Chapter Twenty-Four
On a Need-to-Know Basis and Most Don’t Need to Know
Time spent with Brandy curled warmly beside him was quickly becoming Stefan’s favorite pastime. Rather than sleep, he reflected on recent events and their life together. He worked out the kinks life hurtled toward him in the comforting silence of the night as she slept.
At a soft knock at the door, Stefan slid out of bed without disturbing Brandy, put his robe on, and opened the door.
Tim stood shifting uncomfortably from one foot to the other. “Stefan, can we talk?”
“Sure, let me put some clothes on, and I’ll meet you downstairs.”
Tim peered around Stefan, nodding toward Brandy, keeping his voice soft. “Try not to wake her.”
“No problem,” Stefan said in a reassuring voice. He knew this was going to be a difficult conversation. When he arrived downstairs, Tim was pacing in front of the warm, inviting fireplace. An open bottle of whisky and two glasses sat on the end table nearest the couch.
Stefan walked across the room, shoving his hands deep in his pockets, and sucked in a breath, letting it out slowly. He paused in front of Tim. “You wanted to talk to me?”
“Aye. Lad, we know you and Brandy have been together a while, committed, I hope.” Beads of sweat formed at his temples. “Are you…” He walked toward the table that held the whiskey, running his hand through his hair.
“Let me make it easy. Your suspicions are correct. I’m a vampire. Brandy wanted to tell you numerous times but didn’t feel the time was right. She wanted you to get to know me first. I’m not a danger to her, or any of you, if that’s what you’re worried about.”
“Aye, in part, but…” Tim walked over, picked up the glass, and knocked back the whisky, hissing out a breath as the familiar burning sensation worked its way to warm his belly. Then he motioned to the other glass. “Join me?”
“I really don’t metabolize human food or drink very well. If forced I can, but would rather not.”
“Of course. I wasn’t thinking.” He trailed off while staring at his glass and turning it around in his hand, sloshing the amber liquid nervously.
“I don’t feed on human blood, if that’s what’s bothering you. I saw the way you looked at me in the pub tonight when I kissed Brandy’s neck. That’s when I knew you’d figured it out.” Watching his face, Stefan wondered what was going on behind those blue eyes clouded with worry.
Tim tensed when Stefan put his hand on his shoulder. “Brandy and I have had our problems, as I’m sure you are aware. But I never would have allowed her back in my life if I couldn’t control myself. In fact, it was Brandy that changed my way of life, showed me how to hunt and exist on animal blood.”
“Aye, she always was a bit on the wild side and preferred something different.”
Curious now, Stefan sat down on the couch, watching him. “If you knew your daughter that well, why are you surprised?”
Tim shook his head, and his eyes met Stefan’s. “I’m not. Not really. More concerned. I don’t know how to explain this to her mother or the rest of the family. Your incredible strength and speed when Kevin attacked you set everyone in the pub to talking. How do we explain that to them or him?”
“Don’t worry about Kevin. He’ll remember only what I told him before I released him. As far as the others in the pub, most have probably forgotten already or blamed it on the drink.”
“You could be right, but I saw Kevin’s face. He saw what I saw.” He paused, looking questioningly at Stefan.
“Let’s just say I’ve many talents, as your daughter does. Besides, Kevin had way too much to drink.” He paused, considering what to tell Mary. “As far as Mary is concerned, I don’t think she will be any more surprised than you. We’ll tell her the truth. Your concern, while understandable, isn’t necessary. Brandy and I hunt to keep my thirst under control.”
“Telling Mary the truth is best,” he agreed.
“Brandy can handle that tomorrow morning. The rest of your large family will be on a need-to-know basis and most won’t need to know.” Stefan stood up and glanced toward the bedroom.
Rubbing the back of his neck, Tim sighed. “Aye, you’d be right about that.”
“You’ve had a long night. Go on back to bed knowing that you and your family have nothing to fear from me,” Stefan said gently.
Tim nodded his head. “Aye, the rest can wait until morning. Tonight I needed to confirm my suspicions and get your measure as a man. I still like what I see. ’Tis just a little unnerving to have a vampire serious about me daughter.” With a half laugh, he shook his head. “We knew when she left Ireland that she wouldn’t commit to her own kind. She was looking for something else, and I guess she found him. No offense.”
Smiling, Stefan nodded “None taken.” Returning to their bedroom, he took a quick hot shower. It might rouse Brandy, but she wouldn’t think much about it as that was their way of compensating for the differences in body temperatures, especially in bed. Then he could slide back into bed and not chill her as he drew her close.
