Page 40 of Life Blood
“We’re running on our heightened instincts. I wouldn’t be surprised if you were born especially for us. You can’t imagine the overwhelming love we have for you. It’s as if we are all old souls finally reunited after being separated forever.”
“I can’t say I feel that way,” I responded honestly.
Braden hesitantly, but confidently took my hand, “You don’t have to. Not yet. All you have to know is that you’re responding to us. It may happen slowly, maybe with all of us or just separately, but you’re feeling the bond, and that’s all that matters.”
I glanced out at the cousins standing in a circle by the breakfast table then back to Braden. It was as if my hand came up of its own will and searched the stubble on his cheek.
“What if I fell for you and only you?” I closed my eyes, heat blazing a trail to my cheeks, and I wanted to run in embarrassment. “Forget I just said that.”
Braden brought me into his sturdy arms, and his woodsy, masculine fragrance confirmed what I just asked him. “It sounds like it’ll happen separately.” I heard the humor in his tone. “Don’t worry, your body is responding like it should. Your heart seems to be following fate’s wish for all of us, it’s just your mind that won’t adjust.” I felt his lips in my hair and his cool breath blow through the strands, “My best advice is to let your guard down and let us in. You won’t regret this. I can sense your pain while you’re trying so hard to fight this, and I think it would be so much better if you just gave us a little trust.”
I relaxed and pulled away from him. “I want you to stay with me tonight. I’m glad Logan is helping, but I don’t want to block it anymore. I feel the most comfortable with you right now,” I smiled, feeling the tension and weirdness filling my body by just letting this simple request happen, “and besides, I’m sure Boots would love to have you in the room too.”
Braden licked his full lips, and I let the raw, burning sensation soar through my body. I wanted to lick his lips. I wanted to taste his skin, taste the cologne he wore that assaulted my senses in ways I couldn’t explain.
“If that’ll make you more comfortable, I’ll do whatever you want.”
“Thanks,” I said, my voice hoarse after letting my body and heart overrule my mind. “Well, now that’s settled, how am I getting to class?”
I wasn’t sure how the rest of the day was going to go, but knowing I would be able to spend the night with Braden gave me a certain level of calmness that I wasn’t going to fight.
Chapter Sixteen
Going back to school wasn’t as horrible as I would’ve imagined. I suppose it was a blessing in disguise that Jen was gone because that meant I didn’t have to explain why I was suddenly best friends with the Banners.
The day rushed by reasonably quickly, and I didn’t even get so much as a sideways glance from David. I figured that Zac compelling him had something to do with that.
After my last class, I met Logan, Cole, and Braden at Logan’s very conspicuous Range Rover and climbed into the back seat next to Cole. I leaned against the door and looked out the window as we drove through town on our way to the lodge.
“Classes were okay today?” Cole asked curiously.
“Yeah, thanks,” I said, “Kinda weird showing up to class like any of it matters anymore, but I guess I really don’t know what else to do. I’m just ready for my mom to get better finally and for things to get back to normal.”
Braden turned from the front passenger seat and caught my eye, “Life will never benormalthe way you might imagine it, Elle.”
The sadness in his eyes as he said the words made my heart skip, and I found myself struggling to fight off that warm, fuzzy wave of emotions again. Throughout the day, I had actually made some progress with controlling myself when I felt flooded with this feeling by any of them. I even managed to stop myself from staring at them in awe of their perfection…for the most part.
“Elle?” Braden questioned, snapping me out of staring at his biceps that were stretching the short sleeve of his shirt.
“No, I heard you. Nothing will be the same. I get it.” I shifted to face him, “When mom gets out of rehab, and let’s just say she starts acting like an actual mom for the first time ever, how is all of this supposed to work? Do I get to live at home with her and—”
“Your mom will not be out of rehab for quite some time,” Cole cut in, “And after this semester is over, I think it might be a good time for you to consider moving to attend a university. You can’t seriously like going to community college here? We only attend to keep a low profile.”
“Of course I would like to go to a university. It hasn’t exactly been an option for me until now. Regardless, I was planning on at least having the summer with her.”
“We’ll have to see how it all plays out,” Logan said from the driver’s seat as he looked at me in the rearview mirror, “For now, we all need to take it as it comes. Hey, Cole, now that Elle is living with us, can we kick Lucas and his coven out? They’ve helped us make sure she’s under no immediate threat, do we really need them in our house anymore? I’m not a fan of the way Elle is being treated by some of the girls.”
Cole shook his head, “No. Sorry, Elle, but for now you’re gonna need thick skin around the ones who are giving you a hard time. They’ve been here since we moved back in. They all know about the bond we share with Elle, so they’ll come to terms with it, or they can choose to leave on their own. I’m not asking anyone to leave the house when this coven has been so helpful to us. That’s not right, and you know it.”
“Cole’s right,” Braden sighed, “We can’t forget that not only are we number one on Enzo’s hit list, but now we have a Life Blood with us. We can use all the help we can get right now. This is far from over.”
“And if I happen to piss one of them off?” I said, glancing at Braden and back to Cole, “What then? Do you think any of them would hurt me?” I didn’t trust any of the bitches from the night before, but I didn’t know how all these vamps worked together, either. Were they loyal? Were any of them unstable?
“Not a chance in hell,” Logan said, staring out at the secluded driveway that led up to the house.
Once the car was in park, I noticed a bright yellow street bike similar to Braden’s parked off to the side.
“Looks like Zac made it home in record time.” Cole swung his door open and glared over at his cousins, “If he doesn’t get his head right, I’m gonna let you give him a beat down, Braden.”
