Boston Avant-Garde 5: Bellicoso (30 page)

The massive center island was already filled with platters of Mrs. Tinsley’s cherry popovers, blueberry muffins, carafes of coffee, and mugs of hot cocoa. The round matronly woman with the gray bun and blue eyes had been in charge of the kitchen since Selena’s girlhood.

“There’s my girl.” Mrs. Tinsley put Selena’s favorite pink mug in her usual spot and plopped two oversize marshmallows on top.

Demon settled her on the padded bar stool and took the spot on her right while Malachi sat on her left.

“Thank you.” Selena reached out and clasped the older woman’s hand.

“We’re just glad you’re safe, pumpkin.” Mrs. Tinsley put her other hand over Selena’s and gave it a pat. “And this time you’ve acquired a new charge who reminds me an awful lot of a certain princess when she was thirteen.”

Selena pressed her palms to her flaming face. “I’m going to have my hands full, aren’t I?”

Mrs. Tinsley placed a featherlight kiss on Selena’s forehead. “Like I told your mother, it’s worth every minute.”

Erik perched tensely on a stool across the island, Nicolai and Desiree taking seats beside him. “Okay, we’re sitting, you have hot chocolate. Now”—he glared balefully at Demon and Malachi-- “Care to explain what the hell is going on?”

Dispensing with all propriety, Selena picked up one of the melt-in-your-mouth popovers and stuffed half in her mouth. She chewed briefly and then shrugged. “I’m not really sure I know, to be honest. Lars?”

Lars had occupied the end stool. He looked tense and uncomfortable. “Erik, I can’t exactly discuss the details of an ongoing investigation.”

“Okay,” Erik snarled. “Start with, ‘Hey Erik, guess what? I signed up with Interpol!’”

“I’d like to hear that,” Selena agreed.

The kitchen was warm and the bar stool was comfortable, but Selena was so tired. Not surprising since it was practically dawn. She slumped forward and braced her elbows on the cool granite countertop. While Lars got his thoughts together, she picked up her cocoa and inhaled deeply. She was just soaking in the full effect of the killer sweetness when she realized Demon and Malachi had shifted their bodies closer. With both of them pressed against her, she was as warm, toasty, and secure as she could ever recall.

I want to spend the rest of my life like this.

She looked up and realized Lars was gazing at her, a soft smile on his face. Her heart understood that her childhood playmate was giving her unconventional choice his full support. It made anything else irrelevant.

“How long?” she asked him.

“They approached me in my last year at Oxford,” Lars admitted.

She rested her head against Malachi’s shoulder, which allowed her to stare down the length of the island and get a better look at Lars’s expression. “Do you like it?”

“Love it.”

The cotton of Malachi’s T-shirt was warm and soft, but not as satisfying as his silky skin. She was ready for bed, which meant this conversation needed to hurry along. “Then I love it too. Enough said.”

“Wait! What?” Erik stared at her as though she’d grown a second head. “And what the hell is going on with you and these two? They look like criminals, Selena. I know we’ve had our differences, and you’ve been going through a rough time, but—”

She sat up straight. “Stop right there.”

Her sister leaned around Nicolai and pegged Erik with a hard glare. “I think you need to remember to take that stick out of your ass and quit judging books by their cover. Remember what happened the last time you did that?”

“You made me the happiest man alive.” Nicolai put his arm around Desiree’s shoulders and cuddled her close.

“Yeah, but there’s
one
of you!” Erik protested.

Allie picked that moment to come dashing into the kitchen. “Dee! Selena! You’re back!” Selena, Malachi, and Demon managed to stand up before Allie flung herself at all three of them.

She was wearing some of Selena’s pink satin pajamas and her robe. The teen’s long, dark hair was wet from the shower. It had been towel dried and then twirled into a neat bun. Selena recognized her mother’s handiwork in that. The thought made her smile.

“I’ve never met anyone who loves pink more than you do, Selena, but I think Allie has you beat.” Annaline Aasen entered the kitchen and gave Selena a warm hug.

Selena fought the urge to pinch herself to make sure she hadn’t accidentally dreamed herself into someone else’s life. After their talk the other night she’d viewed her mother so much differently, but Annaline’s immediate acceptance of Allie was nothing short of a godsend.

