"How about you add some white? I think you've gotten just slightly carried away with the pink. She is nearly a teenager, honey. I'm not sure she's going to be quite so into pink as this room needs her to be." He spoke softly with an edge of humor. He didn't want to hurt his wife's feelings, but he didn't want to hurt Kelly's eyes either.
He waited as Sophie scanned the room then let out a sigh.
"I guess you have a point. Only having had boys in the house, I got excited at being able to do a girls room. But now that I've stood back and looked at it, it is a bit much, isn't it?"
"I'm excited too, honey. We're getting a daughter and a grand-daughter all at once. And making a room for Kelly to have as her own is a wonderful idea." He turned her around, held her face in both his hands and proceeded to kiss the daylights out of his beautiful mate and wife.
~ * ~
Adele was excited. After two weeks in the hospital she was more than ready to leave, and Clint had finally said she could. She was sitting up in her bed waiting for Dominic to come and take her home. Sophie had already been in with Kelly. Kelly was released a few days ago and was staying with Jake and Sophie, apparently Sophie had done up one of the spare rooms for her and Kelly was ecstatic about having a whole room that was hers alone at their house. She was going to stay with Jake and Sophie for another few days while Adele got settled back in at home. She suspected Dominic might have requested to have a few days of just the two of them. She smiled wide as she thought about being able to spend whole days and nights alone with Dominic.
As if he'd heard her thoughts, she felt the familiar tingle that meant he was near. Moments later, he appeared in the doorway. She sat mesmerized by his powerful stride as he strode to her. He had completely healed from the bullet wound and wasn't even limping any more. He had told her shifters recovered at a faster rate than humans. He bent down over her, stroked her face and gave her a breath-stealing kiss before whispering against her lips.
"Good morning, love. You ready to run away with me?" He kissed her again before she could respond. A cough from the doorway broke them apart. Blushing, she looked up at Clint who was grinning at them.
"Got your paperwork all here, Adele. I just need to check that left wrist. I think we should be able to take the splint off. You'll still have to wear a soft brace for a while, but it will be easier to get dressed and move around than with the splint."
After a thorough examination, Adele now had a soft bandage brace on her left wrist, which meant she now had use of her hand.
"You'll need to be careful with that right wrist and hand. You might want to have it in a sling for a while so you don't accidentally bump it. You have two fractured knuckles and a few broken bones in your wrist. It's going to take time for it to heal enough to stop hurting."
"It's okay, Doc, I'll make sure she doesn't do anything too strenuous." Dominic gave her his cheeky lopsided grin and a wink which sent the butterflies dancing in her belly, like it did every time.
"Well, okay then. I'll just get Dominic to sign your release, Adele. I think it'll be a while before your right hand is up to writing. Although, you should get pretty good at writing left handed."
~ * ~
Dominic felt a wave of relief as he helped Adele out of his car and into her house. His mate was healing and out of the hospital. His leopard felt much better knowing she would be in his arms where he could protect her. He settled her on the couch before he went back out to collect her bags and lock up the car. While he was in her room putting her bags down, he retrieved the ring out of his pocket and held it enclosed in his hand as he returned to Adele. He just about jumped for joy when Clint had removed Adele's sprint, leaving her left hand unencumbered. She could wear his ring now.
He came through the door to see Adele staring up at him with absolute adoration shining from her eyes.
"Is it because you're a shifter or because we're mates that whenever you're close, I feel a tingle up my spine?" He smiled like a fool at her question as he approached her. He knelt in front of her before he offered her an answer.
"It's because we're mates, love. I feel it too." He leaned in and gave her a slow gentle kiss.
"I know you already said yes, but I didn't do it properly before." He rearranged his legs so he was kneeling on one knee then captured her left hand in his and as he slipped his ring on her finger, he asked...
"Adele, will you do me the honor of being my wife? Be mine forever?"
He watched with his heart in his throat as her eyes misted over and a tear leaked from the corner of her right eye. He began to worry--for about two seconds--before her face broke out into a huge smile and she finally responded.