Chapter 17
17
P ierce led Brett out a side door of the apartment—the intended front door he never used—and out into the hallway. Several doors lined the long length.
“What is this?” Brett asked.
“When my grandparents owned the building, they rented out the other five apartments up here to help cover expenses when the furniture store had slow months.” He pulled his keys from his pocket and unlocked the one directly across the hall and swung the door open. “After Pierre bought it, he allowed the tenants to continue to live here, but as they left or passed away, he didn’t rent the apartments out again. He planned to expand the restaurant one day and have events on the second floor. He didn’t see it happen, but we got there eventually.”
Pierce pointed to the left wall down the hallway. “Behind those two apartment doors are the two VIP dining rooms and the small banquet room. Those doors no longer open.” He urged Brett inside. “These have sat empty for far too long. I’ve had contractors up on occasion to inspect or work on the pipes and such over the years, simply to ensure there was no leaking or damage that might befall the restaurant below but otherwise they’re basically untouched.”
Brett eyed the space, silent.
Pierce stared at the gutted apartment. He’d torn down the walls in a rage after losing Simon, venting his destructive rage into something that needed demolition. It had helped a tiny bit to tear the place to shreds. “We’d discussed merging this apartment with my grandparents’ to make one large one. Not in-depth plans, just daydreams.”
“It would be a bit of an odd L-shape, wouldn’t it?” Brett asked. “To join those two.”
Pierce turned toward his grandparents’ apartment to consider the layout of the two spaces. “You’re probably right, but the old apartment is small. Expanding makes sense.”
“You mentioned your grandparents’ apartment and five others, right?” Brett asked. “Two apartments were taken for the upstairs dining—or was it more?”
“No, it was two.”
Brett nodded. “So there’s two more apartments?”
“One I use for storage. Extra tables and chairs. Linens and such. It’s the one at the end of the hall. The other is where I store all the old taxes and receipts from previous years.”
“Can I see?” Brett asked.
Pierce led him out and showed Brett the other two apartments. Both were full of excesses collected over twenty years. Half of it was so old it likely would never be used, even if they had needs. When he was done, Brett turned to Pierce.
“First off, you only need to keep a few years of your past tax information. Not twenty. Most of that can be shredded and tossed,” Brett said. “Half of the stuff in the other apartment looks nothing like what’s in the restaurant now.”
“Some of it is from before the last remodels.”
Brett lifted a brow.
He sighed. “I’m always working. When do I have time to go through this stuff and pitch what’s unneeded? It’s been on my to-do list for years.”
“Good thing you hired a new GM,” Brett murmured.
Pierce grinned. “I guess so.”
“Can I make a suggestion?”
Pierce nodded.
“Before I do, I realize you and Simon dreamed some things up and if you’re dead set on your grandparents’ place and the gutted apartment, I’m fine with that.”
Pierce shook his head. It wasn’t his and Simon’s future anymore. It was his and Brett’s. His omega deserved to contribute to that future. “I won’t trap you in past plans, not that they were much of anything. If you’ve got a better idea, I’m all ears.”
“Chef has complained for years that he has no office. Now you have a new GM who also has no office. I think your grandparents’ apartment should become an office.”
Pierce didn’t think that was the way to go. “Move them upstairs? It would be too far.”
“No. Move us up. Chef can have my office and Max yours. We remodel the apartment into two offices with a document storage room that holds no more than five years of past tax information and all personnel files. Perhaps there’s also room there for storage space for excess linens, tables, etcetera, but no clutter from years past that would never be used.” He turned to face the other way. “The gutted apartment and the other two become one large apartment.”
“Three apartments into one?” Pierce asked, lifting a brow.
“It’s not like these apartments are massive in the first place, although it’s harder to tell when they’re filled with stuff.” Brett shrugged. He slid his palms over Pierce’s chest. “Who knows how large our family might grow one day. Shouldn’t we consider the prospect we might need more than a couple of bedrooms? I don’t want to make this place special only to outgrow it in a few years.”
Pierce met Brett’s gaze. He was just getting used to the idea of one baby and his omega was jumping way, way ahead. Pierce fought a smile at the prospect of a big family with Brett, but he also feared getting his hopes up. Considering Brett’s suggestion, he crossed his arms over his chest. “I suppose we should consider five to ten years from now and avoid a second remodel later.”
“Oh, and can we soundproof some walls and floors when we remodel? I don’t want to live through the shame of everyone hearing us again,” Brett muttered.
