They all watched as Meryn turned her waffle into a cartoon face using whip cream and chocolate.
Rheia leaned back. "That just doesn't seem right to me."
Ryuu handed her a cup of coffee by the saucer. "Would it help you to understand if I told you Meryn is single handedly restructuring some of the oldest paranormal traditions for the better? She looks at the world with fresh eyes. The changes she has made, will save thousands of lives."
Meryn waved a waffle-laden fork around. "I know, I know. I look and sound like an immature teenager. It's not that I don't know the societal norms, I just don't give a flying fu..." She looked down at Penny. "Fig. Most of society are assholes, why would I care what they think?"
"I agree with you," Rheia said sipping her coffee. She paused and looked down at the cup. "Holy Mother of God," she said breathlessly. She turned and looked up at the handsome squire.
Meryn and Beth giggled. Beth winked at her. "I know exactly what you're thinking. Impeccable manners, gorgeous, can run a house, cook incredible food and brew the nectar of the Gods, is this man real?"
Rheia let out a sigh of relief. "Thank God, I thought it was just me."
Meryn shook her head. "No, we all have crushes on Ryuu. Plus he spoils us." Meryn blew kisses to her squire. Around the table, Aiden and Gavriel growled low. Rheia noticed her mate wasn't acting particularly possessive. She didn't know if she liked that he wasn't acting like a caveman, or was upset because he wasn't.
Colton caught her staring and winked. "One. You're my mate, once I claim you, no other man will even compare," he said oozing confidence. "Two. He feeds me too. I have a man crush on him, so I can't get mad." He shrugged.
Rheia began to laugh so hard she had to put her cup down. "Oh Lord, I think I'm punch drunk, because he's not that funny," she said wiping her eyes. Around the table, the men chuckled.
Colton stood, glaring at the men. "I am so that funny. But you're exhausted, come on honey. Time for bed."
Rheia stopped laughing and scowled up at him. "I told you, I'm not going to bed with you."
Colton walked over to Meryn and picked Penny up. "And I made a bet with my baby girl that you would. Let's go see who wins. Last one upstairs has to make the bed!" he shouted and sprinted from the room.
Rheia looked around. "Is he serious?"
Aiden nodded. "Yes. He never makes his bed."
Sighing Rheia walked out of the dining room. She found Colton and Penny waiting for her in the foyer. She raised an eyebrow. "I thought we were racing."
He shrugged. "I remembered you haven't been upstairs yet and I'd have an unfair advantage." He easily carried Penny on his right side. Her daughter was sitting comfortably on his muscular forearm. He offered her his left elbow and smiled. "Come on, honey."
"I'm not going to sleep with you," she said placing her hand on his elbow.
"Bet you a dollar," he countered.
"Deal," she accepted. No way in hell was she letting him sleep with her and Penny.
CHAPTER THREE
Rheia walked into the room and was pleasantly surprised. Colton's bedroom was neat and tidy, with the exception of the bed, which looked like the blankets had been thrown on haphazardly. He had decorated using different shades of creams, whites and dark browns. The furniture looked expensive, but broken in and comfortable. Colton set Penny down on the bed and the girl immediately burrowed beneath the covers like a mole.
"Penny, honey, you have to change." Rheia started towards the bed.
Colton caught her around the waist. "Let her be. We'll be getting up in a few hours anyway; we don't want to be up all night." He leaned in and whispered against her ear. "Or do we?"
Shivering she pulled away and gave him a sour look. They watched as Penny's head popped out of the covers near the headboard. She was in the center of the king sized bed and looked even smaller because of it. She looked perfectly comfortable.
Rheia turned to Colton. "She's a bed hog; there won't be room for three of us." She crossed her arms over her chest.
"Oh? I think they'll plenty of room." Colton stood back and stripped his shirt off over his head. Rheia nearly swallowed her tongue. She shot a nervous glance over to Penny who watched them with her normal, serious expression on her face.
"What are you doing?" she whispered. She ogled each defined muscle, there was a definite six-pack, or was that...
"Eight," Colton said, his eyes laughing.
"Excuse me?" she stuttered.
"Eight pack." Colton flexed shamelessly.
Rheia felt her heart rate pick up. When her breathing changed, Colton stopped flexing and turned to her his green eyes burning.
"I'll stop teasing, since baby girl is here." Taking a deep breath, he turned towards a closed door. "I'll change in the bathroom, be right out." The sight of his muscled back was no less dangerous than his washboard abs; Rheia was shocked when a slight whimper escaped.
When Colton turned back to face her, one hand on the doorknob, he had the biggest grin on his face. Seconds later, he disappeared into the bathroom and Rheia let out a shaky breath. The first thing she did was get out her phone charger and plug in her phone. She took her shoes off and debated on changing into pajamas for only a second. She quickly dismissed the idea, opting instead to stay prepared for any emergency. She lifted the covers and scooted in next to Penny.