Conquering Love (The Santorno Stories)

by Sandrine Gasq-Dion

  “Well, we should get some sleep.”

  Landon popped up and stretched his arms above him. He looked at Katiana, admiring the outline of her breasts and delicate body. He swallowed hard as their eyes met and Katiana moved toward him. She ran her hand up his chest and looked into his eyes.

  “Goodnight Landon.” She got up on her toes and kissed his cheek.

  Landon watched her walk back into the house and let out a loud sigh. “Night.”

  Katarina was watching TV when Josh knocked and came into her room. He sat on the end of the bed and smiled at her. The look on her face so easy to read. He was shirtless and made sure he flexed his pectoral muscles. Kat looked like she was trying not to look at him all while looking at him.

  “Okay, what?” she finally asked.

  “Do you find me attractive?” Josh knew she did, had known for a while now, and he was tired of waiting.

  Katarina was in shock. They’d never talked about anything like this.

  “Of course, I do. Who wouldn’t?”

  “Then why aren’t we together, Kat?”

  Katarina could barely handle bare-chested Josh. Oh, God. Josh was spectacular. “I can’t lose you, Josh. Youve have been my best friend forever.”

  “But you’re attracted to me, right?” Josh moved closer.

  Katarina felt her skin break out in goose bumps. “Yes. But you know what could happen.”

  “Yeah, I do.” Josh drew her to his lips and kissed her. Initially, Katarina tried to push him off, and then she responded.

  The feel of Josh’s hands on her skin was crazy. His mouth devoured hers and she couldn’t think straight. Damn, he was such a good kisser. Josh was doing a thorough job with his tongue as his hand stroked her hair. He moved away, breaking the kiss and running his thumb along her bottom lip.

  “You could have that all the time or we could go back to just being friends. For the record? I think we can be both. I’ll leave it up to you.” Josh smiled and headed to the door. “Goodnight, Kat.”

  “Uh huh.” Kat sat in a daze. Josh Reynolds had just kissed her and her body had gone up in flames.

  “Wow.”

  chapter four

  Nikolai Markov was on his way back to Fort Worth with his fathers. The huge May birthday parties were going to be at the Youngblood house, as usual. He had done what he had promised, finished his junior year at high school. He was now trying to talk his parents into staying so he could be close to Colin. If they didn’t agree he would find a way to stay. He had almost lost Colin once and he didn’t plan on letting that happen again.

  They talked almost every day but it wasn’t enough. Nikolai planned on making his case while they were home. He was tired of people being scared of him and all his friends lived in Fort Worth. He had grown up with the Youngblood kids as well as all the rest of the group’s kids. He was looking forward to spending time with all of them, especially Colin. They had managed to keep their relationship a secret for quite some time now and Nikolai was ready to get it out into the open. He smiled at the thought and noticed his father smiling at him.

  “What?”

  “You are happy we are going home. It is your wish to stay there,” Andrei observed.

  “What gave it away?” Nikolai smiled. “I thought we talked about you sounding more American, Dad? Contractions, remember? Use contractions.”

  Vince laughed. “Like that’s going to happen .”

  “Hey!” Andrei smacked him.

  “Don’t start with me.” Vince smiled.

  Nikolai loved his fathers. He had heard the story of how they had met when they thought he was old enough to hear and understand it. It was strange that his Pops had killed his grandfather, and yet Andrei still loved him with his whole heart. Andrei had explained that his own father was ruthless and had never loved him the way he and Vince loved Nikolai. He closed his eyes. In less than an hour he would be seeing Colin.

  “Viktoryia is already on her way there,” Vince mentioned. “Are you excited to see your sister?”

  “Of course; I missed her.”

  “She will be staying with us now.” Andrei leaned back and closed his eyes.

  “Really?” Nikolai smiled. “That’s awesome!”

  Vince chuckled. “No way!”

  “Dad.” Nikolai rolled his eyes.

  “We will be landing soon.” Andrei looked at his watch. “You will see Colin.”

  Nikolai smiled. “Yes, I will.”

