About to take another bite of his bear claw, Ian paused with a frown. “How the hell do you know that?”

  Alastair smiled, pleased at his brother’s jealousy. “Because I asked. Serena and I talk, Ian. I want to understand her.”

  “And you think I don’t?”

  “I think you’re so worried about her getting into your head that you avoid the subject at all costs. Every time it comes up, you get defensive, and the two of you end up arguing about it.”

  After setting two of the chocolate scones on the plate, Alastair prepared her tea. “You’re going to have to come to grips with her abilities, Ian.”

  Ian sighed and tossed the rest of the bear claw aside. “I’m working on it. At least I know I can get in and pull her out of one of those horror shows.”

  Shaking his head, Alastair picked up the tray, anxious to get to Serena. “I’m sure you told her that, and I can imagine what she said to it. No wonder she needs to cool off.”

  “What am I supposed to do? Just let her go through those dreams, premonitions, whatever the hell they are, on her own?”

  “No.” Alastair paused to turn to his brother. “I’ve been thinking about it a lot this morning. There’s got to be a compromise. She’s convinced that she sees things for a reason. Her abilities are a part of her—a part of her that she’s lived with ever since she can remember.”

  Ian frowned, a muscle working in his jaw. “Yeah, well, it hasn’t seemed to do her any favors.”

  “It’s still a part of her, and since meeting us, it’s grown. It scares her, Ian.”

  “Don’t you think I know that?” Bracing a hand on either side of the sink, Ian stared out the window, swallowing heavily. “If I can make it easier for her, I’m going to do it. I’ll do whatever it takes to take some of that horror away.”

  “But at what cost?” Frustrated and anxious to get to Serena, Alastair blew out a breath. “She needs our support. She needs us to be there for her. We’re her safety net.”

  “That’s what I’m trying to be.”

  “No. You’re trying to crash in and make her feel as if you don’t think she’s strong enough to handle it. She’s felt weak all of her life and isolated because she couldn’t even go out in public without being bombarded by the thoughts of everyone around her.”

  “I know that!”

  “And now she can because she knows I can block her. It’s given her the confidence to go out. It’s given her the confidence to have me lower the block so she could learn how to erect her own.”

  Ian grimaced. “She did that when I let the block slip.” His lips twitched. “Looked damned proud of herself, too.”

  “Of course, she did. She knows now that she can do it herself if she has to.”

  Straightening, Ian shook his head. “I appreciate that, and I want her to be strong, but when she’s in one of those fucking nightmares, I can’t just stand by and watch her go through that horror. Hell, you’ve heard her.”

  Alastair nodded and poured hot water over the tea bag. “I’ve been thinking about that. We’ll talk about it later. I want to give Serena her tea while it’s still hot.”

  He started up the stairs, anxious to see Serena.

  He found her just as he’d imagined—leaning back in the bathtub, her head resting on a bath pillow, and covered in bubbles.

  She’d secured her hair in a thick knot at the top of her head, her features flushed.

  As he’d thought a thousand times since the first time he saw her—he’d never seen anything more beautiful.

  Feeling a stare, Serena opened one eye, smiling at the sight of Alastair standing in the doorway holding a tray. “Your brother’s a pain in the ass.”

  “Well, hopefully the bath will take care of that.”

  A giggle escaped when she got his meaning, and she opened her other eye, drinking in the sight of him as he came closer.

  Not lifting her head from the bath pillow, she smiled. “Cute. Good morning. I was disappointed that you’d already gone before we woke up. I knew you were up because you’d already made the coffee.”

  He gracefully lowered himself to the floor next to the bathtub, setting the tray aside. “I looked in on you while I was waiting for the coffee to brew. Ian was awake but didn’t want to move and risk waking you. You were sleeping pretty hard.”

  “Where’d you go?”

  “I went to meet with Jonathan.” He lifted a cup of tea and held it to her lips. “Drink. You were right. He called last night. He doesn’t want to meet in his office for a while.” Alastair smiled and took the cup away. “You’re right about why, too. Someone in his office knows more than they’re supposed to.”

