Page 122 of Beautiful Forever
I love date nights. It’s something we make sure to do often, so I can spend one-on-one time with each of my guys. However, I’m pretty sure this date is a distraction.
Hendrix, Tristan, and Constantine haven’t pushed and are letting me figure things out on my own. What they have done is fucked me into oblivion every chance they get. In the shower. In the pantry. Bent over the washing machine in the laundry room. In the kitchen. In bed. In front of the Christmas tree after tying me up with the red ribbon and bows I use for wrapping presents.
I pull the note from the door and head inside. Welcoming warm air greets me, but it’s the mouth-watering smells coming from the kitchen that have me almost drooling. This is my favorite kind of date night. At home, no distractions, homecooked meal eaten in the living room while we’re snuggled on the couch, watching a John Wick movie playing on the widescreen. Thewear something outrageously sluttyis dessert.
Not wanting to spoil the surprise, I go upstairs to shower and change. Glancing down the hallway, my mood dampens. Hendrix’s old bedroom door is open, and I can see the bed where Aleksander had been sleeping. I haven’t changed the sheets yet. On the contrary, I sleep on the pillows he’d used because they still smell like him.
I take a quick peek into Fénix’s room and find the crib empty. Tristan and Constantine must have already taken him somewhere, so Hendrix and I could be alone.
Walking into the bedroom, I discover surprise number two. Rose petals are scattered across the neatly made bed and draped across the duvet is a scandalously short black halter dress with a folded notecard sitting on top of it.
Wear this. No underwear. You know what to do with what’s in the box.
Box?Oh.
I pick up the large jewelry box sitting next to the dress and remove the lid. Inside is a trio of silver stainless-steel balls connected in a line on a chain with a diamond solitaire pendant hanging from the end.
Date night just got very interesting.
After thirty minutes of primping, I check the finished look in the mirror. I left my hair down in haphazard waves and only applied a bare amount of makeup. And the dress…I slide my hand down its practically see-through material that conforms to every curve and hides absolutely nothing. Yep. Very slutty.
Opting to go barefoot because I hate wearing heels, I pad down the stairs and smile when I see a trail of rose petals leading to the living room and another note with my name on it on the bottom step.
Dinner is almost ready. Wait for me in the living room. Don’t touch anything.
Flower petals stick to my bare soles as I try to tiptoe around them. I’m not going to enjoy cleaning them up later. Can’t leave them out because Fénix will try to eat them.
I breathe out an “oh, wow” when I see the soft chenille blanket piled high with throw pillows on the floor next to the fireplace. There’s a fire going, candles placed throughout the room, and soft holiday music playing from the ceiling inset speakers. It’s the perfect ambiance for a romantic indoor picnic.
Heart completely melted. Hendrix is my good-time man, but there are times, like now, where he shows his sweeter, romantic side.
I eye the tree, wanting to turn on the lights, but Hendrix’s note said not to touch anything.
“Hendrix, this is beautiful!” I shout.
Trying to get comfy on the floor is impossible when the bottom of the halter dress keeps sliding up and every movement causes the steel balls to press against my G-spot. I almost come when I tuck my legs underneath me. Note to self. Don’t move.
Quiet footsteps come down the hall from the kitchen, but my forehead furrows with confusion when Aleksander rounds the corner. And holy hell, he looks good. His arm muscles strain the sleeves of his blue button-up, and with the top two buttons undone at the collar, the tattoos that decorate his neck are easily visible.
Refulgent happiness collides with surprise. “What are you doing here?”
His confused look matches mine. “You texted me and asked me to come over so we could talk.” His eyes narrow with suspicion when I mutely gape at him. “You didn’t text me.”
“I, uh…”
“I can leave if you?—”
Finally finding my voice, I rush out, “No! Stay.”
He ripped the beating organ right out of my chest when I woke up to find out he’d left. I didn’t want him to leave. This is his home. I know it’s my fault he thought he couldn’t stay. I tried finding the words to tell him how I felt, that I loved him too, but fear of the unknown and all those what-ifs stopped me from saying them.
But I’m ready to say them now. Loudly and with my whole heart.
Aleksander’s gaze is hot when it ever-so-slowly rakes me from the top of my head down to my pink-painted toenails. “You are absolutely stunning.”
Mortified by the blush that burns my face, I bite my bottom lip. “Thank you. Hendrix picked it out…his note said…and…” I know I’m blabbering but seeing him has that effect on me.
“Dinner is ready. He, um…sent me to turn on the Christmas tree.” He holds up a small fob-like remote that I immediately recognize.
