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This is home. My estate since my father was murdered.
And soon it will be Tally’s home. Because not one damn thing is ever taking her away from me. I let her leave last night to take care of business but that will never happen again.
CHAPTER7
Tally
Ican’t stop staring, my eyes wandering over the huge hall that leads from the gigantic front door that looks like it would take a giant to open it.
The man who does is not a giant but he doesn’t disappoint. He’s dressed all in black and his salt and pepper hair and muscles upon muscles are very deceptive. This man is not just a butler. Not just a servant.
He’s family. Xavier’s family. Which makes him dangerous as hell.
His cold blue eyes barely blink as he lets us in. Then Xavier takes my hand and leads me to the back of the mansion. That’s the only way to describe the giant house. The hall and the huge winding staircase are white marble with silver and gray veins running through the alabaster. The hand railings on the giant staircase are a deep, dark espresso that contrasts vividly with all the white flooring. The walls are a soft, shimmering dove gray. The chandelier overhead sparkles brilliantly, sending cascading beams of light shattering all around the room.
It’s stunning. And this is only the first room.
Xavier pulls me into an anteroom that is the size of my whole damn apartment. This room is cluttered with dainty little tables in a deep chocolate color. Little crystal figurines dance on almost every surface and my eyes dart around the room.
He grins when I can’t stop staring. “This was my mother’s room. She loved crystal figurines and my father indulged her excessively maybe. He hasn’t changed a thing since she died.”
A sliver of grief darts through his sapphire-blue gaze. “He hadn’t changed a thing. I guess it’s all mine now. I could change it but I doubt that I will. Or at least until you decide if you want to change anything.”
My head whips up. “What the hell do you mean by that?”
He helps me to an antique loveseat just like one I’ve seen in museums. The soft blue fabric is smooth and cool to the touch when I sit down. He sits beside me, holding my hand and not letting me get away from him. Even when I tug at my hand, his warm, calloused palm refuses to let me go.
I stop moving and glare at him. He just winks at me and I feel my belly flip over.
“You know what I mean, dove.”
I straighten my shoulders. “I do not.”
“Well then, you haven’t been paying attention.” He pulls at me until I’m sitting on his lap, flushing, my eyes darting around at the other occupants of the room. Nobody seems to be paying the least attention to me. Petal is standing by the fireplace and she’s arguing heatedly with the massive man who was with us. Victor, I think. The other man from the door has left the room.
“What are you doing?” I hiss angrily, wriggling to try and get off his lap. Instead of letting me go this time, he wraps both his arms around me and cinches me to his hard body. His hot as fire blue eyes drift down my body, caressing every curve like they belong to him.
“I’m watching what’s mine. Taking care of what’s mine.”
“Honestly.” I roll my eyes. “I don’t belong to you or any other man.”
“If you think so.” He shrugs his broad shoulders and I can’t help but follow the movement, my mouth drying out. “You can think what you want. For right now. But I’ll do my level best to change your mind. I’ll do my level best to make sure that you know this is where you belong. I’m who you belong with.”
“I’m so sorry about your father.” His eyes soften again.
“I’m sorry too, baby. I wish my father had gotten to meet you before he was killed. He would have loved you.”
Shaking my head, I roll my shoulders and sigh. “I’m sure that’s not true. I’m just an ordinary woman. Nothing special.”
“You remind me of my mother,” he says. “She was a strong, independent woman except around my father. When she was with him, she knew that he would keep her safe so she stood beside him but she let him take care of things. Let him lead her.”
I open my mouth to ask him more about her but right then I hear Petal yell, “I told you what I saw, dammit! I just want to go home.”
The big guy grumbles under his breath at her and whatever he said, it wasn’t what she wanted to hear because she stomps off and out the door.
“Are they okay?”
Nodding, he watches Victor follow her out of the room, his big back stiff and solid.
