23. Chapter 23 - Chayce
Chapter 23 - Chayce
H aving Regina in my home has my dragon calming down. For the first time in days, he is content. Deakon wasn’t finished with Regina’s phone when we were leaving the office, so we left it there. We had barely reached the town limits when she fell asleep.
After putting my sleeping mate to bed, I decide to take advantage of being home and work on some chores that have been neglected.
God bless my brothers. Trying to decide what to have for dinner, I realized there was nothing in my refrigerator. There wasn’t even a jar of pasta sauce in my house, I called Brady with a list, and he ran to the store for me. It isn’t much, as I don’t know what Regina likes to eat, but it will get us through until we go shopping together.
A creak on the stairs lets me know Regina is awake. Stepping into the living room from my office, a small smile spreads across my face. Her hair is smashed on one side, and her face still has wrinkles from the pillow. It’s the most adorable thing I have ever seen and I can’t help the broad smile that stretches across my face.
“How was your nap?”
“Good,” Regina says, covering her yawn with her hand. “Do you have any coffee?”
Gripping her shoulders, I steer her toward the kitchen. Helping her into a chair, my hands get busy making her a cup of coffee. It’s something I drink a lot of, not knowing what will happen, especially during the winter months. I could be awake for days at a time dealing with the snow and whatever else pops up around town.
A smile tips my lips once she is settled, cradling the warm cup in her hands. Thoughts of spending our lives like this warm my chest. Sitting down next to her, I push a strand of hair behind her ear. Regina leans into my touch.
Smoke escapes my nose, causing her eyes to widen.
“You have been doing that a lot,” Regina states, taking a sip of her coffee. “Is that normal?”
“Sorry,” I say as heat floods my cheeks in embarrassment. “He is happy. There are times when he does what he wants to do, taking me along for the ride.”
A slight blush appears on her cheeks, and she twists the coffee cup in her hands. As I open my mouth to ask what is on her mind, Regina beats me to it.
“Can…can you show him to me?” she asks timidly.
My grin widens in excitement. “Absolutely!”
Regina relaxes slightly at my enthusiasm.
“What are you thinking?” I question.
She slumps back in her chair, keeping a tight grip on the cup and holding it to her chest, refusing to make eye contact.
“A lot has happened in a very short period of time,” she says flatly.
“Is there anything you want to talk through?” I ask nervously. “I want you to be happy here.”
“Honestly, there hasn’t been enough time for it all to sink in,” she says, biting her bottom.
“Okay, let’s go through a few things, and I can answer any questions you might have as we go. How does that sound?” Regina nods in agreement, which I take as a good sign. “Rafferty is packing up your belongings, right?” I ask rhetorically, continuing after Regina gives a slight nod. “Once they arrive, we can sort through everything, and if there is stuff here that you want to change, we can. If you want to buy all new stuff, that is an option as well.” If Regina wants to set the place on fire and start over, I am happy to do that. Whatever is going to make this woman happy.
She releases a breath, resting her head on my shoulder. My dragon lies down with an expression that can only be contentment, as this is the first time Regina has initiated contact.
“Are you hungry?” I ask, wanting to make sure my mate wants for nothing.
“Not really,” she says in a resigned tone.
“What do you want to do?” I ask, having no idea what she needs right now. Regina might get tired of my twenty questions, but eventually, something is going to spark her interest.
“Honestly,” she says, pausing to take a deep breath. “I don’t know. Maybe just sit and watch some television?”
Helping Regina to her feet, I escort her into the living room and sit down. Maneuvering our bodies, Regina sits in the vee of my legs as one runs along the length of the couch and the other is on the floor. She uses my chest as a backrest as I wrap my arms around her waist.
Reaching for the remote, the television powers on, and I bring up the menu before handing it to Regina. Hopefully, she finds something to watch as nothing more than a distraction.