  Colin was sitting at the breakfast counter at Stefan and Jordan’s trying not to jump out of his skin. Nikolai was coming today, and soon. The thought of him made his heart race; he had missed him so much. Their time apart had done nothing but strengthen their feelings for each other. Colin was in love with him, he had been for a long time. The best part of it was that Nikolai was turning eighteen. They had talked about making love and Colin wanted to wait. He knew that sounded stupid but he wanted Nikolai to be of legal age. He was going on twenty and had been in love with the same guy since he was very young.

  “Thinking about Nikolai?” Mark smiled at his son.

  “Huh?” Colin looked up.

  “Yep, you were.” Mark smiled and crossed over to Colin. “It’s okay, you know.”

  “What’s okay?” Colin asked warily.

  Mark chuckled. “You think I don’t know what’s going on? I saw Nikolai when you were in the hospital. That boy is so in love with you, Colin, and you love him.”

  Colin blushed. “We were trying to keep a low profile.”

  Mark nearly guffawed. “A Markov keeping a low profile?”

  Colin laughed. “I know. We’re just trying to keep things on the down low since so many of the group are hurting from unrequited love right now.”

  “I’m here if you need me.” Mark kissed his forehead. “Your brother will be here soon.”

  “Conner’s coming today, too?” Colin asked excitedly.

  “Yep. Any minute.” Mark hugged his son.

  Colin was so excited; it was going to be a very good summer. He and Nik had discussed telling everyone they were together and he knew now was the time. They were tired of hiding it.

  He looked nervously at his father and swallowed hard, trying to find the right words.

  “Um, Dad? I have a few questions.”

  Mark sat down next to his son.

  “Sex?”

  “Yes. I mean, I don’t think Nik is ready for that and I don’t know if I am, either, but I have questions and stuff.”

  Mark tilted Colin’s face up. “I’ll answer any questions you have. You should have seen me my first time.”

  “Eww. I shouldn’t have!” Colin laughed.

  “You know what I mean.” Mark smacked his shoulder. “But your dad was patient with me, so ask away.”

  Colin smiled and hugged his dad. Even though he had been adopted he never felt it.

  “I love you, Dad.”

  “I love you, too.”

  Landon woke up feeling someone staring at him. He opened one eye and saw Joshua staring at him.

  “What?”

  “I kissed Katarina.” Joshua apparently couldn’t stop smiling.

  “No shit?” Landon sat up.

  “Yep. She looked like she was in a daze,” Josh chuckled.

  “It’s the Reynolds kiss.” Landon nodded seriously.

  “I’d heard about it but never believed it. Besides, I thought Uncle Brandon was the champion?” Josh laughed.

  “Eh, that was among the old folks and they were drinking. Can we get back to the part where you kissed her?”

  “I told her it was up to her where we went from here.” Josh lay back on the bed next to Landon.

  Landon rolled over on his side and looked at Josh. “And what if she says you’re back to being friends?”

  “Then I hit on Juliet.” Josh cracked up.

  “That is not funny, Joshua,” a stern and heavily accented voice said from the doorway.

  They both bolted upright to see Lorenzo in
the doorway. “You know I would be nothing but respectful, Uncle Lorenzo.”

  “Yes, I do because your father would kill you.” Lorenzo Costa smiled wide.

  “And you would spank me.” Josh fell back, laughing.

  “I have never spanked you but that does not mean I will not.” Lorenzo winked.

  “Where’s Uncle Reece?” Landon got up.

  “In the kitchen.”

  Lorenzo smiled and sat on the edge of the bed, watching as Landon left the room. He turned to Josh.

  “You have missed Juliet?”

  “Oh yeah, we talk a lot on the phone.”

  “Yes, your father has told me of the phone bill. You will get a job soon.”

  “Yes, sir.” Josh smiled.

  Lorenzo smiled at his nephew, he pulled his chin up and looked at him. “It is not my daughter you have feelings for.”

  Josh’s jaw dropped. “Is it that obvious?”

  “I do not think Landon knows.” Lorenzo chuckled.

  “Uncle Lorenzo!” Josh hit him with a pillow.

  Lorenzo laughed. “I think it is obvious to everyone that you have feelings for young Katarina. Breakfast in the kitchen in five minutes.” Lorenzo tousled

  Katarina rolled over, checked the clock and sighed. She could hear voices in the kitchen and knew this was just the beginning of the chaos. Every birthday and holiday, the house was packed to the ceiling and she loved every second of it.

