“More like for walking on your knees.” Zane laughed as Lance’s eyes widened.
Chapter 24
A road trip. Happy days! Brant was taking her out and she couldn’t wait. She wore a dress and underwear. The boys would have to come to terms with the fact that she couldn’t walk around commando all the time.
Her only hope was that her sexy turquoise underwear stayed in one piece. The dress was beautiful, also in a dark turquoise blue. It had sequins embroidered around the neck line and it made her feel beautiful.
“Please don’t rip this dress.”
Brant threw her a half-cocked smile. So drool worthy it was crazy. His eyes moved down her body. “You look great.” His dark orbs zoned in on her curves, heating more and more as they roamed. “I’m afraid I can’t make any promises.”
“You can and you will.”
“Only if you promise to undress quickly before we even make it back to the room, because once that door closes...”
“That would mean my undressing in the hall.” She put her hands on her hips. “I’ll give your men an eyeful.”
He growled. “They can close their eyes.”
“Then again, it’s not like Xavier hasn’t seen me naked.” She chewed on her lip for a bit reminded that Xavier wasn’t outside their door at the moment. “How is he doing? Have he and Esral mated?”
Brant chuckled while shaking his head. “I don’t know if I should be really mad at you or agree with everything you said,” he paused. “She refuses to give him the time of day. They do need to mate, Cenwein, or it will mean trouble.”
“She is free to do as she wishes.”
“You explain that to her father and the rest of the elves.”
“No problem.”
His eyes narrowed and he walked to her, putting his hands around her waist. “You could probably pull it off. Then again…” he shook his head. “Katar is old, highly traditional and set in his ways. There is something I need to talk to you about”—he paused squeezing her hips—“I have a favor to ask.”
“Yes?” She got the distinct feeling that she wasn’t going to like whatever the request was.
“Please talk with Esral. She’s been holed up in her room since she arrived. Won’t eat or talk to anybody. I think she might feel differently about you though.”
“I’m not going to talk her into mating Xavier.”
He cupped her cheeks. “My brother isn’t that bad.”
“He’s freaking hot, but mating with someone is a major step.”
Brant’s eyes narrowed. “You think my brother is hot? Are the two of us not enough for you?” The edge of his lips twitched in amusement.
She laughed. “More than enough you idiot. Just stating a fact.”
“Please talk her into giving him a chance.”
That poor girl.
“Please, Cenwein. It’s not healthy for her to be stuck behind closed doors.”
“I’ll talk to her.” She smiled while thinking that Esral must be lonely and afraid. She probably needed someone to confide in, and Tanya had an inkling of what she was going through.
Brant kissed her. One quick, soft touch of the lips. As he pulled away, his eyes dropped to her mouth and heated. “Ah, hell.” He dipped back down cupping her chin and taking her deeper. His cock pressed against her lower stomach. He growled as he released her, his eyes glowing. “How are you feeling?”
“Tired and a little sore.”
“Bastard,” Brant spat the word.
“Hang on just a second. It was my fault.” She felt her cheeks heat. “The whole drinking thing kind of made me really horny. You should’ve stayed.”
He shook his head. “Zane would not have wanted it. Even if he had, threes a crowd, it’s not for me.”
Pain welled.
“I’m sorry, Cenwein.”
“Work on it. I don’t like this arrangement.”
His eyes narrowed and his body tensed. “What is it that you want? One big cosy suite? A double king sized bed?”
“Double king.” She laughed, snorting a little. He gave a small smile before seeming to remember that he was irritated with the conversation.
“Forget the double king thing. I’m never sharing a bed with that asshole. I prefer it when it’s just the two of us.”
“Only it’s not just the two of us, Brant, and I don’t know how long my moving from one bed to the other can go on. We are going to be a family.” She touched a hand to her stomach. It was funny how quickly her attachment to the baby had grown. She felt silly, it wasn’t even a baby yet, just a clump of cells really and yet she couldn’t help but to feel warm and fuzzy at the thought of the life growing inside her. “I want the little one to grow up in a loving home. I don’t want the bickering and the fighting. All the back and forth.”
His jaw clenched. “Give it time. There is no rush.”
She nodded. It was wrong of her to expect miracles overnight, at least her men weren’t attacking each other anymore. So, in their own way, they were making progress. It hurt her to see Brant upset though. It wasn’t easy being pulled in two directions either, but for now she would get on with it.
Thankfully she had a mating ceremony to arrange, it would keep her mind occupied on other things. Tanya felt excitement bubble up inside her, she was allowed to invite Becky. Her best friend was going to die when she heard the news. It wasn’t easy convincing Brant to let her fragile human best friend to come through to the coven for the ceremony. Though Zane was fine with it.
“Let’s go and see Esral and my brother.” Brant smiled. “He’s never been turned down by a female before. Even though he pretends he doesn’t care, I suspect he’s taking it hard even if he won’t admit it.” He took her hand as they walked from his suite.
Xavier stood outside a closed door in one of the long hallways. His hands were clasped in front of his big body. He turned his head as they walked up. His expression remained solemn.
“Still not interested?” Tanya noticed how Brant’s mouth twitched as he spoke.
