Chapter 20
Dale
Aspen quickly made more room for me in his condo, cleaning out half his big walk-in closet and designating an area in his garage for extra boxes.
I brought very little furniture, keeping everything back in my condo so I could rent it furnished.
But I did bring an extra dresser and my favorite easy chair.
I was moved in in one weekend. It felt good to be officially a couple now, married in the eyes of shifter culture. But I still wanted a human wedding, too. Nothing fancy. The courthouse would do, I told him.
Aspen clapped his hands together. “And we'll have a party after.”
I agreed. Whatever he wanted made me happy, too.
We didn't prolong the wait. Everything just fell into place.
After Aspen told his mom and dad the good news, they offered to throw the party for us at their place.
Aspen complained about meddling, but I couldn't have been happier.
I envied his chaotic and loving family who embraced me with open arms.
The party was set for Friday night. We'd been living together only a month, but we were both ready to take the next step. We each took that day off work and went to the courthouse to get the marriage certificate.
“Valentine's Day was last week,” Aspen pointed out. “It could be our anniversary.”
I shook my head.
“No? Why not?”
“You know very well our anniversary is Christmas Eve.”
His eyebrows flew up. “Our first time.” A little fire ignited in his eyes.
“Exactly. You know why? Because that was when I knew for sure. Even then, I knew. I wanted you to be mine.”
“How did I get stuck with such a romantic alpha?”
“A Christmas miracle?” I laughed.
Aspen scrunched up his face, all serious. “I guess I could call it that.”
“You guess?”
“Yeah. I wanted us to be a couple, but I didn't know you thought the same right at that moment. I hoped. I wished. And look what Santa delivered.”
“Yep. You're stuck with me.”
We made our exchange of rings on the courthouse lawn under the prickly shade of a maple tree just barely putting out new spring leaves. It was technically still winter, and the day was cold. We kissed quickly and then ran for the heat of the car.
The ring on my finger felt heavy, the new gold metal cool against my skin.
I loved the feel of it immediately. As if I had Aspen wrapped around my finger.
Which, technically, I did. It was a beautiful setting.
The band was comprised of Celtic knots and in the middle was the faceted opal that caught all the colors of the light and reminded me of Christmas.
We joked that the knots represented something very personal for us.
When we first picked them out, Aspen said to me, “I like knots as you well know.”
I had replied, “It's not a cock ring, dear.”
We had tried to keep our voices low, but I think the clerk overheard, because when she rang us up her cheeks were flushed, and she wouldn't look us in the eyes.
After lunch we went home and immediately consummated our marriage.
“Everything needs to be official, right?”
“It's the law,” Aspen said, his legs wrapped tightly around my waist, his naked ass rubbing back and forth across my hard cock.
“No one can say we both don't know the law backward and forward.”
That evening, we arrived at Aspen's parents’ house promptly at six p.m. Before I could blink, I was drawn in by loving arms. First, Ingrid, Aspen's mom, hugged me hard, followed by his dad, Karl, who's embrace nearly squeezed the air from my lungs.
We had only met once before, at a restaurant for dinner. I'd never met Aspen’s siblings. Tonight would be the first time.
One by one they came in the front door and every one of them rushed to us, excited to meet me.
It was almost overwhelming, yet so wonderful since my own family had been such a reserved lot.
A big part of me hungered for all the warmth and enthusiasm of these beautiful reindeer shifters.
They even brought gifts. Wedding gifts wrapped in gilt white paper with golden bows.
Elliot, Aspen’s oldest brother, clapped me on the back. “I can't believe our little bro here ran off and got married before we ever got the chance to meet you. He didn't even give us time to do a background check.”
I coughed, not knowing what to say to that.
“Just kidding.” Elliott laughed. “He probably did it himself already. We trust him.”
Those who were nearby who overheard the conversation started laughing hard.
Aspen grasped my hand and squeezed it. “I never would,” he whispered in my ear. To his family, he said, “I never had the time. We bonded so quickly. If he’d been a serial killer I’d be stuck with him.”
Our wedding dinner consisted of spaghetti, garlic bread, tossed salad and a big white cake for dessert. Aspen had requested all of it. “You'll understand why when you eat. My mom makes the best homemade spaghetti in the entire universe.”
“I love spaghetti. Who has that at their wedding party? We do. It's so very much us.”
Aspen wasn't wrong. The food was magnificent. I had to have seconds.
Kids ran around our feet when they finished eating early and vacated the kids table without permission.
I realized, looking at them, that I had nieces and nephews now.
I was an uncle. I would finally—finally—get to shop the toy department at Christmas.
My own brothers and sister had never had children so far.
I didn't realize what I was missing until now.
They were all so friendly. Tugging at my pantlegs and asking me a million questions with their big eyes full of wonder and awe.
Something inside me seemed to break apart and then fit itself back together in a different shape. A shape of belonging. Of wanting that wonder and awe in my own life with Aspen.
