With Abandon: With or Without, Book 4

his eyes on Aubrey. “Yup.”
    Before he realized what he was doing, Aubrey brushed a lock of black hair off Matt’s forehead. His
    soft skin was such a striking color. Not many people had as smooth a complexion as Matt. He was
    amazing, and Aubrey’s fingers itched to touch him everywhere. Keeping his hands to himself was going to be harder than hell.
    “Why didn’t you call me back? And why do you sound weird?” The younger Mahihkan—Matt was
    the firstborn—sounded more like an older brother.
    “Had a few drinks. It’s all good.” Matt nodded again, dislodging the phone from his ear.
    “Give the phone back to Aubrey.”
    “’Kay.” He held the phone out and wiggled it at Aubrey.
    Frowning, Aubrey took the phone. “Hello?”
    “What’re your plans?”
    “I beg your pardon?” Aubrey clenched his teeth again.
    “Matt doesn’t drink.”
    That much was obvious. Matt fiddled with something near Aubrey’s leg, grabbing it with his thumb
    and forefinger.
    “I want to know he’s not going to end up dead in an alley.” Logan paused for a few seconds. “Let me
    be more specific. If something happens to Matthew—”
    Aubrey squelched down a warning growl, fighting the surge of adrenaline. He couldn’t tell Logan to
    butt out. Officially, Aubrey wasn’t in the position to say what Matt could and couldn’t do without
    acknowledging to the world that Matt was his mate. He wanted to beat his head against a wall and maybe
    Logan’s too. He was going to have to control the possessive tendencies toward Matt. Matt’s brother was only looking out for him. Aubrey would be the same way if it were Keaton. Of course, Keaton would get
    all pissed and give Aubrey hell for it, but still… “Your brother is fine. He’s not going anywhere. I’m taking care of him.”
    The leg of Aubrey’s gray slacks pulled tight and puckered over his knee. What the hell?

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    23
    J.L. Langley
    Matt held a string, still attached to Aubrey’s suit pants, in front of his face. His eyes crossed as he stared at it and continued pulling.
    “If you are trying to undress me, there are easier ways to do it.” Swatting Matt’s hand away, Aubrey
    chuckled and got up from the arm of the couch.
    Giggling, Matt rolled to his stomach, surveying Aubrey like a puppy about to pounce.
    “O—kay…” Logan commented, with a trace of humor in his voice. “We should’ve sent him away to
    college earlier. It’s nice to know he’s cutting loose some.”
    Oh shit. That hadn’t sounded good at all. What if Logan suspected something? An icy tingle plunged down Aubrey’s face and neck. “Sorry, there was a loose string on the knee of my pants that Matt decided to pull.” As a save it was kind of lame.
    “Well damn. I hoped he was turning into a real wild child.” Logan snickered. “Seriously…just take
    care of him, okay? Getting him drunk is a good start, but while you’re at it why don’t you see if you can get him laid too.”
    Freezing halfway to the kitchen, Aubrey tightened his hand on the phone. The image of Matt spread
    out on Aubrey’s big sleigh bed, naked and flushed with arousal, speared into his mind. His cock hardened, his throat went dry and his eyes blurred. “Yeah. Well, I’ll see what I can do.” Aubrey blinked. When he opened his eyes everything was monochrome.
    Logan’s laugh taunted him. “Later. Tell Matt I’ll call him tomorrow.”
    The line went dead.
    Jerking the phone from his ear, Aubrey rubbed his eyelids with his finger and thumb. When he opened
    them again the rich burgundy of the candle on the kitchen bar and the soothing beige of the backs of the barstools greeted him. Logan was going to be a problem. How close were he and Matt? Would Matt tell his brother that he was Aubrey’s mate? Once upon a time Aubrey might have told Keaton, if things hadn’t
    changed drastically between them.
    A shuffling came from behind Aubrey as he set Matt’s phone on the cold granite countertop. He
    ignored it and headed to the fridge. As he reached for the handle a fuzzy reflection appeared in the stainless steel, and Matt’s scent teased him. Aubrey yanked the door open. “Let’s get you something to eat to absorb some of that alcohol.”
    “I think it’s wearing off because I’m getting a headache.”
    Yeah, he would. Aubrey took out the deli ham, roast beef, mustard and Swiss cheese. “In my
    bathroom, in the medicine cabinet above the sink, there’s aspirin, Motrin,