Bear's Surrogate

by Sky Winters

  “Were you even a scout?”

  “No, but my brother was so I’m a scout by proxy.”

  Anna chuckled despite herself. Brandon had been evasive, but was disarmingly charming. If he turned out to be a downright liar, Anna would be sure to never call him again, but for now she’d let it go. Besides, Brandon said “he” so their third wheel wasn’t another woman and Anna was comfortable with that. It meant no weird stuff.

  “Sorry, I’m late, Brandon. I got caught at the station and couldn’t get away.”

  Anna stiffened at the sound of the familiar baritone. It couldn’t belong to who she thought, could it? With a deep breath she turned her head to examine their third wheel out of her peripheral. The soft lighting glinted off a mop of almost black hair. “Shit,” she whispered to herself.

  Brandon stood and clapped the new arrival on the back. “No big, man. Sonny, I’d like you to meet Miss Anna Nash. Anna, this is my friend Sonny Adams.”

  Anna felt the heat burning in her cheeks and refused to look either of them in the eye. “Hello,” she mumbled. “We’ve met.” She was starting to feel like the universe had a real fucked up sense of humor.

  “You’ve met?” Brandon looked from Anna to Sonny. “Oh! She’s the one from the ball?”

  Sonny nodded, but couldn’t take his eyes off the blushing woman or her serious ink. Somehow, he’d missed seeing that the first tie he’d met her. “It’s good to see you again, Anna.” Although it felt like, no time had gone by since their last encounter. He had been thinking and fantasizing about her since they met.

  Brandon dropped back into his seat. “Take a load off, man. I was just debating on which bottle of wine to order.

  Sonny sat next to Brandon, still staring at Anna. He couldn’t believe his luck! Another chance to get the woman into bed. If they played their cards right, he and Brandon would have her naked by the end of the night.

  Brandon carefully watched Anna. She refused to look either of the men in the eye and her cheeks were still tinged with blush. “What do you want to drink, Anna? Do you prefer red or white?”

  Anna’s head snapped up, betrayal and anger burning in her eyes. “I’d prefer if you take me home now.”

  Brandon tilted his head. “Oh? Why?”

  Anna felt the anger burning through her veins. “Probably because this isn’t what I signed up for. Let’s just say, there was no truth in advertising.”

  Sonny smirked and looked at Brandon. “I’m pretty sure, my name wasn’t even mentioned in the conversation.”

  Anna shot daggers at Sonny. “No it wasn’t. I also didn’t see the fine print where I was going on a date with what I thought was a nice guy and wound up with a total asshat for a third wheel.” She turned back to Brandon. “Please, take me home.”

  Just then, the server arrived. “Hi! My name is Janey and I’ll be taking care of you this evening. Can I start you off with some wine? We have an excellent Portuguese red we just got in or perhaps a Chenin Blanc from Oregon if you’re feeling a little less adventurous.”

  Before Anna could protest any further, Brandon ordered. “We’ll have the Quinta dos Murcas Assobio Douro, please. Three glasses.”

  The server nodded and took off to the bar. The reclaimed wood furniture and barn wood floors lent an air of rustic sophistication to the place. While Anna could appreciate the vibe, she still wasn’t thrilled with situation she was put in. It didn’t matter that she’d had wet dreams about Sonny, she still felt duped. “I don’t know why you bothered ordering anything. I don’t want to stay.”

  “Am I really that bad? You’ve only met me once.” Sonny kept a straight face, but deep down, he was hurt and confused by Anna’s reaction.

  “And that one conversation was enough. I don’t like guys like you, Sonny. Or guys like you Brandon.”

  “Guys like me?” The two men asked in unison.

  “Yes, guys like you. Brandon, you’re a con artist and Sonny you’re a cad. If neither of you want to take me home, I’ll call a car.” She reached into the depths of her purse to fish for her phone.

  Sonny made to take her purse, but stopped himself midway. “Tell you what, Anna. Just give us a chance until the end of dinner. If after that, you still feel the same way, I’ll take you home myself.”

  Why did that statement feel so loaded? “Fine. You have until that check hits the table to change my mind.”

  Sonny and Brandon both exhaled. That was all they needed, they were sure of it.

