Emma sighed. “That’s actually good, right?” She turned toward her sister. “If she’s having sex, we want her to enjoy it. To have a good experience.”
Janie buried her face in her hands. This was unbelievable.
Cara cleared her throat and waited until Janie looked back up. “Sex is good and natural.”
Oh holy fuck. “I know that, Mom.” Janie rubbed her temples. “I don’t understand why you’re both so surprised. You had to know I’d end up with a vampire or immortal someday.”
Cara swallowed. “Sure, but to end up with a soldier, a warrior? It’s not the easiest of roads, sweetheart. No matter how much you love the man.”
“Although it is totally worth it,” Emma said.
“Yes.” Cara exhaled slowly.
Janie shook her head. “Who did you think I’d end up with?”
“A nerdy scientist,” they answered in unison, identical blue eyes flashing.
Wow. “Why?” Janie asked.
Cara wet her lips. “You’ve been surrounded by soldiers and war your entire life, and I figured you’d find somebody calm and mellow to love. A brilliant man who wasn’t deadly or so over-the-top dominant like, well, the Kayrs men.”
Emma nodded. “Yeah. What she said.”
“Huh.” Janie rubbed the still healing puncture marks on her neck. “What about Zane? You didn’t think fate brought us together?”
“Fate, schmate,” Emma muttered. “I figured Zane was a nice, sweet boy you met in dreams who’d always be your friend. Someday, I thought you’d move on.”
Cara focused on Janie. “Do you love him?”
Janie rubbed her chest. “I’m not sure ‘love’ explains how I feel.”
Cara nodded. “I understand that. What do you feel?”
“Too much.” The words popped out, and once Janie started, she couldn’t stop. “I thought he was safe and sweet, too. Maybe a lone shifter trying to protect a small pack, who’d give up war and live a gentle life. One who’d give me flowers, forget our anniversary, and do the crossword puzzles with me. And I loved him like that—who I thought he was.”
A dimple in Emma’s cheek winked as she grinned. “Sounds like a nice human life that goes on forever.”
“I know,” Janie whispered.
“And the reality?” Cara asked.
Janie inhaled and then let out the air. “He’s powerful and dangerous. Deadly and so damn wounded I just want to ease his pain—but he won’t let me. When he kisses me, the world makes sense, and when he orders me around, I want to kick him in the balls.” She plucked at a loose string on a pillow. “And more than anything, I want to be his everything.”
Cara sighed and smiled. “Yeah, that sounds about right.”
Janie relaxed. “I feel safe with him, and I don’t want to live this life without him.”
Emma grinned. “Nicely put.”
For now, she had to figure out a way to broker peace between her mate and her family. “Mom? You’re the only person in the universe who can deal with Dad, and I need him to accept Zane.”
Cara’s eyebrows arched up. “Where did they take Zane?”
“To the infirmary,” Emma whispered. “Talen knocked him out.”
Cara nodded. “I’m sure he did.” She shook her head like a dog with a face full of water. “Janie, do you have any questions? I mean, you know—”
“God, no.” Janie stood up. “We had the sex talk years ago.”
