She stretched her neck. “I have to follow rules and the law.”
“As do I. They’re just different rules and different laws.” Someday, she’d see the vastness of the world and realize that humans were only one species with specific laws. The immortal ones had lasted much longer. “For now, you follow yours and I’ll follow mine.”
She pressed her hands against her hips. “If our laws collide?”
He grinned. “We’ll duke it out again.”
“Whatever.” She stomped toward the shower. “I need to stop by my place for more clothes.”
He shoved open a walk-in closet. “I had Simone purchase a full wardrobe for you, considering I keep burning up your clothing.”
Alexandra peeked into the spacious room with the abundance of clothes and accessories. “You can’t buy me clothing.”
“I just did.”
She turned, her gaze thoughtful. “Simone seriously went shopping for me?”
Kell snorted. “Well, she had one of her personal shoppers go shopping for you. Take what you want and give the rest to charity.” Yeah, he liked providing for Alexandra.
She fingered a teal silk shirt almost with longing. “I’ll pay you back.”
He tapped her chin. “How about I just burn them off you later?”
A flush covered her pale skin, but she kept glancing around. “So you’re loaded, huh?”
“Aye.” Most women would be pleased by that fact, but he’d bet his last quid Alexandra wouldn’t react like most women.
“Humph.”
He tugged her from the closet and toward the shower. “You do no’ like money?”
“I do no’ like what people will do to keep money.” She mimicked his brogue perfectly.
Hmmm. He’d have to change her mind about money because he planned to spend a pile of it on her, cherishing her in a way her father had failed to do for so many years.
For now, he needed to get her into the shower to start the day off right.
Chapter 29
Lex sat on the hard metal chair and tried not to shiver in the freezing environment. She was alone in the waiting room at the prison, waiting to testify at the parole hearing. A guard behind a bulletproof glass window paid her no heed.
The outside door opened, and her heart warmed as her younger sister marched in. “Tori.”
Her sister hustled toward her, clipping high-heeled boots across the concrete, and tugged her from the chair for a floral scented hug. “I’ve missed you.”
Lex hugged back, grateful beyond words that her sister had come. “I thought you were going to tour Oregon after California.” She leaned back to study her wild child of a sister. Long, curly blond hair streaked with purple cascaded down Tori’s back. Her makeup shimmered, and her clothes, a green T-shirt and ripped jeans, somehow sparkled.
Her eyes were a darker blue than Lex’s. “We finished the tour, and I knew I needed to be here.” Bangles, tons and tons of them, clanged on her left wrist. “You look different.”
Yeah. She’d mated a witch, was becoming immortal, and had enjoyed unbelievable sex recently. “We’ll talk later.”
“Damn straight.” Tori rubbed one of Lex’s shirtsleeves. “Is this real silk?”
From the corner of her mouth, Lex said, “Later,” once more.
Tori nodded and glanced around the dingy room. “Are you ready for this?”
“No. You?”
“Never.” Tori sighed. “I stopped by to see Mom before coming here. She wants the bastard to come home.”
“I know.” Lex shook her head. “It’s so sad.”
Tori tucked an arm through Lex’s. “How’s the money holding up?”
“Great,” Lex said.
“I’d call you a liar except for that shirt and those amazing boots. You on the take, sis?” Tori chortled.
“No. They were a gift.” Lex kept her gaze on the guy behind the glass.
“From whom?” Tori reached down to rub the butter-soft leather. “A man?”
Lex smacked her hand. “What part of later don’t you understand? For now, the money is fine.” Her sister had sold her car and sent most of her last couple paychecks to help out, and unfortunately, she didn’t make much.
“Can I stay with you?” Tori asked.
“Of course.”
“Good. It’s either that or credit, and I’m running low.” she sighed.
Lex nodded. “Amen, sister.”
A buzz sounded, and the guard gestured them toward the door and ensuing metal detector. Lex led the way, her boots clipping, her shoulders back, her badge perched at her waist.
She walked into the hearing room where five parole officers sat behind a wide wooden table. Their father sat over at a far box, his hands cuffed to the table in front of him.
“There are my girls,” he said, smiling as if truly proud to see them.
Tori tripped and Lex slipped an arm through her sister’s to help balance her. Trembles quivered through Tori’s entire body, and Lex tightened her hold, trying to give her sister strength.
“Come sit down,” Lex said, leading Tori to the seats on the other side of the table. “It’ll be okay,” she whispered.