“Paranoia? Having to look after someone else? Guarding a woman? Have you lost your mind?
I’m too young to do that. I’ve got too much living left first.”
“We’re the same age as Axel and Gunnar.”
“Yeah, and look at how nuts they’re acting.”
“Gunnar seems okay.”
“He’s not the alpha.”
The two might share the same woman, but a lion’s share of the responsibility lay with the elder.
When he and Kelan claimed their mate, that duty would fall to Kelan, so Reidar could see his point… somewhat. “That’s what has you worried?”
“I didn’t say that,” Kelan said a little too fast. He sat back and lifted his drink. “Besides, what you’re obsessing over—”
“I’m not obsessing.”
“Who’d you fuck last weekend?” Kelan demanded as if just realizing what Reidar had said earlier.
Reidar laughed. “You really do have your mind on other things if it took you that long.”
“Who was she?”
Reidar shrugged, but incriminated himself with a grin. “Just a hot German coed on summer holiday.”
Kelan snorted. “She got a sister?”
“Naw, but her two best friends were a lot of fun. They left town the next day anyway. Just stopping through on their road trip.”
Kelan’s jaw dropped. “You…What the hell, man? All three?”
Reidar winked. “Oh, yeah. All three. Damn if they didn’t wear me out!”
“Asshole. Didn’t even bother to call me.”
“Actually, I did. Remember? Saturday evening? You told me you were busy when I called and asked what you were up to.”
Kelan slumped farther down in the booth. “Jackass.” Reidar laughed again, which made his brother smile. “And you’re willing to give up hot coeds for a mate and a litter of brats?”
Reidar’s smile faded, and he sighed heavily. “I guess I’m tired of it all.”
Kelan raised an eyebrow. “After three at once, I’d be tired too.”
“No, man. That’s not what I mean. Three women in one night was great—some of the hottest, raunchiest sex I’ve had in ages. But I woke up alone.” He shrugged and lifted his drink. “It’d be nice to wake up, roll over, and find someone there next to me. Someone I really cared about.”
“Fine, whatever. All I’m saying is it’s a moot point anyway. Where in this town are we going to find a woman who likes our…ahem…you know…? Our more adventurous side?”
Reidar eyed his brother. He’d considered that thought a time or two himself. Not that he was ready to admit it to the man who would one day share his mate.
They’d shared women in the past. Coeds on summer vacation were the easiest one-night stands because they left soon afterwards. And then there were a few trips into Seattle where they’d found an impressive fetish club called Inferno. Behind its doors they’d experienced some of the wilder, kinkier fantasies they’d only discussed before.
They both knew exactly what the other wanted. But Kelan didn’t believe they’d ever find the right woman in their small hometown. Too few people.
Sure, the tourism brought in variety. Dakota had been an outsider when Axel and Gunnar claimed her. But she was the exception, because she fit in around here. Most outsiders didn’t, and they weren’t normally welcome for the long haul in Leavenworth’s close-knit community.
And their family secret was just too big. Look how much trouble Beth Coldwell had caused, and she’d been in town only a day or so. Outsiders were bad news. She proved it. But damn, she was hot.
So, they’d no doubt have to go elsewhere to find the right woman, but where? Reidar had no earthly idea where to find a suitable mate—one willing to live here. Because when all was said and done, Reidar knew both he and Kelan wanted to stay near the family, no matter how mad Kelan got at their brothers.
Reidar glanced toward the door to see Beth enter the dimly lit pub.
“Good point.”
“Kel…I know that look, and it always spells trouble.”
“There’s one more little thing I didn’t tell you about the mad scientist.”
Reidar finished the last of his beer and raised his eyebrows in question.
“She’s into cages and collars.”
“Bullshit.”
“I’m serious as a heart attack.”
Still skeptical, Reidar asked, “And you know this how?”
“She likes to talk to caged kitty cats.”
Reidar shook his head and chuckled. Beth might not be in it for the long haul, but he’d wanted to get his paws on her curvy body ever since they’d walked her back to her hotel.
Kelan was right. They had a lot of time to find
Beth’s tummy fluttered the instant she spotted two of the Falke brothers sitting in a booth at the rustic, old world pub. The slightly longer hair identified one of them as Kelan, awake and apparently suffering no ill effects from the tranquilizer she’d shot him with that morning. And the other must be Reidar, who had stuck up for her and kept their brother from calling the police.
For a brief instant, she thought about leaving, but she’d never been one to avoid responsibility.
She knew what she had to do. Squaring her shoulders, she weaved her way through tables and chairs and across the dance floor to the side of their booth. When she arrived, though, her brain seemed to go completely blank. They looked at her with identical pairs of eyes, showing none of the censure she’d expected. Hazel eyes glinting with something hot and primal that made her scalp tingle.
“Hey there, sharpshooter,” Kelan said, one side of his mouth kicked up into a slight grin.
She tried for an apologetic smile, but the heated look he gave her made her lips tremble with nerves. She slipped a hand over her belly to quiet the butterflies. “Yeah, about that…I just wanted to say—to tell you I’m really sorry about tranquilizing you this morning. You’re okay, right?” He wore a collar now, the one she’d had or the one he’d loaned to the cat. When she glanced at Reidar, she noted he wore his too. There was something sexy about that—these big, strong, virile men wearing leather that way.
“I’m fine, Beth,” Kelan murmured. “Now that you’re here.” His voice, a little more than a low growl, made certain parts of her body quiver in a stimulating, yet distressing, way. Too many months spent with microscopes and computers, and not enough playtime.
“Really? I mean good. I uh…After this morning, I figured you’d be so mad, you’d never want to see me again.” She forced a soft chuckle out and glanced at Reidar. “I thought you’d both be glad to be rid of the crazy, gun-wielding scientist.” Would she ever be able to swallow the boulder stuck in her throat?
“You armed now?” Reidar asked.
Her abrupt burst of laughter was more genuine this time. “No, I’m not.”
He flashed a set of pearly whites. “Good. Neither are we.”
Not true. The man was armed with that captivating smile and kissable lips.
Kelan held his hand out to her, and she stared at it a long moment before slipping her hand into his. He tugged her toward him, and she slid into the booth. His broad shoulders made her feel tiny, even though she was far from it. Both men’s bodies were lean, yet muscled and sexily outlined by jet black T-shirts. She took a quick
