Page 62 of The Platinum Dragon's Courageous Mate

“I can.” Lachlan laughed. “I can make you cinnamon rolls out of the Hawaiian rolls and butter and goo. But I can also make you a decadent creamy pasta first.”

“I love that idea. No tomatoes, right?” Kieran loved tomatoes, but right now they were giving him an acidy tummy any time he ate them.

“No tomatoes, right.” Lachlan started pulling things out of the refrigerator. “I’ll make it with some kind of cream and parmesan if you think you can handle the cheese.”

His belly rumbled, and he grinned. “I can absolutely handle that.”

“Perfect!” Lachlan laid out cream and parmesan on the kitchen counter with a flourish.

He climbed up to sit on a stool and watched Lachlan move around his kitchen as if he belonged there. He supposed he did, but they all knew this was Alban’s domain.

Still, when water was boiling and sauce was gently bubbling and butter and sugar had come together for icing, the kitchen smelled so good, and Lachlan looked so happy, that Kieran could hardly stand the joy.

His belly rumbled and bubbled, rejoicing with the idea that his lover, his mate, was caring for him and their baby. There was a little song he thought he was beginning to hear. So different than Micah’s had been.

There was no worry in this song, no tension. This was joy. Lower. fuller. Micah’s had been high like clouds.

He stroked his belly, humming softly, chuckling as the little song grew.

He could hear Micah in his head suddenly, too, singing along. Nowadays his boy was pretty loud, even asleep.

Lachlan sang with them, deep and happy, like a joyous frog. He was a terrible singer. It was kind of nice to know there were some things he wasn’t good at…

Of course, he loved the deep, merry sound, and he soaked it up.That’s your papa, Little One. He’s singing for you.

The song swelled, twining around Micah and Lachlan’s.

Finally, the pasta was in front of him, and he dug in, the creamy green brightness exactly what he needed. The herbs were a perfect counterpoint to the cheese and bacon bits and egg.

He ate heartily, the baby becoming satisfied and quiet. “Oh, that’s nice.”

“Yes? I thought you would like it. Let me know if I need to change anything for next time.” Lachlan sat to eat with him.

“No, it’s amazing. I was just so damn hungry. It’s unreasonable, you know?”

“You are using a great deal of energy. Creating a magical being. And you are also a bit at their mercy, I think.”

“I know.” He winked at Lachlan. “This is so much easier though, than doing it alone.”

“I’m glad.” They ate noodles, and then Lachlan rose to go finish creating his makeshift cinnamon rolls.

He went to do dishes while Lachlan cooked. It was only fair, and he would hate to leave a mess for Alban.

Lachlan popped the rolls in the countertop oven before coming to help him, drying the pasta pot.

It felt so good, working together, side-by-side. It was easy, normal. Real. They had lived from one emergency to another, but this was them. Being a family.

The cinnamon goodies smelled like heaven, and — even though he couldn’t possibly still be hungry — he was ready to scarf them down.

And when they came out of the oven, he did, barely leaving one for Lachlan.

Lachlan chuckled. “I need to remember those. Baby likes cinnamon.”

“She does. She’s got a real thing for it.”

“A daughter, hmm?”

“I think so. She thinks so.” Their little girl. He loved that.