The Naughty Stepbrothers Read online

  A scream filled the air and she jumped. Both men sighed and slowly stood. “Seems our mother is here. Stay in this room till someone comes for you.” Jasper turned his head to the side. “Sandy and Annabelle are coming to stay with you while we deal with this. They will help you dress.” Jasper leaned over and kissed one cheek as Caleb kissed the other before they both disappeared.

  “Damn,” she said, closing her robe as she heard the soft knock on her door. “Come on in, Annabelle,” she said, getting up and going to the window. She looked over her shoulder as the women entered. “You heard?”

  “Who didn’t? That woman has a set of lungs on her,” Sandy said as they joined her at the window. “Is that your father next to her?”

  Tears filled Xena’s eyes and she nodded. “It used to be just the two of us against the world. I guess he chose her now, and knowing he’s not doing anything even though he knows she’s here to destroy me …”

  “Burns a hole in your heart the size of your fist,” Annabelle said, wrapping her arm around Xena’s waist and holding her. “It will take time, but I believe your men will help fill that void. Plus, you’ll have us now. We’re here for you. Come, let’s get you dressed, because from what my mate told me, it won’t take them long to send her back to their world.”

  Annabelle led her to the bed, and Xena noticed the evening gown Annabelle was wearing.

  “Wow, that is stunning and hot,” she said.

  Annabelle’s dress was a creamy antique-white with touches of red around the bottom hem and middle that opened down in the front to her belly button. The silk dress shoed every curve of her body. The back was long, but the front was so short that when Annabelle sat down, Xena knew it would expose her pussy.

  She turned to stare at Sandy’s dress and almost choked at what she saw. Sandy nodded. “Yes, my mate, her brother, said he wanted to show off my breasts, since they’re filled with milk for our child… the asshole.” Her elegant, blue-sequin dress was totally open on top, exposing her. It was also short in the front.

  “You might be exposed, but both of you are stunning. The colors are perfect for you,” Xena said. “Now I’m kind of nervous about my dress. Oh, please thank Eden again for healing me.” She lifted up her arm slowly, showing them.

  Annabelle reached over and unzipped a dress bag. Xena’s stomach was in knots as Annabelle pulled it out. In some ways, she felt like Cinderella.

  “Damn.” Annabelle looked at her, then at the dress. “Why do I have a feeling this is going to be a very interesting night indeed?” She held up the white dress and Xena’s heart did a flip. Not only would her breasts be exposed, but so would her pussy, since the bottom of the dress had sheer, white strips of silk.

  “It could be a wedding dress if it wasn’t so…they wouldn’t? Would they?” Xena squeaked.

  “If they’re like my mates, yes.” Annabelle frowned. “How do you feel about them?”

  “How can I feel anything? I just met them.” Xena sat down on the bed, shaking her head. “This can’t be right. Even if I felt something for them, their mother took my dad away, the one person who meant everything to me.” She looked down at her hands. “I always believed Dad would walk me down the aisle and that he’d come live with my husband and me when he got old.”

  Annabelle knelt in front of her, taking her hands and squeezing them. “Search your heart, Xena. Do you blame Jasper and Caleb for what happened?”

  She closed her eyes and took a deep breath before shaking her head. “No, none of this was their fault, and I knew it was coming. But it still doesn’t ease the pain.”

  “No, it doesn’t, but I truly believe these two will help. For the past three years, Sandy and I have dealt with other species. If there’s one thing I’ve learned in all that time, it’s that their woman, or mate, is their top concern. They would do anything in their power to heal and protect her.” Annabelle grinned. “My men might be a pain in the ass, alpha-dominant all the time, but when I’m in pain, they go crazy.” She leaned in and whispered, “I shouldn’t be telling you this, but when I was giving birth to the twins, I thought for sure all three of them were going to go crazy. Eden finally put a spell on them, making them fall asleep, it was that bad.”

