Chapter 16 An Intimate Inspection #2
Killian tensed. “But what if Bleu tracks me there? I don’t want to put your pack in danger!”
Crush’s gaze was endlessly patient when he replied, “I’m a wolf, sweetheart. Wolves are stronger in packs.”
It still made Killian nervous, though. “Their first impression of me will be that I bring danger with me wherever I go.”
“Their first impression will be providing you with a safe space.” Crush kissed Killian’s temple. “Let us help you, bunny rabbit.”
Killian continued to worry. “It’s hard.”
Crush snorted, his mouth pulling into a smirk.
Killian scowled. “I don’t mean ‘hard’ in that way!”
“Tell you what. Let me be in charge of the hard stuff, and you can take it easy,” Crush said. “Sounds good?”
Killian gnawed on his lip. “It sounds good.”
“But?”
“But I’m scared,” Killian said in a small voice. “What if they don’t want me there?”
Crush narrowed his eyes. He set down his phone, scooping Killian and Naddie back into his arms. “This isn’t going to be like your parents all over again. My pack will want to protect you. You won’t be left behind.”
Killian didn’t have the sheer faith Crush had. But he was also running out of energy to argue, when he was supposed to be saving it so he could protect his babies. “Convince me.”
“I will,” Crush said. “When Naddie’s done nursing, I’ll check the rest of you for stray trackers. Then we’ll head out.”
“Okay,” Killian said tiredly. He held Naddie and let her nurse until she was done. Over his shoulder, Crush made funny sounds and faces, so Naddie kept looking at him. She smiled a few times too, kicking her feet.
Crush was going to be a really good dad, Killian realized.
Have more of his babies, his instincts said.
“Do you want more babies?” Killian blurted. “Oh gods, now isn’t the time to ask. We shouldn’t even be talking about that yet! This is like putting on the condom after you’ve jizzed. No. Wait. Why do I say this crap? Why do you let me say this crap?”
Crush laughed, his chest vibrating against Killian’s back. “First of all, I love it when you run your mouth. Second of all, yes. I want more babies.”
The alpha gave Naddie a weighted look. Something jogged in Killian’s memory—Crush never said if he had plans to steal Naddie.
“Does more babies include Naddie?” Killian asked suspiciously.
Crush grinned. “The right question would be: Do I want to be your alpha? Because the answer is yes, and I would be a crap alpha if I didn’t want both you and Naddie.”
“Oh,” Killian whispered, his heart thumping.
Crush stroked Killian’s arms and nuzzled his hair. Naddie stopped nursing to babble at them. Killian smiled down at her.
“Sorry to interrupt your bonding time, but we have something a little more urgent to deal with,” Crush said. “I need to check the rest of you.”
“Yeah.” Killian’s shoulders sagged. He rocked Naddie in his arms and climbed out of the tub—Crush held him steady again. “Thanks.”
“I just wanted to see you leave, sweetheart.” Crush lifted his gaze when Killian looked back at him.
“Oh gods,” Killian spluttered. “Were you... looking at my butt?”
Crush gave him a wolfish grin. “What if I was?”
“You’re such a... a flirt!” Killian hurried out of the bathroom. Crush laughed.
When Naddie was settled in with Wonder Cart and Hansel, Killian returned to the bathroom. There was more water in the tub now; Crush had soap all over his hair and body.
“We took quite a tumble in the dirt. Figured I could at least be clean when we show up on pack territory,” Crush explained. “You might want to have a quick wash, too.”
Killian looked down at himself and winced. “Do I stink?”
“No, but you should smell more like me.” Crush flashed his teeth. “I want my brothers to know you’re off-limits.”
Killian blushed, accepting the shampoo that Crush handed him. Living with babies had made him very efficient with his own showers. Crush helped him pick off the bandage on his arm.
When Killian had rinsed off all his suds, Crush reached for him again. “Here, let me stitch up your back wound. It’ll be quick. Just a couple of stitches.”
Killian nodded and turned his back to Crush. Crush dried him off with some paper towels; a needle pricked Killian’s skin. Before Killian knew it, Crush was tying off the suture thread, and snipping off the rest. He rubbed some cream on Killian’s bullet graze wound, too.
“There,” Crush said, satisfied. “Now, I want you on my lap.”
Killian’s blush returned when Crush scooped him up, depositing him on his lap. In this position, Killian’s thighs were spread around his alpha, their bodies so close that Crush’s warmth soaked into his chest.
“I’m going to do the rest of the inspection,” Crush said.
It was more intimate this time around, without a baby between them. Killian felt the full force of Crush’s attention, Crush’s fingers careful as he pressed around Killian’s nipple, pinching its nub lightly.
Even though their reasons for the inspection were deadly serious, this felt good.
Crush’s nose twitched. He kept going though, fingertips trailing over Killian’s belly, pressing along the V of his hips.
He lifted one of Killian’s legs first, carefully inspecting his thigh, shin, and foot.
Then he did the same with Killian’s other leg.
“I’ll need you to turn around. Get up on your knees. ”
“Okay.” Killian carefully shuffled around, feeling self-conscious when he knelt. My ass is almost in Crush’s face.
Crush hummed low in his throat. He traced his fingers over the backs of Killian’s thighs, up, up, up, to the creases where his legs met his ass. Then he picked up from where he had left off on Killian’s back, slipping his fingers down to Killian’s ass.
“I’ll have to inspect you here too,” Crush murmured.
“You’ve already touched me everywhere,” Killian said with a blush. “Do you really need to ask?”
“Just thought I’d give you a heads-up.” Crush leaned in, pressing a kiss to Killian’s asscheek.
Killian’s face flamed. Did he just kiss my ass?
Slowly, Crush stroked Killian’s right cheek, then his left. When both cheeks passed the inspection, Crush spread them, fingertips sliding up and down his crack, easing closer to Killian’s hole.
Crush didn’t have to check him there; he had touched Killian’s entrance several times by now. But he pressed down on it anyway. Killian’s breath rushed out.
“Sweetheart,” Crush growled.
“I know this is as serious as a doornail!” Killian blurted. “No, that’s not right. Serious as a cock! Hard as an eggplant! Round like balls! Oh gods, what am I saying?”
Crush huffed. He cupped Killian’s cheeks to hold him open, before pressing his face against Killian’s ass and kissing his hole. “I know this sounds like something straight out of a porno. But I have to inspect you inside.”
Killian hoped like hell he wouldn’t find anything in there.