“Ours?”
“Yep. It’s our new home.”
“I’ve definitely hadfarworseaccommodations over the years.”
David kissed her forehead and nuzzled herhair. “Well, it’s the site of the new home I’ll build for us in thespring. Until then, we can retreat here when we want to get awayfrom the house.”
“Really? You plan to build us a home?”
“Yes, with a lot of help. All of us went inon buying this land together. There’s over a hundred acres here,and I’ve claimed this piece of it for us.”
Her eyes lit up nearly as much as they hadwhen she’d seen the telescopes. He almost laughed out loud when herealized where her priorities were. Stars, number one; home, numbertwo.
“A home,” she breathed. “It’s been solong.”
“A home. And I’m thinking we can make thewall facing the ocean all windows. Tinted of course, so we can seeout, but no one can see in. I have plans to make the windows almostlike mirrors where I can watch you all the time.”
Mia’s breath caught at the promise of hiswords. “Brilliant idea.”
“And we’ll put an observatory at the top,for you.”
She flung her arms around his neck. Heinhaled her rose scent as well as the potent aroma of his bloodcoursing within her while he held her close. The bond between themwas complete. Being mated wasn’t something he’d really consideredfor himself. It wasn’t something he’d dreaded happening to himeither, like Jack, but he’d also known it was something that mightnever happen to him.
It had happened though, and there wasn’t athing he would do to change it.
“My present for you is nowhere near aslavish as these telescopes and a house,” she whispered in his ear,sounding almost ashamed. “I wanted to buy you something for yourboat, but….”
But she hadn’t had the money, and despitetheir bond she still felt as if she had nothing, he realized. He’dbeen so focused on finding spare time to help Jack, Mike, and Dougget everything for this place set up that he hadn’t stopped tothink she would want to buy presents for others too, and that shewouldn’t have the money to do so. It was something he would soonremedy.
“Everything that’s mine is yours too,Mia.”
“David—”
“I’ve done well over the years. We all have.Between buying and selling real estate, stocks, bonds, funding techcompanies and medical companies, I’ve made a lot of money, and it’syours. I was so busy concentrating on getting this ready for you intime for Christmas that I forgot to think about you. I’ll give youthe information for my checking accounts. You’ll have access tothose funds today, and sometime soon we’ll sit down and go overeverything else together.”
“I can take care of myself,” she replied andcringed when pain slashed across his face. “I didn’t mean it tocome out like that. You have to understand that I’ve only hadmyself to rely on for years now. It’s difficult for me to learn andaccept something different. I’m not used to having another to relyon and I don’t want charity. I want to earn things for myself.”
“I do understand that,” he said quietly.“But now it’s time for you to experience something different. Thisisn’t charity, this is us building a life and a future together.I’m inside you, and you’re inside me for as long as we live. You’remy mate, Mia.”
“Yes, I am,” she whispered as she tenderlykissed his lips. “It’s going to take me some time to adjust tohaving someone to count on again, and to not have to worry abouthow I’m going to make it through every day, but I will.”
“I know.” He pulled back to look at her.“Besides, a Christmas present doesn’t matter. You’re the best giftI’ve ever gotten.”
“I believe you, but everyone should havesomething to unwrap on Christmas.”
“You can put on every piece of lingerie youown throughout today and I willgladlyunwrap you over andover again.”
She laughed as she gripped his shoulders. “Ican do that, but I think we should get back to the others now.Those kids have to be dying to open their presents.”
Sera had told her the day before that theywould wait until all the family was gathered together beforeopening the presents. She knew that included David, and nowher.
David eased his grip on her and set her downon the mattress. “Damn kids,” he muttered.
“You wouldn’t know what to do withoutthem.”
“I wouldn’t,” he admitted as he slid to theend of the bed and rose.
Mia bit her lip as she watched him stalkover and snag his jeans off the floor. Every muscle in his bodyflowed with supple grace as he moved. His ass was so firm she couldbounce a quarter off it, and she decided to give it a try tonight.Her hands itched to hold him again, to feel him moving over her ashe had early this morning, but if she did that they would neverleave here.
