"I don't know," Stefan admitted. "I was colder as a human but I blamed that on the events of my childhood. Looking back, I think it was more than that though. I believe there was always a darkness in me that was only amplified by my change. But asking that question is like asking why some people are killers and others aren't? Is it birth, circumstances, are they driven to it? You're asking questions that there are no answers to; don't get caught up so much in searching for the answers, it will only eat you alive."
"Then what do I search for?" he asked.
"What it is that you want for yourself, and for her. What this is between you. If you believe she is your mate that will either make you stronger or it will destroy you."
Ethan stared at Stefan for a minute before pacing away again. "I guess being almost three hundred years old has made you able to give such sage advice."
"And tangling with your sister, she was a bit difficult in the beginning if you do recall."
Ethan released a short bark of laughter and turned away from Stefan. "That's putting it mildly, but then I wasn't exactly easy on you either."
"No you weren't," Stefan agreed. "There is another thing you must remember in all of this." Ethan shot a questioning look over his shoulder. "You, Isabelle, and your siblings all exhibit abilities that none of the created vampires have, such as being able to smell out vampires that have killed humans. You and Isabelle are both stronger than any vampire of your ages should be. What you've been feeling may be intensified because of the fact that you are stronger. You were born into this, and there are probably things that all of you can do that none of us know about, things that may affect each of you in a different way. Emma may be the one to give you the relief from the demons you've been fighting before your bloodlust drives you to kill."
Ethan stared at Stefan as he began to see him in a new light. He was no longer the egotistical older vampire that was chasing after his sister. Stefan was his friend, someone that he could turn to in a way that he couldn't turn to any of his siblings, not even Isabelle.
A knock sounded on the door before Isabelle opened it and poked her head in. "I could have been naked," he told her.
She frowned at him. "It's good to know you would get naked in front of my husband."
Ethan scowled at her and shot Stefan a look. "You're a lucky man," he said sarcastically.
"I've never heard that before," Stefan said and gave Isabelle a loving smile in an attempt to placate her.
"We can change things," she replied haughtily.
The smile slid from Stefan's face. "Never."
"I didn't think so," Isabelle said with a grin. "What are you two talking about?"
"Big Macs versus Whoppers, I'm personally a Whopper guy," Ethan told her.
"You're hilarious," Isabelle said as she glanced between the two of them.
"How is mom?" he asked in an attempt to distract her from her line of questioning.
"She's good, missing us, and I did notice that change of topic."
Ethan grinned at her as he strode forward and rubbed the top of her head. "You always were a quick one," he told her as he slipped past her and out the door.
"Why don't we all go out to dinner together tonight?" She grabbed hold of his arm to stop him before he could make an escape. "I'd like to get to know Emma better."
"You mean scare her off."
She scowled at him. "I am not frightening."
"You've obviously never met you." Uneasiness flickered over her features and he realized that teasing her wasn't helping her growing apprehension about his relationship with Emma. "Why don't we meet for a drink at the bar later?" he suggested.
She looked as if she was going to protest but Stefan stepped forward and rested his hands on her shoulders. "That sounds like a good idea."
Ethan would like to stay and reassure her more, but he had to get out of here and back to Emma. Even the constant battle he waged to keep himself in check wasn't as consuming as his driving need to make sure that she was safe. He squeezed Isabelle's hand, turned away from her and hurried out the door.
CHAPTER 12
Emma glanced around the crowd gathered inside; Ethan kept hold of her hand as he led her through the people toward where Isabelle and Stefan sat at the bar. It took everything she had not to fidget as they both turned toward her and leveled her with curious stares that made her feel as if her hair had turned pink sometime in between leaving the restaurant and arriving here.
"Hi," Isabelle greeted with a smile but there was something assessing in her eyes.
Emma fought the urge to glance at Ethan for reassurance, but she'd never hid behind someone before and she wasn't about to start now. "Hi," she said and forced a smile.
"Sit down," Isabelle said and patted the seat next to her. Emma swallowed heavily before sliding onto the stool next to Ethan's sister. "Ethan told me you just graduated from college, what are you going to do now?"
"I'm not sure," Emma answered and leaned over to place her drink order with the bartender.
"What do you want to do?" Isabelle inquired.
Emma felt like a witness on the stand as she leaned back in her chair and met the amazingly pure violet eyes of Ethan's sister. "Still haven't figured that one out yet."
Isabelle laughed as she picked up her drink and took a sip. "Did you like college?"
"I had a lot of fun there." She was extremely grateful when her drink finally arrived and she had something to do with her hands and eyes as she lifted it and took a sip.
"Where do you plan to live now that you're done with school?" Isabelle asked before Emma even had a chance to swallow.
"Isabelle, enough," Ethan said as he rested his hands on Emma's shoulders. Isabelle's eyes flickered between the two of them, a muscle twitched in her cheek as her jaw clenched. "It's not the Spanish Inquisition."
"Sorry," Isabelle said to Emma.
"Its ok," Emma assured her.
"It's just that Ethan doesn't bring many girls around, in fact I've never met a girlfriend of his; we were actually beginning to wonder if he even liked girls."