“Dee! Did Lars tell you? I had to tell him the whole thing, but I gotta tell you this first!” Allie was talking so quickly Selena could barely keep track of the conversation. Demon, however, looked totally unruffled. Allie grabbed his hand and clasped it tightly. “Those guys broke into Selena’s room! Broke in! So I did just like you told me. I gave that one dude the smackdown!”

“You were amazing,” Demon murmured, brushing her cheek with his fingers.

“Then the other dude pulled a gun—a
gun!
And you know what?” Allie paused to suck in more air. “Selena stepped in front of it! Can you believe that?”

Behind them, Selena realized her brother and sister weren’t reacting as if they’d heard this part of the story quite yet. Erik’s expression grew murderous, and Desiree’s eyes were popping out of her skull. Selena had a feeling Allie’s presence was the only thing saving Selena from a tongue-lashing. Unfortunately, Allie wasn’t done with her big reveals though.

“Then?” Her gray eyes opened wide for maximum effect. “Later, Selena told me she
loves
you and Daddy! All of us actually!” Allie sighed as if it were the most romantic thing ever. Which it kind of was. “So I was thinking. Can we get a house somewhere? I don’t want to live at school all the time anymore.” Allie reached up and shoved Demon’s hair out of his face so she could stare right into his eyes. “Please?”

He looked utterly undone by her gesture. Selena had come to understand that his dark hair was a curtain to keep the world at bay. Peeking beneath it was akin to viewing his soul laid bare. It made her giddy to know she had the right to do such a thing with a man who was so forbidding to almost everyone else.

Selena caught Malachi’s gaze. He wasn’t trying to hide his longing to make Allie’s wish come true. Selena took his hand and Demon’s until Allie was effectively locked between the three of them. “Sweetie, I think that’s a fantastic idea. Although it’s going to take some time to find the perfect house.” Selena leaned down and rubbed noses with the daughter of her heart. “Not to mention the shopping required to decorate it.”

Allie flung her arms around Selena’s neck and squealed in delight. Selena returned the hug, feeling a triple shot of happiness when Demon and Malachi added the warmth of their embrace.

“Allie, love.” Annaline touched the girl’s shoulder. “I think the adults need some more time to talk. I’m going to put you in the bedroom right next to Selena’s. That way your dad will be right next door if you need him.”

“She’s letting you share a room?” Allie stage-whispered. “Your mom is so cool, seriously.”

Selena watched her mother usher Allie back toward the stairs. Turning to the two lovers she intended to share parenting duties with, she gave them a shrug. “I’m thinking I’m going to be a do-as-I-say-and-not-as-I-do parent. That okay?”

Malachi arched one elegant brow. “You’re asking us?”

“Yeah, got it.” Selena moved to sit down and finish her cocoa. The blatant hostility radiating from her brother was enough to knock her over.

She, Demon, and Malachi took their seats. Both men pressed themselves against her sides. It was for comfort, theirs as much as hers. Selena marveled at that knowledge. With these two by her side she felt like she could take on the world.

“You stepped in front of a gun?” Erik’s low tone would have melted her resolve less than six months ago. Not anymore.

She knew her brother loved his wife. Erik would have given up anything for Talia. In fact, he’d done his own fair share of thumbing his nose at Aasen family values during their tempestuous courtship. “Would you take a bullet for Talia or that baby she’s carrying?”

“Absolutely.”

Selena shrugged. “I love Allie. I love the two men who’ve raised her as their own. There was no way in hell some nasty little prick was going to shoot my baby girl when I could stop it.”

She could feel Malachi practically vibrating with agitation beside her, though he showed absolutely nothing of his inner turmoil on the exterior. Selena took a long swig of cocoa and then linked her left arm through his to let him know she was there.

“So this is what you want?” Erik pointed angrily at Demon and Malachi.

“It’s not like you’ve never heard of the idea,” Selena reminded him. Erik had known Seth Overton and Josh Breckenridge since their school days, and it was no secret the two lawyers shared one woman between them.

He scoffed. “Sorry, but Seth and Josh are kittens compared to these two.”

“And I’d never be satisfied with Leslie’s life, so that’s fine by me.” Why couldn’t he at least try to understand?

Erik rubbed one hand down his face in frustration. “You’ve always wanted the fairy tale. I don’t get it. What changed?”

