Stefan’s gaze darted to the doorway as Isabelle swept in. A red bandanna was wrapped around her thick hair;strands of it had straggled free to curl around her exquisite face. Her high cheekbones, delicate chin, and small nose were now free of dirt to reveal the creamy perfection of her porcelain skin.
A barrage of sexual images flashed through his mind, images of what he would like to do to that lithe body, and what he would likeforit to do to him. Jess’s stroking hand had been doing nothing to get him aroused, but now blood suddenly rushed to his groin, causing him to harden painfully. He shifted uncomfortably andgrit his teeth against the lust that filled him.
“There are times when I wish that I hadn’t had a hand in raising you,” Jack mumbledunhappily.
“Trust me Jack, so do I,”she replied laughingly.
She smiledat him as she ruffled his dark hair. Jack scowled at her as he fixed his hairandsmiledsoftly. Isabelle grabbed the chair from the corner and shooed Jack over to wedge it between him and Mike, purposely keeping her gaze away from Stefan and Jess. Try as she might to ignore him, she was still acutely aware of his presence, and the aura of power that he radiated. His gaze burned into her as she settled into the chair, ignoring theacceleratedbeatof her heart, and the heat that suddenly flooded her.
“The tile in the bathroom is going to be a light rose, and the counters are going to be emerald green,” she told them as she settled into her seat.
“Oh Isabelle!” Ian moaned.
“Don’t oh Isabelle me, mom and I already ordered them, and they should be here tomorrow,” she retorted as she fiercely returned the dark scowls her brothers gave her.
“It’s so girly!” Aiden complained.
“You’ll be at school most of the year!”she shot back.
“Yeah, but I don’t want to get sick every time I come home.”
Isabelle rolled her eyes as she folded her arms fiercely over her chest.“Just make surethatyou clean up after yourselfwhen you do.”
Ian slapped Ethanforcefullyon the back. “Sure you don’t want to change your mind and come tocollegewith us?”he inquired with a bright smile.
Ethan just shook his head. “At least Ican decide my room and bathroom,”he mumbled.
“Well actually...”Isabelle started.
“Don’t even think about it!”Ethan interrupted fiercely.
Isabelle smiled sweetly at him as she chuckled softly. “Who’s going out tonight?”
“We are!” Ian and Aidenrespondedeagerly.
“Jack and I are going too,” David said. “What do you need?”
She turned toward him, her eyes involuntarily flicking toward Stefan. He held her gaze for achargedmoment, in which she was certain that the air literally sizzled with electricity, before she tore her gaze away. “I just need some cleaning supplies, and other stuff.” She was amazed that her voice sounded completely normal.
David nodded and leaned back in his chair. “No problem, make a list.”
“Thanks.” She stood abruptly, fighting the urge to flee from the room. “The last load should be done. You guys will be glad to know you won’t have to buy new clothes this week, you’ll actually have clean ones.”
“I like buying new clothes!” Jack yelled at her quickly retreating back.
“You’d better fold them nicely!” Ian taunted.
“Go to hell Ian!” sheshoutedfrom the hall.
“I’m going to be living there on school breaks!”he shot back.
“You keep it up and you’ll be living there a lot sooner!”
“You keep it up and you’re going to wake up to a bed full of snakes,” Ethan told him, smiling brightly.
Ian shuddered and leaned back in his seat. “Snakes?” Jess asked in surprise.
“Yeah, snakes,” Ethanshivered as he made a face.
