Marrying Mari (16 page)

“Nothing.” There was still a slight frown between her brows.

Ethan moved beside her and took her hands, making Allison look up at him. “What is it?” he said gently.

Allison bit her lip. “I don’t know. It just seems…so fast. So reckless. You’re never reckless. Mariella has clearly affected your judgment. This isn’t you. Darling, you need to meet her parents. She’s moved in with you, agreed to the idea of becoming a triad within a day of meeting you two. You haven’t met her family or her friends. Did her parents disown her? Don’t they have any sense of family obligation? Does she? You two are so much older than she is. I hope she’s not influenced too much by your maturity and material success. I hope you’re not pushing her too fast.”

Dropping Allison’s hands, Ethan stepped back. “We’re not.”

“It’s just, well, you and Gabriel are so strong-minded. You’ve always known what you wanted. You’ve always made plans and worked to see them become successes. Mariella doesn’t have that same background. She might be a little hesitant to come right out and express her feelings. As I said, you obviously find her attractive, given what nearly happened upstairs, but you two wouldn’t be happy with someone who would let you walk all over her.”

Ethan turned to look out the window, seeing Mari talking to his father and Gabriel, who reached out to wipe something off the corner of her mouth. Seeing how she looked up at Gabe from under her lashes made Ethan remember how she’d looked up at him last night, when she’d been teasing him with that same lush mouth. His cock twitched, but he forced himself to listen to his mother’s calm voice.

“She’s so young, Ethan. And immature, despite her sexuality.” Ethan turned his head to stare at his mother, but she was busy with the tasks in front of her. “I don’t think she’s ready to be a good mate and mother, do you? She seemed so unsure about a family, so surprised when I mentioned it earlier. Does she even want children? I’m sorry if I interfered, but I mistakenly assumed you’d included that topic in your discussion of mating, knowing how important it is to your father and me. To the Colony in general.” Allison came up behind him, looking out at the warm, family scene. “I’ll say it again: she’s an outsider. She can’t understand what the Colony means, what hundreds of years of tradition mean to you and me.” His mother patted his arm and went back to the refrigerator, removing a bottle of white wine and pouring herself a glass.

Ethan frowned now.

Allison went on slowly, “Of course, if you are interested in a house, the old Renfield place is empty now. It’s certainly big enough for the three of you and for a few children. You know the house I mean, that big stone place out on Fairview Road. And I can certainly help Mariella fit in better. You wouldn’t understand, but her appearance and her manner, they definitely mark her as someone from outside.” His mother shook her head as she counted pie slices and plates, switched the location of the forks and napkins, then smiled at him. He stared at her, troubled by Allison’s words. “Well, we’d better let everyone know the dessert is ready.” She patted his hand. “Ethan, she’ll soon learn our ways. Perhaps by the end of the summer we’ll know if she fits in and then we can start talking about the future.”

He stared at Allison. “Gabriel and I had a much shorter timeline in mind, Mother.”

“Like what?”

“The end of this month.”

His mother’s mouth fell open in shock. After a moment she said, her voice sharp, “Tell me you’re joking.”

“Not at all.” He thought of Mari soothing Gabe in the car only hours ago, of her agreement to spend thirty days deciding whether or not to mate with them. Five of those days were now gone.
Then what
, he thought and imagined waiting until the end of the summer, some five months away, for her to decide. Or for “plans” to be made. She already fit Gabriel and him, whether his mother realized it or not. And as for moving back into the Colony, they’d cross that bridge much later. No, he thought, once she decided to become their mate—and she would, he vowed—he knew he and Gabriel would be in agreement about a quick ceremony. “I’m not joking at all.”

Allison looked as if she’d been struck dumb. Again, her voice was sharp, “That’s ridiculous, Ethan.”

He frowned at her. “Why is it ridiculous, Mother?” She turned away from him. He saw her hands fist on the edge of the counter. Something was definitely wrong, but he didn’t know what. If he didn’t know his mother as well as he did, he’d think she was furious. But why?

Allison turned back and shook her head at him. “Because I can’t possibly put together a mating ceremony in less than a month, not with the Founder’s Day Ball next weekend.”

