“A failed or interrupted Claiming or Bonding.”
“Well, we’ve Claimed each other, mostly.”
“Mostly?”
She blushed. “Ma.”
“Hmm. Kissed then, but not gone beyond that. Have you tried going naked in front of him?”
“Ma!”
Aileen Dunne giggled like a little girl. “How about those lacy underthings you and Ruby bought together? Have you tried those?”
She didn’t want to admit it, but she hadn’t. She didn’t have the nerve. She’d blushed enough when Ruby, visiting with Leo, had dragged her to the Frederick’s of Hollywood in the mall in Omaha. “Ma. Please. I…I don’t know what to do.”
Her desperation must have gotten through. “My poor child. All right, then. This started almost immediately, you said.”
“Yes.”
“It hasn’t lightened up at all? For either of you?”
“No.” She only wished it had. They might have been able to complete their bond otherwise. Hell, she wished now that neither of them had decided to get to know each other better. Maybe if they’d just boffed like bunnies in the back of that limo two months ago neither of them would be suffering like this. But who could have predicted that Duncan’s gallant desire to get to know her before bonding her would backfire like this? If they’d completed all the steps of the bonding would either of them be suffering like this, or would it have been even worse?
“Anything else happen around that time that was…odd?”
Other than Jaden abandoning us, no. It was time to stop hiding that fact, even from herself. This problem was linked to Jaden, and refusing to discuss it was no longer an option. “Just Jaden refusing to come home.” Damn if she didn’t miss the cocky son of a bitch. She missed the sense of him rattling around in her head, making her laugh, keeping her calm. But he wouldn’t talk to her either, and their blood bond wasn’t nearly as strong as the one he had with Duncan.
Her mother sighed. “Jaden.”
She had one last chance to prove her theory wrong. The men had lived together for a century. She had to be wrong. “You think this has something to do with Jaden’s leaving?”
“I think it has everything to do with Jaden’s leaving.”
“Why would you think that, Ma?” She was nearly on the edge of her seat, the sensation that she was about to fall down the rabbit hole stronger than ever.
“Because I think Jaden is Duncan’s, and your, unfulfilled bond.”
She’d known it, but it was still something of a shock to hear her suspicions confirmed. “You think all three of us are true bonds?” She scowled. “How in the name of all that is holy could they have missed that?” She got up and began to pace, the phone glued to her ear. She couldn’t wait to hear an explanation.
“It’s entirely possible the blood bond they share held off the worst effects of an interrupted bond. It’s also possible that they’ve never started Claiming one another. If they’ve never shared a kiss the both of them could believe that any attraction they feel is due to the blood bond.” Aileen sighed. “I’m not as up on my vampire bonding as you are, but from the way you described it that’s what I’m guessing has happened. The three of you need to get together and find out for certain, though.”
“Damn.” She shook her head, totally confused. “But how would their interrupted bond affect my bond with Duncan?”
“That’s the problem. Jaden blood bonded both you and Duncan before Duncan Claimed you. Did Jaden ever kiss you?”
She touched her lips again. She’d dreamed that Jaden had kissed her the night he’d come to kidnap Ruby. What if he really had?
What if, with one simple touch of his lips, he’d Claimed her without even meaning to?
“I think so, but I was pretty out of it. What would that mean for all of us if he started Claiming me?”
“It means you’ve got a tribond.”
Moira rubbed her forehead. Damn damn damn. “I think I’m getting a headache.”
“Moira. How do you feel about Duncan?”
I want to save him. I want him to stop hurting. I want to see him laughing again. “I want his happiness.”
“How do you feel about Jaden?”
May the Mother be merciful on those two, because I’m not going to be. She sighed, knowing what was going to have to be done. “I want his happiness.”
“And men are?”
Moira’s lips curled up in a silly grin. “Daft.”
“So?”
Filled with new resolve, Moira sat up straight. “I’ll fix this, Ma.” I’ll get both my men in the bargain.
“That’s my girl.”
Chapter Three
Jaden stopped at the edge of the drive, suddenly uncertain of his welcome. He’d shut Moira and Duncan out of his life, shoved them out of his head with force at times. He wasn’t sure how they’d react to his sudden return, necessary though it was. He definitely wasn’t certain how Duncan would react when he found out Jaden had started working for Robin Goodfellow full time. How would his bond brother take Jaden’s defection from the family?
At the time it had looked like the only thing to do. He would be away from his biggest heartache yet still be able to keep Duncan and Moira safe. Keeping those two safe was more important to him than any White Court acceptance, any Black Court blandishments waved in his face. It was more important to him than his own life.
Not that he planned on laying that particular commodity on the table any time soon. He kind of liked his skin wrapped around his bones, thank you very much.
He studied the front of the brick mansion and smiled. Duncan had gone all out on the whole holiday thing. Lights were strung everywhere. He bet when night fell the house would be a beacon of cheer for anyone passing by.
“Jaden?”
Fuck. For the first time in eight weeks he allowed Duncan into his mind, but only so far. He couldn’t let Duncan in all the way or the man would figure out exactly why Jaden had stayed away. He couldn’t bring himself to face Duncan’s pity, or worse, his scorn. “Duncan.”
The relief and anger that washed through him staggered him in its intensity. “Get your ass up here.”
“Duncan—”
“NOW.”
That cold Malmayne temper of Duncan’s was roused. How bad were things going to get once Duncan realized that Jaden’s return was merely temporary? He figured the fireworks, once started, might actually be kind of fun. It would certainly provide him with even more of an excuse to leave when the task was done.
He got out of the car, careful to put a carefree expression on his face. He wanted Duncan to think he’d been out on the town, partying with and fucking anything that moved. He couldn’t allow Duncan to know the truth. Not yet, maybe not ever.
God, being noble sucked ass. Thank God Robin had gotten him a bite to eat before bundling him on the plane for Nebraska. Too bad he’d been unable to enjoy more than the bite. He could have used the relief sex would have brought, but the little redhead had reminded him too much of Moira. He’d eaten, but he hadn’t really enjoyed it. Robin had to be aware of that, damn him. He’d even offered to join Jaden in the big bed behind him, romping together just the three of them.
Jaden had said no. He never, ever wanted to witness Robin’s idea of “romping”. Robin’s grin had held way too many teeth for his comfort.
Hell, even after a hundred years Jaden couldn’t classify himself as a party animal. He was by no means celibate, but even during the seventies he’d kept it in his pants more often than not, only giving in when the hunger for sex and blood became more than he could bear.