Chapter 19
Echo
“Ariel is a lovely name for a girl, but I’m not sure Flounder is the best idea for a boy,” I say diplomatically to the very pregnant merman as we watch the babies’ favorite movie. I think I probably enjoy it as much as they do, but I know the rest of the dads are a little sick of it. I like to sing along with the characters.
When I look at the merman, though, there’s a sparkle in his eye, and he starts to chuckle. “I was just seeing if you were paying attention. I would not name my children after a guppy. What about Triton? He was a supreme specimen of a merman, though mers do not have facial hair. That was just weird,” he says, shaking his head, and I breathe a sigh of relief. Thank goodness. I’m not sure Lila would have forgiven us if we encouraged the use of the name Flounder.
Nikos winces and puts a hand on his belly as it moves like crazy. My eyes widen. I’ve never seen it move like that before. “Can I?” I ask him, reaching for his stomach.
“Of course. This is what you have to look forward to,” he tells me, grabbing my hand and placing it on his belly. My mouth drops open at how vigorous the babies move.
“Does it hurt?” I ask him, because it sure looks like it does.
“Sometimes, but I don’t care. It’s all worth it. I can’t wait to hold them in my arms. I hope I have two pretty little mermaids who look exactly like their mama.” Gone is the ridiculous, silly can of tuna, and in his place is a proud, intelligent man. I’ve come to know a side of Nikos different than the one he presents to the world. He has a wicked sense of humor and is highly intelligent. I’ve really enjoyed our shared time and hope that once he has given birth, he will still spend time with me during my pregnancy.
“Would you like me to rub your back?” I ask him.
His eyes widen in surprise. “Would you?” he asks a little hesitantly. “You’ll have to get into the pool with me.
“Sure, I don’t mind getting wet. Max is the one who hates water,” I tell him with a smile, climbing off the bean bag I was sitting on while we watched the movie and stepping down into the shallow section he is lounging in. “Roll to the side,” I instruct, knowing there is no way he can roll onto his stomach. He does as I asked, and I kneel down and rub his lower back on one side of his body.
He groans loudly as my hands caress his stiff muscles, careful not to rub too hard and hurt him. I massage in slow, circular motions to ease some of the pain before kneading a little without using my claws, and his breathing evens out.
“That feels magical. Thank you, Echo. You have very nice hands. I like the way they feel on my body,” he mutters, way more relaxed than he was. “I bet they would feel magical gripping my cock.”
I stop suddenly, surprised by what he said, but when I look down, his eyes are closed, and I think maybe he doesn’t know he said that out loud.
“Roll to the other side,” I say, moving so he can. I repeat the motions on the opposite side, and he moans, reaching down to adjust himself under his scales.
“Wish I could ask you to ease the ache in my dick,” he slurs before he snores slightly.
I smirk at those last muttered words. I’m pretty sure he would be mortified if he knew I heard that inner thought. I’m happy that I can do something to help him. I’ve grown very attached to the merman, and I don’t like seeing him in pain. It calls to my omega side to soothe him. I don’t want to look at that too closely, because that is an attachment reserved for streak members, which I guess that’s what he is now. They all are, Lila’s mates, but what I feel for the others feels more like companionship, except for the good doctor. What I feel for him is something different, and I think I am starting to feel that way about the merman too. I want to pet him and tell him he’s pretty and snuggle into his belly and purr for him.
I ache deep inside, even though Maxsim fucked me into submission not that long ago. Maybe if I rile him up by telling him about how I’m starting to feel about the merman, he will fuck me into submission again.
I whisper goodbye to Nikos, not wanting to wake him. He said he hasn’t been getting much sleep because he can’t get comfortable. Link wants him to stay close to the communicator, and the anemone where he usually rests is at the bottom of the pool.
I grab a towel, drying my fur as I hurry back to our room. Max will grumble if I come back wet, and the cold air in our den isn’t fun when you’re soaked through.
The suite is quiet when I arrive, and I frown. Where is everyone? It isn’t too late, and usually, someone would still be up watching something on the television, reading a book, or talking about their day, but the living area is empty, and the lights are dimmed, leaving only one lamp lit in case anyone gets up in the middle of the night.
I make my way to Max’s and my shared room. Lila offered me one of my own, but Max and I have been sharing for so long it makes sense. Plus, there is room for her when she wants to visit us and the babies when they arrive. I caress my stomach, which has started to show a little.
Our babies will need to stay in our room to start with. Their ability to withstand higher temperatures are limited when they are small. They won’t be able to co-exist with our other children until they are older. It’s something I worry about all the time. I know it also bothers Maxsim that he can’t go on away missions with the others because we have low tolerance to high heat. I’ve been meaning to ask Xavier if he can create a more permanent spell or charm like the one he gave me to spend time with Nikos under the sun lamps.
The door to our room slides back when I press my hand to the sensor, and I step into the space, discarding my wet loincloth in the dirty clothes basket before heading to our sunken nest. I hear Maxsim’s rumbling purr, and when I jump down, I’m surprised to find him already asleep. I can’t remember the last time we didn’t go to bed together, but it is a lot later than I thought it was. His eyes open the minute he scents me, and his rumbling purr becomes louder.
“Omega, why do you smell needy?” he growls at me, sitting up.
