Page 9 of Stroke of Luck

“Dearest, it’s not like you will be that far away from her, being in my room,” I remind him, unsure why I’m supporting his growing interest.

Paolo stands and walks over to me, running his hand down my chest with a smirk. “Should we make her jealous?”

“Knock it off you two, you’re going to make her uncomfortable doing that,” Giorgio grumbles as he walks past us, knocking into Paolo. “Who’s to say she’s even interested in you, since you’re a package deal?”

My brows shoot up in surprise that Giorgio would come right out and say that. It’s no secret that we like to share a woman from time to time, but Giorgio is a romantic and borderline prude when it comes to intimacy. Giorgio falls hard and fast for the women he sleeps with, and is crushed every time when all they want is to get close to Othello. I know he has no clue about the marriage arrangement, and if he’s growing feelings for Skyler, then this could push him over the edge.

“Why don’t you let her speak for herself? As we’ve seen tonight, she is more than able to,” Paolo shoots back as they both turn to look at Skyler.

I grin when I see her ignoring the two of them and pretending to look at the charm on her dreadlock. “Hmm? I’m sorry, were you actually talking to me this time? I wasn’t sure.”

A bark of laughter bursts out of Remo, shocking us all, but just as quickly as it happened, it vanishes from his face.

“That’s it, the world is ending—Remo just laughed,” Paolo says, turning on his heel and heading up the stairs. “I’m going before any other strange happenings can occur. You coming, my king?”

“I’ll be up in a moment,” I answer, not wanting to leave Skyler to wander in the house alone. Knowing her, she would stumble upon something that would get her killed or some other type of danger.

Giorgio follows him up, but he keeps glancing over his shoulder at Remo, as if to make sure he doesn’t miss it if he laughs again.

“It would seem I’ve accomplished some magical feat,” Skyler muses, looking between the two of us. “What about my comment made you laugh?”

Remo combs a hand through his hair, the only tell he has when he’s uncomfortable. “Those two are the ones who score the most out of all of us—not for lack of interest, but because they seek it. I think that was the first time I’ve ever seen the two of them shot down at the same time by a woman they were trying to persuade. That was just as much of a magic trick as hearing me laugh, and well worth the effort.”

Only someone who knows him as well as I do would see the glint of respect and the softening in his body towards her. I know from personal experience how easy it is to get wrapped up in the woman that is Skyler, but for her to have caused all my brothers to take interest was something else.

I have no clue what Remo’s deal is with the opposite sex. Women seek him out for his dark and brooding ways, but he always seems to turn them down. He’s never paid for girls, at least that Paolo knows about, and I know for a fact that he isn’t interested in men… though not for lack of Paolo trying. The only time I’ve seen him interact with a woman in a sexual way is when Othello needed his assistance in the playroom. Remo is an enigma in every way, and that’s the way he likes it.

“You know what I think the problem is with you guys? There’s no color in your life. You live in a house where the walls are white and boring and the art is old and depressing. It keeps you guys from finding anything to enjoy about being here. Everything is so formal and uptight there’s no possible way for you all to relax,” Skyler reasons, waving her hand at the room around us. “Just picture a soft blue on the walls and some bright yellow cushions on the couch… which is also white, I might add. This room has an amazing view, but no one wants to be in here with how stuffy it is.”

Remo and I both look around the room, trying to picture it like she does, but neither of us have an artistic bone in our bodies.

“This is the room we’re always in,” I protest.

“You’re missing the point! All I have seen is black, white, and gold. You guys even dress that way! It’s like you’ve taken on the house’s persona or something.”

“Othello had a designer come in and deal with all that,” Remo says, waving off her accusations. “Enough with this. Go to bed, we will deal with your crazy talk tomorrow.”

Little do they know that when Skyler gets her teeth around something, she never lets it go. I have no doubt that before her time is done in this house, it will be full of color and chaos.

“Just you wait, Remo, I’ll prove I’m right. I might even get you to wear something that isn’t black,” Skyler taunts.

“Never going to happen,” Remo growls as he pulls her up from the chair and herds her up the stairs. “Go, before I decide to make you stay in my room just to make sure you don’t do anything foolish to the house.”

Skyler looks up at him, grinning. “Doesn’t sound so bad to me—you look like a good time.”

Hearing Skyler’s words, I trip up the last few steps in my shock. Skyler is no virgin, and she’s always been more free with her sexual adventures, but for her to make a move on Remo is surprising. He’s not the type of man she’d typically go for—far too serious.

“To bed. Now,” Remo orders, his already deep voice dropping further in his effort to control Skyler.

“Rain check then?” Skyler winks and blows him a kiss as she adds a little extra swish to her walk.

Groaning, Remo turns his back to her and looks at me. “Has she always been this wild? I don’t understand how she’s still alive with her recklessness.”

“Just wait, this is only the beginning.”

“So you gonna lock me in here, Enzie?” I ask as I flop onto the bed. “You know, so I don’t escape or anything.”

When Enzo doesn’t answer, I sit up to make sure he’s still there and nearly smash my face into his. When did he get so close? His eyes flick down to my lips as I let out a gasp of surprise. I’d expected him to step back and give me space, but he doesn’t. I can feel his breath on my skin, making it extremely hard to remember he’s in a relationship, no matter the jokes Paolo’s made.