Drake Sisters 04 - Dangerous Tides

youngest Drake sister shrugged. "They're expecting you to tell them you want a small private ceremony. Mom and Aunt Carol have gifts, too. You all need to remember that."

    "Mom has all the gifts," Elle reminded them in a low voice.

    Joley made a face. "I'll say. Mom always knew I was going to sneak out of the house before I tried it.
    Sarah, you're going to be so lucky when you have children. They'll never get away with anything. Mine will turn out to be like me, so no way am I reproducing. The world, and especially me, couldn't take it."

    "You'll have children, Joley," Sarah said.

    "How? I'm not about to let some idiot of a man tie me to him." Joley shook her head adamantly. "I can't take the bossiness. And if they're yes men I'm so bored I want to scream. There just isn't a middle ground for me. I'm doomed to be alone."

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    Jonas snorted derisively. "You don't sound very unhappy about it."

    "Would you want to live with you?" Joley demanded.

    "I'm perfect," Jonas declared.

    "A manly man," Sarah teased.

    "You got it babe."

    "I am turning you into a toad," Hannah said. "No one could ever live with your arrogance or your bossiness. Your poor wife would be browbeaten and your kids would run away."

    "My poor wife would keep her clothes on around other men and the world in general and only take them off for me," he said.

    "Why do you insist I take my clothes off? I wear clothes, that's my job."

    "Inez carries all the magazines if you're on the front cover, baby doll. I'm not sure I'd call what you're wearing most of the time, actual clothes. When are you getting a real job?"

    Hannah turned her face away from Jonas. Elle and Libby instantly put a hand on her, warmth and energy flowing into her. Sarah kicked Jonas. "Go home. You're annoying all of us now. You know you don't want us all angry with you."

    Jonas made it smoothly to his feet. "Protecting the Barbie Doll again. You aren't doing her any favors.
    She can't live off her looks forever."

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    Hannah winced visibly. Her hands trembled so that she curled her fingers into fists.

    Elle stood up, her small, petite frame dwarfed by Jonas's much larger one. "You know, Jonas, if I didn't know the things I do about you, that your intentions are really the best, I'd kick your ass myself. Go away. And do it now." Her red hair crackled with electricity and in the darkened room, her body seemed to throw off light, as if all the energy inside of her was seeking a way to get out. The walls of the house expanded and contracted and the floor shifted slightly under their feet.

    Jonas scowled at her, not in the least intimidated. "I don't care what you know, Elle. And don't threaten me."

    "I'm not threatening you. If I did, you wouldn't be standing there, you'd be running for your life. In case you haven't figured it out yet, it isn't easy being me. You think I want to know what everyone is thinking or feeling at any given moment? You think it's easy to have a normal temper like the rest of the world, but be so dangerous I don't dare express anger?"

    "You're expressing it right now."

    "That's because I love you and I'd never accidentally hurt you. I don't love everyone else, you idiot. Go away before the house shakes apart and Mom and Dad are royally pissed at me."

    "Can you do that? Shake the house apart?"

    "Does it look like I can do that?" Elle countered, gesturing toward the walls.

    Her sisters were up, surrounding her, Libby putting her hands on her younger sister's shoulders so that her healing warmth flowed into the mass of boiling energy. Elle sagged back against her so that Libby slipped her arms around her.

    "It's getting harder for you, isn't it?" Libby whispered.

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    Elle nodded and turned to bury her face against Libby's shoulder. "I don't know what I'm going to do."

    Jonas stepped closer and swept both sisters into his arms. "I'm sorry, Elle. I'd never make your life harder if I can help it. I can't stop being who I am, as much as I want to for you."

    Elle shot him a small smile. "I know you would, Jonas. I feel very lucky to have you in my family."

    Libby rubbed her sister's back as she watched Jonas slip out the door. The wind rushed in when he opened it so that the flames on the candles danced and flickered wildly,