If You Make a Deal With a Shadow...

Chapter 26

"Baby, I need you like the snow needs the winter. Ooo, baby, you're the winner. And my heart keeps pounding and I keep fallin' for your love and I don't wanna' get up."

- I Need You by Lloyd

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"Turn around," he demanded in a lower tone, making shivers course throughout her body. She did as she was told. "Now... Cover your eyes."

Payton stood behind her and set his hands on her hips, guiding her slowly up the stairs. Little did he know of the effect he had on her. His fingertips touching her soft skin sent her body ablaze. Her upper lip was sweating and she was trying to pretend like everywhere he touched didn't ache. She hated how her body betrayed her every time when it came to him. By now her whole was sweating and based off muscle memory they had just turned into the East Wing. At that point she figured the surprise must've been in her room. Aubrey got giddy all over again.

When he cut their walk short Aubrey's eyebrows furrowed. She knew the East Wing by heart by now and she knew her bedroom was still at the end of the long hall. "What's going on?" she wondered, peeking through her fingers. He quickly slapped her butt one good time and she yelped before putting her hands promptly back into place.

He grabbed the small of her back without a word while using his other hand to reach around her to open the door in front of them. She tapped her foot impatiently and he noticed this so he opened the door even more agonizingly slow. He shoved it all the way open when she snapped at him. "Okay," he chuckled before pushing her into the room and shutting the door.

Aubrey inhaled. "Can I take my hands off of my face now?" she wondered.

"Yes, Miss Wilson, you may remove your hands," he whispered and she smiled before doing so.

Her smile dropped when she looked around the room. In front of her were two females. Amanda. Charlotte. Their name-tags read. The room had a high ceiling and she noticed that the wall paper was vertically striped. Yellow and Red. On the left side of the room there was a huge play area with a mini grocery store and an artificial kitchen.

There also was a computer area—consisting of only Apple products, of course. Aubrey rolled her eyes as a smile played on her lips. There was also a supply table and area full of paint, crayons, paper, and more. His and her bathrooms were also on that side. A sink, microwave, mini fridge, and mini pantry also were there.

On the right side of the room there was a couch—with end tables—and a TV in front of it. A yellow and a red twin-sized bed accompanied the wall with two matching dressers between them. A 40-inch TV was mounted on the wall accentuating the bedroom look. Two cribs, one yellow and one red, were along the wall where the door was. Between those cribs was a rocking chair and in the front of them was a changing station with a tall dresser beside it.

The middle of the room consisted of a few tables that connected together. In the back of the room there was an alphabet carpet that faced a chalkboard. The chalkboard had bookcases on either side. The whole room was entirely furnished to be a room and classroom. Aubrey was speechless. Payton eyed her nervously, thinking she didn't like it. She hadn't said anything the entire time and her smile had slowly faded the longer she looked around.

"I... Uh... If you don't like it I can always—" she cut him off by connecting their lips. Payton's face turned into shock as her lips danced against his. He smirked against her mouth after awhile. When she pulled away and noticed his smirk she blushed. "You like it..." he breathed.

"I love it!" she exclaimed and he grinned. "I don't understand what it's for though. I don't run a daycare," her eyebrows knit together.

"It's for... when Junior wants to come over and stay the night so he won't have to sleep with you. I got another bed and cribs just in case anymore babies pop out of nowhere," he chuckled before looking at her ash-fallen face. "No. No, I didn't mean that you would have anymore kids. It's just reassurance for the whole house and staff. Also, if you have nieces or things like that. I just felt it would make you excited. Of course, it's only for Junior right now because I haven't heard of anyone else conceiving, but it's better safe than sorry. Charlotte and Amanda are here to help, but I understand if you wouldn't like that because of the... incident," he then threw her a cheeky smile.