Dalakis Passion 4 - Eternal Brothers (42 page)

shoulders and faced them.
A strong arm slipped around her waist and she was pulled back against a familiar
hard chest. Sighing, she felt his strength surrounding her both physically and mentally.
She could get through anything with Zane beside her.
She turned to Stefan and Laurel Rose. "I'm sorry about what happened." No need
to mention what night she was talking about. They all knew. "I want to thank you again
for putting your lives at risk to save me. I don't want you to think that I didn't
appreciate it, but I had to send you away that night and make sure you stayed away. I
didn't mean to seem ungrateful."
"Of course you didn't. We never thought anything of the sort." Laurel Rose's
immediate and obviously sincere response went a long way to settling Sophia's nerves.
Stefan strode toward her, looking big and menacing, yet she wasn't afraid. "You
were only trying to protect us, which is hard for a simple male mind to comprehend. It
is our nature to protect and we don't take it well when those under our care put
themselves in danger to shield us." He brushed the side of her face with his hand. "I
may not approve of what you did, but I understand why you did it."
Sophia burst out laughing at his display of masculine arrogance. The corners of
Stefan's mouth turned upward. "I can see that you do not appreciate my thoughtful
discourse on the subject." He glanced over at Laurel Rose. "Surprisingly, neither did my
wife."
Laurel Rose came over to stand beside her husband and was immediately
enveloped in his embrace. "You'll have to forgive them, Sophia. They're very old-
fashioned in their ways, but we love them anyway."
Sophia blushed. She hadn't meant to laugh at Stefan, but really, what else was a
modern woman supposed to do? And she really did appreciate the way that the men all
wanted to protect her. "I didn't mean to laugh." She chuckled when Stefan cocked his
eyebrow. "Okay, so I did mean to laugh, but I do appreciate what you did for me." It
was time to finish the rest of it. She faced the whole room. "I'm sorry for not contacting
any of you since that night. It's not that I didn't want to. It's just that I didn't feel as if I
had the right to. I'm not a member of this family. You barely know me at all."
Cristofor
stepped forward, his mere presence instantly commanding every eye in
the room. "You risked your life to protect this family."
"But I'm still not a blood relative."
He stared down his nose, glaring at her. "I see you have been speaking with Zane
and Cassidy."
Now she was totally lost. "I don't understand."
Cristofor
sighed as if pained. "Zane is our cousin. There is a blood link to our
family, and even if there was not, it would not matter." He whirled around to pin
Cassidy with his glare. Cassidy just crossed his booted feet at the ankles and glared
back. "Cassidy has become a member of our family as well. There is no blood tie there,
but it does not matter. We are brothers in spirit.
Brothers in blood.
And you as Zane's
chosen mate have the right to all our protection, all our caring."
Sophia was totally overwhelmed by
Cristofor's
words. She could feel the sincerity
and the force of his proclamation. He really meant it. For a woman who'd never been
able to depend on anyone in her past, her life had certainly changed in such a short
time, and definitely for the better.
Zane cleared his throat. "I appreciate everything that you've done for me this past
month. All of you."
Lucian smiled. "It is our pleasure. Our family is not so large that we can afford to
lose a single member. You are both welcome in our home and we look forward to
spending time with you both."
Delight was more effusive as she hugged Sophia. With Zane at her back and
Delight at her front, she found herself sandwiched briefly between the two of them.
"I'm so glad that we're going to be sisters."
Sophia licked her suddenly dry lips. Marriage wasn't something that she and Zane
had discussed. "Ah..." She trailed off, not quite knowing how to explain the situation,
but Delight was astute and seemed to grasp the situation immediately.
Propping her hands on her hips, Delight shook her head at Zane. "These men think
that claiming us is enough. You've got to let them know that you want a wedding. You
do, don't you?"
Once again, all eyes were on her. Sophia was beginning to rethink the whole idea of
family.
"Sophia?" Zane turned her so that she was facing him. She could see the concern in
his eyes and tried to smile and shrug it off.
"We can talk about this later."
But Zane was stubborn and shook his head. "We will talk about it now."
"Uh-oh," someone said behind her. She thought it might be Delight.
"Later," she said from between clenched teeth. The man was embarrassing her in
front of his family. She'd kick him in the shins except that would only make things
worse.
He cupped her face gently in his hands and stared down at her with such love that
her irritation immediately faded. "The connection that we have transcends what
mortals share. It goes deeper and is more profound. It is for all eternity. No ceremony
could make me feel more bonded to you. That is done." He smoothed his thumbs over
her brow, trying to wipe away her frown lines. "But if a wedding will make you feel
more secure, then it is my duty to provide one."
His grip on her tightened as she
stiffened.
"And my pleasure to give it to you."
He paused and she could feel the tension
radiating through him. "Will you marry me?"
Speech was impossible. If she tried to say anything, she'd probably burst into tears,
so she nodded instead. Zane swooped down and kissed her. Their mouths melded
together, their lips parting and their tongues mating. Sophia could hear the vague
sounds of congratulations in the background, but even that faded under the onslaught
of Zane's kiss. Now that they were so connected, she could feel his love and lust as it
poured into her. She returned it to him, adding her own emotions to the mix. Her
breasts began to ache and she felt the familiar dampness between her thighs.
Someone cleared their throat.
Loudly.
Zane pulled back from their kiss but didn't
release her. He smoothed her swollen bottom lip with his thumb. "I forgot where we
were."
"So did I." Her voice was low and raspy, a seductive purr. She cleared her throat
and turned to the waiting crowd. She could feel the heat of embarrassment on her
cheeks, but she didn't care. She was too happy to care. "We're getting married."
