“A…a what?”Noelleasked, looking up at both of them.She’dbeen living in theMotherShipfor the past month and a half, but she still didn’t get all of their references.
“AnEliteis a woman theGoddesshas blessed with extra full curves,”Brightmurmured.“Anda matureEliteis one theGoddesshas also blessed with wisdom.Anywarrior would be lucky to have a matureEliteas a mate.”
“Oh, well…thank you,Iguess.”Noellewasn’t sure what else to say.Theway the two of them were looking at her was making her heart pound like crazy.Whenwas the last time a man had looked at her with such desire?
Branson used to look at you a lot,whispered a little voice in her head.
But her ex hadn’t looked at her with desire—he looked at her like she was something he owned that wasn’t working right.Likea toaster that always burned the toast or a car that wouldn’t start.
That didn’t mean he wanted to get rid of her though—no, quite the opposite,Noellethought with a shiver.He’dwanted to keep her around forever—or at least until he got tired enough of her to actually kill her—which could be any time he flew into a rage.
“You’ll never get away from me,”she heard her ex’s snarling voice in her head.“Nomatter where you run, no matter where you hide,I’llfind you, babe.Andthen you’re going to be fucking sorry you tried to hide in the first place.”
That was whatNoellewas doing up here on theKindredMotherShip—hiding.She’dleft the divorce papers on the kitchen table and taken a shuttle up to theMotherShip, to get away fromBranson’swrath.TheMotherShiporbited around theMoon—roughly two hundred and fifty miles away—she just hoped that was far enough that her ex couldn’t find her.
Unfortunately, this was only a temporary gig.Herbest friend,Sylviawho was married to aBeastKindred, had gotten her into a program where she was responsible for teachingKindredwarriors who had just come to theMotherShipall aboutEarthholidays and traditions.ButChristmaswas coming up soon and after it was over,Noellewould have to exit theMotherShip,December24th on the dot.
She was sorry she was going to have to leave—she’d enjoyed teaching the massive warriors all aboutChristmas, so they would be prepared when they called human brides fromEarth.Infact, that was how she’d metBrightandBurnin the first place—they had been students in her class.Thoughhonestly, she wasn’t sure how they were going to call brides for themselves since both of them were what theTwinKindredcalled “loners.”
One thing she’d found out, from asking around (in a discrete way of course) was that a lonerTwinKindredcouldn’t call a bride by himself and couldn’t father children without his twin brother to help him.Therehadbeen one case where a twin had managed on his own, but from what she’d heard, it was incredibly rare and had something to do with theKindredGoddessworking some kind of miracle.
I wonder ifBurnandBrightcould share a woman, even though they’re not really related—not really brothers?whispered a little voice in her head.
The thought brought a vivid mental image with it—Noellepictured herself being held between the two huge warriors as both of them touched her…tasted her…
Stop it—what’s wrong with you, imagining things like that?she scolded herself.Neitherof them would be interested in doing anything like that with you!They’reboth way too young for you.
Still, just the thought made her cheeks feel like they were on fire and she wished again thatBrightwould put her down.
“Mmm, my lady, why are you blushing?”theLightTwinasked, giving her a knowing grin.“Areyou having naughty thoughts?”
“What?No!No, of course not!”she denied quickly.Couldhe somehow read her mind?Butno—of course he couldn’t.“Why…why would you even say that?”she blurted.
“Because you smell fucking hot,”Burngrowled, his dark eyes traveling up and down her body.
“Iwhat?”Noelleput a hand to her chest indignantly.Unfortunately, she forgot she was holding the pointy star.Shegave herself a nasty scratch and jerked her hand away.“Ouch!”
“Are you hurt?”Brightasked, frowning.
“No,I’mfine,”Noellesaid quickly.“Look, maybe you should just put me down.”
“Not until you get that star in the right place.Burn, you’re taller than me,”Brightsaid, looking up at his best friend.“Hell, you’re taller than anyone on the ship,” he added dryly.“Whydon’t you helpNoelleplace the star?”
“Sure,” the giantDarkTwinrumbled.
And beforeNoellequite knew what was happening, he was wrapping his huge hands around her waist and lifting her effortlessly so she could reach the top of theChristmastree.
She was so startled that, for a moment, she just hung there in his arms.Then, realizing she wasn’t getting down until she placed the star, she reached out with one trembling hand and somehow managed to get the bottom of the sparkly gold decoration into place on the topmost branch sticking up from the top of the tree.
“There,” she said, trying not to sound breathless.“I…Igot it.Youcan put me down now.”
“As you wish,”Burnrumbled and set her with surprising gentleness on her feet.
“Um, thank you.”Noellewas still flushed and panting.Dios, she’d never been so close to theDarkTwin—she could still smell his scent, which was wilder thanBright’s.Hehad a dark spice that reminded her of warm fur and campfires at night in the forest.Whydid both of them smell so good?
“Is there anything else we can do to help you decorate?”Brightasked, smiling down at her.“Youknow we stayed after class just so we could help—Iguess that makes us the ‘teacher’s pets,’ as you humans say.”
“Who said anything about being a pet?”Burnasked, frowning.“Ithought we were staying to spend more time withNoelle?”Hefrowned atBright.“EventhoughItold you a beautiful matureEliteprobably wouldn’t be fucking interested in two males who can’tBondwith anyone.”
