A Vampire's Unlikely Alliance (Demon's Witch Series Book 3)

by Tena Stetler

  Stefan gave an almost unperceivable shake of his head and leaned over to Tristian, whispering, “I’ll explain later.”

  Tristian’s eyes darted from Stefan to the back of Brandy’s head before turning to face Brandy and Hannah, who were chattering away. He mouthed something to Hannah and turned on his heel.

  “The baggage claim area is this way.” Tristian strode quickly down the concourse, Hannah at his side.

  Stefan took Brandy’s hand and followed the couple to a huge area where a large group of people were waiting. With a groan, the conveyor belt began to turn, bringing with it bags of all shapes and sizes. Stefan grabbed his guitar, handed it to Brandy, and snagged the rest of their bags from the conveyor belt.

  “Come on. The car’s this way.” Tristian walked briskly toward the terminal exit.

  He opened the trunk of his luxury sedan. Stefan carefully stowed the luggage inside. Tristian closed the trunk lid and got into the vehicle. Stefan held the door open for Brandy, then slipped into the backseat beside her. Tristian’s eyes narrowed as he watched Stefan in the rearview mirror and mouthed the words “this better be good.” Stefan wrapped his arm around Brandy’s shoulders and pulled her close. She looked up questioningly but said nothing.

  Hannah twisted in the front seat, as much as the seatbelt would allow, so she could see Brandy as they talked. Hannah’s gaze wandered in Stefan’s direction occasionally.

  “We have reservations at the motel just a couple of miles from your house. Could you drop us off there?” Brandy asked cheerfully.

  “Absolutely not. You won’t be staying in a motel when we’ve plenty of room in our home,” Hannah said.

  Brandy explained, “Tonight we will be staying in a motel, and that isn’t negotiable. After we’ve a chance to talk and you get to know Stefan tomorrow, then we can discuss other arrangements.”

  Hannah glanced at Brandy, who shook her head adamantly. Disgruntled, Hannah finally agreed. “Tristian, take them to the motel.”

  Stefan hefted the two large suitcases from Tristian with ease. Brandy set the guitar and her carry-on bag on the sidewalk and hugged Tristian and Hannah. “Goodnight. We’ll see you in the morning.”

  “We’ll be here bright and early to pick you up,” Hannah said brightly.

  Brandy let out a heavy sigh. “Hannah, we’ve just endured a long trip. We’re tired and want to unwind before trying to go to sleep. Bright and early is not on our agenda. We’ll call you in the morning when we’re ready to go.”

  That was the final straw. Hannah’s blue eyes filled with tears that threatened to spill down her cheeks, rosy from the cold winter air. “Why are you being so difficult?” she demanded, her gaze darting between Stefan and Brandy. “We are so excited to have you visit. Now you’re closing yourselves off and sending us away.” She drew in a breath. Tristian reached an arm around her and whispered something.

  Brandy leaned over and put her arms around her sister. “I don’t mean to be difficult,” she said softly, weighing her words carefully. “I just think it’s best that you and Tristian get acquainted with Stefan when we’re well rested. That’s all. Stefan doesn’t know you nor you him. That could be a very uncomfortable situation, especially if we are staying in the same house. We need a little breathing room.”

  Brandy winked at Hannah and whispered, “Besides, Stefan and I would enjoy alone time before Tristian interrogates Stefan. You know how he is.”

  Hannah brightened, nodding in agreement. She blinked up at her sister and Stefan, then smiled knowingly, giving him a wink.

  Stefan exchanged a look with Brandy and rolled his eyes as he swaggered to the office and registered. He handed Brandy a key card as they walked to the room. Once inside, Brandy padded into the bathroom to shower. She turned to watch him take off his shirt and shoes. He stretched out on the king size bed with a broad smile across his face. Closing the bathroom door, she felt him relax. This must be heaven for him after several hours cooped up in a plane with a couple hundred warm-bloods.

  When she stepped out of the bathroom dressed in a long white satin negligee, which clung to her curves, deliberately leaving very little to his imagination, she grinned at the smoldering look he sent her.

  Easing into the chair beside the bed, she leaned back, closing her eyes. Stefan got to his feet, bent down, and kissed her forehead, wrapping his arms around her, inhaling deeply.

