Caden's smug smile was eating at Austin. There was something about it that made him want to bite Caden's face off. He didn't even have to look at Caden to know it was there, taunting him silently. Austin growled, but it only made things worse, as it made Caden laugh at him in addition to staring at him with that damn smile on his face.
Caden was trying to be supportive, but it was hard to forget how much of a pain in the ass Austin had been ever since he laid eyes on his mate. Somehow it was easier to deal with the frustration of not being able to get close to the woman when his brother was suffering just as much. In fact, watching Austin's reactions made Caden feel better. Now it was his turn to torment Austin, which was just what he deserved for the grief he had bestowed on him over the past month.
Austin tried to reign in his wolf, but it was starting to become harder to control the urge to mate with his intended. He had no clue how Caden had been able to wait so long to act. Austin's eyes never left his mate's form as he made his way through the line of the fast food restaurant inside the campus's union building. He was shorter than Austin, standing about 6'1". His lips were on the thin side, but Austin didn't care as long as his mate wasn't opposed to wrapping them around his thick cock. His green eyes and his blond hair appealed to Austin, mostly because in his dreams those bright eyes always looked at him lovingly before Austin buried his fingers in that hair to pull him down for a kiss. There wasn't much that Austin didn't find attractive about his mate. His body was muscular and his ass was round and completely fuckable.
Caden leaned over the table toward his brother. "And you accused me of staring a hole into my mate's backside."
Austin turned to Caden and growled again, this time baring his teeth in warning.
Caden continued, "But, I suppose it is the place you're itching to get to into, so it does make sense that you would be so intent on it."
Austin rolled his eyes. Of course Caden just ignored him. When did his brother ever listen to him? "Caden, shut up. You tread on thin ground."
"And you weren't all month? I think a little payback is in order, don't you?"
Austin refused to answer and instead turned back toward his mate. He was far more interesting to look at than his brother at any rate.
Caden, on the other hand, wasn't finished yet. He was determined to get Austin back for all the needless taunting that he had to bear. He was going to get it all in while he could because it was only a matter of time before Austin lost control and claimed his mate. Austin never was interested in waiting.
"Pssst. Austin."
Austin turned slowly in his seat. "What?"
Caden reached into his back pocket and slipped out small bottle of lube, dangling it in front of Austin's face. "You look like you might need this soon. I can tell you're barely hanging on and I'm sure your mate's ass doesn't lube itself. Just don't take him here in front of all these people. I don't want to see your pasty ass or his."
That was it. Austin's fist connected with Caden's face in a flash of motion. Caden flew backward, his chair tipped over and he landed flat on his back, his legs in the air. Austin's mouth dropped open. Fuck! He had hit his brother without thinking. He only hoped that his mate was too preoccupied with his meal to notice his actions. Not too many people wanted to get involved with a person that they regarded as violent. What was worse was that Caden had lost his grip on the lube when he tumbled and it had hit someone in the head. Austin was beyond mortified.
Caden laid on the floor, groaning. Austin had a pretty good punch. He should have anticipated such a reaction and been ready to dodge the blow. Unfortunately, he thought that Austin would have been able to withstand a little more teasing. His mate's proximity was wearing on him a lot more than Caden had thought. A little lube and he turned into a prizefighter. Well, nothing more than his pride was hurt, so Caden wasn't too upset. And now Austin knew how he felt the previous week. Caden couldn't wait to give him crap about it.
Caden closed his eyes briefly and rolled over so he could get up. As his hands hit the floor, his eyes fell on a pair of beat-up Sketchers. His wolf let him know exactly who they belonged to and what he wanted to do with said person. His wolf was being pretty graphic and the boner that was growing in his pants told him just how much he liked his wolf's ideas.
Caden's gaze traveled up her long, jean-encased legs, which flared out into wide hips that were made to bear children and thighs that would welcome the member of her lover between them. A sliver of smooth skin peeked out from under her bright yellow t-shirt, the color complimenting her skin tone and making him itch to caress it with his tongue. Her breasts strained against the fabric that encased them and their gentle rise and fall caused by her breathing was driving him to distraction. His eyes continued to move upward, passing a delicate throat that made his wolf damn near frantic, only to fall on a pair of eyes the color of a stormy morning set in a beautiful mocha-hued face.
