Page 80 of Emerald Waves
I kissed the top of his head, refusing to chastise him because I could feel that he was already starting to get down on himselfabout it, when it was absolutely not his fault that his body had expanded to such a degree.
“Let me run to the bathroom one more time and then I’ll be ready to head down,” he said, so I carefully helped him get up and out of the bed. “Take your time. I’ll be back just as soon as I drop our dishes off in the kitchen.”
A quick dash down and back up and I was waiting when he stepped out of the bathroom to scoop him up and carry him down the stairs where the trail of bows began.
“What’s all this?” He asked when I set him back on his feet at the base of the stairs.
“The pathway to one of your surprises,” I explained.
“Ohhh,” he remarked, doing a little pregnant shimmy that left him slightly breathless and Cade giggling from inside the egg. I loved how connected he was to both of us, sharing his emotions so freely.
I offered him my arm, knowing that the closer he got to laying our egg the more difficult it was for him to walk more than a few steps without getting winded. Slowly, we followed the path of bows through the living room, past the library, and out the French doors leading to the deck that in hindsight, might have been a better way of bringing in the tree and the crate if Odem and I had taken a moment to think about it.
We’d had a blast making it work though, and wasn’t that what truly counted?
Cool, crisp mountain air greeted us when we stepped outside onto the deck, Emerson’s hand flying to cover his mouth seconds before he threw his arms around me.
“You got us a hot tub!” He squealed.
“I know you can’t use it until after you’ve laid our egg, but I could think of nothing better for soreness and aches than to be able to sink in and relax together while watching the sun go down over the mountains,” I explained. “I kept thinkingabout all the times you commented on the view being absolutely perfect, and you’re right, it truly is.”
“B-but how will we enjoy it together?” I asked. “We can’t just leave our egg inside, unless you plan to ask Uncle Odem to come over and tend to him while we’re out here, which hardly seems fair.”
“Actually, this was one time when I thought ahead,” I explained, turning him to show him what my body had been blocking his view from when he’d stepped out of the door.
The swinging bassinet Odem and I had hung near his desk wasn’t the only one I’d purchased, I’d ordered a second one and installed it out here, near enough to the hot tub where it would be easy to get out and tend to our little Cade in egg and sleepy infant form, though I hoped the fresh air and owl song, along with the bubbling noises of the water in the hot tub, would help keep him asleep once we tucked him into it. I’d placed several bows on it when I’d set up the trail, really wanting to surprise him with something that showed how important it was to me that our home was set up in a way where our son would always be comfortable and close at hand whether we were inside or out.
Not only had we installed the hanging bassinet swing, but a sturdy steel swing that I’d already padded with cushions that I guided him to so we could sit down and get him off his feet for a moment.
“How did you manage all of this without me noticing what you were up to?” he asked as I slowly began to swing us, my arm around my mate as I cuddled him close.
“Well, to be fair, you’ve needed a great deal more sleep these past few days, which has made it easy to sneak the work in out here, especially since Odem had been awesome about helping. Between the two of us we were able to get the hot tub installed and set up with very few issues, and absolutely no catastrophes.”
“I don’t like the way you said that. The way you say it makes me question who you are trying to convince with the last part of that statement. Me or yourself?” Emerson replied. “Do I need to check with Odem when I thank him for being so generous with his time?”
His emerald eyes, near identical to mine, sparkled when he said it, that teasing side of his that had begun to emerge was one I was truly coming to love.
“Feel free to check away,” I replied. “We actually read through all the instructions and watched a few tutorial videos on the installation process before we got started. Of course, in preparation for putting it here, I made sure that the proper hookups were in place and double checked everything with the contractor beforehand and got him to cut the hole in the deck where the base needed to go.”
“I love it,” Emerson said. “I love everything about it.”
“Odem and I even hung bulb lights around the overhanging roof so there would be some warm lighting out here if we wanted to come out at night. I absolutely hate the brightness of some of the white LED lights and Alex says little one’s eyes are super sensitive, so we installed these instead,” I explained as I reached for the lights and turned them on.
With the brightness of the morning, their soft, yellow glow was a bit dull, but at night it would give off a beautiful hue, almost like there were tiny flames trapped in the glass. While we didn’t need the light to see, there was something about having it present that created a particular ambiance. While I’d never given much thought to mood lighting in the past, finding my mate had also introduced me to a part of myself that I’d never known existed.
“I love the way you think,” Emerson replied. “This is magical. I can’t believe this is just Christmas morning.”
“Believe it, Em. This is the first real Christmas my brothers and I will be celebrating. It just never felt right before,” I explained. “There were always big, elaborate dinners and things we took care of for the people of Dragon City, and there were times when we gifted things to one another, usually representations of our elements, but to have little ones and mates to celebrate this year truly makes things special. I love you so much, Mate.”
“And I love you,” Emerson said, head pressed to my shoulder as we enjoyed the soft light creeping up the side of the mountain.
The way it fell cast a shadow that almost looked like dragon wings spread across the rock face, a reminder of how special this place was to all who dwelled here.
“We should go in,” I murmured, not really wanting to move, “There’s still cocoa to be had and tons more surprises awaiting under the tree. Plus, we’re expected to be at Ionus’ soon.
“You’ve already given me the best gift of all,” Emerson said as we stood together, my arm around him to keep him supported and from having to strain to shift his weight. “You let me see the kind of dragon you really are at heart, and my love, you are truly something special.”
Standing there holding him was the first time I actually believed those words, and damnit all, I intended to spend the rest of our lives together living up to them.
