Warmth spread through my chest. He had no reason to trust me unless he felt he had to because of Sam. But Steven didn’t strike me as the type to do anything because of anyone. “Since we’re on the topic, why do you trust me? I’m an Aberdeen, after all.”
He picked up his leather book. “Your actions toward my son speak volumes, and you may not like this, but Jo has been in your head. If there were any thoughts on your part that led me or any of us here to believe you aren’t on our side, then we would’ve had a conversation by now. Also, I’m able to read your mind as well, when I’m touching you.”
I didn’t like anyone in my head, but I also couldn’t exactly block Jo or Steven every time I was around them.
Steven rose. “One more thing. Pay attention to your dreams. They could save your life.”
I reared back. “How so?”
He glanced at the book in his hands as if it held the key to everything. “If you know what’s coming, you might be able to stop it.”
My face scrunched. “You mean, I can stop Rianne from killing me?”
He dipped his chin. “One reason my daughter is alive is that she embraced her dreams, the messages in them, and ended Edmund Rain before he took her life.”
I swallowed an elephant. “Are you saying I will have to do the same?” I didn’t have the heart to do such a macabre thing to Rianne. Except if she tried to hurt my babies. Then all bets were off the table.
“Not at all. But there are other ways to change the outcome,” Steven said. “You’ll know how to when the time is right.”
Pfft. Nightmares, magic, vampires, witches, my family tree, and what was true or not, what was real or not, had been a tall order to process.
Sam cleared his throat as he stood in the doorway. “How goes it?”
Peachy.Steven was the third person to warn me to pay attention to my dreams. It wasn’t like I hadn’t. Hell, I would never erase the mental picture of Rianne stabbing me over and over again.
Steven strutted up to me and kissed me on the head, then met Sam at the door. “I’m heading back to Jo’s. Can I have a minute, Sam?”
“Baby doll, the bath is ready.” Sam gave me one of his lopsided grins before he and his dad stalked out of view.
I climbed out of bed, puffing out my cheeks, trying to muddle through what Steven had said. But I wasn’t about to slay my problems at two in the morning, and I had a bubble bath waiting for me.
My bare feet sank into the carpet as I padded through Steven’s room and into the stark white bathroom—jetted tub tucked into an alcove, a shower on the other side of it, a closet, and drawers and cabinets beneath the marble counter that housed two sinks.
After closing myself in, I stripped out of my T-shirt and panties before I eased into the mountain of bubbles. The hot water stung my skin for the briefest of seconds. Once completely immersed, I sighed heavily, leaning my head back against the tub.
Sam whistled. “Now, that is a sight to see.”
I jerked my head toward the powerful vampire with hunger in his green eyes that screamed he wanted to devour me. “I didn’t hear you. And you can’t see anything except bubbles.”
A smile tugged at the edges of his mouth, his dimples peeking out, deep and dancing with the promise of mischief and pleasure. “No, but my imagination is running wild with images. And it’s nice to see you relaxing.”
I captured bubbles in my hand. “Is everything okay with your dad?” I suspected he’d told Sam that the apartment was ours. “And what did you put in your pocket, by the way?”
He leaned against the counter, his black hair loose around his stubbled jaw, his thick thighs encased in jeans that hung low on his hips. “My dad told me about the apartment, but I heard most of what he said to you anyway.”
Got to love vampire hearing. “Are you going to answer my other question?”
His gaze roamed freely over my face. “In time. Do you mind if I join you?”
“Of course not.” I couldn’t imagine Sam lounging in a bath. Then again, the vampire constantly surprised me.
He shucked out of his clothes in two seconds flat and stood like a god of gods—naked, hungry, and virile. Power and strength molded his body into a beautiful specimen.
I licked my lips, enjoying the view as he swaggered over to the tub, stroking his massive erection before he climbed in behind me.
Waves of arousal swirled in my stomach, and a gooey feeling wrapped me in a blanket of love and protection.
I leaned my head back against his chest. “This is nice.” And also new. Sam and I had never lounged or enjoyed each other’s company. For one, we hadn’t had time, and two, when we were alone, it was all tangled limbs and naked bodies. Though the latter sounded heavenly too.
