Paired Pursuit (3 page)

“Or someone, somewhere, might know something.” Gareth's gaze remained steady upon her.

“The government did authorize us to offer a small reward to anyone who helps us find him,” Finn added.

When she didn't respond to that, Gareth's eyes softened. Mari flicked a gaze between the brothers. She wanted to trust them. Her gut trusted them. They found her beautiful, Gareth had said. Sexy, even. She might have melted at that had she not been so unused to such direct flirting.

But she didn't trust the government. For all she knew, that “reward” Finn mentioned consisted of a jail cell and a diet of bread and water.

So she responded to Gareth with a bare nod. Split her attention between the two men, an easy task since they were both handsome as the rock stars who'd once adorned magazine covers. Besides, Mari wasn't obligated to tell them anything. In any case, soon she would be on her own again, in an unfamiliar City.

“Do you have business in Scar City?” Finn asked.

Glad for the change of subject, Mari shook her head. “No. I'm relocating.”

“You're
moving
there?” Gareth's voice had an edge to it.

“Couldn't afford the rent in Flagstaff any longer.” She kept her voice casual. In truth, she was after whatever her father had left behind in the City. He'd been delirious at the end. She'd half bankrupted herself to get him precious pain medication. It was worth it to see the lines of his face relax, to see his fever-bright eyes clear a little. And then he'd talked—spoken of his work and the world before the invasion. She'd soaked up every word, knowing the day would come, all too soon, when she'd never hear his voice again.

On the second to last day, he'd told her what he'd left behind in Scar City was important. Valuable. Valuable enough, she hoped, to buy a little place for her to live. Somewhere safe—maybe on the East Coast. If she got lucky, she might even find Simon out there.

The Twins were both looking at her, although they were quiet. Communicating privately? Mari fiddled with her lap belt, reminding herself that she'd chosen this route. Better this than marriage to Tim.

“You have no family?” Gareth asked abruptly.

“Nobody alive.” Unless she counted a few second cousins in Canada.

“No husband?” That was from Finn.

“Who would want me without a dowry?” Tim had made it more than clear that nobody would—except him.

“We would.” Bluntness seemed to be Gareth's forte.

“If that's how you propose, it's no wonder you're having a difficult time finding a wife.” Mari folded her arms a little shakily. It was nice to be wanted—by
two
men, no less—but reality these days was a harsh master. Besides, they were clearly just flirting, in a rather heavy way. Not creepy, though, not like the men who used to catcall her on the way home from work. She got the distinct impression they'd both back off whenever she asked them to.

If
she asked them to. Liberated from Tim's almost constant scrutiny, Mari felt free and a little wild. This was the beginning of a new chapter of her life. That and the unfamiliar environment combined to make this feel less than real. Like a steamy dream come to life.

“Given that you're the first woman we wholly agree we
both
want for once, it's not surprising Finn brought it up,” Gareth said. “He doesn't beat around the bush.”

“Well, we're here for the next”—Mari checked her watch—“nine hours. I'm sure you'll be heartily tired of my presence by then.”

“Is that a challenge?” they asked simultaneously

Mari swallowed, opted for honesty. “I don't know.”

* * * * *

“She's likely a virgin
.
Some of those human Cities were catapulted right back to the Stone Age. Flagstaff was unfortunately one of them. Let's watch our step.”

Gareth's words prompted Finn to slow down. The sweet girl next to him was tempting, though. So tempting. He could lean down with ease, steal a kiss. One kiss.

“I know. But she wants us, too, I can sense it. We just need to move slowly
,
make sure she's okay with us.”

Finn traced a lazy caress across her upper arm, relishing the shiver he provoked. She didn't retreat from him, though. That was important.

“We enjoy challenges,” he told her.

“I do as well. But not when they come with long-term repercussions.” Her voice was breathy now as she responded to his continued light touches. She even leaned into him—and he took the opportunity to pull her close, draping an arm around her waist as she pressed into his side.

“Long-term commitments,” Gareth corrected.

“I hardly know anything about you.” Although her heartbeat galloped, she remained still against him, if not entirely relaxed.

“We can rectify that,” Finn said. Neither of the Twins was of a mind to dismiss fate. All alone on a train carriage with a beautiful woman they
both
wanted? Well. There was a first time for everything.

“As long as we get it right,”
Gareth sent. Of the two of them, he was the more serious—and the pickiest. Only a few women had ever caught Gareth's eye. None of them could hold a candle to the instant attraction this girl provoked—for them both.

Despite the gun she wore at her waist, she seemed vulnerable, her wide chocolate-brown eyes betraying a slight anxiety—and anticipation, he noticed with some relief. She certainly felt the chemistry between them, although she wouldn't realize its significance.

They did. They'd never before found a woman they'd both been immediately drawn to. Would she be someone they could share without complication?

Finn looked at her gun again, frowning. That wouldn't do her much good in Scar City. The humans there gave no quarter. Armed robbery occurred on the streets in broad daylight.

And after dark, unspeakable danger lurked.

Finn held her a little tighter. It wouldn't be long before the Barks overran Scar City. They were far too determined to get in, and the wall around the city would fall sooner rather than later. Every night it grew weaker, crumbling a little with every tunnel the Barks tried to dig under it. The wall was shored up by day, of course, but it wouldn't be long before there were serious problems.

“We can get out if it falls,”
Gareth sent. He looked at the woman, his brow furrowed. His thoughts were clear.
She
would have a rougher time getting out.

Finn opened his mouth, realizing belatedly that they didn't even know the girl's name. “
Gareth? You're the blunt one.”

“Hah.”

“What's your name?” his brother asked. “You never told us.”

“Mari.” The short pause before she'd answered indicated she didn't trust them. She was hiding something, that much was clear. If she'd been less attractive, they'd probably have winnowed it out of her by now.

