Hill took his time answering. He preferred instead to appraise the look and fit of the robe he’d selected from her closet once he’d tucked her in before leaving her room. She’d had enough in there to start her own boutique. He remembered Persephone’s question and then gave the girls a bounce. “What time did you guys wake me up?”
“Five four five!” The twins offered in unison.
“A quarter to six?” Persephone gaped. “But you barely got any sleep...last night,” her cheeks burned over the reasons contributing to that fact.
Hill’s arresting dark eyes were alight with wickedness as he once again treated himself to another lengthy and suggestive sweep of her in the beckoning silk that covered her body.
“You’re right,” his response was soft.
Persephone put her full focus on the girls then. “Ladies, we should let Daddy get some sleep.”
“I’m good, Sef. It’s alright,” Hill sent a playful frown to the girls when they giggled. “What’s funny?” he gnawed their necks in pretend punishment as they shrieked in elation.
“It’s a funny name!” Leeya gasped amidst her laughter.
“Well what do you think of Goddess?” He gave them another bounce. “You guys know what that means?”
“A pretty lady?” Layah guessed and earned a kiss to her mouth.
Hill wasted no time bestowing the same treatment upon Leeya’s. “That’s right, it’s a very pretty lady.”
“Have you guys eaten?” Persephone asked, eager to be away from the spotlight when the girls pinned her with their own approving looks.
“Daddy made waffles for breakfast.” Layah said.
“And he’s making tacos for lunch,” Leeya added.
“We left you some waffles on the stove.” Hill chimed in.
“Well it looks like you guys have it all together,” Persephone observed the threesome with a warm smile that barely scratched the surface of her happiness. The girls were dressed in sweatpants, T-shirts and sandals to match their father’s attire. Adding to the synchronicity, were the low ponytails the girls sported like Hill’s.
“Can you stay, Mommy?” Layah asked. “Daddy’s reading from the Princess book.”
“I see,” Persephone scanned the large colorfully illustrated anthology that housed all princess-themed stories from classic to contemporary. “Looks like you’re having fun.” She stifled laughter at Hill’s withering look.
“I think I’ll go get my waffles. I’ll be back after I take a shower...Maybe,” Persephone left Hill with a playfully consoling smile.
“Bye Mommy!”
Content, the girls settled in for more
reading. It took their father a while yet to focus on castles and
knights with the image of Persephone in her shower all but burned
on his brain.
***
Belle was putting one final pin to her updo when she saw Pike in the mirror of her vanity.
“Is it my imagination or are you hovering?” She sent her husband a playfully, scolding look.
Pike pushed off the doorframe. “It’s not your imagination.”
Belle half turned on the padded, white oak bench she occupied. “You’re putting all that worry in place a little too soon, aren’t you? I’m still months away from the big debut of the newest Mr. or Miss Tesano.”
Pike pulled a heavy square chair to the vanity and took a seat behind his wife. “We have an appointment coming up soon, don’t we?”
Belle settled back, resting her head to his shoulder as his arms circled her waist. She was more interested in turning to graze her mouth across the strong line of Pike’s jaw and inhaling his scent, than in the question he’d posed.
Moments later, the couple was caught up in a kiss, one that Pike reluctantly called an end to. “Your parents are here, remember?”
“And? They’re too far to hear us in here. Besides,” she scooted closer to him. “I think they already know you’ve...done things to me.”
“Mmm,” Pike let his head rest to Belle’s shoulder and considered her sweet offer. “Stop trying to corrupt me,” he groaned and then squeezed her busy hands in his.
“I really came to talk about our appointment. Have you thought anymore about finding out what we’re having?”
Belle gave a half-shrug to the question. “I’m kind of excited about it being a mystery.”
Pike looked down at her hands in his. “So am I, I guess.”
“Well then…” she leaned close to nibble his earlobe, “can’t we see about what I want right now?” She smiled when he leaned into the suckle she gave his lobe. “Unless…” she eased back, “the appointment isn’t all you came to see me about.” Belle tilted her head to follow the line of Pike’s dark stare when it wavered. “Isak?”
He didn’t keep her waiting long and then toyed with the tassels of the coolly seductive white linen shift she wore. The garment lent an even deeper glow to the flawless pecan brown warmth of her skin.
“What your dad said yesterday- wanting to talk it out with Hill.”
Belle rubbed at the shadow of glossy whiskers along his jaw. “It concerns you?”
“Not so much what he wants to say as the right time to say it.”
“I...don’t follow.” Then, she was dragging her fingers through the lush black mane framing his impossibly extraordinary face.
