Twice Bitten Not Shy [Vampires of Eternity] (Siren Publishing Ménage Amour) by Lynne St. James

the doorway. I sure as hell hope I’m not sorry I decided to come back.

Chapter 9
     
    As they entered the large living room, Christian could feel the surprise emanating from Gwen. He had to keep from chuckling. He had been unable to stop himself from reading her mind as she tried to figure this out. He wasn’t sure Sebastian found it as amusing, assuming that he was recovered enough to be able to read her.
    Christian knew that these next few minutes could be the end of them. So much hung in the balance. How would Gwendolyn handle all of this information? Would she run for the next state? But of course they would follow her if she did.
    “This is so not what I expected.” He could hear the surprise in her voice.
    “What did you expect, Gwendolyn, a bat cave?”
    Christian could tell that she didn’t appreciate his comment, since the look she gave him would have killed him if he hadn’t already been dead. Still, he couldn’t resist grinning. She was just too easy to play with. But reality being what it was, Christian knew that they didn’t have time for him to tease her, as he would have preferred. He hoped that whatever brought her back to them tonight would help heal Sebastian.
    “Sebastian is in his room.” He could feel her doubt, and he could feel Sebastian’s pain, but at this point he didn’t think any of them had much choice. He realized that just being near her had already helped ease his pain, and he hadn’t even touched her.
    Silently, she followed him down the hall and through the door he opened for her. Sebastian was stretched out in the middle of his huge four-poster bed. The room was shrouded in darkness, and the flickering of the candles on the bedside table gave off just enough light to show his body lying in the center of the bed. They both could read the thoughts running through her head. Even with his pain, Christian knew Sebastian could feel the doubt and fear as well as curiosity flowing from Gwendolyn.
    Sebastian was the first to speak. “Good evening again, Gwendolyn.”
    “Good evening, Sebastian. Christian said you aren’t well?”
    “I’m much better now, thank you.”
    “Are you sure?”
    It was Christian’s turn to answer. “No, he’s not. But he is attempting a good front for you.”
    “I had a feeling…”
    Christian knew that he hated being seen this way, and he let him know telepathically that he was sorry, but it was for the best.
    Sebastian grunted and sat up further against the pillows. As he did, the covers slid down, revealing his broad naked chest.
    Gwendolyn sucked in a breath, and Christian smiled. He was happy to know that she was not immune to their charms.
    “Gwendolyn, why don’t you tell Sebastian what you told me? About why you came back here tonight.”
    Gwendolyn seemed very unsure of herself, more than either of the vampires had ever seen her, but they could feel her resolve. “Well…as I told Christian, I felt cold and very weak all of a sudden. I had the need to be here with you both. The closer I got to my home, the worse the feelings became.”
    Sebastian and Christian exchanged glances, and they both silently agreed to tell Gwendolyn the truth about them. It was now or never. They hoped she would be able to handle what they were about to tell her.
    Sebastian gestured to an overstuffed chair near the bed. “Gwendolyn, won’t you please sit down. Christian and I have a story to tell you.”
    Christian stood behind Gwendolyn as she sat and gently rubbed her shoulders. He could feel the tension. She was stiff as a board, and they needed her to be calm. Sebastian began their tale, and he continued to rub her shoulders and the base of her neck. The anxiety was lessening, but he didn’t want to stop. Her silky soft skin felt so wonderful beneath his fingers. Her scent wafted over him. She smelled like lavender and vanilla. He pushed her shoulder-length black hair to the side as he continued to gently knead her shoulders, now that she seemed more at