“Attractive? She's a full-on siren,”
Gareth sent.
“I've never felt like this before.”

Maybe they could seduce it out of her.

“Mari.” Finn watched the way her eyes heated when he said that. Yep, that was her real name. So she hadn't given them a false identity. Good. Time to up the ante.

In one smooth movement, he lifted her entirely into his lap, relishing her gasp. Gareth took the opportunity to come sit next to them, draping one of her calves across his thigh. She wore much-darned tights under her long, overly conservative skirt, revealing tantalizing hints of bare skin.

“Seducing information out of her is one of your better ideas,”
Gareth sent.

“Do they give you surnames?” Mari asked. She referred, of course, to the scientists who had created them.

“No. Some of the Twins take the name of the woman they marry, though.”

“Real subtle,”
Gareth sent.

“You were the one who brought marriage up in the first place.”

“Oh. That's a nice departure from the norm.”

“I love the way she talks,”
Finn sent.

Gareth smirked.
“I love the way she subtly bucks authority.”

“Not
our
authority, though.”
Finn caressed her, stroking her back, allowing her to grow used to his touch, like gentling a skittish animal. Her backside nestled so sweetly against him that his cock strained against his jeans, aching to spring free. But that would have to wait. This was a fragile rapport they had, and he didn't want to move too fast.

“Where are you planning to stay in the City?” Gareth inquired.
“Wonder how much planning she's done.”

“She doesn't strike me as overly spontaneous
, Finn replied.
She'll have organized this in advance. Look at all the bags she's carrying—she wasn't kidding about this being a long-term move.”

“Wrong city for anything long-term.”

The Twins had been to Scar City twice in the past six months, reporting back to their base—the Complex—in Chicago after each trip. This was their last run, their last chance to find Dr. Aquino's rumored device. Their superiors considered it a top priority but were unwilling to risk themselves. So they'd sent Finn and Gareth.

“I'm staying in the Wanderer Inn,” Mari said, naming one of the worst establishments in the City.

“Have you been there before?” Finn tried not to let too much worry infuse his voice. She'd be in for one hell of a shock when she saw the place. Then again, it could give her an excuse to come stay with them…

“Yes.” The answer surprised them both. “I stayed next door with my parents, many years ago. At the time, my father was going through…well, a rough period. He seemed depressed, talked to himself a lot. He used to wander the City walls at night, alone. My mother and I were so worried. He said he was observing the Barks, making notes. I—am I talking too much?”

“Not at all,” Finn reassured.

“We spent two years there, and Dad—” She cut herself off, suddenly wary. “We moved to Flagstaff, where his health improved.”

And then, presumably, went downhill, given her comment about no living family. What was she hiding from them?

“How old were you when you left?” Finn turned his caresses into a light, soothing massage and felt the tension in her muscles begin to relax.

“Fourteen, maybe fifteen.”

“Wonder why he bolted,”
Finn mused.

Could be money problems, or health stuff. That comment about observing the Barks was interesting. I'm more concerned about why her family left so abruptly. You think the girl's going to run into trouble when she gets to the City?”

“Maybe. Let's find out.”

Finn braced himself as he sensed a slight humming in the tracks. A split second later, the train lurched, but he was able to hold Mari firm.

She flinched and gasped. “Do trains always do this?”

“This is an old train, so it will be a rougher ride. Not many people go into or out of Scar City. It's mostly freight that runs through this area.” Finn resisted the urge to skim his hand underneath her blouse.

“I had heard that,” she murmured. “I don't remember it being this bumpy when we last left. There's maglev trains between the more prosperous Cities, but I…”

“But she doesn't think she belongs in a prosperous City.”
Finn picked up Gareth's thought and conveyed silent, indignant acknowledgment.

“Must have been tough, going from a comfortable life to being on the run,” Gareth said.

She shrugged. “Everyone had to cope with that, one way or another. What about you guys? You're older than me—at least, I think—so you must remember more about the days before.”

Everyone, even strangers, tended to enjoy talking about the
days before
, as the pre-invasion years were called. People tended to forget there were troubles back then too. Rose-tinted glasses were fun to look through.

“We were fourteen when the first mothership landed. Until then we were being prepared to combat other humans. Our focus shifted.” Finn gave in to his urge as he talked, gently gliding his hand up her blouse until bare skin met his fingertips.

“Oh.” It was both acknowledgment and encouragement.

When Gareth slipped her boots off, the sigh she made was mingled relief and arousal, strengthening into a moan as Finn cupped her breast. The look in her eyes was needy, yet wary. Were they merely a fantasy fulfilled? He rejected that line of thinking, tilted her chin up and leaned in for a kiss.

Hot. Seriously hot. He took his time, savoring her mouth, aware that Gareth was shifting her body so that she lay atop them both. When Finn pulled back, Mari was panting, eyes wide and slightly unfocused.

“Wh-what if the train goes over another bump?” she asked.

“We'll keep you safe. Relax.” Finn brushed another kiss across those delectable lips.

“Trust us,” Gareth said. He was working her tights down, but paused as she reached for his arm.

“Please—I don't know if I can…”

“Can what?” Finn asked. “Come?”

She blushed a shade deeper, gaze flitting from him to his brother and back again. “Do this?” It came out a question.

“With both of us?” Only Finn heard the subtle strain in Gareth's voice.

“No—you…” She trailed off, gamely trying to recover her equilibrium. “I just mean, here? In a train?”

That she questioned the location rather than anything else—like the fact that both of them were attending to her—pleased Finn immensely. He never chased women. They came to him—or to Gareth.

But never to them both.

God, he'd chase Mari through a pack of Barks, the way he was feeling right now.