  “Really? Seems I’ll need to have a little chat with my mother,” Marcus said, leaning against the bedroom doorframe, with Sandy’s mate and Alocer next to him. “Come, you two, Alocer needs to speak with Xena.” Marcus held out his hand, waiting for Annabelle.

  “Should we stay to help?” Annabelle asked, moving to her mate as Sandy moved into her own mate’s arms.

  “No, this is for Xena alone. Alocer will let you know if you’re needed afterward. Plus, we have guests arriving, and as host and hostess we must be present.” Marcus escorted Annabelle out of the room, but not before Alocer placed a kiss on her cheek and patted her ass.

  Would she have a relationship like that? Where her men would pay attention to her every need, like Marcus and Alocer did for Annabelle? And why did Alocer need to speak with her?

  Chapter Five

  Jasper leaned against the wall outside the bedroom door, staring at his brother as Alocer moved into the room, leaving the door open so they could hear what he was going to say to Xena. Alocer had made the trip back to his world with their mother and her father. But before Alocer had left, Xena’s father had given Alocer something and asked him to relay a message to Xena.

  Alocer had informed Jasper of this, but couldn’t give him the message or the item. He had allowed them to stand out here to listen to what he was about to tell their mate. Jasper and Caleb had wanted to be in the room, but Alocer, Marcus, and Lance had nixed the idea, saying she would need time to deal with what Alocer needed to tell her. After some arguing, Eden had come in threating to turn them all into reindeer if they didn’t stop.

  Caleb turned his head towards the door and stared at the mirror. In it, he saw Alocer sit down next to Xena on the bed.

  “I have a message for you from your father, and, believe me, he will have hell to pay for this from your stepmother, but he knew she won’t hurt him because she’s his mate.” Alocer took her hand and placed a key in it. “It seems your father was smart and knew his mate couldn’t handle anything related to your mother, so he had started placing your mother’s things into a storage unit she didn’t know about. Your mother’s possessions are now yours, but he had one last thing to give to you.”

  Alocer took out something small and slipped it into her tiny hand. He nodded at the dress behind her. “You know what your mates want, and your father has asked me to give you away. That is his ring. Your mother gave it to him.” He leaned down and whispered something in Xena’s ear.

  Caleb growled and stepped toward the room, but Jasper held out his hand, stopping him when Xena smiled, looking toward the door. “Thank you, Alocer. I would be honored if I decide to go through with this. Please—” her gaze went to the mirror, as if she knew they were watching “—give me a few minutes.”

  Jasper nodded and stepped back, as did his brother. “As you wish,” Jasper said, knowing she heard him.

  “Would you ask Eden to come up for a minute? I have something I want to ask her,” Xena asked Alocer.

  “She’s on her way. Just call out for me and I’ll escort you downstairs when you’re ready.” Alocer had stood and moved towards the men when she called out again.

  “Alocer, will, or can they? What about other…?” Xena tried to form the words, but she seemed a bit too embarrassed.

  “They cannot be with other women, and if there was a chance they could, I would personally rip them apart. Your father entrusted me with this honor, and I hold it close to my heart. If you need anything, you come to me or my family, because as far as I’m concerned, you are now part of it.”

  Caleb groaned and Jasper smiled. “Well, seems we have a new father after all,” Jasper teased as Alocer stepped out into the hallway.

  “You do, and if you hurt her…,” Alocer growled as Eden came arou
nd the corner, frowning.

  “Do I really have to interfere again?” she said.

  “No, Momma, I was just warning the boys that Xena is family,” Alocer said.

  “Oh, I could have told you that before she even got here,” Eden sighed. “It’s one of the reason’s I’m here by myself. It seems she is the daughter of my great, great aunt. My sister that died long ago had a son, who had a daughter, who had a daughter, and that daughter is Xena.” Eden waved her hand around. “Anyway, Nicolas and I have been so wrapped up in our own close family, we didn’t even look at our sister’s and brother’s. But that stops today.” Her gaze turned to his. “So be warned, Xena really is family.” With that threat, Eden moved into the room, shutting the door behind her.

