Vampires' Embrace [Southern Supernatural Alphas] (Siren Publishing Menage Amour)

by Sara Anderson

  Dylan smiled at Addy and Devon could almost hear her sigh. He didn’t know whether to laugh or feel bad for Dylan.

  Glancing at Karen and Dean, Devon could tell by the side-glances they gave their daughter that they were well aware of their daughter’s sudden infatuation with Dylan, as well.

  Karen cleared her throat. “Addy, eat your food before it gets cold.”

  Jerking her eyes back to her plate, Addy picked up her fork. As she stirred her beans around, she kept glancing over at Dylan. When he put his phone in his pocket and stepped into the dining room, Addy pulled the chair out that was next to her. “You can sit by me!”

  Devon took a sip of his blood to cover the smile as he took in the sight with her rosy cheeks and wide eyes.

  Dylan sat down as Addy smiled at him, and all her sarcasm had vanished. “Would you like some tea?”

  Karen nodded. “Yes, hand him the pitcher, Addy.”

  Dylan tipped his head toward Karen. “Thank you, ma’am.”

  Addy held the pitcher out and managed to angle it so their hands touched for a brief moment. Dylan flashed a smile at Addy. “Thank you.”

  “You’re welcome.” Addy paused as Dylan poured himself some tea. “So, you’re a US Marshall?”

  “Yes.” Dylan reached for the plate of cornbread.

  Addy moved her hand out and picked up the plate before he could reach it. “Here you go. Would you like some butter too?”

  “Um. Yes, please.” Dylan was clearly between a rock and a hard place. Devon could see he wanted to be polite without leading the child on. Devon could only grin. Dylan must have caught on that the others found it funny. He turned and flashed Devon a murderous glare and his thoughts broadcast, This is not funny. I just got orders that I am to protect the youngling.

  Devon laughed, and then covered it with a cough and took another sip. This was rich. Well, it wasn’t going to be hard to keep her close.

  “Addy,” Dean said in the same stern tone.

  Addy looked up at her father, “Yes?”

  “Enough, eat your food.”

  “I was just—”

  Karen shook her head at Addy. “Don’t argue. Just eat and let our guests eat in peace.”

  Her face fell into a pout, and this time it was Addy who was flushing red at being rebuked in front of the man she had started a crush on. “I was just being courteous.”

  Dylan glanced over at Addy. “Thank you, Addison. You are a very courteous hostess.”

  Devon chuckled and picked up his wine glass. This was going to be fun to watch Dylan squirm. He was used to grown ladies chasing him, not little girls.

  You should sense the emotions coming from our furry friend, brother. Kieran snickered in his thoughts directed at Devon.

  I don’t have to. He’s shouting his thoughts out. Sam gave him the order to protect the little one.

  Oh dear, so he can’t run and hide from her. Whatever will he do? Kieran laughed once again and gave Dylan a wide smile.

  He’s very good at his job, and her family has her in hand. I am glad I am not in his position though.

  You and me both. Kieran chuffed a laugh out loud, which drew another glare from Dylan. Devon watched, amazed how the Lycan could give such a fierce glare like that without anyone else noticing. He went back to his meal and enjoyed the warm conversation around the table.

  * * * *

  Rachel felt very proud of herself for not once teasing Addy as Addy had Rachel at supper. With the last dish in the dishwasher, she threw the towel in the laundry room and walked out the back door.

  Her father stood outside with Devon and Kieran. “I pay eight dollars an hour plus room and board. I have an apartment over the barn that you two can sleep in. It has black out shades and cold A/C for sleeping during the day.”

  “Thank you, Dean.” Devon shook her dad’s hand and Kieran moved his head toward the apartment to indicate she should follow them.

  It’s a bad idea. We’re from two different worlds. It will never work out between us and I will just get hurt again. Despite her inner thoughts, Rachel’s feet moved toward the horse barn. They offered her everything she craved. They were tender one moment and dominating and ruthless the next. They pushed all the buttons that made her melt, how could she walk away from that?

