The Mating Game by Elizabeth Lapthorne Page A

her to marry you.”
    Dominic ran a hand through his shoulder-length hair, mussing it further. “It’s not that easy.”
    “Really. Why not?”
    Dominic resumed his pacing. “She only wanted to find out about my werewolf side. I was a novelty. She was curious. We both got our questions answered and some unspeakably good sex. End of story.”
    Samuel leaned back in his chair, a huge grin on his face.
    “Oh, how the mighty have fallen. So unspeakably good sex is no longer enough?”
    “No, damn you! It’s not enough. Not for one night.”
    Samuel leaned forward, a devilish gleam in his eye.
    “Wow, bro. If the sex is really that good, maybe I should—”
    “Don’t you dare !”
    Dominic paused, realized his beloved brother had set him up and caught him like some gauche youth.
    “Har-har. Very funny. Fine, I love the girl. Happy?”
    Throwing himself into the over-padded armchair, he pouted as Samuel clutched his heart as if he were having an attack.
    “Oh, the shock! The surprise! You love the girl. Finally! How long did it take you to admit it?”
    “This isn’t funny, Sam.”
    Sighing, Dominic ran a hand through his already messy hair and idly scratched his two days worth of stubble. Samuel typed in a few keystrokes, only half paying attention. He knew in a moment or two…
    “Well…what the hell do you think I should do, seeing as you’re so smug about the whole thing?” Dominic grumpily asked, obviously hating the fact he needed help in this of all areas.
    Samuel looked at him as if he had lost his mind. “Why, little brother, I do believe you should chase after her, get down on your knees, and beg for her to stay with you.”
    Dominic raised one eyebrow arrogantly.
    Samuel shrugged. “Or seduce her senseless and wring promises out of her, then bully her to keep them until she’s fool enough to love you in return.”
    Dominic stared out the window, mulling over his choices, his brain ticking away for the first time since he had woken up, cold and alone in his large bed.
    “You still okay with me offering the kid a summer job in the company?”
    “Sure! Anyone good enough to crack your code is welcome to come work for us. We can use kids that skilled.”
    Dominic nodded. “I might start with that. At least I’ll have some balm to soothe my pride if she turns me down flat.”
    “You’re sure she’s the ‘One’?”
    Dominic turned to his brother, hearing him uncertain for the first time in what felt like years.
    “Yeah. I’m sure. I marked her, I dream of her, crave her worse than any sort of drug. I can’t really explain it. I feel like there’s this piece missing out of me. I’ve been in a shitty mood since she left—”
    Samuel rolled his eyes comically.
    “You don’t say! Sounds to me more like a case of the flu than true love. You can count me out on love if this is the sort of moron it produces!”
    Dominic swiped him, catching him on the shoulder.
    “Enough outta you ! You realize you’re next! With the rest of us mated, you have no hope. Soph and Josie will be focusing on you. You, my dearest brother, are as good as mated! I can’t wait to give you love advice! Hopefully it’ll be a spitfire just like my Mary, and then we’ll see who’s such a hopeless case.”
    Samuel scoffed.
    “No way, man. With Art and Wills reproducing like rabbits, and you won’t be so far behind, there’s no need for me to mate. I think I’ll stay the happy bachelor uncle. Art and Wills are touched in the head now that they’re getting regular spectacular sex and have a ton of kids to look out for. Christiana will start dating soon enough. Woo-whee , I can’t wait to see how Art will react to that ! I’m perfectly happy to sit back and watch.”
    Dominic merely smiled. “Sure, Sam. Whatever. I should probably tape this with one of your gadgets and have it replayed nightly once you fall like a ton of bricks. It really isn’t so bad once you get used to it.”
    With that, he stood up and