by Jodi Redford
Question was, why the hell was she here impersonating an artist?
Intending to get to the bottom of that mystery, Aiden started across the room. Claudia spun, her fur pelt flapping. Not about to let her escape, he zigzagged the opposite direction, closing the gap between him and the entrance to the booth. She’d have to walk past him to leave. Someone tugged on his shirt and he whipped around.
The old gal with the crazy purple hair beamed up at him. “See you’ve decided to take a break from our Dana.”
“Uh…” Aiden lifted his head and caught Claudia waggling her fingers at him before she stepped from the booth and slunk around the outside corner. Giving a silent growl, he returned his attention to the woman in front of him.
Oblivious to the interception she’d just foiled, the woman squeezed his arm. “Ooh, you’re a muscular lad, aren’t you? Our Dana is quite the lucky duck.”
He granted her a wry grimace. “Our Dana is far from thrilled at having me here.”
“Pooh, give her time. She’s got a strong independent streak, and she’s stubborn as a pack mule.”
Aiden couldn’t help grinning. “You’ve pegged her there.”
“I know, dearie. I’m a psychic. Maybe I should have it stamped on a sweatshirt. It’d save me the hassle of always explaining it to everyone.” She flicked back the edge of her cape with a grumble.
Worried he’d somehow offended her, he offered his arm. “Would you care to join me for the rest of my stroll…?”
“It’s Haddie,” she supplied, filling in the blank. Her eyes twinkled. “And you bet your hot diggity I would. I’ll be the envy of every woman here.” Slapping her hand on his biceps, she led him from the booth.
For the next thirty minutes she entertained him with stories from her youth and the occasional odd impression she picked up on people walking by. So far she’d filled him in on the portly guy in the incense shop who suffered from a herniated disc and the tattooed gal who debated whether or not to break up with her deadbeat boyfriend.
He shook his head. “It must be strange knowing all these intimate details about folks you don’t even know.”
Haddie shrugged. “No stranger than it must be for you dealing with that dragon living inside of you.”
Aiden stumbled in mid-stride. “How—” He stopped himself before uttering the words that’d earn her mulish glare.
“Dana told me,” she said, catching him off guard.
He let that piece of news sink in. Apparently he needed to have a talk with Dana. He’d assumed she’d see the danger in running her mouth about the Drakoni, but obviously he’d been wrong.
“Don’t worry, your secret is safe with me.”
There she went with the scary psychic shit again. Her mouth curled in a cheeky grin that let him know she was wise to the fact she’d just creeped him out. He didn’t have the chance to call her on it though because they’d arrived at Dana’s booth. Craning his neck, he looked for his aggravating sacrifice and Jace. He spotted both in the back corner of the hut. Jace appeared to be in full flirt mode. The sight of his brother toying playfully with Dana’s hair while she batted him away elicited a spike of jealousy inside Aiden’s gut. He turned his back on the pair, disgusted by his involuntary reaction.
Haddie was watching him with a pitying look. That stung more than anything. Intuiting his surly mood, she squeezed his hand. “You of all people should know things aren’t always what they first seem.”
Much as he wanted to concede that Haddie might have a point, there was also the irrevocable circumstances staring him in the eye. Jace desired Dana and he would eventually have her. There wasn’t a damn thing Aiden could do to change it.
Dana set her plan into motion the instant she coasted to a stop in front of her garage. Schooling a sweet, innocent smile into place, she waited for Aiden and Jace to climb from the Navigator. “How about if I make dinner for both of you tonight?”
To say they appeared stunned would be an epic understatement. Worried they’d become suspicious of her sudden change in attitude, she hurriedly dug for a reasonable explanation. “I have a package of steaks I’ve been meaning to cook.” At least it wasn’t a total lie. She’d purchase the steaks a few months ago, when her annual maybe-I-should-learn-to-cook phase coincided with the grocery store’s half-off-meat extravaganza.
“Hell, I’m not gonna say no to a steak dinner,” Jace said with a chuckle.
