Epilogue
They took a week off from work for a post-mating vacation, which was common for supes.
Peri had planned a beach vacation, picking a lagoon run by a kraken couple so the deepest water would still be manageable and not make Wash uncomfortable.
He got the feeling his gorgeous mate had ulterior motives for his choice, since their bathing suits showed off both their mating marks proudly and the location was too warm to cover them up.
Wash wasn’t going to complain. He got an entire week with Peri in a swimsuit, the mating mark on his inner thigh on display and the ring on his finger glinting in the sun.
They’d gone shopping for that together, and he’d gotten a band studded in diamonds because he thought it matched the sparkle in Peri’s eyes.
During the day, they were at the beach, playing or relaxing, with a waiter named Mickey popping up once an hour to refill their drinks and bring their snacks.
He and Peri would sometimes chat while Wash dozed, giving his social butterfly a chance to chat while he got to be lazy.
It was nice, and he could see the appeal of taking vacations now that he wasn’t expected to take them alone.
At night, though, that was his favorite.
They had a bungalow all to themselves, no neighbors close enough to bother them, and there was a hammock on the veranda that Wash gravitated toward every night.
Something about rocking with Peri on his chest and the warm sea breeze made him so relaxed, he melted.
“We need one of these at home,” Peri commented drowsily, tracing the soul blooms on Wash’s chest. “Mine is too small.”
“Mm. Where would we put it?”
“We’ll get rid of the bed.”
He snorted softly, running a palm lazily up and down Peri’s back. “That would limit certain positions you enjoy. We’d fall off in the middle of all that rough movements.”
Peri groaned, and Wash felt his cock start to swell against his hip. He smirked to himself. He got the feeling his little mate wanted to test that theory.
Since it was their last night in paradise, he was happy to give Peri whatever he wanted, but he could admit he was getting excited to head back.
He’d had something in the works for his mate for a while now, and it’d be ready by the time they headed home.
Honestly, it was probably his focus on that while trying to hide it from Peri that allowed Peri to get away with planning the ceremony without him noticing.
They’d both been so busy trying to surprise one another, they didn’t notice that the other was hiding something.
It was only when they were alone with no distractions that Peri noticed something was up.
Peri poked his side, lifting his head to look at him. “You’re doing it again.”
“Doing what?”
“Thinking about whatever you’ve got planned at home. Why won’t you tell me?” he pouted.
Smiling, he feigned ignorance. “I don’t know what you’re talking about.”
“Liar! Look at your face!” Peri shrieked, but the fact that he couldn’t stop smiling either let Wash know he wasn’t really upset. He was excited, practically vibrating to figure it out, and the longer Wash went without telling him, the more eager he got. His little fairy loved surprises.
Given that they were headed back in the morning and he’d be showing Peri his gift that afternoon, he decided to give in just a little. “You’ll see when we get back.”
“So there is something? Waaaash! Tell me what it is!” he whined.
Chuckling, he decided to distract his mate the best way he knew how, dragging him down for a kiss that quickly turned into more.
Thanks to the anticipation, Peri wasn’t too upset about having to leave their vacation and head home the next morning.
He bounced from foot to foot as they waited their turn to go through the portal, plastering himself against Wash’s side the second they crossed through, giving Wash an expectant look to teleport them away. Wash raised an eyebrow, amused.
“You don’t want to fly?”
Peri’s eyes widened, and he looked around at the crowded station. Wash was getting better at flying around others, having Peri’s constant appreciation for his size helped a lot, but he still avoided it if he could. Still, he couldn’t help but laugh at Peri’s shell shocked expression.
“Wash!”
“Alright, alright,” he chuckled. “Hold on tight, baby. We’re headed somewhere special.”
When they popped up on the main floor of Spellbound, Peri looked around, confused. “Work? This isn’t the surprise, is it?”
“No. This is.” He spun Peri around so he was facing the bakery Wash set up for him with white columns, a pretty pink door, and a sign on the window that said “Peri’s Place” in gold script lettering.
“What… What is this?”
A strange feeling of confused excitement mixed with apprehension built in Peri’s chest as he stared wide eyed at the most perfect bakery he’d ever seen.
The lights were on inside, so he could see the checkered pink and powder blue floors, the matching tables with a mix of wing friendly and normal chairs with stuffed pink cushions on them, and the long granite counter on one side with a huge display case that was currently empty but Peri could just see all the things he’d put inside.
“You told me once that you hadn’t found the right job for you. But you’re always happiest when you’re feeding people and in the kitchen baking. You should be doing what you love, Peri, not trying to find a job you don’t hate.”
“How–” He spun around, wide eyed. He’d been looking into jobs in Spellbound with Taron, trying to find one that would fit him at least for a little while until he decided what he wanted to do in the future.
He wasn’t willing to be too far from Wash, someone needed to be able to pop upstairs and jump on him whenever he was grumpy, and his temp rotation at Spellbound was ending in a few weeks.