  Chapter 5

  Brandon had ordered a mess of shared plates for the table. The trio had a little bit of everything from the marinated olives to the pig skin noodles to the blackened octopus. Brandon wanted to get in a little bit of all of his favorites. Since he and Sonny were splitting the bill right down the middle, he didn’t worry about the cost as much.

  Anna spent most of the dinner giving the two men the stink eye while they chatted away about work and weekend plans. At first, she had even refused to eat, but the aroma of the parsley croissants and marrow pate was too much to handle. Soon enough, she was picking at a little bit of everything. “Oh my god,” she said at her first bite of pig skin noodles. “These are amazing.”

  Brandon and Sonny both stopped mid-conversation to stare. “Whoa! She speaks!” Sonny joked.

  “Ha ha, guys,” she said. But Anna couldn’t help but feel a little ashamed of herself. She had been rude to them, she felt justified in being so, but the proper Southern Girl in her couldn’t abide by such behavior and forced her to stop. “So, um. You’re both firefighters?”

  Brandon spoke first. “We are. Sonny and I have been friends since we were kids. Like, the fifth grade I think? We do everything together.”

  “That’s cool. I’m kind of jealous f you guys. My childhood best friend dicked me over in college so I don’t have one of those anymore.”

  Sonny leaned in a little closer. “What happened?”

  Anna chuckled and shook her head. “She fucked my boyfriend.” Neither man responded, which encouraged her to keep talking. “Jokes on them though. She trapped him by getting pregnant. Now they’re married with four kids and they’re both miserable. He cheats on her pretty regularly and she just takes it.”

  “Man, that makes me glad we have the arrangement we do,” Brandon said, shaking his head.

  “What arrangement is that?”

  Sonny piped up. “We just share women.”

  Anna blanched. “Share? As in…”

  Brandon finished her thought. “As in women in the bedroom? Yes, we do. In fact, it’s a pretty rare thing when we don’t.”

  “You mean, you guys are regular about the,” she almost couldn’t say the word without blushing. “threesome thing?”

  “Yeah. And we haven’t met a woman yet that didn’t mind,” Sonny answered with a wry grin.

  “Huh.” Anna slouched back in her chair, a little overwhelmed. “So tonight is supposed to be that?” Despite being a little overwhelmed, Anna wasn’t totally opposed to the idea. A fact that caught her a little by surprise.

  Brandon reached out and took Anna’s hand. “Only if you want to. We don’t ever force a woman to do what she doesn’t want to.”

  The warmth of Brandon’s hand helped to steady her. “Really? ‘Cause I’m pretty sure you both refused me a ride to keep me here.”

  “Sex is totally different. We wanted you to give us a chance– me a chance, really. Brandon hadn’t had a chance to make a bad impression on you like I did.”

  Sonny looked a little sheepish. He continued to surprise her; Anna didn’t think he had a shameful bone in his entire body. “I’m actually glad you guys made me stay. I’m having a good time. Thank you. I do have one question though.”

  “What’s that?” Both men said in unison.

  “Ah! Cut that out, it’s creepy!” Anna shook her head to remove the Children of the Corn imagery out of her head. “What happens when one of you has feelings for the girl you’ve been sharing?”

  Sonny and Bra
ndon looked at each other for a moment before Brandon spoke. “You know; it’s never come up. Neither of us has ever been in love before.”

  Anna gaped at them. “Never? Neither of you has been in love before? That’s crazy to me!” Then it dawned on her. The sharing of women might be the reason why. They can’t form attachments the way they do things. The threesome agreement is also a method of emotional protection.

  “Nope. And that’s fine,” Sonny answered. “No attachments, no problems.”

  Now that Anna understood, she was a little more willing to come along for the ride. “That’s not the worst idea I’ve ever heard. Being in love bites. Trust me, I’ve done it and I really wasn’t a fan of the fall out.” Anna took a bite of food to end the conversation. She hadn’t meant to bring it up, but she did not want to talk about Pete.

  The guys got the hint and didn’t press her further.