Pierce moved closer and dragged Brett into his arms. “Soundproofing our bedroom is a must. I like hearing you scream when you come.”
The corners of Brett’s mouth curved upward. “We still have to buy me a gag.”
Pierce chucked his chin up. “There’s no shame in expressing your pleasure. I want those screams. They make my dick harder. So, if you hold back, it’s only until there’s soundproofing.” He collected Brett’s face in his hands. “If you’d rather we bought a house in the Family Quad and move out there, we can do that. It might be easier than taking on a major renovation job while you’re pregnant, honestly. It would give us more privacy, too.”
“And have to commute to work? No way,” Brett said. “I’d rather be here. With you.” He smiled. “If that’s what you want, too.”
“I’d love to make this into a real home with you.” Pierce pressed his lips to Brett’s. “I’ll call my architect in the morning and get the process moving. We only have ten months to make this livable—or else we might have to rent something temporarily.”
“We could always stay in the apartment for now and renovate that last,” Brett said. “That’ll allow us somewhere to bring the baby home to in case it’s not done on time.”
“I don’t want to bring our baby there,” Pierce muttered. “There’s too many bad memories.”
“It’s where he was conceived,” Brett whispered, a protective hand on his belly.
Pierce smiled down at Brett, impatient to see his omega swollen and round.
“And where you claimed me. I’d say there are some good memories there, too.”
“Yeah,” Pierce said, smiling. “I suppose there are.”
Pierce captured Brett’s lips, ready to make another good memory. He grabbed Brett’s ass and lifted. Brett wrapped his legs around Pierce’s waist as they kissed. After carrying Brett back to the apartment, he moved to the bedroom and laid his omega in the middle of their bed.
They raced to get one another naked and once they did, Brett grasped the root of his cock and led him closer. He pressed the head of it against his slick hole and fed Pierce’s cock inside, moaning loudly.
On his knees, Pierce widened his stance and sank deeper into Brett’s body. He stopped midway, though, fearful he’d hurt his omega.
“More,” Brett pleaded, grasping his ass and tugging him closer.
“I don’t want to hurt the baby.”
Brett’s eyes whipped open. “Alphas and their pregnant omegas have been fucking for eons. You’re not going to hurt the baby.”
Pierce wasn’t so sure. He slowly slid a few more inches, watching Brett’s face for any signs of pain.
“Come on,” Brett said, yanking him closer. “Gimme all of that big cock.”
Pierce rested his forehead on Brett’s and finally sank knot deep, groaning at the hot, wet, tight feel of his omega wrapped around his shaft. “You’re so greedy.”
Brett grinned from ear to ear. “I’m a spoiled brat who’s crazy for your cock. Is that such a bad thing?”
Pierce chuckled. “I suppose not.”
“Then get that thing moving—or else I might pout.”
Pierce grinned down at Brett. After stealing a kiss, he rose on his forearms and hovered over Brett’s writhing body. He slid out a few inches before slowly driving back in.
“Faster,” Brett commanded.
Pierce was in no hurry. He set a languid pace.
“Do I need to get on top and show you how it’s done, old man?”
Pierce grasped both of Brett’s wrists and pinned them to the bed. “I’d like to see you try.”
Brett attempted to flip them but failed. He whined. “Dadddddy…”
Pierce rolled his eyes, continuing his slow assault on Brett’s hole. “Good little boys get rewarded, not brats.”
“I’ve been such a good boy, though,” Brett whispered. “For soooo long. Backpay. You owe me.”
Pierce chuckled.
“Gimme more,” Brett pleaded, dotting kisses on the edges of Pierce’s mouth. “Faster and harder…” He paused two seconds before whispering, “Just not too hard.”
“If it hurts, you tell me to stop,” Pierce whispered.
Brett’s eyes widened excitedly. “Of course.”
Pierce let Brett’s wrists go, moving one to Brett’s throat. How many times had he imagined throttling the guy in the restaurant? Gripping tight, Brett shivered against him.
“Yeah, I like that,” Brett whispered.
A bit of Pierce’s control snapped, and he squeezed his fingers, all while quickening his pace. He watched Brett’s face close, waiting to see if the line was crossed. They seemed to race up to it, only to ride the edge as he fucked his omega as rough as he dared.
Brett clutched the wrist connected to the hand around his throat, his moans punctuating every thrust deep inside. As amped as they’d both been, both emotionally and physically, their releases came quick, both of them coming within seconds of one another.
