Chapter 13
“I had fun tonight, but I always miss her,” Nyx whispered as both she and Bo looked down at their sleeping little six-month-old baby girl, Thea. They knew better than to wake her up.
She would be cranky with a capital C. Sweet girl liked her sleep. Which is what she seemed to do most of the time.
Bo simply nodded and held a finger to his lips.
He was so overprotective of their baby, not that she blamed him. Tonight, at the bar, he’d been checking in on one of their home security cameras to make sure she was okay. He’d installed a ridiculous amount of them all over the house and increased the warding spells around their property as well.
Instead of staying in Montana, Nyx had just used her transportation ability to transport Bo and herself back to Biloxi tonight.
They’d decided that it was safer for their daughter to stay at their house with a sitter, where they trusted the wards and spells and knew who was watching her. Not that she didn’t trust the dragons—she absolutely did. But it was also Christmastime and she wanted her daughter to wake up in a familiar place.
Thea was so young and probably wouldn’t remember regardless, but Nyx didn’t care. She’d had a dysfunctional childhood and she wanted to make sure that their daughter had stability and love more than anything. Part of that was Christmas morning in her own home. They’d even put up a little tree in Thea’s room and decorated it with ornament gifts from Bo’s brothers, sister and Stavros pack members.
“Solon said she was a perfect angel tonight,” Bo said as he shut Thea’s bedroom door behind them.
“He would say that even if she screamed her head off all night,” Nyx said, rolling her eyes, even if she did adore the mischievous wolf shifter. Solon had watched Thea a few times and had done so well with her. He’d left as soon as they’d returned tonight, practically running out the door because he still had to wrap a bunch of presents for some of his packmates. Talk about cutting it close.
“True enough. He would also defend her with his life, so I’m okay with it.” Bo slipped his fingers into hers as they headed down the stairs. They would head back up to Montana tomorrow for an hour or so with Thea to check in with everyone and wish them a Merry Christmas—and exchange presents with Bo’s siblings—but she was glad they’d be sleeping in their own bed tonight. Because Nyx needed normalcy in her life too. Life with Bo certainly wasn’t boring, but she’d discovered that she needed roots and some routine.
“So, who is this vampire that Cynara was dating? Because I can’t believe she didn’t tell me she was seeing someone.” Nyx was a little hurt by the knowledge even though she knew it wasn’t about her. But she and Cynara had grown really close the last couple years.
Bo snorted softly as they reached the kitchen. “She probably didn’t tell you because she knew you would tell me,” he said, pulling two glasses from the cabinet. “Water or tea?”
“She told Javier… Oh, water.” He knew her too well. After having a few drinks, she needed hydration.
“Pretty sure my brother was eavesdropping.”
“Still, I’m going to get details out of her later.”
“Please don’t share those details with me.” Bo’s voice was dry.
She snickered. “I saw the princess house earlier and forgot to tell you. It looks amazing,” Nyx said as he poured her drink. Her mate amazed her more and more every day. And since he’d become a father, he was even more adorable. Her badass half-demon mate had turned into a big softie where Thea was concerned.
Bo beamed with fatherly pride. “It should look amazing. I put it together by hand instead of using my powers.”
“Why?” she asked, surprised. He’d been all secretive about putting together the princess house for Thea—even if their daughter wouldn’t be able to play with it for a while yet.
He lifted a shoulder as he leaned in close to her, brushing his lips over hers. “I just wanted to do it by myself. I haven’t celebrated Christmas in so long. But my mom always made it special. I want Thea’s first Christmas to be incredible.”
Bo had loved his human mother, and though Nyx had never met her, the female had given him the best childhood. She’d given him all the love in the world. “Well our girl is going to love it even if she can’t walk yet,” she said. “She’ll just be happy to be with us and all her aunts and uncles.”
He nodded once before his gaze narrowed ever so slightly. “Are you about done with that water yet?” he asked even though she hadn’t touched it. His amber-gold eyes were bright with hunger, sending heat sizzling through her.
“Maybe,” she murmured, taking a long, slow sip, knowing exactly what he wanted. She wanted it too, but it was fun to tease her mate, after all.
But he was having none of that tonight. Grasping the glass from her hands, he shoved it to the side before hoisting her up onto the countertop with a soft growl.
Heat punched through her even as she spread her legs, wrapping them around his waist. Looked like she was going to get her Christmas present early.