Title: Reading Selection

Theme: Warning

Pariring(s): Darius & Tempest

Summary: Darius can finally understand the torture that his older brother has endured when his loving sister-in-law decided to help his lifemate fend off boredom with a few books. Darius doesn't know which is more surprising, the character in the book…or the fact that Tempest is reading something other than a manual on cars.

Sorry for the long, hiatus guys! I'm working on a few pieces, but I started college too so it's a bit of a stop and go fashion. I have a collection of drabbles I'm doing for Skyler and Dimitri that I plan to have up soon, but I'm hesitant on them since…well I'm not sure who will like them. But I'm aiming to hit 100 prompts in Dark Reflection.

-.-.-.-

"I just don't get it!"

Darius lifted his head in regard to his lifemate. Hair wet from her evening bath, and wrapped in a heavy robe just for her comfort, she looked much too tense for a woman who had spent the better half of the night soaking away her discomfort. "Are you studying another manual again? I told you, Barack can handle the cars until you've recovered from child birth. I don't want you straining yourself."

She shot him a look that showed just how much she loved that idea. "First of all, Barack can't tell a transmission from a muffler if it came up and bit him where Syndil should kick him. Second of all, we've already discussed this. Once this baby's out, I get free reign."

"Within reason," Darius corrected without missing a beat. He rolled his shoulders, which was more like a sensual shiver, and turned his attention back to his map, plotting out the next tour the Dark Troubadours would be scheduled to attend. "Is that what is bothering you? If so, I believe that it's pretty clear now."

"Clear my—" Tempest bit her tongue and let out a slow hiss. Nope, she wasn't going to cuss. Nope, she wasn't hormonally challenged, not in the littlest bit. Her hand touched the swell of her stomach, rubbing the growing mound with a dark glare. "It is not clear, but that's not what I was talking about. I was talking about the book Savannah lent me."

Darius stilled his whole body freezing. He didn't so much as take a breath as he turned his whole body to face her. "Book?" His eyes sharpened, recalling a dark warning that Gregori had sent him but a few days before. "You're reading a book?"

"Yes, Darius. I read. I don't just read car manuals for fun. Sometimes I like a good book now and then," She gave him a quelling look, but thankfully did press the matter. Somehow, she had a feeling it was going to just lead them into another argument. Then again, an argument is the only bit of vigorous exercise he lets me do… She sighed. There was no winning when a woman was pregnant, was there?

Tempest gestured towards the book she held in her hand. "And since I'm stuck pregnant and doing nothing except sleeping and eating for the next few months, I asked Savannah to lend me a book. She let me borrow this series of books and she said that it would keep me busy. Something other than counting this kid's flips and spins in my womb."

He didn't like the look of it. Darius' eyes swept the cover, marking the brilliant red ribbon the crossed the front of the black cover. "Eclipse?" His mind tried to recall the one word Gregori had insisted all his brothers watch out for.

"its part of something called the Twilight series," Tempest shrug, completely unaware of the horrified look crossing her lifemate's face. "But I just don't understand it."

She tossed the book down onto one of the couch before splaying herself across one of them. Her red hair fanned around her face in wet tendrils, while her robe opened just enough to reveal that pale skin, Darius loved to watch so closely. But at the moment, his breath was sucked into his lungs.

"Sparkling vampires," He shuddered at the much thought.

"Didn't get that either," Tempest scrunched up her nose. "But what I didn't get was this main character! She's clumsy, crazy and completely unaware of the way she attracts danger!"

All thoughts of sparkling…and shirtless vampires vanished. Darius blinked, and the corner of his lips quirked up in a smile. "Oh?"

Tempest sighed dramatically. "She gives us girls a bad name! I mean, can't she just stop getting into trouble? The girl can't spend more than five minutes alone before she's off finding trouble one way or another."

"I can't imagine a female like that," He chuckled, leaning his chin into his palm.

"She's overly emotional, irrational and never being able to just shut up and do one thing to keep from getting her throat torn out! It's like she intentionally does all she can to go out of her way to cause the hero—That's Edward—a lot of trouble!"

"The poor man," Darius winced in sympathy, his smile only growing wider.

"She's crazy!" Temptest finished with a flourish of her hands. "And he's not that better. How can he love someone like her?"

"Perhaps there's something wrong with him," He pointed out with a budding smile. "Maybe he's a sick, masochistic—"

"Lion," Tempest finished for him.

"I would have said leopard," Darius shrugged. "But a lion works just as well."

"Leopard? Why a leopard? They don't have anything to do with this series. It's all about a love sick, clumsy girl with no sense of direction—"

Tempest stopped.

And that was all Darius could take.

"Y-You!" Tempest cursed violently, throwing her arms up as she struggled to roll to her feet. Darius' laughter only grew louder as she flailed helplessly. "Don't you laugh! Stop it, Darius! Stop it right now! It's not funny. I'm not clumsy! I'm not!"

"No matter," Darius spoke, his eyes dancing with laughter. "You still have a vampire that's terribly and sickeningly in love with you."

"You better be," Tempest slowed her movements, her cheeks flushing red. Grumbling she rolled to her side and picked up another book. Breaking Dawn, the cover read. "For what it's worth, I'd only be going through this pregnancy for you, Darius. Anyone else and I would have gelded them on the spot."

"My manhood and I thank you for that," Darius finished one last chuckle before getting up to press a chaste kiss to her temple. Carefully he slipped the book away from her grasp and dangled it between his fingers. "But I think I'd better take a look at this clumsy, directionally challenged female and her masochistic vampire."

"Or we both could read it together," She smirked. "Y'know…together? It might be what we need to get rid of my pregnancy jitters."

Grinning, Darius slipped beside her on the couch, carefully supporting her weight against his chest. He chuckled, his chin brushing the crown of her head while he cracked open the book. Together the two of them spent the better part of the night reading each chapter to help wash away the coming pressure of their newborn child.

By the end of the night, it was needless to say that only one thing happened:

Tempest's fear doubled and Darius had no choice but to burn Breaking Dawn.