“Uh-huh, there’s still more to the ceremony but that’ll have to wait until another time.”
“Do we have time for a shower?”
“Only if you can take one in five minutes or less.”
“That’s enough for me to return the favor. C’mon, times a-wasting.”
~/~/~/~/~
They barely had time to buckle up before Dakota felt the plane descending. Looking out the window, he watched the ground grow closer until a slight bump told him they were in Scotland. Dakota looked around, eager to see Edinburgh, the first foreign city he’d ever been to. When the plane rolled to a stop, he quickly unbuckled his seatbelt, eager to see his brothers. He wasn’t sure they’d be waiting at the airport, but it didn’t matter since he and Slate would see them at the hotel shortly.
At the door of the plane, Paul handed him an umbrella and said, “Sorry about the rain…your driver and car got as near to the bottom of the steps as they could, so hopefully, you won’t get too wet.
“Thanks,” Dakota said, wondering if he should exit or wait for his mate.
“Babe,” Slate said, coming up behind him, “ready to get a little wet?”
Grinning, Dakota said, “It seems I’m getting a taste of Scotland in more ways than one.”
“True, it can be wet here. Let’s make a mad dash for the car.”
When the driver saw them leave the plane, he got out of the car and held the rear passenger door open. Rushing toward it, Dakota handed him his umbrella before sliding in, with Slate close behind him. “You look like a wet dog, babe,” Dakota laughed, taking a towel from a pile on the back seat and drying his mate’s face, arms and hair as they drove off.
Chuckling at Dakota, who was turning his head from side to side in an effort to see everything, Slate said, “Stop babe, you’re making me dizzy. I know we don’t have time on this trip for a lot of sightseeing, but we can always come back.”
“I’m sorry. I’m just so excited to be here. No wonder Theo wanted to travel. There’s so much to see.”
Slate suddenly recalled the first time he traveled with his parents; it was so long ago, he’d forgotten the rush he felt when visiting a new place. Then he had a great idea, “Babe, let’s plan a vacation each year to somewhere you’ve never been before.”
“Yesss,” Dakota said, excited about the possibilities. “A new place with different food to try! We can make it a food safari and pick different countries and based on how many different dishes we can try.”
“So sightseeing would be secondary, huh?”
“No, well…yes, but I’m sure we can combine them like eating outside a bistro in Paris while looking at the Eiffel Tower.”
Chortling at that image, Slate said, “Onlyyouwould consider looking at the Eiffel Tower while eating as sightseeing.”
Shrugging his shoulders, Dakota said, “It’s all a matter of priority and food beats spending a day tromping around the Eiffel Tower.”
“Maybe we can do both. There’s a fantastic restaurant at the top we can try.”
Dakota’s eyes widened, sparkling with delight. “Wow! I like that idea!” Then as he felt the car slow down and come to a stop, Dakota peered out of a rain streaked window at the imposing stone façade of the hotel. “Thisis where we’re staying?” Dakota squeaked, then clearing his throat, and adding in a low voice, “I didn’t bring the right outfits.”
Leaning over, Slate murmured in his ear, “Don’t worry, you won’t need any clothes.”
Whipping his head around, he stared at his mate, giggling when Slate winked at him. When he heard his car door open, Dakota turned and slid out with Slate following him. A doorman held a huge umbrella over them as they walked up the steps to the front door which was being held open by another doorman.
As Dakota stepped into the lobby of the hotel, he gasped when he saw the luxurious décor.Oh, my gods, I never dreamt such a place existed.His eyes roamed over the stone columns, paneled walls, large fireplaces with logs merrily burning, and plush, wide chairs placed in intimate groups, inviting quiet conversation in the hushed lobby. He spied his brother, waiting by an elevator. “Logan,” Dakota cried out, as he rushed to hug him.
“Hey, what’s this I hear about you being mated?” Logan murmured in Dakota’s ear as he hugged back.
“It’s true,” Dakota said. “Unfuckingbelievable but it’s true.” Stepping back, he grabbed Slate’s hand. “Babe, this is my brother, Logan.”
Slate held out his hand and said, “Hi, I’m Slate.”
Shaking it, Logan said, “Nice to meet you. I’ve heard a lot about you from your brother.”
“I figured that. He just can’t stop bragging about me,” Slate joked.
