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He finally broke free froave her another heartfelt embrace

In pack-leader mode, Darien said, "I know it’s late, but we need to talk"

Jake slipped his hand around Alicia’s with a firrip and led her to the love seat where they sat down together, thighs touching But it wasn’t enough Jake wrapped his ar to feel her warrance, to enjoy the softness of her body against his, to know she was truly all right and wouldn’t leave hiain

He wanted to tell his brother to hurry up with the questions because Alicia would be his ue She needed to see the workings of a viable pack, and Jake butting heads with his brother wouldn’t help her cope

Darien took Lelandi’s hand and sat with her on one of the couches while Toed chair Darien kept his hand on Lelandi’s, resting it on her thigh For the first ti the intimacy Lelandi and his brother shared But it was only because Alicia ith hi the odd man out, but his expression reainst?" Darien asked Alicia

Alicia honestly didn’t knohat to think After all the questions Darien had asked her, and all the questions she’d asked of him, no one in Jake’s pack, nor Jake himself, seemed to have known of Ferdinand Massaro or his brother, Danny, or Mario and his thugs

Which meant? Jake truly had been interested in her for herself when he first caught sight of her in Breckenridge

Lelandi patted Darien’s thigh "It’s very late, and I’o to bed If you have any more questions, you can ask them tomorrow"

Darien looked from her to Alicia, then to Jake Alicia wasn’t certain, but she thought so on between the two brothers She and hereach other a look, a subtle raise of an eyebrow, or slight gestures to send each other soe or another She hadn’t realized how much she’d missed that special connection she’d had with her mother until she saw the nonverbal couess, Darien arning his brother against her

Darien had nothing to worry about there She’d already had two failed es She wasn’t about to embark on a third with Jake or anyone else, for thatbrother didn’t have to worry about her blearous and her olf abilities had come about because she’d been forcibly bitten

Lelandi said, "Jake’s always an early riser and htful breakfast" She suddenly flushed a brilliant red, quickly said good night, and hurried off with Darien, his arm wrapped around her waist He chuckled low next to her ear and kissed her there

Toave Alicia and Jake a nod, then headed up the stairs after theht, Alicia said, "Your brother seemed concerned about me"

But Jake didn’t seem interested in any further conversation He cupped the swell of her breast in an unassuway His tongue demanded entrance as his hand hovered near the tip of a breast that was already swelling and tingling in anticipation

His eyes were closed as if he wasthe feel of her, the taste of her, the scent of her, just as she was of hie and dove deeper, the pad of his thu the tip of her breast When she ue caressed hers, the erotic sensation set off a firestorroaned with need

"Alicia," he said, sounding dah his hair, wanting him as she’d never wanted any man before he’d come into her life, but--

She pulled her lazed with lust, and worried that she’d shift in theup, just like when she’d shift His hands cupped her face, and he leaned down to kiss her again as he trapped her against the soft cushions of the sofa

She put her hands on his chest and said, "No," against his mouth "We can’t" Her voice was breathy and barely there

His actions seeain tried to kiss her

"No," she said louder and kept her hands planted against his chest

She seeaze as he looked down at her inquiringly "Alicia?" His voice was thick with need

"We can’t"

His hands dropped frohtly "What’s wrong?"

"Your brother doesn’t like it that I’m newly turned and would become part of the family like this"

"Nonsense" He leaned down to kiss her, but she held hiave you a look," she insisted