Elliot
I've had a spring in my step for the last week and have had my eyes and ears open everywhere I've gone, looking for any trace that could be my mate. I've had dreams of a pale skinned, brunette beauty in my bed, but I can never see her face. Hell, for all I know she could be a dark skinned, sexy vixen or a ginger haired fiesty thing... but, I can't get the vision of this faceless girl out of my head.
I find myself stroking the name on my wrist absentmindedly throughout the day while I daydream of her and I end up annoyed with myself because I need to concentrate on work and bettering my company to be ready for her and our future together.
A sick thought rolls through me at the thought of her denying fate. She could very well already have a boyfriend and in love by the time we meet or just not interested in letting fate decide. I might be too old for her or not be her type. I'm praying that fate isn't that cruel. If she feels even a fraction of how I'm feeling, she'll listen to fate. I imagine the second we lock eyes that she'll fall as deeply in love with her as I am at even the thought of her. I can't wait to wrap myself around her and breathe her in. I've waited so damn long for my soul mate. I can wait a little longer... no matter how impatient I might seem.
"Hello, Mom. Good to see you. Wonderful day today!" I lean my big 6'7 body over to give my mother a kiss on her cheek. It's Sunday dinner at my parents and I'm buzzing to tell my mother what has happened.
She laughs. "Well, someone is in a good mood."
My smile widens. "You could say that."
"Your date go that well? I knew you'd like her."
I wince. "No, not the date."
"Oh." She looks confused and actually a little crestfallen.
"Something better has happened."
"Yea? And what's that?"
Rolling the sleeve of my button-down up, I show her the inside of my wrist and watch my mother closely for her reaction.
The look of pure shock on her face is entertaining. "Elliot! You didn't! Oh! I'm so excited for you!"
She yanks my big body into her small frame and I hug her tight while she sways us. "I'm so happy for you, Elliot! This is everything you've always wanted! Oh my goodness, I can't believe it!" Pulling away from me a little she blots her eyes. "Let me see it again!"
Chuckling, I offer her my wrist again. Her soft fingers run over the white script on my arm.
"Anastasia..." She says it out loud. "Pretty name. There's going to be an age difference there."
I shrug. "Doesn't bother me."
She beams up at me and the pure happiness on her face makes my heart ache. It's for me. My mother knows just how badly I want this.
"I wonder where you'll meet this Anastasia."
"I hope it's soon."
"You'll need to be careful about this, Elliot. She might not like it. She might not even be aware of her lineage. There are many who aren't. She might have to be eased into it. You know you can't touch her until she's 21. It isn't fair to her."
"I know, Mom. It's going to he hard, but I'll do what I must." I know it isn't fair to her to have a physical relationship until she turns 21 and my name appears on her wrist. Once we have sex, the binding will be complete. It's basically a marriage once we consumate and we'll be mated for life. I have to be very careful to wait and not push her into anything. No matter how much I want her.
Christian
"Hey, bro! Good to see you!"
I stare at Elliot, who already has my weekly bourbon poured and ready for me when I have a seat at my usual chair in my parents dining room.
"Sure." I cock and eyebrow at him and take a careful drink of my liquor. I'm beginning to think he did something to it. Swishing it around in my mouth and tasting nothing off, I place it down beside my water goblet. "What's gotten into you?"
"Oh, you haven't heard?" Mother is beaming from her seat. "Your brother got a mate."
Really? How coincidental. How do we end up with mate marks the same week?
"Her name is Anastasia!" I jolt at the name, my heart dropping. "Do you know any Anastasia's, Christian?"
I blink at my mother and swallow hard, my jaw clenching. Fuck. How the fuck does this happen? How is this possible?
"Christian? Is something wrong?" My mother looks like she's about to jump out of her chair to coddle me, so I clear my throat and force a shake of my head.
