Eighteen
The house was dark and quiet when Maddox finally got home. The whole ordeal made him feel wrung out, but he wasn’t scared. He exhaled, trying to let go of it all. There was nothing else for him to do right now.
He gazed at Erin, asleep on the couch. She was here. Safe. She’d waited. She hadn’t acted the way he expected the entire night. Especially when she told Jaris it was over and came back to him, where people could see, too.
He stared at her for a moment. He should leave her alone, but she’d asked him to wake her. He crouched down next to the couch and rubbed her shoulder. She sighed and opened her eyes.
“Why are you on the couch? You’ll get a kink in your neck.”
“Mel took your folk’s room. I stayed up, scanning the news for a while. I don’t think I’ve been asleep very long.”
“You should be in my bed.”
She smiled and stretched a little. “Innuendo?”
“Fact.”
He scooped her up and carried her to his room. She leaned her head on his shoulder. He could feel how tired she was. He laid her down. Her gaze stayed on him as he took off his coat and shirt. She hadn’t said it, he reminded himself, and Mel was in the other room. He took off his shoes and threw on a T-shirt before lying down next to her.
She snuggled next to him, her head pillowed on his arm and her hand rested over his heart. It was so easy. So natural, as if there was nothing between them and never had been.
“Was it terrible at Fortress? Were you scared?” she asked.
“It was fine. What I expected. I wasn’t scared. I was a bit nervous. I would have said more, but Redge told me to keep it quick.”
“You did great. I watched it. I think people will believe you.”
“People always believe the worst,” he sighed.
“I know that. It will work itself out.”
“I only care what you feel. What you believe.”
“Then you have nothing to worry about.”
He looked at her. He wanted to push her to say it. He felt he could, and it would work. Because of that, he didn’t.
She yawned and closed her eyes. He had her with him, and Jaris was out of the picture. That was enough. For now.
He woke early to clattering noise in the kitchen. He kissed Erin on the forehead and pulled his arm out from under her. She rolled over but didn’t wake. He closed the door quietly as he left the bedroom.
Mel was pouring herself a huge mug of coffee. Her hair was all over, and she was rumpled from sleeping in the dress she wore to the club.
“Morning, sunshine," he smiled.
She gave him a dirty look over the rim of her mug. “Don’t talk to me until I have at least three more gulps of this,” she ordered.
He sat at the counter and continued to grin at her. She drank half of her coffee, then her eyes started to grow alert. She poured another mug and set it in front of him.
“Thanks.”
“Helluva night, M. You okay?”
“I’m fine. Actually, I’m better than I’ve been in a long time.”
“Because of Erin?”
He nodded and took a drink.
“Quite the girl you’ve got there. You should have seen the way she maneuvered Kendrick out of here. I didn’t even have to resort to violence.”
“I’m sorry to hear that,” he chuckled.
“Are you done with him finally?”
“Yes. And now that things have changed, we don’t have to pose as a couple anymore.”
“Good! It’s exhausting hanging off your arm. You’re really quite disgusting.”
“I feel the same way about you, hag.”
She laughed and winked at him. “You know I love you, M.”
“I love you, too. I can’t thank you enough for everything you’ve done for me the last few days.”
“You have to lend Erin to me sometimes for girl stuff. We’ve made friends.”
“I’m glad. Your approval of her makes my life easier.”
She finished her coffee and put the mug in the sink. “I’m going home. Call me if you need anything. I’m still on standby till things are all good again.”
“Stay alert. The killer is still out there. You’re probably on their list.”
“I’ll just hide behind my mommy’s big, scary arm.”
He laughed. “That works.”
“Open a portal for me. I don’t want to walk.”
Mel hugged him before going through the portal he opened for her. So much was all wrong. But he was alone with Erin now. He should make her breakfast, he decided. He wasn’t as awesome as his father in the kitchen, but he could manage.
As he started cooking, his mind moved to the future. What should he do with his life, besides share it with Erin? He needed to work. And if she decided to stay with him, they needed their own place. He needed to get to know her better. What did she like? Where would she want to live?
She came out, rubbing her eyes and yawning, right as he was setting the table. She blinked at him, then she focused on the table. “I love waffles. Did you make that?”