"Excuse me, but I believe this is yours," the young woman said, lowering the little bottle of lube into Caden's line of sight.
Caden found himself wavering between wanting the floor to open up and swallow him and wanting to claim his mate right then and there. It was a good thing he had more control over his wolf than Austin did or his would be the ass flailing in the air as he took his woman.
"Umm..."
One of the shoes close to his hands began to tap impatiently. "Okay, let me amend that statement. I know it's yours and you owe me some kind of apology, seeing as it hit me in the damn forehead."
Caden slowly rose, towering over the angry woman in front of him. The only thing he could think was, 'Mine.'
"Yes, I know it's yours. We just went over this."
Caden groaned. He wasn't sure how in control he was anymore, but he had to hold it together for just a little bit longer.
"I...I'm sorry. It was an accident. My brother...I...Please forgive me," Caden bowed low, hoping he hadn't totally screwed up his chances with his love.
The woman let out a deep sigh and tossed the thick locks of her dark hair over her shoulder. "Well, since you're cute and you seem pretty repentant, I'll let you off the hook. It's not every day that a guy bows to a girl. Next time, though, you owe me lunch." With that, she tossed the lube to Caden and turned to walk away.
"Wait!"
She pivoted quickly and stood with her hands on her hips, a pose that Caden found both sexy and alluring. "Yes?"
"Please tell me your name."
The corner of her mouth twitched before she answered, "Elise Roberts."
Caden smiled, his wolf rumbling contentedly. Now they had a name to call out at night as they dreamt of the day that Elise would finally be theirs.
"And what about you, pretty boy? What's your name?"
"Caden Alexander."
Elise nodded before turning back towards her previous destination. "Be seeing you around, Caden."
Caden was frozen to the spot, watching Elise's ass wiggle as she walked away. There was so much that he was looking forward to getting to know about her. She was kind of blunt, but he liked that she was up front about things. Plus, he had the added advantage of spending so many years with Austin. He could handle blunt and beautiful.
Caden pulled his chair upright and sat down heavily in it. He glanced at Austin, who had both hands clasped over his mouth to keep himself from laughing loudly in Caden's face.
"Thanks, little brother. Because of you, I hit my mate in the head with a bottle of lube. Next time, get your own."
Tears rolled down Austin's face as his broad shoulders shook with laughter. Caden crossed his arms and glared at Austin. "Who's on thin ground now? I should take your head for the embarrassment that you just caused me."
Austin cackled. After five minutes, he pulled himself together enough to address his brother. "Your lady is pretty feisty, Caden. Are you sure you can handle her? She might be the one taking heads in your relationship."
Caden slowly turned his head, staring at his mate longingly. "I will do much more than handle her soon. My sweet Elise, her every movement calls to me. Her scent lingers and it makes my wolf prance around knowing that she belongs to us. Besides, like you said, my wolf wouldn't lead me astray. She is just what I need."
"I did say that, didn't I? Huh. Well, my wolf caught me totally unaware. I mean, I've been interested in members of both sexes ever since I was old enough to pop a boner, but I never thought my mate would be a man. Although, I have to say, it didn't take us long to get used to the idea. Lately, all our fantasies and dreams have featured a certain blond man when just last week, it was that cute little librarian, 'Kita."
"Nikita would never suit you. You're too bold for her. I don't worry about you managing your mate, it's the other way around. I truly hope your mate can handle you because I really don't want your sorry ass on my doorstep lamenting some stupid mistake you've made to make your man throw you out."
Austin grinned. "Always thinking of the future, brother, but what about now? What are you going to do to get your mate to talk to you again? I wouldn't suggest hitting her with any more sexual objects until after you've claimed her. Now that I think about it, she'd probably like that. I bet she's the spanking type."
Caden growled. "Shut up. You will not speculate about my mate and her proclivity for spanking. She and her sexual tendencies are off limits to the likes of you."
Austin shrugged. "And this coming from the man toting around a bottle of lube for my mate. You're a hypocrite, Caden."
