Lydia grabbed a pastry and a glass of water before sitting across from Caitlin. “I thought you were worried about me being alone.”
“Justin heard Roman come into the condo last night. Even if no one had heard him come in, people two blocks over heard what happened in your bedroom.”
“We weren’t that loud,” Lydia argued.
Caitlin gave her a sidelong look. “Riiiiight. Never would have pegged you for a screamer.”
Lydia gave a satisfied smile. “Okay, we may have been a little loud.”
“Does this mean the two of you worked things out?”
Lydia shrugged. “We’re working on it.”
“That’s good,” Caitlin said. “Roman makes you happier than I’ve ever seen you. Actually, it’s more than that. You seem grounded.”
“Now that we’re finally alone, tell me what’s going on with Dr. Hottie,” Lydia pushed. When Caitlin started to open her mouth with the usual denials, she cut her off. “C’mon, Caitlin. Something is going on and you really need to talk about it. The shower is still on so we have time. Actually, he’s been in there a long time. How long can a man take to shower? They don’t have that much to do in there.”
“You have no idea, Lyd,” Caitlin said with a half‑smile. She walked over to check the juice selection in the refrigerator. Lydia was pretty sure it was to avoid making eye contact since Caitlin wasn’t much of a juice drinker. “Justin spends more time getting ready in the morning than I do. Again, there is nothing going on between us.”
“Caitlin,” Lydia said patiently, “you know how long he takes to get ready in the morning. That’s a pretty intimate detail. Let’s not overlook the fact that I haven’t seen you without him since I woke up from the coma. That really says something.”
Caitlin sighed and plopped down on one of the stools at Lydia’s center island. “He just won’t take no for an answer.”
“Just a guess, but it’s probably because you keep giving in and saying yes,” Lydia suggested.
“I can’t be with him, Lyd,” she said sadly.
“Why?” Lydia asked. It really didn’t make any sense. “Both of you are interested in medicine so you have someone to talk to about all of that nasty anatomy stuff. No denying, he’s a little uptight, but he really seems to try to loosen up with you. The man is crazy about you, Caitlin. Don’t even try telling me you don’t feel the same. Every time I left you two alone for five minutes, I practically needed a spray bottle to get you apart. Stop torturing the poor guy.”
“I can’t do this,” Caitlin said almost desperately.
“Do what?” Lydia asked.
“Feel this strongly,” Caitlin replied. “I work hard to keep my feelings under control.”
“Why?” Lydia asked with a shake of her head.
“I can sense other people’s feelings,” Caitlin admitted.
“Like Ivy?” Lydia asked.
Caitlin nodded. “The only way to keep some sort of control over it is to keep my own emotions level and locked away. If I don’t, I feel everything. Can you imagine walking down the street and feeling angry, depressed, elated, frightened, anxious, and every other spectrum of emotion? They crash into me like a rogue wave on the beach and pull me away from sanity. You seriously do not want to know some of the sick shit people feel. I’m just grateful that I can’t read their minds. The more I let myself feel for Justin, the harder this is for me.”
“I had no idea,” Lydia said somewhat helplessly. “Over the years, I just accepted that you had your own reasons for acting cold. What are you going to do?”
“Not a clue. At first, I thought about applying for medical school out of state and just disappearing. Of course, that’s impossible with Isaiah’s computer skills. He could probably track me even if I was in witness protection.”
“Maybe Justin will take the hint if you leave,” Lydia said, not sure if she wanted him to take the hint or not. The idea of Caitlin being alone forever seemed wrong. There had to be a way to control this thing.
Caitlin shook her head. “Justin loves me. At first, I told him that he was just using me. Once my emotions became involved, I could feel his. Even when he’s pissed off, the overwhelmingly intense love is still there. It’s scary and amazing at the same time. Also, I feel like a voyeur because he’s never told me that he loves me. What right do I have to know before he’s ready to tell me?”
“Ivy might be able to help with some of this,” Lydia suggested.