Xavier must have noticed too because his body tensed as he shook his head. “She won’t speak to me and sends her food back uneaten. Please, can we stop this madness? The princess does not want to mate me and I am happy to oblige her.”
“Did you speak with her about it?” Tanya asked.
“She won’t let me in, just shouts through the door for me to go away.” His eyes darkened. “Since your little talk with her yesterday”—he motioned to Tanya—“she feels like she should have an opinion and does not want to be forced into mating. Like I said earlier, it suits me just fine in the end though. Brother please can we stop this now?”
“You must mate her. You must convince her.” Brant stated slipping his arm around Tanya’s shoulder as he spoke.
“It’s wrong to expect people who don’t even know each other to make such a commitment. I’m against this. At least with the choosing ceremony, the whole thing is based on scent and chances of compatibility are high. That’s not even the case in this situation.” Tanya addressed Brant.
Xavier grunted, his mouth a tight line.
“I realize her father expects her to mate with royalty, but if you are not willing then maybe Griffin would agree. The princess is very pretty, Griffin won’t stop talking about her. I think he might even have a little crush on her,” Tanya added the last to prove a point.
If she had thought that Xavier was tense before, she had been wrong. His whole body tightened to where she thought he might tear a muscle. “What the fuck does Griffin know?”
“He was in the vehicle when she was transported back,” Brant said.
Xavier’s eyes narrowed, “So what?”
“The princess disrobed for Zane to try and seduce him. Griffin caught an eyeful,” Brant replied.
“I will hit Griffin until he loses his memory. Problem solved.” Sheesh, in this moment, Brant’s brother looked very much the deadly warrior he was. “I think the princess’ modesty should be protected.�
��
Brant chuckled. “I think you have a thing for the princess.”
Xavier shrugged. “She’s a nice piece of ass. I wouldn’t mind rutting her, but mating…not so much. If…and it’s a big if...I ever decide to mate, it will be with a vampire female.”
Tanya gasped, she punched Xavier on the arm. Her knuckle made a cracking sound on impact.
“Careful human, you might break something.”
“You are the one that needs to be careful brother.” Brant stepped up to Xavier so that they were inches apart. “Tanya is your queen and you will address her as such. If she so much as breaks a nail, I will take you down. Are we clear?”
“Yes, my lord. Apologies my lady, but for the record the queen hit me. Why would I be punished if she hurt herself?”
Brant relaxed a little taking a small step back. “It’s how it is. Do not provoke her.”
Xavier nodded.
Tanya shook her head and had to suppress a laugh at how sheepish Xavier looked before she could speak again. “It shouldn’t matter what species she is. Esral is a person with feelings and not just a tight piece of ass. She is also a virgin and deserves respect.”
“I assure you, my lady, that if I were to rut with the princess it would be because she was begging for me to do so.” The edge of Xavier’s mouth lifted.
“I’ve heard rutting is difficult through a closed door.” Brant chuckled. Xavier quickly lost his smile.
This time Tanya hit Brant, who irritated her by laughing harder. Xavier looked even more pissed.
“Forget your freaking dicks for once. This is not about sex.”
“Um”—Brant smiled—“I hate to break it to you, Cenwein, but mating and rutting go hand in hand.” His face clouded before he appeared to turn to stone, shutting his emotions down. He was obviously thinking about their own mating that would happen in a few days’ time, which she knew didn’t enthuse him since three was a crowd in his opinion. In order for her to mate with both males, they would need to all be together.
“Yeah, but you first need to win her over. Let me go and talk with her. Her opinion in this is important. She might not find you attractive, Xavier.”
He snorted, “As if.”
“Arrogant much?” She lifted her eyebrows and gave him what she hoped was a scathing look.
Brant laughed. “You go and talk with Esral”—he put a hand on her back—“I’ll have a little chat with my brother.”
Tanya walked over to the door, she knocked and announced herself. There was a tell-tale sound of a key turning in the lock. She couldn’t help but to give Xavier a self-satisfied smile. Arrogant, full of it jerk. She thought a little bit of grovelling would do him good.
Esral smiled a small, unsure smile. She was wearing another robe. It was slightly darker than the one she had worn the day before. Her large eyes were still red rimmed with dark smudges underneath them.
“I take it that you didn’t get much sleep.”
Esral shook her head. Her lip quivered. “I am a failure, defective.”
“Stop saying that, you are not a failure. I thought you understood that after our talk yesterday. You are a beautiful woman. You should never have been given away by your father.”
“Every day since I first really understood the way of our people, I prayed that things would be different but still resigned myself to my fate. It is the way of our people.”
“By fate, you mean being given in marriage?” Tanya asked.
“Marriage?” Esral’s brows pulled together in confusion.
“Marriage is the same as mating. You would be forced to mate with someone?”
Her mouth pulled to the side in thought. “I don’t know that force is the right word.”
“Being given to someone against your will after being brainwashed into believing that it is perfectly fine is force in my book. Just because you didn’t run away screaming doesn’t make it right or consensual.” The nerve of some species. They called humans puny and weak, but at least most of her species had made progress with regards to women’s rights.
