Page 16 of Mistletoe and Mayhem
“So… we need to do this more often…” he panted.
“You won’t hear any arguments from me,” Maverick replied, pressing kisses along Isaac’s neck. “Once the weather warms, the trails near home should be safe enough.”
Isaac smirked. “How long have you been thinking about this that you already have plans?”
Maverick hummed. “Since the day you moved in, my heart. I’d hoped to recreate our first chase with a much more satisfying ending.”
They laughed together, wrapped up in each other and relaxed. They’d need to head back eventually, and Isaac was already thinking of the right spells to dry them off before they got back. It was a good thing his makeup was waterproof or he’d be pissed right about now. But for a few moments, he pushed those thoughts aside. He never wanted to take for granted moments like these. He felt more connected to both sides of his mate like this, and the happy grumble in Maverick’s chest said his dragon was happy as well.
When Maverick’s knot deflated and they eventually separated, Isaac sat up and finally looked around. The cave behind the waterfall wasn’t that big, Maverick probably couldn’t even stand up fully, but it was obviously not undiscovered. Therewere initials carved into the rocks as far as Isaac could see and a smile pulled at his lips as he ran his fingers over the ones closest to him.
“Is this some kind of popular date spot? Or did you bring me to a hookup cave?”
Maverick’s rumbling chuckle was warm, and he leaned to smack a kiss to Isaac’s lips before answering, “A little of both, I’m sure.”
Eyes narrowing, Isaac studied his mate carefully. “Are your initials in here somewhere?”
Maverick made a tick sound behind his teeth, giving him a look that said his question was silly. “No. Until you, I never felt the kind of attachment that would lead me to doing something like that.”
That didn’t mean he didn’t bring a hookup or two to this cave before, but Isaac decided he didn’t want to know that part. He scooted closer to the wall, finding an empty spot and grabbing a sharp rock tucked against the wall. From the look of it, it was probably what other couples used to do the same thing.
He took his time carving their initials, and then because he wanted them to be different, he used some of his magic, giving the letters a deeper etching the same way he’d done the decorations on his gifts. Maverick scooped him into his lap, kissing his shoulder as he studied Isaac’s work.
“You know, they say the couples who carve their initials here will have a passionate and long life together.”
“Oh, baby, we’ve got passion in spades.” He leaned his head back against Maverick’s shoulder. “And I like the together part.”
“Me too,” Maverick agreed.
They returnedto Maverick’s family home only a little worse for wear. Isaac had created a summoning spell to find and reattach all the buttons on Maverick’s shirt, though they weren’t perfect, and he’d coaxed the water out of their clothes as much as he was able before Maverick used some of his magic to finish drying them off. They were rumpled, but dry, and when they came back into the house, they only got a few knowing smirks.
Ferina appeared at Maverick’s side, and Isaac could tell Maverick was readying himself for more annoyance, but she surprised him with a peace offering. “Picked this up for you while I was traveling. Thought you might like it.”
Curious, Isaac stepped closer as Maverick opened the gift, raising his eyebrow at the contents inside.
“Alcohol?”
“Kraken-made whiskey,” Ferina corrected with a grin. “It’s Maverick’s favorite and hard to get. You can only buy it in the kraken city under the sea.”
“Huh. How’d you get it?” he asked, tipping his head at the bottle as Maverick drew it out of the box. It looked like every other bottle of whiskey Isaac had ever seen, but hey, what did he know? He wasn’t big on whiskey. He was more of a fruity drink kind of guy.
“Oh, I have my ways,” Ferina replied mysteriously before lifting onto her toes and smacking a kiss on her brother’s cheek. “Love you, doofus.”
Thanks to Isaac’s efforts and Ferina’s kindness, Maverick’s smile came out, and he didn’t even growl when he said, “Love you too, little brat. Have you opened Isaac’s present yet? He made it himself.”
He led the way to where the family was opening gifts, sitting in an armchair with Isaac in his lap like always. Maverick’s mother came over with gifts for the both of them, making no mention of their long departure. Technically, Isaac had only intended to step outside for a little while to cool off. It was Ferina causing trouble that led to their little adventure behind the waterfall. Not that he was complaining.
He got plenty of compliments on the plaques with the lightning etched designs of dragons on them. He showed off a few of his first attempts before he realized he was trying to draw the dragons instead of seeing them in his mind, making them appear all wonky and got a few laughs for that. He now knew his skills did not include drawing, and he was okay with that.
Maverick’s gift was the source of some teasing, he never brought anything else, but later his uncle pulled him aside to request some time later to speak about his business and update his will. Maverick promised to call him to set things up, and his uncle looked relieved to not have to deal with it all alone.
At one point, during a particularly intense game of scrabble, Isaac noticed Maverick’s father showing the same warning signs Maverick did when he was close to losing his temper. He watched in fascination as Maverick’s mother swept in, whispered something in his ear, and patted his chest, settling the dragon in under a minute.
“What are you staring at, my heart?”
“Did you see that? Your mom just settled your dad without even leaving the room! I’m dying to know what she said to him.”
Maverick wrinkled his nose distastefully. “Well, I don’t want to know. Ask her yourself when I’m not around.”