"No..." I say it but my voice is weak. I say it again. "No, I don't know of anyone by that name." My eyes drop down to my wrist that is covered with my watch band. What the fuck. I've heard of triads before, but it's usually identical twins that imprint. This isn't happening. I don't share. I won't share. I'm a controlling, selfish bastard and I'm not about to share my mate with someone else. Especially my brother.
Do I fight fate? Do I go through the next three years ignoring the mark on my arm, hoping it'll somehow not appear on hers? How do I tell her that I am denying fate its wish when my name is etched in her skin? If we separate, the mark will fade, but how long does it take? What if she fights me? What if it breaks her heart?
How are we supposed to be normal after this? Hurting her will hurt Elliot. This will ruin his plans for a mate. He'll never forgive me. I can't help what fate has provided. I never even wanted this to begin with. I don't understand why fate wouldn't take that into consideration.
Elliot looks so happy. I've never seen him look so jovial before. My lip curls in disgust over the situation. I'm fucking damned. No matter what. This is going to ruin us as brothers. This damn girl who we know nothing about is going to ruin everything.
Hell, I've already thrown away a perfectly good submissive for a damn name on my arm. Just because I let my feelings get in the way. I won't let that happen again. I need to keep logical. I need to do what my brain and body knows how to do. I need to stick to the satisfaction I receive in being a dominant.
I need to find myself a new submissive. I need to push past this shit I'm feeling for a girl I don't even know. One that can only give half her time to me. One I'd have to share. I don't share.
Fuck that.
I need a whole hell of a lot of things... but this? Absolutely not.
Elliot
"Elliot, I heard you won the bid for the construction on that publishing house. Glad to see you taking on bigger projects." My father is always urging me to expand my company, but I liked the comfort of a smaller company. Until now. I need to get out of my comfort zone and build the business until it can function mostly on its own. I want the steady income and the extra time to spend with my future family.
"I decided it was time to move on some things. Looking to hire about a dozen more employees so that I can get it done quickly. That's been a shit show in itself. Hopefully, I'll find some good ones in the pile of shit resumes." I couldn't believe how quickly resumes came through when I posted it, but it seems like a lot of them are dead ends. The people who are dependable and driven seem to be completely happy where there at. There has to be a few good ones looking for jobs right now. I might need to extend my search or look for a temp agency for the publishing house.
Dad chuckles. "I'll put the word out. See if any of my partners have any leads. I'm sure Christian will do the same." The three of us look over at Christian, who seems to be off in his own little world. Tonight he's been quieter and more brooding than he usually is.
"Yo." I get his attention, making his eyes jerk from his plate to me.
"What?" He practically barks it at me and it actually pisses me off a bit.
"What the hell is wrong with you?"
His fingers find his hair and he yanks at it, the true tell sign that something is bothering him. "Shit, I don't know. Just a lot going on. I'll figure it out."
Mom gives him a smile. "You always do, honey. If you need to talk-"
"I know, Mom."
Christian cutting our mother off surprises the three of us. He never does that. I eye my father who I expect to speak up about respect, but he looks so taken aback that he keeps his mouth shut.
"Oh, okay. I hadn't meant to upset you."
His elbows find the table and he rubs his eyes with his fingertips. "Sorry, Mom. I'm just in a mood."
"Don't like our little sister spending so much time with her new boy toy?" I joke, trying to make light of the situation. She's missed the last two Sunday dinners because of this kid that neither of us have met, yet.
"Fuck, don't remind me. I want to strangle that little fucker."
"Christian!" Mom tries to admonish him, but she laughs. "She's eighteen years old. If she wants to spend time with a boy, there's nothing any of us can do to stop her."
"I'm getting a fucking migraine over this. You talked to her about birth control right?" Christian eyes our mother while he rubs his temples.
"You know I have. And I'm well aware that you tried to do the same thing a couple years ago. I heard the whole ordeal from your sister. She said it scarred her for life."
Her comment finally makes my asshole brother grin. "Good."