Chapter Seven
Soren
Making waffles was one of Soren’s favorite things to do.
Over the years, he’d experimented with the batter, so he could put different flavored chips, sprinkles and even fresh herbs and different seasonings in them for specific flavor profiles.
Sweet and savory, he made a sweet ‘n’ spicy chicken waffle sandwich he couldn’t wait to share with Taggart.
Right now, he was carefully rolling mini chocolate chips in flour so the batter would cling to them properly.
Fortunately, Taggart’s cupboards and refrigerator had also yielded the ingredients for the perfect surprise to go with his chocolate chip waffles.
The whipped mixture of chocolate pudding powder and fresh cream sat waiting to top the waffles.
Two waffle machines sat on the counter, each with the capability of making four waffles at a time.
He’d easily have his mates fed in no time.
Humming a song that only existed in his head, Soren fluttered around the kitchen.
He laid three platters on the counter and made a ring of sliced strawberries around the center of each that he soon drizzled with chocolate he’d melted with a bit of cream.
Maybe it was a little decadent, but it wasn’t just the first meal he’d be making for them, it was a celebration meal of their mating and the joy he’d felt in his mind last night, when their three voices tumbled together.
When the first timer beeped, his humming grew faster as he removed one waffle at a time, spooning cream between the layers until there was a tower on each plate.
He topped it with a dollop of cream and more drizzled chocolate, then whistled to call them to the table, an old habit it would take time to break himself of.
Breakfast is ready, he thought when the whistling didn’t work and soon got rewarded by the sound of footsteps coming up the hall.
Fast too!
Holy crap.
His naked, skittering mate came flying up the hall, arms windmilling as he attempted to make the turn into the kitchen.
He might have crashed into something if Arlington hadn’t caught up to him and wrapped an arm around his waist, steadying him for the rest of the far more cautious walk to the table.
“Ohhh my,” Taggart moaned when he saw the platters. “Ohh, chocolate on chocolate chips and strawberries too, oh yummy… yum… yum!”
His excitement and the way he dove in made Soren’s heart soar, especially when Arlington joined him at the table moments later, after pouring himself a cup of the coffee Soren had made. He joined them a few minutes later with a mini version of the massive platters he’d made for them.
“This is delicious,” Arlo declared around a big mouthful of food.
“I love cooking,” Soren asserted. “I’ll be happy to make all the meals and keep the house tidy, I just need to know what you both like so I can organize menus and meal prep.”
“M-menus?” Taggart asked, a smear of chocolate near the corner of his mouth that Soren leaned over to lick off.
“Uh-huh,” Soren said, getting a little giddy inside at how the chocolate and his mate tasted together. “With meals and snacks. I like to make them in advance so it’s easier to gather ingredients and keep track of what we’re eating so we don’t have the same things all the time.”
“Will you post them on the refrigerator?”
“I can,” Soren said. “But I won’t be able to make them until you each give me two lists. One food you love, and one of the stuff you absolutely won’t eat,” he answered Arlo once he’d swallowed the mouthful of waffle.
“What happens if I like something and Arlo doesn’t?” Taggart asked, his brows riding up his forehead.
The first two waffles in his stack were already gone, along with all the strawberries.
“Then I’ll make two options for the meal,” Soren explained, shrugging.
Cooking was his passion. His way of making folks happy—it was never a hardship.
“Or I make the same dish, but with different components. Back home, I loved making lasagne because each time I made it, I got to make three different batches. One with ground meat, one with seafood, and one with sausage or chicken. Then everyone could grab whatever they were in the mood for and even mix and match if they wanted.”
“How many people did you feed each day?” Arlo asked gently.
“Dozens,” Soren explained quietly. “People were always flitting in and out and bringing friends along too, so I made a lot of different dishes every day. It’s fun for me.
I love when foods harmonize. Cookbooks are some of my favorite books to read, especially the ones that come with stories behind the concept of a dish and the people who created it.
I collect recipe cards too, and I love creating modern twists on classic dishes.
Everything about it is just… it's like getting to play with blocks all day and then getting to eat them instead of having to put them away.”
“Your brain just likes them,” Taggart said, nodding. “The same way my brain loves computers and digging through all the codes and bits of information.”
“Yeah, my brain just really likes everything about the process. Dicing, chopping, cubing, it all has its own rhythm. I love the swish, thunk of kneading bread and the pretty waves that form in batter when I stir it. Please let me take care of the cooking and the house for you.” Was he begging?
Possibly, but he wanted to take care of his new family.
“I promise that there will always be yummy things to eat, and I’m happy to bring snacks to your office so you don’t have to take as many breaks to come out here.
Is there a mini-fridge in there? I didn’t see one, but if you have one, I can fill it with things each day so you always have something at hand.
It could be amazing sandwiches, with cheese and meat and veggies.
Bacon too, if you’re a fan. I love bacon.
I make my own sauces for them too. Like garlic aioli and pepper jelly.
Sometimes I even make mayonnaise from scratch, but I love blending it with a bit of mustard to give more of a kick.
I make honey mustard spread too. I can make squeeze bottles of each so you can add whatever you’re in the mood for.
” He was waffling now in his excitement, but no one seemed to mind.
“Wow. T-that’s j-just w-wow,” Taggart stammered, his plate almost empty now.
When he let out a little burp and giggled, Arlo raised an eyebrow at him until he blushed and murmured, “Excuse me.”
“It’s a lot to take in,” Arlo replied slowly.
“But most appreciated, especially with how much work Taggart and I have on this current project. I just don’t want you to think that work is all you’re supposed to do around here.
” He reached out and placed a hand over Soren’s, squeezing gently.
“You’re allowed to take time for yourself anytime you want it.
In fact, I will insist on you doing so if there ever comes a point when I feel you’re wearing yourself out trying to prove that you have something to offer us.
I won’t forget either, and I will keep an eye on you.
” Arlo glanced at Taggart. “Taggart isn’t going to need me looking over his shoulder all day, especially not when we can communicate mind to mind.
We all have plenty of opportunities to have some one-on-one time together that I fully plan to take advantage of. ”
Soren had to keep from bouncing in his seat, he was so happy at what Arlington meant by that.
“And I promise I won’t be working all the time,” Taggart added. “I really like the idea of a mini-fridge though, for the really busy days. I’ll order one after breakfast.”
“And I’ll fill it as soon as it arrives,” Soren said, leaning to rub cheeks with Taggart, loving how his whiskers made his skin tingle.
“I can see the purchase of a lunch sack in my future, so I don’t miss out on the extra treats when I’m doing security shifts for the crash,” Arlington rumbled, sounding pleased.
“Now that I have the two of you in my life, I don’t want to live the life of an enforcer anymore.
Being sent on month long missions just won’t work for me moving forward I need to see the two of you every day. ”
Soren loved hearing that and leaned his way next, snuggling, when Arlington reached for him. As far as mornings went, this one was the best he’d had in a long, long time.
Arlo
With Soren snuggling against one side and Taggart on the other, Arlo felt nothing but contentment as he held his boys.
He’d learned some very important things about the way their minds worked and their need for tasks that allowed them comfort and repetition.
It would take some research to find toys and games for them that would allow them the same mental stimulation while still creating the fun aspect.
He was a Daddy with a mission in mind, and he’d work it out at the earliest opportunity, hoping they’d be pleased with what he found for them.
Added to the list he was forming was a call to step down from his existing role and become a crash security officer instead.