Chapter 25 - Randy
~January~
I sat on my couch, Russy snoring from his spot beside me.
I held my left hand in my right, my thumb tracing over the silicone band on my ring finger.
As if Craig’s gentle proposal in the clearing while fireworks detonated over the lake wasn’t enough, I’d learned he had one more surprise when we returned to my cabin on New Year’s morning.
On the table and sporting bows to make it clear that they’d been intentionally left and not forgotten, were a brand new bowl gouge… and a small ring box.
“Randy,” Craig had said as he stood in front of me and opened the box to reveal a gray ring with a gold mountain motif. “I want you to know I meant what I said last night. You are the omega—the man—for me, and I’m here. I’ll wait until you’re ready.”
He’d looked at the ring, then back to me. “This ring isn’t a sign of your acceptance, but of my promise to you. I hope you’ll wear it.”
Then he’d taken it out of the box and squeezed it slightly so that I could see the flex.
I’d started laughing and crying at the same time. It was such a simple—almost silly—motion, but it showed just how much thought he put into it.
There wasn’t a grand speech about my work or how he wanted to make sure I was always safe. It wasn’t needed.
He flexed the ring to show me that it was silicone—to say without words that he knew it was dangerous for me to wear a metal band while at the lathe.
The ring might have been his promise, but the material and the gouge… those were his way of showing that he saw all of me—not just the omega side.
The moment I’d allowed him to slide the ring onto my finger would forever be seared into my memory. It was cool, but not as cold as metal would have been. His hands had trembled as he pushed it into place.
It hadn’t taken long before I’d asked him to make love to me again.
My alpha…
I smiled as a sense of comfort washed over me, then I shivered as a memory floated to the surface: Craig, fully sheathed inside me, lips on my bonding point.
“Omega-mine…”
Two words, but spoken with such devotion that I knew he meant them.
I sighed as I settled against the couch cushions. Craig had been gone less than an hour, but I already missed him.
We’d spent almost two weeks together—him coming over a couple days before Christmas, and leaving after the long weekend following New Year’s.
It wasn’t that long ago that so much time with an alpha would have been overwhelming, but now…
I wanted him back. I wanted to rest in his arms as we enjoyed television together, and to feel his lips against his favorite spot to kiss on my shoulder.
Maybe… it was time to make a move of my own.
I took a deep breath, then pulled out my phone.
It only took a few seconds for Kerry to answer. “Hey!” he chirped. “Video call? You?”
I chuckled. “It happens… from time to time.”
He snorted. “Only if you’re calling to tell me that hell froze over.”
“Close?” I offered. “Don’t freak out. It’s not what you’re going to think at first.”
“Huh?”
I shifted my phone to my right hand, then moved my left into the camera frame.
“Oh… my… god…” Kerry said with a chuckle. “Is that a fucking engagement ring?”
My face heated. “Not quite.”
“Not quite?”
I licked my lips. “Technically, it’s a promise ring.”
He stared for several seconds, then burst into laughter. “Are you shitting me? A promise ring?”
“Hey!”
He shook his head. “Naw, man. I ain’t knocking it, it’s just…”
“Just what?”
He leveled a stare at me. “The last time I heard about anybody getting a promise ring, I was in college. And we both know you’re riding Craig’s knot on the regular.” He paused. “It’s also extremely sweet.”
I smiled as I shifted my phone back to my left hand. “He… sort of… proposed.”
Kerry blinked. “Ok, now I’m more confused. It’s a promise ring, but he proposed?”
I nodded. “Yes, but he told me to wait to give him my answer.”
I hummed. “Kerry, it was perfect. It had just hit midnight, and fireworks were going off over the lake. Then Craig’s there, on his knee, up where we were camping in the clearing.
He told me he loved me and wanted to spend the rest of his life with me.
Then he said that he understood I would need time to think.
He told me that he wanted me to know where he was at, so that I’d be comfortable moving forward. ”
“Awww,” Kerry gushed, then he froze. “Wait… camping? Fireworks? Dude! That would have been New Year’s Day! We’re a couple days past, and you’re just now telling me?”
I chuckled. “To be fair, he only left to go back to his apartment a little while ago. I was busy—as you put it—riding his knot for most of the weekend.”
He laughed. “Ok, point made. You were in your little bubble of happiness.”
I hummed, nodded, then sighed. “It’s only been an hour or so, but I already miss him.”
