"

  Luke rested his back against the counter and sucked in a few fortifying breaths, tensing slightly just in case his news was met with a barrage of thumps. Hell, he might have had that reaction if the situation was reversed. He sucked in a deep breath and began to speak. "Ever since Clara opened the door, my tiger's been telling me to claim her."

  "Are you serious?" Cade yelled, then ducked his head around the door just in case Clara came barreling back to yell at them about the noise. His voice was quieter, but still just as sharp when he asked, "You're telling me she's your mate? Seriously, Luke?"

  "Yes. And I think she knows it too."

  "You've got to be freakin' kiddin' me!" Cade wheeled around and placed his hands against the upper cabinet, palms flat, fingers splayed.

  "That I'm not. And I wouldn't say it if I didn't think it was true. But I'm not going to get in your way, man. You've known her for years. I've known her minutes. If you want me to step out the way, just say the word." Except, even as he said it, he knew it would be damn near impossible for him to walk out now. Not when just the faintest whiff of her scent sent his tiger into a tizzy.

  Cade shook his head. "You know what, man? Fate always demanded she be part of a three way mating. It always intended her to have two men in her life."

  "It doesn't freak you out?"

  "It slightly freaked me out when I met her, and my wolf recognized her for my mate, but she was already going with Colton by then. Once I got used to the idea, yeah, I was okay with it. And Colton was too. We talked about it a bunch and he was cool with it too, so long as she was. And now with you? I gotta say, buddy, I'm not mad. Surprised, yeah. Hell yeah." Cade ran a hand through his hair, turned again to lean against the counter and gazed out the window over the side of the house. “Fuck!”

  "So, if I said I was thinking of claiming her too..."

  "Maybe this is exactly what she needs. Plus, she's gonna knock us back so many times it would be good to have a buddy for back up." They laughed. "And maybe two males sending her wolf into hormonal overdrive will make her chose happiness, rather than however she's been living these past couple of years. This is about her. Not me, not you. This is about doing right by Clara."

  "Things not always this quiet around here?"

  "Oh man, no. Clara always had a bunch of friends. Real cuties too. And her and Colton together? Talk about social butterflies. We were always out doin' stuff, the three of us, and when they got the farm, there were barbecues and camping and just letting our wolves out to race. We had some amazing times here and I tell you, buddy, it was never as quiet as this."

  "How do you think she's gonna take it?" Luke nodded to the doorway; past that, Clara lurked somewhere unseen and probably mad at them. Or horny, and mad at herself.

  "If your tiger recognized her, then her wolf sure as hell recognized you, just the way mine went into overdrive when she opened the door. Come to think of it, that probably explained the fainting. I put it down to dehydration or heat stroke."

  "Maybe she had an on the spot orgasm?"

  "We're good but not that good." Cade laughed.

  "Speak for yourself, man."

  “The girl you had over last month sure seemed to need a lot of help.” Cade smirked. “You forget how thin the walls of our apartment are.”

  “Fuck you.”

  Opening the dishwasher, Cade stacked everything neatly and switched it on. At least he could turn something
on in Clara's house.

  Luke continued, "But what I meant was how do you think she's going to take two potential mates vying for her?"

  "Well," Cade started thoughtfully. "She didn't throw us out, did she?"

  "She told us to go."

  "And yet we're still here." Cade grinned. "I call that a good start."

  ***

  Clara curled up in the office and listened to the sounds of the two men cleaning up the table then the kitchen. When was the last time she'd had anyone over? When was the last time she actually invited anyone over? She couldn't actually remember. Before Colton died probably.

  She'd come home from the wake and shut herself off from the world, ignoring phone calls and being so miserable that her friends dropped away one by one. Back then it had been a relief. She couldn’t cope with other people; couldn’t share their grief when hers was so overwhelming.

  Even though it felt strange having someone else in her house, there was something nice about it. It made the house suddenly feel alive. It made her seem less alone. It made her feel less alone.

  Now that she'd gotten over her surprise at seeing Cade, and her surge of annoyance, she couldn't bring herself to be angry. Despite the big mating issue hanging between them, they'd always been solid friends, had always hung out together and she missed that easy camaraderie, missed their connection.

  There were many times that she'd picked up the phone to call him, only to drop it again, or called up her email and started typing, asking when he was coming back then stopping herself, unsure what she was asking for. Truth was, there was a part of her that loved Cade more than just a friend, that knew their relationship could be beautiful if she could just be brave enough to try. Only there was a bigger part of her that was grieving not just for the love that had been robbed from her, but also for the love that had walked away when she'd said no that final time because she could barely see straight from tears and from the feeling of her heart breaking from her loss.

  Clara had plenty of time to regret sending Cade away because she'd missed him so much.