Chapter 22
Jackson
A month later.
Christmas was just around the corner, and it seemed my present came just in time.
Susie had called me this morning about my dream mansion, and I’d just signed the paperwork on it.
If everything went as planned, the house would be mine in three days.
Not that I would be able to move in with Pete just yet.
The police were still investigating the former owner’s death and the other owner was under investigation for something else.
Susie had warned me it could take weeks, if not months, before we could move in.
But I was willing to wait if it meant owning that mansion.
I was on my way to pick up Pete for another date night. We had been back to Spring Roll, one time and tonight I was taking him back there again. We had a lot to celebrate and since I hadn’t told him about the mansion yet, I would get to do it over some good food and perfect company.
Ida and Linda were still getting along great, but I could tell Ida was hurt by her mother’s absence.
She’d called and texted her mom to let her know she was okay and had gotten zero replies, even though she could see they’d been read.
Linda had taken it upon herself to bring joy to Ida this Christmas, and since we were all celebrating together, it would be the best Christmas ever.
Pete, Linda, Mike, Ida, Dylan, and me, would be spending Christmas at Linda’s place. We’d agreed on all of us sleeping over, Mike on the couch and Dylan on the floor next to him. I much preferred having privacy with Pete in his room, not that I would dare try anything with everyone in the house.
I parked in front of the house and waited for Pete. It only took seconds before he came out with his heavy coat and beanie on. He looked so adorable like that.
He smiled brightly at me as he got into the car, then greeted me with a quick kiss on the lips. “Where are we eating?”
“Spring Roll,” I replied, loving the instant excitement that went through him.
“Yay!” He did a little happy dance in his seat. “You said you had a surprise for me, but I didn’t think I’d get this lucky.”
“Oh. That isn’t the surprise, baby,” I assured him with a smug smile.
“It’s not?” How could he still be this adorable?
“Nope. I’ll tell you over dinner.”
“Can’t wait. Wait, it is a good surprise, right?”
“Very good. The best.”
“Perfect,” he sighed, then looked out of his window at the snow. It had started snowing when I’d parked, but now the snowflakes came down bigger, but slower. I loved this time of year, at least until Christmas, and then I was over it.
I parked and we walked into the restaurant hand-in-hand. I’d learned which table was Pete’s favorite and had booked that one last time as well as this time. Pete’s surprise of me getting the right table yet again was so cute. It was so easy to please him.
We sat down and ordered our drinks, mine a coke, and his a lemonade. “Oh, you’re feeling adventurous today?” I smirked.
He rolled his eyes. “A pink lemonade is hardly adventurous.”
“Then what else might be the reason for you not to pick regular as usual?”
“Because we’re celebrating something, and I felt pink lemonade was more celebratory.” Damn, he was cute. I was grinning at him, so in love it was sickening. “You think I’m ridiculous, right?”
“Have I ever called you that?”
“I mean, no, but—”
“No, buts, I find it cute. Endearing.”
“Really?” he sounded so hopeful.
“Yes, baby. I love that you wanted to celebrate with a colorful drink.”
“It’s just that… I still can’t order a real drink, but the pink makes me feel fancy and… I’ll just stop talking.” He blushed so prettily, looking down at the table and not meeting my gaze. I took his hand in mine and laced our fingers on top of the table.
“I love you.” That had him looking up at me again, causing a sweet smile to appear on his face. “Let’s grab some food.”
When we’d both filled our plates, we began filling our bellies. I could tell he was getting impatient, so I figured it was time for the good news. “I bought my dream mansion.”
His whole face lit up. “Really?!”
“Yes. And I know we’ve talked about moving in together, and there’s no pressure on it, but I was hoping you would—”
“Yes!” he blurted, interrupting me midsentence.
“Then you and I’ll be living together very soon.
” I was sure my smile matched his as we just let that sink in.
It was a huge milestone for our relationship, a fast one too, but it felt right.
Besides, if things turned sour between us, Pete could always move back in with his mom.
Not that I imagined that would ever happen, not with the way things were between us.
But I was also realistic, so I had thought about Pete when I bought the property.
“I can’t wait,” he gushed. “This is a very grown-up thing to do.”
I chuckled. “We are grown-ups.”
“No, I mean, people our age are usually out there partying, travelling the world maybe. Their last thought is to settle down.”
“Do you want to do all those things? Because we can.” I would do anything for Pete.
“No, not really. I mean, I want to see more of the world but I want to do it with you,” he assured me with a smile.
“I want that too. But I don't want you to feel like we have to settle down. I guess I just really want to. I had to... With my father I had to grow up fast, I guess. Making adult decisions. I guess I never really had a lot in common with people my age.”
“Me neither. I feel the same way you do, but maybe more because of my job. I think that's why we are perfect together. I want to settle down with you because my professional life is so hectic. I want a place where it's just us. Safe and quiet and ours.”
I could easily give him that. “I want that too.”
We smiled at each other, both of us ready for this next step.
“I guess we should talk about furniture and stuff?” Pete said, his excitement obvious. “I admit I don’t know much since I still live at home. But I want to help decorate, if that’s okay.”
“Why wouldn’t it be? It is as much your home as it is mine.”
That statement had him giving me a soft smile. “I’m glad you’re seeing it like that. I just felt, since it’s your money.”
“I know, baby. But that house is yours too.”
His smile was huge and his eyes gleaming. “This is so exciting!”
I laughed. “I know! We have so much we need to figure out.”
“How long do we have? Until we can move in, I mean?”
“Well, the paperwork still needs to go through before it’s technically ours, but after that maybe weeks. I was warned the investigation on the former owner could delay things.”