The men hugged her, offering their congratulations, but the women dragged her
away from Zane, hugging her over and over as they excitedly began to chatter about
wedding plans. Even Blythe joined them and Sophia realized that she was totally
relaxed around the vampires now. As if she felt Sophia's perusal, Blythe offered her a
smile. "You're one of them now too, aren't you?"
Sophia nodded. "Yes, I
am
."
"So Cassidy and I are the only humans in the bunch."
"Along with Chase," Delight added, motioning to her younger brother who stood
talking with the men. "But you are still part of our family."
"I'm finally beginning to believe that. Sam and I are getting married." She glanced
over at him and quickly away. It was strange to hear Cassidy referred to by his first
name, but it sounded right coming from Blythe. "He doesn't know it yet. I haven't told
him. But I will.
Soon.
Maybe after you and Zane are married.
I think one wedding at a
time is enough."
"That's wonderful news, Blythe. And I'm glad that you're okay." She hesitated, but
then continued. "Zane told me everything that happened."
For a moment at shadow appeared in Blythe's eyes, but it quickly disappeared.
"I'm
just glad it's finally over. And I'm glad that you're okay."
"I am sorry about not contacting any of you over the past month, but I just couldn't.
Not with things so uncertain between Zane and myself." She really liked these women,
but never having had female friends before, she wasn't sure how these things worked.
"Totally understandable."
Delight took her hand and squeezed. "Our men aren't
the easiest in the world to understand and sometimes they'll drive you crazy." Her gaze
softened as she glanced over at her husband. As if Lucian felt it, he looked up and sent a
smile to Delight that would curl any woman's toes. Delight cleared her throat and
looked away. "As I was saying, they'll drive you crazy some days, but you'll never find
a man who will love you more."
"I know." Sophia was unable to resist finding Zane with her eyes. He was staring at
her and she could feel the brush of his emotions in her mind.
Later
.
The whisper of a
promise flitted through her mind along with a highly erotic image of both of them
naked and entwined in her bed.
Later
.
She sent the thought winging back to him with a few images of her own. She
felt her body heating up under the intensity of his gaze.
"Earth to Sophia."
Laurel Rose laughed as she tugged on Sophia's arm, a knowing
look on her face. "Save that for later. Right now we have a wedding to plan."
Zane watched the women as they gathered around Sophia, laughing and chattering,
accepting her in their midst. "Thank you." His cousins, as well as Cassidy and even
Chase were gathered around him. As one, the men turned to glance over at the women.
"We did nothing."
Cristofor
was the first to look away from the ladies.
Zane sensed Sophia's gaze on him and sent her an image of what he wanted to do
to her later tonight. He could feel her growing arousal. His satisfaction was short-lived
when she sent an image back at him and his jeans were suddenly way too tight. To
distract himself, he forced himself to look away and concentrate on the conversation
around him. "What you have done is not
nothing
. You've accepted both me and my
mate into your homes and your lives."
"It is our pleasure." Lucian smiled. "And it is not as if we had a choice. The women
would have it no other way."
Zane knew that his cousin would have it no other way either, but as men they were
not as comfortable saying such things aloud. "If I ever caused your family any stress
due to my investigations, I am sorry. But after what happened within my own family, I
could not trust anyone until I knew for certain you were sane and not monsters like my
own father became."
"That is understandable, but it is all behind us now."
Cristofor
spoke as if that was
the end it. And Zane supposed it was. Everyone knew the truth. There were no more
secrets amongst them.
"Congratulations, cousin Zane." Chase held out his hand. The young man intrigued
Zane. He'd spent quite a bit of time with him the past month that he and Sophia had
spent apart. Levelheaded and incredibly artistic, he seemed to have no problem
accepting the fact that his sister and all his in-laws and extended family were vampires.
"Thank you." He'd barely released Chase's hand when Cassidy extended his.
"That's a fine woman you've got there, York." Their hands clasped. "I now consider
her under my protection as well."
Zane nodded formally. "I extend the same to your woman." There was no doubt in
Zane's mind that Cassidy and Blythe were meant to be together.
Cassidy gave him a curt nod. "Appreciate it. If I have my way, we'll be having
another wedding before too long."
More laughter erupted from the other side of the room and Zane, Cassidy, Stefan,
Lucian and
Cristofor
all turned to watch their women. Brothers in blood, they stood,
bound by their ties of family, loyalty and love.
Cristofor
shot Zane a pitying look. "We better go and help the women before they
plan some elaborate celebration that will take months to organize."
Months! Zane couldn't wait months. Sophia wouldn't feel settled until this was
done. He could probably wait a week, but no more. He ignored the men's laughter as
he strode across the room toward Sophia and his future.

About the Author
N.J. Walters worked at a bookstore for several years and one day had the idea that
she would like to quit her job, sell everything she owned, leave her hometown and
write romance novels in a place where no one knew her. And she did. Two years later,
she went back to the same bookstore and settled in for another seven years.
Although she was still fairly young, that was when the mid-life crisis set in.
Happily
married to the love of her life, with his encouragement (more like, "For God's
sake, quit the job and just write!") she gave notice at her job on a Friday morning. On
Sunday afternoon, she received a tentative acceptance for her first erotic romance novel,
Annabelle Lee
, and life would never be the same.
N.J. has always been a voracious reader of romance novels, and now she spends her
days writing novels of her own. Vampires, dragons, time-travelers, seductive
handymen and next-door neighbors with smoldering good looks all vie for her
attention. And she doesn't mind a bit. It's a tough life, but someone's got to live it.
N.J. welcomes comments from readers. You can find her website and email address
on her author bio page at www.ellorascave.com.
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