She leaned into Malachi’s strength and gazed up at Demon. He was watching her. Neither man had said one word, nor was she shocked to realize she didn’t mind. She didn’t need anyone to speak for her or make her decisions. They were waiting for her to take the lead and make her own choices. It was exhilarating.

That’s what they’ve been trying to tell me about a real D/s relationship. That it doesn’t take all the power and give it to one person. It makes everyone stronger.

“I’ve changed, Erik,” Selena told him. “I wanted the fairy tale because everyone said it would make me happy.” Demon’s sensuous mouth curved into a seductive smile. “But this is what makes me whole. Don’t ask any more questions about it. You’re not going to like my answers. So just go with it, okay?”

“Yen?”

Demon’s attention shifted from Selena to Lars as her cousin spoke his name.

Lars withdrew something from his pocket and slid it to Demon. “I found something at Triptych that belongs to you.”

“Is that…?” Malachi cursed beneath his breath and then ripped his gaze from the gold-embossed passport folder to Demon’s face.

“Thank you.” Demon bowed his head to Lars.

Lars shrugged. “I made some calls about your immigration status. You didn’t arrive here by choice or by the usual channels, but I’ve bought you some time to decide if you want to apply for a green card. Although, with your passport, you’re free to choose whether or not you’d like to go back to China.”

Selena’s heart leaped into her throat, and she stared at her cousin in horror. Beside her, Malachi grew tense. Her fingers had been resting lightly on his forearm. Now they were clenched tight around his bulging tricep. Demon couldn’t leave them. Not now. Not after everything they’d gone through together. She loved Malachi, and she’d stay with him and Allie until they were old and gray and Allie had made them grandparents, but their lives were never going to be complete without their Dom in it.

It seemed Demon knew her fears just as he always seemed to know every other thought that ran through her head. He caressed her cheek with his calloused palm. A delicious shiver slid down her spine when his thumb slid like silk over her lower lip. “My heart is here, with you and Malachi and Allie. There is nothing for me in Canton. Unless you suddenly decide you’d like to travel there, I’ll never go back.”

She couldn’t hold his gaze, turning away to keep everyone at the table from seeing what she knew was plastered across her face. After all the turmoil, the fear, and even despite the presence of her family, she wanted nothing more than to go upstairs and thoroughly pleasure her lovers. She wanted to put their cocks in her mouth and make them just as crazy for her as she was for them before she somehow managed to take them both into her body at once. She wanted to be joined with them and feel that bond in its raw form.

“Wow, I had no idea your baby sister had inherited the smoldering bedroom eyes,” Nicolai mused. “My suggestion is to continue our discussion later. Since it would appear these two gentleman are joining our crazy-ass family, I think there’ll be plenty of time.”

Erik and Lars jumped up as if they’d been stung while Desiree laughed at their squeamishness. Selena gave her sister a warm smile. She’d once thought Desiree a silly romantic for wanting something more than the sterile society marriage they’d been encouraged to pursue. She was just glad both of her siblings had forged a path to finding real love and happiness. Now it was Selena’s turn to reap the rewards.

Chapter Twenty-Seven

Malachi’s back gave a satisfying pop as he stretched out next to Allie on the massive king-size bed. The so-called guest room next to Selena’s suite looked like something out of a luxury hotel. Even with the thick draperies closed, he could see a hint of gray dawn peeking around the windowsills.

“Daddy, it feels weird to be going to bed at six in the morning.” Allie snuggled closer. “Can’t I just skip sleeping?”

“No, Gator. Just try to get a couple of hours. You had a rough night. Let’s not push it.” He well understood how difficult it was to settle down after a tense night. For now he needed Allie asleep in bed. He was dying to get back next door to his two lovers. Selena had mentioned her shower was big enough for three.

“I was scared, but I knew you’d come.” Allie yawned. “Selena told me you would.”

“I’ll always come for you, Gator.”

“I know, Daddy.” Despite her protestations about going to sleep, her eyes were sliding shut. “I owe you an apology though.”

“Why’s that?”

“Selena told me you and Dee didn’t screw it up with her. She really loves us. A lot. I love her too. I’m glad she’s going to be my new mom.”

Malachi’s gut tightened. He had to tell her about Seraph. It wasn’t right to keep it from her. “About your mom… She’s being taken back to Italy to stand trial for the murder of her father and brother.”