  When Kieran and Devon entered the barn, she walked up to her dad. “I am guessing this is who you’ve spent the last week crying over?”

  She felt her cheeks flush, but she nodded. “Yeah.” She bit her lower lip for a moment and decided to go headlong and tell him everything. “Both of them.”

  “Poly?” Her dad raised his eyebrows. “I didn’t think you’d ever settle down with one man, much less two.”

  “Yeah, me either.” She turned her gaze back to the ground.

  “So, are you three okay now?”

  Rachel’s gaze returned to her dad. “I think so, maybe. I don’t know. We have a lot to talk about and it’s complicated.”

  “Love usually is, pumpkin. If you need any advice, you know where your mom and I are.” Dean strolled toward one of the barns, and then turned back toward her. “Make sure you close the windows and lock the door before doing anything. Your sister doesn’t need that kind of education.”

  “Yes, Daddy.” She could feel her face flushing, and her heart rate speeding up. Her dad knew she had two lovers and he didn’t freak out. He didn’t even bat an eyelash. As if she’d been given the green light, she spun and ran toward the barn. There was nothing stopping her from going after the men she wanted now.

  When she got to the top of the stairs, her Vampire lovers were waiting for her with the door open. She slowed when she saw Kieran standing with his arms crossed and Devon looking feral.

  “What?”

  “What? You are actually wondering what?” Devon arched his brow. That only made his face menacing.

  She thought about supper and could only remember her sister’s flirting with Dylan. “Are you worried about Addy? She’s still a kid. It’s a harmless infatuation. I don’t even think she’s even dated anyone before. She is naive and innocent.”

  Devon waved her off. “No. I am not concerned about your sister’s crush on Dylan. He can handle one child on his own. I am going to talk to you about how you called your safe word, and then you ran away from us.”

  She swallowed. “Oh.” She felt herself flush with guilt over how she’d made things hard on them. She knew Lycans and Vampires did not really get along, and she’d used that to her advantage. “Sorry.”

  “Since you said your safe word, we never had the chance to talk since then.” Devon stepped forward and cupped her chin. “Have you pulled your submission to us?”

  The longing in their eyes as she met their gazes pulled at her heart. She would never have any doubt about their love for her. Her warriors had come for her and were now giving her the ball to decide if she still wanted to play. Of course she did. She’d been heartsick since the moment she left the playroom and she thought they were over. It wasn’t fear of the Lycans that had her in tears every night. She’d missed her soul mates.

  “No.” She shook her head as she kept their gaze so they would know she was sincere.

  Devon’s face once again lit up in a smile that changed his entire demeanor. “Take a drive with us.” It wasn’t a request. Devon’s pores exuded dominance and her inner core melted at the sight of him.

  “Where are we going?” Her voice was husky and full of need. When had she gotten her libido back? Oh, now she remembered. The moment her Vampire warriors chased her down and demanded to know why she’d run. It had been her quiet longing that they would love her enough to chase her. She’d just been too frightened to contemplate that possibility.

  He reached out his forefinger and stroked down the soft skin of her arm. “We need to see the Alpha of the pack. I will ask you to do some things that could be painful for you. I need you to trust me.”

  She glanced over at Kieran and his normally gentle face was a bit harde
r than usual. “Am I in trouble? Is this because I said my safe word? Did you get into trouble and you want me to clear it up?”

  Devon shook his head. “No, no one is in trouble. Not yet, anyways. I will spank you for running later.” His grin promised her that he looked forward to the time he could fulfill that promise. “I will never punish you for stopping a scene.” He paused and regarded her for a moment. “The spanking is because you didn’t talk to us. We are going to have to do some work on your trust in us. Even after Kieran talked to you the other night, you still panicked when we found you. You acted as if we were here to hurt you. You don’t trust us at all.”

  Confusion furrowed Rachel’s brow. “I told you before, and I meant it. I never talked to Kieran last night.”

