Chapter 34
Chapter Thirty-four
Phoenix
I didn’t think Emery could get more beautiful, but I guess I was wrong.
I’d love to say he glowed like I’d read about, but he was an obstinate, sweaty, frustrated mess with swollen ankles, and I didn’t think I could loved him more if I tried.
If he had the energy to stand in the shower all day, I think he would have done so.
But my gorgeous mate was so used to zipping about, being in charge, and soothing ruffled feathers that when the feathers needing unruffling were his, he didn’t know how to cope.
And yet, in a weird way, I did. I was so used to seeing Emery independent and not in any way needy, I loved that he let me shoulder some of his frustrations.
He’d just been—we’d just been—in the shower, and I’d gotten him in one of his new cotton sleep shorts and a baggy tee.
It was one of mine, and I adored seeing him in it.
He was sprawled in one of the big comfy lounge chairs.
Grabbing the lotion Esther had given me, instead of propping his feet up on the stool, I sat down and brought both his feet onto my lap.
He groaned pitifully, but I had a plan, and I snicked the cap. He didn’t have the energy to even open his eyes.
“If that’s lube, you’re way out of luck.”
I chuckled, warmed my hands, and slicked them up, then started on his ankles. His groan was so decadent I had to adjust my position almost immediately, even though I was in similar loose sleep shorts. “I need to get these ankles down a little.”
He cracked an eyelid and glanced at me. “You know all this week I wanted nothing more than your hands on me. I miss sex,” he added mournfully.
“But I don’t think I have the energy to get a rise out of anything.
” He looked pointedly in the direction of his flaccid cock.
Not that he could see it over his belly.
“You don’t have to do a thing. Just relax.” If he went to sleep, I would carry him to bed. If he wanted more, he didn’t have to do anything but lie there.
“What I don’t get is why did it have to be me that got pregnant?”
I paused, then ran my thumb under his arch.
He moaned most satisfactorily, but this wasn’t something I’d even considered.
I was so taken up with the joy of him being pregnant, especially with the pack problems, I hadn’t given enough thought to the fact he might resent it; shocked, yes, and maybe upset at the abrupt change of lifestyle, but not resenting the baby or the pregnancy itself.
“I’m sorry,” I whispered, my confidence of a few moments ago evaporating. He wiggled his foot because I’d stopped.
“It took two of us.” He chuckled, then gasped as I clasped his big toe and pulled firmly.
“Oh my God,” he moaned. “You’re forgiven.”
My heart lightened a little, but he was right. We needed to talk. “I’m sorry this has happened so quickly.”
He opened both his gorgeous eyes. “Did you know?”
I shook my head. I was as shocked as he was. “The bears used to be able to, according to Isla, but she’s never heard of a non-shifter male being able to get pregnant, even with them. Esther may know more.”
“I didn’t mean I was sorry to be starting a family,” he added gently. “Just shocked, I suppose, at the speed it happened. I always thought I’d adopt.”
Which was one more thing off the table. We couldn’t bring human children into our world, and the social workers and health professionals that accompanied them.
I didn’t bother apologizing again. He knew.
I just carried on giving his foot all my attention.
Had I trapped him? Between the heat and the pregnancy, that was my biggest worry.
That he would resent me, resent the life, or more the lack of one.
“Hey.” He nudged my hand, and I met his gaze. “I love you.”
My heart swelled, and, keeping hold of his foot, I bent forward and kissed him. Releasing his lips, I sighed. “I feel like you’ve been forced into being with me.”
Em nodded solemnly, but there was a twinkle in his eyes. “It was the sexathon. I had no choice.”
I chuckled and, for that, leaned forward and planted another kiss on his soft lips. This one took a little longer, then I started on his other foot. He groaned again and closed his eyes. “I’m glad my friends know, even if it’s a huge risk.”
I’d been thinking about that. “Maybe not as much as we feared. According to what Gemma said, she had a suspicion beforehand, and I think Danny was quite taken with Bayer.”
I started on his ankle and let my hand slide a little higher.
I’d heard cramps could be a thing, and Esther warned me to make sure Emery was drinking enough water.
Apparently, the harder it got to move because he wanted to pee so often with the pressure on his bladder, the more tempted he would be to cut down on his fluid intake.
I heard his breath catch as I continued to slide my fingers higher, then positioned his legs to use both my hands.
He groaned a little and slid down. I could see his cock fattening up a little, but I just wanted him to feel good.
I was happy to let him lie there and let me bring him whatever pleasure he needed.
My own cock could wait. He sighed contentedly and wiggled his hips.
