Brother’s Best Friends Are My Mates novel Chapter 76

Lia

With Gabi’s rescue on the horizon, my thoughts drifted to our upcoming mating ceremony. I found myself in the living room with my four mates. Michael was out and the five of us were discussing things of a sensitive nature.

“I can’t believe it’s almost here,” I murmured, my fingers idly tracing patterns on Matt’s arm.

“You nervous?” Colby asked, his voice low and teasing.

I shook my head. “No. Excited.”

Rain scoffed. “Excited? You should be. After the ceremony, you’ll officially be ours.”

I smirked. “I’m already yours.”

Matt’s hand slid up my thigh, his touch slow and deliberate. “Yeah, but this makes it permanent. No take-backs.”

“As if I’d ever want to take it back,” I said, tilting my head to meet his gaze.

Rain leaned in, his lips brushing against my neck. “She says that now, but after we’

“NOPE. NOPE. STOP RIGHT THERE.”

We all jolted at the voice, snapping our heads toward the door. Michael stood there, arms crossed, looking like he’d rather be anywhere else.

“…Michael?” I blinked, stunned.

“Oh god, why am I still standing here?” he groaned, rubbing his temples. “My ears are bleeding. Change the subject. Immediately.”

I bit my lip to keep from laughing. “What are you doing here?”

“I was coming to tell you the pack meeting got moved up, but clearly, I walked straight into hell.” His face twisted in disgust. ” What even was that? You know what? Don’t answer. I don’t want to know.”

“You’re overreacting,” Colby said, smirking.

Michael’s eyes practically bugged out of his head. “No, I’m reacting exactly as any sane brother would when hearing his sister’s-” He made a vague, horrified gesture at all of us. “—whatever this is.”

Rain chuckled. “What’s wrong, Mike? Feeling left out?”

Michael gagged. “That’s it. I’m leaving. I’m erasing this entire moment from my memory. You’re all disgusting.” Matt grinned. “Dramatic much?”

Michael pointed a finger at him. “Dramatic? I am traumatized.”

“Bye, Michael,” I said, waving.

He was already halfway out the door. “Never speaking of this again.”

We waited until he was completely gone before Colby let out a low chuckle.

“…Do you think he’s gone?” I asked.

Matt shrugged. “Probably pacing outside, trying to unhear everything.”

“Poor guy,” I said, not feeling all that sorry.

Rain leaned closer again, lips brushing my ear. “So… where were we?”

But before we could go any further, the doorbell rang.

“Guys, it’s Simone! Let me in!”

I winced. “I forgot that I invited Simone over.”

All of them glared at me, causing me to smile sheepishly.

It was an accident!

***

Rain

Almost bedding Lia got my blood boiling. Until Simone came back and ruined the moment.

I spent most of the day hot and bothered, my blood lust also growing. It got to the point where I came to Lia’s room and decided to ask her something straight up. She invited me in, sensing something was up.

“Lia… I need to ask you something.”

She glanced up from her book, immediately narrowing her eyes. “That’s never a good start. What did you do?”

I sighed. “Nothing.”

“Yet.”

I rolled my eyes. “Can you be serious for like, two seconds?”

She snorted. “You? Telling me to be serious? That’s rich.”

I frowned. “What’s that supposed to mean?”

“It means you’re never serious, Rain. You joke about everything-but now, suddenly, you want me to be serious? Hypocrite.”

I crossed my arms. “That’s not true. I can be serious.”

She gave me a flat look. “You once told a teacher your dog ate your homework, and when she pointed out you don’t have a dog, you said you were grieving its tragic, imaginary loss.”

“Okay, that was a good excuse,” I muttered.

She smiled a little. “I know.”

I exhaled, pressing my lips to her wrist in a silent thank-you before sinking my teeth in.

Lia tensed for only a moment before exhaling slowly. “See?” she murmured. “No drama needed.”

I chuckled against her skin. “Shut up, Lia.”

She laughed, light and easy. “Never, vampire boy.”

My fangs grazed where my neck met my shoulder. I kissed the skin, the found of her lovely blood pumping just below the surface almost more than I could stand. She whimpered, tilting her heart to the side to give me more access to her slender and beautiful neck.

Slowly I pierced the soft skin, enjoying the moan that escaped Lia’s lips. I ran my tongue over the wounds, knowing my saliva would help stop her from feeling any pain. She wrapped her arms around my neck, pressing her body flush against my mind.

Feeling her body, covered by nothing more than a thin pair of shorts and a tank top, pressed against mine was it for me. I sunk my fangs completely into her neck, greedily drinking the blood. Little gasp whimpers and breaths escaped Lia. She could do nothing more but cling to me as I drank my fill from her body.

The more I drank the more I wanted to keep going, but I knew I had to stop. With a groan of frustration, I yanked my fangs from her skin. They didn’t retract right away, my blood still racing and desires demanding I bite her again.

Lia started to sway but I wrapped a strong arm around the top of her shoulders. A glance at the wound told me that it was already half-healing thanks to my saliva. I ran my tongue over twin bites, the skin closing up a few seconds later.

“That was… amazing,” Lia slurred out.

I chuckled. “I think I drank too much. How woozy do you feel?”

She gave a small shrug. “No woozier than normal. I think you drank a normal amount.”

Without warning, I lifted her into my arms and walked the short distance to her bed. I laid her down on the soft mattress, ignoring her protests of wanting me to join her.

“Lia if I join you it’s not going to end well. I might end up taking more blood,” I warned her.

Sometimes the bloodlust got bad. If I had been a full or half vampire, it would’ve been ten times worse! It was a good thing I was only a fourth vampire.

“Fine, if you insist,” she muttered, giving me a half-hearted glare.

She was so tired that Lia didn’t put any anger in her words. I chuckled and pulled the blanket over her, my lips brushing over her forehead.

“Sleep well. We’ll talk some more in the morning.”

“And plan to get Gabi back,” she reminded me, her words coming out a little slurred.

It was hard not to smile. But I didn’t want to get cocky.

We had the concept of a plan and didn’t even know what the plan was going to be! Plus, what if the plan didn’t even work out? All these thoughts were running around in my mind but worrying about them would help nothing. I’d save my worries for when we finally talked to the clan in a few days.