Free Darkest Risings by S. K. Yule

in an effort to keep from drooling on her shoes.
    “Wilhemina!”
Ebony hurried over to hug her. “Come with me so I can introduce you to
everyone.
    She
followed Ebony to two men talking to Ashe.
    “This
is Conrad Reyes.”
    “It’s
a pleasure to meet you, Wilhemina.” Conrad bowed his head.
    She
was sure the pleasure was mostly hers. His light-blond hair lay in ringlets
against his head and grazed his neck. He was tall, lean but muscled, and his
tanned skin brought out the hazel color of his eyes. He reminded her of a buff
surfer dude.
    “Likewise.”
    “And
this is Dominic Zelasko.”
    Dominic
took her hand and kissed the back of it. The gesture made her feel as if she
stepped back in time. He wasn’t as tall as Conrad, but he was no less
spectacular with a muscled physique, short brown hair, and beautiful golden
eyes.
    “Nice
to meet you as well.”
    “Dominic
and Conrad are close family friends and are staying with us for the time being.
I expect you two to treat my friend with the utmost respect,” Ebony told them
both sternly.
    “I’ll
do my best.” Dominic winked and smiled a wolfish grin.
    “I
don’t know. She’s a looker.” Conrad smiled.
    “You
two are impossible.” Ebony rolled her eyes.
    “Yep.”
    “You’ve
already met Ashe.” Ebony smiled warmly at her husband.
    Wilhemina
fought back a groan when Ashe returned his wife’s smile along with a smoldering
stare that gave off so much heat she felt the need to fan herself. But she also
felt something else. A sense of familiarity.
    “Hello,
Ashe.”
    “Are
you settling in well, Wilhemina?” Ashe asked after tearing his gaze from Ebony.
    “Yes.
You have a beautiful home. Thank you for having me.”
    “Any
friend of Ebony’s is welcome. Stay as long as you wish.”
    “Thank
you.” If she had been talking to Ashe on the phone instead of in person, she
would have sworn he was much older by the manner in which he spoke.
    “Come
with me and meet Aiston now.” Ebony tugged Wilhemina over toward Avril and
another GQ guy.
    Wilhemina
was surprised that Aiston had blond hair. Ashe was dark, and for some reason,
she assumed Aiston would be as well. He was no less gorgeous than Ashe, a
couple inches shorter maybe, leaner, but beautifully muscled and had nearly the
same color eyes. A knot began forming in her stomach as she realized why she
had gotten a sense of deja-vu from Ashe and now Aiston.
    “Well,
aren’t you a pretty little thing.” Aiston gave her a deep bow and grinned.
    “Pay
no attention to him. He’s a flirt.” Avril grinned.
    “Maybe
a bit, baby, but my heart will always belong to you.” He kissed Avril on the
cheek.
    “You’ll
have to watch out for Aiston. He’s known to be the prankster in the family,” Ebony
warned.
    “Yes.
I believe Avril mentioned something about that.” Wilhemina was intrigued.
    “You
game for some pranks?” Aiston’s eyebrows shot up.
    “She
most certainly is not!” Ebony and Avril spoke at the same time.
    Wilhemina
giggled at Aiston’s scowl. Curiosity getting the better of her, she was about
to ask Aiston about some of his pranks when Ebony’s next words made her
inwardly cringe.
    “Aldin!
There you are. Come meet my friend.”
    She
didn’t want to turn around. She wanted to run away. She never thought to see
Mr. Sexy again, but if the opportunity did decide to present itself, she’d most
certainly not have picked to see him again in the middle of a room full of
people. Unfortunately, sometimes life didn’t give you choices, and one simply
had to man-up—woman-up in her case—and deal with it. She pasted a wide smile on
her face and turned.
    His
piercing eyes stole the breath from her lungs. Drake’s had been dark, and while
she’d seen enough of him to know he was a hottie, the brilliant light of the
room failed to bring one single flaw to the surface. He was perfect in every
way. Huge, sexy, foreboding, dominant, and very male. He reminded her of a
predator, and she had a