Page 49 of Moonlit Alexandrite

We spoke briefly with Ramsay, who was flushed with pride and exertion as he received pats on the back and compliments from the other band members on their way offstage. Panic flitted across his face at the sight of a couple of fangirls waiting for his attention, and I had to hide my smile with a polite cough. Poor guy had no game.

Outside the pub, I asked Lex and the guys over to my place, while Dash promised to see Colbie home safe.

“I had a really great day. Thanks for inviting me, guys,” Colbie said, hugging Lex tightly before wandering down the street. Dash jogged after her, and I watched in amusement as he wrapped an arm around her waist and was promptly shoved off. Watching him stumble on the cobblestone may have been the highlight of my night.

“She wants him,” Lex sighed, and I noticed she was also watching the couple.

“He’s annoying the hell out of her,” I pointed out.

Lex chuckled, as though I had missed something vital. “I know, and she’s letting him. I’ve seen her knock a guy out for less.”

Well, shit.

Lex threaded her fingers through mine and wandered along peacefully beside me as we headed toward the modest two-bedroom walk up we lived in, near the entrance to Flare. It would have been faster to drive, but parking was a bitch and we walked the distance by unspoken agreement. Above us, the star-laced night sky stretched infinitely, reminding me of how small we were in the grand scheme of things. How lucky we were to have found each other in the vast stretch of the universe.

Nothing was taking my family from me.

“I wish I could paint it,” Lex murmured, and I noticed she had tilted her head back too. She took a deep breath and rolled her eyes to mine. “I can never get it right though. There are so many variations in the shades of darkness that I could never do it justice.”

“There is beauty in imperfections,” I reminded her. “Your interpretation is lovely because it is your perception of the world, not because you have perfectly captured a moment that appears different to each individual. That’s expecting yourself to be capable of pleasing everyone, and you can’t.”

She nodded and looked back to the sky, trusting me to guide us safely home.

* * *

When we arrivedat my house, Tase went to lay Newt down in his bedroom while I made coffee for the guys and tea for Lex. She accepted her cup with a smile as she folded herself into Dion’s side on the sofa. The shift in Dion was remarkable. He curled a casual arm around her hips and pressed a kiss to her hair, a small grin playing on his lips as I left his coffee mug by his elbow. It seemed our little succubus was causing positive changes in all of us jaded assholes.

When Tase returned and settled himself on the arm of the sofa next to Lex, I told them about my meeting with Tammilyn.

Lex was furious.

“How dare she try to take Newt away! Ren, you can’t choose me over that little boy, he needs his Da. What do we do?”

“I know a couple of assassins that could help,” Tase offered, as though asking if we would like sugar in our coffee.

“No assassins, Tase,” Dion warned. Lex stayed noticeably quiet, and I made a mental note to stop watching predator documentaries with her. Clearly, she was thinking in terms of eradicating competition.

“We’re not killing anyone! Fucking hell, you lot! She has no power here. I’m going to speak to Stone, see if he knows a lawyer that can help, and tell her to fuck right the hell off.”

“Oh. Well... good then,” Lex said quietly. Her cheeks were flushed, and I realized my outburst may have had more of an effect than I was going for.

“Red? Are you alright over there?” I asked.

She opened her mouth to say something, but seemed to change her mind. “It’s hot when you yell like that, and I... well... my succubus. No, you know what? I haven’t had you yet, and I very much want you right now.” She kicked her chin up, as though challenging me to laugh at her for being so forward. It was moments like this I realized how difficult it must have been for her, denying what she was for so many years.

“Red, if you want me, take me. Any time. I would say anywhere, but that seems to be Tase’s thing with you.”

Tase grinned wickedly and shot her a wink when she made eye contact with him.

“Do you want us to give you guys some space?” Dion asked. I could see how much he wanted to stay, but this was Lex’s decision.

“No, I want us all together. We’re a family, and this is us. I just need Ren first.”

Dion nodded and got to his feet to trade places with me. Lex stood and moved to the center of the room, looking each of us in the eye before shedding one piece of clothing after another. My cock was screaming for release by the time she slipped her shorts down over her hips. The smug grin on Tase’s face told me he already knew about her lack of undergarments.

“You weren’t wearing panties all day?” Dion demanded, casting an accusing glare at Tase. “And you didn’t think to tell us?”

Tase shrugged easily, completely unrepentant.

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