“None of us will, Ry,” Isaac replied sub-vocally, in a voice so quiet even if Hannah had been standing in the room, she wouldn’t have been able to hear him.
Hannah stepped through the door, looking warm, sleepy, and sexy as hell. Bastian felt a wave of awe sweep through him at the thought that this gorgeous woman was his mate.
“Come and meet some friends of ours, baby.” Bastian held out his hand in her direction. “They’ve only just arrived back in town.”
Hannah smiled shyly at them as she moved toward Bastian, and he pressed a kiss to the side of her neck when she settled herself against his side, and he wrapped his arm around her shoulder.
“Hi, I’m Hannah.”
The guys all introduced themselves and charmed his mate into warm smiles and a few giggles.
“Stop trying to charm my mate,” Ryker growled, but Bastian noticed the happiness that shone in his brother’s eyes. “It pisses my bear off.”
Hannah rolled her eyes. “That’s doesn’t exactly surprise me, Ryker. Practically everything I do pisses you off. We are going to have to work on your anger issues.”
There was a light pause, and then the room erupted in laughter. “Damn, Ry,” Isaac said, amusement clear in his tone, “I wish Chris and I got here a little earlier and met Hannah before you did.”
“Wouldn’t have mattered if you did,” Bastian answered. “The fates destined Hannah for Ryker and me, and there’s no messing with fate.” Hannah tensed slightly against him, and Bastian tightened his hold on her, even as Ryker leaned in to place a hand against her hip, both of them sensing her discomfort. “What is it, baby?”
Hannah frowned as she looked between him and Ryker. “So, what you are saying is that whatever this is between the three of us, that it’s a given? That the connection or attraction is inevitable and nota—a choice?”
He and Ryker shared a quick look. “What do you mean, baby?”
“What if this reaction I have to you both is simply a chemical reaction caused by this natural compulsion you have about me?” Hannah asked in a quiet voice that had Bastian’s bear pacing within him. “I might not be the woman youwant. Not your choice. It could be this shifter compulsion that makes you desire me. Have you thought about that? This might not be real, and then—”
Bastian quickly pulled Hannah closer, and slammed his mouth against hers. He swept his tongue into her mouth, licking deep, claiming every inch for his own. The speed with which she acquiesced and melted against him told him she was just as affected by the kiss as he was. Vaguely, he heard his friends moving out of the kitchen.
“Tell me that didn’t feel real to you, baby,” he asked her, loving the way her eyes remained a little unfocused after their kiss. “Because it sure as fuck felt like I was kissing the woman who already owns me, body and soul.”
Ryker tugged her around to face him, and Bastian allowed her to turn within his arms, but pressed against her. His brother kissed their mate just as passionately as he had, and from the whimper Hannah gave, she loved every second of it. The scent of her arousal lifting into the air was another good sign.
“This is real, love,” Ryker whispered against her lips. “The mating bond, the connection that exists means you were born for us, but from the moment we laid eyes on you we knew that we were born for you, too. You. Are. Our.Mate.”
Hannah remained tense between them for a long moment, and Bastian got the feeling she was weighing up their words and their actions in some way. A short while later, she exhaled shakily, and he felt her tremble slightly between them
“Okay.”
Her words were a mere whisper of sound.
“Okay?” Bastian asked, leaning his chin down on her shoulder. “Is that all you’re going to say? Ryker and I practically declare our feelings and lay our hearts at your feet and all we get in return is okay?”
Hannah laughed softly and nodded. “For now, yeah. Are you okay with that?”
“Yes.” He and Ryker both answered immediately because they knew. Hannah might not be ready to say the words, but her actions spoke volumes. They could wait for the words that came with it.
