We want you to be happy.”
“Thank you. You didn’t have to fix it up for me. Material things don’t matter anymore.”
Constantine looked at her as if he could see into her soul. “Then what matters?”
All moisture evaporated from her mouth. Dimitri wouldn’t turn around. How could she mate with them when Dimitri was clearly angry with her?
Constantine arched a brow. “Tatiana?”
“I just want you guys to be happy,” she blurted.
Constantine dragged a hand down his face. “We can’t be happy unless you are.”
Great. Constantine was mad at her, too.“I know.” She looked down at her hands, fisted in her lap. “I’m trying.”
“What else can we do?” Andrei whispered, caressing her back.
He was trying to soothe her, but his touch set her on edge. She arched away from him. “Nothing. You’ve done too much already. I don’t deserve—”
“Don’t say another word,” Constantine snapped, turning all the way around in his seat, his eyes shifting from blue to bright silver as his dark protector voice took over. “You’re not doing this to yourself, Tatiana. We won’t let you.”
“Okay, sorry.” She hated pissing off Constantine. She was fucking this all up, but she couldn’t help it.
“No apologies.” Dejan pulled her hand into his lap and stroked her arm. “You have nothing to be sorry for.”
She fought the urge to pull back her hand. His touch felt wonderful, hence the problem. Her guilty conscience wouldn’t allow her to enjoy his touch. “I think they’re done peeing.” She sighed in relief as her dads climbed into Boris’s car and the tail lights flashed.
“Can I do anything to make you comfortable?” Dejan asked.
“I didn’t get much sleep,” she lied. She’d slept almost the entire flight, but she’d rather fake sleep than have to talk to them, especially when Dimitri still refused to turn around. His silence magnified her uneasiness ten times over, fraying her nerves to the point that she couldn’t think clearly.
Turning sideways, Dejan patted his chest. “Let me be your pillow.”
She eyed his big chest, which looked incredibly comfortable and was covered with a soft fleece sweatshirt. Gammas were known to be good cuddlers. Her mother was always curled up with Arvid on their sofa. She suspected resting against Dejan could bring her comfort, too. Could she allow herself this indulgence?
“I won’t bite,” he said.
She lay against his chest, closing her eyes when he wrapped his arms around her. She wouldn’t fall asleep, but perhaps she could let his strong arms warm her.
She couldn’t deny it felt wonderful to be in his embrace. She felt more at peace than she’d been in a long time. If only her conscience would allow her to always be this content.
TATIANA JERKED AWAKE when the car doors slammed and the cab filled with frigid air. Snow flurries danced outside while Constantine and Dimitri raced to a dark blue car stuck in a deep ditch at the side of the road. Her heart stammered when she feared her parents had been in an accident, but she spotted their car several yards ahead. Her fathers were already following the Boris into the ditch. They were deep inside a forest, and the road was dark, save for a few slivers of sunlight that shone through the looming, dense trees.
Rubbing sleep from her eyes, she tried to remember when she’d drifted off to sleep. She looked at Dejan, who was smiling down at her, his arms protectively wrapped around her waist. “What’s going on?”
He shrugged. “Some human ran off the road.”
“Are they okay?”
He didn’t seem concerned. He brushed a strand of her long, dark hair away from her eyes. “I think so.”
The men grunted and groaned, struggling to lift the car and slide it back onto the road. “Too bad they can’t shift,” she said. “One protector could have lifted the car by himself.”
“I know,” he drawled, his fingers skimming across her neck. “Did you enjoy your nap?”
“Yes.” Distracted by his touch, she stirred against him, alarmed when she felt an erection poking her behind. What was he trying to do? Their parents were right outside. Damn him for trying to turn her on, and damn her for not pulling away.
He nuzzled her ear, his warm breath tickling her nape. “It feels right holding you.”
It did. It felt so right, she never wanted him to let go. With a shudder, she sank against him and settled her hand over his, not knowing what to say. A soft moan escaped her when he kissed her neck, and she turned into him, losing herself