His knot inflated—but just outside Brett’s hole. Pierce feared going deeper. It hurt not to knot inside his lover, but he wouldn’t be the cause of them losing their child.
He rolled them over and withdrew from Brett, wincing as the knot widened painfully.
“I thought that hurt,” Brett murmured, frowning.
“I wasn’t going to harm the baby,” Pierce said, cringing as it swelled bigger than he’d ever felt it.
Brett climbed to his knees and circled the knot with both hands, trying to keep it contained. It helped. Jets of his cum coated his belly until he was empty. The knot subsided, and Brett released him.
Pierce climbed from the bed and stumbled to the bathroom, never having experienced a knot outside his mate. He cleaned the ropes of cum from his stomach. Brett appeared beside him. He washed his hands and then climbed onto the bathroom counter to stare at Pierce.
“What?” Pierce asked, noting the little smile on Brett’s lips.
“You. Overprotective you.”
“Because I didn’t knot inside you?”
“Yes.”
“When I knot you, the head of my cock goes into your womb,” Pierce said, wiping the warm washcloth he’d grabbed over his abs.
“And when an omega gets pregnant, a mucus plug appears, closing the channel to the womb to protect the baby. Your cock bypasses it completely with the plug there. I’m a beta, and even I know that.”
“Were a beta,” Pierce corrected.
“Shit.” Brett’s face grew pink. “I was a beta.”
“It’s been a while since those old sex ed classes. I couldn’t remember,” Pierce grumbled. Simon had been so sick those first few months, he couldn’t remember if they’d had pregnant sex or not. “I wasn’t going to hurt either of you.”
Brett ran his hands down Pierce’s arm. “I’m only teasing you. I appreciate your care and concern, my alpha.”
Pierce growled lowly, loving to hear Brett call him that. He smiled and snuck down for a kiss. Once he was clean, he scooped Brett into his arms and walked back to the bed. “No complaints that you have legs and can walk?”
“Walking is overrated. You can carry me as much as you want.”
One of Pierce’s eyebrows shot up. “Oh?”
“Yep. I secretly loved it, even when I was complaining.”
“Good to know,” Pierce whispered. He laid his omega toward the side of the bed, away from the wet spot. After tossing the sheet over it, he lay down beside his mate and looked into the man’s eyes. His mind still spun in circles at how far they’d come, and how fast. “I’ll carry you around for the next ten months.”
“Don’t overdo it, old man.”
Pierce smiled, one side hitching higher than the other. “What happened to me being seasoned?”
“My side of beef.” Brett grinned. “Although, we might need a new metaphor now that I know you can’t cook.”
“I didn’t say I can’t. I said I have a kitchen full of chefs to do it for me. And they clean up the mess, to boot.” Pierce smiled but soon sighed, his mind going maudlin again. “I used to cook all the time, testing out skills Pierre taught me, but every time I cook since his passing, all I can think of is how much better he’d have made whatever it is I’m cooking.”
“I’ve heard he was a really good chef. Better than Chef.”
“Chef’s food is amazing, but Pierre ran rings around him.” Pierce smiled, thinking back to the days when his brother was still alive. “My big brother was a genius in the kitchen. Give him a few basic ingredients and he could turn them into something magical. His cooking was… sublime. Every time he put a plate in front of you, you knew you were in for a treat and probably the best thing you’d ever eaten up to that point and that’s why he opened with lines for blocks and had to switch to reservations—which at one point was two years out.”
“Damn,” Brett whispered.
Pain lanced his chest at the memory of what was—and the downfall that came after. “All that said, he probably shouldn’t have opened this place. He only did it because he was tired of owners making demands of him and his menu. They boxed him in, so he rebelled and did it his way—and the province loved him. He won award after award for his cooking, but the business side of it just wasn’t his thing. I helped him as best I could. With the bookkeeping,” he paused to lift a brow at Brett. “Invoices, schedules, paying bills, taxes, all that—but I could only help so much. On top of the fact that I had no experience in the restaurant world, I’d just finished college, had a full-time job in finance, and I’d met my omega weeks before the opening.”
Pierce’s gaze flipped to Brett’s at the mention of Simon, but he gauged no reaction. “The pressure got to Pierre. He started drinking. Heavily at times. After a while, the food stopped being consistent. Staff quit because he wasn’t always a happy drunk. The reputation started going down the tubes and the wait list shriveled up. He drank even more the worse things got. I confronted him and tried to get him into rehab multiple times, but he refused.”
