Cristofor put his arm around his wife, his pride in her obvious in the adoring look he gave her. “My wife is quite the force to be reckoned with when it comes to business, Laurel Rose.” He captured her with his laser green gaze. “But as to why, well, you are family. And a Dalakis protects family above all else.”

  A sense of rightness, of belonging, of security settled over Laurel Rose. These men were the real deal. They were the type of men you could rely on to do whatever it took to get the job done. Their word was their bond. They would make the best of friends and the deadliest of enemies. A little old-fashioned and overbearing, but that was to be expected when they so effortlessly wielded such power. Laurel Rose had a feeling that the women helped keep them from becoming too arrogant and sure of themselves.

  But beneath it all, she sensed an unshakable bedrock of love and affection. This was a family in the truest sense of the word and she was now a part of it. Tears welled in her eyes and she blinked them back. She did not want to cry in front of them. What kind of an impression would that make?

  Johanna cleared her throat. “It was no problem at all.” She glanced at Delight and the other woman approached Laurel Rose.

  “We’d like you to come and visit with us once you’re settled. I’m sure you have many questions, and Johanna and I will do our best to answer them all.” Laurel Rose heard the men groan behind them. Delight just laughed. “They’re always afraid when all us womenfolk get together,” she whispered conspiratorially.

  “That’s because you cannot stay out of trouble,” Lucian groused. “You do not stay where we tell you to.”

  Delight sniffed and tilted her nose in the air. “If you thought for one second that Johanna and I would stay in New York and not come to help Stefan, then you were sadly mistaken. He is our brother too.”

  “As I said, you are trouble.” Lucian leaned down and placed a kiss on her lips, silencing her. His gentle actions belied his harsh words. Laurel Rose fought back a smile. It seemed that Stefan’s brothers were very much like him.

  “I would like for you to come back home when you can. We could use your strength and your talents.” Behind her, Stefan stiffened as Lucian spoke.

  “Trouble?”

  “Perhaps.” Cristofor shrugged his massive shoulders. “Zane York has been asking questions again. He resigned from the police force just after you left the city and went away for several months. All inquires about our family ceased. But he has recently returned and has begun asking questions again. And he is not the only one asking questions this time. There are others as well.”

  Laurel Rose could sense Stefan’s growing agitation. His need to protect his family was warring with his need to make her happy. She made the decision for them. “Once we’ve had a few days to settle things, we’ll come for a visit.”

  Cristofor inclined his head in thanks and both women smiled at her. “We will leave you then,” Lucian said before he leaned forward, clasped her face gently in his hands, and kissed her forehead. “Thank you.” His simple but earnest words made her heart swell with emotion.

  He stepped away and swept his wife from the room. Cassidy was right behind them, giving her a nod as he left. Then it was Cristofor’s turn. Clasping her hands in his, he raised them to his lips. “If there is anything you ever need, you have but to ask.” Then he ushered his wife from the room. Johanna managed to wave as her large husband scooped her up into his arms and carried her into the night. The door slammed behind them, leaving the room in sudden silence.

  “I think that went well,” she said as she stepped out of Stefan’s embrace. He was still frowning at the closed door, but his expression lightened when he turned toward her.

  “They adore you.” He slowly began to move toward her, that familiar predatory gleam in his eyes.

  Laurel Rose glanced down, and sure enough there was a large bulge in the front of his jeans. “You’re insatiable.” She continued to back away, but he matched her step for step, stalking her. She felt the familiar need rising up within her. This man was everything she’d ever wanted, and she had a feeling that the powerful need they felt for each other would only grow over the years instead of diminishing.

  He lunged so quickly, he was but a blur of motion as he scooped her up into his arms and bounded back up the stairs. “I am insatiable for you, Laurel Rose. Only for you.” His eyes were dark and tender as he carried her into the bedroom. “I love you.”

  The door slammed behind them, shutting out the world. For now, there was only the two of them and a love that would last for all time, as only a Dalakis love could.

  Books by N. J. Walters

  See all of N. J. Walters’s books at Kobo!

  The Dalakis Passion Series

  Harker’s Journey

  Lucian’s Delight

  Stefan’s Salvation

  Eternal Brothers

  Endless Chase

  The Summersville Secrets Series

  Uncovering Annabelle

  Enticing Emma

  Lily’s List

  The Salvation Pack Series

  Wolf at the Door

  Wolf in her Bed

  Wolf on the Run

  Wolf from the Past

  Wolf on the Hunt

  The Hades’ Carnival Series

  Night of the Tiger

  Mark of the Bear

  Pride of the Lion

  Howl of the Wolf

  Heart of the Serpent

  Flame of the Phoenix

  Lure of the Jaguar

  The Spells, Secrets & Seductions Series

  A Touch of Magick

  Dreams of Seduction

  Love in Flames

  The Legacy Series

  Alexandra’s Legacy

  Isaiah’s Haven

  Legacy Found

  Quinn’s Quest

  Finding Chrissten

  Damek’s Redemption

  Craig’s Heat-Legacy

  The Jamesville Series

  Discovering Dani

  The Way Home

  The Return of Patrick O’Rourke

  The Seduction of Shamus O’Rourke

  A Legal Affair

  By the Book

  Past Promises

  The Gift of Shayla

  About the Author

  Once upon a time, N.J. had the idea that she would like to quit her job at the bookstore, sell everything she owned, leave her hometown, and write romance novels in a place where no one knew her. And she did. Two years later, she went back to the bookstore and her hometown and settled in for another seven years. One Friday morning she gave notice at her job; on Sunday afternoon, she received a tentative acceptance for her first romance novel, and her life has never been the same.

  N. J. Walters is a New York Times and USA Today bestselling author of the Summersville Secrets series, the Legacy series, and the Salvation Pack series, among others. Vampires, werewolves, dragons, time-travelers, seductive handymen, and next-door neighbors with smoldering good looks all vie for her attention. It’s a tough life, but someone’s got to live it.

  You can visit N. J. at:

  Website: http://www.njwalters.com

  Blog: http://www.njwalters.blogspot.com

  Newsletter Group: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/awakeningdesires/

  Facebook Author Page: https://www.facebook.com/N.J.WaltersAuthor

  Twitter: https://twitter.com/njwaltersauthor

  Goodreads: http://www.goodreads.com/NJWalters

 

 

  N. J. Walters, Stefan's Salvation

 

 

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