“I hadn’t thought about that. He died falling down the stairs, right?” I nodded. “And you’re okay with us moving in after that?”
I shrugged. “It’s not nice to think someone died there, but I know, logically, that people die everywhere and always have. The building I live in now is over one hundred years old. I’m sure someone must have died there in the past too.”
“True. I just wanted to make sure.” I loved how much he thought about me, and this right here proved to me just how much he cared.
“There were rumors of it being haunted—”
“That was me!” he blurted, then quickly glanced around to see if anyone was staring.
“What?” I laughed.
“I’m the one who started the rumors. The mansion isn’t haunted.”
“Ooh kay? Um, why?”
He waved with his hand like this was normal behavior. “I knew you wanted the place so I figured some rumors might help… things.” I laughed again. He was just too precious.
“Thank you for scaring away other buyers.” It was hard saying it with a straight face and I could tell he was close to throwing a noodle at me.
“Moving on,” he began, and I relaxed knowing the teasing was over. “When do we tell people?”
“You mean Mike and your mom?”
“And Dylan and Ida; let’s not forget the rest of the family,” he teased.
I rolled my eyes. “We can tell everyone at Christmas. That is, if you can keep it a secret for three days.” Now it was him rolling his eyes.
“Deal. We’ll tell them at Christmas. But that reminds me, what do you want for Christmas?”
“What?” I hadn’t even thought about that! Too occupied with the mansion and how I would make it into the club I’d envisioned. I had to buy Pete something, but what? Fuck, I only had three days, actually only two.
“Christ-mas,” he said slowly, stretching the word. “I want to buy my boyfriend something, but my lovely boyfriend seems to have everything he needs.”
I chuckled. “You got me there. I’m not used to buying presents for Christmas.
” Which he should very well know by now.
The Christmas I’d spent with his family two years ago had proven as much.
I’d bought flowers and chocolate for Linda for inviting me over, but that had been that.
Last year, I’d gotten her a gift card to get a massage.
Mike and I didn’t do presents, too poor for that expense while we were attending college.
His face softened and he held out his hand for me.
I laced our fingers together. “I’ll figure something out.
As for my gift, you can always buy me more panties.
I know how much you love those.” Then he shot me a wink and I was struck again with how utterly right it felt being with him.
I could buy him panties, that was easy enough.
Or other sexy stuff. But I should find something he could open in front of his family too…
no need to scar Mike even further. Or hell… he could use a good laugh.
With that fun idea in mind, I resumed eating with one hand, not ready to let Pete go just yet.
“What about hobbies?” Pete asked. We were lazing in my bed after some shared orgasms and found ourselves asking each other random questions. He’d started it, stating we were moving in together soon and therefore we should know these things. I wasn’t about to question his logic, so here we were.
“I um, don’t really have any hobbies,” I admitted.
“Really? You don’t have a random activity you long to do after work or that you enjoy doing?”
I stroked his hair while searching for the right way of explaining it. “I spent a lot of my youth working for my father. The fun I had back then was games and TV, none of which I’d consider hobbies.”
“I think they are. My biggest hobby is reading. If watching TV and playing games isn’t a hobby, then reading isn’t either in my opinion.” I loved how hard he tried to help me realize I wasn’t weird for not having something specific.
“I like to work out, mostly to get rid of my excess energy,” I continued.
“If you could start any hobby, what would it be?” He was throwing me with all these questions, but if it was important to him, I would answer as well as I possibly could.
“Drawing,” I replied easily. “I’ve always been fascinated with how people could just create something beautiful.”
“I like that. I could totally see you drawing.”
I laughed. “Maybe, but I don’t think I’ll have the time anytime soon. When we get the mansion, I want to start renovating before we open up the club.”
“About that. Is it some sort of night club? You mentioned rooms would be available to rent?”
“I want it to be a place where we can hold parties for members, and a place where they can rent a room for a night, or a weekend, if they want. A space where they can be themselves. A safe space. It’s something the BDSM community needs around here.
You’ve seen the bars people have to attend to find others.
It’s not safe. I want a luxury feel in the mansion, like a vacation but where they can do all the things they want to do behind closed doors, while also being close to others who want the same. ”
He looked at me with so much warmth, and I knew he liked the idea. “I can’t wait to start.”
“There’s something else I haven’t asked yet… What about your job?” I wanted him to be there with me at the mansion, working side by side, but I also knew he loved his job.
“Oh, I hadn’t thought about that.” He was quiet for a bit. “I don’t want to quit completely, yet. But I can cut back on my hours.”
“I’d appreciate that. I want us both to be co-owners of the club.
” I also knew how much I needed Pete to be there with me, not just for the business, but for me.
We still had a lot to figure out about our relationship and how our sex life would change over time, but I was happy with how things were now, so I wouldn’t push anything ahead of time.
It seemed Pete was in agreement on that.
At least he hadn’t said anything, so I hoped that meant he was happy with how things were going too.
“But I know nothing about running a business,” he objected. “Maybe you should ask someone you know who’s in the BDSM community too, you know, someone who knows more about it than you could google in a few hours.”
I chuckled. “You mean someone with real life experience?”
“Yes! I don’t have that, remember?”
I could only shake my head and laugh again.
“I know it worries you, but I don’t want anyone else to help me run it but you.
If we need further help along the way, then, yes, we can hire more people.
We do need cleaners and maybe a cook or two.
But that’s stuff I want to figure out with you.
We’ll both be new to this thing, together.
And truly that’s the reason I want to share it with you. ”
He sighed. “Okay, then. If you have to be all cute about it.” I laughed and hugged him further into my side.
“Thank you, baby. So glad to have your support.” He grunted as I placed a kiss on his temple.
This was going to be perfect. I could feel it.