He nodded and pulled the chair out for her. She sat and pushed her tousled hair back from her face.
“I’m starving. Thank you.”
“You’re welcome.” He sat across from her, immediately plunged into a fantasy of doing this every morning together.
He smiled as her eyes popped and she wiped a trace of whip cream from her lip with her finger. “Wow. This is awesome. You really made this?”
“It’s not a big deal.”
“I love it. It’s so good,” she continued to eat.
“Will you spend the day with me again?” he asked.
“Umm…okay. What did you have in mind?”
“Will you show me where you work? You haven’t even told me what you do.”
Her smile filled her eyes and struck at his heart. He’d never seen her smile like that.
“We can totally do that.” She finished eating and headed back to his room. He followed her. “I’m going to run home and change. I’ll be right back. Don’t over dress, okay? Be as casual as your flashy wardrobe will allow, please.”
“Okay. And stop hating on my clothes.”
She kissed him quickly. “Not a chance.” Then she went through the portal on the wall.
He looked in his closet and pursed his lips. He had casual clothes. He threw on some jeans, a T-shirt, and a pair of sneakers, and left it at that. He messed with his hair for a minute and waited for her to get back.
She was faster than he anticipated, coming back through the portal, a happy energy coming from her. His heart swelled. She was happy, that’s how he wanted her, always.
“Am I casual enough?” he asked.
“Yes. Thank you. Are you ready to go?”
“Where are we going?”
“Halussis. I work in the Onyx castle.”
“You’re kidding.”
She shook her head. “Nope.”
“How did I never see you there?”
“I don’t know. Fate?”
He shook his head, amazed, and opened another portal directly into the castle. They landed in the entry hall. She led the way to the west wing and up to Journey’s area. His mind clicked into place as he followed her. Did she work with Journey?
She opened a door and jumped into the room. “HA!” she said loudly.
“Erin! Erin! Erin’s back! Get her!” Little voices yelled, and she was swarmed by kids.
He followed her in and closed the door behind him. He stood against the wall and watched her get on the floor with the kids, who obviously adored her. A little hand tugged at his leg. He looked down into the darling face of a little girl gazing up at him with wide brown eyes.
“Maddox, Maddox…”
She knew who he was regardless that she was probably only five. He squatted down next to her.
“Hi, beautiful. What’s your name?”
“Alora. Will you marry me?”
He chuckled. “Oh, I would, but I’ve already found my girl.”
Her little mouth formed an O. “Who?”
“Erin.”
Alora looked over at Erin, her eyes getting wider. “You love Erin?”
“I do.” It was out of his mouth before he could think.
“That’s a good choice,” the tike said wisely.
“I think so, now I just have to convince her to love me back.”
“You think she doesn’t?”
“I think she might like me a little, but I want more.”
Alora leaned in conspiratorially. “I’ll help you,” she whispered loudly. “I’ll talk to her. She listens to me.”
“Thanks.”
Erin crawled over to him on her hands and knees, two kids on her back, giggling. He’d never wanted to kiss her so badly.
“All right, get off. You’re killing me,” she told the kids.
They tumbled off.
“So this is where I work.”
“It fits. So you wrestle with them all day?”
She got to her feet and pushed her hair out of her face. “No. I wish. I do that during my breaks. I review case files and try to pair them with adoptive parents.”
He looked over the room, his face falling. “They’re all orphans?”
“Yes.”
The little girl Alora grabbed onto Erin’s leg then. “I need to talk to you! It’s urgent!” she said.
“Urgent, huh?” Erin smiled down at her.
“Oh man,” he chuckled. “I think that’s my cue to go see my grandfather for a while or something.”
“Good idea,” Alora told him. “Girl talk.”
He snickered and backed out of the room. He leaned against the wall for a moment, listening to the sounds of the kids coming through the door. Erin stuck her head out a minute later. She came out and stood beside him.
“Slick, getting Alora to talk to me,” she chuckled.
“I did not orchestrate that,” he said emphatically. “Don’t tell me what she said. I’m embarrassed enough.”