I blush, not willing to meet his eyes. “Pregnancy hormones,” I tell him, not ready to talk about my small, growing attraction to the merman, but then I notice he has something new around his neck.
“What is that? Did someone give you a gift?” A surge of jealousy whips through me. I know it wasn’t Lila, so who is gifting my alpha jewelry? My lightning sparks and lights up the dark nest.
Maxsim reaches up and drags me down into the nest, nuzzling into my neck and nipping his mate mark on my shoulder. I can smell the warlock on him. It’s strong, like he was in his presence recently.
“Is Lila back?” I ask him as he pulls away.
“No, she is still on the planet.” He sighs and tells me about her new mate, which I find a little tricky to comprehend.
“A god?” I ask, unable to hide my awe.
“Yeah, trust Lila to be mated to a god.” Maxsim chuckles, shaking his head. He leans over and grabs something from the edge of the nest and puts it over my head. I can scent the warlock magic now and realize that’s what I could smell on my alpha. “Xavier gave us these charms so we aren’t disadvantaged by our temperature intolerance.”
I look down, picking up the charm that’s around my neck. It’s a pretty carved stone that I can feel pulsing with the warlock’s magic.
“He said it will shift with us.” This is exactly what I was hoping he could create for our babies so they can be with their siblings and not stuck because of the disadvantages of our species.
“Do you think he would create two for the babies?” I ask him, and he smiles gently.
“I think Xavier would do anything you asked him to for our babies.”
I heave out a sigh of relief. I’ve been so worried about them missing out on so much. I want them to be able to sleep and play with our other children.
“We will ask him when he returns from Husadavia,” Maxsim tells me, rubbing a hand over my back.
“How did you get these if he isn’t back?” I ask, biting my lip as his touch turns from comforting to something a little more erotic.
“He popped back to give us an update,” he explains. “That’s how I know about Lila’s new mate.” Maxsim tips his head to the side in a very feline gesture. “It’s the being who controlled the plants and creatures on Husadavia for the harvesters. Turns out, he’s one of the old gods.”
I try to make sense of what my alpha is telling me. “Which one?”
“Zeydan, the earth elemental god. Xavier didn’t know a lot, but Lila stayed behind so she could find out more. Before you get upset, the dragon has gone down to make sure she is safe, even though the god assured Xavier she would be unharmed. He must have known her shifter mates would not have been okay with that.”
“Why the dragon?” I think about how horrible he has been to Lila, and a growl escapes me.
“The dragon is trying to make up for his mistakes. Don’t be so harsh on him. I was just as bad to start with, and thankfully, Lila forgave me. The dragon deserves forgiveness too.”
“Hmm, I guess you’re right.”
“The dragon was the only one who would be fairly safe. There are no large, airborne predators.”
“I guess that seems reasonable.”
“He’s going to radio back in the morning and let us know what’s going on. But enough about that, why did you smell so needy when you returned from visiting with Nikos?” Maxsim asks, and I drop my eyes, unable to meet his gaze. “Is it really pregnancy hormones or something else?”
I shrug. “I find the merman sexy, just like I find the doctor sexy. It doesn’t mean anything.”
A rumbly sound comes from Maxsim’s chest, and I wince, worried my alpha’s jealousy is going to make an appearance, but instead of his scent turning sour with that particular emotion, it strengthens and deepens.
“Would you like to invite them into your nest to play with us?” he asks, and my eyes widen with surprise.
“You would be okay with that?” I ask him, unable to hide my shock.
“It seems that, like Caspian, now that you are pregnant with our kittens, I am not opposed to inviting others into our bed, or for you to anyway. I would do anything to make you happy, and if that’s what it takes, then I would allow them to fuck you and Lila while I watch. Are you sure the merman is interested?”
I duck my head in embarrassment. “I don’t know. He made a couple of sleepy comments that made it sound like he might be, but you know what he was like before he mated Lila—all suggestive and lewd comments—so maybe he was just reverting to his old ways.”
Maxsim shakes his head vigorously. “No, I don’t think so. He dropped that act the moment he realized Lila didn’t care about who or what he was. Usually, words muttered at our most vulnerable are the truth. We will discuss this later. Why don’t you come here so I can take care of that need? I don’t like it when my omega is aching with want.” He starts to purr, and I feel my cock leak and my slick drip down my thighs. My body is always ready to fuck, even though I’m already pregnant. It’s like I’m permanently in heat, ready for my alpha to drive his cock home whenever he wants.
I whine as he drags me toward him, taking my mouth with his. His tongue caresses mine as his hand goes to my cock, stroking up and down, using my precum for lubricant. I moan and thrust into his hand as his lightning pulses in his grip, mixing pleasure and pain. He growls his approval before releasing my cock.
Grabbing my hips, he manhandles me onto my front. “Present for me,” he commands as I lift my hips, giving him the access he requires, unable to stop the whine from escaping my mouth.
“Please, Alpha, fill me,” I beg as he uses his hands to spread my cheeks before running his tongue over my slick drenched asshole.
“Such a good omega, dripping with slick for his alpha. Ready for my knot? I’m going to fuck you hard and deep and make sure that you never feel needy.” He lines himself up before slamming home. My moan echoes through the cave as I sink into the pleasure my alpha wrings from my body.