Page 16 of Theirs

Mrs. Thomson paused in her tirade and turned wide eyes on him. “I beg your pardon. You can’t tell me to leave.”

He grinned. “Do you want to make a bet? I…we”—he pointed to Blake, and his cousin Slater, who come out of the office—“own this place. Our family owns the whole mall strip.”

Mrs. Thomson took a step back, huffed, yelled at her children to come, and walked out of the restaurant. A couple behind them clapped, and the other couple Susie had talked to surrounded them. Brian sat down without saying another word. Susie moved to her seat, and he smiled as she took his hand, lifted it to her lips, and kissed it. “Thank you.”

Brian nodded and watched as she placed her other hand on Blake’s chair and moved her seat closer. He must have done the right thing, because Susie was acting a lot more like a soulmate.

Chapter Nine

The rest of lunch turned out uneventful, besides learning that she was she dating, mating, whatever they called it, men from the Bear family, which scared her. Everybody who was anybody knew the Bear family. They were high society. Richer than God. Not that she cared about their money. She didn’t. Her father was a wealthy man, and if she’d lived and done what her parents wanted, she’d probably be married off to some up and coming high society man. Yuck. Definitely not the life for her. Shaking her head, Susie didn’t even want to think about what being a part of the Bear family would mean. She thanked God she’d left her mobile at home, so her family couldn’t badger her.

Turning in the car seat, she studied Blake, who was quiet. She wondered if he was annoyed she wouldn’t let them touch her in the restaurant. It wasn’t that she didn’t want her men to show her attention, but just as soon as they walked into the packed restaurant, everyone stared at her, and she felt very inadequate. It only got worse when she’d seen the Swans, and it became a nightmare when Ellen arrived with her two little devils. Being with two men wasn’t a common thing, and she was a tad embarrassed. Susie was already the black sheep in her family. She knew when they found out about Blake and Brian, it would just make her even more so. She dreaded the version of the story Ellen was currently telling them.

Blake opened the car door. As they got out to meet the real estate agent, he pulled her into a hug, a real bear hug. She snorted at her own joke. He pressed a kiss to her forehead. “Are you okay, sweetheart?”

She snuggled into him nodding, not wanting to think of all the new dramas in her life created by their lunch.

Looking up, she frowned as a stunning, leggy redhead strolled over to Brian and fawned all over him as she introduced herself. Susie rolled her eyes as Ms. Redhead dazzled Brian with a shiny white-toothed smile. “Do you think he knows he has a fan?”

Blake hugged her tighter and chuckled. “Ah, sweetheart, is that jealousy I hear in your voice?” Elbowing Blake, she moved out of his hold, even with his arms still wrapped around her waist. “You have nothing to worry about.” He gathered her back against him and leaned down to whisper in her ear. His hot breath tickling. “I happen to know Brian now has a thing for tiny brunettes with warm brown eyes and large natural tits.” Snorting, she moved his hands away as he cupped her breasts.

Brian came over with the redhead clinging to his arm and introduced her as Sarah, their real estate agent. Sarah’s eyebrows drew up as she got a hold of Blake, and Blake groaned, pulled Susie right up against him as protection, and continued to whisper, “I’m sorry, sweetheart.” It took a moment to figure out why Blake apologized. Then it all became clear when Sarah glared at her and turned her focus to Blake.

“You sounded different on the phone. I thought I spoke to Brian the whole time, because I didn’t think you knew how to use a phone, as I have never had a phone call from you until yesterday. Fancy that. I was sure you said you would call the first, second and third time we were together. I thought it funny you stopped going to the nightclub I go to.” Sarah looked back to Susie with a smirk on her face. “Are you the sister? You must be. I have learnt I am one of many, and he dated us all at the same time. Blake’s not the settling type, so you can’t be his woman.”

Blake winced, and Susie looked to Brian to see if he would help Blake out, but the grin on his face showed he was clearly enjoying his brother’s misery. Feeling sorry for the woman in front of her, she turned, crossed her arms over her chest, took a step back, and frowned up at Blake. He looked like a child who’d just been taken to the principal’s office. His eyes were wide, and he looked anywhere but at her. His shoulders were slumped, and his hands hung at his side. “Please tell me you didn’t sleep with this woman three times, and never call her back or tell her it was over?”

He glanced behind her and tried to get someone’s attention. Turning, Susie saw Brian with his hands up in surrender, and Sarah now looked between the three of them until her gaze finally settled on her. Susie sent her an apologetic smile before facing Blake again. “Are you going to answer me?”

