Awakened (Vampire Awakenings) (34 page)

EPILOGUE

Sera rested her arms on the railing of the porch as she watched Liam glide across the lawn. Behind him the lake was bright with the setting sun. The mountains loomed high above it, and stretched for miles across the vast sky. She loved the coziness and security that their home provided. The warmth that enveloped it.

A seductive smile curved his mouth, his eyes sparked as he caught her watching him. David’s friends had been right about everything. Their children were happy, and as normal as they could be for not being human. The children didn’t fully understand that yet, but one day they would. David had also been right about their desire for each other not dimming, but growing stronger. Their love was more intense than it had ever been, and it continued to grow every day.

“Mommy!” Ethan cried as he left his father’s side. Sera moved to head him off as she had been trying hard to rid him of his habit of running upstairs. In his overwhelming, four year old exuberance, he was more than likely going to fall.

He mounted the top step and raced across the porch to her. His black hair was tussled and windblown as he flung himself into her arms. She scooped him up and held him tight as his mischievous green eyes twinkled merrily. He looked so much like his father that it was shocking. “You’re not supposed to run up the stairs,” she scolded lightly.

He grinned as he flung his arms around her neck, knowing that was enough to get him out of trouble. Liam stepped onto the porch, his eyebrow cocked as he studied them. Sera shrugged and grinned, not feeling any shame. He shook his head disapprovingly as he smiled and shifted their two year old daughter, Isabelle, in his grasp. Her chubby arms were wrapped around his neck as she lifted her golden head to smile at Sera.

Liam moved swiftly across the porch as Ethan slid down her leg and bolted through the open sliding glass doors. Isabelle instantly wanted down to follow her brother. Liam set her on her feet so she could toddle through the door after him. “You’re a wonderful disciplinarian.”

Sera grinned as he braced his arms on the railing behind her. Her hands instantly fluttered to his chest as desire bloomed through her. “I can’t refuse you either,” she told him.

“Damn right.”

His kiss sizzled through her body, causing her to melt as she wrapped her arms around his neck and pressed against him. He pulled her closer, ravishing her mouth as the evidence of his desire pressed firmly against her belly. Sera moaned softly as she eagerly responded to his kiss.

“It’s the middle of the day! Go to your room!” Sera pulled away to grin happily at Jack. He was standing in the open doorway with Mike, Doug, and David by his side. “Did you have to be right about everything?” he demanded of David.

David shrugged as he leaned against the doorframe. “The way you guys are going there’s going to be a hundred kids in this house,” Mike said.

“Maybe then you guys will move out,” Liam replied teasingly.

“Don’t count on it. What time do Kathleen and Danielle come in?” Doug inquired.

“Four thirty,” Sera answered.

“Why don’t you guys pick them up,” Liam suggested. The four of them scowled back at him. “Or at least two of you.”

“And what would you like the other two of us to do?” David asked with a smirk.

Liam took hold of Sera’s hand and pulled her toward the doors. “Watch the kids.”

David shook his head as Jack threw his hands up in surrender. “A thousand kids,” he mumbled. “I’m going to the airport, these two make me sick.”

“I hate being right,” David said.

“I’m glad you were,” Sera replied lightly. “We’ll be right back.”

“No we won’t.”

Liam pulled her through the door and down the hall. Sera laughed as she broke away and raced up the stairs with him on her heels. She had only a moment to realize that they were never going to break Ethan’s habit of running upstairs if they were his role models, before Liam pulled her into his arms and his mouth descended upon hers. All rational thought fled from her mind as she was swept away by him.