Vanished Pride (The Seven Sin Sisters 4) (6 page)

During
the Acclimation, separation from a mate was unbearable, so Amelia knew Paige
would likely go away together. The newly mated couple would need time alone to become
accustomed to the special bond Valendite Breeds share with their Magdalena
mate. Goddess, she should be more understanding.

“She
didn’t say,” Gracie answered, seeming all too unconcerned for Amelia’s liking.

“What
did she say, Gracie?”

“Donovan
is sending someone to get her things and have them moved. They’re staying in
his home. He left his address.” Gracie pointed to the folded paper in the middle
of their table.

“He
used to live with Seamus. Layla told me last night,” Sadie added. “I guess it
makes sense for them to live there with Seamus over in Italy with Gemma now.”

“I
wonder if we could help her move. Then we’d get to see her,” Amelia suggested,
raising her eyebrows suggestively. “I want to see her new place. She always
demands the best. Can he live up to that standard?”

Sadie
and Gracie shook their heads. “Poor man,” Gracie giggled. “He probably has no
idea what he’s in for.”

“If
he’s her mate, he’s not likely to care.” Sadie shrugged. “And mother seemed
pleased when we told her last night.”

“And
if mother approves,” Gracie said before her other sisters joined in, “all is as
it should be.” With exaggerated rolls of their eyes, all three laughed.

* * * *

Paige took in the
industrial look of this monstrosity of a house. Modern and containing any
amenities known to man, it surpassed even her standards of excellence. Though
she still felt out of sorts, she also had an odd sense of coming home. She’d
worried he lived within the Santucci compound, but just before they got to the
vineyard, Donovan had turned into a long driveway.

“Welcome to our home,” Donovan’s
deep voice startled her. He was standing just behind her in the three-story
foyer. She realized she had stopped dead as she took in her surroundings.

“I can’t believe this
place,” she said, still unmoving even as he moved around her.

“Is that good?” Did she
hear a hint of uncertainty from her overly confident mate?

“Yes. It’s amazing.”

“So you’ll be happy
here? Wait. Don’t answer that. Let me show you the kitchen.” Donovan sounded
like a child at the Winter Solstice, excited for someone to open his or her
gift.

She smiled at his
excitement and then followed him through a large sitting area and into the
kitchen. Now it was her turn to be excited. She flitted from one appliance to
the next, taking note of the multiple ovens, porous cement countertops and all
the natural light from skylights above. Never in her life had she been in a
more perfect kitchen. Even her own at the café wasn’t as well done.

“This is fabulous. Your
kitchen is beyond anything I could’ve imagined I’d find in a bachelor pad,”
Paige confessed as she continued touching and inspecting everything.

Donovan laughed. “I
didn’t intend it to always be a bachelor pad. We thought we’d bring our mate
here.”

“You mean, your mates?”
She questioned his singular form of the word mate.

“Actually,” Donovan
paused and looked uncomfortable. “Seamus and I shared everything, including
women. We always assumed we would even share a mate.”

Stunned, Paige stood
silently and scrutinized him. She was at a complete loss for words.

“You shared women?
H-how? I mean, I know
how
,” Paige
rolled her eyes at how stupid she sounded, “but, oh Goddess, I thought that
only happened in books. I’m so naïve.”

“I like you naïve,”
Donovan assured her as he made his way to stand toe-to-toe with her. “It never
felt right for either of us alone with a woman. Seamus and I were perfect complements
to one another. Until Seamus mated, he’d never been alone with a woman.”

“And you?”

“Yes, I had, though I
admit it didn’t do it for me. So we found a formula that worked – Seamus and I.
Then we built this house as a fortress for us to live with our mate someday.”

“Wow. I don’t even know
what to do with that.”

“Just know that I have
never felt more fulfilled than I did with you last night. Never.” Donovan’s
sincerity dripped from his words as he implored Paige with his eyes.

She stretched, reaching
up to gently press her mouth to his. “I believe you. But now, this house
belongs to the two of you?”

