Page 19 of Embracing Darkness

Continue?

We had been overcome by desire and need but they wanted to… continue? One could only hope.

And yes, I was going to be ignoringallthe warning signs and red flags. Men that looked like these three didn’t happen, especially not ones that enjoyed cuddling and cleaning up after our little parties. Gianni had been a welcome surprise but the other two who somehow wanted me just as much? I could suffer a little embarrassment if that’s what it took to get a Greek god or three in my bed.

Greedy, was my middle name, and fuck, I’d own it.

Chapter thirteen

RHYS

The heavy stomps of Valentyn entered the hallway, my immediate need to avoid the kitchen taking me to the front door as if to greet the man coming into my home. His expression had tightened since I had last seen him and it took a moment to figure out why when I locked eyes with a small kid peeking out from the back seat of their truck. He looked nearly identical to Valentyn, inquisitive eyes observing everything before him with a smile that radiated purity despite the darkness that surrounded the three men in my house.

He has a kid?

For some people, it was probably a turnoff. For me? It showed me that Valentyn had a heart or at least that he was capable of having one. Ada was the exception.

“Is there a kid in your truck?” I didn’t wait for an answer as a frown overtook my face. “It’s weird you’d leave him in the car,” I blurted out, ignoring the heat in my cheeks. Valentyn grunted at my statement, searching my expression for something. It took me a moment to realize that he was worried I had found out about his kid, waiting for me to react.

He gave me a sheepish smile, running his hands through his hair. “We’re almost done with the estimate and then-”

I shook my head. “Why is there a kid in your truck?” It’s not that I cared but it seemed odd that he had disappeared and now there was a sweet little face staring back at me. The kid threw me a small smile and a wave, opening my heart a little more. Owen and I had never discussed kids but I fucking loved them and that one seemed like he was adorable as fuck. Maybe even more adorable than Tia.

“He won’t be a bother. Just had to pick him up from school.”

It seemed like there was a bigger story there but I wasn’t going to press him on it. I also wasn’t going to have a kid sitting out there while his father was in here, professionalism be damned. “He doesn’t have to stay outside.”

“We’re on a job,” he stated. “I would have taken him home, but we live a little farther out. He’s not going to be any trouble and-”

Valentyn trailed off and I could see that he was worried I’d say something, or fire him, or report him. On top of last night, I knew that this wasn’t exactly the prime time to reveal that there was a kid involved. I could see the desire to fight me on what came out of my mouth, that that kid meant more to him than anything else. I wished Owen had looked at someone like that for me…

“I’m not asking you toleave.” The words bundled with a chuckle as I said them, walking around Valentyn and approaching the truck slowly. I knew Gianni and Dmitri weren’t going to finish in the next five to ten minutes and it made no sense for the kid to stay out here. Especially not one as young as that. Ignoring every bit of panic in my body and knowing that I was probably overstepping, I leaned through the back window to catch the kid’s attention. “Hey, wanna come inside?”

The kid stared at me and then grinned, sitting back in his seat. “Dad said to stay here.”

“And I own the house. I’m sure the couch is more comfortable.”

He looked at me and then toward the house where Valentyn was standing, his arms folded across his chest as he gave the kid a pert nod. The kid’s smile widened, his eyes sparkling as he unbuckled and flung himself against my chest when I opened the door. “Let’s go!” The kid threw up a fist as if I were his chariot, his bag bouncing on his back, making me chuckle at his antics as we went inside.

I placed him on the couch, the kid pulling out a workbook from his backpack and immediately ignoring the rest of the world. It was endearing to watch, images of my own fantasy filtering into my head. A child—mychild—on the couch, giggling and playing withmyhusband as I experimented with a new flavor in the kitchen just before screaming that I had found a proof to support my research. My husband would run in and try to drag me out of the wormhole I had fallen into, numbers and words written out in batter as I had been too lazy to grab a pen…

It’s never going to happen.

Trailing back to the kitchen, I glared at Valentyn who seemed uneasy that I had brought his kid inside but if he thought I was just going to be okay with his son in the car… Although, now that I thought about it, I had been a little over the top. Deciding to avoidthatas well, I walked further into the kitchen, hands tugging at each other. “Do you guys have an estimate yet?” Trying to keep this professional was becoming more difficult the longer these men were in my house but I needed to at least attempt it.

Heat rushed to my cheeks again as Dmitri and Gianni stared at me. Only silence met my words as Valentyn stepped in front of me. “What?” I cried out, cringing. Was this the part where I got reprimanded for succumbing to my urges?

Valentyn smirked. “Paval doesn’t listen to many people. He’d have stayed put in the car no matter how many bribes you gave him. He’s pretty submissive but he doesn’t alwayslisten. What did you do?”

I frowned, looking between the three of them. I hadn’t done anything. I had told the kid he’d been more comfortable in the living room and then he came with me after his father nodded. That had been it. “Nothing? I-”

Paval squealed, stepping in between me and his father as he grabbed onto one of my hands. “Dad likes you.”

“Excuse me?” I looked at Valentyn, unsure of what to do with that information. What would he do when he found out what happened a few minutes ago? Dmitri had been ecstatic after learning about last night but was Valentyn the same? What about Gianni? Was he really okay with sharing? And what was I supposed to do when I had just found out that all three of these men I had met not even an hour agolikedme?

Dmitri pushed up off the counter and approached, the heat from his chest so fucking dangerous when he came within two inches of my side. Valentyn didn’t seem phased by how close the Frenchman was. He seemed… intrigued.

“You’re very beautiful to look at,” Gianni called out from the other side of the kitchen, embarrassment flooding my face.He didnotjust say that.But because my luck was shitty as hell, I wasn’t able to find some snarky retort when my door opened again and the nightmare walked in.

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