Chapter Ten
Juni
“There, all done,” I relaxed back into the leather desk chair having just finished the final touches on the Cinders Construction website.
“Good,” Kyson’s voice surprised me. There my gorgeous mate stood, arms folded across his massive chest with his body filling the doorway just like the day he rescued me in the cabin. “Ready to go home?”
“Isn’t it kinda late to head back to Bellingham today?” I was tired, my feet and back hurt. All I wanted to do was soak in a warm tub. “Can we go tomorrow instead?” Ashley giggled beside me. Not sure what had tickled her about this.
“No, now sweetheart. Come on.” I sighed as he helped me up. “Want me to carry you?”
“To the truck? No, I can waddle my bootie there myself. Bye Ash.” Solemnly, I waved. Not sure why I was being so dramatic. We’d only be gone for a few days to pack and clean then we’d be back forever but, I dunno, the family had kinda grown on me and I didn’t like the idea of being away from them.
Mom and Dad waved like we were just going next door. I expected something deeper, more real than that for a goodbye, which only further depressed me. Damn hormones were all over the… “Wait, we just walked past the truck.”
“Yup, we sure did,” Kyson winked. “Come on, keep up.”
I bitched and moaned all the way up, but my smart-ass mate just chuckled. “Can’t we walk the house another day. I’m tired. My feet hurt. I wanna lay…Oh my god.”
“That’ll shut ya up, huh Princess. Welcome home.”
Juni’s eyes teared as he ran his fingers over the placard. “Kyson & Juni, est. 2025. Oh Ky.”
He scooped me up. “Gotta carry you over the threshold. One, two, Three,” he swung the door open and inside was the most wonderful sight I’d ever seen.
“All our furniture is here!” Kyson set me down. I turned and hugged him, my tears dampened his shirt. “Ky, this is beyond anything I ever could’ve dreamed of.”
“All the bells and whistles for my pretty princess plus a few extras for his mate.”
The living room was huge and opened right into an equally as big open concept kitchen with a super cool island. “Did you make all the cabinets?”
“I did, along with the barstools at the island and many other gifts you’ll find throughout the house.”
“Ky,” the tears just kept coming. In two steps he was across the room with his arms wrapped around me. “This is home. It feels like home. I’ve never had a real home and now we have a home. Together.”
“That was a lot of homes, my love,” his chuckle rumbled through his chest and shook me. “But I feel the same way, and I have you to thank for that.”
“Me?” Ky always said the sweetest things.
“Yes, you, silly Princess. Come on, let me walk you through our new home.”
“The hall bath was a great idea for guests.” Simple yet perfect with only a toilet and sink.
“Oh my god,” I swear, every bit of air left my lungs as I stepped inside our new bedroom.
“Kyson, you made that headboard?” he nodded.
Hand carved with a smaller version of our cabin with dragons flying overhead. “Protectors.”
“Yes, protectors. And over here we have a small potbelly stove to keep my Princess warm whenever I’m not in bed beside him.”
“We need a big fluffy rug in front of it for cuddling.”
“I like the way you think, darlin’.”
“What’s this door for?”
“Open it and see.”
This wonderful, wonderful man had not only moved all our stuff here, but my clothes were hung in a massive walk-in closet that included… “Shoe racks! Squee! My beloved shoes.” I ran my fingers over my favorite stilettos. “I’ve missed you girls.”
Kyson laughed. “Let see what’s behind door number two.”
As fast as my swollen feet would take me, I waddled over to it and flung it open.
The one thing I wished to use right after this tour was over was waiting for me.
“That tub, it calls to me.” A large oval shaped one that would fit this human and his dragon in.
“That shower is huge,” it was like a car wash for people.
Slate tile like he had around the pot belly stoves and four shower heads.
“We’re on well and water reclamation out here, darlin’, so one-hour showers are frowned upon. Got it?”
“He-he, maybe.”
He rolled his eyes. “Let’s finish the tour then I’ll run you a hot bath.”
“Will you join me?”
“I wouldn’t have it any other way.”
