“Telling me is hardly going public. I’m her family, for goodness' sake.” Aunt Judy pressed her hand to her chest in an exaggerated gesture of affront while her beady eyes gleamed as she took in the grandeur of the foyer.
I leaned into Kieran’s side, feeling an odd mixture of shame that he was seeing firsthand how my aunt placed money over my happiness and relief over the fact that she wasn't going to try to sway me against him. At least not when there was a chance that there could be something in it for her. Which Kieran picked up on right away and used to his advantage. “You’re quite right. I’m terribly sorry we didn’t think to include you in our happy news sooner. We’ll have to find a way to make it up to you. Maybe a nice, long trip somewhere? Wherever you’d like to go, my treat.”
“That would be lovely.” Aunt Judy flashed him a blinding smile. “I haven’t been to Europe in a while. Although, I suppose I can’t leave until all this drama with the Thackers is settled.”
I should have been amazed by how quickly she switched her alliance, but nothing Aunt Judy did would surprise me anymore after last night. Pressing my lips together, I forced them into a semblance of a smile and kept quiet while Kieran continued to handle her beautifully. “I’m not certain how much help Thana and I will be to the police since she came straight over here after breaking poor Jonathan’s heart, but we’ll be more than happy to speak with them once Thana is dressed for visitors.”
“Oh, of course. It wouldn’t do to have anyone else see her like this,” Aunt Judy tittered. “I’m sure the police won’t be too much of a bother. I’ll go next door to let them know our dear Thana is safe and sound with you.”
Kieran pulled me closer into his side. “Please do. The quicker we answer their questions, the sooner you can be off on your voyage.”
She clapped her hands together. “I’ll also be sure to let them know the Thackers are overreacting. They’ve spoiled Jonathan all his life. He probably ran off to drown his sorrows because he’s never had to handle rejection before.”
“I appreciate your help in dealing with them.” Kieran moved to the door and opened it. “I’ll have my assistant reach out to you to arrange the particulars for your trip.”
My aunt was so focused on what she could get out of Kieran that she didn’t realize he’d literally shown her the door. When he shut it behind her, I asked, “What are we going to tell the police?”
“Your aunt’s idea is as good as anything I might have come up with.” Kieran shrugged before walking over to me and pressing a kiss to my forehead. “When they stop by, I’ll persuade them into believing that’s what happened. Then I’ll pay the Thackers a little visit to ensure they buy the story as well.”
Remembering what he’d told me about a vampire’s strengths last night, I realized why he didn’t seem concerned. “Sending my aunt on a European tour was a stroke of genius, but you could have just compelled her into being nicer or something.”
“As awful as she is, she’s your only living relative. I wasn’t sure how you’d feel about me messing with her head like that,” he explained as he led me toward the back of the house. “And I didn’t want to spend every visit with her using compulsion so she wouldn’t say something that incited me to end her miserable life. Sending her away killed two birds with one stone. The second being that her presence simply pisses me the fuck off.”
Smiling up at him, I urged, “Feel free to do whatever it takes to keep her out of our hair.”
“Consider it done.” He paused to kiss the daylights out of me. “Now that we have that settled, I think it’s high time we celebrate your birthday.”
It had been so long since anyone had cared about my big day that I had forgotten what it felt like. “By taking care of Aunt Judy, you’ve already given me the best gift I’ve received in years.”
“Then brace yourself”—he gave me a squeeze before nudging me forward—“because I’m about to set a high standard for future birthdays.”
We entered the kitchen, and there was a breakfast feast fit for a queen spread out on the counter and a mountain of brightly wrapped presents piled on the table. “Wow, you weren’t kidding.”
“Don’t worry, baby.” He flashed me a cocky grin. “I’ll figure out a way to keep raising the bar in the years to come.”
Since I was convinced Kieran could accomplish the impossible, I had no doubt he was right.
