the floor is freezing, and he asked her to ‘please bring some color into the room.’”
I shook my head. “She’s wanted color in my bedroom for years.”
“Not that she came out and shared that with you.”
“No, of course not,” I agreed. “But the look on her face every time she walked in, shaking her head as she glanced at a rug or a chair, made her opinion fairly clear.”
Stone snorted. “You know, you could put a stop to any and all of his changes. The only reason they’re listening to him is because they think he has the authority to make these decisions, like a typical omega would,” he pointed out. “But he should have also discussed anything he wanted altered with you first.”
“Do you think I care?” I asked him. “Whatever it takes for him to be happy and comfortable in our room and in our bed, I want done.”
“Really?”
“Weren’t you the same with Gigi?”
“Gigi’s my alpha, I would do anything to make her happy, it’s hard-wired in me, and of course, I love––” He stopped himself mid-sentence, and after I realized he wasn’t going to say anything more, was instead going to stand there and stare at me like I’d grown another head, I demanded he speak. It took my brother a moment to gather his thoughts. “Are you trying to tell me you love this man?”
I took a breath. “I don’t know, but what I do know is that whatever he wants, if it’s in my power to give, he’ll have it.”
Stone clapped me on the shoulder. “Brother, what do you think love is?”
I scowled at him. “What else did he do while I was in the shower?”
“Avery hates dead things. Did you know?”
“He’s an omega; they’re about life, never death.” But even as I spoke the words, I wondered how that worked with Avery being a police officer. He investigated murders; dealing with death was an inevitability. That he might ever get caught in the crossfire and cause someone’s death if it meant saving the lives of others was an unthinkable paradox. My mate was a puzzle I might never gather all the pieces of.
“Well, that means all the animal rugs throughout the house, the mounted trophies on the walls, and even the zebra-covered chair in the library, he wants all those gone,” Stone continued, not noticing I’d gone quiet.
“Mrs. Roe must be in heaven,” I imparted when I realized Stone was looking at me, waiting for some kind of response.
“She hated them when grandfather sent them here from the estate in Edinburgh,” he reminded me. “Now your mate has given her a free hand to send them all back, immediately, and handpick items to take their place.”
“Avery told her to choose those things without consulting with him first?”
“He asked specifically for antiques and paintings that would remind us of our father, bring him to mind, as it were, and to include whatever our mother had loved.”
I sighed deeply. “That’s terribly intuitive.”
“Agreed,” Stone replied, his voice shaky for a moment. “Already, in less than an hour, he’s made quite the impression on your staff.”
I turned to look at my brother. “What about you and Gigi?”
He gestured to his wife, in couture, sprawled on the floor, stroking the paws of a cat who was purring next to her, allowing her ministrations. “She adores him, she adores his cat. He walked right up and hugged her without permission. Just grabbed her and said he was so happy to have another sister.”
I grunted.
“She cried, Graeme. My wife, the dragon lady, cried.”
“And you?”
“He hugged me too, and well, he’s terribly confident, and he’s an omega, and…I can’t imagine him not being here with us. I have a picture in my head of the four of us in the library, in front of the great hearth, sprawled out on those overstuffed couches, reading and napping an entire Sunday away.” He seemed almost embarrassed by the confession. “It’s strange, but I can see it so clearly.”
It sounded heavenly, warm and familial. I couldn’t speak, surprisingly choked up over my brother’s admission, and wrapped my arm around Stone’s neck, yanked him close, kissed his temple, and then let him go, so very pleased with him.
“Well now,” Stone said hoarsely, clearing his throat. “Spontaneous affection. How very out of character for you.”
It took another second for me to find my voice. “I can’t help it. He’s done something to me.”
“To all of us,” he rasped. “Such is the power of a true omega.”