ROMANCE: Mated to the Bear (Stepbrother Paranormal Shifter) (Threesome Taboo Romance) (21 page)

Chapter 4

She went out the next morning, smiling to herself as she found an empty kitchen.
A little more time to think.
She thought to herself, and yet she didn’t know what to say. She was already missing Lina’s and Lila’s teasing. She knew her mother and father must be worried sick, but it had been only a day. Only a day. She assured herself. Yet, it felt so much longer than that.

She ate the breakfast that was served her with a smile. It was better than anything else that she had in a long time. There was sausage links, French toast, pancakes with real raspberry syrup, and eggs. There was so much of everything, and she reached for a sausage link, enjoying it. She smirked a little more. They actually do live like kings. She thought. She enjoyed every bit, letting out a sound of satisfaction as she finished her last glass of cold, fresh orange juice.

“You like it?” She heard Damon say with his breath hot on her ear. She could feel herself shiver as he walked around to face her, pulling out a seat beside her. He was dressed perfectly. A dark red button up shirt, black slacks, all the way down to his polished leather shoes.

“I do,” She said, and he smiled. He didn’t seem so threatening.

“I knew you would. It’s absolutely superb. David said you wouldn’t like the sausage, but you seemed like a meat eater.” He said, laughing. “Unlike your sisters,” He added, clearly amused.

“You know my sisters?” She asked, and Damon shrugged.

“No, and I didn’t want to get to know them. I wanted to get to know you. It’s you who caught my eye.” He said. There was a small thrill of excitement that went through her at his words, but she tried to hide her smile.

“Really?” She said before she realized that it had slipped her lips. He leaned over, putting his hands on his knees, and his tone became serious.

“Really,” He said with that hint of a smile tugging at the corner of his lip.

“Why?” She quipped.

“You were interesting, beautiful, and a challenge,” He replied, shrugging as he leaned back in his chair.

“What happens when I’m not a challenge anymore? When you bore of me?” She said, trying to hide the uncertainty in her voice.

Damon shook his head, and his smile was full blown now. He didn’t try to hide it. With a long pause, she started to wonder if he’d answer. He didn’t say a word as he stood up before tilting her chin up. His lips crashed down against her own, making her gasp into the kiss as she shivered a little, kissing back. His tongue explored her mouth, making her groan a little louder. He nipped her bottom lip, and she could feel herself becoming aroused.

“You? Boring?” He asked as he pulled away, just inches from her lips before sucking on her bottom lip once more. He pulled away, shaking his head as his fingers swept across her cheek endearingly.

“Never,” He said with certainty before smirking once more. She couldn’t look away as he stared at her so intently, as if he were staring right through her.

“You bring life to this place,” He said, and there was no hint of arrogance in his tone. It was just so.

“How?” She asked frustrated. He chuckled deeply.

“That’s how.” He laughed. “Now what would you like to do today?” He asked.

“Where’s David?” Jessica asked, apparently confused. He sighed, rolling his eyes.

“Doing the work we probably both should be doing, but I don’t want to deal with it today. Someone needed to entertain you.” He said, shrugging a little bit.

“Oh?” She said, shaking her head before she got up, putting her napkin on her plate.

“Anyways. I’d like to go through the woods. I want to see your property, and I don’t mean the gardens. I don’t mean the parlor. I don’t mean that thing you call a swimming pool that’s really a small lake out back. I want to see the woods.” She insisted, and he just laughed again.

“As the lady requests,” He added, offering her his arm, which she gladly took.

He didn’t bother to ask why the woods. He knew perfectly well, and as soon as they stepped off the well-manicured lawn to something a little more wildly in the tree line, she felt a little better. He could see her relax visibly, and he couldn’t help but to be puzzled by it. She just shook her head as she looked around. There was wild honeysuckle, and the fresh, sweet smell was too much. She leaned down to smell, and he looked at her funny. Jessica put her hands on her hips looking at him. He just raised an eyebrow coolly.

“What?” Damon asked, and she rolled her eyes.

“Why give me that look?” She complained.

“Who likes honeysuckle that much? You seem so happy, and it’s really just a weed.” He said plainly.