“I’ve got something I need to look at here. It might take me a few hours. Why don’t you take off, and I’ll meet you later? I know I’ll be safe here.”
“Okay. Message me when you’re done?”
“I will. Sorry. I just need to do this.”
He shook his head. “That’s fine. Thanks for showing me a little of what you do. I hope you’ll tell me more about it later.”
He took her hand and raised it to his lips. Her expression sobered. It jerked him up short.
“What?”
She shook herself. “No, it’s nothing. I’ll see you later.” She pulled the door open again and was swallowed back into the mayhem of the kids.
Why had she looked at him like that? His heart flinched. Was he going to lose her after all? He rubbed his hand over his heart. What had he done wrong? He hung his head and stalked off down the hall.
“Maddox!”
Her voice stopped him. He turned to see her jogging down the hall toward him.
Before he could ask her anything she plowed into him, fusing her mouth to his. She pulled back pressing her hand to his chest. “Don’t’ feel like that. Okay?”
“Whatever you say.”
She kissed him again and headed back the way she came. “I’ll see you later.”
He stared after her. She was paying attention to his feelings. Only he didn’t feel better. He hadn’t realized how uneven they were until then. She took care of orphans, giving them love and finding them homes. She really was too good for him. He couldn’t be enough for her… This was taking too long for him. He needed to know more about her. There was only one place he knew he could get the information he was after.
Maddox opened a portal back to her house. It was time he really got to know her father.
Erin finished the paperwork. She’d done it. The twins’ adoption would be finalized tomorrow. They would have a home and parents. They would be loved again. Journey came up behind her and placed a hand on her back.
“Here,” Erin handed the file to her. “All that’s left is your signature and seal, and it’s official.”
“Good work. I’m proud of you.”
“Thanks.”
“Get out of here, Erin. I can tell there’s somewhere else you need to be.”
“Normally, I’d argue with you, but you’re right.”
She left the castle and sat down on the front steps and closed her eyes in the afternoon light. Her mind wandered. She needed to get home, but she needed to stay safe, too. Walking to the hub was too risky, and she’d promised she wouldn’t be that girl. She went back into the castle to find an obliging ogre to open a portal for her.
She landed back home in the living room, unprepared for what she saw. Maddox was on his back, his head and torso under the kitchen sink. Her dad sat on the floor next to him and handed him a wrench.
“I need the bigger one,” Maddox said.
Her dad handed him a different tool.
“I think I’ve got it…no, it’s still dripping.”
Erin came into the kitchen. Her dad smiled up at her.
“What’s all this, then?” she asked.
“Well, Maddox came to visit me while you were at work, and the pipe sorta exploded. So we’ve been trying to get it fixed.”
“I see. How’s it going down there?” she asked Maddox.
“Fairly uncomfortable,” he said wiping his hand on his shirt. “And dirty.”
Erin felt like her smile would crack her face just as she felt the onset of tears. “Hey, Dad, you want to hear something cool?”
“What’s that, sweetheart?”
“Maddox is my destined life mate.”
When his head came up swiftly and connected with the pipe with a resounding crack, she tried to cover her laugh. He scrambled out from under the sink and got to his feet, staring at her and rubbing the top of his head.
Her dad chuckled. “I know honey.”
“You know? How do you…Did you tell him?”
“No one told me anything,” Nathan said. “I could see it, although why you kept it a secret is a mystery to me.”
“It’s a long story. I’ll tell you later.”
Maddox looked at her dad. “Sir, would you excuse us. Erin and I really need to talk.”
Her father chuckled. “Oh sure. Go talk and don’t come back for a long time.”
They headed to her room and straight through the portal in the wall. They landed in his room, and she faced him as he took her in his arms.
“Why?” he breathed. “What made you change your mind?”
“I changed my mind a while ago, but I didn’t fully realize it until I saw you with your head under the sink.”
“Seriously?”
“There was a problem, and you did something with your own hands. You didn’t just throw money at it…I dunno, it made me hot." His eyes layered with tears as she put her hands on his face. "I see you now. I know what I’m looking at when I look at you.”
She moved closer, grabbed the hem of his shirt, and lifted it up and over his head. He closed his eyes as she kissed his collarbone and ran her hands over his back. He put his hands on the sides of her neck and tilted her face up.
