jeans on, but the top button is unsnapped, and I can tell he'd literally just climbed out of bed. His irritation fades as he squints at me. “Vee? Something wrong?”
“I want to talk to you,” I say as I try to ignore all the skin he's showing off. I make a move to walk past him into his room, but he blocks me. I look up and frown questioningly at him.
Roman gives me a meaningful look. “I'm not alone,” he says pointedly.
Oh. I try not to look embarrassed, because I need to get used to all this sex stuff. I live with sex demons, I'm fifty percent of what they are. It's ridiculous feeling awkward over something that's a way of life. I tilt my head up and look at him a bit stubbornly. “If she's not awake, do you have a minute?”
He glances over his bare shoulder briefly as he steps out in the hall, quietly shutting his door. “What's going on?”
“You tell me. Trace dragged me out of the club and had me home and tucked in bed in no time at all. I'm sure you know what's going on. Fill me in.”
He sighs, and his hand carves through his messy hair. “It's nothing for you to worry about.”
“Liar,” I accuse. “I didn't see him dragging you out of the club. Whatever is going on has to deal with me.”
Roman gives me a look. “Finding out you're a succubus completely threw your world off its axis, right?”
“Yeah. Obviously.”
“Then concentrate on what you do know and work on adjusting to it.”
I fold my arms over my chest. “Roman, I am more concerned with what I don't know.”
“Don't worry about it.”
“Right,” I say sarcastically. “Keeping me in the dark from pertinent information has worked out so well for me in the past.”
Roman mutters something under his breath and shoots me a look. “Go bug Khristos. I am not the bad guy here.” He turns and goes back in his room, firmly shutting the door in my face.
I glare at the door for a second until I decide to do just exactly that. I have to talk to him about my mom anyway. I make my way down to the kitchen, because Adelaide usually knows where everyone is. Sure enough, she's at the stove making pancakes on a griddle. Just the smell has my stomach rumbling.
Adelaide looks up and catches sight of me. “Morning, Livvy.”
“Morning, Addie.” I'm gradually coming to terms with the fact that she's a witch, and every time I see her it gets a little easier. “Do you know where Khristos is this morning?”
“He's out by the pool.”
“Thanks. I'll be back in shortly,” I say lightly as I walk over to the patio doors. I see through the glass that Khristos is sitting at a table on the far side of the patio. It looks like Trace and Marko are out there with him. I look back at Adelaide, who has her back to me, her attention focused on making breakfast. “Addie?”
She turns her head and looks at me questioningly.
“Is it okay for me to go out there?”
This brings a smile to her face. “There's a new rule in this household. When you ask for Khristos, we take you to him immediately. He'll welcome your company.”
“Okay. Thanks.” I step outside and as soon as Khristos sees the movement, he looks up. I see him say something to Trace and Marko, and they both rise to their feet and walk towards me. At first I think they are coming to greet me, but then I realize they are leaving and walking towards the patio doors.
When I reach Khristos, I see that he's sipping a glass of orange juice, and he has a newspaper in front of him along with a cell phone. He looks like he's been up since the break of dawn. His hair is perfectly in place, and he's dressed in one of his usual suits.
“Good morning, Livvy,” he greets with a curious smile. “Sit down,” he says, motioning to the chairs.
“Khristos.” I pause near an empty chair. I'm not here to socialize, but it would be rude to stand over him the whole time. I sit down in one of the recently vacated chairs. “What was going on last night?” I dive straight into why I've sought him out.
Khristos studies me. “Nothing that you need to concern yourself with.”
“I'm not stupid, you know. The fact that Roman didn't have to leave says a lot. And Trace