Free Into The Sunset: An Erotic Romance Anthology by Vivian Wood

asked,
crossing his arms and leaning back in his seat.
    He expected Ben to cut in and tactfully
explain their issues, but Walker spoke instead.
    “ We don’t understand why you’re
doing this. You’re rich, you’re young, you’re good looking. There
are females throwing themselves at your feet, trying to be your
mate.”
    “ Most of them are willing to take
a lot less than that,” Ben cut in. “Why not choose one of those,
keep her for a while, then trade up? It’s what everyone else does.
This concept of yours, this harem thing-“
    “ Harem?” Lucas said, rolling the
word over his tongue. Several incredible women, all dedicated to
the top triad of Luna Corp, all servicing their needs and keeping
their secrets…
    “ Perhaps that is the correct
term,” Lucas admitted, nodding.
    “ It’s a strange concept,” Walker
said, his tone dour. Always the practical one.
    Lucas sighed. He’d known it wouldn’t be a
simple conversation, not even with the two males who knew him
best.
    “ Ten years ago, I sat you two down
in a coffee shop and told you that I wanted to start a software
company. I wanted to build something that would give us financial
stability, a product we could really believe in, and the
flexibility to escape the corporate world when we needed, to let
our wolves be free. What was your response then?” Lucas
asked.
    Walker and Ben looked at each
other.
    “ We were skeptical,” Walker
answered.
    “ Yes, and maybe rightfully so. But
we put the work in, and built our little software program into
dozens of different products, and now they’re selling worldwide in
a hundred markets. I had the vision, you had the know-how, and we
worked our asses off. Now it had paid off a hundred
fold.”
    “ Which is why we should just level
off now,” Ben said, cocking his head.
    “ I wasn’t satisfied with working
some nine to five in a cubicle, dragging myself through each day
and punching the time clock. I wanted excellence, and together we
created it. Now that I’m satisfied with my work, I want to settle
my personal life. And I expect no less than excellence in that
arena, as well. There are many female wolves in the world, but I
want the best. The brightest, most beautiful females, and ones who
can offer us as much as we could give them.”
    Walker and Ben watched him, listening
patiently.
    “ We’re not twenty years old
anymore. We’re rich, successful, and in our prime. It’s time to
start building a foundation, thinking of living a full life outside
of work. I personally plan on selecting a female from the Harem to
breed with, someone I respect and trust enough to parent with. I
would expect no less from you two.”
    Ben looked a little aghast, while Walker’s
stony expression remained unaffected.
    “ You want us to share all the
women?” Walker asked. “Wolves don’t usually like to share much.
Food, women, territory…”
    “ I think the situation will be
unique with each woman. It will be up to her preference,
ultimately, but I imagine it will also rely on our personal level
of interest and attraction. When I select a female to breed with, I
would expect to be her only mate.”
    “ And if we all settle down with
one female, what about the rest of them?” Ben asked.
    “ We would care for them
financially, and try to find them an acceptable male if they should
choose that course,” Lucas answered.
    Ben was quiet for a long time, then he
snickered.
    “ Do you find this amusing?” Lucas
asked, arching a brow.
    “ Well, yeah. It’s kind of like
you’re setting up your own dating service,” Ben replied.
    “ Do you have a better idea? Or do
you plan on being single forever? Or maybe just keep dating human
women, hiding your wolf from them?” Lucas challenged.
    “ No,” Ben snapped, sinking back in
his chair with a scowl.
    “ Or maybe we could all just do
without, like some wolves do?” Lucas suggested, giving Walker a
hard look.
    “ I don’t trust females,” Walker
said with a