Chapter 167 The Swing

Chapter 167 The Swing
[Sera]

The structure was magnificent—modern but warm, with massive windows and natural stone elements. Construction equipment surrounded the property, but the main structure was clearly taking shape.

"It's beautiful," I whispered as we parked.

"Wait until you see inside," Barrett said, leading me toward the entrance. "I've been working with the architects on some special features."

He guided me through the partially finished rooms, his hand warm against the small of my back. The interior was spacious with high ceilings and an open concept design.

"This will be the main living area," Barrett explained, gesturing to a large space with floor-to-ceiling windows overlooking a natural ravine. "And upstairs..."

He led me to the second floor, down a hallway to a door covered with a tarp. With a dramatic flourish, he pulled the tarp aside.

"The nursery," he announced, a hint of vulnerability in his voice.

I gasped. The room was enormous, with space clearly designated for two cribs. But what took my breath away was the partially installed glass tube running from one wall down and out through the exterior.

"What's that?" I asked, pointing.

Barrett's face lit up with boyish excitement. "A slide from the nursery straight to the pool. There's going to be a safety gate, of course, for when they're little. But when they're older..." He trailed off, clearly picturing future children sliding down into the water below.

"You designed this?" I asked, genuinely touched.

He nodded. "There's more. Come see."

Outside, he showed me the foundations for what would become a natural stone hot spring. "It'll be heated year-round, therapeutic for pregnancy and beyond." Next came a garden area where he pointed out the planned placement of two matching tree swings. "One for each twin."

I stood there, overwhelmed by the thought he'd put into this home—into our future. "Barrett, this is incredible. But when do you find time for all this? Between running Titan and working on national economic policy..."

He took my hands in his. "The work I do with the administration is for the country's future. But this—" he gestured to the house around us, "—this is for our family's future. I want our children to have everything I didn't."

Something in his voice made me look closer at him. Behind the confidence, I saw uncertainty in his eyes.

"What is it?" I asked softly.

Barrett hesitated. "I didn't exactly have the best childhood model, Sera. My father was distant, my brothers were...well, you've met them." He sighed. "What if I'm terrible at this? What if our kids don't like me when they grow up?"

I laughed softly, remembering how the children in Valtoria had initially feared him, and how he'd later won them over with his steady presence.

I placed my hand on his cheek. "They're going to adore you. You're already thinking years ahead, planning things that will make their childhood magical. The slide, the pool, the special rooms... You're already becoming the father you never had."

Barrett's eyes softened, and a small smile tugged at his lips. "Come with me," he said, guiding me back outside to the garden area where the frames for the tree swings were already in place. One of them was partially assembled, a sturdy wooden seat hanging from thick ropes tied to a temporary beam. "It’s not finished, but it’s safe enough to try."

He gestured for me to sit. I hesitated for a moment before settling onto the swing, the wood cool against my hands. Barrett stepped behind me, his strong hands gripping the ropes. With a gentle push, he sent me gliding forward, the breeze brushing against my face like a soft whisper.

Higher and higher I went with each push, the world blurring into streaks of green and gold as the late afternoon sun filtered through the trees. I couldn’t help but laugh, the sound bubbling up from somewhere deep and carefree, a feeling I hadn’t known in weeks. Barrett’s low chuckle joined mine, and I glanced back to see him watching me with an expression so tender it made my heart skip.

As the swing slowed, he caught the ropes, bringing me to a gentle stop. I tilted my head back to look at him, still breathless from the ride. His face was close, his eyes dark with something deeper than just amusement. Slowly, he leaned down, his lips brushing against mine in a kiss as soft as the fading sunlight around us. It was a quiet moment, full of unspoken promises, tasting of warmth and the faint salt of his skin.

The kiss deepened, his hands sliding from the ropes to my shoulders, pulling me closer as I turned in the swing to face him. My fingers threaded through his hair, feeling the tension in him melt away, replaced by a hunger that matched my own. The world around us seemed to hush—the rustling leaves, the distant hum of construction, all fading into a distant hum as we lost ourselves in each other.

His hands moved down my back, firm yet gentle, guiding me off the swing and into his arms. We sank to the soft grass beneath, the scent of earth and new growth surrounding us. The golden light painted his features in warm hues, and as he hovered above me, his gaze held mine with an intensity that felt like it could stop time. Our bodies pressed close, moving with a rhythm as natural as the sway of the swing moments before, every touch a quiet celebration of the future we were building together.

When we finally lay still, tangled in each other and the quiet of the garden, I traced lazy circles on his chest, listening to the steady beat of his heart.