Damien
“Are you listening?” Sofie said, clearly frustrated. “If you’re not going to pay attention, I’m leaving.”
“Fine. Go,” I said, brushing her off. My focus was off. I couldn’t get the stunning beauty on the other side of my house out of my head. What was she doing to me? I needed to know more about her. I wanted to be with her. What the hell was wrong with me? I had women falling all over me, I never chased them.
She rolled her eyes. “You don’t have to tell me twice. I could use a day off,” she said, packing her bag and walking out. “See you tomorrow.”
I didn’t respond. Instead, I powered off my computer. It was rare for me to be home for an evening. I was seldom there, preferring to take care of the Underworld in a hands-on approach. It was why I needed a nanny to begin with. The last conference had brought many issues to the forefront. There was dissent along the south border, mayhem running rampant in the east, and an elderly lesser king looking to promote his son as his replacement. Normally, that wouldn’t be a problem, but I knew his son was a bookish sort with a soft-spoken manner – the Underworld really required strong leaders, alpha types. If a rival saw weakness within a ruler, then he’d challenge him and I would have to deal with the fallout. I thought all this through as I walked, shocked to find my feet had brought me to the east wing. I stood just outside of the boys’ room vacillating. I wanted to go inside, but I didn’t want Alexis to think I didn’t trust her and I definitely didn’t want to make her uncomfortable.
I could hear her inside, she was giggling, and curiosity got the best of me as I slowly turned the knob, inching the door open just enough to see inside. Alexis had her arms up like a zombie and was limping, dragging her leg behind her like it was lame. She was barefoot in her jeans, and her jacket was off, hanging over the back of her couch. Her cotton t-shirt clung to her body, giving me a very clear picture of her curves. A shot of lust went straight through me. What the fuck? She wasn’t even wearing anything sexy. Damn, I apparently needed to get laid.
“Brain,” she moaned with a believable grimace as the boys ran to the other side of the room. “I need brains,” she said, catching up to Dante in his hiding place and knocking over his block tower. He laughed as she grabbed him, tickled him, and blew a raspberry into his neck. He was positively giddy, laughing loudly and squirming under her assault. Even when she was playing she was beautiful. I shook my head trying to remember she was here for the kids, not me. An innocent, sheltered woman like that deserved to be with a good guy, and I, by nature didn’t fit the bill.
“Mm, you taste good,” she joked.
His brother, not wanting to be left out, jumped on Alexis’ back. My muscles tensed, ready to intervene in case he was too rough, or she didn’t like it, but she went right with it, falling over and yelling, “Oh no!”
“I’ll save you, Drake,” he declared and held up finger guns, making loud explosion noises as Alexis pretended to fall.
“I’m dying,” she squealed and made a fake choking noise, then stilled on the ground.
Dante and Drake laughed like they were insane. They caught their breath shortly, and seeing she still hadn’t moved they crawled over to her, concerned.
“Lexy?” one of them asked tentatively, and looked at his brother. In such a short time, the boys had already christened her with a nickname, a sign they really liked her. Dante looked scared, his bottom lip poking out as he got ready to cry. Then Alexis jumped up and pulled both of them into a hug which started another giggle-fest.
She was perfect. I had never seen a woman take to the boys so quickly or get on the ground to play with them on their level. Even their mother, Lilith, didn’t play with them. Of course, she was a conceited, shallow, self-absorbed woman more concerned with her looks than her own children. She was one of the most beautiful women I had ever met but her callousness towards our boys had quickly turned me off.
“You look like you’re having fun,” I said, announcing myself.
The boys were disinterested, still laughing as they ran to some other toy. Alexis, on the other hand, was still on the floor, her hair, no longer down and around her shoulders, in a ponytail and her jeans already smudged from something.
“We are. Want to join us?”
I couldn’t remember the last time I had played with my sons and the idea seemed very inviting.
“I’d love to.”
She smiled widely, just as she had on the porch and my dead heart thumped a little too loudly.
“What would you like to play?”
You. But that wouldn’t be an appropriate response. Even though just looking at her made my dick start to fantasize about unethical nanny scenarios…
“Your choice,” I said out loud.
She thought for a moment. “Okay, on the count of three, I’m coming to get you,” Alexis announced loudly, causing the boys to take off like roaches in the light, squealing with delight and fear. She counted loudly, looking at me with a silent signal and on the count of three we took off, her catapulting off the floor, and me jumping into action chasing the little legs of my sons.
They ran and jumped over beds and wiggled under furniture, the grins splitting their faces. They taunted us as only four-year olds can, believing that we really were so clumsy that we couldn’t snag them as they ran through our legs. We growled and stomped, pretending that they were faster than speed demons.
Finally, simultaneously, we each snagged a wriggling body and tossed it up into the air, catching the little hellions before they landed. I blew a raspberry on Dante’s belly, making him holler with laughter. In that moment, my eyes met Alexis’ and we both paused, feeling the current of attraction run between us. She coughed slightly, being the first to turn away. Dante wiggled down, calling for more games.
Alexis snagged both boys, one in each arm and told them it was time for some lessons. “Whoever can tell me how to spell ‘hellions’ first will get a sweet surprise from me before bed.” The spirit of competition incited them, and both boys jumped down from her arms and dashed toward their schoolroom, promising that they would be the one to win. Alexis walked by me, following my boys, but I snagged her arm before she could pass. Putting my lips close to her ear, I whispered, “I can spell hellion right now and would claim that surprise for myself, angel. Maybe I will claim my prize later.” Her eyebrows raised and I saw the flare of interest in her eyes. It was good to know that she was as aware of the attraction between us as I was. I let my fingers trail along her arm as I walked away, leaving that picture in her mind. I had never had this much fun.