“I used to pretend that I was one of the commoners. It’s only the high born that suffer from this fate. Males included,” she huffed. “Our high born males are all a bunch of arrogant idiots.” She paused for a few beats. “I was glad when my father told me that I was going to be given to Zane. Very scared, but glad. I had hope for the first time. You see”—she blushed—“I’m already twenty four, truth is my father should’ve given me to someone by now but all the eligible males are terrible.”
“Arrogant idiots.”
“Oh, yes. I had hoped that there would be a spark between Zane and I. Like I said, I was really scared at the thought of having to mate a big, scary vampire but anyone other than the high born elves would’ve been an improvement. Besides, I had seen his picture and thought he was attractive. You are lucky.” Her eyes welled. “I just want to feel like a normal female for once. The girls in our village go on dates and get to have fun. They get to choose who they spend their lives with and I want that.”
“You can have all of that.”
Her eyes lit up, “I can?” Her shoulders slumped and she shook her head. “My people would not understand.”
“What did I tell you? You’re one of us now.”
“I would disappoint my father.”
“He will eventually understand. It sounds like he loves you very much. He tried to give you what you wanted in a roundabout way.”
Esral sort of smiled. “He does love me. Maybe in time. What were you saying about the vampire males?”
She may as well just say it. “Vampires are highly sexual and might try funny business with you.”
“By funny business you mean they’ll want to rut with me?”
Tanya nodded and Esral laughed. “It is a normal bodily function. One which highborn females are denied while the males can run after every village girl they like.” Her face flushed in anger.
Tanya prepared to argue. It wouldn’t be good if the virgin elven princess moved from bed to bed.
Esral laughed. “I can see by the look on your face that you don’t like the idea of my rutting with the vampire males.”
“I think that being a virgin is something special. Sex should be special. I was an idiot and don’t want you to make the same mistake that I did. It was my senior year in high school and one of the jocks took an interest in me. Little old plain Jane me…I couldn’t believe it. Taylor was so popular, I thought he was a hunk at the time, but what he really was, was a grade-A asshole.”
“Ass…hole? He was a hole? What is an ass?”
Tanya laughed. “It’s another way of saying arrogant idiot.”
Her mouth rounded in an “o” and she gestured for Tanya to continue.
“Anyway, it turned out that the asshole only wanted into my panties. He saw a self-conscience young lady and used it to his advantage. I had that nagging voice in the back of my head that told me sex for the first time in the back of his pick-up was not the actions of a guy that really cared, but Taylor was a sweet talker. He literally charmed the pants off of me.”
“I have heard that rutting for the first time can hurt?”
It had hurt like a bitch when Taylor had shoved himself into her before preparing her first. The bastard. She really hadn’t had much luck with men, at least until Zane and Brant. What a cruel twist of fate to throw two really great males at her. If only they could all get along.
“Your silence speaks volumes.” Esral had wide eyes and looked a little nervous.
“If you are with the right male, it won’t be so bad.”
“Sex must be good though since everyone seems to want to do it all the time. I’m so curious to find out what it’s like.” She smiled.
“Sure it’s good, but that doesn’t mean you should just jump into bed with anyone just to appease your curiosity. You don’t need to have all out sex, you could fool around a bit.”
“Fool around?” She shook her head, her eyes cl
ouded in confusion.
“Have they kept you wrapped up in cotton wool?”
“I don’t understand the question.”
Tanya made a sound of frustration. “You can touch someone and they can touch you back. Touching can feel good too. First, I would suggest a date or two. If you really like someone, you can kiss. If you really really like them, you can let them touch you a little. Take your time though. You are still young. No sex. Virginity doesn’t seem to be a big deal for vampires. Sex is considered…like you said earlier…a normal bodily function. If you allowed it, you would be on your back in no time.” Tanya worried for the innocent elven female. The vampire males would have her for breakfast quite literally. “I’ll talk to Brant about letting you go on a date.”
“Please do. I would love to go out with one of the gorgeous males.” Esral crossed her legs under her while smiling broadly. Then her face turned serious. “I will think on what you said about being a virgin though. I don’t think I could rut with just anyone anyway. Too many years of...what did you call it…brainwashing. I was always taught to save myself for my mate.”
Tanya didn’t know what to say to that. On the one hand staying a virgin for her mate wasn’t a bad idea, but it was ultimately Esral’s decision. She didn’t want to fall into the same trap of telling her what she could and couldn’t do. So she took the safe route and changed the subject. “You need to eat something or you’ll waste away.”
Esral grimaced. “They keep bringing me dead things.”
Tanya laughed. “You mean meat?”
“That’s what I said, dead things.” She wrinkled her nose. “Disgusting. I only eat food from the earth.”
Tanya nodded. “I’ll have something brought up. Would you like new clothes? I really like your robes, but maybe you would prefer garments that would help you to fit in around here a little better.”
Her eyes lit up and she gasped in excitement. “Really? That would be wonderful. I would love something like what you are wearing and blue…” She raised her eyes in thought. “…jeans. Did I say it right?”
“Yeah you did. What size are you?” Esral shrugged. “Okay. What size underwear?”
The Chosen Series Box Set: Books 1 - 3 Page 26