“No. I bought out
Seamus’ half when he mated. Since he’s been assigned to the Italian base right
now, they don’t know what they’re going to do. But even if they move back to
the US, they’ll get their own home.”

Paige nodded, and then
had to ask, “So you and Gemma?”

“No,” Donovan
interrupted. “Seamus would likely kill me if I’d even thought it. But it was
truly incredible to see him with her at their Pronouncement. I’d never seen him
interact much aside from flirting with a woman before Gemma.”

Paige couldn’t help but
smile, partly relieved he’d never been with her sister, and partly knowing
Gemma was with her mate and experiencing this same joy. She was going to live
the life of her dreams. “Can I see more?”

 
“Absolutely,” Donovan beamed at her
enthusiasm. “I’m just hopeful you’ll have that same enthusiasm later. I can
think of better ways to enjoy it in our bedroom.” Donovan’s eyes filled with
mischief and Paige knew he was purposely antagonizing her. Her mate loved to
play.

He tugged her through
more rooms on the first and second floor that appeared to be designed straight
from a magazine. Neutral gray tones dominated the space, but were accented with
shades of blue and green. The home was surprisingly warm for once being a
bachelor pad; even the game room was well decorated.

“You didn’t decorate
this, did you?” Paige asked skeptically.

Donovan laughed, “No.
Mrs. Santucci gave us a hand. We gave her decorators full access with just a
few requirements and this is what we got.”

Paige would have to
thank Mrs. Santucci someday. She was so pleased because she would be proud to
live in this spectacular home.

“It’s all yours now so
if you want anything changed, it’s done,” Donovan hurried to assure her when
Paige didn’t say whether she liked the décor.

“I love it. It’s quite
well done,” Paige shrugged. “I wouldn’t change a thing.” She tugged his hand to
stop their ascent up the stairs to the third floor, and met his gaze. “Thank
you, for everything but most especially for not giving up on me when I was so
stubborn and selfish.”

His wide smile was
breathtaking and his eyes warmed as he reached his fingers down to stroke along
her jaw. “We’re still going to have bumps. And I still plan to be quite firm.”

Paige blushed at the
inference and nodded. Then she turned from him and continued up to the third
floor. She hadn’t yet seen their bedroom and the warm sensation in her tummy
was telling her it was time.

Opening a massive set
of double glass doors, Donovan showed Paige into their bedroom. The room filled
the entire third floor. It was painted in the deepest blue she’d ever seen, and
an enormous four-poster bed stood in the center of one area of the room with a
sitting nook at the far end. Wispy drapes and linens of white fabrics decorated
their bed and the large windows. Everything in the room was blue and white,
including the en suite she found off to the side with a soaking tub big enough
for a party. It was every woman’s fantasy.

“This is beautiful,” It
was all she could say, the only words that would form.

“You are beautiful.”

“I think you are
beautiful,” Paige returned the compliment.

Donovan raised an
eyebrow. “I prefer something a bit more masculine.”

“Something like hot,
hunky, handsome. Wait. How about stud?” Paige was laughing at the faces Donovan
made as she threw out the choices.

“I am a legend,
Principessa
. I’m immortal, nearly
invincible,” Donovan held his face in a serious, nearly angry expression and
Paige shivered. “I think Master Stud might be most appropriate.” His entire
face lit up as he grinned at her then. Oh, Paige loved his playful side.

“Master Stud it is,” she
agreed.

Donovan wanted to do a
dance in celebration at how well this day was going with Paige. He’d brought
her to his home with trepidation, praying she’d accept it. He knew she had high
standards, but he’d also known they built this home with the best of
everything. When he saw the look of satisfaction in his mate’s eyes, he wished
for a moment that Seamus were there to give him a high-five. Despite his
seeming ease with being separated from Seamus, it was still something he was
getting used to.

Paige
snuggled into his arms as they stood in their bedroom. He felt a strong desire to
strip them both and experience their bed, but he wanted to take today at her
pace. She hadn’t yet asked about the baking competition he’d heard her talking
with her mother about, and he wondered if he should bring it up.