  “Kat!” Colin jumped on her and smiled. “Wakey wakey!”

  “Ugh. Colin, it’s early.” Katarina rolled over.

  “I saw Joshua.” Colin waggled his eyebrows.

  Katarina’s eyes went wide. “I have to take a shower.”

  “You wanna get all pretty. Aww, that’s so cute.” Colin pestered.

  “Go bug Katiana!” Katarina laughed, tickling him. “Nikolai is coming today.”

  Colin blushed and lay on his back, looking at the ceiling. “I know.”

  “Maybe you could kiss him?” Katarina propped on her elbow.

  “Kat! He’s probably not even gay.”

  “Never know unless you try,” she encouraged.

  “Okay, lay it on me.” Colin looked at her.

  “What?”

  “Something happened. You’re glowing.” Colin tilted his head toward her.

  “Josh kissed me last night.” Katarina’s eyes sparkled.

  “The Reynolds kiss.” Colin studied her face. “You liked it.”

  “Colin, it was so…wow.” She sighed and turned serious. “You’ll get your guy. I just know it.”

  “We’ll see.” Colin smiled because he already had his guy.

  Stefan had gone to Mark and Paul’s house to pick up Phoebe, and he ran into Conner on his way in.

  “Dude!” Stefan hugged him hard.

  “Well, well. Little Stefan Youngblood is all grown up!”

  “Look at you!” Stefan took in Conner, who was over six feet tall now, with prominent black hair and green eyes. He looked just like Uncle Paul.

  “Yep, worked out all year.” Conner winked. “You here for my sister?”

  “Conner, leave Stefan alone,” Phoebe laughed.

  “What did I say?” Conner looked at her.

  “Hey, Phoebs.” Stefan smiled. “You look beautiful.”

  “So do you.”

  She got on her tiptoes and kissed him. She heard a short cough and turned to find her dads looking at them.

  “Yes?” Phoebe smiled wide.

  “You riding with us or Stefan?” Mark asked with a straight face.

  Phoebe looked at Stefan.

  “Well?”

  Stefan took her hand.

  “I’ll take her.”

  “Yeah, to your grandfathers’ house.” Mark chuckled.

  “Daddy!” Phoebe blushed.

  “Well, all righty then. I’ll go with you, Dad,” Conner told Paul.

  “Colin already left?” Paul looked around.

  “Yep, I got a hug and then he was gone.” Conner smiled. “Nikolai is coming today.”

  “Don’t give him shit, Conner,” Paul warned his son. “Or I’ll give you some.”

  “I’m cool, don’t worry.” Conner winked.

  Tanner moaned when Nico’s hands crept into his pants, wrapping around. Nico’s tongue was slipping into his mouth and Tanner grabbed his hair, pulling him in further. “I want you so much Tanner.”

  “I want you too.” Tanner bit his lip and their tongues met again.

  He bolted upright at the loud beeping of the alarm clock. He hit the snooze and lay back down.

  “Wake up, Cinderella,” Damon called from the doorway.

  “Oh, go away!” Tanner threw his pillow.

  Damon caught it and smiled. “So how did the date go? Did you get a kiss?”

  “Did you?” Tanner challenged his brother.

  “Yep.” Damon smiled and jumped on the bed, dropping back and resting his head on his arms.

  “So, Lily can kiss?”

  “Ohhh yeah.” Damon smiled. “Nico?”

  “Oh, my God.” Tanner smiled at the ceiling. “He was wow.”

  “My big brother’s in love.” Damon smiled.

  “Hey! Twin one and twin two get up, we have to go.” Tyler came in the room and ripped the comforter off Tanner.

  “Hey!” Tanner laughed.

  “Damon.”

  “Yes, Father.” Damon cracked a smile.

  “Please tell me you did not feel up Lily last night.”

  “I didn’t. I swear!” Damon stared at his dad.

  Damon entered the room waving a spatula. “We have ways of making you talk.”

  “Oh, no, you don’t!” Tanner ran for the bathroom.

