Falke’s Captive by Madison Layle & Anna Leigh Keaton Page A

leaning in to kiss her but stopped short. “What do you mean?”
    “Kelan’s the demanding one, and you’re the gentle one, the one with heart.”
    “Well, not exactly.” He’d always thought Kelan had the most heart, because he always reacted with more volatile emotions, but his own chest ached whenever he looked at Beth. “I mean, yes. No. Uh…”
    She laughed and kissed him lightly. “It’s okay. This might sound crazy, but you balance each other. And in bed, you two together are…” She sighed against his lips. “Amazing.”
    He grinned. “Amazing, huh?”
    She nodded and fluttered her lips over his. “Mind blowing.”
    Reidar’s cock twitched against her hip. Damn, but she was hot. All soft curves and satiny skin. He kissed her deep, wanting to take it further, but knowing now was not the time. Not with an antsy brother on the prowl. He gripped her by the shoulders.
    She pouted when he pulled away.
    “Go take your shower,” he said with a gentle smile. “Kelan will be back soon with your food.”
    She got up off his lap and walked naked to the bathroom, giving him a saucy glance over her shoulder at the doorway. “There’s room for two in here.”
    “Tempting, but maybe next time.”
    Kelan would want to have words with him as soon as he returned, which by his calculations should be any moment now. Benny always had leftovers at the end of the night and handed them out freely to any locals in the neighborhood. Since Kelan said he’d get the food, his brother would hold true to his words, but it was also obvious he was ticked that Reidar had trapped him into doing something he didn’t want to do.
    She shrugged. “Next time…I like the sound of that.” Then she laughed and shut the bathroom door.
    As soon as he heard the shower come on, he got up and pulled on his jeans. He wasn’t sure how angry Kelan was, but it was better to stand up to his siblings with pants on. A few seconds later a knock sounded at the door. When he opened it, his brother had a look of murder on his face and three Styrofoam containers balanced in one hand.
    Kelan glanced at the closed bathroom door. You want to tell me what the fuck is up with you? We should have cut and run as soon as she fell asleep.
    Reidar took the food containers from him and set them on the small, round table. He moved Beth’s laptop and folders to the dresser, and then he pulled the table over to the bed, since there were only two chairs.
    Reidar…
    She’s special. And you’re uptight because you know it. If we take off, leaving her like some cheap whore after what we…what she… He set the two chairs next to the table and heaved a sigh.
    Oh. My. God. I don’t believe this. You’re…smitten.
    Smitten? That was an odd word for Kelan to use. Actually, Reidar thought he might be in love with a woman for the first time in his life—adult life anyway. He opened one of the boxes to see it piled high with juicy, saucy ribs then met his brother’s gaze. What we shared with her tonight means nothing to you?
    I didn’t say that. Kelan paused, a troubled expression marring his face. He turned toward the window, looking out for a minute, then shook his head and faced Reidar. The sex was hot, I’ll grant you that, but it was a means to an end. She just happens to like it a little kinkier than any of the women we’ve run across here before. We needed to…get her out of our system. That’s all.
    Another box was crammed full of pulled pork and dinner rolls. It’s more than that.
    It can’t be.
    It is.
    Have you forgotten who she is and what she does for a living? Kelan’s voice was loud enough in his head to make him wince. She caged me! Shot me and put me in a cage, brother. Trust me. You don’t ever want to be in that situation.
    Reidar looked his brother in the eye and said what was in his heart. I understand, Kel. It’s dangerous, but I can’t help it. I think she’s the one.
    Kelan slashed his hands through his hair. “You’re fucking