“I, um,” Ian said. “Yes, I did something bad. Your papa was telling me not to anymore.”
Brad looked away from Gwen, so she wouldn’t see him rolling his eyes. “Yeah, he was bad. I punished him.”
Ian’s face burned. It had been some... interesting punishment.
“Oh,” Gwen said. She turned to the door, rubbing her stomach. “I think I’m hungry.”
Then something nudged in Ian’s belly, a faint pressure, and he gasped. Looked down.
“Is he—” Brad followed Ian’s gaze. “Xavier. Is he kicking?”
“Yes,” Ian said, relief flooding through his chest when Xavier kicked again. “Here.”
He grabbed Brad’s hand, and when their baby kicked against Brad’s palm, Brad’s entire face lit up. “Holy shit!”
Halfway to the door, Gwen turned, staring at Brad. Ian wanted to groan. “Brad!”
Brad grinned sheepishly. “Sorry. But he kicked! Did you feel that? Hey, Gwen, get over here.”
“I’m naked,” Ian hissed.
Brad tucked the sheets around their hips. “Here,” he said to Gwen. “Your baby brother’s kicking right now. Press your hand on your dad’s belly here.”
Curious, Gwen flattened her small palm against Ian’s abdomen. “I don’t feel anything.”
“Be patient,” Brad told her.
They sat still, all three of them. Gwen began to squirm. Two minutes later, Xavier kicked again, and Gwen’s eyes grew round. “I felt him!”
“That’s your brother in there,” Ian said, holding her hand. “His name is Xavier.”
“Xavier,” Gwen echoed, looking curiously at Ian’s belly. “I’ll protect him.”
Something in Ian’s chest bloomed; he couldn’t help his smile. Raising Gwen was entirely worth the effort and the money. Xavier, too, no matter what hurdles they faced.
“Atta girl,” Brad said, pulling her into a hug. Then he wrapped his arm around Ian, too, so they were all crowded together, finally a family again.
Looking at their smiling faces, Ian relaxed. He’d found his place with his alpha and his daughter. He’d lost some, but he’d also won some.
Most importantly, he was home.
33
Ian
Ian was thirty-four weeks along when Brad gave him the new safe box.
He’d all but forgotten about it, actually. Xavier had been kicking, and Ian had been busy getting everything ready—the nursery, the car seat, the baby clothes.
So when Brad stepped into the bedroom one evening, Ian didn’t think much of it.
Until Brad paused next to him, sliding his arm around Ian’s shoulders. “Hey.”
“Hey yourself.” Ian smiled, looking up from folding pastel onesies on the bed. Instead of his usual warm smile, Brad looked nervous.
Ian frowned. “What’s wrong?”
He glimpsed a cookie tin under Brad’s arm.
In the ten weeks since the fire rescue, they’d recovered—Brad from his concussion, Ian from his mild burns. Brad had taken Ian out to shop for new clothes, and Ian had objected to spending money on himself. So Brad had made him a deal—one new shirt a week.
That, Ian had grudgingly agreed to.
Being with Brad made everything better; the days when Ian thought about his razor blades were few and far between. Sometimes, he fingered Brad’s razor, and Brad would watch him from the corner of his eye. Ian would put the blade away, and think about Brad instead.
With the loss of his position at the college, they weren’t doing the best with Ian’s debt. Things were looking up, though. They’d talked about the family’s finances, and come to an agreement on how much they were saving, and how much they were putting toward the debt.
The weight still sat on Ian’s shoulders. But with Brad by his side, he coped better. Most days, he could even look in the mirror and tell himself, I am worthy.
And despite the ten weeks they’d been bondmates, Brad hadn’t once asked about marriage. It made Ian a little uncertain. It wasn’t necessary, but... it would be nice. Ian didn’t know if he was contributing enough to the household, though.
Maybe he needed to do better before Brad would consider marriage.
“I hope there isn’t another iPod in there,” Ian said, eyeing the cookie tin. “You’ve gotten me one already, and I really appreciate it.”
“It’s not an iPod.” Brad shifted his weight between his feet, and he looked worried. Like the time he and Gwen had gone out and broken three of the dinner plates during a picnic, or the time Gwen had gotten stuck climbing a tree, and Brad didn’t have a ladder tall enough to get her down.
When Brad still looked uneasy, Ian set down the last of his onesies, turning to scrutinize his alpha. “Is that for me?”
Brad squirmed. “Yeah.”