“Say it."
“I’m yours,” she whispered. “Now treat me like it.”
“You’re in trouble. I just wish it was raining.”
“Hmm…Shower?”
His mouth fell open, then he smiled wickedly. “Oh, that works.” He scooped her up and carried her to the bathroom.
They wrecked each other over and over all through the afternoon and into the evening until they were both starving. Erin didn’t even taste the food or care. It was fuel, and she needed to get it out of the way as quickly as possible. They ate dinner, went to bed, and had each other some more before finally crashing into sleep.
She woke in the middle of the night, tucked into his side. She looked at him, while he slept. He breathed easily, his face perfectly relaxed. Hmm…he was hers. Odd. She’d claimed him in every way. There was no going back. Not that she wanted to…but life was going to be very different now.
Making love with him was almost scary, it was so good. Her body still felt all warm and shimmery. But then, all of her beautiful feelings shut off hard and fast, and she was suddenly choked with tears. Had it been special for him? Or just typical? Was he with her in his mind when he was inside her? She’d seen his eyes. They were with her. On her. Burning in hers. His heart, too. She knew it, so why did she doubt what she knew?
Stop it! She ordered herself. His memories had to compete with her not the other way around. Her tears came harder. She slid out of bed, pulled one of his shirts on, and sat on the floor across the room, her knees pulled up into her chest.
Her shoulders shook, but she remained silent. How could she doubt what they’d shared? But still, the things he’d done to her. How many others had he touched like that? Was any of it new for him? Did he love her? She was angry and jealous.
He sat up. “Erin!”
She felt his fear. “I’m here. It’s okay.”
She could see his frown in the dark. “What are you doing?”
She wiped her eyes. “Sorry. Just being stupid.”
“Come here.”
“Maybe I should just go home.”
“Erin, please.”
She caved and came back to him. He pulled her under the blanket next to him and held her against his chest.
“Why do you feel like this? What did I do wrong?”
She shook her head, but her tears continued to fall.
“Was I too rough? Did I hurt you?”
“No.”
“Then what? I thought everything was perfect. Beyond perfect.”
“It’s just,” her voice broke. “Was there anything we did that was new for you?”
He ground his teeth together and swore under his breath. “I wish I could change the past, but I can’t. I really don’t want to talk about this…” he sighed. “There’s a lot we did that I’ve never done before.”
“Like what?”
He grimaced. “Do I have to?”
“It would make me feel better.”
“Everything we did in the shower. Never done that before. When you took control, never had that before. It was awesome, by the way. I want more of that. When we connected, I’ve never been with someone outside, let alone in the rain, in the middle of the day. Being with you is not even the same thing as what I did with anyone else, even if some of the mechanics are the same. All that was about it being fast and over and cheap. Not. The. Same. Thing. You are my soul. You own me.”
“I’m sorry I’ve ruined our time together. I just didn’t know…”
He sat up again and pulled her up, too. He slid his hands up the shirt she wore. “Take this off,” he said lifting it over her head, careful not to pull her hair in the process. The moonlight highlighted them in the dark. She shivered as he touched her.
“Why don’t you know how beautiful you are?” he whispered. “Haven’t I told you? Don’t you understand that I’ve never seen anyone as exquisite as you? And you’re so warm. You burn me up inside. Intoxicate me more than any drug I’ve ever had. Stop doubting.”
His hands continued to skim over her skin. Her eyelids fluttered, her breathing uneven. He pulled her against him and brushed his lips across hers. “You said you were mine.”
“I am.”
He moved his mouth to her ear. “Surrender,” he breathed.
She licked her lips and pinched her eyes shut. She hadn’t. Not really. She clung to him and nodded. “Okay.”
His teeth broke through her skin for the first time and he drank from her, as he loved her again, very slowly. She fell through herself. Through her defenses, and found trust.
To say he was reluctant to let her go in the morning was an understatement. Every time she almost wiggled free, he caught her and brought her back.
“You’re going nowhere, babe.”
“I have to. I need to get to work. How do you even have the energy for this again?” she asked as he rolled her under him.
