Looking at his mate, Reif saw the hurt but the love Brian had for him shone through. “Nessie, I’m sorry for what I said…my words hurt you and that’s the last thing I ever wanted to do…I’m really sorry.”
Brian reached out, pulling his mate to him. Then wrapping him in his arms, murmured, “Mate, there’s nothin’ to forgive. I was just as freaked as ye.”
“Yeah, but you didn’t say…”
“Does nae matter. We’re in this together.” Brian replied. Nipping at his mate’s earlobe, he continued, “I love ye and always will…naw matter how many little sea dragons we have.”
Reif chuckled, “Good to know considering we’re starting out with five. I don’t think your sea serpent will be fucking my sea dragon again any time soon.”
“Ay…ready to see what the Oracle has to say?”
“Yeah…hopefully she can explain how this happened,” Reif replied.
“Ahh…I see the problem…ye dinna know how babies are made?”
“Wha…” Reif stared at his mate, then laughed. “My Nessie is a comedian, huh?”
Shrugging his shoulders, Brian smirked. “Only tryin’ to help ye with the birds and the bees.”
“Uh-huh, sure you were,” Reif smiled. Then, leaning in so only Brian could hear him, whispered, “I love you Nessie, with every part of me, now and forever.”
“Hey guys,” Logan called, “we need to leave in a few minutes cause the time is almost up for us to have the pool to ourselves.”
“Okay, we’re coming,” Reif said as he and Brian swam over to the ladder. Once they were dried and dressed, Reif, grasped Nessie’s hand and whispered, “I hope the Oracle isn’t going to tell us my sea dragon has more eggs in him.”
Chapter 27
“Quin?” called Mason, climbing into the motorhome.
“Yeah…back here.”
Walking around several suitcases, boxes and rolled-up bedding, Mason finally found his brother, stripping the sheets from a bed. “Whatcha doing? Is something wrong with them? The salesman told me the bedding was new, a gift from the dealership.”
“I know they’re new but really, Mason, how do you expect me to sleep on anything other than my organic cotton 400-thread-count sheets.” Tossing the discarded sheets on the floor, Quin continued, “I honestly do not know how my brothers can sleep on that stuff. If you would only try my sheets, the difference would immediately be apparent.” Pausing, he looked around the room, then spying his sheets, began making up the bed. “I’ll need linen sheets in California but hopefully Jackson will have them.”
“Ahh, why linen sheets? You do mean linen-linen, right?” asked Mason.
“Of course I do. Why do you wear a linen shirt on a hot day? Because it’s breathable, duh. It’s the same with linen sheets. Instead of waking up all sweaty and nasty, I’m fresh and beautiful…ready to start my day.”
“But don’t you shower in the morning?” asked Mason.
“Of course, I do.”
“Uhmm, right. Never mind.” Mason gave up trying to understand his brother’s logic. Surveying more suitcases, he wondered how it was all going to fit. “You know, we’re only going to be gone two weeks.”
Glancing over his shoulder, Quin replied, “I know and I packed accordingly. Each suitcase contains two days’ outfits and their accessories. The ones I’m wearing on the trip are over there. My heels are packed in that suitcase, my jewelry is in that small case and my makeup is over there. I was planning on unpacking each outfit and hanging them up so they wouldn’t be wrinkled but…” Sighing, Quin pointed to the closet. “There’s no way they’ll all fit in there and I definitely cannot choose among them because they’re all my favorites so I’ll just have to steam them once we get there.”
“Maybe, you could just hang the outfit you plan to wear to meet our cousins in the closet. That way, you won’t have to worry about it when we arrive,” offered Mason.
“I think Iwilldo that. I packed everything I need for our arrival in that small suitcase. Hunt promised I’ll have time to get ready before we roll up to their place. Do you know what kind of mattresses they have? I hope they’re not too hard. I’ll have an awful creak in my back if they are.”
“You can always sleep out here in the motorhome.”
“Hmmm, maybe. I did sit on the mattress and it’s okay…not great, but I can always add a memory foam topper to it.” Standing back, Quin surveyed the bed. Then picking up his pillows, he fluffed them before arranging them at the head of the bed. “There, that’s better. Now all it needs…hun, would you bring in my comforter?”
“Sure.” Digging through the pile he had passed, Mason found it and passed it to his brother.
“Thanks.” Shaking it out, Quin arranged it on the bed, fussing until it was just so.