  “Are you sniffing me?” she said on a laugh.

  “Keep those eyes closed for just a minute more.” He took her wrist in his hand. She felt the cool metal of the bracelet circle it.

  At the click of the clasp, she opened her eyes and stared wide-eyed at the delicate emerald and diamond bracelet. A small gasp escaped her lips as her other hand flew to her mouth. “Stefan, it’s beautiful, but…”

  When she brought her warm hand to his cool lips, she shivered a bit. Fire and ice—that’s what we are.

  The corners of his mouth curved into a smile as his lips skimmed over her knuckles. “To celebrate a new beginning.”

  “Since I returned, your actions have more than shown your intentions.” She reached up and touched her lips to his, though she was still waiting for his words.

  He straightened and sat on the bed. “I know, but the next couple of weeks may be difficult. This will remind us what we are working toward.”

  Brandy arched a brow. “Trust comes more easily for some of us than others, boyo.” She rose from the chair and curled into his lap. “Actually, it’s a beautiful reminder of just how far we’ve come and where we are going. Maybe to Ireland for Christmas?”

  Pausing for a beat, he said slowly, “Maybe.” Stretched out the full length of the bed, taking her with him, he turned her so his lips brushed gently over hers, then took her mouth hungrily, wanting more but showing her he was willing to wait for now.

  “Oh Stefan.” She sighed sleepily as he arranged her against him in a cozy spoon position, his front to her back. She drifted off to sleep.

  She shivered slightly as he lay quietly next to her. Sleepily, she watched him slide out of bed and his bare feet shuffle into the bathroom. He had a habit of taking a warm shower, then returning to the bed warm against her.

  Chapter Sixteen

  Bringing Home a Vampire

  Steam rolled out of the bathroom door as Stefan stepped out, toweling his hair. He stopped and stared, surprised to find her sitting crossed-legged on the bed. Buck naked, he made no effort to cover up.

  Her eyes went wide. Red patches bloomed on her cheeks. Still her gaze wandered over him and quickly returned to his face.

  Finished toweling his hair, he wrapped the towel low on his hips. “Enjoy the view?” He sauntered over to the bed and eased in beside her, his hand caressing her arm as he leaned in to trail kisses up her neck, across her jaw, and trace her lips with his tongue.

  “Uhh…maybe,” she stuttered. “I mean, you said maybe about going to Ireland. Is that close to a yes? I need to get tickets. Call my parents with the wonderful news tomorrow, uh…today before we go to Hannah’s. Do you have a passport?”

  “Sure, I do,” he said in a low, seductive rumble. “But when did maybe turn into yes?” He tilted his head and looked at her with interest, tracing his finger along the curve of her shoulder, around the swell of her breast, dipping into the cleavage bared by her negligee. “Will you tell them a vampire is coming to celebrate Christmas with them?”

  She licked her lips, shook her head slowly, and caught his hand. “Perhaps it isn’t something I should spring on them over the phone,” she said hesitantly. “Rather tell them in person.”

  “Probably a good idea.” He kissed the side of her neck below her ear.

  “Um…provided I can convince my sister to keep her mouth shut. Stefan, you are making it very hard to concentrate.”

  “Oh, sorry.” A devilish grin spread across his face as he eased down beside her. “You were saying.”

  “My parents should hear it from me. Hannah probably has an idea w
hat you are, but she won’t say anything till she can confirm it.”

  “If your parents talk to her before we see them, she won’t tell?” Hannah may, but Tristian sure as hell knows what I am.

  “No, I don’t believe she will. That’s one reason I insisted on staying in a motel and left her with the impression that we’re intimate. At that point they have no choice but to accept our relationship, and she no time to confirm what you are.”

  “She won’t know that we’re not? I mean, you seem to be able to tell anything about anyone when you meet them.”

  “That’s true, but if you play your part well, she won’t know for sure. She doesn’t have the same abilities I do.”

  He raised his arms above his head and let them drop to his sides. “How the hell am I supposed to do that?”

  “Just follow my lead. We’re openly affectionate people when committed.” She smiled shyly, stifling a yawn.

