Authors: Lynnette Bernard
“Go, Tammy!” Laurie shouted, pushing herself up on Jace’s chest to look at the little girl as she ran. She laughed out loud as she saw Tammy squealing in joy as Alexander picked her up and carefully brought her to the ground with him. She gazed down to look at Jace, her face filled with joy. “She got so far!” she told him happily as she tried to get up off of him.
Was it just her imagination, or did Jace’s arms tighten around her waist briefly before letting her go? She stood up, bending down to offer him her hand to help him up. Jace looked up at her silently, a mixture of emotions filling his eyes. Laurie pulled him up quickly then turned to run toward Tammy and scooped her up into her arms.
“You did so good, honey!” she praised the little girl, kissing her cheek lightly before setting her down and taking her hand, running with her back to their huddle.
Jackson came up behind Jace, touching his shoulder then clapping him on the back. “You lucky bastard!” he told him quietly.
Jace turned to him and smiled, his eyes glowing gold briefly as his wolf paced restlessly. He nodded once then turned toward the playing field, walking toward the huddle of men. He was suddenly very happy to be participating in this game.
Once again, Aidan threw the ball, but this time Seth caught it. As the men ran toward the young boy, Laurie launched herself at Jackson, reaching around his waist and holding him back so he couldn’t reach Seth—not that he gave much of a fight. Turning to face her, his arms went around her body, and he pulled her flush up against him, hugging her tightly as he brought them both down to the ground so that Laurie ended up on top of him. He couldn’t contain his happiness as he looked up and saw Laurie grinning down at him. He was even more content that her body lay so completely on top of his. He felt his cock harden immediately as she shifted her hips against him as she tried to remove herself from his hold.
“I’m sorry,” she told him, embarrassed. “I’m too heavy. I hope I didn’t hurt you.”
Jackson held her tight, forcing her to stop her movements. She looked down at him, confused, but he could see her embarrassment and wondered if she could possibly be more adorable.
“Darlin’,” he told her quietly, his voice deep with emotion, “you could stay right where you are for the rest of your life and make me a very happy man.” He smiled at the shocked expression on his mate’s face and knew he couldn’t hold back anymore. “The only thing that would make me happier is if we were totally naked right now.” He winked and playfully kissed her chin.
Laurie gasped and pulled back, unsure what to do or how to react.
He had to be teasing. Wasn’t he teasing? Of course he was teasing!
Men like him and Jace couldn’t possibly be attracted to someone like her. Right?
Pulling out of his hold, she stood up quickly and went over to her team, bumping knuckles with Seth as he joined them. She looked over her shoulder at Jackson, blushing immediately when she saw him wink at her, and turned back to the huddle to plot with her teammates.
“Laurie, are we winning?” Tammy asked her excitedly, holding onto Laurie’s hand as she bounced on the balls of her feet.
“We sure are, sweetness,” Colin answered, leaning down to kiss his daughter’s forehead quickly.
“We’re creaming them!” Ben’s excited voice chimed in.
“I think the men are going to make sure that we don’t score again,” Colin told them, laughing. “I think we’ve bruised their egos. And I think our alpha is going to make sure that they show us we can’t get the better of them.”
Laurie looked at Jace and smiled, watching him as his serious expression melted into a heart-stopping smile that reached out to tug at her very soul. She loved the way his eyes sparkled with his enjoyment. Watching him for a moment, her chest felt heavy as she had the sudden feeling that the leader of this combined family hadn’t had much fun in his life. She was happy that she could give him this little bit of joy. She wished she could give him much more. But she couldn’t. She had to leave—even though, with every ounce of her being, she wanted to stay here with all of them and take the chance of being a part of their family.
“One more play, and then we have to stop,” Aidan told the kids, smiling. “Your parents are ready to take you back to your cabins to get ready for lunch. It’s already late for lunch as it is.”
All of the children turned to look at the back deck of the main house. Sure enough, it was filled with their parents, enjoying the impromptu game. Laurie was happy to see that they were all enjoying themselves and knew the kids were happy to be playing. She saw Martha wave to her, and she happily waved back, a feeling of belonging overwhelming her at the kindness of the older woman. She felt as if she had her grandmother back with her. It was going to hurt big time when she left.
“Well, guys,” Laurie said quietly, leaning in to the huddle so they wouldn’t be overheard. “Let’s make this one a good one. I have an idea.”
Jace watched Laurie as she turned away from him. His wolf was pushing against his chest, demanding that he claim her, but he knew he had to bide his time. That brief moment when he had held her luscious body against his had nearly made him lose control. It wasn’t just his wolf who demanded the claiming. The man in him wanted her more than he had ever wanted anyone in his life. Despite his determination not to succumb to the mating need, he knew that the Fates had chosen well for him and Jackson. Laurie was perfect for them. And he couldn’t wait until they could show her just how good it would be with them.
The children lining up to face them once again pulled him out of his thoughts. Jackson was to his right, ready for the game to continue. Before they realized it, the children were running in all directions, confusing the men temporarily. Aidan threw the ball, and both Jace and Jackson could see that Laurie would be the recipient. They ran toward her, their growls warning off any of the other men who might try to go after Laurie, the men deferring to them immediately, giving them the lead. Their men knew better than to touch their mate.