“Tempest thought that might work until I managed to overwhelm Ivy’s system. I dragged Ivy so far into my inner hell that she collapsed. We are so not doing that again. This summer, I’m going to spend a month with Tempest’s aunt. Ivy knows what I go through and she’s not sure her aunt can fix me, but this is the last hope I have. If the only way to survive is to shut off my feelings then that’s what I need to do.”
“Good luck getting rid of Justin,” Lydia said. “Those Draksel men are kind of stubborn.”
“No shit,” Caitlin said.
Justin tapped on the kitchen door before walking in. Judging by the look on his face, he’d heard most of the conversation. Lydia felt bad for him. Justin usually had a serious expression on his face. Today it was a cross between helplessness and heartbreak.
“You ready to go?” he asked Caitlin softly.
Obviously, her overactive empath talent made it easy to pick up on his emotions. She swallowed hard and nodded. “I’ll call you later, Lyd.”
As Caitlin brushed past Justin, he caught her arm. “I don’t care if you know what I’m feeling.”
She didn’t look at him. “It’s not right.”
“I’m not good with words,” he admitted. His voice had a vulnerable quality that Lydia had never heard from him before. “Most of the time, I manage to put my foot in my mouth. I’m glad that you can sense how I feel about you. It makes it much less likely I’ll screw things up by saying the wrong thing. I’m saying this in front of Lydia because I want someone else to remind you of this conversation later.”
Caitlin still hadn’t looked at him. “It’s not fair to you.”
“Fuck fair,” he said. Caitlin’s head snapped up. Justin wasn’t one to use profanity often and it obviously shocked her. “I don’t want this thing to make you crazy or make you suffer. There is nothing I wouldn’t do to help you get this under control. If Ivy’s aunt can’t help you control it, I will let you go. It will kill me, but I will do it. What I want you to remember is that it won’t be because of what you can see in me, it will be because you’re right about how much I love you.”
Caitlin nodded and Lydia’s heart broke for the two of them. She really hoped Ivy’s aunt would be able to help Caitlin. The idea of her leaving Justin seemed more than wrong.
Lydia walked out to the living room to let them out the front door. Justin had his hand on the small of Caitlin’s back and Caitlin hadn’t stiffened or pulled away. Lydia wondered if either of them realized what they were doing or if they’d just become that comfortable touching each other.
With a deep sigh, Lydia went back to the kitchen to get a glass of juice and a pastry for Roman. She didn’t have any coffee or tea so they were going to have to survive without caffeine. When she entered the bedroom, he was propped up on her pillows watching her. “Good morning,” he said sleepily.
“Morning, sleepyhead,” she teased. “When was the last time you slept this late?”
He thought for a moment. “I’m not sure. I suppose I was tired after my late night activities. Is that for me?” he asked eying the juice and pastry.
“Yes,” she said and handed them to him.
“Thank you.”
Lydia climbed into bed. “I kind of wish we could just stay here all day. I’m not looking forward to returning to a house full of people. You were right; Drew is a major pain in the ass.”
“They all are at that age, but he’s worse than most.” Then he thought for a moment and added, “Noah was a real pain in the ass too. That boy challe
nged me at every turn. I was so tempted to send him to live with one of my brothers.”
“Noah? That I never would have guessed.”
“He used to frustrate me to no end,” he said with amusement. “When he and Justin were together, it was even worse. The two of them found more trouble than one would think possible.”
“Wait a minute! Noah and Justin?”
“Yes,” Roman said with a shake of his head. “One time I came home to find both boys sleeping naked in the front room.”
Lydia giggled. “That sounds more annoying than bad.”
“They had about ten human females with them. All were in the same state of undress and had bite marks.”
“So they had a vampire orgy in the front room of your house?” Lydia asked.
“According to the servants, they mainly took blood and played with the humans. I was ready to lock them both up for ten years. I remember one time, I had Noah write out a thousand times ‘I will not throw knives at the dinner table’ as punishment.”
“Throwing knives at the table?” Lydia said through giggles. “My mom was pissed about dealing with me sneaking out. She should have counted herself lucky that I wasn’t a knife thrower. Well, at least Noah’s over the knife throwing thing.”
