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“That would be lovely,” Ella’s dad answered. “It will give us a chance to get to know you better, as well.”

“Dad…”

Vadim kissed her cheek. “It’s all right. I expect your parents have a lot of questions for me.”

“I have one.” Madison waved her hand in the air. “How long do you have to stick with my sister?”

He smiled down into Ella’s eyes. “For all eternity.”

“Oh, please… you don’t have to lay it on so thick.”

“You poor dude. But I suppose in her line of work, she might not last that long.”

“Thanks. By the way, I don’t think you can date your sister’s grieving ex. That would be icky.” Ella made a face at her sister. Why did she feel like a teenager again?

“I’m not being mean. I’m just stating the facts.” Madison flipped her hair over her shoulder. “Empaths don’t last very long, do they?”

“Only if they don’t take a mate.”

“It’s not fair,” Madison whined. “How come she ends up with him? ”

Dave came across and shook Vadim’s hand. “Welcome to the family. I’m glad someone will take care of my baby sister for a change.”

“Oh, for goodness sake, Dave, can’t you say anything nice?” Darlene faked a laugh. “Poor Vadim will think he’s joining a family of freaks! Are you thinking of getting married?”

“God, no.” Ella turned to Julie, who had started to cry. “It’s okay.”

“I know, it’s wonderful. Isn’t it, Scott?” Her husband hugged her close.

“And you don’t have to worry about naming your poor baby after me either.” Ella winked at Scott, who winked back. He was a man of few words at the best of times. Stuck with his mother and his wife in the same room, he barely uttered a word.

Madison patted the couch next to her. “So, Vadim, tell us all about your family. Do you have any brothers or gorgeous male cousins?”

“Both my siblings are dead.” He remained standing by Ella. “But I still have quite a large family.”

“Ooh, are they local? Can you introduce me to some hot dudes?”

“Madison!” Darlene thundered. “You are hardly old enough to be dating anyone!” She turned to smile at Vadim. “Are your family from around here? We’d love to meet them.”

She felt Vadim hesitate and replied for him. “No, they’re not. He’s Russian, remember?”

“Oh, that’s true, I don’t suppose that nasty government over there lets people out much.” She waved at her husband. “Shall we have a drink to celebrate Vadim joining our family?”

“How about my survival, Mom? Isn’t that worth celebrating too?”

Darlene patted her hand “But you wouldn’t have survived if Vadim here hadn’t agreed to ‘mate’ with you, whatever that means.”

“It means Ella and I are bonded physically, emotionally and psychically for life.”

She glanced up at him while he was speaking. There wasn’t a hint of mockery in his voice or his expression. When he said it like that, it sounded so…permanent.

“It is.”

“Shut up!”

“You might as well get married, then!” Darlene laughed. “Although I don’t envy you having to deal with all that Otherworld stuff.” She hesitated. “You do know about that, don’t you?”

“Oh, he knows. Probably more than I do.”

Darlene continued to ignore Ella and grill Vadim, while her father passed out glasses of champagne. “And you’re okay with her being like that?”

“I’m fine with it. I wouldn’t have volunteered to be an OCOS mate if I hadn’t been.”

Darlene patted his cheek. “You’re obviously a saint.”

Ella made a gagging sound. “Hardly that.”

Darlene grabbed her elbow and steered her into the kitchen. “You should be grateful he took you on, Ella. Now that you have him hooked, try not to lose him too quickly, okay?”

Ella took the bag of peanuts her mom handed her and dumped them in a bowl. Several bounced out onto the floor. “Didn’t you hear what he said? We’re in this together for life.”

“Men say these things, dear, but do they really mean them?” Darlene pointed her bread knife at Ella. “Let’s hope he’s not the kind to stray.”

“Yes, Mom.” She picked up the bowl of peanuts, aware of a strong desire to burst out laughing. How had her redemption turned out to be all about Vadim? “Let’s hope.”

She walked through into the family room and found Vadim in conversation with Scott and Julie. He looked up and she grinned at him. Within a second he was by her side.

“What’s so funny?”

“This.”

“Your family?”

“My mom just told me you would probably stray. Should I arrange to have you neutered?”

His smile was breathtaking. “You know you’d regret that.”

“Will you stray?”

He held her gaze. “Never.”

She swallowed hard as the echo of his spoken word reverberated through her mind. “That’s kind of scary and reassuring at the same time.”

“Will you?”

“Will I what?”

“Stray.”

“Hell, no.”

He bent his head and kissed her hard on the mouth. “Then what do we have to worry about?”

“Apart from crazy Otherworld sects, our dangerous jobs and your family? Nothing much.” She shook her head. “In fact, when you think about it, my family is easy.”

“Exactly, so let’s just relax and enjoy the rest of the day.”

* * *

Much later, she closed the door of the guest bedroom and stared at Vadim.

It came complete with pink roses on the wallpaper and Austrian swag drapes.

For the first time in years she’d actually enjoyed an evening with her family, and it was all due to Vadim.

His attitude toward her and his excellent manners had almost made them behave like a regular family celebrating a normal family occasion.

“They still drive me nuts.”

He appeared to follow her thoughts even as he stripped off his T-shirt, displaying his flat stomach and perfect abs. “Of course they do. They’re your family.”

“Is it true that both your siblings are dead?”

“Yes.”

“That must’ve been horrible for you.”

“Yes.”

She raised her eyebrows. “That’s all you’re going to say?”

“What would you like me to say?”

“Do you miss them?”

“Our relationship was…difficult. They were allied with my father. My sister worshipped my brother and hated me.”

“Why?”

He shrugged. “Because I was the eldest?”

“That’s stupid.”

“Families often are. Your mother doesn’t appreciate you at all.”

“Because I disrupted her life.”

“But that was hardly your fault, was it?”

He held her gaze and she hurriedly looked down at the buttons on her dress. “I can’t believe how she fawns over you, though.”

“I am rather spectacular.” His smile was wicked as he unbuckled his belt and unzipped his jeans to reveal his already erect cock.

“You sure are. Spectacularly arrogant.” Ella shrugged out of her jacket and dress. “Do you want to shower?”

“Let’s do that later. I have to fulfill your fantasy first.”

She paused. “Which one?”

“Having sex under your parents’ roof.”

“I was kidding.”

“No you weren’t.” His gaze fastened on her bra and the tight buds of her nipples. “Maybe I’ll make you scream when you come, so they’ll hear you.”

“And make my dad all awkward over his breakfast cereal?”

He advanced toward her. “Then you’ll have to keep quiet, won’t you? And I know how difficult that is for you.”

He moved even closer until he was right in front of her. One gentle push on her chest and she was flat on her back, with him covering her. She couldn’t help grinning up at him as he lowered his head. Who would ever have imagined sex could be so much fun?

“Now, lie back and enjoy, Ms. Walsh, and for God’s sake, keep it down.”