  Kieran walked forward with a confused frown. “I used some powerful herbs a witch friend made and I was able to make a type of link with you. I was sort of here, but not really. We talked, amongst other things.”

  She shook her head slowly at him. “I have no idea what you are talking about. I went to bed early.”

  “That doesn’t make any sense.” Kieran frowned as he stared at her. He shrugged as if he decided he would worry about it later. “Make sure your parents know you’re leaving.”

  She stood in place and felt her stubbornness rising. “What about me? What if I don’t want this? I was scared and I have to say I had a damn good reason to be, and I missed my family. So, now that you have decided that I need a spanking to teach me to trust you, what do I get out of this besides a sore ass?”

  Devon’s normally hard, careworn face softened and he cupped her cheek gently in the palm of his hand. “What you get from me is this old, beat-up heart of mine that would do anything for you. Just ask me and I will move heaven and earth to make you happy. What you get out of this is the protection of an entire nest that will willingly lay down their lives to keep you safe, because you matter to me. I want you to turn to Kieran and myself when you are frightened or in any kind of danger.” He glanced up at Kieran and then back down to her. “And you also get his bad jokes and terrible decorating ideas with lots of orgasms.”

  Was that a joke? Had her Gladiator really just told a joke? His lips twitched slightly, but then he controlled himself.

  “So, you want me to trust you?”

  “I want you to talk to me, love. I can read thoughts, but that has its own set of pitfalls. You would lose your sense of privacy and grow to resent us if we just broke into your thoughts any time we felt like it. You have to talk to us when you need something. I am a mind reader, but I’d rather you trusted me with your secrets.”

  In that moment, she did trust him. She saw the sincerity shining in his eyes and her heart and soul knew that he meant every word. “Yes,” she said, nodding. She couldn’t explain this deep trust in him. “Technically, it wasn’t you and Kieran I was so scared of. It was Dylan. I thought Marcus sent him to get rid of me. I trust you completely, I always have. Just as I have always loved you.”

  Devon swooped in and had her in his arms and he swung her around in circles a few times. “Baby, you’ve made my day, hell, my year.”

  He kissed her before Kieran cut in and cupped her chin to get his own kiss. “There is no getting rid of us now, darlin’,” Kieran drawled. He put her down and she stumbled slightly from the kisses and spinning.

  What were they talking about? Spankings. Oh yes, they were talking about her liking the spanking. Now that her ire wasn’t up, she remembered how much she enjoyed the last one. “I will go and tell my parents we’re going out so they don’t worry.”

  “You do that,” Devon said with a smile still lighting up his face.

  * * * *

  Rachel found her mom sitting at the table, putting photos together for her scrapbook. She stopped for just a moment to look. Somehow, during her week home, her mom had taken several pictures of her. Some of them she saw how heartbroken she looked, and it made her grateful that she had her two Vampires back.

  She wrapped her arms around her mom and gave her a kiss. “Hey, I’m going out with Devon and Kieran for a bit.”

  Her mom’s hand reached up and she stroked her arm as she stared at a picture of herself from earlier today. Kieran held on to her arms and his lips were brushing her forehead. It was a tender moment between them and her eyes stung as she saw the tender emotions clearly on each of their faces. “As much as I don’t want to lose my baby, I think I have.”

  “Lose me? I’m right here.” She hugged her mom even tighter.

  “I see the way you look at him, at both of them, actually. I also see how they look right back at you. You haven’t said anything, but these are the ones you were crying over, aren’t they.” She could see her mom wasn’t asking but simply wanting confirmation.

  She met her mom’s gaze. There was no point in trying to deny it. “Yeah, they are, both of them.” Her heart pounded as she bit her lower lip. She’d just admitted to her mom that she was in love with two men.

  Her mom studied her for a moment as the news settled in, and then she pulled her closer for a hug. “Just be careful, okay.”

  “They would never hurt me, Mom. I will have my phone on me, though, if it will make you feel better.”