“I can’t imagine how hard that was for you. To watch him suffering and being unable to do anything about it,” Brett murmured.
“It’s a bit like how I felt with you. Watching you suffering with pain while you refused my help.”
Brett flinched. He laid his hand on Pierce’s arm. “I couldn’t see how that was affecting anyone else. I’m sorry.”
“I know you couldn’t see outside the pain,” Pierce said. He pressed a kiss to the top of Brett’s head. “At least our story will hopefully have a happier end than my brother’s.”
“I heard that it was an accident?” Brett asked, his voice carrying a cautious note.
“After closing late one night, he got into his car, loaded to the gills. I have no idea where he was going,” Pierce said. “His car ended up going headfirst into one of the province’s outer walls.” Pierce closed his eyes. He still wondered if it had truly been an accident or if Pierre drove himself into that wall to end it all. “His loss was devastating. Our parents died when I was a teen and my grandparents not long after Pierre, so I had no one left.”
“And Simon was there to love you through all that,” Brett whispered.
Pierce nodded. “If it wasn’t for him, I don’t know if I’d have survived it.”
Brett leaned closer, hugging him tight. “What made you quit your job and take over? If you can’t even cook a plate of scrambled eggs,” Brett asked. “Why run a restaurant?”
“Before things had turned into a shitshow, he and I discussed me coming on as a full partner and taking over the business side. I’d never worked in a restaurant before, so I dragged my feet, worried I didn’t know enough. I was also worried about the commitment, given the fact Simon and I were so new. If I hadn’t delayed making a decision, maybe things would’ve been different.”
“Don’t you dare blame yourself,” Brett said. “I’d have been hesitant, too.”
Easily enough said. Not as easy to let the guilt go. “I know, I know… but the what-if has hounded me for twenty-five years.”
“Twenty-five years… so that means you were only twenty-one or so?”
“Yep. My brother was ten years older than I was, so he’d had time and experience under his belt. I had none of his swagger, though I tried to pretend I did.” Pierce sighed. “But that’s why I quit my job and took over the restaurant. He’d wanted me here—and for some reason, I felt like I owed him to bring it back from the edge of the cliff. For his legacy to remain after he was gone too soon. It was crazy to think I could pull it off, but somehow, we did. Antonio was his sous chef. He took over as executive chef and has been since. The food wasn’t as amazing as Pierre’s, but close enough to slowly tempt the crowds back after we reopened.”
“I think that’s the first time I’ve heard anyone use Chef’s real name,” Brett said. “When I first opened his personnel file, I was half expecting his name to be listed as Chef.”
Pierce chuckled. “It’s a sign of respect in his kitchen. He’s earned that title.”
“So I’ve been told. It’s still weird to never use his actual name,” Brett replied. “I’ve been tempted to call out Antonio just to see if he’d even turn around and respond.”
“Don’t you dare,” Pierce commanded. “That man saved this place and then some.”
“Duly noted,” Brett murmured. “I’ll play nice. I wasn’t all that nice before, but that was because he and Maurice always seemed so buddy-buddy.”
“I’m still pissed you didn’t tell me about him long ago. You’re going to tell me things from now on, right?”
“Everyone’s going to be different,” Brett said. “I’ll miss out on all the good gossip now that they know we’re together—so there probably won’t be anything to tell you.”
“Who knows? You might end up privy to the real good shit,” Pierce whispered. “The stuff said behind closed doors.”
Brett grinned wickedly. “Oh? Do tell…”
“Oh, you’ve not been given classified clearance yet,” Pierce said, grinning right back. “Only my mate and business partner gets that.”
“Are you seriously trying to tempt me to mate with you—by using gossip as bait?” Brett asked.
Pierce scoffed, fighting a smile. “Noooo.”
“Well, I was about to tell you it was a chess master-level move, but if that’s not what you were doing…”
Pierce pinned Brett to the bed and stared down at him. “Jerk.”
Brett fought a smile. “Stick up the ass.”
It wasn’t the first time Brett had called him that over the years, but the first time since becoming his omega. “Watch it or I might put my stick up your ass… again.”
“As if you can use that as a threat,” Brett shot back. “I want your stick up my ass.” He shook his head, his curls bouncing and shining in the soft sunlight cast about their bedroom. “Do I really need to teach you how to make less-than-idle threats? Come on now.”
Pierce chuckled. “I guess that means I should use no sex as punishment.”
“You could, but that’ll punish you, too, alpha.”
Pierce narrowed his eyes. “Foiled again.”