  They ate in silence a little while. Anna mulled over the idea of being with both men. What would that be like? How would the logistics of that work? A threesome had never really been on her radar so she hadn’t thought about it before, but now that she was, the idea was arousing. Both men in front of her were gorgeous in their own way. Sonny being a little darker while Brandon was fairer. They were both built roughly the same way and were in phenomenal shape. Their looks would certainly not be a problem. They were also shifters; another experience she hadn’t had. “Can I ask you what sort of shifters you guys are?”

  Brandon answered as Sonny had a mouthful of food. “Dragon. We’re both dragon shifters. Every guy at Station One is a dragon shifter. We’re part of the same clan.”

  Anna grinned. “Dragons? You’re all aware of the irony of that, right?”

  Sonny chuckled. “That fact is not lost on us.” His eyes flicked to the dragon head on Anna’s neck.

  She noticed the casual look. It was the third one from Sonny and Brandon had been caught staring a few times too. “Does my tattoo bother you?”

  “No. I was just curious as to where you got it done and what made you pick it,” Sonny said.

  “I’ve had it for about five years now. I got it done at this funky little place on First Street.” Both Brandon and Sonny’s eyebrows shot up, but they let Anna continue her story. “There was only one woman who worked there and she did my tattoo. I wandered in looking for something, I wasn’t sure what, but after talking with her for twenty minutes, this is what we came up with.”

  Sonny leaned in to Brandon. “She has no idea, does she?” he whispered. Brandon shook his head. “Do you remember the conversation you two had?” Brandon asked.

  “Not really. We talked a bit about my ex, who I was with at the time, and where I saw my life heading. She was more like a soothsayer than a tattoo artist.” Anna’s belly suddenly filled with a million pairs of flapping wings. The two men in front of her knew something she didn’t. “Um, anyway, she told me the dragon would guide me down the right path and lead me to where I needed to be. I wasn’t too sure about the meaning she gave it, but the design was really cool so I went for it.”

  Neither man spoke, but Sonny felt a weight he didn’t know he was carrying lift off his shoulders. “You met Nikki. She’s one of us and has a unique gift of being able to find the chosen ones for us.”

  “Chosen? What are you talking about?” Anna hadn’t ever regretted her tattoo before, but she was now seriously considering it.”

  Sonny elbowed Brandon. “You can tell the story more coherently than I can. Why don’ you take this.”

  “Dragons are a little different than other shifters. We’re harder to match with a mate than others. Each clan has, for lack of a better word, a matchmaker that finds the mates. I can’t explain how they do it, but they have a knack for finding those with the right spirit.”

  Anna gaped at them both. “And then they brand them? That’s crazy!” Her hand automatically went to her neck. The overwhelming sense of betrayal rose up in her again.

  Brandon nodded. “They do. The traditional way is a tattoo, although Nikki has a flair for the artistic and likes to add her own touch to them. Yours looks amazing by the way.”

  “What’s the difference between how the matchmaker tattoos and any other artist? You do know how many dragons are walking around on people’s skin, right?

  “There’s a difference.” Brandon continued. “Do you see here?” He swept an index finger up her arm to the shoulder, leaving a trail of goose bumps in his wake. “The matchmakers have a little symbol they embed in the faces that tips us off. Ours is a tiger’s eye stone. She put it in the dragon’s eye for us to know she did it.” His finger lingered on Anna’s skin a moment before tracing along her collarbone. Her skin was so soft and he loved how her pulsed quickened under his touch. Miss Anna wasn’t immune to their charms after all.

  Anna wasn’t sure about what Brandon just told her; she couldn’t be sure if it was at all true, but what she did want was for him to touch her again; and that freaked her out a little.

  Brandon sat back down and watched the struggle on Anna’s face. Neither he nor Sonny was going to push, but he could tell that she was close to coming over to their side. The fact that Nikki had found Anna, who knew how long ago, was enough to know that she was the one. Now, Anna just had to realize it.

  Sonny tried to get Anna’s attention again. “Are you okay with all this, Anna?”

  What could she say? Anna felt like she should have been more upset or offended that she had been marked no, branded without consent. Somehow she felt, relieved or at least calm about what happened to her.

