Chapter 205 Special gifts

Chapter 205 Special gifts
“Oh my goodness.” I hopped on my feet like I was five again, barely able to hold myself from sprinting across the living room to Hale. 

He had a broad smile as he walked towards me. “Happy birthday, my Luna.”

Mordaine moved from the couch and reached me at the same time as Hale lifted the puppy out of the basket. Its furs were the exact shade of Hale’s hair.

“This is too much responsibility.” The dragon's displeasure was apparent. "I have no need for a pet in my house.”

My shoulders slumped.

“Our house, you mean?” Hale waved him off, gave me an encouraging smile, and held the puppy out. My heart melted at how it moved its curious head in all directions, with large, large eyes. 

“Yes, visitor.” Mordaine was not letting it go. “These things are as needy as children, and you will not be here to help care for it.” 

I gently moved the puppy into my arms, and Mordaine frowned at the toy poodle with actual jealousy, like it was a human. Hale snickered and I forced my laughter down.

“I will care for it.” I rocked the pet in my arms, in awe of just how tiny it was. As small as a teddy, with its little warm belly moving against my forearm at every breath it took.

“It will keep you away from me.” The dragon gave a stubborn head shake. “I have no desire to share you more than I already do.”

The poodle reached out with its tongue to lick my skin, and I giggled. Both at the gesture, and Mordaine’s possessiveness, which was so childish it was cute.

“Do you want to hold it?” I held the puppy out.

He did not flinch or take a step back, but he scowled. “No, is it spayed, trained, can it…”

“We seem to be making progress.” Hale pumped his brows at me, and I giggled. He took the poodle. “He is finally asking the right questions.” 

He turned to look at Mordaine, who was watching the poodle with a hint of curiosity now. “This little lady is spayed, and has better manners than a certain someone I know.” The dragon stiffened, and Hale grinned. “But you are right about her care. She would need a real dog sitter as you both spend more time on airplanes than you do in your own home.”

“Then what is the point of having her?” Mordaine quirked an eyebrow.

“There is no need to make any decisions now,” I said hurriedly, finally seeing his point. Neither of us were qualified to keep a dog, especially now when…

I paused. 

Hale knew my time here was almost done. And he bought me a puppy. I blinked, looking between him and Mordaine as I realized the significance of this. The puppy was really for Mordaine, something to remind him of me.

Does that mean… I shut the thought out, not daring to hope. “May I keep her at least for today.” I swallowed hard. “We can hand her over to this dog sitter later?”

“Yes, beautiful,” Hale leaned close to kiss my temple, and my hope ballooned even though I was actively trying not to think of what this could mean, not to assume he was here to actually help me do this. “I hired a dog sitting service, and we can have them pick her up by evening.”

He pulled away, giving me a meaningful look. I lowered my gaze immediately, taking the puddle from him again. “Does she have a name?”

“Espera.” Hale responded, and Mordaine inhaled.

“Hope?” The confusion in his voice made me look up. Hale nodded, suddenly unable to meet either of our gazes. 

I turned to find Mordaine watching both of us with a hint of suspicion. Hale stroked my chin, turned and moved away. The dragon regarded us for an uncomfortable minute, and then returned to his couch.

Hale went through the motions of showing me more birthday gifts, bantering with his husband the whole time. And just as he walked out of the kitchen after shelving away the large birthday cake he got me in the refrigerator, the front door opened.

I froze, startled.

Ashbounds never used the door, and the man walking in now was a stranger.

A good-looking stranger in a two-piece suit, with stylishly swept back straight hair. Even from this distance, I could smell that unique scent around him that I only smelled in those outrageous billionaire fundraisers Mom used to pull me to, until Dad secured a marriage arrangement with the president. Wealth. The man smelled like wealth.

But neither Mordaine nor Hale reacted the way I would have expected at stranger barging into our home. And then the stranger straightened, and stared right at me.

My breath hitched, those eyes knocking the wind right out of me.

Familiarity must have dulled Finn’s effect on me in the past. This man was most likely the most beautiful man who had existed in the last hundred years, except for that stupid hair. 

Espera moved in my arms, perhaps feeling the sudden switch of emotion. I had never felt so much anger at an inanimate object. Whoever advised him to straighten those lovely curls was evil. His natural curls had been defined, large folds that looked like a woman's hair right after you pulled out a large hair roller at the saloon.

I turned away without acknowledging his presence. I clung to this illogical anger over his hair, because it was easier than processing this new reality that they were home. 

That I had all three men under the same roof again after all these months. That I mourned the old Finn, because I did not recognize this wealthy man who had led a war for months.

I slid onto the couch beside Mordaine with Espera still in my arms. He was my constant, the only man I knew well at this point.

Silence fell in the room.