Brett smiled, and it made Pierce’s heart skip a beat. It wasn’t a forced or practiced one he normally saw. It was one filled with actual joy—joy he’d helped draw from his omega. He held Brett’s gaze, never wanting that smile to go away. In that moment, he knew he was lost. He’d spend the rest of his life trying to make that smile appear and he’d do just about anything to make that happen.
He dragged his gaze away, his chest tight with emotion. Rolling to his side, he faced Brett and searched his omega’s face, still stunned that the man was his.
“I asked the easier of the two hard questions,” Brett murmured. “Now on to the harder one.”
Pierce’s gaze flipped to Brett’s.
“Tell me about Simon.”
Pierce clenched his jaw, not sure he wanted to go there. He’d avoided going too deep, scared he’d hurt Brett—or himself. Skirting the topic had felt safer. Of course his omega wanted to dive in headfirst. “What do you want to know?”
“Well, how did the two of you meet?” Brett asked.
“At an omega ball, like most couples,” Pierce replied. “I was forced to go to one to appease my grandpapa—and there he was.”
Brett was silent a moment, anticipation in his expression. “That’s it? You’re not going to paint the picture for me?”
“It was winter. Fewer people go to the winter ones, so that’s why I picked it. There were Yule decorations up. They served terrible punch that was somehow worse after someone spiked it. The food was dry and inedible. I was ready to leave, but I met Simon. The end.”
Brett shook his head. “You can do better. Tell me about the first time you laid eyes on Simon.”
Pierce stiffened. “You don’t really want to hear about that.”
“I do,” Brett murmured. “I wouldn’t have asked if I didn’t want to know.”
Pierce clenched his jaw. Loving someone meant knowing when to give them all—or give them nothing in order to protect them.
“Pierce,” Brett hissed. “You loved him and still have him in your heart. I don’t want you to hide that part of yourself or feel like you can’t talk about him for the rest of your life.”
“I don’t want to hurt you.”
Brett’s smile was small and pitiful. “This is the man you loved first. He’ll always be in your heart, and I know that. I accept that. He’s a part of you, which means—if I love you, I need to know him. Maybe in time, I can love him a little bit, too.”
Pierce’s eyes filled with tears. He rolled to his back and wiped the corners of his eyes carefully, hiding the sudden swell of rising emotion. Brett nearly broke him in that moment. Not with pain, but with love.
Brett leaned up on his elbow and searched Pierce’s face. “I didn’t mean to make you sad.”
“I’m not,” Pierce whispered. “Quite the opposite, actually.”
Brett caressed Pierce’s cheek. “You don’t have to talk about him now, if you’re not ready. But whenever you are, I’ll listen.”
Pierce rubbed his thumb over Brett’s lower lip. “I don’t know what I did to deserve this gift of a second chance. And that’s what you are, Brett. A gift.”
Brett smiled softly. “Thank you for saying that.” He pressed a kiss to Pierce’s lips. “But I think I’m the lucky one here.”
“You’ve always got to argue, don’t you?” Pierce asked, grinning.
Brett burst out with laughter. “I suppose I do.”
Pierce couldn’t help but smile wider. That laughter was magical. Brett slid back down on his side and cuddled close.
Pierce went back to that night so long ago. An omega ball he’d not wanted to attend, but after refusing so many, his grandpapa had drawn a line in the sand. “There were white twinkling lights everywhere. It reminded me of fireflies—kind of like the lights had been under the tent at Avery’s reception. There was a fire roaring at one end of the ballroom with two massive pine trees on either side, decorated with oranges with cloves, ribbons, and candles. A fire hazard, to be sure, but it was beautiful all the same and the warmth of the fire seemed to send the scent of them through the room. I saw Simon standing with a couple of other omegas, and this tremor went up my spine when our eyes met. I knew in an instant he was the one.” Pierce chuckled. “One of two, but I didn’t know that yet, of course.”
Brett snickered.
“He had eyes almost the same shade as yours. His had a hint of blue in the jade, though. His hair was blond and nearly white it was so light. It went way down past his bottom, and he wore it in these elaborate braids that night. The only other night I saw it like that was our mating ceremony. He usually had one braid down the back.”
“I noticed that in his photos,” Brett said. “His hair reminds me of Avery’s papa’s. It looked about the same white-blond. I’d kill to have hair like that. It’s so badass.”
“I happen to like your dark curls,” Pierce said, running his fingers through them.
“I’ve been wondering if I should grow my hair out now that I’m an omega,” Brett mentioned.