  “Brandy, we’re not. Not due to my lack of trying.” He wiggled his eyebrows. “I won’t let you lie to your family. Tell them the truth, or the trip is off. Or we can…”

  Ignoring his innuendo, she protested. “I won’t be lying.” Her full lips formed a pout. “It’s not my fault if Hannah jumps to the wrong conclusion. Trust me. It will be easier this way, especially with Tristian. I’ll tell my parents and Hannah the truth when we arrive in Ireland. I promise.”

  “It is if you deliberately mislead her, especially when my scent is all over you,” he muttered. “Are they coming to Ireland for Christmas too?”

  A mischievous grin spread across her face. “Yes, they just don’t know it yet. We’ve a very busy day tomorrow, and I need some rest. But I wouldn’t mind a pair of strong arms around me as I sleep.”

  “I don’t think that is a good idea. There’s no guarantee I can control myself.” His quick frown turned to a slow seductive smile. “Unless you are willing to….”

  “I can’t.”

  “What are we going to do about this physical impasse?” He leaned into her and trailed kisses lazily down her neck, unwilling to concede defeat yet. If I have my way, she’ll need a cold shower. Or maybe…

  “There is nothing to do about it,” she said a bit testily, then gazed into his heavy-lidded eyes and murmured, “I guess we’ll have to work on that.”

  Was he ready for the type of commitment a physical relationship required? But she wanted him badly. He could sense it. All he had to do was convince her.

  He reached between her legs, gently unfolded them, laid her back, hovering over her, and whispered, “Let me pleasure you, my love. I can do it without us becoming one, but intimacy would be required. We’ll go no further than you are comfortable with.”

  “Oh, you can, and what about you?” she said softly. Her fingertips caressed the muscles across his bare, sculptured chest as she moved her hand down his well-defined abs, finally sneaking her fingers beneath the towel.

  He stilled as her fingers explored closer and closer to him. “Oh, we’ll think of something.” Nudging the strap of her silky negligee off her shoulder again, he slid his hand over her full, round breast. His other hand gathered her gown above her waist, and he slipped between her legs on bended knees as he caressed the inside of her thighs, spreading her wide, and leaned in. “You are absolutely beautiful.”

  He saw the war in her eyes, but her body had a mind of its own. She arched toward his touch, straining to accept more as his fingers gently teased and stroked. Eventually, she gasped in sweet ecstasy.

  Her fingers wrapped around his hard, thick length as she learned what pleasured him.

  ****

  The morning sun was warm, shining brightly through the window when her eyes blinked open. She stirred and peered up at Stefan through her thick lashes as the heat rose in her cheeks. Her body was draped across his bare chest as she recalled the pleasure they’d given each other until the wee hours of the morning.

  “Good morning,” she murmured.

  “Good morning, sunshine. Did you sleep well?” He brushed a strand of hair from her face and brushed his lips over her temple.

  She stretched and sighed, turning her face up to brush her lips against his. “I feel wonderful.” Snuggled against his chest, she took a deep breath, drawing in his musky sent, not feeling any of the anxiety she’d expected, only a warm glow of belonging. Whatever happened next, she would never regret last night and the pleasure they’d shared. Though he’d been the one to insist they stop short of mating as set forth by her people. “What time is it?” She wriggled and twisted, trying to look at the clock.

  His arms held tight around her as if he wasn’t ready to let her go or let the world intrude on this feeling. “A little after eleven a.m.”

  “Wow, it’s late. Hannah will be pounding on our door soon if I don’t call her.” Brandy tilted her head and tried to concentrate. “It’ll be about six o’clock in the evening in Ireland. Da should be home. I want to talk to Ma and Da at the same time and before Hannah shows up.”

  Reluctantly, he released his hold and sat up in the bed, leaning back against the headboard. The corners of his mouth turned up in a satisfied smile. Brandy slipped out of bed and padded across the room to pick up her cell phone. She scooted back to the bed and yanked up the blanket, curling up next to him, her head resting in the curve of his shoulder, letting the sun warm her.

  She tapped the phone’s screen, touched in the number, and waited for the connection, chewing nervously on her bottom lip.

  “Ma, how are you?”

  “Doing well. Are you okay? Is something wrong?”

  “Oh…no…nothing is wrong. Everything’s fine. Is Da there too?”

