Chapter Twenty
Malone
Moving in with Riglan consisted of packing up my few personal items and donating the furniture to the local thrift store. All but the ancient “reading chair” from my bedroom that was more used for worn clothing than actual reading.
“Are you ready?” my alpha asked from the doorway. He hovered there, still on watch.
I took one look around the place. It was my first apartment after moving out of my parents’ house and I’d never moved since.
But now, it was time to move on.
“Yes.” I turned around. Rig was wearing his standard hoodie even though it was sweltering outside. Part of his hacker persona charm I’d grown to love. “Let’s go.”
While we rode home, Rig held my hand and, every once in a while, he would reach farther and run his hand along my belly.
“He’s still there,” I said, joking.
“He or she. They. We don’t know yet.”
I sighed and looked out the window. “Do you think they will be a shifter or a human?”
I could feel his gaze on the back of my head. “Does it matter to you?”
“I think it would be nice to have a shifter. A little tiny Riglan-looking ferret running around the house, causing chaos.”
He chuckled. “I’ll let you talk to my fathers about the chaos I created in our house growing up. Might change your mind.”
“Not likely.”
We unloaded the car, which meant Rig unloaded the car, not letting me pick up anything heavier than an envelope lately.
If someone had asked me months ago if I pictured Riglan as a doting alpha and soon-to-be father, I would’ve laughed in their face, but it turned out, he was the best alpha ever. Protective and caring. Always anticipating my needs and meeting every one of them with care.
I loved him. “Hey,” I said when he brought everything inside and closed the door behind him. I had to get the words out before I lost my cool.
“What is it?”
“I love you. I know we’re mated and having a baby, but I thought it was important to say the words out loud.”
He reeled back as though I’d properly slapped him. “We haven’t said it before?”
“No. I was kind of waiting on you to say it first.”
He crossed the room and placed his hands on either side of my face. “What a rotten alpha. Malone, I love you. I’m in love with you and have been for a while. I think it started when you came into my house and fell asleep on my couch. I’ll make sure to say that more often.”
“Good. I love you too.” I sighed. “I suppose I need to get back into a routine and get some work done.”
A smile grew on his face and he leaned forward to peck me on the lips. “I was hoping you’d say that. I’ve been working on something the past few nights. Come with me, omega.”
He took my hand, leading me down the hall and then into the secret door that led to his lair. We went down the stairs and I could tell, just by the extra lights, that something was different but when my feet hit the last step, I saw it.
“What did you do?” I asked in complete awe.
“It’s our lair now. You can be next to me while we work. It’s a desk that you can use standing or sitting. And there are big monitors like mine. And if you turn…” He pulled me over to show me. “I set you up for video games. I know you like those cozy games.”
I did love the cozy games. The ones where you farmed and planted gardens and fished all day. Not Riglan’s thing, but he had played with me a few times.
“You did all this for me?”
He shrugged one shoulder and kissed me on the temple. “Selfish, really. I wanted you to be near me and…do you like it?”
I threw my arms around his neck. “I love it, Rig. This is incredible.”
“Really? I thought maybe you would want your own space. I thought maybe you would think this is a bit possessive.”
“Not this omega. Any time I can spend with you is perfect. Thank you.”
He showed me everything, and soon we settled in to our respective sides of the room. I caught him looking at me more than once. Gosh, this was perfect. The work was mundane, but at least here, it was better than sitting alone in my apartment.
I finished a few hours later and went upstairs to make us some lunch or late dinner. Riglan couldn’t stop what he was doing, but he hugged me and rubbed my belly and turned back to the monitor. Goddess, he was cute when he was concentrating.
Instead of playing my game, I dove into pregnancy sites and watched videos until my eyelids drooped and Rig’s keystrokes slowed.
“Time for bed, baby?” he asked, coming to look over my shoulder.
“Yes. We are tired tonight. But I can stay up if you’re not finished.”
“No, I’m done for the night. Besides, it’s our first official night with you moved in. I just want to go to bed and hold you. You’ve been really tired lately growing our little one inside you.”
I had been exhausted. The healer said it was all normal and would go away come the second trimester, and that time couldn’t come soon enough. My appetite had been fine and there was no more nausea, but tired? Definitely.
“Take me to bed, then, please. In the morning, I’m making you breakfast.”
We went upstairs and were in bed in no time. There was no more urgency. No more fear or waiting for another text or nasty message. I was free to be happy and at peace.
That was, until this baby decided to come out.