“I don’t even know what to say,” she whispered, sniffling.
The backyard was covered in sunlight, framed with the same white fence as the front. Empty flower beds were arranged in rows, perfect for growing blooms to cut and display. Aro and Luna dozed under a tree in the back corner while Titus zoomed in the branches above, catching insects.
“What’s that?” Ava pointed to a small wooden shed.
“My woodworking studio.”
She ran her hands back and forth along Casimir’s arms as she let the tears fall.
“One wall opens all the way so I can sit in there and whittle while you work in the garden. And we can still see each other.”
Ava turned around and wrapped her arms around his neck, pulling him close. “You sneaky…wonderful…giant…adorable…brute,” she said in between kisses.
She jumped, throwing her legs around his waist. He caught her thighs and pressed her against a wall, groaning as she plunged her tongue in his mouth.
“Ava,” he said. “You haven’t seen the bathroom yet…”
She broke the kiss and trailed her lips down his neck. “I don’t care about the bathroom.” She ran her tongue along his collar bone. He growled. “Show me later.”
“Alright, but we can’t do this now,” he said through heavy breaths.
He carried her back downstairs. “Where are you going?” she asked, still peppering his face and neck with kisses.
She couldn’t believe he had done all this for her. For them. And she wanted to be close to him. Needed to. Wanted to spend all day in that comfortable bed as they made love for hours.
He set her on the kitchen counter and held her face. “Later. I will take you to bed later and you can thank me then,” he said with a smirk. “But right now, you need to stop before I bend you over this kitchen table and fuck you until you’re screaming.”
Ava’s stomach fluttered. “Well, maybe I want you to fuck me over the kitchen table.”
“Well, we don’t want to hear it!” Raine’s voice came from outside.
Ava’s face heated. Casimir took a slow step forward and gripped her chin, placing a sensual kiss on her lips. “Well, then after everyone leaves…I will fuck you on every surface of this house. Of ourhome,” he murmured against her lips.
Her breath caught. “Okay. Our home.” Her voice was hoarse.
“Hurry up, you two,” Raine said. “We’re starving out here.”
Ava pulled back. “Wait. What? Everyone? We?”
Casimir grasped her hand again, pulling her to the back door. “Your last surprise.”
Ava was assaulted with yells and shouts as they stepped onto the deck. A pergola stood over them, swathed in purple wisteria, the fragrant scent hovering in the air.
A large table with enough bench seating for at least a dozen or more people sat in the center, covered in dishes. Steaming vegetables. Roasted meats and potatoes. Several types of baked goods. Rolls, bread. Desserts. Sauces. Goblets and goblets of deep red wine.
And around that table was everyone. Her friends and family.
Kai and Jorrar stood beside Isolde. Her children ran around the yard, squealing with joy as Luna—now awake—and their own companions ran along with them. Pax stood next to Fanya, still in his general’s attire, likely having come from some important meeting. Quinn stood close to Thorne, holding his hand.They’d begun to work things out over the last couple months and Ava smiled at them together.
Her eyes filled with tears. Raine grinned at her, his arm around Maeryn’s waist as she nuzzled into him.
“Well? What do you think?” Raine asked, as everyone took their seats at the table.
Ava picked up the wine goblet before her, taking a sip. She inhaled a deep sigh. “The house is amazing. It’s perfect. But…my favorite thing is that all of you are here.”
Casimir kissed the top of her head, took her plate and began to fill it. Her heart warmed at all the ways he still took care of her. No matter how long it had been.
The others followed suit, visiting as they filled their own plates, passing the food back and forth, laughter and joy filling the air.
