“On you it would probably work, but don’t rush into anything there, killer.” Aeson gives the perfect specimen of a man a long, appraising look, and I’m not even mad at her for it.
Gunnar responds by grabbing the remote and turning on the TV, then he shoves his hand back into his bag of candy, perfectly content.
Chapter 30
Three years later
A giggle eruptsdown the hall. Nyxie is playing hide and seek with Cece. I can see the evidence of her wet footprints on the carpet. “You win again.” I drop my cards on the table. Uncle, who I now know was only ever allowing me to win, takes his marbles.
I hear heavy footfalls rushing behind me, then a squeal when Calix roars at the girls. Nyxie bounds into my lap, panting and still giggling. I grunt but wrap my arms around her little body. Cece pokes her head around the corner. No matter how many times we remind her she’s safe here and free to roam about, she still mostly keeps to the shadows.
“I hungry.” Nyx pouts.
“When aren’t you?” I stand and hoist her onto my hip then tickle her little belly. I have no idea where she puts all the food. I’m pretty sure she has the same metabolism as her daddy, and no matter what she ate, she would still be perfect.
Nyxie laughs, tossing her head back so I can see her blunt little teeth, some of her molars have come in and she loves to bite. I think she gets that from her dad too.
“Cece, want a snack?” I don’t look in her direction. The attention makes her even more shy. I hear the plodding of her wet feet as we make our way into the kitchen.
I have a few candles burning on the counter so it’s not too bright. Cece hops up onto the stool next to the one I placed Nyx on. Uncle is looming in the hall. My fearless little lady waves him in and demands, “Come, Uncle. Snacks.”
She has way more control over him than I ever did. He slinks into the kitchen at her summoning. “What do you want? An apple, grapes, yogurt?” My fridge looks much different than it once did. Most of the garbage has been replaced with healthier snacks.
“Chocolate sammich.” Nyx smacks her lips as if she can already taste it. I make it a point to look around as if I’m searching for her fathers and bring my finger up to my lip to shush her. But she knows I’m a push over and will give her adorable little face anything she wants. Hell, she has everyone she’s ever met wrapped around her perfect little finger. I guess that’s what happens when you’re born half angel.
“How about for you, Cece?”
“Can I have something crunchy?” Her voice is as soft as a butterfly wing.
“You got it.” I make her a plate of carrots and cucumbers with a side of dip and add a handful of chips.
Calix slinks into the kitchen, his eyes bright. He’s been playing hide and seek with the girls for the last hour. “You didn’t even tell me it was snack time.” He frowns at Nyx, who looks completely unrepentant.
“It’s snack time.”
Calix scrubs his hand over the top of her white-blonde hair. “A little late now.” He chuckles as she bats his hand away. “You shouldn’t be eating anyway. It’s almost time for bed.”
I slide Nyx’s Nutella sandwich with the crusts cut off in front of her, and she pounces on it as if she hasn’t eaten in days. Her appetite is all Calix and Gunnar.
Calix leans against the counter and gives me a grin that usually means he’s up to something. Either that or he’s about to extort me for sexual favors since I got caught giving Nyx a sugar-loaded snack. I’m not even sorry, especially with the way his eyes are warming to molten gold.
Calix drops a kiss onto the top of Nyx’s head and tells her, “Finish up your snack, and I’ll put a movie on for you two. You’ll never fall asleep after eating that.”
She peers up at him with smears of chocolate on her cheeks and big eyes. “Addam’s Family,” she bargains.
“Sure.” He sighs as if he’s doing her a favor. She’s watched the movie a hundred times, but I’m sure it feels more real to her than Disney princess movies do. The girls finish up quickly, and Calix helps Nyx down from the stool.
“I’ll be back for you in a minute,” he warns me, looking over his shoulder.
“Promises, promises,” I singsong. The moment Calix disappears with Nyx and Cece, so does Uncle, fading into the darkened hallway as if he travels in the shadows.
Calix is only gone for about five minutes before I feel him come up behind me. He molds his front to my back and cages me in against the counter. “I can’t believe you got away so fast.” I turn so I can see him. I let my eyes travel over his features. He looks exactly the same as the first time I saw him—light hair, long and a little wild, with hazel eyes that shift in the light to a beautiful amber. He’s devilishly handsome and all mine.
“I have my ways,” he damn near purrs, but he makes it sound much more appealing.
“Who did you bribe to watch them?” I run my finger over his chest, enjoying the way his pupils dilate.
“There was no bribing.” He lowers his head and nuzzles his nose against mine. “Someone volunteered,” he whispers across my lips.
