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I nodded. “I could use the stress release.”
Alex had gotten into painting as an outlet for her trauma. It was a suggestion from her therapist. And since I still wasn’t feeling like myself, Alex talked all of us into seeing a doctor.
We spoke about Alex and my mother, about how much I loved painting but wasn’t allowed to pursue it because of my father.
Dad was just happy to have me back. He didn’t even protest when I resigned as the leader of Alpha Command and trained my replacement without asking him. Even Luca was on board with my new role within the family. So if I wanted to paint, they wouldn’t stop me.
I no longer cared what anyone thought.
Alex rose from the chair. “I’ve been waiting for this day for a long time. What changed your mind?”
I gripped her hip and pulled her closer. “I don’t have to pretend to be someone else anymore.”
“You never hid from me.” Her hands slid up my chest. “I always saw you for what you are. An artist.” She rubbed her red-glossed lips. “Like calls to like.”
“What are you working on?”
She glanced over her shoulder at the canvas. “Something for my gallery showing. I still have one more painting to go. Wanna help me?”
I bobbed my head. “I am your humble servant.”
Alex giggled and tugged on my hand, leading me to the canvas. She told me which colors she needed, and I refilled the pallet and handed it to her.
Alex twirled the brush between her fingers, eyes on me. “I have a better idea. How about you paint me?”
I raised a curious eyebrow. “What do you have in mind?”
“Paint me how you see me.” A smile touched her eyes. “Real art comes from emotion, expression. Let your creativity guide you.”
I loved when she looked at me like I was the center of her universe. She believed in me more than anyone else in this world. And I loved her even more because of it. No matter what, Alex never gave up on me.
I still wasn’t feeling like myself.
A few nights, I woke up with my hand around her throat, pinning her to the bed. I was lost in a nightmare, convinced she was the enemy. Not until she screamed my name did I snap out of it. The sound of her voice was enough to bring me back to reality.
She didn’t get mad.
Quite the opposite.
“Take off your dress.”
She started wearing dresses once she hit the third trimester. Alex said other clothes didn’t feel right on her body.
I placed a new canvas on the easel and prepared the paint selection. Alex’s dress hit the floor by my feet.
Resting her elbow on the arm of the chair, she put her fist under her chin and stared at me. “You like watching me work. But I enjoy moments like this one with you. You look at peace when it’s just us in this studio.”
I sat in front of the easel, my eyes on her beautiful body. “That’s how I feel when I’m with you.”
Alex wet her lips with her tongue. “I love that I have something special with each of you. Sometimes, it must be hard for the four of you to share me.”
I dipped a rigger brush into black paint. “At first, it was hard. We wanted you all to ourselves. But this relationship only works with the five of us.”
“Yeah,” she agreed. “It does. And I’m glad because I don’t think I would have been able to choose between you.”
I traced the outline of her body on the canvas. “Who are you kidding, princess? You would have picked me.”
She giggled, readjusting her position on the chair. “So confident.”