  She shook her head. “That isn’t what I was talking about. You have always been an excellent judge of character. If you trust them, then so do I. With more than two people in a relationship, though, feelings can easily get hurt. Misunderstandings can cause a lot of heartache.”

  “Oh, we’ve already been there. Boy, have we been there. Huge not talking it out misunderstanding. I literally ran away, and they came after me.” She glanced to make sure the coast was clear. “They want to spank me for leaving them high and dry without talking to them and trusting them to help me.”

  She watched, but no shock or horror registered on her mom’s face. She studied her for a moment, searching her eyes. “Did they give you a safe word?”

  “Yes, and they talked a bit about submission and how they wanted me to trust them.”

  “Okay. If something seems off, or even if it feels right and you’re just confused, I’m here.”

  Rachel felt her heart lighten a bit more and she leaned in to kiss her mom’s cheek. “I will, we’ll have that talk anyways, cause there is so much I want to know.”

  Her mom gave her a side-glance and a grin. “I am a fountain of knowledge.”

  Warm sunshine flooded her heart. Her mom approved of her guys. She nearly floated as she made her way back out the kitchen door. “I love you, Mama,” she called as she pushed open the screen door. “Be home soon.”

  * * * *

  The familiar highway rumbled under the tires of the pickup truck as Devon drove east on the highway. Sandwiched between Devon and Kieran, she watched the scenery go by.

  “Where is this Alpha you want me to see?”

  “His home is in Shadetree. He’s expecting us, and Dylan is staying behind to protect your family while we’re gone.” Devon turned his head and graced her with another of his breathtaking smiles. She felt her heart melt once again as she stared into his dark eyes that sparkled like the sun shining on the waves of a windswept lake.

  Had she missed this light in his eyes, or was it new? She gazed into their depths and she had to admit this shining light was new. Could it be her? She knew her heart was so light now, it was dancing on air. Were their hearts just as light? She started to really believe all their talk about fated mates.

  Getting her mind off love and fate, she said, “The pack isn’t named after a town? That’s different.”

  Kieran pulled her closer to him and groped her breast. Ever since she’d told them she still wanted their domination over her, they’d touched her in some way. One or both of them had a hand up her thigh, on her breast or in her hair. Even without any sexual contact, she felt owned by them, but that ownership didn’t feel dirty. It felt good and safe.

  “Sam’s pack covered several towns and the countryside. East Texas is easier tha
n naming all the towns.”

  “Yeah, everything is bigger in Texas, huh.” Her skin tingled as Devon’s hand moved up her thigh and his finger stroked the soft skin where her leg joined her pelvis. It wasn’t even a sexual touch, but it was turning her on just the same.

  Once they reached Shadetree, they followed the main highway through town until they hit Center Street. They parked in front of a large two-story house. “Here we are. This is the Alpha’s house for the territory. Dylan called ahead. Sam’s expecting us.”

  A large man with light brown hair and blue eyes met them at the door. He held his hand out in a timeless gesture of politeness and maybe even friendship. “Welcome to our territory. I’m Wyatt. Sam’s back in his office.”

  “Thank you,” Devon said as he took the offered hand. They met each other’s stares. Two Alphas who used to be enemies, but now were shaking hands.

  She didn’t have to wonder if something huge was happening. She’d been with Marcus’s pack long enough to know that Lycans and Vampires didn’t mix. Maybe she wouldn’t have to give up her close friendship with Anna. Which reminded her, she needed to call her friend. Anna would understand she was afraid, but she still needed to make things right again.

  The cold air hit her first when they stepped into the house. The temperature shock when going from the oppressive heat into the air conditioned cool air always gave her goosebumps. The front door that was mostly frosted glass in an intricate pattern closed with a thud. Kieran kept her hand in his as they turned in the entryway. Polished side tables sat on each side of the front door for anything a person needed to set down immediately. When she glanced up, she saw a stunning chandelier hanging from the ceiling that had to be about twelve feet high.