Page 54 of What the Hex
With his promotional tour taking him all over the country, King had stayed in Colorado to continue working at Blackhaven Manor. There, he had Arlo, his other friends at the hotel, and his relationship with his siblings was growing stronger all the time.
Still, it wasn’t exactly how Storm had pictured mated life.
Sleeping in hotel rooms—or not sleeping, as it were—had given him a lot of time for self-reflection. During those restless nights, he’d taken stock of what he most valued, with his mate and his family being right at the top of that list. So, he had a decision to make, and honestly, it wasn’t even a hard one.
He couldn’t live without his heart, and his heart wasn’t in New York or the film industry.
Slowing to a stop in front of his parents’ ranch-style home, he caught King by the elbow to stop him from exiting the SUV. “Hold up a minute. I wanted to ask you something.”
Confused but accepting, his mate waited patiently for him to find the words.
There was no easy way to say it, though. He just had to rip the bandage off and hope for the best. “I turned down the new role.”
“I know.”
Storm blinked. “How?”
“Damien told Arlo, and Arlo told…well, everybody.”
Yeah, that added up. Damien and Arlo had become fast friends, and they still kept in contact almost daily. It was a shame there wasn’t a romantic attraction there because they’d make a hell of a couple.
“Why didn’t you say anything?”
King shrugged. “I figured you’d tell me when you were ready to talk about it. I’m guessing you’re ready now.”
There wasn’t really anything to talk about since he’d already made up his mind, but he did want to know how King felt about it. “What do you think?”
“I think you should do what makes you happy. I told you in the beginning, I’ll support whatever you want to do.”
“And if I wanted to quit acting altogether and take over the farm?”
“First, this is not a farm.” King reached across the console to take his hand and cradle it between both of his own. “Secondly, I always knew we’d end up here eventually. It’s in your blood, Tex.”
It was a corny nickname, but like everything else about his mate, he adored it. “You’d be okay with living here?”
For the first time, King showed a hint of reluctance. “With your parents?”
Ah, now he understood. “Not in the same house. We could build our own place. Mom and Dad set aside ten acres for me and the girls, or if you don’t like that, we can look for property nearby.”
“I don’t have a problem living at Cat’s Cradle, but Storm, I don’t know the first thing about ranching.”
“That’s okay. I’ll teach you.” The twins would love the chance to show him the ropes around the barn. “Or you could help Mom in the greenhouses. Or, hell, if you don’t want anything to do with it, you can get a job in town.”
It was on the tip of his tongue to tell him that he didn’t have to work at all if he didn’t want to, but he knew King would never go for that.
“It’s not too far from Colorado,” he added. “Only a four-hour drive, so you can see your brother and sisters whenever you want. Of course, they’re always welcome here, too.”
“Storm, stop.” With a gentle smile, he lifted Storm’s hand and pressed a kiss to the knuckles. “You don’t have to convince me. You’re right. I’ll learn, and if I decide it’s not for me, there are plenty of hotels nearby.” Dropping his hand, he hopped up on the console and grabbed Storm’s face. “As long as we’re together, that’s enough for me.”
“You mean it? You’re just saying that because—”
“I mean it.”
Grasping the back of his mate’s neck, Storm slanted their mouths together, pouring every ounce of love and gratitude he could into the mating of their lips. Their tongues slid together in an intimate dance, twining and tangling as they lost themselves in exploration.
Storm groaned as the scent of dark chocolate and cinnamon filled his senses, and he shifted in his seat when his cock swelled to fill his Wranglers. Unfortunately, he was so lost in his mate, he had completely forgotten where they were.
The loud banging on the passenger window was like a deluge of icy water to his libido.