Mirror Image Seduction (Feline Shifters of Down Under Book 1) Read online

  “Your … mate?” Like an animal’s mate? And Dylan had said “our” not “my”. They couldn’t possibly be serious!

  Instantly they stopped talking and faced her. In unison, they nodded their heads like they were two mechanical dolls. Lacey glared at them, while her hands clenched into fists at her sides.

  “You cannot be fucking serious. First you tell me that you’re some sort of freakish cat people and now that I’m your mate, like your soul mate? What the hell does that even mean?”

  Dylan stared back, his chocolate eyes a perfect complement to his dark hair.

  “That means that you’re meant for us, that you will complete our family. We’re meant to love you, look after you, make sure you have everything you need to be happy for the rest of our lives.”

  Lacey laughed, and the uncontrolled sound was harsh and loud in the quiet room. When her ears rang from the noise, she put a hand over her mouth to muffle it, but she couldn’t seem to stop. Had she lost her mind? Gone mad and was now imagining things? Two tears slipped down her cheeks at the ridiculousness of her evening.

  “Just great. And I suppose all those ‘ours’, ‘we’ and ‘us’ you keep saying, is you telling me we’re destined to have some freaky ménage a trois for the rest of our lives? Oh yeah, because that’s totally normal and makes perfect fucking sense.” She continued to laugh, her sides aching and her throat burning. As if she could be a mate to anyone, let alone two gorgeous men. Fear tickled up her spine as she realized she may well have truly lost her mind. That or these men were playing one hell of a nasty trick on her.

  ****

  “Ry, what’s wrong with her? Why’s she laughing like a maniac?”

  Ryan frowned as he watched Lacey. Her face had paled as she’d continued to laugh in a slightly hysterical manner.

  “I don’t think she believes us.”

  “She must feel the connection between us. Maybe we should kiss her?”

  Ryan frowned as he considered his twin’s suggestion. Why not? It couldn’t do any harm, and her meltdown was breaking his heart. Ryan never wanted to see his mate like this ever again.

  “Okay, c’mon then. I hate seeing her this upset.”

  “Only a woman would manage to laugh and cry at the same time...”

  Ignoring Dylan’s last remark, Ryan moved to approach her from the right, while Dylan moved in from the left. As gently as he could, Ryan cupped her face in his palms. She made an adorable squeaking sound in surprise as her eyes flew open. They were a little unfocused, and her breathing was heavy as she finally stopped laughing. Using his thumbs, he wiped the tears from her cheeks.

  “We’re speaking the truth, Lacey. Please believe us.”

  He tilted her head up to him as he lowered his lips toward hers. Relief washed through him when she didn’t pull from his grip as he got close enough to see the flecks of green in her hazel irises. His gaze roamed over her face, taking in her high cheekbones and perfectly sculpted eyebrows. She had a light layer of makeup on her skin, and when he was this close he could see a few freckles beneath it. He heard the hitch in her breath over the sound of his blood pounding in his ears a moment before his mouth finally connected with hers.

  Ryan groaned as sparks of awareness tingled across every inch of his flesh. If there had been any doubt she was his, it just evaporated. His cheetah wanted to purr in delight. Lacey opened her mouth beneath his on a moan, and he took the invitation and danced his tongue with hers.

  He actually did purr when he felt her hands smooth up the front of his shirt until she wound her arms around his neck. When her fingers dove into his hair, Ryan got serious and tilted his head to deepen the kiss. He could do this forever. He’d never get enough of Lacey’s sweet taste.

  Ryan felt Dylan move up against Lacey’s back and unfortunately wasn’t surprised when she tensed as her large, soft breasts pressed into him by his twin’s weight. On a shocked gasp she tore free from his mouth and moved her hands back to his chest where she shoved him. Hard.

  “What the hell are you two doing to me? I can’t … I can’t do this.”

  An ache started in Ryan’s chest, and with a grimace he stepped away from his mate, her flushed red face making him feel like a bastard.

  “I was trying to help you. We don’t like seeing you upset, beautiful.”

