Chapter 201: Grace
Rhys gently wrapped me up in a towel after my shower and kissed my forehead. That had been incredible, especially for a quickie like that. Every time I thought I couldn’t be more wowed by him, I was. After devouring me in the best way possible, he had massaged the soap into my skin and the shampoo into my hair, and I had done the same to him. It was heavenly. He was heavenly. Goddess, I love this man. And he was still taking care of me by grabbing clean clothes for me, so I didn’t have to leave the warm bathroom. I also wasn’t going to complain. He was walking around with nothing but a towel around his waist, which might be too much coverage, but it was still sexy. And I loved to see the little water droplets on his skin; it was even hotter. I loved that he was mine.
“Uncle Rhys and Aunt Grace!” I could hear Sammy pounding on our bedroom door. “It’s time to go!”
“We’re still getting ready, Sammy!” Rhys called back to her, freezing at the door.
“Well, what have you been doing this whole time?!” She demanded, not giving up.
“We’re just slow. Sorry, Sam-Sam. 5 more minutes, please?” He tried to bargain with her.
“Maizie, set a timer.” I heard the little girl command, slightly muffled now.
I could all but see Maizie’s reaction. She was probably out there, rolling her eyes at Sammy’s dramatics, well aware of why we took so long. We didn’t get much alone time these days with war brewing, trying to save our friends, and Sammy sleeping in our bed most nights. There was little time for extra-curriculars. There was little time for anything. But we were making time for this damn picnic. It was a good thing to keep our minds off of things for a while. We needed this, even if we couldn’t really admit that we needed this.
“I told you not to bother them!” I heard Maizie yell back to Sammy from farther away.
“Never a moment’s peace, huh?” Rhys said as he handed me my clothes, a long sleeve sweater and a pair of black leggings.
“Where’s the underwear?” I asked when I saw him smirk.
“You don’t need them.” He told me as he placed his hands on either side of me on the counter where I was sitting, and leaned into kiss my lips.
“Yes, I do.” I answered when he pulled away and pointed toward the other room.
He shamelessly pulled them out of his pocket, and I giggled. He was ridiculous. “What were you going to do? Go to the picnic with them?” I asked.
“Yes.” He admitted, planting another kiss on my lips before pulling away to get dressed himself.
“I will be wearing those, thank you very much.” I told him unable to keep the laugh out of my voice.
“You are no fun.” He smirked.
“You weren’t thinking that 5 minutes ago in the shower.” I teased.
He shuddered at the memory. Our bodies working as one to create the most spectacular pleasure in the rawest form. Just us and nothing else. His hands on my body, my hands on his. And fun is only one of the words that I would use to describe the experience.
He groaned and I looked down and saw the tent I had helped create just moments ago with my comment.
“You are evil.” He teased.
I flipped my hair dramatically in the way I had seen many girls do it when flirting with the guys in the pack. “You’re the one who’s mated me.” I shot back.
“Best decision I ever made.” He said as he leaned in to peck my lips again.
It was the simple moments like these that I loved the most. All we were doing now was getting dressed and chatting and yet it was just as magical as the thing we had just done 10 minutes ago. It was mundane and perfect, and I loved every moment of it.
I pulled the sweater over my head and started the process of blow drying my hair. I wouldn’t have time to fully dry it, but I could at least get it to be only a little damp.
We finished getting ready in a comfortable silence. I was lacing up my combat boots when Sammy started knocking again.
“Oh!” Sammy exclaimed as Rhys opened the door, since we were both fully dressed now.
“Did you need something, Sammy?” Rhys asked sweetly.
“We’re late!” She exclaimed anxiously.
I glanced at the clock. It was 5:17, a little later than we wanted to be.
“Sorry, kiddo,” Rhys told her as he ruffled her hair affectionately. “We did our best.”
“You guys took forever!” She complained.
“I know it felt like that,” I told her as she plopped herself onto my lap and I began to braid her hair.
“Can we go pleaseeee?” She begged when I finally finished.
“I’m ready,” I answered, looking to my mate who had a mischievous glint in his eyes. “Are you ready, Rhys?”
“Not quite, I have to do my hair,” Rhys teased.
Sammy burst out laughing at her uncle’s antics. “Uncle Rhys!” She exclaimed still laughing. “Your hair is perfect!”
He really didn’t have much hair to work with, and she was right, his hair was perfect. He was perfect.
“Are you sure?” He asked her, still teasing.
“Yes!” She giggled as he reached down to pick her up off my lap.
“Phew,” He answered as she clung to him like a monkey. “I wouldn’t want to go out there looking ridiculous!”
I laughed at the two of them. If this was the kind of thing our future held, then I couldn’t wait. Whether it be with just Michael and his siblings, or we add our kids into the mix, it didn’t matter. As long as we were all happy, healthy, and together we would be just fine, and the future couldn’t come fast enough.