"Isabelle!" Ethan hissed as Stefan choked on his drink and began to laugh loudly. Emma didn't know if she was mortified or if she wanted to laugh out loud, she settled for chuckling along with Stefan as Isabelle smiled innocently at Ethan and he glared at her in return.
"Ignore my sister, we don't let her out in public very often," Ethan grumbled.
Isabelle took a sip of her drink. "More often than you," she replied cheerfully.
Emma started to relax as the banter between the siblings eased the stress that had been mounting. Isabelle focused on her again, but her inquisition seemed to be over as she turned the conversation toward music and television shows. A pleasant hour slid by and Emma was beginning to realize she actually enjoyed Isabelle's company when she wasn't trying to pry into her life.
Ethan leaned over her and ordered two more drinks for them. He stiffened suddenly as his head turned toward the front door. Emma frowned as Isabelle and Stefan also became rigid and turned in their stools. She tried to see what had caught their attention but she could barely see anything past Ethan's chest.
"What's the matter?" Emma inquired.
Ethan shook his head and moved even closer to her, overwhelming her with his heat and delicious scent. She didn't know what was going on, but she was unable to stop herself from wrapping her hand around his powerful forearm. He glanced down at her and forced a smile to his face but it didn't reach his eyes.
"Everything ok?" she asked.
"It's fine," he said and bent to drop a kiss on her forehead. Emma found herself instinctively reacting by pressing against him. She heard his harsh intake of breath seconds before his mouth drifted down to brush against hers. Her toes curled, her fingers dug into his arm as his lips seared into hers and he nibbled on her bottom lip. Disappointment filled her when he pulled away but his hand remained on her shoulder and his body stayed against hers.
Emma frowned as Stefan slid to
his feet beside Isabelle. From around Ethan's chest she finally spotted the three men that had caught his attention the last time she'd seen them here. Two of the men glanced over at them but the third was already focused on the dance floor.
"Are you sure you don't know them?" she inquired.
"I'm sure." He turned toward her and finished off his beer. "Would you like another drink?"
"No, I think I've had enough."
He took hold of her hand. "How about a walk on the beach?"
Emma looked at the three men who were now on the dance floor. There appeared to be nothing wrong with the men, but no matter what he said, she knew that Ethan and his family were reacting strangely to those guys. Whatever it was they didn't like about them, he wasn't going to tell her, and it really didn't matter if they were leaving the bar.
"That sounds great," she said and slid off the barstool. She turned to Isabelle and Stefan as Isabelle stood too. "Are you coming with us?"
Isabelle glanced at Ethan before shaking her head. "No, I think we're going to head home."
Ethan was careful to keep Emma away from the three unknown vampires as he led her outside. He walked with Isabelle and Stefan over to the Jeep in the small parking lot, grabbed his backpack from the backseat and closed the door. He nodded to the both of them, and tapped the closed door before turning to Emma. She was studying the backpack slung over his shoulder with a raised eyebrow.
"Big plans?" she asked.
He smiled at her as he took hold of her hand and pulled her close to his side. "Just a few supplies for tomorrow."
"Awfully sure of yourself, aren't you?"
He laughed and released her hand to slide his arm around her waist. "I'll go home tonight if you want me to."
It was the last thing in the world she wanted as she leaned against him and kicked at the warm, grainy sand beneath her feet. She'd never felt this secure before as her skin tingled from where it came into contact with his. The mellow ebb and flow of the ocean was soothing and peaceful as the salty scent of it washed over her. Light from the moon and stars glimmered on the water, she almost felt as if she could walk across the sea and touch the moon as it hung heavily in the clear night sky.
"It's beautiful," she murmured.
"It is," he agreed but his eyes were focused on her as they walked further down the beach. "I'm sorry Isabelle was so overwhelming."
Emma brushed back a strand of hair that blew across her face. "I enjoyed talking to her once she stopped..."
"Grilling you?" he suggested when her voice trailed off.
"Yeah, I guess that would be the best way to describe it."
"She's overprotective of all her siblings, I think it comes from being the oldest female."
"I think that's just what comes from having brothers and sisters, it must be nice. I mean it's not great when you're on the receiving end of it, but I understand. She loves you and apparently she was also beginning to question your sexuality," she added with a laugh.
He chuckled as he shook his head. "Sometimes I'd like to strangle her."
"I think that also comes from having siblings."
He kissed the top of her head. "I think this is where we exit."
She followed his gaze up the hill to the small house she was staying in. "Jill and Mandy are probably still awake."
"Then I promise not to jump you in the entryway again."
Emma couldn't stop the burst of laughter that escaped her; she pinched his side before darting away from him and fleeing across the sand. Her feet slipped in the loose sand but she forced her small legs to move faster, she could hear him steadily gaining on her. She tried to dash to the side but his arms encircled her waist and he easily lifted her off of the ground. A squeal of delight escaped her as he pressed her back against his chest and spun her around in a circle. Lightness filled her heart as he stopped spinning and walked with her the rest of the way across the beach to the road.
"I don't think carrying me is helping with the not being jumped in the entry part," she told him when she felt his erection pressing against her spine.