  “What? So you thought you could kiss it better? Like I’m a five year old with a skinned knee?”

  Ryan winced at her rather apt description, but before he could speak, Dylan jumped in.

  “Hell yeah, we thought we’d kiss it better. It’s got nothing to do with how old you are, and I didn’t get my turn. Ryan, we need to remember she needs a kiss from both of us in the future, or it doesn’t work right. She’s still upset.”

  With a sigh, Ryan watched Lacey narrow her eyes at his twin. Dylan’s humor took some getting used to, and clearly, now was not the time to start getting Lacey accustomed to it.

  “Dylan, cut the jokes. Now is not the time.”

  “Who’s joking? I didn’t get a kiss. You got one. Totally unfair.”

  Lacey was rubbing her face in her hands now as she made a whining noise.

  “I can’t date two men at once! It’s insane. And I’m not mating anyone. So you both can get over that idea right now.”

  “Oh, baby, we’re gonna love proving you wrong.”

  Ryan thumped his brother on the arm. “Wait, would ya? Lacey, why can’t you date us? Have you got a boyfriend already?”

  He felt his brother stiffen, and anger radiated off him in waves. Ryan glanced at him, thinking Dylan’s response a little excessive in his opinion.

  “What the fuck is your issue, Dylan?”

  “I just remembered the text I saw on her phone. Somebody wanted to know why she didn’t go home. She had them saved under ‘dead horse’.”

  Ryan groaned. Great. He didn’t want to go through a possessive human to get to his mate.

  “I don’t have a boyfriend. And quit doing the twin mind-meld thing. It’s rude.”

  A grin spread over Ryan’s face. Lacey had her arms crossed beneath her breasts and was looking a little fierce. Which on her was totally adorable.

  “Dylan was just telling me about how your phone chirped while he was driving your car here earlier with a text from ‘Dead Horse’. He’s worried we have some competition for your attention.”

  As her face drained of color, Ryan inwardly cursed. She glared hard at Dylan, “You had no right to invade my privacy like that! How dare you go anywhere near my phone!”

  ****

  Dylan raised his hands up in surrender as she turned her fury on him. She was cute when she got worked up, but he didn’t want her thinking he’d gone snooping when he hadn’t. Not on purpose, anyway.

  “Calm down. I was looking for your keys when the screen lit up. I wasn’t sure if you lived with your folks or a housemate so had a quick look to see if it was someone worried about you not being home yet. I’m guessing Dead Horse isn’t your housemate?”

  “No. He’s a stupid ex that doesn’t know when to quit. I hate to think what the message said. Please tell me you didn’t read it?”

  Dylan’s cheeks heated, an uncomfortable and almost foreign feeling to him.

  “Ah, like I said, I thought it might be someone you live with. I didn’t want them to worry about you, so yeah, I saw the message.”

  Lacey stomped up to him and poked him in the chest with a finger. “How dare you! Is privacy a foreign concept? Gah, this is so embarrassing. I’m leaving. This is just all too much.”

  Panic had him grabbing for her, pulling her stiff body in against his.

  “I’m sorry, Lacey. I honestly did it out of concern, for no other reason. Please stay a while and talk with us.”

  Damn, she felt good in his embrace. Soft, warm, and downright sexy. The desire to kiss her full red mouth was almost overwhelming, but he knew she wouldn’t welcome it yet. Her shoulders slumped, and she rested her forehead against his chest. He wrappe
d his arms tighter around her, the need to keep her close as natural as breathing. She was such a little thing, their mate. She inhaled deeply before she shuddered a little against him. When she pushed herself away from him, he reluctantly released her. He bit his tongue to stop himself speaking as she turned and left the bedroom in silence. He passed a worried glance at his twin before following her. Ryan didn’t look like he had any idea what to do either.

  Dylan found Lacey opening cupboards in the kitchen.

  “What are you looking for?”

  “I just wanted a glass of water.”

  Kicking himself for not already asking if she was thirsty after she’d passed out like she had, he rushed to her side.

  “Here, let me get it for you.”

