Page 460 of Dark Love

Now he’s speaking my language. “With snacks?”

Vex chuckles and my body moves with him, taking the joy in.

“Sounds good.” I semi-jump up. “Dibs on the bathroom.”

The doorbell rings.

“Who’s that?” Vex glares at the stairs.

“I didn’t invite anyone.”

Vex is out of the bed in a blink, pulling a gun out of thenightstand.

“What? Why is there a gun in my nightstand?”

“It’s my nightstand now. And because only a fool doesn’t have a weapon nearby at all times.” He doesn’t bother with shoes as he heads to the stairs.

“I’m not a fool.”

“No.” He gives me a cheeky wink. “Your weapon sleeps next to you every night.”

And he’s not going to let me live that down.

The doorbell rings.

Gun. Vex. Door.

“Stop,” I almost shout.

He actually stops mid-step halfway down the first flight.

“That could be my mother. You’re not answering the door for my mother with a gun in your hand dressed like that.”

“You need a better security system.”

Huh? “What does that have to do with answering the door with a gun?”

“Because we would know who’s at the door before you answer it. I’m having a new one installed tomorrow.”

“I don’t need a new security system. The one I have works perfectly well.” Instead of heading to the bathroom, I grab my robe and head down the stairs.

Vex waits for me to catch up. “This isn’t up for discussion. The new system will be installed tomorrow.”

“Fine.” Why am I going to fight to feel less safe in my own home? “But we should probably wait a month or two. I spent a bit more than normal this month.” It’s not like I couldn’t afford it, but I don’t like spending excessively, and with the convention next week my monthly expenses are super high.

“What it costs doesn’t matter.”

“Of course, it matters.” Does Vex think I’m made of money just because I live in a nice house? Everyone doesn’t own a nightclub that practically prints money every night.

Wait, is he a forger? Is that why everyone thinks he’s a criminal? Night clubs are a good place to launder money according to the television. Forgery doesn’t sound like a terrible crime. He could probably stop now that he’s wealthy.

“No, it doesn’t, because I’ll be paying for it.”

What? “You’re not paying for my security system.”

“Yes, I am.”

“We had this fight before. I’m not comfortable with you paying for my things.”

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