Chapter Sixty-one
Rayne
Rayne believed that was the first time he’d ever slept outside… on a bed. It was obvious the backyard was designed for Mike’s ultimate pleasure, and now that he had a love to share it with, Rayne couldn’t wait to see what other romantic things they could do back there. Nature’s alarm clock made them both stir at the same time as the sun began to rise in the east, and the birds chirped and sang around them while they foraged for breakfast.
Mike wasn’t a huge talker in the morning, so Rayne was quiet as he came fully awake, his dark eyes blinking and adjusting to the changing light. When he glanced over and saw Rayne watching him and remembrance of last night sparked in his gaze, a slow smile spread across his face.
“I think we better get up and tidy up our mess. The events company will be here to set up the tables and tents for Bishop and Edison’s dinner at one, and then I have a zillion things to do before our company starts to arrive.”
“Yeah, yeah, I know,” Mike rumbled in his deep morning voice that had Rayne considering if they had to get up right now. “Are you still making me go to Home Depot?”
Rayne chuckled, laying his head over the large tribal tattoo on Mike’s left pec. “Yes. I need those wires to make my centerpieces for the tables.”
“Uggh,” Mike groaned, throwing his forearm over his eyes, but Rayne knew he wasn’t all that annoyed. Mike secretly loved when Rayne gave him a honey-do list. The longer, the better.
Rayne placed a gentle peck on Mike’s lips, then sat up and swung his legs over the side of the comfortable bed. His body felt wonderful, pleasantly sore and tender in all the right places, different from any other time he’d allowed a man inside of him. With love in the equation, nothing Rayne did sexually would ever be the same again.
He stretched his arms up high, turned his face toward the heavens, and said a quick prayer of gratitude. There was so much he had to be thankful for that he needed more than just a couple of minutes to reflect on it. He patted Mike on his thigh. “Hey. I’m gonna go meditate for a little while in my bedroom. I’ll see you after I shower.”
Rayne got up and headed toward the door, but Mike jogged and caught up to him and clamped his arms around his waist. He chuckled and glanced at Mike over his shoulder. “What are you doing?”
“I have a surprise for you.” Mike kissed the back of his head before he spun him around to face him.
Rayne’s eyes got big. “Wait, the room you and Manny have been working on while I’ve been at the spa. You mean I can see it now?”
Mike’s grin was smug as he nodded and led them into the house. Rayne was so excited he almost hurried in front of Mike to get to the door first. He could only imagine what his man had done now. He didn’t think anyone knew how generous… or romantic Mike could be. All they had to do was touch his heart and he’d go to great lengths to reciprocate that affection.
Mike stopped in front of the formal dining room, where his rickety desk and old computer used to be, but he’d removed those items and started to renovate it last week, but Mike would never let Rayne see what he was doing. Now that he worked full-time at the spa, Mike had a lot of evenings and weekends to finish the project without him seeing it. All Rayne knew was it was for him.
“Since you said you were about to meditate…” Mike slid the french doors open. “Here you go.”
Rayne inhaled sharply as he stepped inside a room that was in complete contrast with the rest of the house. It was a Zen room. The bare white walls were covered with wood paneling one would see in a sauna. The large bay window was closed and covered with sheer curtains, but there was still enough natural light allowed through that he didn’t need to turn on the small accent lamps positioned around the room.
The hardwood floor was replaced with a thick heather-gray shag carpet and littered with large floor pillows.
“Oh my god.” Rayne gaped at the best part. Mike had placed towering greenery in the corners that would make him feel as if he was meditating in the rainforest. He fingered the split leaves that were larger than both of his hands put together. “What are these?”
“They’re called Monsteras. Do you like them?” Mike stood off to the side, watching his every reaction, and Rayne was sure he wasn’t disappointing. He’d had no idea Mike was doing this. “Over here, these are ferns. That’s a peace lily right there, and of course, those are aloe vera plants.”
Rayne was shocked. “How did you know to do all of this?” Rayne ran his fingertips over the chakra-balancing canvas art. The other wall was covered with a wide tapestry of the Indian lotus flower and several bookshelves already complete with a library of mindfulness and yoga books.
Mike hugged him from behind, smiling into Rayne’s neck. “I googled meditation rooms. They all basically had the same thing—very little artificial light, comfortable places to sit, lots of plants, and these weird things.” Mike picked up the sitting Buddha statue on the low table next to a set of stacked white Zen stones.
Rayne was getting emotional, but he held it in. This was his life now. Pure happiness. “I can’t believe you did this for me.”
Mike came and stood in front of him. “My gentle lover, I can’t believe I have you, period. I can’t believe I have someone that will stand up to Bishop like that for me.”
“They weren’t supposed to tell you I did that. They were just supposed to fix it.” Rayne hadn’t wanted any recognition; he’d just wanted Mike happy.
“Well, he did. And I wanted to let you know that Bishop was very impressed.”
Rayne frowned. “Really? I thought pissed was more like it.”
“Naw, he said he knew you were right.” Mike kissed him tenderly. “He also said he was glad I had you. I’ve been protecting people for what seems like forever. Now I have someone to protect me too.”
Rayne hooked his arms around Mike’s neck and got lost for a while in their kiss. “Thank you so much,” he whispered when they broke for air. “I love the room.”
“Wood said a meditation room was something you’ve always wanted in your home, and when I asked Chelsea, she said the exact same thing.” Mike caressed his cheek. “So I got to work.”