Her legs were still shaky from the long ride and she was very tired, but looking in through the glass, she could see a fire going in the fireplace, and that was something she’d always dreamt of when she’d fantasized about having a home. Just looking at it made her forget how exhausted she was.
“Ice,” she whispered. “Is this really yours?”
He slung his arm around her neck. “Ours,” he corrected. “Czar insisted we all have homes of our own. Wanted us to put roots down here and become part of the community.” He shrugged. “I liked this house because of all the glass. It still gives you a sense of freedom, not confinement.”
Soleil looked up at him. That was a strange reason for buying a house, needing glass so one could feel free versus confined. She leaned into him. He was a strong man and gave her a sense of safety. It occurred to her that he felt safer out in the open rather than behind walls. That was an odd concept to understand. It only brought home to her much more that she knew very little about the man she had married.
Ice leaned down and brushed a kiss over her lips. “Don’t look so scared. You’re safe with me, Soleil. I swear to you, I won’t let anything bad happen to you. I intend to make you the happiest woman in the world.” He gestured toward the steps leading to an ornate glass door.
The heavy door had a replica of their jackets’ Torpedo Ink logo, only this was in stained glass and very large, taking up a great deal of the door. The tree, the skulls in the roots, the ravens in the branches as well as a few flying away, were very distinct and detailed.
“Someone made this for you,” she guessed. The attention to each element was superb. She could look at the door all day. “Someone you know.”
“One of the brothers, Casimir, is married to Lissa, a glassblower. She’s famous for her chandeliers. She also does metal and stained-glass work. I pitched the idea of the door to her and she went to work on it immediately.”
“The work is amazing.” Soleil knew quality when she saw it. Again, her preconceived notions of how her husband lived were completely wrong. She pictured him living in a clubhouse with his brothers and partying every night.
“Haven’t really lived here,” Ice admitted as if guessing her thoughts. “None of us are comfortable living alone. We spent far too much time together watching one another’s backs.” He reached around her and opened the door, swooped her up and carried her inside, laughing, his expression happy as he kissed her and then set her feet on the entryway floor.
Soleil stepped deeper into the house, and her breath caught in her throat, the question of why they had to watch one another’s backs fading along with her joy at his carrying her over the threshold as she gazed inside. The house felt welcoming. It was large, but not too large. The high ceilings gave it a spacious feel, and the thick, luxurious carpets and long, stone fireplace made the house feel unexpectedly cozy. She found herself clutching Ice’s arm in excitement.
“I’ve never had a home,” she admitted, sounding breathless even to her own ears. “This is spectacular.”
Ice flashed his heart-stopping smile and gestured to the interior. “Look around, princess, this is your castle. Feel free to do anything you’d like with it. The brothers and Lana hastily added a few pieces of furniture for us. They also stocked the refrigerator. It’s nowhere near the things we’ll need, so we can go furniture shopping in a few days.”
Her heart was pounding, beating way too fast. For a moment she thought she might not be able to breathe. She wanted a family and a home more than anything. Ice was so casual about it, waving his hand around, and telling her they’d go pick out furniture. That was what couples did—they shopped for household items together.
Tears welled up and she looked away from him, not wanting him to see. Naturally he did, because when something involved her, Ice seemed to see everything. He stepped in front of her and tipped up her chin with his finger under it.
“Tell me what’s wrong, baby.”
His voice was soft and compelling. Her body reacted the way it did around him, coming to a full alert, every nerve ending springing to life. She wanted to close her eyes and escape his scrutiny, those amazing blue eyes of his that seemed to see everything, but it was impossible.
“It’s not wrong. It’s all right. Unbelievable.” She choked back the tears threatening to clog her throat. “This is like a dream, and I’m going to have to wake up soon and realize it isn’t real and I’m alone in an endless string of hotel rooms.”