Dane had a toolbelt and was hammering something into a wall filled with a gorgeous mural of the woods outside their home.
Each drawing had individual characteristics, and each could have easily been in one of Wiley’s comic books.
“Thank you for doing these,” Clay said. “I love them. We should hang them all up here in the family room.”
Everyone agreed. Dane grabbed a hammer and some nails and even used a level to hang each one up. He also measured between them. Grey couldn’t help but laugh because he was so damn meticulous. Clay had an indulgent smile on his face as he watched his husband do his thing.
When they were all up, they looked fantastic. Grey draped his arm around Cort’s shoulders as they looked. Dane had hung them up in a staggered fashion that was somehow perfectly in alignment.
“I’ll add to this wall when the new Weaver and soul mates come,” Wiley said as he straightened one of the frames with a frown from Dane. He just laughed and moved it back.
“You’re assuming the rest of us are getting soul mates.” Lucien scrubbed a hand over his jaw. “I can’t imagine how I’ll meet mine stuck here so much.”
“It’s all worked out so far,” Wiley pointed out. “Maybe the goddesses will start getting more involved in that part of this.”
“You mean like steer them here?”
“Jo did point me toward the bakery, after all.” Wiley grinned at Baer. “We found each other pretty fast after that.”
“I’m surprised they aren’t here. Wonder what they do when they’re not around.”
“Interesting goddess-type stuff.” Wiley laughed.
“I’ve got to check the turkey again,” Clay told them as he turned to leave the room.
Everyone followed until they were all in the kitchen. Soon, they were all mixing dishes for their big meal, the music still playing and the talk about inconsequential things. Just enjoying each other’s company on a holiday.
Grey caught Cort watching him and he lifted an eyebrow. Cort nodded toward the dining room, and he followed him in there only to get pinned against the wall once they were alone. Cort kissed him, and the kiss went straight to Grey’s head.
“What was that for?” he whispered when Cort pulled away.
“It had been a couple of hours since I’d done that. Needed to feel you. I can’t seem to get enough of you right now, and I’m tempted to cart you to the apartment for a while.”
“Think they’d notice if we disappeared and didn’t help with the dinner?”
“I don’t think they’d care. But I just needed the kiss.”
Grey slanted their mouths together again, sighing as Cort’s tongue slipped into his mouth.
“Found them,” Baer said, humor lacing his tone. “Making out in the dining room.”
They pulled apart and Cort took his hand as they made their way into the kitchen to the good-natured ribbing of the others.
“Yeah, yeah, get it out of your systems,” Grey muttered. “It’s still so new, you know?”
“We do,” Clay agreed. “But you teased us, too.”
That was true.
“We need a third oven for all the food with the turkey taking up so much space.” Dane frowned. “I suppose I could have added another under the stove.”
“We’ve got the summer kitchen, so it’s all fine.” Wiley picked up a potato and started peeling it. “And we have all the chafing dishes to keep everything warm.”
“I’ll get those out,” Lucien said as he headed toward the pantry where they were on the top shelf.
Grey moved to help him and once they had them lined up on the counter, he started helping Wiley peel potatoes.
Laughter filled the kitchen as they worked together. Soon, more scents filled the room as the meal slowly came together.
“It’s a holiday, let’s break out the booze early,” Baer said as he snagged a bottle of chardonnay out of the refrigerator and opened it. He began pouring glasses and handing them out.
Grey took one and sipped, the wine cool and buttery on his tongue. He watched as Cort accepted a glass, and he couldn’t help but smile when his mate slightly grimaced. He wasn’t much of a wine drinker.
Once they had everything cooking, they retired to the family room, the conversation continuing. Grey snuggled with Cort on the couch, enjoying the man’s warm presence against him. Cort was a comfort Grey had never experienced before, and he knew that had something to do with their magical connection as much as it had to do with Cort’s kind and caring personality. As he sat there, he marveled over how lucky he’d gotten to have found this man. He tightened his arm around him and turned to nuzzle his hair, taking in that fresh scent he’d loved from the beginning.
He saw Clay watching him with an indulgent smile tilting his lips and he smiled back, so full of contentment, he felt whole. Complete. All of it—Cort and his newfound family meant so much to him.