  Smiling, he kissed her forehead. “I think he’s still a little shaken to find out that there are two of us.”

  Closing her hands on the edge of the tub, she leaned closer, resting her chin on the back of her hand. “Could he tell who you were?”

  “No.” Lowering his hand to the tray, he lifted it again to show her the chocolate scone he held. “I brought you a present. No. Your hands are wet. I’ll feed you.”

  Serena bit into it, closing her eyes on a moan at the delicious taste. “So good. Thank you.”

  Alastair brushed his lips over hers, his eyes dancing. “You’re welcome. Do you need me to wash your back?”

  “No.” Serena sighed. “Did Ian tell you what happened?”

  Alastair nodded and offered her another bite of scone. “Yes, but I came down last night when it happened. And no, before you ask, I wasn’t in there with you and Ian, but I felt his panic. By the time I got downstairs, I knew what had happened because he was so anxious to reach out to you that he reached out to me inadvertently, as well.”

  Still unsettled about it, Serena sat up abruptly. “He yanked me out of there before I could see it through. He can’t do that anymore, Alastair.”

  Alastair gathered the tray and rose. “He’s only trying to help, Serena.”

  Scrambling to her feet, she grabbed a towel and stepped out of the tub, wrapping the towel around herself as she rushed after him. “Don’t tell me you agree with him! I thought you understood that I only see what I’m supposed to see.”

  Setting the tray on the dresser, he picked up her cup of tea and handed it to her, running a fingertip over her wet shoulder. “So why would you need to see the same thing over and over? You had the dream once. Why did you have it again?”

  She shouldn’t have been surprised that Alastair had honed in on that. Dropping onto the bed, she wrapped her hands around the cup with a sigh. “I don’t know. I’ve been thinking about that. Maybe because I didn’t see everything I was supposed to see.”

  Alastair disappeared into the bathroom and reappeared carrying another towel. “Have you had these premonitions repeat themselves before?”

  Grinning, she lifted a leg when he knelt in front of her. “Yes. I used to dream about meeting you and Alastair almost every night before I came to New York.”

  He smiled, lifting her foot higher to kiss her toes. “Is that why you came?” He lowered her foot and reached for the other.

  “Yes.”

  Pausing, he smiled slowly. “Really?”

  Serena shrugged, looking up as Ian paused in the doorway, leaning against it. “My dreams—premonitions—come true. I told you before that every time I try to change what I see something even worse happens.”

  Ian scowled at her. “Worse than you getting beaten, raped, and then murdered?”

  After drying her other leg, Alastair started on her shoulders. “I’ve been thinking about something—a compromise that would help all three of us.”

  Serena finished her tea and got to her feet. “I’m listening.”

  Alastair lowered himself to the bed, watching her as she dropped the towel, frowning when she bundled herself into her robe. “What if Ian and I were there but didn’t interfere?”

  “Fuck that!” Ian stormed into the room. “If you think I’m going to stand by and watch her get hurt, you’re crazy.”

  Serena whirled on him, furious at him for getting into her dream and scared to death of what could happen if it somehow allowed her to get into his head. “Damn it, Ian! Do you ever think about what would happen if you prevented me from seeing what’s coming?”

  Raising a brow, Ian smiled. “I guess you’d be just like the rest of us.”

  Alastair glared in his brother’s direction, the silence telling her that he and his brother spoke telepathically, probably about something neither one of them wanted her to hear.

  “Stop talking about me when I’m right in front of you.”

  Alastair sighed, smiling in apology. “I was just reminding Ian that you’re not used to living like other people. You have a rare gift, one that seems to be growing as your confidence in yourself grows. I’ve never believed in fate, Serena, but neither Ian nor I have ever been able to talk to anyone telepathically before. Just each other. For some reason, it seems, we can also help you block out the rest of the world.”