“Do you know how utterly gorgeous you are?” I murmured.
“I look at you and can’t believe you’re with me.
I’ll never understand how I got to be so lucky. ”
He opened both eyes and regarded me steadily. “Fair warning. My hormones are all over the place. If you’re going to say things like that, you might get more than you bargained for.”
I stood and walked to his side, bending and lifting him in my arms, taking his lips in a long, slow kiss.
“I can only hope,” I said after a moment and carried him to the bedroom.
I laid him down, stripped us both, and got into bed.
“I think you need a full massage. I’m going to finish those legs first.”
He blinked a little rapidly.
I kissed him again. “And if you fall asleep, all well and good. You both need the rest.”
He was a loose-limbed puddle of an omega by the time I’d reached his groin.
His moan was a treasure. Eyes shut, breathing deeply, I caressed his swollen cock lovingly.
My own was hard and stiff, but despite what a lot of young men thought, being hard without relief wasn’t going to kill me.
Emery was more important. He responded beautifully to my touch, his cock hardening and his balls tightening, his breath coming out in little puffs between slightly parted lips, a little swollen from my kisses.
“You’re spoiling me,” he murmured.
“You deserve spoiling.” I would do anything to keep him safe. To make him happy. I wrapped my hand around his cock, and between the lotion and his precum, the glide was perfect.
“Oh,” Em gasped. “Don’t stop. I—” His words turned into a deeper moan followed by another gasp.
I reached down and kissed his beautiful swollen belly, murmured how much I loved both of them, and tightened my fingers a little.
Whether it was the words or the pressure, his lips parted on a cry, and he spurted cum into my hand.
I gentled immediately and pressed soft kisses to his belly and then his lips as he came down.
I wanted him to fall asleep, and I wasn’t even sure he was awake when I got out of bed to get something to clean him with.
Job done, I rolled him on his side, facing away from me, and spooned him.
I didn’t remember falling asleep, either.
The next day, Emery suggested a pack breakfast. I gazed at him in confusion. “A what?”
He grinned. He looked a ton better this morning, but I didn’t want him overdoing anything. “I know you hold pack meetings, but they’re generally later in the day. I’m doing better in the mornings, and there are fewer bugs about first thing.”
“Bugs,” I repeated.
He nodded. “Just because they wouldn’t dare bite you, oh alpha, my alpha, doesn’t mean we’re all so lucky. Weekends are a good time, and I know with everything going on, half the pack has tried to see me.”
I tipped my head and considered him. It was true he’d been better in the mornings this week, and now I knew how to make sure he got some sleep…
“And I’m not going to have to do a thing,” he added with a grin.
Which was also true. The pack had been trying to give us food all week. I left Emery happily munching some French toast and walked outside. Spying my dad, I walked to meet him.
“How’s Emery?”
I smirked, and Dad rolled his eyes, but his hand landed on my shoulder. “I’m happy for you, Son.” I knew he was.
My phone bleeped in my pocket, signaling a call, and I answered.
“Phoenix.” It was Simeon. “Gammas have reported a contingent of bear shifters heading this way.”
“How many?” I snapped out.
“Two trucks. They’re not attempting to hide, and we think Micah Olsen is in one of them.”
Bayer’s dad. It would be humiliating for Bayer to be on gate duty when his dad arrived. “Relieve Bayer immediately and send him to me. I don’t want them to have any interaction until I choose.”
Simeon agreed and hung up, and I knew it would get done.
“You think he’s here for Bayer?” Dad asked.
“I have no idea, but when he sees him, if he sees him, I want him looking good.” Dad immediately got on the phone, and I could hear him calling Isla.
Of course, she needed to know Micah was coming, as well, and I wanted her displayed in a position of authority.
“Tell her she’s in charge of security. They don’t go anywhere near the pack house or Emery. ”
I called Esther and explained what was happening.
She would go and make sure Em stayed out of sight.
I didn’t trust Micah Olsen as far as I could throw him, actually considerably less than that.
“None of the bears come any farther than the pack circle,” I added, as Dad was still talking to Isla.
“This isn’t a social visit, and they aren’t welcome. ”
Dad repeated it, listened, then put his phone away. “Isla says, since we saw guns on them when we rescued Bayer, we need to check that they haven’t hidden guns in and under the trucks.”
I nodded and called Matthew, ordering the outer guards to come closer and make the pack more secure. I wanted a show of strength. Between the silver-skins, Emery’s dad, and Micah Olsen, I’d had enough of bullies. It was time this pack fought back.