“At the first dinner I had with Hannah, he threw a knife at my head,” Roman said with a smile.
“I’ll kill him,” Lydia grumbled.
Roman waved off her concerns. “Ursula was next to me and Noah knew she’d catch it. I believe he was showing off for Hannah.”
Lydia giggled. “Makes me glad we aren’t going to have children.”
“I couldn’t agree more. Drew and Sofia can’t be moved into their own home fast enough for me. Then again, I worry that Sofia won’t be able to handle him.”
“Sofia adores him. She may be the only one who does.”
“True, but she spoils the boy,” Roman added. “He doesn’t need to be pampered.”
“She treats him like a baby, and she won’t let him do anything. She doesn’t think he’s old enough to date and he totally falls in line when she gives him an order. Sofia probably won’t let him out of her sight long enough to get into trouble.”
“The boy is better behaved around her. This will also give her something to do, other than stopping by my home.”
“Now you just need to find a place to put both of them,” Lydia said.
“There are some nice places in Siberia,” he said deadpan.
“Roman,” she warned.
“You’re right, too close.”
“We could put them in my condo,” Lydia suggested.
Roman shook his head. “Sofia will never agree to something this small. She has several homes and may prefer moving back to one of them. I’ll bring it up to her.”
“I get the impression she plans on sticking close to here.”
“If that’s the case, I can always buy her a home and we can travel more.”
Lydia giggled again. “You are terrible. How can you hate being around people so much?”
“I like being around you,” he said.
“Why don’t you show me how much you like being around me,” she said with a playful grin, and it was several hours before they were ready to leave her condo.
Chapter Twenty-Eight
Chocolate was the only solution to Lydia’s problems right now. Roman hadn’t liked her idea about being bait for Dominic. Okay, he’d hated it and forbidden her. The man had actually used the word forbidden. They weren’t fighting, but if Lydia didn’t get chocolate therapy it might come to that.
Ursula had arrived at the house that morning and suggested brownies. Now, Lydia, Sofia, and Ursula were in Roman’s large kitchen making brownies. Okay, they were trying to make brownies but kept getting distracted. A country station played on the radio, Sofia’s choice. Sofia had a thing for cowboys at the moment. Drew sat at the center island quietly watching them. The predatory look reminded her of a cat eying a nest of birds.
“It was a good plan,” Lydia argued. “How the hell else are we supposed to catch Dominic? He’s been eluding them for months.”
“This time I have to agree with Roman,” Ursula said as she rummaged through the cupboards. “Really, I do understand why you want this over soon, but using you as bait is a bad idea. Dominic is dangerous. We don’t know what he’ll do if he gets near you.”
“Why not send Tempest with her?” Sofia suggested. She stood barefoot on one of Roman’s kitchen counters searching the uppermost cupboards. “How can anyone have a kitchen and no cocoa powder?”
Lydia shrugged. “I would say it’s because he doesn’t bake, but he made me cinnamon rolls last week.”
“Roman never cared for chocolate,” Ursula said. “Involving Tempest while she’s pregnant is probably a bad idea. She’s certainly a force to be reckoned with, but none of us know if the pregnancy will affect her abilities.”
“You can’t use Tempest,” Drew said. It was the first time he’d spoken in more than thirty minutes. After sparing Drew a quick glance, they all went back to ignoring him.
“I don’t like the idea of putting Tempest or the baby in danger,” Lydia said “Plus, I’m sure Aiden would be glued to her side and Dominic isn’t coming anywhere near any of the men in the family.”
“How about if I offer to sell you to him?” Drew suggested.
This time he had everyone’s full attention. “That might work, but I’m not sure you wouldn’t actually follow through with the plan to sell me to Dominic.”
Drew grinned and shrugged. “Not even I’m sure if I’d end up doing that.”
After a collective eye roll they went back to their desperate search for cocoa powder. Ursula had suggested several recipes without cocoa powder but Lydia was craving her special recipe.
“I love this song!” Lydia shouted when Shania Twain’s Any Man of Mine started playing on the radio. “I haven’t heard this in years.”
