“I hope you will make an exception.” He rocked back and forth as he closed his eyes and absorbed the heat from the sun.
“I’ve never wanted to be tied down.” She closed her eyes, too, allowing the sun’s rays to warm her until she cast off the blanket. “I like to be free.”
“I like my freedom, too,” Kelos admitted. “But now I like the idea of having a place to call home.” He gave a small smile and his eyes crackled with fire. “What I have learned…and it’s taken me a long time to understand this…”
“Words of wisdom from a dragon. I’m all ears.” She leaned her head on his shoulder and watched him. She could stare at him all day. There was so much wisdom etched in each line and wrinkle of his face.
“Traveling the world and exploring new places means so much more when you have a home to return to. When you have a place that holds the stuff of memories. A place where you can sit and contemplate what you have seen and done.” He gave her a brief self-deprecating smile. “Ignore me, I sound pretentious.”
“No.” She placed her hand on his arm and he shivered, his smile faltering. He was uncertain of her. Kelos knew she was his mate and yet he was unsure of himself around her. “I understand what you mean. You need space. Space where you can process your experiences.”
“Yes. If you are in a constant state of doing, if you are always looking to the place you are going next, you never have time to look behind and relive the places and people you meet.” He waved his hand at the house. “This is why after so long traveling, I bought the cabin to make into a home.”
“I thought you said you bought it because you knew I was coming into your life.” She arched an eyebrow and then laughed as his confusion grew. “I’m joking.”
“Oh.” He let out a breath in a puff. “I’m not good at understanding humor. You would have thought I’d have learned by now, but humor is one of the great mysteries.”
“I’ll give you plenty of practice,” Amber told him then jumped as he suddenly straightened up and looked toward the house. “What’s wrong?”
“Margie is in the kitchen.” He stood up and threw the last of his coffee onto the ground. “And I should go to work.”
“Have a good day, sweetie.” She chuckled. “That’s so not me.”
“I don’t think I’ve ever been called sweetie in my life.” He looked horrified.
“You have been very sweet to us,” Amber insisted.
His eyes glowed almost amber and she swore he blew smoke out of his nostrils before he looked down at her and winked. “I need to be more alpha. I can’t have people thinking I’m sweet.”
Amber rolled her eyes. “I do not go for alpha men at all. So, if you think you need to change to impress me, don’t.”
“Are you saying I am already impressive enough?” He cocked his head on one side and grinned at her.
“If it makes you feel better.” She walked by his side as he went to his truck.
“Here, take this in for me, please. I’ll give you and your sister-in-law some time to talk.” Kelos glanced past her toward the house, his expression unreadable.
“What’s wrong?” Amber asked, her hand covering his as he opened the door of his truck.
“I know Margie doesn’t like the house.” He gave her a wry smile. “I tried not to hear but shifter senses don’t come with an off button.”
“That’s okay.” She sighed and glanced toward the house. “It needs work. Unfortunately, my sister-in-law likes things to be just so. She can’t always see what a thing can be. Only what it is.”
“She has no flare of imagination.” Kelos nodded. “The house will be amazing one day but that’s not today, or tomorrow, or for the next few weeks. So, I know she might push you to move out. Find a hotel somewhere.”
Amber shook her head. “We’re not going anywhere. The cabin is perfect for us to hide out in. Margie’s just going to have to suck it up.”
“Don’t be too hard on her,” Kelos said as he started the engine. “This must be tough for her. It’s been an ordeal for you all but for Margie, she’s left behind everything she’s known. Including her husband.”
“Yeah, I know. It’s just sometimes hard. I came from nothing. We managed; we were happy.” Amber took her hand off his and placed it on her arm as if hugging herself. “When you’ve had nothing it’s hard to sympathize with someone like Margie. She expects everything done for her. Fabian works hard to give her everything she wants.”
Her brow creased and heat covered her face. She shouldn’t say things about her sister-in-law behind her back. That’s how things wound up awkward in families and Amber in no way wanted to lose her brother.
“What wrong?” Kelos asked gently.
“I was just thinking that I never saw what my brother does in Margie. He loves her, really loves her, but he grew up the same way as me. We didn’t have a lot, but we were happy. So, to marry a woman who expects everything… I don’t get it.” Amber raked her hand through her hair. “I hope you know the art of discretion. I don’t want anyone to know I said that.”
Kelos placed his hand on his heart. “I promise whatever you tell me stays between us. As your mate, I will never break my promise.”
“I like this mate bond thing more and more.” Amber stepped back and he put the truck in drive.
“Do you ever think your brother might have attracted a woman like Margie to him because he grew up in a home that lacked money?” Kelos nodded toward the house. “He works to give Margie and his kids whatever they need because