“You
living here now sure will make it easier on me as your bodyguard.”

“Is
that why you brought me here?” Paige’s eyes were sparkling with mirth.

“And
what if it was?” Donovan quirked an eyebrow but kept his face solemn. Then he
watched the color drain from her face. “I’m just teasing back, Princess. You
have to trust me. You must be able to feel the truth of what I say.”

Paige
nodded. He knew something else was on her mind. Maybe now she’d bring up the
competition. After biting her lip, she asked, “Why do you call me princess?”

“Sometimes
because I want you to know that’s how I’ll treat you. Then there’s other times
when you’re acting like a spoiled one.”

“I-I
can’t believe you said that,” Paige cut him off, looking indignant. “I do not
act spoiled.”

Donovan
couldn’t help himself from snickering at his tiny mate with her hands on her
hips and her attempt at a frowning scowl. Then he raised one eyebrow back up
and watched her. He waited as he saw her begin to consider his words.

“Okay.
Maybe occasionally I can be stubborn.”

“Do
you remember when I put you over my knee?”

“How
could I forget?” She rubbed at her bottom as she stuck out her bottom lip.
Donovan wanted to suck that lip into his mouth, maybe even nip it a bit.

“That
was because you’ve been so spoiled that you made a decision based solely on
your immediate desire instead of considering the consequences. I plan to help
you see the consequences, Princess.” Donovan stared her down, daring her to
contradict him.

Much
to his surprise, she tilted her head down, nearly submissively, and nodded. He
almost came in his pants right there at that gesture. Goddess, help him. He
grabbed her up, holding her off the ground against him and claimed her mouth in
a bruising kiss. After tasting his fill of her swollen and reddened lips, Donovan
bit her lower lip and drank in her rich flavor. He licked along the seam of her
lips until she opened again to invite him in. He ran his tongue along her teeth,
sucked and licked her lips again. He craved the taste of her and had plans to
taste her entire body before this day was over. They had nowhere to go and
nothing to do. To hell with talking. Today, he would sate his hunger for her.

Breaking
the kiss, Donovan picked Paige up and brought her to the bed. He tossed her
onto the plump pillows and by the time she landed, he’d used his powers to
render her nude. Perfect. Her legs were spread open as she attempted to gain
purchase but Donovan was too quick as he grabbed onto both legs.

“I
have plans, Paige. I’ll be taking my time with you today.”

“Can
I check in at the café first?”

“All
taken care of. All you need to concentrate on is us and since I know you’ll
need help to relax, I’m going to tie you to my bed. Then all you have to do is
feel.” He spoke the words against the skin of her calves as he rubbed them
along his jaw. Donovan loved the gooseflesh that arose at his tickling touch.
His facial hair against her smooth skin was a wicked sensation.

“You
want to tie me up?” Paige sounded uncertain, nervous. He had her right where he
wanted her.

“I
don’t want to,
Principessa
. I’m going
to,” Donovan asserted just before he used his Valendite speed to have both of
her wrists and ankles cuffed to the bed before Paige knew what was happening.

He
watched her carefully though, mindful of any sign she was afraid, but he saw
only arousal in her bewitching green eyes. A quick glance between her legs told
him she was, without a doubt, turned on. A vortex of emotion washed over him. It
was never more telling than in this moment that he had found his perfect match.
His little mate would always be enough for him, but better still was he could
feel through their bond he would be enough for Paige as well.

Donovan
adored how her wide smile lit up her face. He saw not an ounce of hesitation. Her
cheeks were flushed, there was a hint of perspiration on her skin and never
before had she been more beautiful. Words were unnecessary because they shared all
their emotions through the blood bond. Donovan never had to guess. He could
feel every emotion she felt, and now combined with his own intense craving,
their joining—that bond all Valendite Breeds share with their mates—was becoming
quite an erotically charged experience.