24. Chapter 24
twenty-four
Epilogue
The door to the cabin swung open, and the blustering wind was halted only by the door that now kept Cyrus and Gabe’s ears from getting blown off.
As Cyrus led the way inside carrying their two suitcases, Gabe followed behind him with the carry-on bags.
They both kicked off their snow-covered boots beside the door to dry out.
Cyrus sighed as he set the suitcases down, and his eyes squinted as he looked around in the dark. The only light was the porch light shown just a few feet into the cabin.
“So much for getting here before dark, huh?” Gabe asked as he flipped on the light switch next to the door. A dim orange-colored light flickered on above their heads.
Cyrus looked around at the room. The biggest room of the cabin was the living room, with a cozy couch several feet away, a wooden coffee table with several coasters and candles unlit atop it, an unlit fireplace, a three-foot-tall bookcase filled to the brim with books.
There was a chest to the side of the room with several blankets sitting on it, and beside that chest was an empty doorway with no door. Cyrus assumed it was the kitchen.
“I think we picked good,” Gabe said, and Cyrus only then noticed that he had already shut the door and went to check out the bedroom on the left side.
Cyrus picked up the suitcases and followed in the direction of Gabe’s voice.
Into the opened doorway where Gabe was sitting on the end of a queen-sized bed that was ordained with a soft quilt and an abundance of pillows.
There was a tall dresser, a sliding door for a closet, and two nightstands with small lamps.
“Yeah, cozy, nothing extravagant,” Cyrus replied.
It wasn’t like he didn’t have the money for something more elaborate, but he’d just wanted to spend two weeks up north with Gabriel, somewhere they could be cozy, comfortable, and together.
The Alpha of a pack only got three weeks out of the year that they didn’t have to remain in their district, so Gabe would make sure that these two weeks were two of the best weeks Gabe ever had.
As Cyrus set the suitcases down near the end of the bed next to Gabe’s feet and stepped over to look at him in the dim light that shone in from the living room. Gabe was looking at the floor intently.
Cyrus tilted his head to the side, and his brow furrowed.
“I know this is hard for you, baby,” Cyrus whispered and tilted Gabe’s chin up with his fingers. “Being in Michigan, but…”
Gabe shook his head. “I’m okay, I promise.”
Cyrus frowned softly and then smiled and leaned down to press his lips to Gabe’s softly.
“They are nowhere near here,” he whispered against Gabe’s lips and brushed his thumb along his cheek.
Gabe hummed softly into the kiss.
Cyrus pulled away, and Gabe whined softly.
“Oh hush, Gabriel, you’ll get plenty after we’ve gotten the fire set up and some food,” Cyrus insisted.
Gabe smirked at him crookedly and grabbed him by the shirt to pull him down to him.
“One more,” Gabe purred at him. Cyrus groaned softly as Gabe kissed his lips and nibbled at his bottom one.
“Little brat,” Cyrus teased him.
Gabe chuckled softly and let go of his shirt.
Cyrus shook his head and started out of the room.
He shrugged out of his winter coat and hung it by the door along with his gloves.
He rubbed his hands together and exhaled as he searched around on the mantle for something to light the wood in the fireplace.
There was a tall stack of wood next to it as well that would at least last them a few more days before they’d have to get more.
Cyrus found some kindling and matches on the mantle and worked on getting the fire going. It only took a minute before it started to spread, and it wouldn’t be long before it was warming the cabin.
“I don’t think that’s going to get warm enough to heat the bedroom.” Gabe chuckled.
Cyrus turned to watch Gabe hang his coat as well.
“We’ll have to warm each other then,” Cyrus told him.
He watched Gabe’s already cold flushed face flush even darker and smirked crookedly.
“Don’t get me started,” Gabe told him. “You’re the one who said we need to eat first.”
Cyrus rolled his eyes. “I never said what.”
Gabe snorted. “Mmk, well, my ass is ready whenever you are.”
Cyrus flushed and started into the kitchen to see what was there. He’d paid for someone to stock the kitchen with some essentials, so he knew what was there, but he wanted to make sure it was.
Cyrus flicked on the light, and it came on much quicker and brighter than the one in the living room.
He opened the fridge and nodded before checking the cabinets.
“I’ll make us some chicken and pasta!” Cyrus called, and his stomach was already growling.
Gabe came wandering into the kitchen while tapping on his phone.
Cyrus’s face fell.
“What is it?” he asked.
Gabe looked up at smiled. “Nothing!” he insisted. “Just letting Lily know we got here.”
Cyrus exhaled, relief washing over him. “Tell her I said hi.”
