expression.
“She is a warrior,” the old man said, raising his head in pride. “But beware, my young Lion, she is also a woman. And that is most often every male’s greatest weakness. Even your own.”
How the old man knew who and what he was, Braden didn’t know and he didn’t care. Now, as earlier, confusion swamped him. The Breeds, except for a very select few, had no children. No mothers, no fathers, uncles or cousins.
They were created in a Lab, trained rather than raised, and now fought daily for survival in a world that wasn’t certain exactly what to do with this new species.
Braden had never experienced the emotion, the sheer protective fury and determination to protect one’s family.
He could easily see the three men slowly smothering the woman’s fighting spirit with their love.
“You’d better come up with a plan before she gets back down here.” Lance hissed as he stared at his uncle and grandfather. “I’m not firing her. She’ll never forgive me. Besides, she just ignores me when I try.”
“I told you to do that three months ago,” David, the father, snarled furiously. “The very day he”—he jerked his thumb at the old man—”heard her name on the winds. ‘But no, wait, Uncle…’ “ he mocked the younger man. “ ‘Don’t hurt her. She’ll leave Broken Butte.’ “
“Or shoot me,” Lance snapped. “Dammit, Uncle, she’s had three offers from the larger cities but she stays here instead. Push her too far and she’ll leave.”
“I won’t allow it.”
“You cannot stop it, my son…” the old man said.
“Bloody hell, she’s going to find trouble no matter where she goes…” Lance argued.
Braden cocked his head, watching as the three argued. How interesting. Personally, he thought it was a bit delayed and definitely the wrong time for accusations, but interesting all the same.
The three males were obviously well used to arguing over how best to protect a woman who wanted nothing more than to be who she was, to fight as she was needed. It defied logic. Women were as fierce and often less merciful than any man. They were excellent fighters when they cared for the battle they were engaged in or for those they fought for. And Megan was all woman. In that moment, he decided, she was also his woman.
Chapter Four
Megan was in no better mood the next morning than she had been the night before when Braden and Lance dragged their sorry butts into her guest rooms to sleep. The dead bodies had been cleared out of her house by ill-tempered Feline Breeds, one of which was a scary, silver-eyed son of Satan she was really glad didn’t stick around long.
Her father and grandfather had finally left around midnight, under protest. Braden and Lance had stayed, which meant sleep had been next to impossible knowing that the object of her arousal was so close. She had ached for his touch, her skin so sensitive that even the sheets were an irritation against it.
Now, with the breakfast dishes cleared away and coffee sustaining her, Megan stared at Lance and Braden. Fighting this wasn’t going to work, and she knew it. As much as she hated it, she needed Braden in this fight.
She glanced over at him, aware that he was watching her closely, his gaze hooded, his body tense. Was he aroused as well? Was he tormented by the same desire she was? One as confusing as it was strong?
She gave herself a mental shake before confronting both men.
“Now what?” She leaned against the counter and sipped at her coffee as they stared back at her.
Lance got to his feet with a sigh. “I have to get back to the office.” The coward. He wasn’t even going to hang around for whatever fireworks he expected to result from their discussion. “You’re off today. I’ll see both of you in the office in the morning…”
“No. She’s off indefinitely.” Braden spoke as though his word were law. Her eyes narrowed at the tone, her lips flattening in irritation as she glared back at
“She is a warrior,” the old man said, raising his head in pride. “But beware, my young Lion, she is also a woman. And that is most often every male’s greatest weakness. Even your own.”
How the old man knew who and what he was, Braden didn’t know and he didn’t care. Now, as earlier, confusion swamped him. The Breeds, except for a very select few, had no children. No mothers, no fathers, uncles or cousins.
They were created in a Lab, trained rather than raised, and now fought daily for survival in a world that wasn’t certain exactly what to do with this new species.
Braden had never experienced the emotion, the sheer protective fury and determination to protect one’s family.
He could easily see the three men slowly smothering the woman’s fighting spirit with their love.
“You’d better come up with a plan before she gets back down here.” Lance hissed as he stared at his uncle and grandfather. “I’m not firing her. She’ll never forgive me. Besides, she just ignores me when I try.”
“I told you to do that three months ago,” David, the father, snarled furiously. “The very day he”—he jerked his thumb at the old man—”heard her name on the winds. ‘But no, wait, Uncle…’ “ he mocked the younger man. “ ‘Don’t hurt her. She’ll leave Broken Butte.’ “
“Or shoot me,” Lance snapped. “Dammit, Uncle, she’s had three offers from the larger cities but she stays here instead. Push her too far and she’ll leave.”
“I won’t allow it.”
“You cannot stop it, my son…” the old man said.
“Bloody hell, she’s going to find trouble no matter where she goes…” Lance argued.
Braden cocked his head, watching as the three argued. How interesting. Personally, he thought it was a bit delayed and definitely the wrong time for accusations, but interesting all the same.
The three males were obviously well used to arguing over how best to protect a woman who wanted nothing more than to be who she was, to fight as she was needed. It defied logic. Women were as fierce and often less merciful than any man. They were excellent fighters when they cared for the battle they were engaged in or for those they fought for. And Megan was all woman. In that moment, he decided, she was also his woman.
Chapter Four
Megan was in no better mood the next morning than she had been the night before when Braden and Lance dragged their sorry butts into her guest rooms to sleep. The dead bodies had been cleared out of her house by ill-tempered Feline Breeds, one of which was a scary, silver-eyed son of Satan she was really glad didn’t stick around long.
Her father and grandfather had finally left around midnight, under protest. Braden and Lance had stayed, which meant sleep had been next to impossible knowing that the object of her arousal was so close. She had ached for his touch, her skin so sensitive that even the sheets were an irritation against it.
Now, with the breakfast dishes cleared away and coffee sustaining her, Megan stared at Lance and Braden. Fighting this wasn’t going to work, and she knew it. As much as she hated it, she needed Braden in this fight.
She glanced over at him, aware that he was watching her closely, his gaze hooded, his body tense. Was he aroused as well? Was he tormented by the same desire she was? One as confusing as it was strong?
She gave herself a mental shake before confronting both men.
“Now what?” She leaned against the counter and sipped at her coffee as they stared back at her.
Lance got to his feet with a sigh. “I have to get back to the office.” The coward. He wasn’t even going to hang around for whatever fireworks he expected to result from their discussion. “You’re off today. I’ll see both of you in the office in the morning…”
“No. She’s off indefinitely.” Braden spoke as though his word were law. Her eyes narrowed at the tone, her lips flattening in irritation as she glared back at
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