Aiden shook off his expression of bafflement and inclined his head. “Thanks, it’s real nice of you to offer.”
The genuine delight in his tone was almost enough to elicit a twinge of guilt inside her. She quickly shoved the emotion away. This was a battle for her life here. She couldn’t afford to get sappy. “I’ll call for you when everything’s ready.” Spinning on her heel, she jogged toward the house.
Once inside, she bypassed her stash of Lean Cuisines in the freezer and chiseled the package of steaks from its igloo of ice. She threw the container into the microwave to defrost. Trekking to her bedroom, she stripped from the wench dress and tugged on jeans and her favorite fuzzy sweater. With that accomplished, she returned to the kitchen and checked the status of the steaks. Ten more minutes left on the defrost cycle.
Humming, she scrounged in the fridge for enough fixings to make a salad. All she found was a head of celery—the same one she’d thrown into the crisper two weeks ago and promptly forgot about. Other than a little wilting of the upper foliage, it looked exactly the same as when she first bought it. “Wow, this stuff is like the Teflon of produce.” Tossing it on the counter, she went in search of a knife.
The microwave dinged. She pulled out the container and noticed the steaks were already starting to get cooked around the edges. “Hmm, what’s the point in dirtying up the oven? Might as well let ’em keep roasting in here.” She scanned the buttons on the display, looking for the one that said steak. No dice. What the hell was up with that? There was one for popcorn. Shouldn’t steak have some precedence over freakin’ popcorn?
Frustrated, she punched forty-five minutes into the timer and brushed her hands of the matter. Snagging a knife from the drawer, she picked up the celery and chopped off the top leafy part before rinsing the rest of the stalks in the sink. That done, she carefully diced the celery and sprinkled the portions evenly between three bowls. As far as salads went, it looked pathetic.
Perfect.
Balancing one bowl in the crook of her arm and the other two in her hands, she carried them to the kitchen table and plopped each in front of a seat. She opted for using cloth napkins rather than paper. Hey, nobody would accuse her of being a total heathen. With the table set and the steaks sizzling in the microwave, she journeyed into the living room. Yanking the entertainment section from the Sunday paper, she settled on the couch. The second she spread the paper in her lap, Ms. Whiskers pounced in the middle and stretched out in a lazy sprawl.
Before she knew it, the microwave dinged again. “Okay, show time.” Shooing the cat down, she walked to the door and swung it open. “Dinner’s almost ready.”
Jace was the first to pop his head out of the tent. “Mm, I can taste it already.”
More than likely he’d be tasting it for the next week. Ignoring the guilt trying to insinuate its way inside her, she wedged the door open wider. Jace bounded up the steps. He stopped and tucked his hands deep in his pants pockets in a way that was boyish and oddly endearing.
No, I will not find him gorgeous and freakin’ adorable. Understood? Hopefully her libido would get the point. “Come on in.”
He scraped his boots on the mat before stepping inside. “Nice place. I didn’t have a chance to tell you so last night.”
Her heart filled with a warm glow. Her house might not be palatial or luxurious, but it was home. The only one she’d known. Out of nowhere, an icy sliver of realization slid down her spine. If she accepted the sacrificial bond with Aiden and Jace, she’d be forced to give up not only her freedom but this house as well.
&nbs
p; “Are you all right? You look a little pale.”
She swallowed past the bitter lump congealing in her windpipe. “I’m fine. Why don’t you go wash your hands in the bathroom?” She probably sounded like his mother. Oh well.
Abandoning him for the kitchen, she grabbed three plates from the cupboard and removed the steaks from the microwave. They seemed considerably smaller than they were forty-five minutes ago. And sort of rubbery. Stabbing them with a fork, she dropped each onto a plate. “Hmm, are they supposed to bounce like that?” Uncertain, she sprinkled each steak with a healthy dash of La Luna’s signature five-pepper-blend seasoning and transported them to the table.