Blake studied her for a moment, he looked stunned that she’d taken the woman’s side. “She knew the rules when we started. I don’t settle down with women, or have relationships.”

Brian groaned behind her, and Sarah gave a huff. Sighing, Susie took two steps back and touched the car door handle before Blake growled and spun her around. “Don’t just walk away. Talk to me.”

“Why? Why should I give you an explanation? You obviously feel it’s all right not to tell things to women, like that you have finished with them, or you don’t want to ever settle down and don’t want any kind of relationship.” Oh God, what had she done. IF Blake could treat this stunning woman like this, just think what pain he could cause her. Anger started to take over. “Well, excuse me if I don’t feel like looking at houses when in two days’ time, you will probably never call me or even bother to tell me it’s over. Maybe the last couple of nights have been a joke, or some ploy to get in my pants because you have slept with everyone else.” Her heart felt like it was beating so fast it would fall out of her chest when she was finished, she’d gotten so worked up.

Susie snatched her arms out of Blake’s hold, and walked away. Not even bothering about getting in their car. She didn’t get far before a snarling Blake grabbed her by the waist, turned her to face him, lifted her up, and all but roared, “Mine. You are mine. You will never leave me. Mine.” His mouth mashed against hers as he pulled her closer to his body and backed up until he hit the car. As his hands travelled up her back, his tongue pushed into her mouth, exploring, and tasting.

Blake’s flavor burst into her mouth, and she lost the will to stay frustrated and angry. She held him to her as his mouth ravaged hers, and his hands stroked over her burning body. These men had cast some kind of spell over her. There was no explanation for her blatant sexual behavior or why her body couldn’t get enough of them.

A chuckle and a cleared throat brought her back to her senses, and she pushed on his chest. He moved maybe an inch away, but held her firmly to him. “Tell me you’re mine. Ours.” She glared at him and he stared back, his hands cupping her arse. “I won’t let you go. You’re mine forever. Ours forever.” He looked over at Brian, and she groaned, glancing at a wide-eyed Sarah.

Great. Just fucking great. Susie knew he wouldn’t let her go until she agreed, so taking a deep breath, she whispered, “I’m yours, butI still want to leave.”For now, she added in her head.

His emerald green eyes flashed brighter as he focused on her and he gritted out, “Say it again, and louder. I don’t think Brian heard, did you, Brother?” She turned her head as much as she could to see Brian staring at her.

Muttering under her breath, she said, “I know he heard. Sarah is already looking at me strangely. Please don’t make me say it.” She felt Brian come up beside them and she didn’t look at either of them. She was embarrassed. Susie didn’t want this woman to know she was with both men. “It’s only been a couple of days. Give me some time to get used to the idea that I have not one, but two men.” She looked at them both, pleading for each to understand.

Running his hand through his hair, Brian nodded, turned, and pasted a smile on his face as he said to the real estate agent Sarah, “Sorry about the show. Susie here is Blake’s fiancée.” Susie gasped and glanced up at Blake who still focused one hundred percent on her, even as Brian continued, “She is not used to how close and big our family is. We are trying to get her to realize she is now a permanent part of our family.”

Sarah turned to her, her lips turned up at the corners and jealousy flashed in her eyes. Cupping Blake’s face, Susie prayed the woman would believe Brian. She loved him for doing it for her but…

She darted a look at Brian. Oh no, how had he done it? Days ago, she didn’t even know him. Today, at this moment, she’d just learned she loved him. How could she not? They’d looked after her when she was sick, and were always trying to make her happy, even when she knew she was being stubbornly difficult. Blake and Brian didn’t care about her weight, and she’d never felt so cared for. They annoyed her at times with their overbearing ways, but she knew they did most things to keep her safe. The thing that made her love them the most was they’d stuck up for her against family friends. No one ever stuck up for her against her family.

She glanced back to Blake and thought to test something. “Apologize to her. Please. For me.” She turned pleading eyes up to him. “If you do, then we can go and look at these houses.”

His forehead came to rest on hers before he gave her lips a gentle brush with his. “All right, sweetheart, anything for you.” Beaming up at him, she realized in forty-eight hours she’d fallen head over heels in love with not one, but two men. Was it possible?

He gently put her down and turned to Sarah and Brian, who were still chatting softly. In a clear voice, Blake said, “Sarah, please forgive me. I should have called.” Sarah’s face was a mask of shock. She turned to Susie and looked at her in awe, like Susie had accomplished some major feat.

---