He shrugged and went to work on her. She could have protested, but it would have been false, so she let him have her again and enjoyed it all.
A while later, she headed to the shower and made sure to lock the door, otherwise, she knew he would join her, and she’d never get to work. She couldn’t quit smiling. She didn’t even realize she was smiling until her face started to ache with it.
She wrapped herself in a towel and thought about not going to work. He’d asked her to stay more than a few times. But she wanted to make sure that everything was going to go through with the adoption for the twins. Since it was her first completed process, she was nervous that she’d missed something or done something wrong, and she didn’t want the kids to have to wait any longer. She didn’t have to stay long at work. She could just go and come back.
Maddox was cooking again when she came out. She snuck past the kitchen so he didn’t catch her and delay her anymore. Her clothes were here and there on his floor. She’d put them on, go home, change, and then go to work. Her stomach growled as she smelled whatever that was he was making. He could cook. She was a lucky girl.
“I don’t know if you’ll like it, but I made you an omelet,” he said as she came out.
“Thank you. It smells perfect.”
She sat down and began to eat. “It’s already noon. I won’t be gone long. I’ll be back in time for dinner. Do you want to go out?”
“No. I want you all to myself. And I want to throw you on the bed at the slightest provocation. Can’t do that in public.”
She giggled and finished eating. “I promise to be careful.”
He kissed her hand. “Thank you.”
She started to leave, but he grabbed her arm and pulled her back. “Wha—”
“Shh…” he said quietly.
He held her like she might break any moment. She was confused for a second, then she exhaled and relaxed against him. His heart spoke to hers. There was a desperation and disbelief in him, and for the first time, she felt the weight of his insecurity. He had it worse than she did. And for a moment, he just needed to hold her.
She kissed his cheek and ran her hands through the back of his hair. “I’ll be right back. I promise.”
“I miss you already.”
“Hey,” she pulled back so she could look in his eyes. “I’m yours.”
He kissed her lips. “And I’m yours.”
“Can I go now?”
“Fine. Leave me all alone to pine and obsess over you till you get back.”
She yelped as he slapped her ass as she went through the portal.
Checking in at work took only a few minutes, and then Journey booted her out, seeing whatever it was she could see in Erin’s heart with her canny storyteller eyes. She didn’t go straight back to him though. She sat in the hall at the castle and scrolled through the news.
Opinions flew around about Maddox. She stopped looking after a few minutes. It didn’t matter, she told herself. People could say and think what they liked. It didn’t change the fact that he was innocent. She wondered if he was looking, too. Closing her eyes, Erin leaned her head back against the wall and thought about their night together.
Surrender…she had, but had he? She thought about her tears in the middle of the night and the source of them. There would be times she felt insecure. Every time that happened, would she think about all the lovers before her? Would she always wonder about what he remembered and how she measured up? And would she get angry at him every time, that he’d given himself so freely over and over? It wasn’t so easy to let go of…at least not for her.
A crazy idea zipped through her head. She laughed and dismissed it. Then it came back and rooted firmly in her mind. Hmm… she was going through with it she decided. She got up and headed to the castle library, hoping no one was in there, so they wouldn’t see what she was looking at.
An hour later, with her head full of new and fascinating adult possibilities, she found an empty room and called Melina.
“It’s Erin.”
“Hey, you. What’s up?”
“I need a little help. Could you meet me in the Onyx Castle? I promised Maddox I’d be safe, so I don’t want to go anywhere on my own, and I don’t know where I’d find what I’m looking for anyway.”
“What are you looking for?” Mel asked.
Erin sent her a picture. There was a brief silence then Mel chuckled. “So you quit fighting your fate, eh? You’re a bad girl. M doesn’t deserve you. I’ll help. I know just where to buy such an outfit.”
“Thanks.”
“I’ll meet you in five.”
Maddox cleaned the house to stay busy and to keep from looking at the news. His mind stayed on Erin. He needed her to come back. He hardly believed she’d actually said it, that she’d really committed to him. It didn’t seem possible. Time moved so slowly as he waited for her. Yesterday had caught him off guard. But tonight he could plan everything for her. He’d do what he could so she wouldn’t be able to have second thoughts about them.