  Try as she might, she couldn’t recall the conversation she had had with the mysterious artist. Anna remembered the woman being incredibly gentle and light-handed while working. She was chatty and professional, but Anna couldn’t think of what she said to the matchmaker to make her think that she was dragon mate material. She took a long swallow and drained her wine glass; it was her fourth of the night and she was feeling happy, warm, and fuzzy.

  Their server returned. “How was your experience, guys? Did you save room for dessert?”

  Sonny’s eyes never left Anna’s face as he answered. “We’re all set. Just the check, thanks.” Anna finally looked up into his eyes and it was electricity.

  Anna felt a tug in her belly as she stared into those icy depths. Any fear or apprehension she had been feeling about getting involved with him and Brandon seemed to dissolve away from her body. She wasn’t sure how much faith she put in the idea of a matchmaker, but she had been chosen specifically for something that made her a perfect fit for the dragons. What it was, she had no idea, but she was sure if she asked, she’d find out.

  Brandon had appeared at her shoulder with his hand outstretched. “Are you ready to go?”

  Was she? The image of her tangled up with the two handsome shifters was appealing, but could she do it? Anna took Brandon’s hand and stood. Brandon tucked her hand into the crook of his arm. Sonny did the same on her other side and the trio left the restaurant.

  Anna smiled to herself as she thought about what they must look like to the staff and the people on the sidewalk. She felt a bit like a she was being flocked by a pair of gorgeous peacocks and the world was looking at her. Well, let them look. She was going to have the time of her life.

  Chapter 6

  Anna had wondered where they were going. Even under the glow of the streetlights, she recognized all the shops and restaurants as Brandon’s Camaro breezed through downtown. “What’s the next stop then?” she asked.

  “That depends.” Brandon glanced at her. “Are you comfortable with us?” Sonny had followed them in his pickup truck after leaving. “Because if not, I won’t be happy about it, but I’ll take you home.”

  “I’d like to see where the night takes us.” Anna’s hand flew to her mouth as the words fell out. She was surprised to find that she had meant what she said, no discomfort to be found.

  Brandon grinned and placed his hand on her knee. “That’s good to hear.” He ga
ve her knee a little squeeze before inching himself up her thigh, pushing the hem of her dress up as he moved.

  Anna’s breath hitched as he caressed the soft skin of her inner thigh. Brandon was teasing his way up into her most sensitive places. She pulled the edge of the skirt up to help him along. In a moment, her skirt was rucked up around her hips and his fingers were toying with the black silk edge of her underwear.

  A quiet moan slipped from her mouth as he rubbed her lips through the thin fabric. The silk was growing wet with every stroke of his finger. The pleasure was over far too soon as Brandon edged his car up to the curb in front of an apartment building.

  Brandon took off his seatbelt and leaned in close enough for Anna to feel his hot breath on her ear. “We’re at my apartment. I’d like you to spend the night,” he commanded as he drew one soft earlobe into his mouth.

  Anna gasped as his teeth closed down on the supple flesh. At that point, he could have asked her to punch her own father and she would have done it. “I’ll stay.”

  Releasing her ear, Brandon turned her head to face him. Pressing his lips to hers, he claimed them, feeding, commanding, owning her until she was sure she’d melt into a puddle and ruin his upholstery. “Come upstairs,” Brandon whispered.

  He pulled away and got out. Immediately, the passenger door opened and revealed Sonny standing in front of her. His eyes blazed with hunger as he raked them over her exposed legs. Anna rearranged herself and got out of the car. She followed Brandon inside the building with Sonny hot on her heels. Anna could feel the heat coming off of both men even with a couple of feet between them.

  Brandon led them onto an elevator. As soon as the doors closed, they were on her. Sonny buried his fist in Anna’s hair and pulled her gasping to his lips. He was both soft and claiming of her mouth. Anna sighed as Sonny’s tongue invaded her mouth, and tickled her tongue.

  Brandon’s mouth was on her neck nibbling, licking, and caressing his way up and down the long column of skin. As the floors ticked by, it was a tangle of hands, mouths, and hair as the men devoured Anna. At least until the elevator dinged and the doors flew open. “This is our floor,” Brandon whispered into Anna’s ear. She tugged her clothing back into place again and followed the men across the hall. Sonny reached behind her to playfully squeeze her ass. Anna yelped and giggled, and she ran a few steps.