Page 41 of Sapphire Seas

“And me my great-grandfather,” Caspian added. “Now he’ll have the opportunity to know his great-great grandchildren.”

“That’s a mouthful right there,” I said.

“The dragonets are going to need a nickname for him,” Kes replied, smiling as he finally dug into the food.

Caspian had already put a dent in one of his two crabcakes, making obscene sounds in between bites, but Kes’ moan and facial expressions when he tasted the first bite, made Caspian’s noises seem tame.

“Oh Goddess, that’s good,” Kes said.

My cock twitched several times while listening to the pair devour their breakfast. Afterwards, they rinsed their dishes and loaded them in the dishwasher while I finished my meal. I’d been so busy watching them that I’d neglected most of my plate until they were done. As I swirled the last bite around in the sauce, Kes plopped down on my lap and opened his mouth, eyeing my bite until I fed it to him. He sighed contently while he chewed and lay his head on my shoulder, mirrored on the other side by Caspian, who’d perched across his.

“There is something I need to show you both,” I said as I held them.

“Oh? Is there another hidden tunnel?” Caspian asked.

“Not this time,” I replied. “We don’t even have to leave the house for this one. Under ideal circumstances, I would have done it immediately.”

“But we came in like a wrecking ball,” Kes remarked, singing the last part, making Caspian and I laugh.

“Ready to go see our horde?” I asked.

“You have a horde?” Caspian said, wiggling around excitedly.

“We have a horde and it’s very important that we get your biometrics scanned in so that you’ll be able to open it any time you need too, but especially if we are under attack. If that ever happens, we will issue a lockdown and you two are to head to the horde, lock yourselves and our dragonets in and not emerge until I come get you.”

“Have any of the other mates had to do that yet?” Caspian asked.

“Yes,” I replied. “Alex, Emerson and Ronan have all had to retreat to their hordes during a battle that raged too close. When Caro and Emerson were expecting, Caro carved a bassinet into one of the stone pillars, because Emerson loved working inside the horde space. It gave me an idea that I’m now glad I followed through on. Ready to see it?”

“I am,” Caspian chirped hopping off first.

Kes moved slower. Snuggling for a moment, content to remain in my arms for several seconds longer before standing. I could feel his dragon’s reluctance and draped my arm over his shoulder for the walk to the horde room, surprised when he slipped his hand into the back pocket of my jeans as we walked. Caspian snapped several pictures of us before we reached the door to the horde, strategically located in my office, behind the desk I rarely used.

It was a room I’d only shown them in passing during the initial tour of the house, because my work took place beneath the waves, not behind walls and windows.

“Let’s get the system programed, then I’ll show you what’s inside,” I said, making short work of scanning their biometrics in.

“Can we add things to the horde as well?” Caspian asked? “I-I mean, I don’t have anything to add right now, obviously, I didn’t even have clothes when I got here, but maybe someday I’ll find something cool.”

“It is your horde now too. You can add anything you’d like,” I explained. “That goes for both of you. Come on, I’ll show you around.”

The door slid open, so seamlessly blended into the stone wall that Caspian jerked when it started to move.

“Whoa…this is…it’s like having a private beach,” Caspian sighed as he sunk his feet into the sand that covered the cave floor and wiggled his toes.

Did a carpet of sand mean I vacuumed the office more than any other room in the house, despite its disuse?

Absolutely.

Did I care?

Absolutely not.

“Did you carve these shelves into the stone walls?” Kes asked as he slid away from my side to inspect the first long row. “And find all of these shells and pearls.”

“Every last one of them, for both,” I explained.

His eye shimmered when he turned to look at me, but he turned away the moment a tear fell.