Chapter 17 #4
“Of course I’m thinking about it. Rus, I meant everything I said.”
“I know you did, it just…still doesn’t feel real.
I’m still processing, I guess, but please, don’t worry,” he says while walking around the counter to get to me again.
His hand resting on his stomach makes me wonder how uncomfortable it must be to carry all that weight.
Glancing up at him for permission, I gently press my hand against the bump with a deep exhale.
Huh?! Did I just feel…?
“They move around a lot now,” Rus says, looking down fondly.
I feel the kick again, right against the center of my palm.
It’s incredible. “Anyway, like I said, no one else really knows. My aunt Elmira and her boyfriend know everything that happened, but that’s about it.
They tried to convince me to get you back here, but I stood my ground.
I told everybody else who came asking for gossip that it was none of their business. ”
I barely pay attention to what he’s saying, mesmerized by the idea of two actual babies living inside him. Our babies. Life we made. By a damn accident. Oh, but it was the most beautiful, intimate accident to ever happen.
“Aren’t multiples dangerous for male omegas?” I ask the moment that thought pops into my head, darting my eyes back up. “Is everything okay? Have you been going for checkups?”
Ugh, I know close to nothing about babies or pregnancy!
I never thought I would make it long enough to even think about having kids. I’m already so behind. How many things have I missed? How many appointments and milestones? How much do I need to learn to be a good parent and a partner to him?
All I know is that I’ll do everything in my power for these kids to have a better life than I’ve had.
They won’t ever wonder why their father left.
They’ll never know pain at their parents’ hands. I don’t care how much it takes, how hard I have to fight, how difficult it’s going to be. Never.
“Wren? Are you listening?”
I blink. “Sorry, what?”
Rus smiles sweetly and touches the braid at the back of my head again.
I think he likes it. “I said that according to the doctors, I’m carrying well.
I shouldn’t have much trouble because of how accommodating my constitution is.
” He chuckles. It’s probably not the first time he’s been told he’s big-boned or something of the sort.
“We’re havin’ one of each. They’re both healthy and thankfully on the smaller side. Probably have you to thank for that.”
I gently run my hand over the bump again. “A girl and a boy?”
“Yeah.”
“Have you thought about names?”
His gaze softens. “No. It didn’t feel right doing that…without you.”
Hearing that makes me stupidly happy. “I just hit six months sober, which means you’re at around five months, right?” Rus nods. “What were you going to do when it got closer to the birth?”
“I didn’t um…think that far.”
I groan. “Rus…”
“Yeah, yeah. Don’t worry, my auntie’s already been pestering me about it enough. I guess if you hadn’t come, and I hadn’t brought myself to tell you, I would’ve…worked for as long as I could and then had to close the store for a bit.”
The idea of him being alone and pregnant here on the mountain sends shivers down my spine.
“Look, I know this is your body, and you have the right to do whatever you want when it comes to this whole process, but maybe it isn’t the best idea to risk anything going wrong up here. Ridgelake isn’t that far, but that distance could mean life or death if something goes sideways.”
I sort of expected Rus to fight me on it, but instead, his gaze softens into something vulnerable and willing. “What are you suggesting?”
The proactive side of me kicks into full gear. I never got this urge to take hold of a situation and protect or lead with any other person I’ve been with. And I wonder if maybe Rus enjoys it, too.
“We could… Hmm, I’m not sure how long it would take to make the house livable.
There’s not that much time left, but I’d want you close to the hospital.
While preparing the house to be suitable for you and the babies, I would probably rent an apartment in Ridgelake.
That way, it’d be okay even if anything goes wrong. ”
The tender admiration in his eyes makes me all gooey inside.
Rus says nothing in response, just tilts his head with a soft smile and touches me back, like that’s all that matters, before looking down at his stomach. “Sounds like Papa has it all planned out…”
My insides twist with longing and desire and a comforting sort of warmth.
“Oh, you’re making me feel like the biggest fool for not coming here earlier,” I say and press into him again, kissing him softly.
“I wanted—needed—to get my shit together. For this. For you. For…fuck, for what I thought was a crazy dream, but was apparently real. I wanted to come back so bad, every day, but I had to do that first.”
Rus laughs. “I’m glad you waited. I really like this Wren that has his shit together.
He looks healthy and steadfast,” Rus whispers, his eyes trailing down my body.
“He smells really good, too…” I exhale deeply, feeling the weight of his pheromones wrapping around me.
“I didn’t like the undertone of hurt in your scent before.
Now, it’s,” he pauses, drawing in the air through his nose in such a flippant, flirtatious way it sends a jolt right to my cock, “real strong and alluring.”
“You sure you’re not just saying that?” His eyes droop with lust, and it riles me up more than it should. “People tend to get a little needy during pregnancy, don’t they?”
Rus rubs his leg between mine, making me clench my teeth with a gasp. We’re still in the middle of the store. I so wish that wasn’t the case.
“Mhmm. Your omega does need you right now. So…what are you gonna do about it, sugar?” Rus asks, shamelessly leading my hand down to his crotch. I wrap my fingers around his erection as soon as I feel the firmness of it underneath the fabric.
The moan that comes out of Rus, and that intensely sweet scent, nearly make me see stars. Never understood that saying. I sure do now.
“How about you take a break for a bit? Seems like you might need it.”
His belly in the way is going to be something to get used to, but I think we’ll figure it out. We’ll figure all of it out.
“You can’t imagine how far I’ll go to provide you with everything you could ever need, sweetheart,” I say, and I mean it. Really mean it. More than as part of foreplay or a little heated comment, it is a promise.
He advances to grab my lip between his teeth before kissing me. When he pulls away, Rus has a cheeky smile on his face. “Can’t wait for you to show me.”