“A lot of omegas cut their hair during the protests last year. The rules are changing. Wear your hair however you’re comfortable. I won’t put demands on that.”
“As if you could?” Brett asked.
“Some alphas command their omegas to present or act in a certain way,” Pierce murmured. “I was just letting you know that I won’t do that. Your body is yours.” He grinned, nipping at Brett’s neck. “Except when it’s mine.”
Brett smiled, lifting his chin to allow more kisses along his neck. “A part of me wants to grow it out just to experience the tradition of it. The other part thinks like it looks like too much work.”
“It can get in the way. Especially during fun times, if you know what I mean.”
“Oh, no thank you, then. Maybe a little longer, but not ass length. Not if it gets in the way of you giving me the good stuff,” Brett said. “Maybe I can do shoulder length like Avery’s is now.”
“It’s just hair. It can always be cut—or grow back,” Pierce murmured. “Have fun with it.”
Brett tapped Pierce’s chest. “We’re off topic. Yule trees, a roaring fire, and you see your omega across a less-than-crowded room. Your eyes lock— and then what?”
Pierce smiled and kissed Brett’s forehead. “I walked over and struck up a very awkward conversation. I’ve already told you I suck in social situations and oh, did I sound stupid that night. I asked about the weather we were having, which is always such a winner—and then started talking about my college classes before realizing I sounded like an asshole when he couldn’t go to college. I apologized profusely and almost walked away, figuring I’d made a total mess of it and he’d reject my claim. I think he sensed I was about to run. He took my hand and told me to breathe.”
“Smart guy,” Brett murmured.
“Incredibly intelligent, although I’ve noticed the omega in my arms is awfully insightful about a myriad of topics I never expected.”
“Like?”
“You were spot-on about Max and the GM role without knowing I’ve wanted him in that position for the longest time.”
“I think he’s going to be amazing at it. And free you up so you can have a little more of a life with your family.” Brett trembled beside him and Pierce was almost sure he heard a sniffle.
“Is this harder than you thought? Me talking about Simon?”
“No, silly,” Brett said, his eyes glistening.
“What’s got you emotional, then?”
Brett smiled. “We’re going to be a family, Pierce.”
“Well, yeah,” Pierce murmured, acting as if the idea of that didn’t make his heart swell with pride and excitement.
“I never imagined I’d have a family of my own,” Brett whispered. “I thought I’d only see it in my dreams.”
“I dreamed of having one… with you,” Pierce said. He reached over and brushed a bit of wetness from Brett’s face with his thumb. “We both got what we wanted.”
Brett leaned up and kissed his lips. “Then we prioritize this gift we’ve both been given. Promise me you’ll try.”
“Have you not noticed already that I’m spending less time downstairs? I’d rather be here with you.” He pressed a hand to Brett’s stomach. “And our baby.”
“I love you.”
“I love you,” Pierce whispered before claiming his omega’s lips.
“We’re off topic again,” Brett whispered. “He took your hand and…”
Pierce stared up at the ceiling, hoping what he said next didn’t hurt Brett. “I felt the bond the second he touched me.”
“You didn’t know the minute you saw him?”
“I sensed a pull, but the physical connection made everything fall into place for me,” Pierce murmured.
“Did you dance all night?”
“Not all night. We found a quiet corner and ended up talking most of it. Once I got past that initial anxiety, it was easy to talk. Just like it’s easy to talk with you.”
“After the arguments… and after you got over your doubts,” Brett added.
“Exactly.” Pierce squeezed Brett closer.
“How did the night end?”
“I think that’s enough for now,” Pierce whispered. “I’d rather focus on the here and now—and the omega in my arms.”
“Ready for a round two, are we?”
“Nah,” Pierce said. “I just want to hold you close for a little while, if that’s okay?”
“That sounds perfect,” Brett whispered, kissing Pierce’s shoulder before slipping closer into the curve of his arm.
Pierce smiled, feeling closer to Brett than any other person in the world. His hand drifted down to Brett’s belly, both joy and anxiety filling him.
It was said that those who don’t learn from history were doomed to repeat it. Perhaps opening himself to Brett and exposing some of his past would be enough to prevent that. He’d become an open book if it meant they’d get to be a family.
A baby.
A son who looked like Brett.
He smiled to himself, almost scared to hope too much.
Eyeing the clock, he knew he should get up and go down to the restaurant, but Brett felt too good in his arms. What could five more minutes hurt?