  “Wait up!” Damon chased after him.

  Tyler and Damon looked at each and cracked up. Damon grabbed him and kissed him hard. “Mmm, you taste good, Tyler.”

  “So do you.” Tyler licked his bottom lip.

  “Let’s get ready to go.”

  “I am.” Tyler pressed his hard cock against him.

  “Not that ‘go’ the other one.” Damon laughed.

  “Dammit.” Tyler smiled. “Hey, Vince arrives today.”

  “You miss him, don’t you?”

  “Yeah, I do. It just seems like they are here then gone.”

  Damon took him in his arms. “Aw, baby, you miss your playmate.”

  “I got a playmate right here.” Tyler grabbed Damon’s crotch.

  “Tyler Youngblood!” Damon looked at him in shock. “I am not that kind of man!”

  “Since when?” Tyler drew him in for a kiss.

  Landon was coming out of the front door when a limo pulled up. He smiled as soon as he saw the black hair. “Juliet!” Landon ran and scooped her up.

  “Landon!” Juliet hugged him tight. “How are you? Oh my God, you got huge!”

  Landon laughed. “Very funny.”

  “Juliet.” Lorenzo stood with his arms crossed over his chest.

  “Daddy!” Juliet ran and flew into her father. “I missed you!”

  Lorenzo held his daughter close; he had missed her so much. “Please, tell me you will leave Italy and stay here now.”

  “I will, Daddy.” Juliet palmed his face. “I missed you and Dad.”

  “I heard my name.” Reece had come out and Juliet attacked him with kisses. “I missed you so much!”

  “Oh, wow.” Reece laughed. “I missed you, too, honey. Where’s your stuff?”

  “In a moving truck.”

  “Really?” Reece was relieved.

  “I know you missed me.” Juliet smiled.

  “Juliet?”

  “Josh?” Juliet’s jaw dropped. Holy shit, he was gorgeous.

  “Oh, wow.”

  “Yeah? Right back at ya.” Juliet waggled her eyebrows. “Get over here!”

  Josh picked her up and held her tight. She had been there for him when he told her about his crush on Katarina.

  “I missed you,” Josh whispered. />
  “I missed you, too.” Juliet tightened her arms around his neck.

  Katarina and Katiana came around the corner and stopped in their tracks. Juliet was drop-dead gorgeous and Josh and Landon were all over her.

  “Juliet?” Katiana called.

  “The two Kats!” Juliet squealed and ran into both of them. “Oh my God, I missed you guys!”

  The three hugged and then Juliet pulled away and looked toward her fathers.

  “Okay, it’s time to talk shop. Dad?”

  “Yep.” Reece smiled.

  “Can we go down to the dock or must you hug me more?” she teased

  “I may need more.” Lorenzo smiled.

  “Aw, Daddy.” Juliet ran to Lorenzo and hugged him hard as he picked her up. “I love you Daddy.”

  “I love you too, my lovely.” Lorenzo squeezed her again and put her down.

  “Well, let’s go then,” Landon said.

  “Nope. Girl talk boys. Sorry!” Juliet laughed.

  “Aw, man come on!” Josh protested.

  Juliet walked over and kissed him lightly on the lips. Josh almost fell over and she smiled and whispered in his ear. “You want her, don’t you?”

  Josh looked at her and whispered, “You are such a bitch.”

  “Yep.” Juliet winked.

  Lorenzo and Reece stood shocked watching their daughter kiss Joshua Reynolds. Reece was the first to snap out of it and he looked at Lorenzo. “Maybe she should go back to boarding school?”

  Lorenzo narrowed his eyes. “Joshua.”

  “Sir?”

  “Come here.”

  Juliet smiled and returned to Landon, taking his hand with a smile. He narrowed his eyes. “You’re not going to kiss me too, are you?”

  “Not unless ya want me to.” Juliet smiled wickedly. “Is she watching?”

  Landon looked over at the girls and it looked like Katiana was fuming. “Oh, yeah.”

  “Good. I’ll talk to you later.” Juliet smiled and ran her hand down his chest.

  “Evil. Just evil.” Landon huffed.

  “Landon.”

  “Coming, Uncle Lorenzo .”