Carefully, he guided me up the stairs where there were three more bedrooms and a bathroom. “I’m working on the baby furniture for the nursery.”
“What are all the pillows and blankets for.” There was a ginormous pile in the center of one of the rooms. Had I not been pregnant I’d have run and dove right into it.
“Very soon, you’re gonna find yourself nesting.”
“Oh, ah, Ashley and Azure were telling me about that. We might need a few more blankets though. Probably a couple more pillows too,” I picked one of the blankets up and rubbed it over my face. “This is so soft. Can we get more of these and one for our bed?”
“And so it begins,” Kyson said but was all smiles. “Anything you want, my love.”
“I love how you kept to the same finishes throughout, so everything matches. The house is better than anything I imagined. Ooohhh, can you make me a rocking chair for the nursery and a pair for us for the front porch so we can sit and watch the kids play?”
Kyson kissed the top of my head. “Already on the list, Princess.”
Being spoiled by someone that truly loved you was so much better than by someone who was only funneling money into your account, so you’d stay away from them.
When we got to the base of the stairs I turned for the bedroom, but he tugged my hand, and we headed toward the kitchen. “I don’t want to leave.”
“You gotta make up your mind. First you don’t want to come now you don’t want to leave,” he rolled his eyes and smirked. “Just give me a few more minutes. It’ll be worth it, I promise.” There was another door at the far side of the kitchen I’d missed by the dining table. “Welcome to my shop.”
“My truck is here! You thought of everything.” He had a ton more room in here than he had at the rental house, even with both of our vehicles in the garage. Shoot, I hadn’t even noticed that it wasn’t his truck we walked past before. “This is so nice.”
“Agreed. Wanna see the cribs I’m working on or wait until they’re done?” There were a couple of things covered with tarps which I guessed were those.
“You give the best surprises, so I want to wait.”
“Waiting it is. One last thing before you soak. Come with me.”
I followed him out the shop door and there stood the entire family, clapping like mad. I burst into tears and Kyson pulled me into his arms again. Stupid tears. Stupid hormones.
“Well, I guess we found a way to keep him from fussing,” I mock punched his shoulder.
“But seriously, every single one of you went above and beyond for us, and we won’t forget that.
The house is amazing and your help getting our things moved and put in place for Juni’s surprise was just,” my fierce dragon got choked up. “We love you.”
“Yes,” I finally found my voice. “I love all of you. This is beyond amazing, you’re amazing.”
“Lots of amazing’s there, Princess.”
“That’s because everything in my life is amazing now that you’re in it.”
“Get a room!” Kordell called out.
“Oh, we got one and we’re about to christen it,” Kyson teased to a round of groans. “Night, everyone.”
Mom, dad and Kordell followed us inside, having brought our things from their house.
“Juni, it’s just gorgeous,” Mom said. “I’m jealous, you have a real dishwasher.”
I hadn’t noticed that before she pointed it out. “Yes! And my coffee machine with lots of coffee. He really does love me,” I mock swooned. He’d made a special coffee bar area just for me. Machine, rack with lots of flavors. I was in caffeinated heaven.
“Decaf until you kick out our grands, young man,” mom shook a warning finger at me.
“I promise. Oh shoot, we need to get groceries still.”
“Nope,” Kyson’s arms slid around me, and his hands cradled my baby bump. “Did all that earlier. All we need is the fluffy pillows and blankets you just requested.”
“We’ll get out of your hair,” Dad said. “Enjoy your first night home, boys.” We hugged them then went and put our stuff they brought away.
“Bubbles for your bath, Princess?”
“Yes please, for our bath.”
I stripped down and poked around in the bathroom while the tub filled. “Double sinks, I love it.”
“Yes and all your face paint is under your sink.”
“It fit?”
“Once we organized it, it did. Give it a look.”
It was hard to lean down and not topple over, but the sturdy cabinet doors my man made held my weight.
“Oooh, I never thought of getting one of those.” The stand was a clear, tiered Plexi display.
