“What do you need me to do?”
Kylo’s nose wrinkled, his eyes narrowing as Conrad felt his mate’s presence in his head. He kept his and his animals’ considerations to himself. “Grab the plates and sort out some drinks. The veggies will only take two or three minutes once I put the heat on to stir-fry them.”
The routine they’d quickly established gave Conrad a light feeling in his chest as they plated the food and then went out the kitchen back door to sit on the little sun terrace to eat.
The sun was sitting low on the horizon, and it cast a warm glow over the plants and flowers Mom had helped Conrad plant. The back garden wasn’t huge. Despite that, they’d created a little colorful oasis that smelled divine.
The house was amazing inside, cozy, and offered a sanctuary Conrad looked forward to coming home to every day. Yet, it was this space outside, where they were chilling, eating, and relaxing together at the end of a workday, that Conrad cherished most. If he’d had a vision of family life, it was this.
“You’re deep in thought over there. Is everything okay?”
He reached over the table and took the offered hand, his fingers entwined with Kylo’s. A smile spread slowly over his face. “Sometimes, in the darkest times, I’d dream about what I wanted instead of what I had.” Conrad swept his free hand around the garden and ended up pointing at Kylo. “It was this. Dreams can come true if you’re patient and trust the universe knows best.”
The fingers tightened around his as Kylo came forward over the table and gently kissed him. “You are truly a blessing, mate of mine. Now, do you want to discuss vacation locations, or are we planning on hiding out here for three weeks and putting a ‘do not disturb’ sign on the gate?”
As tempting as that was, Conrad had already set some plans in motion, ones he hoped wouldn’t backfire… now. “No, a trip away from here will be good for you. I know damn well if work knows you’re still here, they won’t leave you be.”
Kylo nodded and gave a loud sigh. “You’re right.” His gaze turned thoughtful. “Have you got somewhere in mind for ourfirstvacation? You’ve traveled to a lot more places than me.”
He gave nothing away as he shrugged. “Maybe I do.” Conrad tapped the side of his nose. “I think, surprising you will be good.” He moved this time giving his mate a long lingering kiss. “It’ll be like when I play with your body and won’t let you come. It builds anticipation, which is fun.”
“For you,” Kylo huffed, not looking at all unpleased at the prospect of being teased.
Conrad was well aware of how much Kylo loved it. And Conrad had seen a resort in the middle of nowhere, on top of a mountain where the glass bedroom overlooked the jungle, totally private with no interruptions, work or otherwise. It would be perfect if he packed appropriately for it.
As he was keeping his thoughts to himself, the next one got him, considering if he’d need to do some research or reach out to those with family to ask some questions. There had to be some do’s and don’ts when…
“What are you up to? You’re blocking me! Have you already sorted something for us?”
Conrad got up and collected the plates, winking at Kylo. “Remember, anticipation is key.” With that, he all but skipped inside, grinning to himself. Life was fucking awesome.
~/~/~/~
The boat skimmed over the waves, the sun reflecting off the azure blue-green as Conrad held the wheel and guided them.
Kylo lounged on the padded cushion, his face upturned. His eyes shielded by the wrap-around sunglasses. He appeared relaxed, only Conrad picked up a thread of unease. His gaze dipped to Kylo’s bare chest and the hand that sat over the roundness.
“We’re nearly there. You’re not feeling seasick are you?” They’d left Paraguay three days before, and after a stopover to collect the boat, Conrad had worked to keep Kylo out of his head while traveling to Tristan da Cunha.
“No. And nearly where?”
“Where we need to be,” he replied noncommittally, second-guessing what he’d done. They’d dismantled Devil’s world, only Kylo’s need to face the man who’d caused him twenty years of angst and despair, remained. He didn’t talk about it, and he was good at shielding, just not good enough to stop Conrad’s animals from feeling the undercurrent of frustration. They didn’t need that, especially now.
Conrad had talked to Wyatt extensively about what was going to happen. Both wanted to protect their mates. Both understood that there needed to be closure, not only for Kylo, but for James, too. To know that James was, in essence, free, too. Some things they’d found in Selina’s home before they’d burned it to the ground revealed James might have started looking for answers to who and what he was. At some point, something had changed. In seeking a creation, a version of himself, James had wanted more than death and destruction. It left Conrad with hope there was something redeemable in James that Wyatt would find. Conrad wanted that for Wyatt.
The island appeared on the horizon, and the magic that protected it warned that they were trespassing. Kylo sprung up, his gaze going to the volcanic island, the sunglasses coming off. His eyes narrowed and his chest rose and fell quickly.
His gaze moved to Conrad as he steered the boat through the wards easily, heading towards the jetty. “Where are we?”
“The middle of nowhere. Tristan da Cunha, one of the remotest islands on the planet,” Conrad answered truthfully.
The narrowed gaze returned to the deserted golden sands. “We’re staying here?”
“No… we’re just visiting before we head to our next destination.” It was easier to hedge when the unease coming from Kylo intensified.
“Who are we…”
Conrad saw Wyatt stroll out of the tree line as Kylo’s mouth hung open. “You needed to see him. I needed to make that happen.” Bringing the boat alongside the jetty, he threw the rope to Wyatt, who looked relaxed and…happy.
