Page 55 of Feels Like Home

“Good morning.” Ian teased Jace’s earlobe between his teeth.

“It is when I wake up next to you.” He unraveled his hand from his mate’s hair.

They were still chest to chest, their sweat-soaked bodies entangled. Ian gazed down at him, his focus intense.

“Move in with me, kitten. I want family photos on the walls, the kitchen bursting with delicious scents, your love and happiness filling every square inch of our home.”

Jace’s heart thumped wildly. He searched Ian’s eyes for… He wasn’t sure. A hint of doubt maybe? Some tiny indication of hesitancy. But all Jace saw in those whiskey depths was a deep yearning.

“I’m messy.” Jace couldn’t stop the need to point out his flaws. “I leave my clothes everywhere. The top of my dresser is cluttered. I use all the hot water when I take a shower. I—”

Ian clamped a hand over Jace’s mouth. “That sounds like heaven to me, and I want a lifetime of messiness with you, sweetheart. Tell me you want that too, Jace.”

“I would if I could talk.” His words came out muffled under Ian’s hand.

Chuckling, Ian pulled his hand away. “You’re gonna have to repeat that.”

Jace bit his lower lip. “That sounds like heaven to me, too. But I can’t leave my mom without a car.”

She’d gotten rid of hers last year when fixing her ancient car was no longer worth sinking money into. Jace didn’t mind running errands for her or giving her the keys when she wanted to do them herself.

Although he refused to let anyone behind the wheel of the rental Ian had gotten him. Hopefully the detailers could get that fish odor out of his car. He never wanted to smell anything that foul again.

“I have a feeling you’re going to turn down my offer, but I can buy her one.” He clamped his hand back over Jace’s mouth when he opened it. “A used but reliable one, unless you want to make the drive all the way here whenever she needs something.” He moved his hand away.

“You’re right. Although I know your heart is in the right place, I can’t accept such a generous offer, Ian.”

“And I already explained to you that, as your mate, it’s my job to take care of you.”

“Because it’s humiliating for your kind not to do that.” Jace waffled. It would be nice for his mom to have her own car. Then he wouldn’t have to drive into town every time she needed something. “I don’t know if I can help my mom financially while paying my half of the bills at your house.”

“Our house.” Ian nuzzled his neck. “Please stop throwing up roadblocks, hon. Whatever your mom and grandma need, we got them covered.” He lifted his head and met Jace’s gaze. “You still don’t fully understand what it means to be mated. Let me help out, Jace. Allow me to do for you three what I’ve always dreamed of doing. Taking care of my family.”

Jace saw how important this was to Ian. How much having a family meant to him. It had always bothered Jace to see his mom struggle when she deserved the world. If helping made Ian happy, Jace couldn’t snatch that happiness away from him. “Okay, but don’t go overboard.”

“Define overboard.”

“You know exactly what I mean.” His mate was already paying for the current repairs at his house, which couldn’t be cheap. Not after the damage those two assholes had caused.

At least Sheriff Harper had been more than understanding when Ian explained what had gone down. He said he would write it up as a home invasion. Case closed.

In his gut, Jace knew that Ian had killed Nolan and Owen. He just didn’t know what happened to the bodies and wasn’t interested in finding out.

“I’m still having your butt quack underwear framed.” Grunting softly, Ian eased out of Jace’s body. “We need to get out of bed. I can hear someone coming up the steps.”

Ten minutes later—including a bathroom pitstop to clean up—they were in the kitchen. Ian blushed profusely when Jace’s mom kissed him on the cheek.

“How did you sleep?” She handed him a plate of pancakes and sausage.

“Soundly.” Ian accepted the plate and slid into a chair. “Thanks for breakfast.”

“Ian asked me to move in with him,” Jace blurted out. He gripped the back of his chair, staring between his mom and his grandma. “I said yes.”

“Don’t you think it’s too soon?” His mom studied him while she set his plate on the table. “I like Ian a lot, and he seems good for you, but you two haven’t known each other that long.”

“When you meet the right person, time means nothing,” his grandma said. “They’re crazy about each other, Myla.” She pushed to her feet. “This calls for a celebration!”

“No tequila for breakfast,” his mom groaned.

“A round of shots for breakfast.” His grandma left the kitchen.

“I’m just concerned you two are moving a bit fast.” His mom sighed. “The way I moved at lightning speed with your father.” Her eyes became dreamy. “I loved him from the moment we met.”

Jace swallowed roughly at the mention of his dad. Ian slid an arm around him, pressing a kiss to his temple.

“I’m just going to miss you living here.” She squeezed Jace’s hand. “You glow when Ian is near you. I can also see with my own two eyes how much he cares about you. That’s all a mother can ask, that her child finds the right person to spend the rest of their life with.”

Ian was more than the right person. He was Jace’s match in every way—all thanks to a simple request for a towel. It had led to a connection more deep, more cherish, and more beautiful than anything either of them could have imagined.

THE END