He’d been discussing joining client relations since he liked working with people, but he hadn’t been sure since there was the potential of dealing with unhappy clients if things didn’t go their way.
“Taron,” Wash shrugged. “He’s just as nosy and involved in your life as he is in mine.”
“Hey! I resemble that remark!”
Spinning around, Peri’s mouth fell open when he realized all their friends stood behind them.
It was a Sunday, so the office itself wasn’t open, but that didn’t stop their friends from showing up for them.
He felt his eyes prick with tears, and he looked back at the bakery again, shaking his head like he couldn’t quite comprehend what was happening.
“I don’t– This is too much, Wash. I never even considered this because I can’t afford my own business. I can’t let you–”
“Yes, you can,” he interrupted, a stern frown on his beautiful grumpy face.
“You’re my mate. I’ve lived frugally all my life because I never found something I cared enough about to spend money on.
I care about you and what makes you happy.
This—” he gestured to the restaurant “—is what makes you happy. Every single cent was well spent as long as it makes you smile.”
“If it helps, your desserts are so good, you’ll probably make up all the money spent within the year,” Avery offered.
Elijah nodded. “The buzz around the office this past week is all about the bakery. Everyone’s excited for it. And there is a list of applicants to work there as well so you won’t be doing it all alone.”
“As a mated man, I can tell you that you’ll make Wash happier being close and happy than you would working a job you don’t love just so you can save money,” Taron added.
Overwhelmed with the support, the tears spilled over his cheeks, and he leaned into Wash’s palms when he cupped his face to stroke them away with his thumbs.
“You gave me everything I didn’t know I needed when you decided to keep me, baby. Not only a mate that completes me body and soul, but you also gave me back a family I was too stubborn to let in. This? A room with a few fancy appliances? Doesn’t even come close to making us even.”
A laugh slipped out, and Peri shook his head, tugging lightly on a lock of Wash’s hair. “Silly demon. You don’t owe me anything.”
“Let me give it to you anyway. Please, baby. You gave me my dream. Let me give you yours.”
Smiling while tears still streamed down his face, Peri nodded, pressing his forehead against Wash’s and soaking in his love and comfort over their bond.
It was a lot, he never expected a gift like this, but he could admit he’d always dreamed of having his own bakery.
Spending all day putting smiles on people’s faces with the treats he made felt like exactly where he was meant to be.
“Alright!” Taron shouted with a whoop. “Come on, Peri, cut the ribbon! We want to see our new favorite spot!”
He hadn’t noticed the ribbon before stretched across the front door. Avery handed him a pair of golden scissors, and Kian magicked a camera to capture everyone while Peri cut it, a big beaming smile on his face.
The following weeks were the busiest and most emotionally rewarding of his life.
He hired waiters, a hostess, even a manager to keep track of the numbers.
He spent a few days baking like crazy to figure out what exactly he wanted to sell, and on opening day, there was a line out of the building and several of his friends had needed to come help him keep up with the demand.
He was in the market for another baker to help him since even a few weeks later, he was still busier than ever, but every once in a while, there was enough of a lull that he got a chance to get behind the register and talk to the customers.
Seeing their smiles and hearing the happy hum of conversation made him so happy, he could burst sometimes.
“There’s a good energy here.”
Peri spun around, giving the customer a bright smile. “Thank you! What can I get for you?”
The man with honey blonde hair and pale green eyes tipped his head thoughtfully. “Surprise me. Choose your favorite.”
Blinking, Peri took a second to process the request before giving him a smile. “Okay, sure! Just a second.”
He bustled around, putting his favorites into a pretty white box with a little display window on the side.
While he was taping it up, he felt the familiar tug on his chest that told him Wash had arrived.
He popped up and waved at his mate, who headed around the counter to the one table behind it for Wash and whoever he decided earned the privilege of joining him that day.
Taron apparently tried to demand the same access, but Wash shut him down and told him he’d only get to eat with him if he behaved when they were working on a project together.
The shock on Taron’s face had been priceless.
The man from before hummed, his voice a little off like there was magic behind his words. “There are a lot of mated pairs here. Good energy. This building must have been blessed by fate.”
Bobbing his head, Peri rang up the box, bouncing a little on his toes. “This building or the temp agency that supports it. Most of my friends started at Charmed Away and found their mates on assignments here.”
That drew another hum from the stranger as he paid for his order in cash. “Perhaps I’ll need to stick close and find out. Enjoy your mating, Periwinkle. You’re quite lucky. Very few find bonds as strong as yours.”
Blinking, Peri glanced at Wash with a confused frown. When he turned back around, the man was gone.
“Baby? What’s wrong?”
“Huh? Oh, nothing,” he shook his head. Maybe he’d imagined it?
The conversation was interesting, though. There were a lot more mated pairs here than normal. Peri was one of the lucky ones. Maybe the strange man had a point.
Either way, he gave good advice. He had everything he ever wanted with the grumpy demon pressed against his back. He was going to enjoy it.