He thought about what he could make her for dinner, seeing as that was a skill of his she didn’t hold against him. It took him a while, digging around the kitchen, to find his mom’s nice place settings. He set the table, but he had to keep retelling himself not to be too smooth. She didn’t like that, and it would remind her of the past.
He cringed, thinking about her crying last night. That was horrible. Horrible that she could think what she had. It wasn’t anywhere near the truth. There was no one in his head or heart except her. She was everything. There was not one corner or shadow in him that she hadn’t filled with her light. His heart groaned for her. He needed her back. How much longer would she be?
His watch pinged. He frowned at it and answered the call.
“What’s up, brother?” Kendrick asked.
“Not much.”
“Wanna take the girls out again tonight?”
“Can’t. Gotta stay out of the public eye for a while after that shit last night.”
“I’ve got some great stuff. I’ll bring it over. We can have a private party with Erin and Melina.”
“No. Mel’s busy, and I want to be alone with Erin. I’m done using, anyway.”
Kendrick was quiet for a second. “Good for you. Going clean. I should, too. I know it.”
“I’m sorry, but I need to go. Erin will be here soon, and I’m not ready for her.”
“You’re so whipped. Not that I blame you. I’d reform for her, too. Okay. You’re going to have to tell me how you swung her one of these days,” Kendrick said.
Maddox half smiled. “One of these days, I will. Later.”
He ended the call and headed to the shower. He got clean, dressed, and decided it was time to start making dinner. The sun was about to set. Surely Erin would be back soon. He was about to message her when his watch pinged. It was Mel.
I wish I could see your face. Mind you that’s all I would want to see, but still, I know it’s going to be priceless.
What are you on about?
You’ll see as soon as Erin gets there.
Oh, hell. What have you been doing?
You’ll see. I’m totally snickering over here. Just FYI.
Hmm…he narrowed his eyes at his watch. What was going on? He was about message Erin, but she messaged him first.
Sit down. Now.
He snorted, going to the living room and sat down on the couch. What was she doing? The lights cut off. His eyebrows shot up. His bedroom door cracked. Haze and floating lights filled the space around him. Then Erin came out.
He almost dropped dead in a mix of shock and lust. She had her hair in pigtails, a pleated mini skirt that barely covered her ass, and a button-up shirt tied in a knot right under her breasts. He stood up but she put her hands on his chest and shoved him back down on the couch.
“Erin?”
She put her finger over her lips in a shushing motion and tapped her watch. Music filled the house. She smiled wickedly and winked at him as she started to dance.
“Oh my gosh!” he said, putting his hands over his mouth.
Erin moved like a dancer right out of a hip-hop music video. He watched, trapped and helpless. Had he died and gone to bad girl heaven? Over and over, she moved in ways that made him want to whimper and beg. Her gaze snagged on his and there was so much there. So much power and she wielded it over him without mercy.
Finally, when he felt he couldn’t breathe anymore, she grabbed his hand and pulled him to his feet, but she didn’t stop dancing. He put his hands on her and moved with her. The dirtiest dirty dancing had nothing on them. But she had total control. And she moved him where and how she wanted him.
“I think you broke me,” he panted as they crashed on the bed a good while later.
She laughed, taking her pigtails out, letting her hair down. Sweat glistened beautifully all over her naked body.
He swallowed and worked to catch his breath. “I don’t know what I did to deserve all that, but you have to tell me, so I can make a habit of it. Where did you learn that stuff anyway?”
She blushed. “Well, there was this one book in the castle library.”
“Oh man, it’s probably the same book I snuck out of there when I was thirteen.”
She leaned on one arm and looked down at him. “Were those your notes on page forty-seven?”
He laughed and covered his face. “Yes.”
She drilled her finger into his ribs. He caught her against him and kissed her. He smoothed the hair away from her face.
“You are more than any fantasy I’ve ever had. What possessed you to do this?”
“I did this for me. To own you in a way no one else ever has. I wanted to give you something that I knew none of your memories could compare to. I want to be queen… Was I successful?”
“Unequivocally,” he said seriously.
“That’s good, cause I think I pulled my hamstring.”
