Page 175 of His Darkest Desire

Aiden scoffed and slipped his arms around her, burying his face against her neck and making her laugh. “Might be getting old, but I still know how to make you feel real good.”

“Dad!” Kinsley and Madison exclaimed.

Cecelia raised her mug in the air. “To lovers who make us feel good. May Madison and I find our own someday.”

“Hear, hear!” Madison chimed.

The electricity flickered, making the string lights on the tree cast erratic, colorful flashes across the room.

“Looks like we have company,” Aunt Cece said with a smirk.

The front door swung open. Chilly winter air swept in, and three blue orbs followed it, swirling around Kinsley. Hope giggled as she reached for the wisps. They hovered before her, brushing ghostfire tendrils along her arms.

But Kinsley’s eyes focused on the open doorway.

Vex emerged from the evening gloom beyond the threshold, stepping into the room. The door closed behind him without so much as a gesture on his part. That quickly, the electricity returned to normal. His long, dark hair shimmered in the light, and silver accents gleamed on his black tunic.

Kinsley’s heart quickened, just as it always did when she saw him.

His glowing crimson eyes immediately met hers, and he grinned, flashing his white fangs as he strode toward her. Without missing a beat, he swept Kinsley into his arms and slanted his mouth over hers. His split tongue teased the seam of her lips, and she parted them, allowing that tongue to slip inside and twine around her own. His taste was sublime, and his breath bore a hint of snow and spice. Groaning, Kinsley clutched at his tunic with her free hand, needing more.

Madison released another loud sigh. “As I said, not fair.”

Breaking the kiss but not lifting his head, Vex arched a brow. “What is not fair?”

Kinsley smiled and brushed the tip of her nose against his. “That you are mine.”

Vex smiled. “Forever.”

Hope babbled and grasped a handful of Vex’s long hair, giving it a few enthusiastic yanks.

Vex gently caught Hope’s wrist and, with patient delicacy, freed his hair from her hold. He leaned his head down and kissed the baby’s knuckles. “Hello, my little love.”

She cooed at him with the biggest smile on her face, her eyes bright and shining.

Watching their interactions always filled Kinsley with such warmth and adoration, never failing to melt her heart. Before Vex and Hope, she wouldn’t have thought such love and tenderness was possible. It was so much more than she ever could’ve imagined. So much more than she’d ever dared hope.

And it was all hers. They were hers.

Vex lifted his gaze to the Christmas tree, which the wisps were circling slowly as they made little sounds of awe. “I see you’ve managed well enough without me.”

“Once the tree is up, Kinsley and Madison can’t help themselves,” Aiden said.

“At least they’re a little more mindful about where they put the ornaments.” Emily chuckled. “When they were girls, they’d rush around the tree like little tornadoes, racing to see who could put up the most ornaments. It was…”

“Chaos,” Aiden finished.

“It was fun,” Madison said.

Emily snorted and shook her head. “What wasn’t fun was having to untangle tinsel from your hair afterward. I’ll never understand how you two always managed that.”

“Just a little sisterly competitiveness,” said Kinsley with a grin.

“Did you have time to, uh…get everything set up, Vex?” asked Aiden.

Flare zipped to the center of the room, their ghostfire nearly sizzling in their excitement. “Oh, it is—”

“Quiet,” Echo said as they joined Flare.

---