?


    Several days after they had returned to Winter, Sadie was allowed toe home. But, unfortunately, Stefan would need to remain in the hospital for another week to ensure his wounds were healed correctly and there were no surprises.


    Though they would have preferred their entire family to be home together, Myka and Peter were still grateful to have Sadie with them.


    A few days before Stefan could finally join them, Peter had stayed a littleter at the hospital with him while Myka had brought Sadie home. They made dinner together, and while they waited for Peter to get home, they made paper decorations to hang in Stefan’s room as a proper wee.


    By the time Peter arrived, they had made a banner, five paper snowkes, an extensive linked chain, and several drawings to hang on the wall.


    “Oh my,” Peter said with a smile as he entered the room. “Did I make a mistake and arrive in an art gallery rather than my home?”


    Myka smiled up at him, and Sadieughed. She jumped up and ran to him, wrapping her arms around him. Peter smiled and hugged her tightly.


    “Wee home, Dad!” she said as she pulled away and looked up at him.


    Peter’s smile widened. He still wasn’t used to hearing it, or sure he ever would be. But it made him happy every time.


    “What a nice way toe home,” he sighed happily. “Thank you, Sadie.”


    She grinned again before turning and returning to the table and picking up one of the drawings. She turned and showed it to Peter.


    “We made decorations for Myka’s room!” she said excitedly. “I know he won’t be home for a little longer, but I want to make it really special for him when he does.”


    Peter reached out and touched her chin affectionately.


    “That’s a great idea,” he said. “I’m sure he’ll pretend it’s no big deal, but really he’ll love it.”


    Sadieughed and nodded; she looked back at Myka.


    “Daddy, can I take these up to Stefan’s room?” she asked.


    “That’s a great idea, Sayds. You do that while Dad and I finish dinner,” Myka replied with a smile.


    Sadie nodded and carefully collected all of the decorations as Peter and Myka moved into the kitchen.


    “So, what’s for din—” Peter began, taking only enough steps into the kitchen for the door to close behind them before he was pulled back and pressed against the wall as Myka captured his lips.


    It was a brief but passionate kiss, sloppier than Peter usually liked but no less arousing. Myka pulled away, moving his mouth to Peter’s throat andying soft, wet kisses against his skin as he spoke.


    “Wee home, Peter,” he whispered. “I missed you.”


    Myka’s strong hands moved down Peter’s arms, gently squeezing him.


    Despite himself, Peter let out a soft moan. Myka’s kisses moved toward Peter’s chest, and one hand moved to his hip. Myka’s thumb slipped under Peter’s shirt to gently graze his skin with a warm touch.


    Peter drew a sharp breath, regaining just enough of his senses to control himself. He reached his hand up and caught Myka’s chin. Grabbing him firmly, he lifted him so their eyes met. He stared into Myka’s dark eyes, already swirling with lust.


    “Down, boy,” Peter said through a shaky breath in a heated tone. “Not here, not now...”


    Myka clenched his jaw and swallowed as anticipation and desire rolled over him. Peter was cutting him off but with a promise of returning to this momentter. He took a deep breath and pulled away, giving them both the space to calm down.


    Peter took a deep breath; he licked his lips and straightened his shirt. He nced at Myka, leaning back against the counter, his head down as he fought to control his breathing. For the briefest of moments, Peter regretted stopping him.


    After returning from Moonguard, they had been either with the children or Myka was having his own wounds treated. They were both worried about Stefan, and with Sadie’s nightmares, they didn’t want to leave her alone in the hospital. So, Peter had been sleeping in Stefan’s room while Myka slept in Sadie’s.


    When Sadie was allowed toe home, Myka slept at home, but Peter remained with Stefan while he continued to be sedated. It wasn’t until just two nights before that Stefan could make it through the night without waking from the pain. That was when he told Peter that he wanted him to go home.


    It wasn’t that he didn’t appreciate Peter’s care. Still, he wanted to ensure they knew he wasn’t a baby and could handle being in the hospital alone for a few nights.


    Even though Peter hade home the past two nights, Myka had already fallen asleep with Sadie when Peter finally returned.


    Between the trip to Moonguard and the aftermath, Myka and Peter had not been intimate for nearly three weeks. They were both feeling the need for each other. <novelsnext></novelsnext>


    Peter’s eyes naturally roamed down Myka’s body, appreciating every dip and curve.


    eαglesn?νel Myka let out a low growl and lifted his gaze toward Peter.


    “Don’t say one thing when you mean another…” he whispered.


    Peter took another deep breath and shook his head.


    “I meant what I said,” he stated.


    He turned away and moved to the stove, where the food was simmering in a pot. He lifted the lid and stirred the contents.


    “Sadie coulde in at any moment. We have children now. We can’t act like animals doing it wherever and whenever we want anymore.”


    “I know,” Myka sighed.


    He moved behind Peter, wrapping his arms around his waist and resting his chin against his shoulder.


    “I just miss you,” he whispered.


    Peter sighed. He put the lid back on the pot and leaned back against Myka.


    “I know,” he said, “I miss you too.”


    They stayed like that briefly before Sadie arrived, asking if dinner was ready. Finally, the meal was served, and they sat together around the table, talking andughing. When dinner was over, they chatted a bit longer before Sadie showed signs of being tired.


    Peter took her to bed, reading her a story and tucking her in before joining Myka again in the kitchen, where he was washing the dishes.


    “I’m d that Sadie enjoys having a story at bedtime,” he said as he walked in.


    Myka looked back with a warm smile.


    “I was afraid she might be too old for that,” Peter continued, finding a ce to lean on the counter.


    “It’s brand new to her,” Myka said, turning back to thest few dishes. “Theb techs didn’t treat them like children. So, I doubt she ever heard a bedtime story before she came to Winter.”


    Peter nodded.


    “I hope we can help her truly leave that ce behind,” he said softly.


    Myka rinsed his hands and dried them on the towel beside the sink. He turned around and crossed his arms over his chest as he looked at Peter with eyes narrowed.


    “Do you really think we haven’t already?” he asked.


    Peter furrowed his brows.


    “I know that she’s gotten better in many ways, but she still has those nightmares, and I know she gets a little lost sometimes,” Peter replied.


    “Peter,” Myka sighed. “Sadie has embraced us as family. We are her dads. Believe me when I say she’s out of theb.”


    Peter listened.


    “But just because you move on and find joy in life doesn’t mean you can forget the pain,” he continued. “I still have nightmares too, and I didn’t go through nearly as much as she did.”


    “You’re right,” Peter sighed. “I just… I hate that I can’t take that pain away from her.”


    Myka moved across the room to stand beside Peter. He reached down and took his hand.


    “I know,” he said. “Me too. Pretty sure that’s part of the whole bing a parent thing.”