  “Damn, you really are in trouble now if you hurt that woman,” Alocer laughed and pushed them down the hall. “Now, as for your mother, she’s been placed on high alert status. They will guard her and her mate for the next 50 years. Hopefully being mated will calm her, but we’ll have to wait and see.” Alocer glanced at Jasper.

  “Jasper, your mother understands that you had no choice.” Alocer snorted. “It seems she loves her boys and no matter what, she would protect you. So hopefully, she’ll get used to the idea that Xena is your mate.”

  “I take it Mom didn’t take the news about her mate well?” Jasper asked as they headed toward the dining hall where preparations were being made for their wedding.

  “I have to say your mate’s father has balls. Once she started yelling, he didn’t have any of it. I don’t know what he did, but one look and your mother shut the hell up. It was the funniest thing I’ve ever seen. But it still doesn’t excuse him in my book for allowing her to attack his daughter.” Alocer growled the last part as they stepped into the room.

  “On that I totally agree with you. I’m happy he’s finally showing that he has some balls, but we’ll see in the next decade if he is truly able to handle Mother,” Jasper said, scanning the room.

  “Marcus has performed a miracle here. It’s everything we asked for,” Caleb said.

  Poinsettias and green spruce were all around them. Red Christmas candles burned, adding to the fresh scent, but what had Jasper smiling was the play equipment that would be well hidden until after the ceremony, if their woman agreed to marry them.

  Chapter Six

  Xena stared down at the two rings in her hand. Could she really marry two men who she had just met—that is, if she didn’t include the time she’d spent knowing them as wolves? She wiped her tears away as Eden stepped into the room and closed the door.

  “How are you coping with all of this?” Eden asked, sitting down next to her.

  “Not too well, I’m afraid. How does one really cope when her world is turned upside down in a month?” She looked to the window. “It’s like having Mom die all over again.” She glanced back at Eden. “I mean the change and my emotions being all over the place. On one hand,” she said, opening her hand to show Eden the rings, “I have two men who want me to commit to them for life. On the other hand, I have a father who broke his promise to always be there for me, to protect me. How can I trust two men when the one who was supposed to be there for me did that?” she asked as Eden looked at her.

  The small woman smiled and took the hand the rings. “I don’t know how to help you with this, other than to ask you a question. Would you hold a grudge against all men for what your father did to you? Remember, these two men also have a mother that would kill the only woman who is supposed to be mated to them.” Eden looked up and met her gaze. “They can have no other woman. If you refuse them, there will be no children for them, and no happiness.” Eden sighed. “I hate telling you this and I don’t mean to put pressure on you, but, child, you have to look at the whole picture. For the last month, those two men have been protecting you and trying to give you what you needed without you even knowing they were there. Does that not earn some respect?”

  Xena got up and moved to the window. “I feel more than I should for them. Already the thought of not having them close has my heart racing. Just their presence in the room with me makes me a puddle of goo,” she snorted. “I’ve never had any man make me feel like this.”

  Eden laughed and came up behind her. “Let me tell you a little secret. All of us feel that way. Did you know you are related to me? Your mother was the great, great granddaughter of my youngest sister.” Eden looked at the ground. “She was murdered so long ago that I’d forgotten about her family.” She reached over and squeezed Xena’s arm. “So when we say you are family, you are really. You are not alone, Xena.”

  “Really?” She frowned. “Do you think maybe that’s why she left me her house? Maybe the Fates ordained this?” She smiled.

  Eden’s head shot up. “The Fates are real, so never make light of them. They get a little pissed when people do. But it might be. You have much to learn, and those two men down there will never leave your side, even if you reject them tonight. They can’t leave you. They’ll protect you till the day they die, and they would give their lives for you.”

  Xena patted Eden’s hand. “Not to worry, I already know I can’t leave them. I just think all of this, what I don’t know about other species…” She looked at Eden. “Am I something other than human?” she squeaked, and Eden threw her head back, laughing.

