“Please don’t blame Stephan,” the woman pleaded with a soft smile as she moved toward us. “I’m certain my son would have explained everything to you much more thoroughly if we hadn’t barged into his home at the worst possible time.”
Being born a vampire apparently had more than its fair share of advantages because nobody would ever guess the woman was old enough to have grown sons. “I’m sure you’re right.”
“Of course, I would have, Mother.” Stephan wrapped his arm around my shoulder and pulled me against his side. “But I barely had any time with my consort after saving her from a group of nightwalkers”—he glared at Athan—“to be able to explain much of anything to her.”
His brother raked his fingers through his hair. “Damn, I knew I should have insisted that Bronwyn accept a ride home.”
“Yes, you should have.” Stephan gave me a squeeze. “I would have been lost forever if anything had happened to her before I arrived.”
“If anyone should be apologizing, it’s me,” I mumbled, heat filling my cheeks. “I’m the one who repeatedly turned down the offer of a ride because I didn’t want to be a bother.”
“Oh, my dear. You’ll never be a bother.” Stephan’s mother moved closer to give us a hug. “Kieran and Athan will be more than happy to do whatever it takes to protect you, just as Stephan is for Thana and Selene.”
“Our mother is correct. If there’s ever anything you need and Stephan isn’t available to help, please call upon Athan or me for help,” Kieran agreed.
Or at least I assumed that was who he was since we hadn’t actually been introduced yet. “Thank you...Kieran?”
“Where are our manners?” Their mother pointed at her chest. “I’m Stephan’s mother, Aria.”
The man she’d been standing next to when we came in—whose bright blue eyes were a perfect match for Stephan’s—stepped forward to shake my hand. “I’m their father, Tristan.”
Athan flashed me a grin. “You already know me.”
“And I’m the eldest brother, Kieran.” He executed a little bow and winked.
Stephan pulled me closer into his side. “I highly doubt you’ll ever need to call upon them since I’ll always be here for you, but my brothers’ offer was sincere.”
“It absolutely was.” Aria clapped her hands and smiled. “Family is everything.”
It was a sweet sentiment, but not one I’d experienced in my own life when family tended to let me down instead of lending a helping hand when needed. Feeling more out of my element, I glanced up at Stephan. Even though we barely knew each other, he somehow seemed to understand what my look meant. “Speaking of family...since it’s you all, I can be blunt. My consort and I need some time alone please.”
“Oh, yes. I guess you’re right.” Aria’s happy expression dimmed a little. “It’s just, we missed so much when your older brothers met their consorts, and I’m so excited to finally not miss out on this momentous occasion in one of our son’s lives.”
“At least we aren’t halfway around the world on a top secret mission for the council,” Tristan murmured as he took his wife’s hand to lead her out of the room with Athan and Kieran following closely behind.
As soon as the sound of the front door closing echoed through the house, Stephan turned to me. “Now that they’re gone, where were we at?”
6
Stephan
As I pulled Bronwyn into my arms and was about to whisk her back to our bedroom, her stomach growled. I laughed as her cheeks bloomed with a pretty shade of pink. “I’m sorry, angel,” I murmured as I brushed my thumb over the soft blush. “I should have thought to feed you.”
“Aren’t you hungry, too?” she asked curiously. “Didn’t you say you were rushing to the party? Were you going to eat there...?” She trailed off as her eyes rounded with whatever realization had popped into her head. “Wait...were you going to drink from someone at the party?” she nearly shrieked. But it wasn’t horror that I saw in her deep brown eyes. It was jealousy.
I threw my head back and laughed heartily while wrapping her in a big hug. “You’re too fucking adorable. And sexy as fuck when you get possessive.”
“I’m not possessive,” she grumbled into my shirt.
Laughing again, I let up on my hold and kissed her temple. With one finger, I lifted her chin so I could see her beautiful face. “Too cute.” Then I shook my head in answer to her question. “No, angel. Daywalkers despise the taste of blood directly from the source. We usually stick to bagged blood.”
Bronwyn’s nose wrinkled just the tiniest bit, and I bit my lip to hide my smile when I realized she was miffed as she stated, “So my blood is revolting to you?”
I wanted to laugh again, except she seemed genuinely upset by the idea. Dropping my head into the crook of her neck, I inhaled deeply before scraping a fang lightly along her delicate skin and smiling when she shivered. “Your blood is the exception, my sweet mate. My body craves your blood as much as it desires to be buried inside you.”
Her plump lips parted and formed a little O, and I couldn’t resist stealing a kiss. But before it got out of control, I tore my mouth away, took her hand, and led her to the kitchen.
Bronwyn gasped when we entered the large, bright room. It was a chef’s dream kitchen—or so I’d been told by the designer when I’d renovated the house after buying it a few years ago. I didn’t cook much, so it hadn’t been a room I paid much attention to. However, I’d let the man have free rein over it, and now, seeing the look of wonder and excitement on Bronwyn’s face as she eagerly looked around, I knew I’d made the right decision.
“This kitchen...wow,” she breathed. I guided her to a large island in the middle of the room and helped her into one of the chairs, all the while her eyes bounced around, taking everything in.
“I take it you like to cook?”
She nodded, but her cheeks dusted with pink once again. “Yes, although I’ve had very little experience. My mother and I used to bake together, and I often helped with dinner. After my parents died, I went into foster care and wasn’t allowed in the kitchen in my foster homes. And the shared kitchen at the boarding house is...well, let’s just say, I wouldn’t trust much that was prepared in there.” She let out a little laugh and shifted as though uncomfortable. “I’d be afraid to do anything in here in case I broke something. I’ve never even been inside a kitchen this fancy.”
I frowned and had to stamp down the desire to hunt down every person who’d put the sadness in my mate’s tone and tear their throats out. I made sure my voice was pleasant when I responded, “Well, this is your kitchen now. You can use it anytime you want and make whatever changes that please you.”
Bronwyn’s eyes widened and she glanced around again. “I wouldn’t change a thing. This kitchen was plucked right out of my daydreams.”
I nodded and smiled. “Good”—I winked—”and I promise, I’ll eat anything you make and love it.”