Page 26 of Bailey-Rose: The Complete Duet

The drive was shorter than I expected, but then again, everyone was at work. When we pulled up to the house, I was impressed to see it was set back from the street with lots of trees around the property, providing some privacy. My first sight of the house had me intrigued. The home was wildly modern, looking as if a child with building blocks put it together. With so many shapes stacked on top of each other, I didn’t have a clue what to expect inside. Ulysses pulled up to a row of garage doors that all began to open, allowing the four cars to park. There were three more already in the bays, making me curious who had a second vehicle. By the looks of them, they were probably fun cars, not something you drove every day.

I managed to get out of Ulysses’ car without any mishaps. Then again, being a more normal four-door car, I wasn’t at risk of falling out of it like before.

“Come with me, kitten,” Vili urged as he grabbed my hand and hurried out of the garage. “You need the full experience, so the front door is best.”

His excitement was infectious, so I let him take the lead as we climbed the five steps to the front door, or doors since there were two. Vili typed in a code, and the door gave a cheerful chime as it unlocked. Turning both handles at once, Vili shoved them open, revealing the main entryway. The space was open and bright with many windows to ensure the home was filled with light. Stepping into the foyer, I saw a curved staircase on either side leading to the second floor.

“Welcome to your new home, my sweet kitten,” Vili announced, tossing his arms wide in a grand gesture. “Come, I show you all the rooms. First, we have main room or, as you call it, the living room.”

Taking a step down from the tiled entryway into the living room with lush carpet, I stared up at the vaulted ceiling with three rows of windows, making it seem like there was no wall at all. A massive flat-screen television hung on the wall over the fireplace. Before it was two sectional sofas, creating a U-shape with a large stone coffee table. This whole home screamed that men lived here, but I had to say they did a decent job decorating it. Green plants scattered around the space, and when I ran a finger over a fuzzy-looking leaf, I knew it was real.

“Come, come,” Vili called, waving me to join him. “Formal dining, which we don’t use, but I think that will change now we have you. Then behind this door is one of my favorite rooms.”

Walking through the door he held open, I found myself in a stunning kitchen set up with all state-of-the-art appliances in all stainless steel. The room bowed out in a crescent moon, allowing space for a breakfast nook. It was also where the patio doors were, giving you access to the paved brick area with a table and lounge chairs. I spotted a grill as well, making me wonder if the guys or the cook they hired used it.

Unable to linger longer, I was whisked off to the next room, which turned out to be a library with a pool table. There was also a small bar set up with various bottles of liquor and the tools to make any drink you could think of. It makes sense since Warrick is a bartender as well as a bar owner. So far, this room felt the most lived in, like they actually spent time in here with each other.

I was soon on my way upstairs where, at the top, it opened up to another living room. Comfy overstuffed couches and armchairs were arranged, with windows on three sides of the room to make it inviting. The view of the backyard was stunning, and it made me so happy that whoever built this house made an effort to appreciate it.

“Our rooms are down either hall,” Vili pointed to the right. “This side is Ulysses, Gareth, and one open room. The other side is Warrick, Yun, and me.”

I frowned. “Lysse said there were two rooms for me to pick from.”

“Yes, the second choice is up,” he answered, pointing to the ceiling. “First, I think you should see the room here, then we go see the other.”

With a shrug, I followed him to the end of the hall. He opened the door and ushered me forward as he flipped on the light. The room was empty save for a few boxes stacked along one wall. It was painted a light gray color that matched the hallway with white trim. I wasn’t all that impressed with the room until Vili pulled back the curtains on one wall. This wasn’t just a giant window—the whole wall was made of glass, giving you a breathtaking view of the backyard. Now I could see why they’d think an Omega would appreciate this space.

“What do you think, Care Bear?” Warrick asked as he joined us, the others following on his heels. “There is a connecting bathroom as well. In fact, all the rooms have their own en suite. It’s one of the reasons we loved this house so much.”

I turned slowly, taking in the space and trying to picture it with more color, plus lots of pillows and blankets. It was a beautiful room, and I could turn it into something spectacular, but I wasn’t fully convinced.

“It’s really lovely. The wall of glass is everything I could hope for in a space. However, I think I should see the other option before settling,” I shared.

“Would you do me the honor of escorting you?” Yun-Sun asked, offering me his hand.

Blushing, I placed my hand in his, allowing him to guide me down the hall to the opposite end of the house. There wasn’t a room on this side, but instead, another flight of stairs that led up to what I would have guessed to be the roof. Yun-Sun glanced at me over his shoulder as he turned the door handle to the room, making me giddy with excitement. Tossing it open, I was momentarily blinded by the sun as its light poured over me.

I trusted Yun-Sun to guide me into the space since I rubbed my eyes to get them to stop watering. Then a shadow crossed over me, and I was able to get my senses under control. Carefully, I opened them to find Yun-Sun looming over me, using his body to give me shade. Most of the time, I found being so short irritating, but right now, I don’t think I ever felt more cherished.

Before I could second-guess myself, I popped up on my toes, closed the small space between us, and kissed him. “Thank you,” I whispered.

A bright smile appeared on Yun-Sun’s face, making his eyes sparkle. “You are most welcome, sweetheart. Will you be all right if I move?”

Biting my lip, I nodded, feeling shy at the moment we were sharing over something so simple as the sun. What I wasn’t prepared for when he stepped to the side was the sight of the world’s most perfect room. Gasping, I covered my mouth with my hands as I slowly turned, trying to take in everything. As a little girl, I always dreamed about what my nest would be like, how I wanted to design it, what color it would be, or what I would fill it with to make me feel cozy and safe.

Nothing I came up with matched the beauty I was surrounded by in here.

At first glance, you would think this space was supposed to be a greenhouse or a sunroom with the way it was constructed. The fact that my feet were sinking into the plush carpet that covered the floor gave me the first clue. It was so soft and luxurious I wanted to lay down and starfish on it so I could touch as much of it as possible. A shimmering chandelier hung from the center of the ceiling and cast prisms all over the room like shimmering fairy dust. The ceiling came to a point almost like a circus tent, but it was made of glass held together by white wooden seams in a pattern that reminded me of a beach ball. Three of the four walls were also glass with elegant woodwork forming the arching centers, making a bold statement. Gauzy curtains were gathered in the corners of the room, willing to offer some privacy. However, with the way it sat behind the house’s main structure, you couldn’t see it from the driveway, and the trees blocked any nearby house from peeking in.

Dumbfounded by the space, I couldn’t even speak as I passed the guys to check out the two doors in the room’s solid wall. One opened to the bathroom with double sinks, a massive shower, and a hot tub pretending to be a bath sunk into the floor. The second door revealed a closet about the same size as mine at home with all sorts of storage. It was perfect—every single detail about this room was absolutely fucking perfect.

When I rejoined the others, they looked at me with hope and excitement, making me realize they’d been waiting for my reaction. The only thing I could do was let out a sob as I tried to express what I was feeling. Their expression changed to worry as they circled me, trying to offer reassurance, not knowing what upset me.

“Baby girl, if you don’t like either of the rooms, then you can have your pick of ours. Please don’t cry. If we need, we’ll move and find a home we all love,” Gareth assured me as he stroked my hair.

I hated when I got overwhelmed—my body’s first response was to cry.

Happy—cry.