Full of Surprises

ONE YEAR AFTER THE EPILOGUE

Easton

W ork had been particularly brutal. We didn't get too many monster fires in Fool's Pass, thankfully. This one was a flower shop and due to some chemicals the owners had—but shouldn't have—it got the book store beside it. Chemicals, paper, flowers. It was ugly. All I wanted to do was get home, shower off the day, cuddle Finch on the couch, and then sleep for a week.

I pulled into the driveway and was immediately confused. The house was dark. Tru wasn't due back from college for the summer for another week, so I didn't expect her to be here. But Finch wasn't working at the hospital today; he and Milo were supposed to spend the day baking.

I shrugged and grabbed my small duffle from the passenger seat. Maybe they went to bed early. My watch read seven pm. Really early, maybe.

So much for couch cuddles. Bed cuddles would be just as perfect. I slipped my key in the front door, opened it, and froze.

There was dark and then there was dark. No dim light coming from the stove in the kitchen. Up the stairs I could tell the nightlight in the bathroom was off. As I stepped in and quietly shut the door, I was carefully listening.

Had Finch's father gotten out of the fae realm and taken my family? Arachnis perhaps? Shit…my heart sped up as I reached into my duffle for my flashlight. It was heavy enough to knock someone out, even fae.

Once I placed the bag on the ground I carefully walked through the house. Nothing. Not a peep. What the fuck? I will…The sudden sound of glass shattering out back made me double time it to the yard.

I had to look like a mad man, I'd only tossed on the clothes I had in my locker and wiped off the ashes. My hair was standing in a hundred different directions, I felt it. I slid the back door open, raised the flashlight, and roared.

"Who the fuck is here?"

The backyard lights turned on. Strings of lights I'd set up a few days ago per Finch's wishes, because he said it added some magic to the space, were glittering. It was lovely. But there I was with my hand raised, no doubt an insane expression on my face, and a lot of eyes on me.

"Uh…Happy birthday, Dad," Milo said with a chuckle. "Bad day?"

"Oh dear, I knew a surprise was a bad idea," Calantha, Finch's mom, said as she held a colorful pom pom in her hand. She was dressed in light pink, her golden hair in an updo, and I swore the butterflies in her hair were moving.

"East, babe." Finch stepped up and gently helped me lower my arm. His jewel-like eyes lit up as he smiled, and his sky blue hair flowed, framing his face, making him look not only gorgeous, but the fae he truly was.

"What's…I don't…"

"It's okay." He removed the flashlight from my hand. "We wanted to give you a wonderful birthday surprise. I'd heard about the fire today and thought maybe it was a bad idea—"

"Actually, I believe the words you used were, ‘we should do this now more than ever to cheer him up.'" Tru stepped up to me with a huge smile. "Happy Birthday, Dad." And she kissed my cheek.

"Tru…I thought you weren't coming home until next week."

She chuckled. "All part of the ruse."

Everyone started moving around then giving me and Finch a moment. He took my hand and brought me inside.

"I'm sorry, Easton."

"Sorry?" I cupped his face in my hands. "This is such a nice thing to do and I ruined it with my paranoia."

He cocked his head. "Paranoia?"

Nodding, I answered, "Yeah. When I saw the house was dark and quiet I thought your father came and took you and Milo."

It was brief but Finch's pale eyes flashed black. "That would never happen. He can't hurt me, Easton, and I'd die before I let him or any of my awful siblings get their hands on Milo."

I pressed my lips to his, savoring the unique taste that was purely Finch. When his tongue dipped into my mouth, for a moment I got lost in us. I didn't know how long we stood there in the kitchen kissing, hugging, clinging to each other until the bad thoughts faded away, but when we parted we both smiled.

"Go shower real fast then join us out back." With one last kiss Finch left me to go tend to our guests.

Finch

By the time Easton came back outside after he'd showered and dressed, everyone was in happy spirits and the situation from before long gone. Not from the back of my mind though. I knew Easton often worried my father and brother would find a way out of the fae realm and do something horrible. After all, we were the reason they were stuck in there.

I'd never let that happen. While my father was a strong fae, I was stronger than him and after the fight on Amaris Mountain, he knew. But Easton was human, a powerful, brave, and amazing human, but without the magic he'd need to fight off fae, the natural instinct to worry was ever present.

"I want to thank you all for the amazing surprise party, and apologize for freaking out earlier."

"We're used to your antics," Jim, his friend and fellow firefighter, shouted. He'd shown up after the debacle, but was filled in by some off duty firefighters who were here already.

"Shut it, Hastings, or you'll be cleaning trucks all day tomorrow."

A cacophony of laughs filled the night and I watched my gorgeous man finish his toast and hug each person, lingering longer with Tru and Milo. Those kids were his life and no matter how old they got, Easton would only see his little babies when he looked in their eyes.

Once everyone left, my mother, Tru, and Milo helped us straighten up enough so we could go to bed. It was after midnight and the kids were lagging.

"Good night, Dad, and happy birthday." Tru hugged him.

"Love you, Tru Bug. Thanks."

"Love you too." She raced up the stairs excited to sleep no doubt.

"Hope you liked it." Milo smiled, and embraced his dad.

"Best birthday ever, Bud."

Then it was just me and Easton. He moved closer and the moment his arms were around me, I melted into him.

"Thank you for doing this, Finch."

"You deserve to be celebrated." I pressed a kiss to his chest and smiled at him. "Now, let's get to bed."

"I'm tired but I don't know if my mind will let me sleep."

I pulled away, never letting him go, and led him up the stairs. "Who said anything about sleeping."

"Oh…Oh! Okay then. Happy birthday to me indeed!"

I chuckled as we entered the bedroom. He closed the door and as fast as a hummingbird's wings, he was on me.