8
Kieran
I wasn’t used to being up so early in the day, but Thana’s excitement and happiness were all I needed to chase away my tiredness. Watching her delight as she opened each present made it worth every penny I spent arranging for everything to be here in such a short amount of time. Not that it mattered. We would never have to worry about money. One thousand years was a very long time to build up wealth, and my brothers and I were all savvy with the stock market.
As though he knew I was thinking about my brothers, Athan’s voice popped into my head just as Thana was opening her last present. Except for the one burning a hole in my pocket.
Oh, good. You’re awake. The council called and they want one of us to escort a consort to her mate tonight. I have classes to teach—
You’ll have to ask Stephan, I growled back, interrupting him. Athan worked as a trainer for young daywalkers in our area. He taught them how to fight and defend against nightwalkers and any other threats they might face in their immortal existence, which meant he was only available for escort or patrol on certain nights. Stephan was between jobs—hobbies, really—so he could take the assignment, allowing me to stay with Thana.
He’s busy with—
I don’t give a fuck what he’s busy with. I’m needed at home.
You sound different. You’re being your usual grumpy ass, but...
Get Stephan to do it. And don’t bother me again for a couple of days. I shut my mind to further communication after my firm reply.
Thana popped up from the table and ran at me, jumping into my open arms. I wrapped her up tight and chuckled when she rained kisses all over my face. “You didn’t need to do all of this,” she breathed once she finished. Her blue eyes sparkled, and I knew I would do anything to put that look on her face over and over again. “I would have been ecstatic with just the beautiful breakfast.”
I gave her a mock frown as I set her cute little bottom on the nearest countertop, moving to stand between her legs. “You’ll have to give me a fashion show so we know that everything fits,” I told her with a devilish wink.
Thana laughed and raised a knowing eyebrow. “Especially the ones that are nothing but scraps of lace and silk?”
My wide grin was unrepentant. “Definitely those.”
I pulled one arm from around her waist to dig in the pocket of the loose pajama pants I was wearing and fish out her last present. Then I held the small, colorfully wrapped gift up in front of her. “Let’s start with seeing how you look wearing this.” With a wicked smile, I added, “In fact, I’d prefer to see you wearing nothing but this.”
One corner of Thana’s mouth ticked up, but she wasn’t really paying attention to what I was saying. Her big blue eyes were as round as saucers, and she was staring at the box with what looked like apprehension. Worry crept in as I wondered if I’d let myself get too far ahead and she wasn’t ready for what was in there.
Before I could retract my hand and make up an excuse, she took it from me with trembling hands. When she glanced up at me, I felt a rush of relief to see that her trepidation was from the way she was fighting to suppress hope. I smiled warmly to reassure her and nodded at the package. “Go ahead, baby.”
She carefully unwrapped it, as though she was afraid she was going to set off a booby trap. It didn’t take all that long, but it felt like for-fucking-ever. Finally, she revealed the black velvet box and slowly flipped open the top.
An engraved thin gold band sat snugly next to a matching but slightly thicker one, and a platinum engagement ring with white and yellow diamonds all down the sides and a three-carat, square dia
mond on top. There were tiny gold accents along with the yellow diamonds to give the illusion of a matching set. However, there were over a thousand years between them.
“This belonged to my mother,” I explained as I lifted the gold band. “Before it had even become popular to use gold for wedding rings, my father wanted something that would last forever.” I pointed at the tiny engravings before looking deeply into her eyes. “These represent Eros, the god of love.” It was on the tip of my tongue to tell her I loved her, but I was already throwing so much at her, and I didn’t want to overwhelm her.
I plucked the other gold band from the box and put them together. “And this was my grandfather’s.” Then I took out the engagement ring. “I had this made to match my grandmother’s band when we lost them a few centuries ago.” I lifted her left hand and kissed her ring finger. “It’s been here, waiting for you.”
Thana’s mouth had formed a cute little O, and her face was a mask of shock, but her eyes...they were filled with light and happiness. “Yes!” she suddenly shouted as she threw her arms around my neck.
