Page 67 of Vicious King

“It’s about fucking time I got to see you, sweet girl.”

He crosses over to me and, to my utter shock, pulls me in for a hug. We’ve moved into the formal living room so we’re not standing in the doorway, and I can hear Carson introduce Charlie to Lulu, but I take just a second to soak in this hug because I think it might be the first time Rome’s ever touched me on purpose.

“You’re a toucher now?” I demand through my tears as I hug him back.

“Right this minute? Yes. We missed you.” He drags his hand down my hair and then pulls back to smile at me. “You look the same.”

I snort. “And you’re still charming. Don’t make me cry in the first thirty seconds. Introduce me to your amazing wife, please.”

“That’s my pleasure.” He pulls back, and Lulu immediately steps to his side, smiling at me. “This is Eloise, the love of my life.”

“He’s dramatic,” Lulu whisper-yells, and Rome’s eyes narrow. “And I can’t even begin to tell you how happy I am to meet you. I’ve heard so much about you, and it was always so damn sad, but now it’s not sad.”

Her eyes fill with tears as she hugs me.

“Just call me Lulu, by the way.” She wipes her eyes as she steps back. Rome just lifted a tiny infant from the baby carrier and passes her to Lulu. “And this is Sabrina.”

The baby is in a pink dress and has so much dark hair with a little pink bow pinned to it, and I am in love.

I also want six more children.

Today.

“May I?” I ask her, nibbling my lip.

“Of course. Go see your auntie Rina,” Lulu whispers to the sleeping baby as she moves her over to me, and I manage to get her on my shoulder, sniffing her.

“Oh, this’ll make a girl’s ovaries twitch,” I say, chuckling as I sit with a wince in the closest chair.

“What’s wrong?” Rome asks with a frown.

“The tracker was in her leg,” Carson replies, and Rome’s jaw tightens.

“I’m fine. You guys can just leave me with this baby. I’m in heaven.”

“She’s the sweetest,” Lulu agrees and reaches over to brush the baby’s hair with her fingertips.

The doorbell rings again, and when Charlie opens it—he’s declared that he’s the official greeter today—Julian and his wife, Natasha, walk into the room.

“Already claimed the baby,” Julian says with a wink. “I’d like you to meet my wife, Natasha.”

“I’m going to cry,” the beautiful blond says as she walks over to me. “I can’t help it. You’re a mythical creature, you know that, right?”

I snort and then gingerly pass Sabrina back to her mother so I can properly hug this sweet woman.

“I’m just a girl,” I reply as she wraps her arms around me and hugs.

So many hugs lately.

“We’re so relieved you’re here,” Natasha says. “And wait until you meet the other girls. You’re going to love them. We have the best group ever, and I should know because before I married that one”—she points to Julian, who’s grinning like the Cheshire cat—“I didn’t have friends.”

“I met you once,” I inform her and watch as her eyes sober. “You were just a little girl. I think I’m a bit older than you guys by a few years. Anyway, our fathers were talking about something to do with business, and I saw you. You were so quiet, and so lovely, even then.”

Natasha nibbles her lip. “I don’t remember that.”

Charlie has inched his way over to the baby and smiles at Lulu, who turns Sabrina so my son can get a better look.

“She’s cute,” Charlie decides. “How old is she?”