All of the dragon demigods are here with their partners. Everyone seems to be talking at once. It’s awesome.
“Hey, you lot.” Shannon walks into the room. I’ve met her a couple of times now, and I still can’t get over how beautiful she is. “It’s bedtime for little children.” Shannon is a full-fledged attorney, even though she doesn’t practice. She’s been nice enough to help Rage with his application into law school. We should hear any day now whether he was accepted. My stomach goes into knots just thinking about it. I know he wants this badly.
“Bedtime,” Shannon says again when everyone ignores her.
“No!” Bruce yells.
“Um…yes…” she says, hands on hips. Shannon looks my way. “Ava is busy getting dessert ready. Would you mind helping out with the kids?”
I want to turn around just to check that she’s talking to me. I know she is, so I nod instead. “Yes, sure. I’d love to help.”
“Great. Can you pick up the rug rat?” She points at Harley, who is still squealing even though no one is chasing her anymore.
I pick up the squirming baby, giving her a tickle on the ribs. Harley throws out a laugh.
“Come on, Brucie!” Shannon says. “Time for bed, buddy.”
“No!” Bruce starts to run away, but Trident catches him.
“No fun games next time if you don’t listen to your Aunty Shan.” He sets the boy back down.
Bruce makes a grumpy face, but he totters to Shannon and takes her hand.
“Night, night!” Trident yells. Everyone says goodnight to the children, and Shannon and I head down the hall.
“I still can’t get over how in love with you Rage is. I never thought I’d see the day.” She glances back at me, smiling. “I think it’s great. I’m so happy for you guys.”
We walk into a beautifully decorated nursery. “Thanks.” I feel my cheeks heat.
“I heard you moved into his place?” she asks, brows raised. She brushes Bruce’s teeth while she chats. He just stands there, clearly used to it.
Miss Madam Harley seems quite comfortable with her legs hooked around my waist. She’s watching her mom clean Bruce’s teeth.
“Yes. It’s amazing. I’ve never been happier.” My heart swells just talking about it.
“You’re a hellhound shifter?” Shannon smiles. “That’s so interesting. No wonder my dogs follow you around.”
I look down at the two pooches. “Yeah. Dogs love me. I’ve started a dog walking service.”
“That’s great,” Shannon says as she puts Bruce into bed. They’re already in their pajamas from when they bathed an hour or so ago. “Your turn, young lady.”
Harley gives her mom a toothy smile.
“Do you like being a mom?” I know it’s a stupid question. I can see that Shannon is besotted with her daughter.
“It’s the best,” she gushes. “Would you mind holding her while I brush her teeth? Easier that way.”
“Of course.”
Shannon gets to work. “I know it’s soon – Harley will only be one next month – but we’re trying for a brother or sister for her.” She smiles brightly.
I gasp. “That’s so exciting.”
“What about you guys?” she asks me.
“Um…Rage and I haven’t been together that long.” I must say it feels like I’ve known him my whole life.
“Has he popped the question yet? I don’t see a ring. I’ve noticed that these guys like to move with speed. When they find ‘the one’, there’s no slowing them down.”
I laugh.
“I’m making you uncomfortable. I don’t mean to. It’s just that in my experience, the more adamant they are against being in a relationship, the harder they seem to fall.” She laughs. “Don’t be surprised, that’s all.” She winks at me.
I’m expecting to feel nervousness and maybe some residual fear, but I don’t. All I feel is excited at the prospect. I’m head over heels in love with Rage.
“All done, my girly,” Shannon says to her daughter. She looks up at me. “Please can you can put her in the crib while I tuck Bruce in?”
“Sure,” I say.
I go over to the white crib and place little Harley down. I pull her blanket up and put a floppy bunny next to her. I’m surprised when she takes my hand. Her fingers are dimpled. She gives me the most radiant grin.
“She likes you,” Shannon says from over my shoulder. “She doesn’t normally take to new people so easily.”
I smile back, and Harley lets my hand go. “I like her too.” I take a step back.
“Night night, Harley-bug,” Shannon coos. She leans in and kisses her daughter.
I wave at Bruce, but he is already half asleep. So much for wanting to stay up.
We head back to the others, and dessert is served soon after. An hour later and we’re headed home. It was a lovely evening.
Rage is driving. “You’re awfully quiet,” he says, squeezing my leg.
“Oh…um…I’m just tired.”
“It’s more than that, Nia. What’s going on?” He squeezes my thigh again before putting his hand back on the wheel and making a turn.
I shrug.
“Out with it,” he presses me. “You know you can tell me anything.”
“I want kids!” I practically yell. “With you…I want kids with you. I know I said before that I never wanted them, but I do. I want all of it. You…me…us…a family. There it’s out.”
We sit in silence for a few beats. Shit! I blurted all that. It was a lot. I know Rage loves me. We’re living together. We had a pregnancy scare, but we haven’t actually discussed anything more since then. We’ve been enjoying each other’s company. Now I went and potentially messed it all up. Rage was quite adamant about not wanting kids before. He told me he would step up if I was pregnant, but that was because he had no choice. I know he would make an amazing father.
Rage chuckles.
“You cannot laugh after an admission like that,” I growl at him.
“I think you might have just asked me to marry you.” He grins at me.
I gape at him. “I did not!”
“I think you just might have, Nia. Sounded like a proposal to me.”
“Rage!” I yell. “Be serious. You’re about to start law school.”
“I haven’t been accepted yet,” he says.
“You will be. It’s a big deal. You’ll be really busy. That’s fine, though, because I’ll wait for you. You waited for me, so I can wait for you.”
Rage chuckles some more, and I want to smack him. He pulls over and shuts off the engine. Then he turns and takes my hands. “You don’t have to wait because I say yes, Nia. I would love to marry you.”
“Stop it!” I pull my hands away. “I’m old-fashioned. My Tad would never—”
Rage gets serious. His dark eyes take my breath from my lungs and my thoughts from my head. “I know you’re not proposing, even though you sort of did.” He winks at me. “I like how you speak your mind. I love you so much. My life has changed since I met you. I’ve changed too, and all for the better. You’re not asking me, but I sure am asking you. Will you marry me, Nia?” He pulls in a deep breath. “I know this isn’t exactly romantic. I’ll fix that by asking you again with all the fanfare, but— Oh, and I’ll need to officially ask your dad,” his eyes widen, “but I really would love it if you would say yes. Please say yes.”