“I’m surprised it’s not heated,” Marcel said casually, and I smirked.
“An oversight. I can have it installed.” As much as I wanted to linger there, I led them back inside and up the curved staircase, my heart pounding in my chest as we reached the second floor.
“There are six bedrooms in the house,” I explained as we reached the first three rooms at one end of the hallway. I opened the doors to show them the two guest rooms, each decorated in a neutral, calming palette, with a bathroom between them. Then I led them to my bedroom, pushing open the door to reveal the space I’d put the most work into.
“Thank the gods your bed is bigger,” August commented, taking in the Alaskan king bed. “Marcel hogs space.”
“It’s called starfishing,” Marcel retorted, shrugging unconcerned. I laughed at that because it was totally true. For three guys that didn’t much care for sharing, they’d spent most nights in my bed. Not always inthatway, but we always ended up asleep together. Well, August, Marcel, and I did. Lucifer couldn’t sleep and the possibility of losing me plagued him. He’d taken to becoming some sort of vigilante enforcer at night, something I wasn’t thrilled about but couldn’t deny that he needed. I found it was best not to think about it too much.
It wasn’t long before we were filing out of my room and heading past the stairs, down the other side of the hallway where three other rooms were. I led them down the other side of the hallway, stopping in front of the last three doors. Each one was painted a different color: a cool slate blue, a deep red, and simple black one with gold accents.
“This is the part of the tour that’s a surprise,” I said, my voice a little shaky as I started to ramble. “If you don’t want it or don’t like it, I won’t be offended. And if you want to keep them but want to change anything, they’re yours.”
They exchanged confused looks, and Marcel came to the right conclusion first. “You’re giving us rooms. . .”
I nodded, taking a deep breath before telling each of them which door to open. “August, you take the blue one. Lucifer, the black, and Marcel, the red.”
The doors swung open, and I held my breath as they stepped into their rooms. Each one was decorated with them in mind, a space that I hoped would feel like home to them. I stood in the middle of the hallway, twiddling my thumbs awkwardly as I waited for their reactions. But as the silence stretched on, my nerves got the best of me, and I turned on my heel, heading downstairs to make myself some tea.
As I made my way to the kitchen, I chewed at my bottom lip. I’d put a lot of effort into each of their rooms and I hoped I captured what they would each want.
Marcel’s room had been the easiest to design. I knew him well enough to understand that he would appreciate something functional yet personal. He had his own private library, and I’d lined the walls with floor to ceiling bookshelves, filling them with a mix of magic and non-magic literature. Some were volumes he already owned, but I’d also taken the liberty of adding a few rare tomes I knew he’d appreciate. The fourth wall framed a king-sized four-poster bed, the wood dark and rich, draped in deep red curtains. The bed itself was dressed in luxurious yet understated linens. I could almost picture him now, sprawled across the bed with a book in hand, the soft light from the bedside lamp casting a warm glow over him.
For August’s room, I’d taken inspiration from his apartment in Paris. The room was filled with art showing abstracts andimpressionist renditions of couples and bright sunsets. True love and new beginnings. It felt appropriate. The bed I’d chosen for him had a metal frame that mimicked the intricate ironwork you’d find on Parisian balconies. And of course, I had a miniature replica made for Estrid, placing it near the window so she could sunbathe. A hidden door had a room decorated right out ofBliss, where we’d met. A place for us to . . . indulge.
Lucifer’s room had been the hardest to decorate. What do you get for a desire demon who’d had nine thousand years of wants fulfilled? The question had plagued me for days, and I’d gone back and forth on several ideas before finally deciding to keep it simple and sexy—just like him. I’d opted for a king-sized circular bed dressed in black silk sheets. The walls were painted an inky black, but instead of being oppressive, the color was offset by raised black accent molding that added texture and depth to the space. There was only one wall that deviated from the others—it was metallic gold, adorned with black cabinets and a custom tantra chair. The cabinets were already stocked to meet his sexual appetite . . . and mine. I added a few of my favorite romance novels on the nightstand. He still read them, even if it was behind the other guy’s backs.
As the kettle whistled, pulling me out of my thoughts, I poured the hot water over the tea leaves and watched as the liquid darkened. I took a deep breath, the aroma of the tea calming my nerves. I wrapped my hands around the warm mug, letting the heat seep into my bones. And then I made my way into the living room just as I began to relax, I heard the sound of footsteps descending the stairs.
Steady and familiar.
I looked up as they entered the room, my heart skipping a beat when I saw the looks on their faces. August was the first to reach me, sitting down beside me with a big smile, while Marceland Lucifer draped themselves over the edges of the loveseat, their gazes warm.
“So,” I began, my voice betraying just a hint of nerves, “what do you think?”
They exchanged glances before August was the first to speak. “You’ve outdone yourself, sunling. The rooms are perfect.” His eyes darkened a fraction as he added, “Allof them.”
Relief washed over me, and I couldn’t help the small smile that tugged at my lips knowing he’d found the hidden door. “I was worried you might not like them…”
“Oh, I love mine.” Lucifer chuckled, the sound low and rumbling, as he leaned forward and nipped my ear. “I see my room being incredibly useful.” His smirk was downright sinful, and I felt a blush creep up my neck, heat pooling in my core at the thought of what he might be planning.
Before my mind could wander too far down that path, Marcel’s fingers found their way into my hair, scratching my scalp in that soothing way he knew I loved. “Does this mean you want us all to stay here together?”
“Not if you don’t want to. We can all live here, or you can live in other places. I’m all right either way. Regardless of if you decide to be here or somewhere else, each of you will always have a place in my home.”
August was the first to respond, his voice soft but firm. “I stay wherever you are, Nat. Always.”
Marcel nodded, though there was a slight hesitation. “I’m already used to having August as a housemate, so what’s one more?”
Lucifer, never one to be outdone, added, “I wouldn’t want to be anywhere else, but it better stop at the three of us.” Marcel made a sound of agreement, and I couldn’t help but laugh a little.
“I never meant to fall in love with one person, let alone three,” I admitted, shaking my head in disbelief at my own life before teasing them. “Managing the three of you is a lot, especially with my work.”
The guys quieted a moment, looking at each other as though they were having some sort of silent conversation.
“What is that look for?” I asked.
Lucifer’s expression softened, his eyes dark with concern. “We’ve been talking . . .”