  She stiffened like she was going to argue, but in the end moved from the kitchen. As he pulled down a glass and filled it with fresh water he could feel her gaze on him. What was she thinking? He took the drink over to her and caressed his fingers over hers as she took it from him. He swallowed the groan that rose and suppressed the smile that tugged at his lips. His skin tingled where it had touched her, confirming beyond a shadow of a doubt she was his mate.

  “So, what is the real reason you put the brakes on things in the bedroom? Was it me?”

  Lacey sputtered water down her chin as she coughed.

  Dylan had never been one to mince words or put off the inevitable. They needed to deal with Lacey’s doubts and fast. His body ached for his mate, and he could feel Ryan suffering the same way he was.

  “Damn, you don’t beat around the bush do you?”

  He shrugged as his gaze followed her fingers while they wiped the water from her skin. He wanted to touch her there, kiss and caress every inch of her luscious body.

  “Well, I’ve already mentioned how I feel about dating two men. And even if that wasn’t an issue, I’m not the kind of woman who falls into bed with a man on the first date. Which this wasn’t supposed to be. It was meant to be a causal dinner where I asked you both questions for my story!”

  Dylan grimaced, noting the angry glint in her eye and the accusatory tone in her voice. “Yeah, well, your questions got answered. But I really wish you wouldn’t put them in your story. The last thing we need is to be outed to the general public. It would make our lives really difficult, and there would be no way we could stay here. Our whole family would have to move.”

  Lacey sat on a barstool at their breakfast bar, and she spun the now empty glass between her palms.

  “I don’t want to make anyone’s life harder, Dylan. This story about Cameron’s rescue is my first chance at a real story. I was excited about writing this epic piece that would secure my place at the Melbourne Herald. But now I’m not sure what the hell to write! I assure you, I won’t be outing you or your family in the press.”

  Things were getting way too serious and glum, so Dylan gave her his sly smirk. “How many dates do you normally go on before you ‘fall into bed’?”

  Ryan was standing behind Lacey and rolled his eyes at Dylan.

  “You’re an idiot, brother.”

  “Well, she was all sad and shit so I’m changing the subject.”

  “Um, I don’t know! Six maybe?”

  Dylan folded his arms over his chest as he leaned his butt against the kitchen bench opposite Lacey.

  “Six dates huh? Well, there are two of us, so that makes it three. It’s Friday night now … and you’ve said you don’t claim tonight as a date so Monday night you’re all ours!”

  He couldn’t help but chuckle at the way Lacey’s mouth opened and shut a few times. Her wide eyes looked so innocent as she struggled to deal with him. She finally closed her mouth and shook her head.

  “You are too much, Dylan. Really? You think you can bargain your way into bed with me?”

  “No. I’m negotiating dates with you, beautiful, and you’ll be in both our beds. Not just mine. Or rather, we’ll both be in your bed. So, where do you live? We’ll pick you up tomorrow at six for dinner.”

  Lacey laughed at him now, the sadness leaving her face and the healthy bloom he’d admired when he’d first met her, returning to her cheeks. “I have a work function tomorrow night. I guess I could meet up with you during the day.”

  The ache in Dylan’s chest, which he hadn’t even realized was there, eased a little with her words. She was agreeing to date them. They could do this. They could win her over and get her to agree to mate with them. He knew they could. Because they had to. If not, they’d be alone for the rest of their lives and completely miserable.

  Chapter Seven

  He can’t be for real. He just can’t. Lacey blinked slowly. Once. Twice. She expected this fantasy of a man to vanish each time she reopened her eyes. He had to be a figment of her overactive imagine. Guess that’s what I get for spending so much time with my head in a book.

  After a third blink, she rubbed her eyes before glancing back at the hunk of a male standing in front of her. Nope, he was still there in all his glory. Damn, the man had to be six foot something and was mouth-wateringly yummy, even fully dressed. Wonder what his skin would taste like. She mentally shook her head. This was not the time for daydreams. This god of a man had just propositioned her! No, even more than that, he and his twin brother wanted to date her. She couldn’t tell if it was a fantasy come true, or a nightmare.

  “Seriously, am I dreaming? Can someone pinch me or something?”

