Chapter 39
Hot and spicy!
Heston
“This is nice.”
Devyn and I were on the terrace, relaxing on the recliners while Dad took Maverick to the park. Not only was it miraculous that we had time alone, but my dad, who had been at death’s door, was pushing our son in a stroller.
Dad would never run a marathon or climb on a roof or hike through the mountains but he was doing all the activities that had been denied him for so long. And he was happy.
We were happy.
“I adore our little Mav, but thirty minutes to ourselves is pure bliss.” I closed my eyes, allowing the sun to warm my lids.
Our little man wasn’t a great sleeper but at six months old he was better than he had been.
As tired as I was come morning, I was luckier than single parents or parents who had to go to work.
I didn’t have to bust my ass to get out the door each morning and either sit in traffic or stand on a crowded bus or train.
And my mate was his own boss who could work when he wanted. Dad was on hand to babysit for an hour so I could go to the store or take a walk, and we didn’t have to worry about earning enough to pay rent or buy food.
Devyn had received a couple of large commissions and he spent most afternoons at his studio, while I was enrolled in fall classes at the college I’d attended after I left high school.
My mate would look after our son initially when classes started, but Mav might have to go to daycare a few days a week.
The distinctive purr of my mate’s ringtone roused me from my almost sleep.
“Father’s downstairs.”
That was unusual. He normally called or texted when he was on his way. My father-in-law had become a frequent visitor since becoming a grandfather. Mav’s nursery was full of large teddy bears that were as big as me and in the store room was an enormous motorized car.
Devyn told his father Mav didn’t need any more toys but my father-in-law only agreed to bring smaller ones in future. I half expected him to hand our baby the keys to his own apartment.
There were no greetings when the man himself strode in our front door and he didn’t bring anything other than his phone. Not a good sign.
“It’s about Roy.” He stood in the kitchen and poured himself a cup of coffee, gulping half of it before facing us.
Fear prickled over my skin and the warmth from the sun faded even though it was still shining. I picked up my phone and called Dad, wanting him home immediately. But he was downstairs in the lobby and I raced into the hallway and waited until the elevator dinged and Mav was safe in my arms.
Dad asked what was wrong but I just pointed into our apartment before following him and closing the door. I locked it and checked it twice.
“He’s been arrested,” my father-in-law announced.
Instead of dismay or horror, I experienced relief that Roy was finally paying for his mistakes. Much as I resented Sebastian, it seemed as though Roy had gotten off lightly. But as a human, I could only imagine how much pain it caused having his wolf be in hibernation.
“What happened?”
“He was working as a realtor and he had skills. He could have started his own business and been a huge success.” Devyn’s father finished the coffee and put the cup in the sink.
“So what’d he do?” my mate asked.
Mav yawned and Dad took him into the nursery, saying they were both going to have a nap.
“What didn’t he do? He scammed the buyers and the company he worked for.”
Devyn’s father related how his son accepted cash payments from clients without disclosing those details and under-reported the sale price, all to put more money in his own pocket. Plus he had shady deals with mortgage brokers who offered him kickbacks.
Basically he did a lot of illegal shit.
“He could get up to twenty years in prison.”
My mate and I shared a glance. “Please tell me you’re not thinking of visiting him. We’d said all our goodbyes before Mav’s birth and I wasn’t looking back.
“Nope. He’s such a fool.”
“Well, I’ll be off as my grandson is sleeping. Give him a kiss from me.” My father-in-law waved and left.
While I had no love for Roy, I couldn’t help agreeing with Devyn.
He was a fool. He’d been given so much growing up and he threw it all away.
While I didn’t know much about his relationship with Bea, maybe what Roy had been lacking and what he craved, was love from his father.
Not that that was an excuse for breaking the law.
I wandered into the nursery. Dad was asleep on the couch but Mav was awake, playing with the musical toy on the side of his crib. Normally, I would have tiptoed out, leaving my son to entertain himself. But not today.
Picking him up, I changed his diaper and took him into our room. I put him on my chest and we lay together. Maybe Mav sensed I needed quiet time with him because he lay without moving, his head resting over my heart.
Devyn came in and got into bed beside us.
“What are my two favorite people in the world doing?”
“Contemplating life.” We kissed and my mate stroked Mav’s head.
“That will never happen to us,” my mate assured me.
“What won’t?”
“Our son won’t turn out like Roy.”
“Oh my love, you can’t predict the future.” I silenced him with a finger to his lips. “Despite all the love in the world, life doesn’t always turn out the way we want it.”
My mate propped himself up on one elbow. “What are you saying? That we might have a mini Roy on our hands?”
“No. Mav will have all our love and guidance but at some point, we’ll have to let go and he’ll make his own decisions.” And I hoped those would be the right decisions. “But he will not be lacking love. That I guarantee.”
“This parenting gig is a tough one, huh?” My mate put an arm around me and Mav gurgled.
“Oh yeah but it has a lot of pluses.” My belly rumbled. “I’m starving. Shall we order in or cook?”
“I can cook while you and Mav sit and watch.”
I liked that plan. I got our son situated on his play mat under the activity center while I plonked myself on the couch.
“What do you fancy?” Devyn asked as he peered in the fridge, his delectable ass in full view.
“I can think of a few things but I can’t say them out loud, not with Mav in hearing distance.” Dad was still asleep but I didn’t want to chance him hearing me talk dirty to my mate either.
“What?” Devyn raced to the couch and leaned over the back and kissed me.
“You have the most beautiful butt.” I waved him away. ‘Be gone with you. Back into the kitchen and make me dinner. I command it.”
“Oh yes, sire.” He lowered his voice. “And will you have your way with me this evening?”
“Depends.” I giggled.
“On what?”
“If you make me some food, I’ll consider it.”
My mate pulled out vegetables, chicken and herbs. He grabbed spices from the rack, a packet of fried noodles from the cupboard and bottles of soy and spicy sauce.
After peeling an onion, he sliced it, wriggling his butt to the music from Mav’s activity center.
“You like how I cut onions?” he purred.
“Oh yeah. Slice and dice them, babe.”
Devyn chopped ginger and smashed garlic but Mav was concentrating on his toys and didn’t react to the noise.
“How spicy do you want your food?” My mate was holding a bunch of fiery red chili.
“Hot. The hotter the better.”
He glanced up. “We’re still talking about the food, right?”
“Maybe.” I licked around my mouth.
He cut up some chili along with green onions and coriander.
“Wait,” I told him as he turned on the gas and poured oil in the pan.
I set up my phone on the counter and started filming. Knowing how spicy the air would be once he added the garlic, chili and the sauces, I took Mav into our room. I’d almost knocked myself out once when cooking with lots of chili.
While the closed door kept out the smell, it couldn’t block the sizzling as food hit the hot oil. I studied my mate on the laptop and knowing I was watching, he wriggled his ass and cooked up a storm.
Saliva filled my mouth and I counted the minutes, waiting for the meal but also wishing we could get naked together.
“You can come out now.”
I put Mav in the high chair and heated up some of his food I prepared earlier as Dad emerged from the nursery.
“Smells good. Hope there’s enough for me.” He sat beside Mav.
“Always.” Devyn pushed two bowls of noodles toward us.
“Once I’m done, I’ll take Mav to the park.
Huh? “Weren’t you just at the park?”
“Oh yes.” He didn’t look at me as he slurped noodles in his mouth. “But we need to get out of the apartment and let you two have some alone time.” He studied his bowl. “The noodles aren’t the only thing that’s spicy around here.”