  “And I appreciate that.” Serena smiled and took the hand he offered, letting herself be drawn between his thighs. “But I don’t want either one of you in my dreams.”

  Ian stepped farther into the room. “I’ve got news for you, baby. I can get in and yank you out of there whether you want me to or not.”

  “That’s it! I’m getting my own apartment. If I’m not here, you can’t get into anything!” Serena tried to jerk away from Alastair to confront him, but with a curse, Alastair pulled her back.

  “Enough!”

  Serena met Alastair’s gaze, gripping his shoulder. “It’s better that I go. I have the money from my show—”

  Shaking his head, Alastair drew her down to his lap. “No.” Lifting her chin, Alastair pulled her closer. “Do you really think either one of us can just sit back and watch you leave?”

  “It’s not your decision. I could also move back to North Carolina.”

  “Try it.” Ian smiled coldly. “I dare you.”

  “Jesus, would you stop it!” Alastair raked a hand through his hair in a rare show of frustration. Blowing out a breath, he held on to Serena when she would have jumped up. “Stop being stubborn and listen to me.”

  He kept his tone calm, but Serena knew that it cost him.

  Because of it, she cupped his cheek and smiled. “I’m listening.”

  After sending Ian a warning glare, he lifted a hand, gently caressing Serena’s arm. “Ian and I wake up when you’re dreaming, usually because you’re crying out or thrashing around. We’re terrified at the thought of what you might be going through and furious when we can’t wake you up. We both feel pretty helpless.”

  “I’m sorry for that.” Out of the corner of her eye, she saw Ian move closer. “I really think it’s better if I move out.”

  “No.” Taking both of her hands in his, he held them against his chest. “Ian has already proven that he can get in.”

  Ian dropped on the bed next to them, smiling smugly. “And can do it again.”

  Ignoring him, Alastair continued as if his brother hadn’t spoken. “You and I are already well practiced at speaking telepathically.” He smiled, an intimate smile that made her heart beat faster. “Because of it, I’m better at dealing with the barrier. I can close it completely or leave it open as much as you need, so I see no reason why I can’t get into your dreams and help you.”

  Serena eyes him suspiciously. “Help me how?”

  Alastair brushed his lips over hers. “I don’t know, exactly. That’s something we’ll have to figure out as we go. I just want to be there for you if I can.”

  Ian lifted her foot onto his lap and began to massage it. “We want to be there for you.”

  Wrapping his arms around her, Alastair sent a look toward his brother. “Somehow let you know that we’re there. Take your pain if we can.”

  “No.” Serena pulled away from both of them and shot to her feet, putting several feet of space between them before turning back. “I’m not putting that on you, and I don’t want to take the chance that one of you will see what’s going to happen and try to change it. I told you that something worse could happen.”

  Ian shot to his feet. “Worse than you getting beaten, raped and murdered? Exactly what the hell could be worse than that?”

  Lifting her chin, Serena met his gaze squarely. “Something could happen to you.”

  * * * *

  Ian threw a ball for the dogs, turning to glance at Alastair as his brother came out the back door. “She’s still in there.”

  After their conversation in the bedroom, Serena had thrown on jeans and a T-shirt and closed herself in the guesthouse, presumably to paint.

  He had to admit that he suspected that at times she went in there to get away from him and his brother.

  Alastair smiled as the dogs raced back, eyeing Rip, who trotted to the door of the guesthouse, pausing briefly before trotting to Ian’s side. “I thought you didn’t want to treat them like pets.”

  “Yeah, well, Serena has them spoiled already. It doesn’t seem to matter what the hell I say. She overrides me when it comes to the dogs.”

  Alastair grinned and took the ball from Zeus to throw it. “She seems to keep them in line. They’d die to protect her.”

  “True.” Ian smiled and looked toward the guesthouse again, smiling when he saw Rip once again pausing to stare expectantly at the door. “She’s sure as hell changed things around here.”

  “And gets her way most of the time.”

  Ian inclined his head. “Most of the time. This time she won’t.”