“I will carry you everywhere you need to go until it’s better.”
“Where could I possibly need to go?” she smiled, gesturing to his bed.
“Where, indeed.”
She put her hand over his heart, her expression sobering, and she trembled. “I love you, Maddox.”
“Oh, Erin…I love you, too.”
She smiled. “I said it first.”
“I thought it first,” he countered.
"No, you didn't. I've loved you since you first left a flower on my doorstep."
He let out a heavy breath and closed his eyes, taking her lips. This kiss was devastating, and it held the world of his heart inside it. His love for her, the pain, the passion…and now the joy.
He moved his lips to her neck. "I want to mark you."
Her whole body purred. "I want that, too."
"When? What kind of a ceremony do you want?"
"Hmm…Give me some time to think about it." She yawned. "We can talk about it again tomorrow."
Erin smiled as she fell asleep fantasizing about their marking ceremony.
Voices woke Maddox. Very familiar voices coming from the living room. He shook Erin gently. She squinted at him.
“What?” she asked.
“We need our own place, like yesterday.”
She rubbed her eyes. “Oh?”
“My parents are home.”
She gasped and sat up, grabbing at the blanket to cover herself. “Where are my clothes?”
He pointed at the door. Her eyes widened, and her cheeks turned pink.
“Oh no. That bad school girl outfit is out there, ah, and my lingerie…Are your parents out there right now?”
He nodded.
“Well, I’m going to make a good first impression,” she groaned.
He chuckled.
“It’s not funny!”
“Well, you can laugh or cry, babe. Put something on. I’m going to go talk to them. Come out when you’re decent.”
He tossed one of his shirts at her before finding one for himself and putting it on over his pajama pants. He winked at her as he went to face the music.
“Hey! You’re back! Great!”
Standing in the middle of his and Erin’s discarded clothes, his mother and father gave him stony looks. His mom picked up Erin’s black lace bra and raised her eyebrows, giving him that hawk look.
He held his hands up before his parents imploded. “She’s my destined life mate.”
That took all the wind from their sails. Their faces shifted from indignation to happiness. They both grabbed him and pulled him into a group hug.
“Oh, congratulations!” Forest said.
“Where is she?” Syrus asked.
“Umm…she’s in my room, feeling embarrassed…I have a lot to tell you guys.”
“I should expect so,” Forest said. “I want to know all about how you and her found each other.”
“Well, there’s that, but then there’s some other stuff. Really bad stuff. This is going to take a while.”
Erin poked her head out of his room, her cheeks still beautifully pink. He held his hand out for her. She came toward him wearing his shirt, a pair of his boxers, and a sheepish expression. He tucked her under his arm.
“This is Erin.”
“Hi,” her voice was shy.
Forest reached for her and pulled her away from him and into a hug. “Erin,” she said quietly.
Maddox watched, amazed as his mom looked into his mate’s eyes. The two women seemed to connect immediately on some mystic female level.
“I…I can’t tell you what an honor it is to meet you,” Erin said to her.
She shook her head. “The honor is mine. And now so are you. My new daughter.”
They clung to each other and cried, making him confused. His dad clapped him on the shoulder, smirking.
“Don’t ask them why they’re crying,” he told Maddox sagely. “It’s a good sign… So, did she knock the stupid out of you?”
“Absolutely. At least some of it. I have a feeling she’s not done.”
“They never are, son.”
His dad moved forward and grabbed Erin’s hand. “My turn,” he told Forest. “Erin.”
“Sir.” She looked up at him nervously.
“Welcome to the family.”
“Thank you. I really look forward to getting to know you both, but I think I should go home and, um, get dressed first.”
His mother chuckled and handed Erin the clothes Maddox had happily removed from her last night. She wadded it all up, tucked it under her arm, blushed brighter, and headed to his room. He followed her and closed the door.
“Oh my gosh,” she breathed. “I’ll be back in a little bit.”
“Don’t take too long, and don’t even think about getting rid of that stuff,” he pointed to the naughty clothes under her arm.
She smiled wickedly. “Wouldn’t dream of it.”
She kissed him and went through the portal on the wall. Now he had to tell his parents all the ugly news.