As they neared her, Laurie tucked the ball into Tammy’s hands and began to run toward Jace and Jackson, stumbling before she reached them and falling heavily to the ground with a moan. The men froze. Laurie lay still before them. With their hearts pounding in their chests, they made their way to her quickly and gently turned her over. Her eyes were closed, and she wasn’t moving.
“Laurie,” Jace whispered, pulling her gently into his arms as he sat on the ground and lifted her easily to cradle her on his lap. “Please, honey, open your eyes.”
Jackson was kneeling beside them, holding her hand in his as he reached up and pushed back the length of hair that had fallen forward and covered her face. “Sweetheart, please,” he whispered, leaning forward to kiss her forehead lightly.
The sudden cheer that went up from the pack members watching the game from the deck shocked them. Looking up, they saw Tammy doing a little victory dance as she threw down the football as she made the final touchdown. Jace looked at Jackson in shock, then down at Laurie as they felt her shaking.
“Did she make it?” Laurie asked, laughing as she looked up at the two stunned men.
Jace passed his hands across Laurie’s body, unbelieving that their mate had actually faked getting injured so Tammy could score the touchdown. “You aren’t hurt?” he asked her, his voice concerned.
“I’m fine,” Laurie told him, laughing as she tried to remove herself from his lap.
But Jace was having none of it. He tightened his grip and held her still on his lap. “You scared us out of our minds. And you were just playing?” His voice was hard as he spoke, his fear turning to anger.
“Laurie, we thought you had seriously injured yourself,” Jackson told her quietly, reaching out to touch her face gently.
Laurie looked at both men and smiled. “All’s fair in love and war,” she teased. “Or football.”
Before she could say another word, both men surrounded her, and she found herself lying back on the ground with them nearly on top of her. She was stunned into silence.
Jace rested his forehead against her cheek, nuzzling into the right side of her neck. “You will never do that again,” he told her quietly, his voice firm, but she could hear the desperation in it.
Jackson leaned into her face, kissing her cheek gently before breathing deeply against the left side of her neck. “I thought my heart would stop beating when I saw you go down and not move.”
Laurie rubbed their backs gently, unable to understand the concern they had for her but knowing she had to comfort them. “I’m sorry,” she whispered. “We were just trying to confuse you so the kids could score.”
Both men leaned back to look down at her. She could see the worry in their eyes. She didn’t understand. No man had ever worried about her. And to have these two men show her such concern unnerved her.
They couldn’t have feelings for her, could they? And both of them?
No way!
Before she could contemplate the unlikely possibilities, Jace leaned down and gently covered her lips with his own, tasting her with exquisite tenderness. She looked up at him in shock when he pulled back and saw the raw hunger in his eyes. She thought she must be mistaken, but it seemed as if his eyes shone with a beautiful golden glow. She turned to Jackson and saw the same glow, opening her mouth to speak but finding Jackson’s mouth claiming hers just as tenderly before she could say a word.
What the hell?
Every instinct in her body screamed at her to get up and run. And that’s exactly what she did. Well, not exactly run, but she did pull herself out of their embrace and power-walked herself into the main house, smiling and nodding at the happy parents as she passed them. She didn’t stop until she was safely in her bedroom with the door locked solidly behind her.
What had just happened? She walked into the bathroom and closed the door behind her, pulling off her clothes and quickly climbing into the shower stall and turning on the warm water for her third shower of the day. She stood under the soothing spray as her body shook with fear and, if she had to admit it to herself, desire. Those men couldn’t want her.
But deny it as she would, it didn’t change the fact that they had gently embraced her and had cared for her. And their kisses were heart-wrenching and sweet. And their hard erections were luscious against her hips! God help her, she was scared, and suddenly very tired.
* * * *
Jace stood beside Jackson, watching in amazement as members of their pack came up to both him and Jackson, each praising Laurie and her natural ability with the children. This simple game of touch football had brought such fun to the pack.
Both men stood there for nearly an hour, accepting the compliments, proud of their mate. It was beginning. The prophecy was being fulfilled. The children of their pack were being pulled together and growing as a family. Never had their cubs been so happy. And both Jace and Jackson knew why. It was because of Laurie.
They walked together to their office and slowly took their seats. Their desks faced each other with only five feet between them. Over the years, they had realized that having separate offices wasn’t efficient in the running of the ranch or in the running of the pack. They were a team, and they worked better when they were together.
The level of comfort that they felt by their close proximity was something that eased both their personalities. Jace was calmer, and Jackson was more secure. Now that Laurie was with them, they finally felt a sense of peace that both of them knew they had been lacking. She bridged their needs, their emotions, and their worries. With her so close to them, they felt a sense of rightness, of relief.
Jace looked across at Jackson and smiled. “She sure tasted sweet, didn’t she, Jackson,” he said quietly.
Jackson nodded and relaxed against the high back of his office chair. “The sweetest,” he agreed. “And the feel of her body under mine nearly made me take her right there. I don’t think I’ll be able to hold back much longer, Jace.”
Jace nodded. “I know,” he said finally. “She seemed to be open to both of us. Maybe we’ll be able to convince her of the bond we’ll have. I already feel it growing stronger every day. She has to be feeling it, too, even if she doesn’t understand it.”
Jackson was quiet for a long time. “We need to make her understand, Jace,” he said finally, his voice filled with emotion.