Finding Truth Behind Legends
by Wizardtho
Chapter 35:
As the night goes on, I learn that Sinopa is actually an aspiring photographer. She’s taken a few courses and was learning under a professional photographer, that is until her morning sickness made it impossible to work in a studio. She hopes to get back to it after a few months of bonding with the baby.
Avory, apparently, does more than just ‘dabble’. He’s currently renting a space, so he can run his storefront. He’s listed as a custom tailor that does alterations and repairs, but he hopes to build enough inventory to eventually sell his owns designs in the future.
The simplicity of the burgers and chips is a hit with everyone, and the shifters make good use of what’s left when the humans have filled their bellies.
True to Taha’s words, there is more than one point during the night that I end up laughing so hard I’m reduced to tears and hurting ribs. It’s also the point where I realize that I’m home… truly home and accepted as I am by people other than my mate and father.
A kind of peaceful rightness settles inside me as the night goes on. Though Taha looks at me curiously for a few moments after another of Avory’s side-splitting stories, he takes my face in his hands, then his face lights up in a beautiful smile. His eyes roam my face before they meet mine, and he says softly, “You have something going on up here tonight.”
He kisses my forehead to make his point, then continues, “Whatever it is, don’t let it go. Don’t lose it. Witnessing how beautiful you are when you laugh and completely relax… how light and love radiate out from you… I’m in awe that I get to spend my life with you. I love you, Isabella.”
Happy tears fill my eyes, but I smile and cup his face as I say surely, “And I love you, Taha. So very much.”
Our kiss is slow and sweet, but it’s also too short for my liking; we break apart with chuckles as Nova gives a wolf whistle. I see Avory trying to shush him, so I smile in his direction, “If Nova didn’t do it, I’m sure Jake would have… and there’s no stopping Jake. He has no filter.”
Jake laughs and shrugs from nearby, “She’s right. I was seconds from doing the same thing… Nova just beat me to it.”
Dad comes over with Kai holding his hand. I smile and grab the toddler up into my lap, kissing his cheeks and tickling his ribs. Dad offers, “Zander said it was time for him to wash his face and hands, brush his teeth, and put on his jammies. Lily brought the essentials in his bag. I told him I had this part handled, so he’s relaxing with Lily.”
I nod, noting the current yawn coming from Kai, so I say, “I’ll take him once you’re done. You’ve stolen him for most of the night. I can handle helping him settle. We’ll let Lily and Zander get as much time together as possible.”
I look at Taha once Dad heads inside with Kai, “Will you please grab one of the rockers from our room? We really need to think about putting them in the living room for more seating, but I want one out here to sit in while I settle Kai.”
He pecks my lips, then dashes off toward our bedroom porch. I’m sitting in the rocking chair when Kai comes back out in the cutest little shirt and pants, plus matching slippers. The design on all 3 is of volcanoes and dinosaurs. He looks at the chair, then smiles, “We rock, Miss Bella?”
I pick him up, then settle him on my lap as I say, “Yes. Do you like rocking?”
Kai nods, “Yep. Mama has a rock chair in my room. I like it a lot.”
I kiss the top of his head as he settles against me, and it only takes seconds for him to start playing with a lock of my hair. I resume my conversation with the others, seamlessly rocking Kai and rubbing his little back as I talk with everyone.
Less than 10 minutes later, Sinopa grins at me while patting her tummy, “I hope it’s that easy to get this one to sleep. You made that look simple.”
I shake my head and smile down at the sleeping toddler, “This is the first little one I’ve really had much interaction with… and I honestly love every minute of it. I was an only child. My mom and dad were both from single-child households, so I had no aunts or uncles, no cousins. Don’t get me wrong, I don’t regret how I grew up. Let’s just say I’m finding parts of myself I never knew existed until I moved to the family homestead… in more than one way.”
She smiles at me, then asks, “So… does that mean we might eventually see you with your own little?”
I chuckle, then grin at Taha before nodding, “Absolutely… when the ancestors and the universe deem it time. Granted, I don’t think I would feel comfortable bringing a life into this world with a death sentence hanging over my head… but afterward? Once we ensure my safety, as well as the safety of the imprints and families, I can picture my future with Taha including at least 1 or 2 littles. The funny part is, there was a time when I was sure I didn’t want kids. It didn’t fit into the picture I had for myself or my future. I’m glad the combined ancestors decided to open my eyes.”
Taha takes my hand in his, then lifts it to place a kiss on my palm. The love showing in his eyes is the only response to my statement that I need.
After everyone disperses to their own homes only an hour or so later, and the house is bedded down for the night, Taha takes it upon himself to show me just how much my recent revelations have affected him.
Our clothes slowly peeled from our bodies, he backs me up until we reach the bed, then whisper-moans while clutching me to him, “I need you, Bella.”
My hands tangle into the hair at the back of his neck, and I can hear his breathing shutter. My own breathing falters as he grabs my thighs and lifts me into his arms, my moan of acceptance muffled by my sudden need to have his tongue tangling with mine.
I need his taste, his scent, his touch… I need the sounds of his pleasure tickling my ears. It doesn’t take long before I’m reveling in all of the above. In return, my hands and mouth explore every bit of Taha they can reach… the curve of his mouth, his broad shoulders, the tensing and flexing of his muscles as he fills me. His breathless gasp of my name becomes the one sound I never want to forget as we continue to make love.
By the time our need for each other is sated, neither of us can be bothered to go cool off in the shower, so we end up falling asleep naked and a bit sticky, our limbs still entwined.