Gabe nodded and tapped at his phone again.
“I’m surprised we even get signal here,” Gabe mumbled. “Not very good signal, takes about two minutes for a text to go through, but…” He trailed off as he finished the text and set his phone down on the kitchen counter.
“Mhm.” Cyrus smiled as he started to pull out what he needed to make their dinner.
“Chicken and pasta sounds good,” Gabe said as he moved behind Cyrus to press his face against the nape of his neck.
Cyrus smirked and only shifted from Gabe to find where the pots and pans were.
He hummed softly as he went about moving around the kitchen, getting used to its space, and figuring out where everything was. He could feel Gabe’s eyes on him as he did so.
“Look at you, waiting so patiently.” Cyrus smirked as he was putting the chicken in a sizzling pan and watching as the water boiled.
Gabe folded his arms.
“The more I interrupt you, the longer it’s going to take,” he insisted.
Cyrus shook his head and moved over to the sink to wash his hands.
He turned around to dry them off with a dish towel before getting the pasta in the water.
He was smiling the whole time.
“God,” he mumbled as he leaned against the counter. All that was left to do was wait for the garlic and lemon chicken to cook on one side before flipping and the pasta to bowl.
“What?” Gabe asked from beside him.
“My face hurts,” Cyrus replied with a chuckle. “I feel like I haven’t stopped smiling since we got on the plane earlier.”
Gabe smiled back at him. “Me either,” he told him. “I’m so happy to get to be here with you.”
Cyrus moved closer to him, his heart thudding hard in his chest.
“I’m so happy to be with you,” he replied and leaned up slightly to kiss him once on the lips. Gabe met his kiss with one more and then leaned his forehead against the other.
Cyrus sighed contently and moved only to stir the pasta a few times, so it didn’t stick to the bottom of the pot.
The rest of the time, cooking was silent but content. Gabe gently nuzzled Cyrus from behind, kisses here and there, humming and listening to the food sizzle and bubble.
Twenty minutes later, they were sitting on the floor at the coffee table with their chicken and spinach pasta plates. There was a small dining table in the kitchen’s right, but it was cozier to sit on the rug at the coffee table in front of the fire.
Cyrus gazed across at Gabe, who was eating very diligently.
“You were hungry.” Cyrus chuckled.
Gabe glared at him playfully. “Oh, like you aren’t.”
Cyrus shrugged and took another bite of food, humming happily at the taste.
They sat there eating, humming in delight, and feeling the warmth of the fire for another handful of minutes.
Cyrus couldn’t help but gaze across the table at Gabe and bask.
“You’re so handsome,” he whispered as he finished off his food and sat there watching Gabriel eat.
Gabe blushed.
“Says you,” he replied playfully.
Cyrus smirked and then stood up to take both of their plates and silverware to the kitchen once Gabe was done with his last bite.
Once he put the dishes in the sink, he quickly heated some milk for cocoa.
As he was finally coming out with the mugs, Gabe was starting in.
“What are you—oh!” Gabe chuckled and stepped to the side.
“Impatient, are we?” Cyrus asked.
“No,” Gabe insisted. “I just wanted to make sure you weren’t doing the dishes on our first night here.”
Cyrus rolled his eyes. “No, but…I made hot cocoa.”
Gabe hummed happily and sunk on the couch.
Cyrus put their steaming mugs down and sat down beside him.
As he did so, he grabbed Gabe’s hand and intertwined their fingers together.
Gabe looked over at him, blushing.
“I’ll never get tired of that.”
“What?” Gabe asked.
“Watching you blush at me,” Cyrus replied.
Gabe hit him playfully with his other hand and scooted even closer against him.
Cyrus squeezed his hand and then lifted their hands to place a kiss along with Gabe’s.
“I love you so much,” Gabe whispered.
Cyrus felt his heart squeeze.
“I love you too, my heart,” Cyrus whispered and nuzzled his cheek.
“I love seeing this side of you,” Gabe whispered in response. “That no one else does.”
Cyrus blushed.
“I’m happy to show it to you.” He chuckled. “God, that’s cheesy.”
Gabe snorted. “Whatever, you’re mine.”
Cyrus leaned and pressed his lips against Gabe’s. “You’re mine.”
Gabe all but giggled, and it made Cyrus laugh in tandem.
After another moment, they each picked up their hot chocolate and started to sip at it as they watched the crackling fire. There was no TV in the room, but that wasn’t a problem in an era of downloadable movies, series, and laptops.
Even so, they opted not to watch anything but the fire. Frankly, after being around people almost nonstop the last year, it was relaxing not to hear anything but their breathing, sipping, and the fire.