Page 50 of The Love Bitten Series: Vol 2

“Sure, it is,” he disagreed with a grin. “I’m five hundred and forty-three years old and finally experiencing the time-honored rite of passage of getting busted by my girl’s parents.”

“Do I need to remind you that we’re naked and reek of sex?” I hissed, poking his chest with my index finger.

“But are we?” He swept his hand down the length of our bodies as he used his magic to clean and clothe us.

“You’re actually enjoying this,” I accused, heaving a deep sigh when Braeden slid off the mattress and tugged me with him.

He shrugged his broad shoulders and conceded, “Maybe just a little, but can you blame me? You’re so fucking adorable when you’re freaking out over nothing.”

“Yeah, well, my parents tend to have that effect on me,” I grumbled as we headed toward the door. “And it’s not nothing. I know they love me, but they’re impossible.”

Braeden flung his arm around my shoulders. “This time will be different.”

I narrowed my eyes at him. “How?”

“You’ve never had me at your back.” We reached the top of the stairs, and he brushed a kiss against my temple. “The whole dynamic will be different with even numbers. We’ll provide your parents with an unbreakable united front.”

I’d never had unwavering support from anyone in my life, not when it came to what I truly wanted at least. My parents meant well and had my best interests at heart—or at least what they thought was best for me—but they couldn’t move past seeing me as their little girl. They’d been together for centuries before my mom had gotten pregnant with me, and the long wait made them extra protective of me. The idea of me going on missions for the council and risking my life was something they couldn’t wrap their brains around, so they’d steadfastly ignored the subject whenever I’d brought it up.

Since I knew where they were coming from, I wasn’t angry with them. I couldn’t help but be hurt over their willful obliviousness of my dreams, though. But having Braeden’s support took away a lot of the sting. Especially since it seemed to come without any strings attached so far...except for me admitting to something I already knew to be true—that I would always be his. “Hopefully that’ll be enough for them to behave.”

“I heard that,” my mom called from the kitchen.

“I assumed you would,” I yelled back. Tapping my ear, I mouthed, “Her hearing is incredible, even for a daywalker.”

Braeden laughed softly as we made our way down the stairs, but I was too nervous to find any humor in our situation. I wasn’t sure what to expect from my parents. I assumed they would be happy that I’d found my destined consort, but I wouldn’t be surprised if they found a way to overreact since they almost always did.

When we walked into the kitchen, my mom was at the stove stirring something in a bowl, and my dad was seated on one of the stools at the counter. Shaking my head, I sighed, “Gee, Mom. Make yourself at home, why don’t you?”

My mom finished pouring pancake mix into a heated pan before turning and pointing a spatula at me. “This is my son-in-law’s house, is it not?”

“Yes,” I answered hesitantly.

My mom nodded and turned back toward the stove. “Then why wouldn’t I make myself at home? Braeden is family now.”

“Not that you bothered to tell us you’d found your destined consort,” my dad muttered after taking a sip of his coffee. “We weren’t aware of the happy news until one of your mother’s friends called to offer their congratulations.”

“If Delores’s daughter hadn’t been at Sheridan’s party, who knows how long it would’ve been before we learned of your good fortune,” my mom complained as she flipped the pancakes.

I wasn’t surprised that Lucinda had gone rushing home to spill the beans to her mother. She’d always been a blabbermouth, and the apple didn’t fall very far from that tree. The only reason we were friends was because my mom kept pushing me to spend time with her. With her at the party, I should have realized the news would reach them quickly. “Sorry, Mom. If I’d been thinking straight, I would’ve let you know what happened.”

My mom’s gaze drifted toward my dad, and she smiled. “I guess I can understand. Finding your destined consort and being claimed is an overwhelming time for all daywalkers.”

“It’s hard to believe our baby girl is old enough to have found hers,” my dad sighed with a shake of his head.

The next half an hour passed in a blur of introductions and breakfast—a meal my mom insisted on cooking, and my parents invited themselves to enjoy with us. Just as I was starting to think that I’d been worrying over nothing, I realized my mom had just lulled me into a false sense of security.

Braeden flashed a grin at my mom as he handed me the last plate to load into the dishwasher. “Thanks for making breakfast.”

“I was more than happy to cook for you both. You need to keep up your energy, after all.” My mom beamed a high-wattage smile at us and winked. “I don’t want to wait forever to become a grandmother.”

I dropped my head against the counter and muttered, “Someone, please, just shoot me now.”

“Shooting you wouldn’t do any good, baby. I’d have to chop off your head and set you on fire or else you’d still survive,” Braeden teased, remaining completely unflustered by my mom’s mention of babies within the first hour of meeting him.

“Now that breakfast is over, it’s past time to stop ignoring the elephant in the room.” My dad’s gaze settled on my neck, and I braced myself for what was coming next. “Why haven’t you claimed each other yet?”

I’d only been mildly embarrassed about my mom’s mention of babies, but my dad’s question was mortifying. My lips parted, but I had no idea what to say. They would never be able to understand why I wanted to wait.

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