As the night goes on, I learn that Sinopa is actually an aspiring photographer. She’s taken a few courses and was learning under a professional photographer, that is until her morning sickness made it impossible to work in a studio. She hopes to get back to it after a few months of bonding with the baby.
Avory, apparently, does more than just ‘dabble’. He’s currently renting a space, so he can run his storefront. He’s listed as a custom tailor that does alterations and repairs, but he hopes to build enough inventory to eventually sell his owns designs in the future.
The simplicity of the burgers and chips is a hit with everyone, and the shifters make good use of what’s left when the humans have filled their bellies.
True to Taha’s words, there is more than one point during the night that I end up laughing so hard I’m reduced to tears and hurting ribs. It’s also the point where I realize that I’m home… truly home and accepted as I am by people other than my mate and father.
A kind of peaceful rightness settles inside me as the night goes on. Though Taha looks at me curiously for a few moments after another of Avory’s side-splitting stories, he takes my face in his hands, then his face lights up in a beautiful smile. His eyes roam my face before they meet mine, and he says softly, “You have something going on up here tonight.”
He kisses my forehead to make his point, then continues, “Whatever it is, don’t let it go. Don’t lose it. Witnessing how beautiful you are when you laugh and completely relax… how light and love radiate out from you… I’m in awe that I get to spend my life with you. I love you, Isabella.”
Happy tears fill my eyes, but I smile and cup his face as I say surely, “And I love you, Taha. So very much.”
Our kiss is slow and sweet, but it’s also too short for my liking; we break apart with chuckles as Nova gives a wolf whistle. I see Avory trying to shush him, so I smile in his direction, “If Nova didn’t do it, I’m sure Jake would have… and there’s no stopping Jake. He has no filter.”
Jake laughs and shrugs from nearby, “She’s right. I was seconds from doing the same thing… Nova just beat me to it.”
Dad comes over with Kai holding his hand. I smile and grab the toddler up into my lap, kissing his cheeks and tickling his ribs. Dad offers, “Zander said it was time for him to wash his face and hands, brush his teeth, and put on his jammies. Lily brought the essentials in his bag. I told him I had this part handled, so he’s relaxing with Lily.”
I nod, noting the current yawn coming from Kai, so I say, “I’ll take him once you’re done. You’ve stolen him for most of the night. I can handle helping him settle. We’ll let Lily and Zander get as much time together as possible.”
I look at Taha once Dad heads inside with Kai, “Will you please grab one of the rockers from our room? We really need to think about putting them in the living room for more seating, but I want one out here to sit in while I settle Kai.”
He pecks my lips, then dashes off toward our bedroom porch. I’m sitting in the rocking chair when Kai comes back out in the cutest little shirt and pants, plus matching slippers. The design on all 3 is of volcanoes and dinosaurs. He looks at the chair, then smiles, “We rock, Miss Bella?”
I pick him up, then settle him on my lap as I say, “Yes. Do you like rocking?”
Kai nods, “Yep. Mama has a rock chair in my room. I like it a lot.”
I kiss the top of his head as he settles against me, and it only takes seconds for him to start playing with a lock of my hair. I resume my conversation with the others, seamlessly rocking Kai and rubbing his little back as I talk with everyone.
Less than 10 minutes later, Sinopa grins at me while patting her tummy, “I hope it’s that easy to get this one to sleep. You made that look simple.”
I shake my head and smile down at the sleeping toddler, “This is the first little one I’ve really had much interaction with… and I honestly love every minute of it. I was an only child. My mom and dad were both from single-child households, so I had no aunts or uncles, no cousins. Don’t get me wrong, I don’t regret how I grew up. Let’s just say I’m finding parts of myself I never knew existed until I moved to the family homestead… in more than one way.”
She smiles at me, then asks, “So… does that mean we might eventually see you with your own little?”
I chuckle, then grin at Taha before nodding, “Absolutely… when the ancestors and the universe deem it time. Granted, I don’t think I would feel comfortable bringing a life into this world with a death sentence hanging over my head… but afterward? Once we ensure my safety, as well as the safety of the imprints and families, I can picture my future with Taha including at least 1 or 2 littles. The funny part is, there was a time when I was sure I didn’t want kids. It didn’t fit into the picture I had for myself or my future. I’m glad the combined ancestors decided to open my eyes.”
Taha takes my hand in his, then lifts it to place a kiss on my palm. The love showing in his eyes is the only response to my statement that I need.
After everyone disperses to their own homes only an hour or so later, and the house is bedded down for the night, Taha takes it upon himself to show me just how much my recent revelations have affected him.
Our clothes slowly peeled from our bodies, he backs me up until we reach the bed, then whisper-moans while clutching me to him, “I need you, Bella.”
My hands tangle into the hair at the back of his neck, and I can hear his breathing shutter. My own breathing falters as he grabs my thighs and lifts me into his arms, my moan of acceptance muffled by my sudden need to have his tongue tangling with mine.
I need his taste, his scent, his touch… I need the sounds of his pleasure tickling my ears. It doesn’t take long before I’m reveling in all of the above. In return, my hands and mouth explore every bit of Taha they can reach… the curve of his mouth, his broad shoulders, the tensing and flexing of his muscles as he fills me. His breathless gasp of my name becomes the one sound I never want to forget as we continue to make love.
By the time our need for each other is sated, neither of us can be bothered to go cool off in the shower, so we end up falling asleep naked and a bit sticky, our limbs still entwined.