  “Aye, that he is,” her mother answered cheerfully.

  “Stefan and I would like to come to Ireland and celebrate Christmas with you.”

  “You would? That would be absolutely wonderful! Then you and your young lad worked things out?”

  “Aye, we did.” Brandy felt Stefan’s anxiety rise and knew he could hear the conversation.

  “Ma, you were right. Things are much better, and I’m so happy.”

  “I’m glad. We so look forward to meeting your young lad.”

  Then Brandy hesitated and drew in a deep breath. “He’s a good man, but he’s not one of us.”

  Her father’s gruff voice came over the phone. “We knew you weren’t looking for one of your own when you left Ireland. You were looking for something else… I guess you found him.”

  “Funny you should say that, Da. Someone else made that very same observation recently.” She rolled her eyes and glanced over at Stefan.

  His lips twitched to keep from smiling. “Boy, is that a double standard. They didn’t get in near as much trouble for that observation as I did,” he whispered.

  “We’ll be pleased to meet him. When will you arrive?”

  “Not sure yet. Haven’t made the reservations. I’ll let you know as soon as I do. I just wanted to make sure you didn’t have other plans for Christmas.”

  “Is he like Tristian then?”

  “No, Ma, he’s not like Tristian either.”

  “She doesn’t know the half if it,” Stefan commented in a low voice. Brandy reached to slap at him. Only a breeze of air brushed his face as he moved out of range, a wide smile on his face.

  “Well, you are of legal age, and you know what you’re getting into. Do you love him? Is he good to you?” Her father’s voice boomed over the line.

  “Da, we’re just coming to visit, and yes we know exactly what we’re getting into.”

  “You’re not going to run off and get married like Hannah did, then tell us afterward. Are you?” Her mom asked anxiously.

  Brandy laughed. “Ma, it’s not like that.” She sighed again. “No, I am not going to run off and get married.”

  “Thanks be to God for that. I want you to know, when you get around to planning your wedding, your father and I want to give you a traditional Irish wedding over here.”

  “Ma, Da,
could you do me a favor?” She blew out a breath. The hair fallen over her face bounced to the side, where she tucked it behind her ear.

  “Sure, darling.”

  “Stop talking of marriage. You’re going to scare Stefan off. He is already nervous about spending Christmas with you. Let’s take one step at a time, and don’t embarrass me anymore. He’s right here and can hear every word.”

  There was a long pause. “Are you planning to stay with your sister?”

  “No, probably not. We’re staying at a motel just a mile from her place. They don’t know Stefan. To be honest, I don’t feel very comfortable around Tristian right now. It’s probably best if we get acquainted before staying in the same house.”

  Another long, uncomfortable pause and her mother said flatly, “I see.”

  Those two little words spoke volumes, and Brandy chose to ignore the implications. “Please don’t tell Hannah we plan to spend Christmas in Ireland yet. We’ve just arrived in Maine and plan to spend the day with them. I’m kinda hoping to convince them to join us at Christmas time since you’ve never met Tristian.” Laughing, she said, “You can call Hannah later and get the scoop on Stefan.”

  Her mother’s melodic laugh flowed through the phone. “We love you.”

  “I love you too. Bye for now.” Brandy tapped the screen to disconnect the call and sighed, holding the phone to her chest for a few moments, a faraway look in her eyes. Then she laid it on the nightstand.

  “Well, how did it go? Your mother’s tone of voice changed for a bit.”

  “Good, they’re looking forward to meeting you.” Smiling, she slid to the edge of the bed, leaned over, and picked up the jeans she’d laid out last night.

  “So I heard. Are you sure this is a good idea?” He rolled his shoulders and rubbed the back of his neck nervously as he stood and dressed.

  “It’ll be fine. They’ll love you.”

  “Yeah, until your parents learn I’m a creature of the night.”

  “Stefan, that won’t matter once they meet you. I was heartbroken when I went home months ago, so they know we’ve had problems. Ma convinced me to try to work it out. She knew more about us than I did at the time. Besides, I’d like to visit with my family. We’ll have a wonderful time. Even better if I can convince Hannah and Tristian to join us.” She caressed his arm reassuringly in hopes of alleviating some of his anxiety.