The tread of boots thumped on the linoleum behind her. She turned, the blood pumping faster in her veins when she spotted Aiden. Damn it, why couldn’t he be humpbacked and covered with warts? It’d go a long way toward fighting this urge to tackle him to the ground and lick him like a big ole lollipop.
To stop herself from stroking a finger over his bristly jaw, she fiddled with the hem of her sweater. “Jace is washing up. Feel free to do the same after he’s done.”
He nodded, his attention drifting to the table. She couldn’t be certain, but she swore he gulped when he saw the steaks. Whistling floated from the hallway and Aiden snapped out of the stupor the sight of his dinner had trapped him in. “Sounds like Jace is finished.” Granting the table one last wary glance, he pivoted and made tracks for the bathroom.
Pulling out her seat, she plopped down and stared at the unappetizing meal resting in front of her. “The things I do in the name of survival.”
Jace strode into the kitchen and flashed a grin. “Where should I sit?”
She pointed to the chair across from her. He scooted it away from the table, making room for his long legs. Enfolding his large frame into the seat, he lowered his focus to the plate. His smile slipped. She had to hand it to him, he made a valiant attempt at hiding his revulsion.
“Everything looks…ah…tasty.”
“Dig in.”
He actually looked slightly terrified. Displaying the speed of a tortoise, he reached for his fork. It wobbled in his grip. Bypassing the steak, he speared a couple of celery pieces instead and soon the sounds of monotonous crunching filled the kitchen. Her steak sat on her plate, mocking her. Dragging in a deep breath, she reached for her knife and sawed through the block of charcoal trying to pass itself off as meat. She looked up, found Jace watching her, and cocked an eyebrow in challenge. Squaring his jaw, he snatched his knife and chiseled a chunk of steak free. He popped it into his mouth just as Aiden walked into the kitchen.
Jace ground through two difficult chews before his face suddenly blazed fire-engine red. A weird rasp chuffed from his throat and he scrunched his nose.
“Shit.” The expletive shot from Aiden. “Did he just eat cayenne pepper?”
She frowned. “It’s in the steak seasoning. Why?”
“He’s allergic.”
Another of those ominous rumbles shook through Jace, and Aiden dove for Dana. He hauled her to the floor as a plume of fire erupted from Jace’s mouth, licking the air with blue-tipped flames. A nasty stench similar to burning plastic filled the room. Lifting her head, she stared at the melted remains of the silk flower arrangement sitting in the center of the table. She started to stand but Aiden pinned her leg.
“Coast might not be clear.”
As if to verify Aiden’s assessment, Jace’s nose twitched again. Aiden leapt to his feet and charged toward the living room. “Outside. Now.”
Clamping a hand over his mouth, Jace hurtled from the room.
“Try not to torch her yard or our tent,” Aiden yelled from the doorway.
Dana sat up and buried her head in her hands. This went miles beyond the disastrous meal she’d envisioned.
“Sweetheart, are you hurt?” Aiden stooped beside her. His trembling fingers stroked over her hair. “A stray spark didn’t land on you, did it?”
She’d triggered Jace’s allergies and almost gotten her house burned down in the process. It’d serve her right if she’d gotten caught in the crossfire. “No, I’m fine,” she croaked miserably.
“What’s this?” His voice ripe with concern, Aiden lifted her hand and inspected the black smudge running from her wrist to her thumb.
“I’m pretty sure it’s from my mascara.”
“Let’s clean it up and make sure it’s nothing more serious—like a singe mark.” Before she could balk, he scooped her into his arms and carried her to the sink. Settling her on the counter, he turned on the faucet and checked the water temperature. Apparently satisfied he wasn’t about to scald her, he guided her hand beneath the spray. The black mark began to dissolve.
“Told you it was nothing.” She reached out and shut off the faucet.
“Shhh, let me see.” His fingers glided over her slippery skin and she shuddered at the gentle intimacy of his touch. He raised his head and their gazes collided.
