My stomach was a jumble of nerves.

The drive had been peaceful, quiet with bursts of laughter, with Sloane falling asleep the last half hour and Bane singing softly along with the radio.

They were the loves of my life. My family.

We’d had our claiming ceremony a few days prior.

After I’d returned to Bane’s home in Indiana, he’d insisted we finish out the final days of our trial before he’d let me agree to move forward and say yes to his proposal. It was just a technicality, because I’d already told him what I wanted, but I played along for his and Sloane’s sake. A month later, we’d sold his house and moved into our own sweet little farmhouse on three acres outside of town. Not far from his old house.

We got Sloane her chickens, but so far, only one goat, and I’d decorated it lovingly, buying mostly used items and refurbishing them with Bane.

Two months after that, we’d finally had a small ceremony with only our friends in attendance. Now, we were on our way up to Grayson’s, and I was about to meet Bane’s brother for the first time.

“He’s going to love you,” Bane said for at least the third time on this trip alone.

I tried to give him a smile, but I knew it ended up coming off like a grimace.

Bane chuckled.

“He’s really not as scary as you’re making him out to be in your mind,” he assured me, but it was no use.

I was freaked.

Bane turned onto a gravel road, and my heart leapt into my throat.

It was like driving to my execution, that’s how badly my hands were shaking.

I saw the house in the distance and thought briefly that it was almost as sweet as ours, when I saw the man himself coming down the steps and walking toward our car.

He was tall. Taller than Bane, with jet black hair cut in a military style cut. He was also huge. Broad. With thick, muscular arms that looked like they could chop down trees on their own, without any tools.

Wearing dark work pants and a red plaid shirt, he looked like a lumberjack, missing only his burly beard.

As Bane pulled to a stop, Grayson stepped up to the jeep and I got a good look at his face up close.

He was handsome.

Like, movie star handsome with a strong jaw and striking features. And, when his gaze fell on Sloane who was just waking, he let loose a smile that had my ovaries quaking.

“Easy,” Bane said wryly, and I looked to see him watching me with a scowl.

I grinned sheepishly, then looked back at my new brother-in-law.

Wow. No wonder Shonda was smitten.

Once she was unbuckled, Sloane reached out for Grayson to lift her out of the seat.

“Hiya, princess,” he said, his voice deep and rough.

“Uncle Gray,” Sloane said happily, wrapping her little arms around his neck.

I hopped out of the Jeep and rounded it to introduce myself, but Bane beat me to it.

His arm came around my waist and he said proudly, “Gray, this is Katja. My wife and mate.”

“Nice to meet you, Katja,” Grayson said, not quite as cheerfully as he’d greeted Sloane, but pleasant all the same.

“You, too, Grayson. Thanks for having us for a visit.”

“Call me Gray.”

We got our bags, and all of Sloane’s must have items, out of the Jeep and followed Gray and Sloane, who’d already gone inside the house.

“See, not scary,” Bane whispered as we went up the steps.

“You were right,” I muttered, taking everything in as we walked into Gray’s living room.

It had a rustic charm. Definitely a bachelor pad with the warmth and hominess of a farm house.

I liked it.

“I love your home,” I told Gray, who was coming back into the room with three beers in his hand.

“Thanks,” he said, although I could tell from his tone he didn’t really care whether I liked his house or not.

We sat around and enjoyed our drinks as Bane and I told Grayson about the ceremony.

When it was time to put Sloane to bed, I said I’d read her a story and then meet Bane in our room. I wanted to give the brothers some time alone, plus I was exhausted and wanted to wash up.

As I was leaving the room, I heard Gray say, “Why don’t you tell me more about that app you used to meet Katja. The one your friend Mal told you about.”

“Really?” Bane asked. “You thinking about signing up?”

“Maybe,” Gray replied.

“How would that work? You going to let a stranger come stay on your land, or are you planning to finally venture off of it?”

“No, I’d need a woman willing to come to me,” Bane’s brother said. “If I end up doing it at all. I don’t know. But, I’d like to look into it and see if it’s something that could work for me.”

“Okay, I think that’s great. Why don’t we get an account set up for you and I can explain things as we go through it?”

I kept walking and didn’t hear anything else, but felt hopeful for Gray.

I figured he must be lonely, being out here by himself, and only seeing other people when Bane and Sloane came out to visit.

Maybe it was the fact that I was happy and in love that made me want that same love and happiness for others. Or maybe it was the fact that Gray was hot, built, and mysterious, and had been abstinent for over a decade.

But I really wanted this for him.

After Sloane had fallen asleep and I was showered and ready for bed, I was laying in our room reading when Bane walked in.

“Hey, babe,” I said, lowering my tablet to grin at my handsome man.

“You’re not going to believe what Gray and I just did,” he said as he began to take off his clothes.

“I heard some of it actually,” I admitted. “Did you end up setting him up with a profile?”

“Yup. Got him to let me post a picture and everything.”

I pulled back the covers and he slid in, naked as a jaybird.

“You think he’ll actually go through with it?” I asked.

Bane took my tablet and placed it on the nightstand, then moved over me and settled himself between my legs.

I opened them happily and shuddered slightly when the velvet steel of his cock moved against my clit.

“I hope so,” Bane replied, moving once more. “It’ll be good for him to have a woman… I know it’s done wonders for me.”

I lifted my hips as he moved, my eyes fluttering shut.

“Mmmm,” I managed getting caught up in the sensations he provoked.

Bane shifted and slid inside of me, pausing when he was fully seated to run his fingers lovingly over my face.

“If he could meet someone and find a fraction of the happiness that I’ve found with you, he’ll be a lucky man.”

My heart melted.

“I love you,” I told him softly.

“I love you more,” Bane said as he began to move.

And as my mate made love to me, I knew I had everything I’d ever wanted, and more.