  Dylan let out an inhuman growl. “I can show you an ‘or something’ that should clear things up for you.”

  He then strode towards her, erotic intent clear to read in his hot gaze.

  With her stomach in knots, she squealed and jumped off her seat, bolting towards the door and where Ryan stood.

  “No, no, stop! I was joking.”

  She held both hands out in front of her, her heart pounding in her chest. Dylan stopped in his tracks and tilted his head in an animalistic manner as Ryan shifted to stand between her and Dylan. Facing her, he cupped her cheek in his palm.

  “Tell us what we can do to help you be okay with us.”

  His voice was so sweet, measured and calm. Such a contrast to the intense heat waves wafting off Dylan.

  “There’s nothing either of you can do. I need time to process everything I’ve learned today.”

  She bit her lip and looked between the brothers. Could she really do this? Date two men at once, and brothers at that? What would her friends think of her? Would she earn herself a reputation of being a slut? Would her friends leave her in the dust? Leaving her to start over.

  “If I do this…”

  “When you do this…” Dylan’s deep, gravelly voice was so strong and confident, it made her belly quiver with arousal for him, which pissed her off. She was trying to be serious and think with her brain, not her lady parts. Damn, but he was far too sexy for her sanity on his own. What the hell would it be like when both of them were in full on seduction mode?

  “I want separate dates, to get to know you both better.”

  They looked stunned for a moment, their massive frames stilling in shock. Complete silence descending as they stared at each other… With a frown, she stamped her foot which made them both turn towards her.

  “Stop doing that! I hate it when you leave me out of the conversation.”

  Dylan chuckled, and Ryan gave her his lopsided smile.

  “Sorry, beautiful. No one’s ever picked up on it before. Our parents have always encouraged the connection so it’s second nature to for us to use it.”

  She huffed in frustration as she put both her hands on her hips.

  “I know it’s a great thing for you two to have, and I wouldn’t normally care. Except for the fact I know you’re talking about me and that makes it unfair and rude!”

  Lacey coughed and cleared her throat, annoyed at how high pitched her voice had become. She was probably being irrational, but at this point, she just didn’t care!

  Ryan reached out and stroked over her forearm,
the touch managing to both soothe her and make her ache for more.

  “We were just tossing around ideas for our dates. If you want to see us separately to start with, we totally respect that.”

  “Yeah,” Dylan interjected. “It’ll be kinda nice to be treated like an individual person for once, rather than just half of one.”

  She snorted in a very inelegant way. “I hardly see you as half a person. You guys are too different to start with. You complement each other, but are still very much separate. Everyone else must be cruel or … plain stupid to not see that instantly.”

  She shook her head, suddenly furious at anyone who’d dare to treat these men badly in the past. She didn’t know much about them yet, but the little she did know was enough to know they were decent men. They were brave, protectors of children, from a good family, had secure, steady jobs, and they were both clearly intelligent and capable of deep care and love. Listing it all off had Lacey back to thinking maybe she was still dreaming. These men were too perfect to exist in the real world.

  They looked at each other again, and Lacey cleared her throat.

  “Okay, so, you guys are happy for me to date you separately…”

  Before she could finish, Ryan jumped in. “Yes. One date each, Saturday and Sunday, then Monday evening we’ll go out together, before we bring you back here. For the night.”

  She frowned, not sure she understood where this was going. If she decided to give these men a chance, long term, how the hell would it work? Did they expect her to allow them to take turns with her? A different twin every other night? That would be horrible. Her gut already twisted at the thought of a relationship that was so incredibly unorthodox.

  But then again, would she be able to choose just one of them if her hand was forced? The good guy and the bad boy? Fire and ice. They were both so beautiful to her, and she felt a strong connection to each twin.

  Her breath caught in her throat, and she frowned at the two men. Did they mean to share her in the sense that they’d both take her together? Like in the erotic fantasy novels she read. Warmth curled inside her, and she squeezed her eyes shut as she clenched her thigh muscles. No, no, no. That didn’t happen in the real world! Maybe it would be best to just end this before it got going…