“Gabe and I will do it.” He chuckled, relieved. She was worried about the ceremony, that was all.

His mother held up a hand. She spoke quickly and decisively, still with a sharpness to her voice. “No. If anything, Mariella’s mother and I should plan it with her. I won’t even suggest Angelica get involved, for obvious reasons, but you boys won’t understand what a bride could possibly want. It will have to be here, of course, for both ceremony and reception, because we can’t get the Hall with so little notice. And it will have to be private, the way you’re rushing her. Everyone will think she’s already pregnant. So many people will feel slighted if they aren’t invited, but we can’t possibly have everyone from the Board and the bank, all the founding families here. There’s no room! Don’t even open your mouth. I’ll talk to her about all this. You ridiculous boy!” Contrary to her words, Allison hugged him tightly. He could feel her slight body shaking, probably from the shock. He was a little shocked himself, having said it all out loud. He smiled ruefully. He’d have to tell Gabriel and Mari what he’d said on the way home. He frowned.

“Um, Mother? I wouldn’t say anything to Mari about this yet. Remember, she’s still trying to decide whether to mate with us or not. I don’t want her to think we’re pushing her into this.”

Allison stared at him. “So you want to plan a ceremony here, without telling your future mate that it’s being planned?”

He had the grace to color. “Not exactly. But I don’t want her to feel rushed.”

His mother rolled her eyes. “Fine. I’ll handle it all diplomatically. Let’s just get everyone in here for pie, right now. Ceremony, later.” She pushed him toward the door. “Go round up the troops.”

Ethan backed out, hands high. “All right, all right. And, Mother…thanks.” He smiled at her, then headed out to find Mari and kiss her, just once, before letting everyone know about the waiting desserts.

He glanced back to see his mother watching his back, her arms folded tightly around herself. He paused, feeling as if there was a shadow between his mother and him, but he turned away. He needed to find Mari, he thought, needed to feel her arms around him, holding him close. Right now.

“They are magnificent, aren’t they?”

Mari jumped, slightly startled by Irene’s confidential murmur in her ear. She glanced at Ethan’s sister, her embarrassment lessened by the other woman’s grin. Her gaze swung back to where Ethan and Gabe were talking with a circle of relatives, most of whose names she couldn’t remember. But the two men who had brought her to the party? “Yes, they are,” she agreed.

Irene parked herself on a nearby lawn chair. “I know. I’d never say it to their faces, especially since one of them is my nearly perfect big brother, but
day-yum
. Seeing them together only makes it more obvious.” Irene grinned again and nudged Mari. “You will be cordially hated by many women here in the Colony for snagging both of them.”

Mari slanted her a look. “You don’t mind that they’ve chosen, I mean are considering someone who didn’t grow up here?”

“Not at all. Who cares? It’s 2012, for goodness sakes. I just want Ethan to be happy. Corny, I know, but I love the boy. You seem like a really, really great choice. And I’d really, really like a sister.” Irene didn’t look at Mari when she added, “Of course, if you break his heart, I’ll hunt you down.”

Mariella raised her eyebrows. “Fair enough.” She turned her eyes back to her two men. “What about your parents?”

“Same goes, if Ethan is happy, they’re happy. Simple.”

“I hope so.” She heard the hesitation in her voice, and was glad when Irene didn’t say anything. But her hand came over Mariella’s, clasping it in a loose but friendly hold.

Much later, she was practically dozing in the wicker sofa, only half-listening to the back and forth of the few remaining guests, when Gabriel crouched down beside her.

“Ready to go?”

She stood up, swaying slightly. “Yes.”

Gabe tucked her under his arm and led the way to the front of the house. Eli was already there with the car, and Ethan was saying good-bye to Nate on the porch.

Mari pulled out of Gabe’s hold. “I need to speak to Mrs. Stone—Allison,” she amended when Gabe frowned at her.

“She’ll be right down.” Gabe started, but Mari cut him off.

“One minute, okay?” and she was up the front stairs, looking for Allison.

Who she found in a back bedroom, brushing her hair. The older woman put down her hairbrush and smiled at her as soon as she saw her. “Mariella!” She frowned slightly. “You look tired. Those boys had better take you home.”