Standing in the shower, eyes closed, the warm water cascading over his tense body, he heard the bathroom door creak open and then close quietly. The shower door slid open. Still, he kept his eyes closed. Her wonderful scent filled the room and warm gentle hands wrapped around him as her body all but slithered against him.
He enjoyed the arousing sensations rippling through his body as her gentle fingers played lightly over his chest muscles, and slid further down his body. Opening his eyes, he turned slowly, and drank in Brandy’s glistening wet naked body, letting his hands roam intimately over her.
She smiled seductively up at him. “Restless again tonight?” she murmured.
“That’s part of it, I guess,” he whispered against her soft neck pulsing with delicious…Then slowly trailing his tongue across her shoulders and down her chest, he tenderly licked the water droplets from her firm, round breasts.
She moaned softly and arched toward him.
Turning off the water, he scooped her up in his arms and carried her to their bed. Outside, the rain was pinging on the window and the fireplace still glowed with the last embers of the fire started earlier in the evening.
Spilling her out onto the bed, she gasped, then giggled as she grabbed his hand, pulling him down beside her.
“Darling, I’m going to take you for a ride you’ll not soon forget.” She slowly slid one long, shapely, well-toned leg across his body and rose up over him.
He grinned wide in anticipation, folding his hands behind his head. “Then by all means, have your way with me.”
She leaned down, her breasts tantalizingly caressing his bare chest as her lips brushed lightly back and forth over his, lingering a little longer each time.
“You like that?” she whispered seductively.
“Uh-huh.” He reached up to cup her firm breasts as he gently rubbed his thumbs over her hardening nipples. Unable to wait any longer, Stefan pulled her down to him and filled his mouth with her breast, scraping his teeth carefully against the nipple as he sucked and gently tugged on the soft mound of female flesh. He closed his eyes and imagined again what it would be like to run his tongue over all of her, taste all of her.
She moaned and called out his name as she shifted slowly, surrounding him and taking him into her. He felt the flames of passion building inside her as she tightened around him. Her body began to quiver with liquid fire as she soared higher and higher until her world shattered into a million shimmering stars.
Finally, cupping the back of her neck, he took her mouth, devouring its softness hungrily. Her flavor spun into him as he slid his hands down to her hips. Grasping them firmly, he thrust up into her hard, fast, and deep, then held on.
“Oh God,” she cried as waves of pleasure again pulsed through her.
It was all movement, flesh against flesh, man against woman, sheathed in her satiny smooth, steamy heat until the hot flow of passion raged through both like molten lava scorching everything in its path.
She went limp, as he knew she did now after loving. Draping her body across his, she buried her face in his neck and breathed a slow, sensuous kiss there.
He leaned his cheek against the top of her head and savored the immense satisfaction he felt as contentment and peace flowed between them. She shifted, and he reached up, running his fingers through her soft hair, tangled by his own hand in the night, watching her eyes go dreamy and sleep overtake her. He felt her mind as it flowed in a serene blur of soft colors, rolling green hills, and pleasant visions of home, family, and faerie mounds.
The intimacy of their lovemaking intensified as he shared her thoughts while touching her in all the places that he’d learned she enjoyed, wondering if she felt the same since she was able to tune into his feelings and thoughts as well.
She stirred, answering sleepily in his mind, Hmmmm, yes, that is one of the best parts of making love with you. Of course the physical release isn’t bad either, is it? She smiled and snuggled closer. Stefan caught the last sleepy thought drifting through her mind and wondered…
Tristian’s quiet knock on the door and intruding thoughts ended the euphoria for the moment.
He knocked more insistently. “Stefan, I know you’re awake.”
Irate, Stefan growled. “If you know so much, then you know better than to intrude on my time alone with Brandy. Now, go away. I’m not getting up.” Pausing, he listened to Tristian’s mind. “Yeah, Tristian, I’m aware that Tim knows my secret, and we’ve come to terms.”
Barely awake, Brandy murmured sleepily, “Go on with him, if you want. I’ll be along in just a bit of a while.”
Testily, Stefan grumbled, “No, I don’t want to, and we’ll join the others later.” He deliberately avoided telling her of last night’s conversation and the promise that he’d made. Grinning now, he thought Hannah and Tristian had enough of their own revelations to share, keeping things interesting until they joined the rest of the family later.
Tristian huffed out a breath on the other side of the door. “I wish you’d stay out of my head, but okay, fine. Have it your own way.” His heavy footfalls grew quieter.