The top of each layer was for larger pieces but below each shelf were drawers. “I’ve got a lot of make-up.”
“That you do, and you really don’t need it. You’re beautiful au natural.”
Given the fact that I stood there butt-ass naked without any make-up on, he was seeing me in all my glory. Not that he hadn’t before but I guess I was so used to primping that it hadn’t hit me that since I’ve been up here I haven’t put on a lick of make-up. Huh, go figure.
“Come here, sweetheart, let me help you into the tub then I’ll slide in behind you.”
“O.M.G.” the bubbles and warm water enveloped me. “This is the life.”
As soon as Kyson slid in behind me, our dragon sighed.
Happy, dragon?
More than you know, mate.
Me too.
Hey, don’t forget the man who made the furniture.
Our dragon huffed.
We can never forget you, no matter how much our dragon protests.
At least someone loves me, Kyson teased us.
With all my heart.
“For so long, everything in my life was measured by monetary value. Who had the best toys or the most money to buy them with. It never felt right because it wasn’t. Until you came along and my life clicked into place and none of it revolved around money, only around family.”
“And you tell me I say the sweetest things,” Kyson nipped my neck. “I think you just beat me with those words.”
“Comes straight from the heart.”
“As does everything I say and do for you and our family. So, what are you making for breakfast?”
“Wait, what?” Ugh, never should’ve learned how to cook…
“Forgot to show you what’s behind another door in the kitchen. It’s a walk-in pantry and laundry room.”
“Yay me, I get to cook and do laundry.”
“You know I’ll always be here to help. We both work from home, and we will both share in the household chores.”
He picked up the sponge and washed me, focusing on one particular body part that I’m pretty sure was squeaky clean. “A bath, foot rub, and happy ending for you. A warm breakfast for me. Sounds like a fair trade.”
Sadly, I had to agree. “Do I have to wake up early to make it?” I was finally gonna get to sleep in, and in our own bed, and I didn’t want to be rushed.
“Nope, I’ll be working in the shop, so if I’m up before you I’ll just grab coffee and wait to dine with my mate.”
“Yay! Thank you. Oh, I forgot to tell you I added a page on the Cinders website that features your pieces for sale.”
“Um, what?”
“Yeah. Only have a couple of things I snagged pictures of before we left the old house, but I put them up there to see what happened. Might work well given it’s the family website.”
“You, my love, are smarter than you give yourself credit for. If they sell, I’ll let you have at the rest of the stuff in the shop if you want.”
“I want, and it gives me something to do, and I feel like I’m helping out.” A contributing member of the family, just like everyone else up here.
“You are helping, a lot. It’ll be good for the company to branch out. Word of mouth is how they’ve grown so far. Maybe clients could start leaving reviews on it for potential new ones to see.”
“Good call. I’ll email the client list with a link to the website and a witty bit about hey, are you happy with our work? Pop on over to the website and leave a review.” The wheels were turning as I made the mental note. “Is there space anywhere that I could have a desk set up to work from?”
“Absolutely. Could make you a small office in the shop.”
“A window would be nice to have.”
“Hmm. What about in front of the kitchen window? It’s got a great view of the forest. We could move the table out a bit, there’s plenty of room and have the bulk of your desk off to the side so the whole view isn’t covered by a monitor.”
“Yes, please and thank you.” I snuggled back against him, ready to nod off but he wasn’t having that.
“Let’s get you washed and christen our new home the proper way.”
“With a bottle of champagne broken over the front door?” He started tickling me. “No! Don’t! I’ll pee.” You’d think my bladder would be empty with as much as I peed as of late.
“This dragon draws the line at golden showers. Let’s get washed up.” Kyson washed and dried us both then carried me to bed. In my eyes, this was our wedding night without all the wedding expenses.
“Are you chilly, darlin’? I can start a fire.”
“I have a big, sexy dragon to keep me warm.”
“There you go again, being all sweet.”
The words were lost when Kyson entered me, taking our time as we made love. The first time in our own bed, and in our forever home. If I had any questions of where was place in life was they were gone.
I was finally home.