“Yes?” I echoed, puzzled by her exclamation.
She pulled back and looked at me uneasily, her cheeks stained a deep crimson. “Weren’t you asking me to marry you?”
Ah, so there was the confusion. “No,” I stated emphatically, teasing her.
Her features crumpled, and I called myself ten different types of an idiot. “Baby, I wasn’t asking. I’m telling you. We are getting married.”
Her face lit up like the brightest moon, and it sent a flood of warmth through my body as well as a bolt of lust straight to my already hard cock. She put her hand out and wiggled her fingers, making me chuckle as I slid the engagement ring into place. “You’ll get this one on our wedding day,” I informed her with a wink as I tucked the bands into the box and put it back in my pocket.
“Now, about seeing you in nothing but the ring…” I bent my head and covered her mouth with mine as my hand slid up beneath her shirt to splay on her naked back. “Have I told you how fucking hot it gets me to see you in my clothes?”
I was seconds away from whipping the shirt over her head when there was a pop in the air, and Athan suddenly shouted, “I knew it!”
Thana startled so hard she would have fallen off the counter if I hadn’t had my arms around her. My head swung to look over my right shoulder, and I glared so hard at my brother that I was a little surprised when he didn’t drop to the ground, writhing in pain. “What the fuck, Athan? Did you not understand me when I said not to bother me?”
Athan’s grin was shameless as he tried to peer around me, the stupid smile widening when I tucked Thana into me so she was completely hidden. I wasn’t ready to share her yet. Well, truthfully, I wouldn’t ever be ready, but at some point, I would have to. I was pretty sure she would object to spending eternity locked in our bedroom.
There was another pop, and Athan was joined by Stephan, making me growl in frustration. I was painfully hard with my sexy consort—who’d just put on my ring—in my arms. I was contemplating the murder of my cockblocking brothers.
“You were right?” Stephan asked incredulously.
Athan nodded and crowed, “I told you he sounded different!” Then he cocked his head and stared at me expectantly. “Well? Are you going to introduce us to our new sister?”
I growled again and started to tell them to go the fuck away when two small hands pushed against my chest. Thana didn’t have the strength to move a single muscle in my vampiric body, but I immediately loosened my embrace so she could tip her head back and meet my gaze. “Don’t be rude,” she whispered. “We have an eternity to...um...copulate.”
Suppressing a chuckle at her sweetness, I sighed instead. “Whispering won’t do you any good around those two assholes, baby,” I warned her. “Vampire hearing.” Her entire face flushed pink and reminded me of the way she looked when it was covering her whole body as I ate her pussy. “Fuck,” I muttered as I touched my forehead to hers. “I’m going to lose my fucking mind if I don’t get inside you soo—” She slapped her hand over my mouth and peeked over my shoulder, her face aflame.
“Get out of the way, big brother,” Athan demanded when he appeared at my side. He shoved his arm between Thana and me, forcing us apart and pulling her into his arms. My fangs descended, and I snarled. If I hadn’t known he would feel absolutely nothing but brotherly love toward her, he would have been a dead man. “I’m Athan, the handsome, charming, and funny one of the bunch. Welcome to the family.”
Thana giggled and smiled at me. “I guess I go for the sexy, brooding, anti-hero type.” That brightened my mood a little.
Then Stephan shoved Athan away and gave my woman a hug, before kissing her on the forehead. I couldn’t wait until they found their consorts because I was going to make them pay.
However, watching the way Thana responded to them, I could tell that she was excited at the idea of having a family. And that made it all worth it.
Still...I grabbed Stephan by the throat and tossed him away, which sent him into a wall, leaving a body-shaped hole in the drywall. “Put your lips on my woman again, and your consort is going to be really unhappy to be mated with a dickless motherfucker.”
Thana gasped and stared at Stephan with her jaw hanging loose. “Holy crap! Are you okay?”