"Maybe not, but I'm not ready to let you go."
Was he trying to make her fall in love with him? If so, she was dangerously close to it as he set her on her feet in the driveway. "Ethan..."
She found that words failed her as his emerald eyes met hers in the moonlight. Emotion swelled so vehemently in her chest that she almost threw herself into his arms and buried her head in his chest. "What is it Emma?" he asked worriedly.
She shook her head and turned away from him. She'd sound like a complete moron if she started stuttering on about feelings and whatever other foolishness had been about to spill from her mouth. Pulling the key from her pocket, she slid it into the door and pushed it open. Jill and Mandy were sitting on the couch with drinks in their hands. Classical music, Mandy's favorite, drifted through the room.
"Hey guys!" Jill greeted. She'd taken all of the braids out of her hair yesterday; it tumbled around her shoulders in waves that emphasized her high cheekbones and pretty features. "Did you have fun?"
"We did," Emma answered. "What about you guys?"
"It's a party wherever we are," Jill assured her.
"Very true," Emma agreed as she kicked her shoes off and placed them in the hall closet.
"There's some margarita mix still in the blender, help yourselves," Mandy offered.
"I'm good," Ethan said as he walked over to stand beside her.
"I think I've had enough for tonight," Emma told her and cast a shy glance at Ethan. "I'm ready for some sleep."
Jill and Mandy both smirked as they took another sip of their fruity drinks. "Sleep tight," Mandy said as they turned away.
"I don't think there will be much sleep going on in there," Jill whispered and they both burst into loud giggles.
Emma shook her head but followed Ethan to her room.
***
"I have something for you," Ethan said as he ran his index finger in a circle around the small of her back. Her hair tickled against the bottom of his chin but he didn't move to brush it away.
Emma had to force herself to lift her head in order to look at him, she was so thoroughly exhausted and satisfied that all she wanted to do was lie there and never move again. "You do?" She had to stifle a yawn as she asked the question.
"I do."
He sat up and swung his legs off the bed with far more energy than she had right now. Emma put her elbow on the bed and plopped her head on her hand as she watched him walk across the room to his backpack. The light from the single candle on the nightstand revealed that his skin was still slick with sweat as it played over his taut muscles and firm ass. Much to her surprise, she found herself growing aroused again as he dug into the bag.
He pulled something out and turned back to her. It looked incredibly small in his hands but the sight of the dress she had been admiring in the store earlier caused her to bolt upright in the bed. Her exhaustion vanished as the blanket fell away to reveal her breasts. Her mouth dropped as he walked over and sat on the bed beside her.
"You shouldn't have," she breathed.
"I saw you looking at it today; I hope I got the right size."
She finally tore her attention away from the beautiful dress and focused on his exquisite face. Something in her chest began to swell as she met his eyes, she wasn't quite sure what the feeling was as she'd never quite experienced it before, but she knew that she never wanted it to end.
"It's... it's beautiful," she stammered. "But it was so expensive and..."
"No ands," he said forcefully. "I wanted to get it for you and that's that."
She was tempted to argue further with him but she found that she couldn't when he was smiling at her and holding that dress. "Thank you," she whispered.
"Come on, let's see if it fits," he said. He rose to his feet and gestured for her to do the same.
Emma stared at him for a second before tossing the rest of the blanket aside and climbing out of the b
ed to stand in front of him. She tilted her head back and raised her arms up for him to slide the dress over her head. The material felt like a feather caressing her skin as it settled over her. It hugged her curves before flowing out at her waist. The bottom of it spun out around her as she twirled in it.
"I love it!" she cried and stopped spinning to throw her arms around him.
Relief filled Ethan as he wrapped his arms around her and pulled her against him. He hadn't been sure how she was going to react when he gave her the dress, had thought maybe she would think it was too much or that he was moving too fast. He knew they had to talk about everything, but his experience with conversations about relationships had consisted of three words, don't get attached. Those were the last three words he was ever going to utter to her though.
There was nothing more perfect than she was, or the joy that she radiated right now, he was certain of it. He was already growing erect again as he slid the dress slowly up her body and pulled it over her head. Her pert breasts, rounded hips, and silken skin were bared to him once more. He draped the dress over the chair and began to edge her toward the bed. He was going to enjoy burying himself inside of her for another couple of hours, enjoy feeling every bit of her all over again.
The sound of her laughter was contagious and he found himself laughing with her as they tumbled onto the bed together. She had the most radiant smile he'd ever seen. He traced his finger over her lips and down across her chin. "It's a perfect fit," she whispered as she wrapped her arms around his neck.
"Just like you," he muttered against her lips.
Something flickered through her eyes; her grin turned playful as she wiggled beneath him. "I'll have to give you an extra special thank you for the dress and the flowers," she said as she nibbled on his bottom lip.
Ethan was in the process of losing himself to her when her words finally registered. He propped his hands on either side of her head as he held himself above her. "What flowers?"
Emma frowned at him as the smile suddenly left his face and his eyes became as icy as the Tundra. Her hand fell away from his cheek as he stared at her. "What flowers?" he demanded again.
Untamed (Vampire Awakenings, Book 3) Page 12