Familiar Desires: 5 (Protective Affairs) Read Free Page B

were still single and asking about her.
    That hadn’t made any difference to Alana. She’d waited for
them to give up and sever the connection as she’d repeatedly requested. At the
time, she hadn’t been willing to settle for half measures. Considering the kiss
she’d seen, she had been convinced she was their second choice. She’d wanted
true mates who would stand at her side. It wasn’t until much later she’d had
doubts. When they continued asking about her, she’d talked to Michael and Kane.
The conversations had only led her to question what she’d seen and whether
there was more to it.
    “I guess I’ll have to make sure I stay away from them then.”
She shrugged.
    That shouldn’t be a problem. She was going to be busy while
she was here and hopefully, the investigation wouldn’t take long. Finding out
if they could be together, that would have to come later. She wanted to be able
to completely focus on them and their reactions, not find moments between
completing a mission.
    “Not going to happen, Alana.” A hand landed on her shoulder
and the sound of a deep male voice surprised her.

Chapter Two
     
    Alana spun on her heel to confront the person who dared to
give her orders. Two men stood in front of her, nearly shoulder to shoulder. She
recognized them, but couldn’t be completely certain if it was Kane or Michael
who’d spoken. They were tall, certainly over six feet, but she couldn’t be
certain about how much over that.
    At five eight, she wasn’t accustomed to feeling dwarfed, but
they managed it and not just in height, in bulk. Their hair was a glossy black.
One had long hair, which hung around his shoulders, and the other’s hair was
conservatively cut. They still had that golden surfer-boy skin, which came
naturally to them. And those deep-blue eyes. Those eyes had drawn her to them
when she was eighteen. By the time she’d left, she’d cursed the attraction to
them.
    Their broad shoulders looked sturdy enough to carry massive
loads and certainly any worries she might have. They’d packed on some muscle
since she’d last seen them. She searched for some way to tell which man was
Michael and which was Kane. The twin with short hair had on a black t-shirt,
dark-blue jeans and black loafers. The longer haired twin looked a little more
casual in a blue t-shirt, faded jeans and white tennis shoes.
    “You don’t tell me what to do.” She narrowed her eyes on the
two men. They stood side by side and looked ready for a battle.
    “I’m not telling you to do anything. I’m simply stating a
fact. We’re not letting you ignore the link between us and walk away with it
unformed. We’ll make sure it resurfaces. You’re our Familiar and it’s past time
that you took that position.” The man with the black t-shirt and short hair
took a step forward. His eyes lightened with emotion, silver flaring through
the blue.
    “I told you the last time I talked with you that if this is
just about settling, then I’m not willing to accept that. Anything else will
have to wait. I’m here for an investigation.” She encompassed both men in her
gaze. Her fingers itched to touch them, just to reassure herself that they were
real.
    Alana wanted to bound over to them and throw her arms around
them. That wasn’t something that was going to change. The desire to hold and be
near them wouldn’t fade ever. The two pains in her ass were her mates. Her cat
wanted to rub all over them, push them to the ground and claim them.
    She needed more than sex though. She wished for a home, love
and a life with them at her side. Although she hoped to be able to have
everything with them, now wasn’t the time to try to grab it. This might be
dangerous and she didn’t want them in danger.
    “This isn’t about settling, Alana. This is about claiming
what is ours and ending this distance you’ve stubbornly put between us. You
never even told us you were leaving or why you did it.” The man in the blue
t-shirt hooked