“For your information, that weed brings back fantastic memories. It blooms around my home all the time, and so I love it.” She retorted before storming off, further into the woods without him. Damon hurried after her, and she started to run, giggling along the way.

“What are you doing?” Damon called out, and her laughter just got louder.

She moved faster, letting out a low growl which just seemed to cause a playful shriek. She was quick, but Damon knew that he was faster. It was only a matter of a few more minutes before he caught up with her. He pounced on her, and both of them went rolling to the ground.

She shrieked playfully as he pinned her with his body. Jessica was facing the ground, and the weight of his body kept her from pushing up. He could feel himself hardening against her before he rolled away. Jessica looked at him as he laid on the ground beside her, and he just smiled, cupping her cheek.

“Do you always just go running off through the woods when someone is trying to escort you?” He asked, somewhat amused and somewhat frustrated.

“Well. I suppose when I want to infuriate them.” She said cheekily.

“You did more than infuriate me,” He said, and that’s when her eyes traveled to the bulge in his pants, causing her to blush.

“It’s not like I’m going to make you do anything. Your choice. Your two days left. I told you that.” He said huskily, causing her to shiver again, and she nodded slowly. Her thoughts started to race, wondering exactly what he’d feel like. His fingers stroked her neck, starting to run down her arm, eliciting another shiver from her. His infuriating smirk returned.

“I like a chase, you know,” He said, and she laughed.

“Maybe I don’t like arrogance.” She quipped. He just shrugged.

“That’s what my brother is for. He’s the nicer one. The one when you want something soft, sweet. I’m the one when you want excitement.” He said, leaning over to whisper in her ear.

“The thrill.” He said before nipping her earlobe, and a soft moan escaped her before she could catch it.

“I think I’m good on thrill for a while.” She said, but the blush that stained her cheeks just wouldn’t go away.

“How do you like the house?” He finally asked, changing the subject.

“You mean the mansion.” She laughed. “Its fine, but it’s weird having all of those servants. Did they come her by choice?” She finally asked, and he shook his head.

“Sort of. They get to usually choose if they want to. A lot of people see it as an opportunity, but we do take them from each tribe depending on what’s going on at the time. As a way to keep peace among all of us. It’s what we had planned to do with yours.” He finally answered her.

“Oh? Then why not?” She asked, clearly confused.

“Because we’ve also been looking for a mate,” He said as if it was the simplest thing in the world.

“But I have a choice. What if I don’t want to stay? Do I become a servant? What’s the real deal? My family was too afraid to say know. I think I deserve to know why.” Jessica huffed.

“No, we won’t keep you, but we will need a few servants. They can be men or women, so don’t give me that look.” Damon chided her. He ran his fingers through his hair.

“David is so much better at explaining this diplomatically, so don’t look at me like that if you want me to try at all.” He groaned.

“Fine, fine. I’ll try to withhold judgment.” She said, but the irritation wouldn’t stay out of her voice.

“So why?” She prompted after a moment of silence. He just groaned, closing his eyes.

“I really don’t know how to explain, but David should be back by now, so how about I just distract you?” He said, teasingly brushing his lips against hers again. She wanted to curse herself for the way her body responded. Most of all, she wanted to curse herself for the slight flutter of her heart. Jessica didn’t understand it, but the sincerity and teasing in his eyes made her want to lean closer, even though she refused to do so.

“How about I go get that explanation then?” She said, and this time he let a low growl out, but nothing was threatening about it.
Just frustration.
She thought, amused.

Chapter 5

The trip back to the mansion was tenser than she had imagined. Every time she wasn’t thinking, she realized that she leaned a little closer to him, and it seemed to make Damon all too happy. After the third time, Jessica gave up trying not to until she tripped and stumbled flat into his side. He suppressed a chuckle as he wrapped an arm around her, leading her out of the forest and back onto the well-manicured lawn after a good few minutes of walking.

“So, do you think this could be your new home?” He asked, but Jessica didn’t answer.

She just didn’t know. Not yet. She reminded herself. His fingers tightened a little, but he didn’t say anything. He just sighed as they walked into the house, catching David as he came out of another room. He looked at them, eyeing the arm that his brother had wrapped around her before his grin broke out from ear to ear.

“I see you two are getting along nicely. Will I get that sort of affection soon?” He teased her lightheartedly, and she tried not to show the slight smile that threatened to spread across her face. Then she remembered the question.

