Peri groaned, and Wash felt his cock start to swell against his hip. He smirked to himself. He got the feeling his little mate wanted to test that theory.
Since it was their last night in paradise, he was happy to give Peri whatever he wanted, but he could admit he was getting excited to head back. He’d had something in the works for his mate for a while now, and it’d be ready by the time they headed home. Honestly, it was probably his focus on that while trying to hide it from Peri that allowed Peri to get away with planning the ceremony without him noticing. They’d both been so busy trying to surprise one another, they didn’t notice that the other was hiding something. It was only when they were alone with no distractions that Peri noticed something was up.
Peri poked his side, lifting his head to look at him. “You’re doing it again.”
“Doing what?”
“Thinking about whatever you’ve got planned at home. Why won’t you tell me?” he pouted.
Smiling, he feigned ignorance. “I don’t know what you’re talking about.”
“Liar! Look at your face!” Peri shrieked, but the fact that he couldn’t stop smiling either let Wash know he wasn’t really upset. He was excited, practically vibrating to figure it out, and the longer Wash went without telling him, the more eager he got. His little fairy loved surprises.
Given that they were headed back in the morning and he’d be showing Peri his gift that afternoon, he decided to give in just a little. “You’ll see when we get back.”
“So there is something? Waaaash! Tell me what it is!” he whined.
Chuckling, he decided to distract his mate the best way he knew how, dragging him down for a kiss that quickly turned into more.
Thanks to the anticipation, Peri wasn’t too upset about having to leave their vacation and head home the next morning. He bounced from foot to foot as they waited their turn to go through the portal, plastering himself against Wash’s side the second they crossed through, giving Wash an expectant look to teleport them away. Wash raised an eyebrow, amused.
“You don’t want to fly?”
Peri’s eyes widened, and he looked around at the crowded station. Wash was getting better at flying around others, having Peri’s constant appreciation for his size helped a lot, but he still avoided it if he could. Still, he couldn’t help but laugh at Peri’s shell shocked expression.
“Wash!”
“Alright, alright,” he chuckled. “Hold on tight, baby. We’re headed somewhere special.”
When they popped up on the main floor of Spellbound, Peri looked around, confused. “Work? This isn’t the surprise, is it?”
“No. This is.” He spun Peri around so he was facing the bakery Wash set up for him with white columns, a pretty pinkdoor, and a sign on the window that said “Peri’s Place” in gold script lettering.
“What… What is this?”
A strange feelingof confused excitement mixed with apprehension built in Peri’s chest as he stared wide eyed at the most perfect bakery he’d ever seen. The lights were on inside, so he could see the checkered pink and powder blue floors, the matching tables with a mix of wing friendly and normal chairs with stuffed pink cushions on them, and the long granite counter on one side with a huge display case that was currently empty but Peri could just see all the things he’d put inside.
“You told me once that you hadn’t found the right job for you. But you’re always happiest when you’re feeding people and in the kitchen baking. You should be doing what you love, Peri, not trying to find a job you don’t hate.”
“How–” He spun around, wide eyed. He’d been looking into jobs in Spellbound with Taron, trying to find one that would fit him at least for a little while until he decided what he wanted to do in the future. He wasn’t willing to be too far from Wash, someone needed to be able to pop upstairs and jump on him whenever he was grumpy, and his temp rotation at Spellbound was ending in a few weeks. He’d been discussing joining client relations since he liked working with people, but he hadn’t been sure since there was the potential of dealing with unhappy clients if things didn’t go their way.
“Taron,” Wash shrugged. “He’s just as nosy and involved in your life as he is in mine.”
“Hey! I resemble that remark!”
Spinning around, Peri’s mouth fell open when he realized all their friends stood behind them. It was a Sunday, so the office itself wasn’t open, but that didn’t stop their friends from showing up for them. He felt his eyes prick with tears, and he looked back at the bakery again, shaking his head like he couldn’t quite comprehend what was happening.
“I don’t– This is too much, Wash. I never even considered this because I can’t afford my own business. I can’t let you–”
“Yes, you can,” he interrupted, a stern frown on his beautiful grumpy face. “You’re my mate. I’ve lived frugally all my life because I never found something I cared enough about to spend money on. I care about you and what makes you happy. This—” he gestured to the restaurant “—is what makes you happy. Every single cent was well spent as long as it makes you smile.”
“If it helps, your desserts are so good, you’ll probably make up all the money spent within the year,” Avery offered.
Elijah nodded. “The buzz around the office this past week is all about the bakery. Everyone’s excited for it. And there is a list of applicants to work there as well so you won’t be doing it all alone.”
“As a mated man, I can tell you that you’ll make Wash happier being close and happy than you would working a job you don’t love just so you can save money,” Taron added.
Overwhelmed with the support, the tears spilled over his cheeks, and he leaned into Wash’s palms when he cupped his face to stroke them away with his thumbs.