You'd think he and I hadn't seen each other for months the way we were tearing our clothes off, our lips only separating when we had to pull our shirts over our heads or got tangled in our pants.

"Let me see you, Finch," Easton pleaded against my lips. It wasn't something I did often but removing my glamour and exposing my true form, was exhilarating.

Easton adored my fae side and it was in this house, in the human realm, when it was just us and the kids…and my mother and trusted fae, that I ever let loose.

"Okay." I stepped back, fully naked, and he sat on the edge of the bed.

Removing my glamour was like shedding a second skin, getting bigger, less tight, freer. My wings expanded and my skin burst with my natural shimmer. My ears transformed to their pointy selves and my eyes sparkled like big diamonds. My blue hair was the only thing that never changed.

"You're stunning." Easton held out his hand and I walked over to him.

Once within his reach, he picked me up and placed me on his lap. When my wings were out this was the only position I could have sex with him in, but I loved it. From there I could see his face, create the pace, and dig my nails into his hairy chest.

While I sat on his lap, he pushed back until he was at the top of the bed, his smile bright and his eyes full of love.

"I love you," I whispered as he grabbed the lube from the nightstand, balancing me with one hand and his legs.

"And I love you, my beautiful fae." He often reminded me of who I truly was. As if saying I was fae proved he's accepted all of me.

I took the lube out of his hand and squeezed some on his palm. Stretching me wasn't necessary as fae. My body handled a lot more than a human's could. But the glide was nice and there was no way I was chaffing Easton's gorgeous cock.

Gripping his shaft, I slid my hand up and down making it slick and harder. I loved how he hissed, how precome dripped out of his slit. He was so hungry for me and it was addictive.

"Finch," he moaned, his grip on my hips tightening.

I released his dick and lined him up with my hole. I never looked away from his beautiful face as he entered me. I was in control and while I wanted to slam down, I wanted to relish the moment more. This was my favorite part. The relief when I was fully seated and full of his cock.

"I love how you feel inside me," I said.

Easton smiled and wiggled my hips with his hands. "I love how you move when I'm inside you."

I chuckled. "Is that your way of telling me to move?"

"Fucking please, Finch."

I couldn't even mess with him with how bad I needed to move. So, I lifted up and finally did slam down. His head flew back, the veins and muscles in his neck straining. I loved this kind of power…this kind of passion.

I sped up, chasing the feeling that burst inside me every time he hit my prostate. Leaping ladybugs, it was the greatest anything, everything…I'd start a war if anyone ever told me I couldn't have these moments and this feeling with Easton ever again.

"Finch," he whisper-shouted. His dick pulsed inside me and then a rush of come coated my insides and that was all it took for my own climax to spray over his stomach.

Easton

Morning greeted me with a kiss from the sun. I blinked open my eyes as a soft glow of light snuck through the curtains.

Finch was nestled half on top of me, his head on my chest, his wings limp on his back. I never thought I'd love someone after my wife Laura died. Never really entertained it since Tru and Milo needed me so much.

Then there was Finch with his huge smile, vibrant blue hair, and magic to make pain disappear just by thinking it. I knew he had a darkness in him, one that made his worst enemies feel unimaginable agony but that part of him stayed hidden, he'd used it only once since I'd known him and I believed it haunted him every day.

He hummed and I looked down to see a smile on his face.

"You're rubbing my ears."

And damn I was. I knew they were very sensitive and while maybe great during sex, it could be irritating any other time.

"Sorry."

"No." He lifted his head and smiled. "I like it when you touch me, no matter where."

I quirked a brow. "Is that right?"

Chuckling, he nodded which only caused his chin to dig into my chest.

"Well then…"

But whatever was about to happen, which was totally sexy, would have to wait as a knock sounded.

"Uhg." Finch pulled the covers over us enough to hide any naked parts.

"Come in," I said.

The door opened slowly and Tru entered followed by Milo. She carried a tray filled with food.

"Sorry to interrupt." Tru blushed. "Milo and I wanted to make you breakfast in bed."

"That's so sweet." Finch quickly put his glamour on so he could sit back. "Looks and smells amazing."

She placed the tray between us. "Finch's mom asked if we'd like to go to the big garden by the library this afternoon if that's okay."

I nodded as I sipped my coffee. "Sounds great."

"And, you and Finch can be together all day. Without us, or fires, or whatever things." Milo bounced on his heels, always a happy kid even though his body gave him a hard time.

"We love being with you." Finch frowned.

Milo rolled his eyes. "We know, but you two haven't had a real date in like a month. So, we are ordering you to go out and have fun."

I laughed. "You don't have to ask me twice."

Tru nodded. "Good. Now eat. Drop the tray in the kitchen. Calantha will be here in a couple of hours, and I promised Milo I'd kick his butt in Mortal Kombat."

"You wish." Milo pushed her playfully and I smiled as they left the bedroom.

"They are the best kids ever." Finch beamed.

"Yeah…and they're ours."

He whipped his head at me. "What?"

I opened the bedside table and pulled out the paperwork. "You need to realize they love you and I love you and they are yours in every way. Laura would love it if you'd adopt them."

The spoon he was holding clanged onto the tray and he covered his mouth. Tears filled his beautiful eyes.

"Are you…are you sure?"

"More than anything in this world. Honestly, this is way overdue, but I wasn't sure if you or the kids were ready."

"Are they?"

"Yes!" Two loud shouts came from down the hall.

We both burst out laughing.

"What do you say, Finch?"

He grabbed the papers out of my hand and clutched them to his chest.

"I say yes. Always yes!"

As I sealed the deal with a kiss, the kids cheered loudly from the other room. Damn these walls were thin.