Total pages in book: 94
Estimated words: 92941 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 465(@200wpm)___ 372(@250wpm)___ 310(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 92941 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 465(@200wpm)___ 372(@250wpm)___ 310(@300wpm)
Beau let out a low groan.
“I bet your mom’s wardrobe is incredible.” I pulled on a pair of my own jeans, only two years old.
“You’re not wearing underwear?” he asked hoarsely.
“I’m wearing a bra,” I countered, pulling it over my head. Bralettes may have been one of the best inventions in women’s wear. It wasn’t as if I had a lot to support, but at least they kept my nipples from staring everyone in the eye.
“But no underwear,” he repeated.
“I rarely wear them,” I reported, pulling a t-shirt on.
“You were wearing some the first time.”
“That’s because I’d been at work,” I explained as I pulled on a pair of socks. “I wear boxers or nothing, otherwise.”
“That makes no sense.”
“I can’t exactly go commando to work,” I said, pausing to look at him. “But boxers bunch under my work pants, so briefs it is.”
Beau just stared at me.
“Enjoying this little peek into my brain?” I asked jokingly, raising my eyebrows.
“I’m not sure yet,” he confessed.
I turned and walked into the bathroom, leaving the door open. “Well, let me know when you decide.”
As I ran my fingers through my hair he came to stand in the doorway, leaning his shoulder against the jam as he watched me.
“I forgot a hairbrush.”
“Second drawer.” He pointed.
I reached for it.
“You’re letting me use your hairbrush? I guess this is getting pretty serious,” I teased.
“I guess so,” he murmured, his eyes on mine as I pulled the brush through my hair.
“Let me brush my teeth really quick, and I’ll be ready.”
He moved into the bathroom behind me and opened another drawer, pulling his own toothbrush out.
To say that the two of us mundanely brushing our teeth together was surreal would be an understatement. I’d never brushed my teeth with someone before, and it felt oddly…competitive. Was I brushing less vigorously? Would it gross him out if I started brushing my tongue? Half the time, I gagged myself.
Hell would freeze over before I stopped brushing before he was finished.
His eyes danced as he watched the emotions flicker over my face. With a light hand on my hip, he scooted me out of the way and leaned down to spit and rinse his brush.
“You can stop now,” he said with laughter in his voice. “Damn, you’re stubborn.”
I waited until he’d left the bathroom before spitting and brushing my tongue.
When we arrived downstairs, his family had already congregated in the family room and were speaking quietly. The new addition was as handsome as the other Vampire males I’d met. They were all similar enough that no one could mistake them as anything but brothers, but it was as if Ulf and Beau had inherited opposite traits from each of their parents. While Beau had his mother’s brown eyes, Ulf had Erik’s blue ones.
“So, this is her,” a deep voice announced as we walked into the room.
“Apparently,” I joked self-consciously.
“Reese, this is my older brother,” Beau said, his hand on the small of my back ushering me across the room.
“Ambrose,” his brother said, reaching for my hand.
I shook it, hiding my wince at the stinging nettle sensation.
“No touching,” Beau said, pulling on my arm.
Ambrose frowned.
“The bond,” Erik explained from his spot on the couch. “It’s uncomfortable for Reese.”
“So much that she slit her wrists?” Ambrose asked darkly, looking behind me at Beau.
“I didn’t slit my wrists,” I argued quickly, showing him the unmarred one.
“It was a misunderstanding,” Beau said, wrapping his arm around my chest.
“He was anemic,” I babbled, the tension between them making me a little nervous.
“You did it?” Ambrose asked Beau.
My mate jerked like he’d been hit.
“Of course he didn’t,” Beau’s mom scolded. “What’s the matter with you?”
“I’m fine,” I announced loudly. “Nothing to see here.”
“I passed out, and Reese panicked,” Beau replied quietly.
“I did not panic,” I countered.
“Looked pretty panicked to me,” Chance drawled.
“I’d go so far as to say hysterical,” Danny added.
Whipping around, I glared at Beau’s brothers. “Forget that blood hook-up. You two can get leftovers.”
“You cut your arm trying to give my brother blood?” Ambrose asked curiously.
I turned back to him reluctantly and nodded.
“Interesting,” he murmured, looking from me to Beau.
“Everyone sit,” Beau’s mom ordered. “Ambrose has news.”
I wondered what news he could have that would have everyone gathered around at the edge of their seats, but I kept my mouth shut as Beau led us over to a plush armchair. I knew better than to ask and remind them that I probably shouldn’t even be in the room. Beau dropped into the chair and pulled me onto his lap.
“Not appropriate,” I murmured, glancing at his parents.
“At least you’re wearing pants this time,” Beau replied.
I pinched the tender skin on the inside of his thigh.
“It looks like the group that took Zeke had a lot more connections than command previously believed,” Ambrose said as soon as Beau and I shut up. “And they were incredibly well funded.”