Lydia started to sing along and everyone looked startled. It was the typical reaction when people first heard her sing. Her voice sounded best when she sang. Lydia moved around to the breakfast nook area where there was more room to dance while she sang.
The ladies started to hoot. Drew jumped up from the center island and shocked them all further when he grabbed Lydia and deftly pulled her into a two step.
“Damn boy!” Lydia rasped out. “You dance good!”
“I like dancing,” he said with a shy smile that surprised her even more.
When she looked over to the side of the kitchen, she saw Roman leaning against the doorframe with his arms crossed in front of his chest. Despite the obvious attempt to look serious, his lips curled up ever so slightly.
“Wanna cut in, Uncle?” Drew asked when he followed her gaze.
Roman shook his head. “I don’t dance.”
Lydia kept her eyes on Roman as Drew moved her around the small space of the kitchen. When the song ended, she went over to Roman, wrapped her arms around his waist, and leaned into his chest. His arms immediately went around her.
“There’s no cocoa powder so we can’t make brownies,” she said against his chest. “I need chocolate.”
He laughed softly. “What happened to all of those chocolate dipped Oreos we picked up?”
“We ate those already,” she said. “We need to go to the store.”
“There are chocolate chips. Why not make cookies?”
“I don’t want cookies. What I need is something that I can eat from the pan.”
“Have you considered making blondies?” Roman suggested.
“I like blondies,” Drew chimed in.
“Yeah, I get it, vampires prefer blondies, but I want chocolate.” Then she had a thought. “Maybe I could put chocolate chip cookie dough in the blondies. So what did you really come in here to talk about? Or did you just want to hear me sing?”
Roman kissed her forehead before turning his attention to the others in the room. “I thought this would be a good ti
me to discuss living arrangements.”
Lydia turned in Roman’s arms to face the room.
“I don’t wanna stay with Justin and Isaiah,” Drew said with an impressive pout that put Lydia’s own pouting skills to shame.
Roman appeared to be counting to ten in his head. “Yes, I’m aware of that. Still, this house isn’t designed to have guests. I also need time alone with Lydia.”
“Why?” Drew asked.
“We like to do really kinky role playing stuff,” Lydia said with a perky smile.
Drew’s eyes widened and he looked thoroughly intrigued. “So? It won’t bother me. I like watching better than doing anyway.”
“I don’t like being watched,” Lydia said.
“Yes, you do,” Roman said against her ear, sending a shiver of desire through her body. She knew everyone heard him and that was kind of exciting. “You can’t watch us, Drew,” he said in a much louder voice.
“Roman is right, Drew,” Sofia agreed and took his arm to lead him over to the center island. “Roman needs privacy with his new wife. We can’t stay here.”
“I can get my own place now?” Drew asked excitedly.
All four of them practically shouted, “No!”
Sofia patted his arm. “Roman rented a house for us. It’s very nice and we have plenty of room. You’ll be staying with me.”
Drew’s smile was so full of boyish delight that Lydia could almost forget what an ass he was.
“Will I still be close enough to watch Lydia and Uncle Roman if they change their minds?”
Yep, she could almost forget what an ass he was.
Chapter Twenty-Nine
“She seems perfectly healthy,” Justin said and handed Hope back to Hannah. “I don’t think she needs an iron supplement at all, but I’d like to keep an eye on her iron levels just in case. We have some new information that indicates that the supplements aren’t necessary for female children.”
“Hope is the first female child,” Noah pointed out.
Justin had seen Hannah after learning about Roman’s granddaughters, but the subject had never come up. In general, his visits were brief and only to make sure Hannah’s pregnancy was progressing normally. To be honest, the situation was a little awkward still. While Nathaniel claimed to be fine with Hannah and Noah’s relationship, the clenched fists and averted gazes told a different story. That was as good a reason as any to keep his distance. Justin didn’t want to be Nathaniel’s shoulder to lean on. In a perfect world, he wouldn’t get involved in anyone else’s business. He was about to make an exception to that rule.
Vampires Prefer Blondes (Psy-Vamp Book 3) Page 17