By the time we left, it was snowing outside.
I looked up at the gray night sky and thought how lucky I was, how beautiful it all was, especially the clouds in winter and the snow.
They all made me think about how I'd met Aspen and how if mistakes hadn't been made and the lodge been overbooked none of this would ever have happened.
From now on, winter would be my favorite season.
As we drove home, I said, “Your family is wonderful. All those little ones, too. I want one of those.”
“What?” Aspen was driving. He frowned at the windshield.
Uh-oh. The classic fast-mover mistake. We’d never discussed kids and here we were married. My heart started to beat harder.
I took a deep breath and tried to gauge his emotions through our bond. I was too nervous to make sense of anything coming off him, though.
“I’m sorry. Didn’t mean to shock you. I enjoyed tonight, kids and all. That’s what I meant.”
“You said you want kids.”
“Sort of. I guess. I did. I do.” My words were getting all mixed up.
“We’ve never had this discussion before,” he said.
“Are you okay to have it now?”
“You know something?” He stared straight ahead, super calm, driving impeccably.
“What?” I held my breath.
He gave a half shrug. “I love you so damn much. More and more every minute we’re together.”
I was elated to hear him say it. But what did that have to do with the subject? Was he trying to break it to me easier with compliments first? Did he not want babies? It was his choice ultimately, since he’d be the one carrying the child for nine months.
“I love you, too.”
Silence.
Was that the end of conversation? I still couldn’t read his emotions. It was as if he was blocking me.
“Sooo.” He drew the word out like he was about to announce something very important.
I waited.
He repeated it. “Sooo, when we get home, I’m going to do something. If it’s okay with you.”
“I want you to do and have whatever you want. That’s what makes me happy.”
“Great. Then I’m going right upstairs and throwing my birth control pills in the trash.”
My mouth fell open.
He started speaking faster. “It might cause an early heat when I stop them. Within a couple of weeks, probably. Then—now here comes your part—you’re going to have to work real hard to knot me for two days straight like there’s no tomorrow.
There’s no arguing about it. It’s your job.
I’ll be begging for it and if you let me down I’ll be the saddest guy you ever knew.
Sooo, okay then. Tell me you understand the plan. ”
I was grinning now. Catching my breath. Trying to calm my erection that his words caused. “You could have just said you want a kid, too. That would’ve worked.”
“Nope. I wanted all the details spoken out loud. I’m a lawyer. It’s how I roll.”
“Then that’s it. We’re going to try to have a kid.”
“Right away, my love. I don’t want to wait.”
“You’ve been thinking about it, then,” I accused.
“Sometimes.” He still focused solely on the road. But the excitement through our bond tickled and teased.
“And you didn’t tell me.”
“You are so perfect to bring the subject up now.”
“You were waiting for me? But I was waiting for you to bring it up. You said you were on birth control at the lodge. I respect that it’s your decision.”
“Babe, we’re married. It’s our decision.”
“I admit, I didn’t think about it until tonight.
My siblings don’t have kids. My family is so cool toward me.
How I was raised put armor around my heart.
Until I met you. And those kids running around tonight—they got into my heart pretty fast. I want warmth and affection and all the things I didn’t get growing up.
I want you. And I want kids with you so we can grow our love. I want it so bad.”
My voice skipped on that last word. All of a sudden, tears rolled down my cheeks.
“I’m not perfect,” I continued in a strangled tone. “But you make me feel like I can get close to being a better man every day.”
Aspen’s arm reached out, clamping onto my thigh. “You’re perfect for me.”
I sniffed.
Aspen put his turn signal on and turned into a gas station, parking at one end.
“Do we need gas?” I rubbed my hand over my face.
“No.” He unfastened his seatbelt, then turned, unfastened mine, and took me into his arms. “I thought we could use a break for a second.” He rubbed my back. “Are you okay?”
“I’m fine.” I forced a chuckle. “I don’t know what happened just now.”
“Your heart happened. It found out something tonight and it went for it.” Aspen’s breath warmed the hair on the side of my head.
“Don’t forget, ever, ever, that we’re together on this journey.
We got each other. You can always tell me anything.
I’m on your side. And if we disagree sometimes, we’ll talk it out. Always. You and me. Team Aspendale.”
“That sounds like a town somewhere in the mountains.”
“A great town.” He smiled and kissed me under the yellow gas station lights. “You’re my alpha. Understand?”
I nodded. I should have been the strong one, but in so many ways he was stronger.
“You’re my alpha,” he repeated. “My family. And that means everything to me. We’re bonded. We’re married. That’s our promise to each other. Of course I want kids with you, silly. I mean, maybe it’s not a given with every couple, but yes, I want them. I want them with you.”
He kissed me again. Like sealing the deal. An immaculate lawyer. Flawless.
The love of my life.