Chapter 24Jules
CHAPTER
TWENTY-FOUR
JULES
For the first time since I started living with Gavin, I’m awake before him. It takes some effort to wiggle out of his warm embrace, since he doesn’t seem willing to let me go even while dead asleep, before I can get dressed and sneak into the kitchen to make breakfast for him, Callum and Altair. I’m not as good in the kitchen as Gavin but I know how to cook. Nothing fancy, not like my mate can manage, but nothing inedible either.
I’m a little nervous how Callum and Altair will react to the bacon, eggs and oatmeal I’m cooking. Even if the food is terrible by Gavin’s standards, he will choke it down and lie about how good it tastes. Callum won’t lie. He’ll list what’s wrong with every bite he takes. I’m not sure how Altair will react—not as harshly as Callum, but not as politely as Gavin.
Still, I want to do something for Gavin, to show how much I appreciate him and the boys after yesterday. He took me on my first date, and he didn’t have to do that. I’m already his in every way I can be so the fact he’s trying to build something real between us... it means a lot. I’m trying too. Making breakfast is something simple and nice I can do to meet him halfway.
I’m almost finished when familiar arms wind around my waist. Instead of flinching at the sudden closeness of another person, I lean into Gavin and glance over my shoulder. “It’s almost done.”
Gavin buries his nose in my neck and inhales deeply. His cock is hard as he presses against my ass. “You smell better than breakfast, but the food looks great.”
I shift against him, my hole leaking. “Yeah?” I clear my throat and try to focus on the eggs. I’m on the home stretch; I can’t mess up now. “It’s a little nerve wracking, cooking for someone who does it professionally.”
Gavin slips his hands under my shirt and rests them over my abdomen. “I cook for dozens of people every day and no one ever cooks for me. Trust me, I appreciate this. It’s nice to eat something I didn’t cook from time to time, and maybe for dessert I can have you.” Gavin’s mouth is hot on my throat when he nips at my skin. I moan as my cock hardens.
“Gross.” Altair still sounds half asleep as he stumbles into the kitchen and sits at the small table in front of the window. “Not around the food.”
“You’re free to move out anytime.” Gavin’s voice quivers with laughter before he ignores his son altogether. I swallow a moan when he teases my nipple with his index finger. Last night, when we got home, Gavin took me to bed and played with my body for hours. The more I begged, the more he gave me. I’m still sensitive from all the attention. “You smell so fucking good this morning.” He nips at my ear.
“Do I?” Is it because I smell more like him than ever?
“Mmhmm. Reminds me a bit of—” Gavin goes still against my back before he blows out a sharp breath. His hands settle around my body as he clasps me against his chest. He’s trembling as he presses his cheek against mine. “Jules.”
“What?” I frown. Why does he sound like that? “Is something wrong?”
Gavin’s lips brush my ear. “What do you think about Wisteria for a baby girl?”
“What?” Wisteria for a... I look down at my stomach. It’s still flat, I’m not far enough along to be visibly pregnant, but... I suck in a sharp breath that rattles in my lungs.
I should’ve known. Gavin’s scent is stronger than ever and has only been growing stronger the past few days. I thought it was our scents settling together, but it’s more than that. I don’t smell more and more like him because we’re mated. It’s because I’m carrying his baby.
“I’m pregnant.” I swallow and lay my hand over the one he has resting on my stomach. We knew this was a possibility. Probability, really. I still don’t know if I’m ready or if I’m going to be a good dad, but I won’t be on my own. Gavin’s here, and he’s already raised three kids. It’s not as if he’s new to any of this.
“We can go to a clinic in the city and confirm after breakfast.” Gavin kisses my cheek.
It sounds crazy—me, pregnant. A few weeks ago I was homeless and starving, running from the mate my parents picked out for me. Now... I look up at Gavin. We’ve talked about this. He won’t make me do anything I don’t want to do. If we have a baby or not is totally up to me, but I’m not going to terminate even if I’m scared of what comes next.
“Gavin...” It’s normal to be scared, to be nervous, isn’t it? “I’m—” I bite my bottom lip.
Is he nervous about being a father again? His youngest is already a teenager.
“It’s okay.” Gavin cups the back of my neck with his free hand. The other is still trapped against my abdomen. “Being a parent is nerve wracking and scary and wonderful. It’s the hardest but most rewarding thing you’ll ever do. If you still want to do this with me?”
