"I like you, too." I gave her a kiss on top of her head. "Now, choose some accent blankets."
It took nearly two hours before we were finally able to pack away all the rejected items. The bedroom felt like a nest now and Liora was happy as a clam. The room had heavy curtains over gauzy ones depending on how much light we wanted to come in. Tiny fairy lights in the shape of little flowers twined around the bed's headboard, adding a whimsical look to a room that was full of varied shades of purple, with the occasional cream or black accent. Wall hangings depicted wooded scenes and full moons and magic and the bed was piled so high with cushions and pillows, I wasn't sure where we were going to sleep.
She had scented candles and massage oils and the hammock chair we'd sat in was hanging in the corner of the room so we could swing any time we liked.
"It's perfect!" Liora climbed up onto the bed and flopped backwards on it. "Don't you love it?"
"I love that it makes you happy," I told her honestly.
"So you're not happy in here?" She looked concerned. "We could give you the old nest, but I won't go in there."
"Liora, I'm happy anywhere you are," I told her. "This is exactly what it should be, a safe space for you."
"It smells like all of you," she said suddenly. "I can smell Finn, Aiden, Mace . . . and you."
"Well, everyone was working in here."
"Their scents don't bother me as much anymore," she confessed. "I kind of like it."
"That's good. Maybe they're starting to earn your trust back."
"I could sell their entire business out from under them. I could run it into the ground and make them poor again." She looked up at the ceiling. "I have the power now."
"You certainly do," Mace said from the doorway. "And I wanted to formally request that you allow us to court you."
"Court me?" She sat up, looking grumpy. "Why?"
"Because we love you and we want to see if we can make this work," Finn said from behind Mace.
Liora raised her eyebrows. "Honestly, you're still a long way from being trustworthy. Especially you, Mace."
"I know."
She stared at them for a long while before finally sighing. "Finn can court me. If he does well, Aiden can. And Mace, you might be allowed someday."
"That's all I ask."
I knew he was disappointed, but he tried not to show it. Not with Liora watching him so closely. He turned and left.
Finn walked up to the bed. "Liora. My first courting gift." He held out a small jewelry box that she carefully opened. Inside was a silver necklace with a tiny moon on it and three diamond stars on either side.
"It's beautiful." She smiled at him and I felt a small pang of jealousy.
I knew she needed these men, but part of me still wanted her for myself.
Liora turned on her knees and let Finn fasten the necklace around her neck. Then she turned to me, her fingers dancing over the silver moon and the stars. "Do you like it, Geo?"
"It suits your beauty." I leaned forward to capture her lips in a kiss. "I love you, baby."
"I love you, too." She kissed me back and a little satisfaction flowed through me, knowing the others couldn't do this yet. Not yet, but soon.
Chapter 29
Courting
Liora
Finn was the one courting me, but Aiden and Mace didn't slink off to pout in a corner like I'd anticipated. They seemed to step up their game. I never woke up without coffee and breakfast waiting for me in the kitchen and they treated Geo like he was already my bonded mate. It warmed my heart to see them include him in things.