  “Oh, child, I have so much to tell you about your family, but I’m afraid that will have to wait for another time.” Eden looked toward the door as Annabelle came in and closed it behind her.

  “We need to get Xena ready. Guests are filling the dining hall, and we have two men down there getting antsy. Even though it’s good for masters to be worried once in a while,” she teased, coming over to them.

  “You are going through this right, cuz?” Annabelle nudged her. “Welcome truly to the family, lady. Another female around here is greatly needed.”

  “That’s very true. I mean, the eye candy is nice, all those warriors and such, but we have to stick together on certain issues,” Eden said, moving over to the bed and grabbing the dress. “This is nice, but we need something…” She smiled, holding out her hand, and a pair of red silk stockings appeared in her palm. “These will be perfect.”

  Annabelle clapped her hands together. “I have something, hold on.” She ran back to the door and opened it. The butler stood outside and held a small box out to her. “I thought you would need some color,” she said as she closed the door. “Now this is going to be your something borrowed,” she said, bringing the box back to Xena and opening it.

  “Damn, are those rubies?” she squeaked, running her finger over the earnings and bracelet.

  “Yep, they were my mom’s, and they’ll go great with your dress. Now, we need something blue, but it’s not very Christmassy…” She frowned as she snapped the bracelet around Xena’s wrist.

  “I have the perfect blue thing,” Sandy said as she entered, waiving a piece of jewelry. “It’s an ankle bracelet and it’s blue. I bought it two weeks ago, I don’t know why, but it called to me, and so did this.” She held up a red garter, and Eden laughed.

  For the next ten minutes, Eden, Annabelle, and Sandy helped her dress. When Xena stepped up to the full-length mirror, she shook her head. “This can’t be me,” she said as she ran her fingers down the dress.

  “Xena, it’s you, and if you cry like Annabelle did, I’m going to scream. I swear every time I turned around, I had to fix her face,” Eden said, coming to stand behind her. “You two will have your anniversaries in December. Yours is a week before Christmas, while Annabelle’s is on Christmas Eve.” Eden looked at her daughter-in-law. “What did you get for them for your anniversary?”

  “Yes, what did you get us for our anniversary?” Alocer asked, standing at the door. His gaze traveled to Xena’s. “Damn, honey, you are beautiful, and your men are very lucky indeed,” he said as he entered the room, then placed a kiss on his mate’s cheek. “It’s time, ladies.

  “Are you ready?” he aske
d Xena.

  Xena took a deep breath and nodded. “As ready as I’m going to be,” she said. “I take it this is an adult-only wedding?”

  Alocer laughed and hooked his arm around hers. “Very adult. Eden and Nicolas will be leaving after the ceremony so the playing can start. It would be a little uncomfortable to have your mother and father around.”

  Eden snorted. “Tell me about it. Thank God we have our own friends and club.”

  Xena wasn’t even going to comment on that as they stepped into the hallway, the back of her dress trailing behind them. “I can’t believe this is happening,” she whispered.

  “Your life is just beginning, just in a different direction than you thought it would,” Alocer told her as they stopped before the doors that would lead her to her future. “You ready?”

  Chapter Seven

  Jasper and Caleb stood in front of the eight-foot tree waiting for their woman to enter. They had heard Alocer’s question and were holding their breath. But they didn’t have to wait long before Alocer and Xena appeared in the doorway.

  Fifty people—warriors and members to Marcus’ elite club—were in attendance, and they stood as the Christmas music stopped playing and an older vision of the wedding march started.

  Jasper smiled as Xena gazed around the room and at the people as tears slipped down her cheeks.

  “I swear, here we go again,” Eden whispered.

  Marcus leaned over to Jasper. “Annabelle cried almost the whole night we were married. So Mom got a lot practice making sure her appearance was perfect for our wedding.”

  “Ah, now I understand.” Sure enough, there were no tear steaks down Xena’s cheeks as they moved toward them. He just couldn’t take his eyes off their mate. She was stunning. The only thing missing would be the collar she would get after the guest left.