“Of course.” I don’t need to think about it. There is no one else I’d rather do this with.
“I’m with you the whole way.” Gavin pulls me away from the stove and into a hug.
“I’m going to be a dad,” I whisper. I’m going to be a dad.
Gavin’s arms around me are strong and steady as he sways us from side to side. “You’re going to be a great dad. Altair is going to be a so-so big brother, as Callum can confirm.”
“I’m a great brother,” Altair counters from his spot at the table, “who is slowly but surely starving to death.”
“Shit. Sorry. Sorry.” I pull away from Gavin and yank the overcooked eggs off the burner.
“I’ll finish.” Altair gently pushes me away from the stove. “Sit down. You’re with child.”
I open and shut my mouth as I glance at Gavin. He shrugs and leads me to the table, as if suddenly I’m in desperate need of help to walk five feet. “I’m going to text Baz to come over for breakfast. If you’re okay with all the boys knowing?”
“They should be told. They’re family. We’re family.” I really like the sound of that—not just having a family, but being part of one that looks out for each other, takes care of one another.
Gavin drops a fast kiss on my forehead before pulling out his phone. Altair takes more food from the fridge, since another person is joining us, as Callum stumbles into the kitchen with his hair sticking up around his head. “Are we having dessert for breakfast? I’m here for it.”
“You’re smelling the bun in Jules’ oven, not food,” Altair says.
“Anything’s food if you’re hungry enough,” Callum counters before he jerks to a sudden and violent stop. His eyes fly wide and flicker from person to person before he grins. “Oh shit. You’re pregnant! For real? Good job, Father.” He pauses mid bounce as his brows pull together. “Or are you getting rid of it?”
“Should I hit him for you?” Altair raises the wooden spoon in his hand and flicks it toward Callum without actually hitting him.
“It’s funnier when Silo has permission to bite him, which he does now,” Gavin says.
“Ah man.” Callum shakes his head and holds his hands up. “Don’t tell him that.”
“We aren’t getting rid of it,” I tell him, since someone should actually answer him. “I hope you don’t mind having a younger sibling.” I pick at a dry cuticle as I look between Callum and Altair. I don’t want any of Gavin’s children to feel as if I’m pushing them aside in favor of making a new family with him.
Callum shrugs as he sits down across from me at the table. “Everyone knew it was going to happen. I think Baz won the bet though—first heat, right?”
I bow my head as I cover my face with my hands.
Did they really bet on when I would get pregnant?
“You’re all grounded forever.” Gavin gently squeezes my shoulder.
“I’m going to tell Silo to make you bleed, idiot,” Altair whispers under his breath.
“He did that ages ago. See.” Callum yanks his shirt up and on his ribcage is a series of bites. They look old, and faded. But also like... I glance at Gavin, who looks horrified.
“Callum...” Gavin’s fingers dig into my shoulder. Not hard enough to hurt, but enough to leave an impression. I lay my hand over his and he eases up, blowing out a slow breath. “Let’s talk in the living room.”
“Uh. Okay. Am I in trouble?” Callum follows Gavin out of the kitchen. I stay at the table. The conversation those two need to have is private.
“I guess it makes sense,” Altair mutters from his place at the stove.
Callum and Silo’s scents are mixed together pretty tightly but they also live on top of each other. Every time I see Silo, he’s wearing something that clearly belongs to Callum. Or Callum is wrapped around him so tight a crowbar couldn’t pry them apart.
I pull on my bottom lip. “They’re really young.”
Callum is only sixteen. Silo is a year younger.
“Yeah. Uh—” Altair blows out a sharp breath and shakes out his arms and legs before he continues to cook breakfast. “I don’t want to think about it, much less talk about my least favorite brother’s sex life. It’s Father’s problem.”
“Sit down.” Gavin’s voice cracks with authority and I jerk, my knees hitting the underside of the kitchen table before I curl into myself. Altair does the same. He’s not talking to us but that doesn’t stop the power of his order from wrapping around me like the world’s most unpleasant chokehold. I squeeze my eyes shut and blow out a breath. “We’re going to talk about this. I’m not fucking around here, Callum Strange.”
“I’ll warn Baz about the shit show.” Altair takes out his phone with trembling fingers.
I’m not concerned about Baz. He’s going to be as shocked as us, but mostly he’ll give Callum and Silo a hard time before finding something else to tease them about.
Thane though . . .
He has to be told, and I’m not so sure he’s going to take it well.