  “On that we agree. However, I don’t agree with how to go about it.”

  Ian bent to take the ball from King’s mouth and threw it again, watching King and Zeus run after it.

  Rip went to the guesthouse, his tail wagging.

  Ian clenched his jaw, regretting that frustration had kept him from handling Serena better. “I know. I was too confrontational, but at times, she pisses me off.”

  Alastair sighed. “She does the same to me, but I can’t forget how scared she is. She’s scared of her gifts, and she’s scared of being alone. She hates being too dependent on us and afraid that she can’t count on the security of us being there if she falters.”

  “I know.” Ian clenched his jaw, his heart breaking for the insecure little girl beneath the beautiful woman he’d fallen in love with. “When she fights me, I forget how delicate she is underneath all that bravado.”

  “I don’t. I can’t. It’s amazing how much she’s changed since coming here. She gets stronger and more confident every day. More relaxed and at ease.”

  Ian grinned, turning to watch her emerge from the guesthouse and greeting Rip. “Can you imagine what she’ll be like a year from now? Five?”

  She already excited him as no other woman, wanting nothing more from him and his brother than their love in return.

  Watching her approach, he grinned again when the trained security dogs raced around her like puppies, vying for her attention.

  “She fits in every aspect of our lives as if she was made for us. Scary, isn’t it?”

  Alastair grinned and started toward her. “Terrifying. We’re going to an art show tonight.”

  “I’ll go.” Ian chuckled at the dog’s antics. “We had a rough spot today, and I’d like to spend some time with her. Who knows, maybe she’ll let me practice talking to her the way you do.”

  “Not a chance. You hate these things, and one of us has to be seen around town. This is just the kind of thing the snobs we’re supposed to blend in with expect Wyn to go to, and they’re curious as hell about Serena.”

  “Serena’s none of their business.” He turned to his brother. “It terrifies me to think about what would happen if anyone found out about her abilities. Hell, her own cousin offered Serena up to her new husband to use her for his own gain.”

  Ian still had nightmares about the danger Serena had been in and vowed to protect her.

  Even from herself.

  Chapter Seven

  Alastair emerged from his closet, looked up from fastening his cuff links—and almost swallowed his tongue.

  His cock came to attention in a heartbeat, the sight of the woman he loved leaving him momentarily frozen in place.

  Serena wore a black suit and white blouse, but with her stunning looks and style, what would have appeared sophisticated, but ordinary on any other woman took on an entirely different air.

  Serena wore it in a way that sent sophistication off the charts, but that screamed with the combination of raw sexuality and exotic demureness that had him clenching his hands at his sides to keep from reaching for her.

  The blouse didn’t have any buttons that he could see, leaving it open to the waist. Each time she moved, he got a tantalizing glimpse—a mere glimpse—of bare skin at her décolleté, teasing him with the promise of more.

  His gaze was drawn to the long, thin silver chain she wore, a chain that winked at him each time she moved, caressing the inner curve of her breasts.

  She slipped into her sparkling, black high heels, her movement offering him an enticing peek at the curve of her breast, and he found himself holding his breath at the possibility of getting a glimpse of her nipple.

  Amused at himself for responding like a teenager, he took a deep breath, willing his cock to behave.

  Her suit jacket nipped in at the waist, accentuating her curves, and when she turned toward the mirror over her dressing table, leaning forward to put on her earrings, his mouth went dry.

  She’d left her hair loose, the ends of it brushing her waist and drawing attention to the fact that the dress pants she wore lovingly hugged her hips and well-rounded ass.

  Moving to stand behind her, he eyed her reflection, his cock twitching when her gaze met his and she smiled playfully.

  “Hi.”

  “Hi, yourself.” He studied her features, noting that she’d done something with her eyes, lining them in a way that gave her an even more exotic look.

  Her lips had been painted a color slightly darker than their natural color and appeared fuller, giving her the appearance of a woman who’d been thoroughly kissed.

 

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