“Yes, we’re going. That is, I wanted to say, thank you.”

“For what?”

“Welcoming me into your beautiful home. And your family.” Mari shook her head.

“Of course! Ethan and Gabriel have made it clear how important you are to them. How could I not welcome their future mate—possible future mate,” Allison laughingly said, holding up both hands. “I get the definite feeling it is a foregone conclusion, however. Both from the way you look at my boys and the way they look at you. And, well, some things Ethan has said. And you’ll have your own home, as lovely as this one, very soon, I think.”

“We’re just in trial, Mrs. Stone. Allison,” Mari said quickly.

Allison patted her cheek. “But if you wanted to get to know the Colony and talk about mating ceremonies, don’t hesitate to call me. We can sit down with your mother. You’ll need to understand all about us before you can take your place as Ethan and Gabriel’s third. They are both very important to the Colony. Both from original families with strong bloodlines. I’ve been thinking about what you told me, and I think perhaps your mother’s family, on her father’s side came into the Colony during the last invitational period, in the 1940s. Perhaps that’s why she wasn’t as strongly attached here. And you’ll be living inside, after all, after your ceremony.” As she said this, Allison led Mariella down the front stairs and out to where the men were waiting by the car.

Nate shook her hand again and this time kissed her cheek. “Good-bye, honey. Come again soon.”

Allison clasped her hand tightly and said, “What a day! I’m still in shock.”

Mari frowned, but Gabriel’s hand sent her into the car.

Then they were on their way back to the city. She slept, leaning against Gabriel, for the entire trip, and only woke when he lifted her out of the car and carried her into the building.

“Carrying me everywhere,” she grumbled sleepily.

The rumble of his deep laugh vibrated against the cheek pressed to his chest. “Like you could walk, sweetheart. Give it up.”

“Pushy,” she muttered, and promptly fell deeply asleep for the rest of the night.

Chapter Eleven

She woke with the sun. Sitting up, she realized they’d put her in her new room. And then brought in the boxes from the car, piling them against the wall. It was, predictably, a beautiful room—pale yellow, turquoise and white, with French doors onto a terrace. The bed had a curlicue, old-fashioned iron headboard. The acres of pale lemon carpet stretched from the king-sized bed to a seating-entertainment area, a delightful desk and chair flanked by bookshelves, and double doors, now closed.

A second, open door announced the en suite bathroom in matching colors.

Her
own, huge bathroom.
Oh, my
.

Two minutes later, Mari was naked and blissful in the glassed-in shower stall under the spray. Ten minutes later, she sighed happily, still under the spray.

“I bet the hot water never runs out,” she said aloud.

“You’d be right.”

She jumped and covered herself out of reflex, then glared at the man leaning casually against the bathroom doorframe. “Knocking?”

Ethan grinned. “I did. I also waited in the bedroom for you to come out. When I started to worry that you were drowning in here, I came in.” He looked as if he’d just finished a vigorous workout. Even his hair was spiky with sweat. For Ethan, he was a mess.

“Go away. I’ll be out in a minute.”

Ethan shook his head. “I’m worried about you, all that water.” He shucked his sweaty T-shirt. “Besides, we have unfinished business,” he added, never looking away.

His gaze swept over her skin more hotly than the steamy spray. She lathered the soft pouf in her hand from one of the bottles on the shower’s inner shelf. The body wash smelled of roses and jasmine, and she had already lathered and scrubbed every inch of herself with the heady stuff.

But, she thought, watching Ethan toe off his running shoes, maybe she missed something. Maybe she should be sure she got absolutely everywhere, Mari considered, as Ethan loosened and shoved down his worn sweatpants. Stroking the foamy lather over her arms, shoulders, and breasts, she watched him pull his T-shirt over his head and toss it across the room. Letting the water stream over her back, she smoothed the soapy pouf over her torso, belly, sides, and, turning her back on Ethan, her lower back and ass, turning to face him in time to see him strip off his boxers and pull something out of the pocket of his pants. Naked, he walked unhurriedly toward her, dangling the wrapped condom from his fingers.