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Autumn is here.

“Bunny!” I called when I spotted my wondrous mate coming down the path, his heavy equipment bag on his shoulder.

I swept him off his feet and cradled him against my chest. “Welcome home, my sweet.”

“Hi, baby boy. God, I missed you.” Nikolai palmed my cheek and kissed me.

“I made something for you,” I blurted out, unable to wait a minute longer to tell him.

“A surprise?” Nikolai cocked an eyebrow at me. “Damn. I was going to take you straight to bed, but I’m dying to see it first!”

“I wish I hadn’t told you about the surprise.” I gave him a sneaky grin. “But maybe it will be even better once you’ve seen it.”

He snorted. “I’ll want to say thank you?”

I set him to his feet at the edge of the garden.

“Come on.” I took his hand and pulled him in the direction of the chicken coop. There was a new wooden shed next to it.

“What is that? Didyoubuild this?”

“Vitus and his colleague Frederik were kind enough to help me. Go in and see for yourself.”

Nikolai pushed down the handle and flung the door wide open. He took in the bright open space with its large windows looking out over the chicken enclosure and the pond and…

“Is that a pottery wheel? And a kiln? Oh my goodness, Jules. Did you make a pottery workshop for me?”

“Well, you mentioned you wanted to give it a try. I’m—”

I couldn’t finish my sentence. Nikolai’s bulky body pressed me against the door, his hands buried in my hair, and his mouth accosted mine. I sat him on my hips so he could reach me better.

“I love you. I love you. I love you,” he gasped between frantic kisses. “Thank you so much, baby. This is the best surprise ever.”

“Maybe we’ll build you a gym next? Or a sauna? Vitus told me how much his mate enjoyed that.”

“Oh my God, Jules.” Nikolai snickered. “I don’t want to know.”

“You don’t want to know that his mate liked the sauna?”

“Nope. I don’t even want to think about it because my brain is too filthy.” He brought his lips to my neck and licked a kiss over my pulse point. “And then I’ll think about how he thanked him.” Bunny shuddered in my arms. “No offence. I like them both, but I prefer to keep my focus on the hot, antlered god between my legs.”

“This isn’t how I imagined we would inaugurate your workshop,” I whispered into his golden hair when, at last, my beautiful mate lay heavy on my chest, his body spent and our hearts beating as one.

“No?” He huffed and snuggled his cheek into my pectoral. “This is exactly how I want to inaugurate every single building with you from now on.”

“I guess I better get building then.” I pressed another kiss on his brow. “You are my everything, Bunny.”

Bonus Epilogue

Jules

“Goodmorning,myheart.”Nikolai’s soft lips pressed a kiss on my forehead. “Stay in bed, okay? I’m getting ready to head to the rink in a bit.”

His mouth pecked a trail down my temple and cheek until it reached my neck.

“You smell so good.” My mate breathed me in the way he did every morning. “I’ll never get enough of you, Jules.” Taking another deep inhale of my scent, he kissed my neck, sending goosebumps down my spine.

Humming with happiness, I snuggled into his lingering warmth.