Kerry shrugged. “So ask him to move in.”
I licked my lips. “I’ve been thinking about that. It’s not too soon?”
One of his eyebrows went up as he leveled a stare at me.
“Really? You’re wearing a friggin ring. I know it’s not technically an engagement ring, but it looks to me like things are pretty serious.
Besides, it’s your slow season. It’s the perfect time to get him moved in and settled before you have to start prepping for the spring and summer gallery openings. ”
“You say that,” I started, “but you know I always cycle off…”
My words trailed off.
“Cycle off?” Kerry echoed, then. “Ohhh.”
He chuckled. “Oh, you’re thinking about jumping into the deep end, aren’t you.”
“No… I…”
He snorted. “I know you better than that. You tried to remind me that you cycle off your suppressants this time of year—and cornered yourself with something you want.”
“Hey!”
“Come on. What better time to make things permanent? He’s already sort of proposed, remember? Cycle off and get that dick. Let him fuck a baby into you and mark you.”
“What if he doesn’t want kids? We haven’t talked…”
He burst into laughter. “You might not have talked, but I bet he’s told you plenty.”
“Huh?”
“Does his hand linger on your stomach when he’s locked inside you?”
“Hmmm.” I thought of all the times his hand had been warm and grounding against my middle while we were tied together. “Yes?”
“Any dirty talk about breeding?”
I wheezed. “No!”
“Aw, damn. That would have been a dead giveaway. The hand is still a good sign, though.”
“You think he might really want kids?”
He shrugged. “Probably. Won’t know for sure until you talk about it. But ask yourself this: does it really matter?”
“What do you mean?”
“Think about it. Right now, you’re thinking about starting a family with him.
But this time last year, you’d resigned yourself to the single life with Russy as your fur baby.
If kids were that important, then you could have always gone the artificial route.
Or let somebody knock you up during a heat. But you didn’t do either of those.”
He paused. “I get it. You’re looking forward to that happy life with him. But are kids necessary? Will you be unhappy if they don’t happen? And…”
He made a face and rubbed the back of his neck.
“At our age, we’re fighting biology, too.
I’m kind of shocked Callum knocked me up so easily, even if it was a fate-induced heat.
We’re not young men anymore. My doctor said my pregnancy falls under advanced gestational age, when there can be more issues.
You and Craig could be on the same page, and it still not happen. ”
I was silent for a long time as Kerry’s words settled.
“Hey, you ok?” he finally asked.
I forced a smile and nodded. “Yeah… just letting it sink in.”
“Sorry, man. Didn’t mean to burst your happy bubble.”
I shook my head. “No. You’re right. It’s something I want. But I’d already given up on the thought of having kids before I met him.” I blew out a long breath. “It’s not worth losing him over.”
Kerry smiled softly. “Make sure you mean that. You don’t want to resent your alpha. Buuuut,” he winked, “I’m willing to bet he wants to see you round.”
I smiled. “I hope so.” Then I pivoted. “And you? How’s your pregnancy going?”
His eyes drifted to his prominent baby belly, and he smiled. “Good.” He looked back up. “How’s Yazzy doing? She going to make it to her due date?”
I nodded. “It looks that way. Her mama is planning to come out toward the end of the month to help the last couple of weeks, then will be here until after they do their…” I paused to try to get the pronunciation right, “presentación … in March.”
“Oh, yeah. I forgot she’s doing that instead of a shower.”
I shrugged. “It makes sense. A shower for a third is pushing it, and the family will want to meet the baby anyway. Having a party a few weeks after the baby is born lets them all plan to come up.”
He snickered. “Just watch. I won’t be able to make it because I’ll be pushing my own out.”
I laughed. “I don’t know if that’ll be a good enough excuse. And you do know your baby will also have to make the rounds.”
He gave me a shocked look. “What about germs?”
I snorted. “You think that will work against her family? Face it, you’re an honorary cousin in their eyes. You’ve met them enough times. That kiddo of yours is fair game to be doted on.”
“But it’ll be her party,” he tried.
That made me laugh harder. “The only thing better than a party with a reason to celebrate, is two reasons to celebrate. Besides… you think Yazzy didn’t think of the fact that your baby is due around then? She’s throwing you into the deep end.”
Kerry groaned. “I already know I’m going to hate her for this.”
My laughter turned to chuckles. “She’s probably doing you a favor, to be honest.”
“What do you mean?”