“She wants to know about all the servants and things,” Damon said, dropping his arm from her as he waved his hand both irritated and dismissively.

“Did a poor job explaining again?” David laughed. “I suppose I am the more articulate one.” He teased.

“Just tell her. She’s furious about it all.” Damon snapped, and David’s gaze landed on Jennifer to confirm it.

“I’d like to know,” She said, and David motioned her to a sitting room, calling someone to bring them each a nice cup of coffee as they sat down. He sighed a little.

“I was hoping you wouldn’t worry about that or your uncle had taken the time to explain to you already. What we’re doing is a good thing.” He said to Jennifer disbelievingly.

“Taking people from their home isn’t a good thing,” She argued.

“I told her that most come by choice,” Damon said, exasperatedly.

“Most isn’t all.” She continued to argue, and David pinched the bridge of his nose.

“It’s for the uniting of the tribes. They are free to visit their family, and we even arrange escorts there and back. They get rides when they’re very far away. It’s not a bad thing. They make a living. Send needed supplies back to their people. They’re like middlemen. Peacekeepers. We do not abuse them, Jessica.” He snapped at her, and she was forced to listen.

“I don’t think I understand,” She said, and their coffee finally arrived, which gave David time to collect himself.

“No, you don’t, but you will. It’s just because we need peacekeepers, and we’ve found a way to do that.” He said, and for a moment, Jessica tried to think it through. She wanted to understand, but a part of her just couldn’t wrap her head around it.

“Just sleep on it, and realize that we aren’t forcing anyone. Their families convince them, and when they can’t we usually just send them back after a week.” David groaned, and Jessica nodded, sipping her coffee. For a few moments, they all sat in silence.

“What if I leave? Who will you take?” she said, thinking about her sisters.

“We won’t touch your sisters. I can read it on your face. Just relax.” He said, and she just shook her head, feeling a little better. She sipped at her coffee, and it was like in a moment the entire mood started to shift. Damon and David relaxed.

“I did enjoy today,” She asked, but everyone heard her stomach growl.

“I suppose it is time for lunch, and it’s your time to start up. You get to handle the rule breakers. I handled negotiations.” David said, waving him away teasingly.

Damon just got up, silently crossing the room before to Jessica’s shock she saw Damon’s lips crash against David’s. He groaned as he wrapped a hand around Damon’s hair. She could feel the tension building, and she couldn’t help but to look away. Damon pulled away before walking out. David turned to her as if nothing had happened at all. I knew the rumors. She reminded herself. She knew she shouldn’t be surprised.

“What would you like?” He asked, and she shrugged. He thought for a minute.

“We’re having fish for dinner, so how about a small sub?” He asked, and Damon was long gone.

“Sounds wonderful,” She said, trying to smile.

“You’ll get used to it,” He said, smiling to himself before calling for a man named Devin.

“Yes, sir?” The young boy said, and he laughed a little, ruffling the boy’s hair.

“Tell Emily to get us some corned beef sandwiches, okay?” He asked, and the boy beamed.

“Yes, sir.” He shouted, running off, and Jessica immediate soured again.

“What was that? He’s a servant too. He’s ten.” She seethed.

“He’s also an orphan that no one wanted to take care of,” He said, sighing, and Jessica felt foolish. She looked at him again, and he nodded a little.

“Why are you looking for something wrong with what we are?” He asked, and his tone was dead serious. Jessica wanted to argue. She wanted to shout that he was wrong, but she knew that he wasn’t. She hated that he was right. That is what I’m doing, isn’t it? She groaned internally.

“I don’t want to like you.” She said after a few seconds, and soon enough the boy was carrying back two large corned beef sandwiches in his hands. David gave her hers.

“Well, why not?” He asked, and the question stumped her. She couldn’t figure it out.

Rather than say something stupid, Jessica knew it was best to say nothing at all. That’s why she didn’t. She didn’t say anything while they ate, and after some time of sitting there without her speaking a word, David excused himself to go make preparations for dinner. He kissed her on the cheek, and she could hear the little boy giggle from the other room. She tried to ask herself the same question, but nothing came to mind. Damn it. She cursed herself, but she didn’t even know why.