Melissa frowned as if she was processing what Luke had just said, and then she sat further back in her seat and crossed her arms beneath her breasts. The move was defensive and he wondered if they had just blown any chance they had with her. An ache formed over his heart and it was really hard not to place his hand there and try to rub it away.
“What do you do for a living?” Melissa asked.
Damian was glad that she was finally asking questions. Didn’t that mean that she was interested in them? God, I hope so.
“We are the security for the pack,” Damian answered. “Our jobs are to maintain the security systems and make sure that the boundaries surrounding the property are safe and secure at all times. We set up rotations for patrols and we also make sure that if our Alpha, Betas and queen go out, they have guards with them.”
“But how do you earn…Never mind.”
“How do we earn money?” Damian asked the question he thought she was going to. At her nod, he relaxed a little more. Maybe their mate was worried that they wouldn’t be able to take care of her financially. “You have every right to ask. The pack has several businesses around the country and we each get a stipend from the profits. We have more than enough money to get whatever you want.”
“Shit, that makes me sound so mercenary. I’m sorry. I don’t mean to sound greedy or snobby.”
Luke leaned forward, uncrossed her arms from her chest, and held onto one of her hands. “We would never think that, sweetheart. Don’t worry so much, we know you aren’t either of those things.”
“What do you do, baby?”
“I’m a kindergarten teacher.”
Damian smiled. He could just imagine her laughing, teaching and playing with the kids in her care and enjoying every minute of it. His mate had a big heart and he hoped that one day soon she would let him and Luke into her heart, too.
“Our Alpha was talking about building a school on pack land. The pack is growing and more pups are being born every day. I’m sure if you asked he would be delighted to have you working in the school.”
Melissa waved a hand in the air as if dismissing his idea and his stomach felt like it dropped. He was going to have to be careful to keep his feelings hidden so that Melissa didn’t feel too pressured. Damian just hoped that none of his emotions showed on his face.
“What do you do when you aren’t working?” she asked.
“We like to hang out at the Shifter Inn and play pool, but we spend most of our spare time running in our wolf forms, playing.”
Melissa tilted her head to the side. The action reminded him of his and his brother’s animal.
“Playing?”
“Hunting small game and chasing each other.”
“What’s it like?”
Damian cocked an eyebrow in question.
“Running through the forest in your wolf form.”
“Freeing,” Luke said, and smiled at Damian. “Everything smells so much better. We move faster and can circumvent trees at exceptional speeds without slowing down. Having four legs has its advantages.”
“I’ll bet,” Melissa said. “Would I be able to still see my sister?”
His mate’s switch in topics had Damian’s head spinning for a moment. “Of course you can. We would never interfere with your relationship with your sister. What’s her name? Is she younger or older? What does she do? Will she be adverse to you being with more than one man…that is, if you decide you want to be with us?”
“No, I don’t think she would. As long as that’s what I wanted and love was involved, I don’t see Sara making a fuss.” Melissa went on to explain how Sara had raised her from a young teen and how they had lost their parents. The more she told them, the more Damian understood why she wouldn’t want to lose contact with her sister. She was more like a mother to Melissa than a sibling. More tension eased from his body and he relaxed back in his seat.
He watched as Melissa’s pupils dilated and her nostrils flared as she inhaled. She lowered her head again but Damian knew she could smell their mating musk. Her nipples were hard little buds poking against the material of her shirt, and when she crossed her legs, she squeezed them together as if trying to appease the ache in her pussy. He inhaled deeply and nearly groaned when he smelled her desire. When he looked at Luke, he saw that his brother was also aware of her lust.
“I don’t know what to do,” Melissa whispered, and Damian could hear the torment in her voice.
He shifted his chair back clasped her hand in his and then pulled her onto his lap. “You don’t have to do anything right now, baby. Take a little time to figure out what it is you want. We won’t pressure you in any way.”