“Son of a bitch! That actually kind of hurt,” Stephan muttered as he jumped to his feet and dusted off his shirt and pants. He was lucky I hadn’t thrown him harder. But the walls were brick between the drywall, and though it was very solid, with my strength, I could have put him through that as well. Probably would have cracked his skull, which would have been immensely satisfying.
“Tell her you’re fine, so she’ll stop fretting and doesn’t think I’m a brute,” I demanded with a roll of my eyes.
Thana made a muffled sound, and when I glanced down at her, her eyes were glittering with amusement. She let out another muffled giggle, bringing a soft smile to my lips. “Care to share?”
“I don’t think you’re a brute…” She bit her lip and pink dusted across her nose and cheeks as she leaned a little closer. “It was kind of hot.”
Before she could say another word, I swept her up into my arms and strode toward the hallway, growling, “See yourselves out,” to my brothers as we passed them and ignoring the raucous laughter that followed.
“Bye!” Thana called with a wave over my shoulder. “It was so nice to meet you. Come to dinner tomorrow—”
“Next week,” I shouted over her. “And start calling first!”
Thana giggled all the way up to our bedroom. The sound was so sweet and melodic, but I thoroughly enjoyed the sound of her moaning five minutes later.
9
Thana
Kieran and I spent the next week getting to know each other without many intrusions. When the police came to ask about Jonathan’s disappearance, I got to see how quickly vampiric influence worked. It took him less than five minutes to have them fully believing an embellished version of the story my aunt had come up with, complete with which flight he’d taken when he left the country and which bank he’d stopped at to withdraw enough money to live on for the rest of his life—if he hadn’t already been turned to ash. My aunt boarded a cruise ship to France without stopping by to see me again, and Kieran’s brothers were giving us the space he’d wanted. Although, much to Kieran’s annoyance, they did keep texting me funny stories about him that had me in stitches.
Our uninterrupted time together could only last so long, though. After seven glorious days together, we decided the time had come for our claiming ceremony—before his brothers started popping in unannounced like they’d threatened the last time they’d reached out to him telepathically. About an hour ago, he’d ushered me into the bathroom to pamper myself before we began.
When I came back out, I was surprised to find how different the bedroom looked. In the short time I was getting ready, Kieran had done quite a bit to set the mood for the c
laiming. The lighter-colored canopy had been swapped out with a deep red material. Candles were spread around the space, giving the dark room a romantic glow, and the sheets on the bed had been changed to black satin. I probably stood out like a shining beacon in the white lace and silk negligee Kieran had picked out for me, but I didn’t feel the least bit shy.
There was no room for modesty when my sexy vampire was standing next to the foot of the bed with his hand stretched out toward me. “Come to me, Thana.”
My heart raced as I neared him, but not out of fear. I was overwhelmed with excitement over what was to come. From what Kieran had told me about the daywalker claiming rituals, I was about to experience pleasure beyond my imagination. Sliding my palm against his, I smiled up at the man I was going to spend the rest of my life with—one that would last into eternity if we were lucky. “You were busy while I was in there.”
“I’ve waited almost a thousand years for this night, and I wanted everything to be perfect.” He tugged me over to the edge of the mattress. “Are you ready for this?”
“I was born ready,” I quipped, which wasn’t just a figure of speech since we were fated to be together.
As he locked his gaze on mine, power swirled in his bright blue orbs. “Thana Fernsby, do you accept my claim on you?”
Kieran had made sure I knew what to expect during the claiming ritual, so I was ready to give the traditional responses. “Yes, I accept your claim on me with all of my heart and soul, Kieran Bancroft.”
“You’re prepared to be mine from now until the end of time?” he clarified.
My smile was blinding as I replied, “And beyond.”
He helped me onto the mattress and got me settled in the middle before rounding the bed to stand near the headboard. Wrapping his fingers around my wrist, he stretched my arm toward the corner of the bed and lifted a padded restraint. “To cement our mating bond, you must trust me unequivocally. Are you prepared to demonstrate the depth of your faith in me?”
The Love Bitten Series: Volume 1 Page 5