Free Blake, Abby - Wild Fascination [A Bride for Eight Brothers 3] (Siren Publishing LoveXtreme Forever) by Abby Blake Page A

better.
    She finished the vegetables, checked the roast, and then sat sideways on the kitchen stool beside Lachlan. She leaned against the wall as he lifted her feet onto his lap and gave her another of his heavenly foot rubs. The man really was a master at massage.
    “When will Ryan and Ty be back?” she asked. Lachlan continued to knead the ball of her foot as he glanced up to her face.
    “I’m not really sure. The trip wasn’t exactly planned, but they’ve checked in twice today, so they’re all right.” He looked at her thoughtfully for a moment, perhaps debating whether to ask his question. “Do you know why they left the way they did?”
    She shook her head. “Not really, but it was right after sharing me. They got a little rougher than usual, but nothing bad happened. They didn’t hurt me or anything.”
    “I was talking to John, and he was worried he got a little rough with you, too.” She didn’t want to nod a yes, but she couldn’t really lie. Lachlan saw the answer in her eyes because he nodded as if she’d said yes. “Peter doesn’t seem to be himself either.”
    Lachlan just waited for her reaction to that statement before he pulled her onto his lap and held her close.
    “I’d say there was something in the water,” she half-heartedly joked, “but we brought the water with us.”
    “What about the others?”
    She shook her head against his chest. “They’ve been normal. Honestly, the sex has been wonderful—maybe a little too abundant—but definitely good. It’s been their reactions afterward that are concerning. Ryan and Ty took off on an unplanned excursion, Peter has been moping around all day, and John went and ratted himself out to his big brother.”
    She felt Lachlan’s chest rumble with laughter. It did sound a little funny when she said it that way, but it was essentially what John had done. Half of her men were acting weirdly, and it would be really nice to understand why.
    “Could there be something in the water?” she asked, feeling just a little freaked. If they all started pulling away she’d be even more alone than when she’d miscarried. At least back then she’d had Bryce to hold her. Lachlan must’ve felt the shiver of apprehension that worked its way down her spine because he pulled her closer and ran a soothing hand through her hair.
    “Probably not the water, but I’m beginning to suspect that something Ryan, Ty, Peter, and John were exposed to is affecting them somehow. Maybe something increasing their libido or overriding the control center in their brains.” He was quiet for a moment then lifted her off his lap and placed her on her feet. “Sorry, little one, but I need to talk to Matt. With his background in pathology he might be able to identify something with a few blood tests. I’m sure Peter and John would be happy to hand over some blood if it meant finding out what’s going on.”
    Mikayla nodded and stepped back to the oven to check her roast once more. Lachlan was almost out the door but turned back quickly to give her one more instruction. “If any of your husbands come on too strong, use that earsplitting whistle Ryan taught you, and I’ll come intervene.”
    She rolled her eyes, certain that even affected by some unknown chemical, her husbands would cut off their favorite body parts before ever hurting her. Mischief gripped her and she couldn’t help but ask the obvious question. “And what if that husband is you?”
    Lachlan assessed her for a moment and then said confidently, “It won’t be.”
    He left the room before she could come up with a smart-ass answer. Unfortunately, even though she knew it was meant as a reassurance, she couldn’t quite shake off the thought that he’d managed to resist her for a couple of months, so chemical or no, he’d had plenty of practice.
    She decided to make dessert as well, anything to keep her hands busy and hold the tears at bay. Damn.

Chapter Seven

    “We can’t go back to the lab in