A Gorgeous Villain (St. Mary's Rebels 2)

Hence the request that Reed let Ledger win tomorrow.

Not that he cares about the game, no.

In fact, he watches me from the field more than he watches the ball. Which pisses Shep off because they miss shots that way. But he doesn’t have much leg to stand on, my brother. Because he watches his girl from the field just as much.

Anyway, I’m making this request because as I said, Reed and Ledger still butt heads. And along with me being married to Reed, the other point of contention between them is that my brother is dating my husband’s sister, Tempest.

Which came as a relief after months of Ledge being an idiot about it.

But yeah, I don’t think Ledger and Reed will be best friends any time soon.

Reed bends down then, his features sharp and wolfish. “What do I get in return?”

My heart skips a beat. “What do you want?”

“You.”

“Me what?”

His eyes sweep over my features again. But this time, there’s no sign of the good, noble protector. This time when Reed looks me over, he’s doing it with that predatory, villanous intent that I love so much.

“I hear you’re a ballerina,” he drawls.

I bite my lip to stop my smile and nod. “I am.”

He pretends to think about it, all the while squeezing my waist, flexing his fingers in my braid. “So I want you to spin like one. For me.”

I pretend to be shocked as I play with the ends of his soft hair. “You want me to dance for you?”

“Fuck yeah,” he rasps. “You promise to dance for me like the pretty blonde ballerina you are and I’ll think about letting your brothers win tomorrow.”

God, I love him.

So much.

“And if I don’t?”

“Then I’ll have fun wiping the floor with them.”

I can’t stop my smile then as I shake my head. “You’re a villain, aren’t you?”

“I am.” He pulls me even closer if possible, tugging my neck back. “And you’re my fairy.”

“I am.”

“For the rest of our lives.”

“Until the end of time.”

His jaw clenches with emotion and I can’t help but whisper, “I love you, Roman.”

He swallows. “I fucking love you too, Fae.”

At last, he bends all the way down and I stretch myself all the way up so we can kiss after a long, long day of being apart.

Because this is my life now, see?

This wonderful, lovely life where I get to kiss my villain whenever I want. Where I get to tell him that I love him freely, without hesitation.

Where I get to dance for him.

Which I’ll do tonight.

Like always.

And like always, he’ll get impatient and grab me before the song’s done. He’ll take my clothes off and kiss every inch of my skin. Even though I’m not the same after the pregnancy. I’ve got ugly stretch marks and the scar where they cut Halo out of me still lingers.

But it won’t matter.

Because it’s him and he still kisses my belly like it carries precious life.

For now though, we’ll eat dinner.

Later, Halo and I will show him the surprise we made for him — cupcakes with ‘Halo + Mommy loves Daddy’ spelled out in pink frosting.

Which I know he’s going to love.

I also know that he’s going to choke up a little like he always does when Halo and I make him something. Like he thinks he doesn’t deserve it.

But it’s okay.

I’ll keep making him things until he believes it.

It will be bath time for Halo then. Which is all handled by Reed because she won’t let anyone do this but him, not even Mommy. Followed by story time, which Reed is in charge of again.

And then I’ll get to witness another beautiful thing: Halo sleeping on a bare chested and drowsy Reed.

When I’ve had my fill of watching the two loves of my life, we’ll put her in her crib, and I’ll drag him to our bedroom. So I can dance for him.

Because I’m still his dancing fairy and he’s my wild mustang.

And as I said, this is our wonderful and gorgeous life.

THE END

(For Callie and Reed)

His eyes are pretty.

And so are his hair and his face.

I think if I wanted to, I could draw him.

I’m an artist; I draw things. I see things as a piece of art. As lines and angles. As colors and shades. It’s just something I’ve done all my life.

And I’m not going to lie, he is a piece of art.

He has a broad face, a square jaw and high cheekbones. His lashes are curled and dark, almost forest-y, furry. And his hair’s dark too. With shades of brown, just like his eyes.

Brown of the earth.

Ledger Thorne is handsome and worthy of any artist’s time and attention. Especially when he’s looking at you like that. With so much focus and intensity.

Although I don’t know what I did to catch his eye.

I’m not an attention worthy girl.