Vex’s scent fills my senses, the warmth of him at my back. “You good, babe?”
Turning I stare into his handsome face, searching his eyes. “I’m perfect. Thank you.”
“No need to thank me. Probably do need to thank Damian and Justice because they worked a miracle in here,” Vex says, eyes roving around the room like mine had.
“Well, itisthe Prophet’s house. Miracles happen here I guess.”
Vex snorts before letting out a booming laugh. “I’ll let my sister know you think she worked a miracle sending the Prophet to his maker. Come on, let’s go see what other miracles the prospects have worked.”
We take the girl’s hands again and Vex leads the way down the hall. He peeks into one door, then spins on his heels, staring at me and the girls. “Well, I’m not sure I can let you go in there.” He throws his thumb over his shoulder.
“Why not? What’s wrong? Is it still tainted?” I whisper the last word over the girls’ curly heads.
Vex shakes his head, wide eyed. “Oh no, it’s not tainted. The prospects have done a good job. A little too good. They’ll never go to sleep tonight.”
“What do you mean? Is that our room?” Bree asks, shaking Vex’s hand. Addy shifts nearer to me, curling into my side.
Vex lets out a breath. “Yes it is your room. But if I let you peek in there, do you promise to go to sleep tonight and not stay up playing and singing and dancing?”
Bree frowns at him, then at me, then at her sister.
“Vex, stop being dramatic and let the girls see their new room.” I roll my eyes at his over the top behavior. It’s amusing, but how bad can this room be?
He moves aside and lets the girls move closer to the door. Bree grips her sister’s hand, pushes the door open a crack and then lets out an ear splitting squeal. She tugs Addy forward, who repeats exactly what her sister just did before they rush into the room, squealing and giggling.
Vex leans in the doorway with a soft look on his face, the glow of the room casting a warm light over his dark features. I move closer, peeking through the door at the twins losing their minds.
“Holy fucking shit.”
Vex bursts into laughter at my cursing but there are no other words to describe what I am seeing.
The girls have a loft bed each with tulle canopies coming down from the ceiling and fairy lights woven through. There’s a small staircase to climb up into their beds, and slides to get down from them. The space beneath the tall beds has been decorated with books, more fairy lights and fluffy, poofy floor cushions. On the other side of the room is a small stage with a large screen TV and what looks to be a karaoke machine. There are little dressing tables in the window with lights around the mirror like you see in movies. They even have a dress up rack filled with princess dresses, some super hero outfits, even animal costumes. There’s a tall doll house, a net hanging from the ceiling full of stuffies, two hammocks and a huge fluffy pink rug. The walls are decorated in soft pinks and greens, with unicorns and fairies and the whole room is lit up with a light beaming stars onto the ceiling.
I stare from the girls climbing into their beds and sliding down, to Vex, his beaming smile pointed directly at me.
“How on earth did two people, no, not just people, twomenwho have no children, do all of this in what? Two days?”
“I have no idea babe, but I really want to find out.”
“Yes, do. Because one day, when I have a house, I want them to decorate it.”
He laughs, but I mean it. Those men did good. Better than good. If the MC is looking for businesses, getting those men into interiors would have them earning money hand over fist.
Vex’s hand rests on my lower back as he leans in, “Our room is down the hall. Only one bed sweetheart. Will you be OK with that? I can sleep on the floor if you like.”
I haven’t slept with a man since Blanche, no, Vex, freed me from Goodson. I haven’t thought about ever sleeping with a man again. But this is Vex, not any man. I know that he will respectmy space and my needs. It’s a huge step for me, going from a twin bed to a queen with another person, but if today has proven anything, it’s that life has twists and turns and I should grab on and enjoy the ride.
“I, um, I think I will be OK if you want to sleep in the bed too. But I won’t be able to do any-”
“Shh, no, Loyal, look at me. That’s not what this is about. It’s not what I want. Maybe one day if you want it too, but tonight and tomorrow and for however many days after you want to just sleep, we will sleep.”
I swallow, nodding as his kind eyes bore into mine.
“But just be warned, I can be a bit of a cuddler.” He grins. My heart drops into my stomach thinking about him with lots of other women. Beautiful women. “Well, that’s what Omen told me, anyway.”
“Huh? Your brother?” I frown, trying to make sense of what he’s telling me.
“Yeah. When we were first kicked out we managed to get a day job laboring for a farmer. The money we made was enough to rent a room for a night. There was only one bed so we all had to bunk down together. Apparently I’m a cuddler.” He shrugs as if his story didn’t just break my heart.