Oh boy. The intensity in his eyes was hotter than Jace’s fiery sneeze. He dipped close enough his breath fanned her mouth. Then his lips were there. Pressing. Enticing. With minimal resistance she caved to the persuasive invasion of his tongue. Desire combusted within her, blanking out everything but the delicious sensations racing through her body and liquefying her bones. A kiss shouldn’t be this devastating—charged and all-consuming. Capable of incinerating your entire being into a smoking pile of ash.
“Dana…” A fine tremor of need shook Aiden’s voice. He circled her waist, his hands coasting over her hips. With an insistent tug, he pulled her from the counter. She bumped into him and her palms automatically splayed on his chest. The soft knit of his Henley didn’t disguise the solid wall of muscle beneath her fingertips. His mouth reclaimed hers briefly before sliding down the slope of her neck. Every centimeter of her skin tingled in response.
The front door squeaked open and she stiffened. Aiden’s hands roved along her back, soothing and seductive. He was shockingly good at the art of distraction. She almost managed to ignore Jace’s appearance in the kitchen entry.
Almost.
Jace’s handsome features no longer held the vivid crimson hue from earlier. In its place was raw, elemental lust. His hooded gaze pinning her in place, he sauntered forward. A small, sexy grin playing at his lips, he watched Aiden nuzzling her neck. As if suddenly aware they had company, Aiden lifted his head and glanced at his brother.
“Don’t stop on my account.” Sidling closer, Jace stroked a finger along Dana’s cheek, the grazing caress lighter than the brush from a butterfly’s wing.
Aiden’s chest tensed and she waited, breathless, to see what he would do. A silent battle seemed to wage inside him. Finally, he loosened his unyielding grip on her waist and lowered his mouth to the sensitive crook where her neck and shoulder met. He growled into her skin before suctioning onto the tender spot. She gasped and Jace was there to soak up the sound. Shock ricocheted through her—both at the unexpectedness of Jace’s tongue in her mouth and having two pairs of lips on her at the same time.
Jace’s hand molded to the back of her head, holding her hostage to the dizzying voraciousness of his kiss. She whimpered for mercy and his smile slid across her lips. The arrogance of the gesture wasn’t lost on her, but she was too wrung out from their sensual onslaught to care. Abandoning her mouth, Jace flicked his tongue over the soft spot below her ear. Goose bumps ambushed every square inch of her.
“Mmm, do you taste this good everywhere?”
Assuming Jace’s question was merely rhetorical, she didn’t answer.
“Does she, bro? Taste this good all over?”
Okay, maybe it hadn’t been rhetorical.
Aiden’s teeth nipped her flesh and she had the fleeting impression he was marking her. He moved to her breasts, cupping them through the fuzzy sweater and her bra. Her nipples immediately puckered and he groaned. “Yes. Everywhere.”
Jace stepped behind her and reached for the hem of her sweater,
inching it upward. Aiden helped tug the fabric over her head. Rather than letting her arms drop limp to her sides, Jace stooped and draped them around his neck. The angle forced her back to arch, thrusting her breasts fully into Aiden’s hungry grasp. He took full advantage of his good fortune, rasping his palms over her bra, his fingertips teasing the outer edges where lace gave way to skin. She wiggled and Jace’s husky chuckle floated to her ear.
“What’s the matter, sweetness? He find a ticklish spot?”
Coherent speech was impossible. Biting her lip, she nodded instead.
“You want me to get him to stop tormenting you?”
She gave another fierce nod, the crown of her head butting the underside of Jace’s whisker-roughened jaw.
“Then you’re gonna have to do exactly what I say. Think you can handle that?”
Probably not. She hummed in agreement anyway. Her eyes locked on Aiden. Cheekbones flushed dark with desire, he stared at her like he’d just crawled out of the desert and she was a refreshing glass of spring water.
Jace’s hands slid along her rib cage, reminding her of his presence. As if the persistent erection riding above her tailbone wasn’t enough. “Here’s what’s going to happen then. I’m going to unfasten this little pink bra so my brother can feast on those pretty breasts of yours.”
Okay, that didn’t sound too bad. In fact, it sounded damn terrific.
“But you’re not allowed to move. At all. Or make noises.”