Then he handed it over, and Ian paused to admire the gold foil on the tin, the watercolor image of a lily pad floating on water, printed onto the metal. The box, itself, was heavy. Brad watched, his eyes glued on Ian.
“You look like you’re about to devour me,” Ian said.
“I might,” Brad answered, his mouth twitching into a smile. “C’mon, open it.”
That was unusual. Brad, nervous over a box’s contents? What was in there?
Ian made himself comfortable on the bed balancing the box against his belly. His belly was huge now, the size of a basketball.
Brad sat next to him, curving his arm around Ian’s waist, his anticipation nearly bowling Ian over. Then he shifted one leg behind Ian, sitting closer so his chest pressed against Ian’s arm. Ian felt the thump of his heart.
“You’re gonna make me wait forever?” Brad asked, his eyes pleading.
Ian smiled. Pressed a kiss to Brad’s lips. “Fine, I’m opening it.”
Carefully, he pried the lid open. The tin was packed with things—a couple of tiny children’s books, another puzzle book, a wooden 3D puzzle, and even a mini jigsaw set.
“You haven’t really needed this lately, but I thought I’d put one together for you,” Brad said.
He still looked on edge, though. So Ian set the things carefully out on the bed. The tin was full; Ian couldn’t believe how much time Brad had spent on it.
One after another, he pulled little toys and sketchbooks out. If he ever needed to distract himself, he could probably spend hours picking through this box alone.
“I love it,” Ian said, his heart filling with gratitude.
“But you haven’t gotten to the bottom.”
Ian glanced at his alpha, growing suspicious. “What have you done, Brad Saxon?”
Brad gave a nervous laugh. “Something.”
“That’s not a helpful answer.”
“I shouldn’t have filled it with so many things.” Brad groaned, rubbing his face. “I’m still waiting, Ian.”
Was there... something important at the bottom?
Ian’s pulse skittered. He scooped out the things that were toys—little DIY crafting kits, a pack of stickers, a travel set of crayons. Then he found the satiny shine of something at the bottom—a wooden box smaller than his palm, square and flat.
Ian fished it out of the tin, aware of the way Brad had fallen silent.
It was a heavy box for its size, with a lid that slid off to the side. Within, there was a folded piece of fabric, pale blue with zigzagging edges, like Ian’s cleaning cloths for his glasses.
But past that—there were inky words burned into the inner sides of the box.
On one side, For an omega like no other.
Ian stopped breathing. Brad had done this for him. “How—”
“Keep reading,” Brad murmured, stroking his back.
Ian gulped. On the second side of the box, For an omega who deserves the best.
On the third side, There’s one Ian McMillan, and he’s mine.
On the fourth, For the omega who completes our family.
Ian bit his lip, blinking hard. “Oh, gods, Brad.”
“There’s more,” Brad murmured,
kissing Ian’s shoulder.
There was? Ian unfolded the velvety fabric, staring at the two gleaming rings that sat in the box, one smaller, one larger. They were a darker silver—steel?—each bound by a narrower strip of gold.
Ian’s heart stumbled. Oh.
His breath warm on Ian’s neck, Brad reached over, scooping the rings and cloth out. Ian stared. There were more words burned into the very bottom of the box.
For an omega who has stood strong in the past, and for an omega who will continue to blossom in the future. He is the worthiest of them all, and I have chosen him to be my bondmate. I love you, Ian.
Ian read the words, his throat growing tight. Then the words blurred into a mess of black and brown, and he couldn’t see anymore. “Oh.”
He hadn’t expected that. He’d had no idea how long Brad had been planning this at all. Ian swiped at his eyes.
Brad gathered him close, all walnut and warmth, kissing Ian on the jaw. “Will you marry me?” he asked, his tone worried.
“Yes,” Ian said, his heart swelling so full it might burst. He couldn’t believe Brad was asking. Couldn’t believe Brad had done all this for him. “Yes, I will. You—you shouldn’t have.”
“You’re worth every bit of that, and a thousand times more,” Brad murmured. Then he gave Ian a slow, lingering kiss, and Ian trembled, returning it.
“I love you,” Ian whispered, stroking his fingers through Brad’s hair. “Thank you.”
Brad chuckled. “You don’t have to thank me. It’s a joy to have you in my life.”
Ian bit his lip hard, leaning into Brad, just breathing him in. He couldn’t believe that Brad was here, that Brad wanted to make this official. “Are we getting married in front of everyone?”
“Yeah.” Brad kissed the corner of Ian’s lips. “I’m probably inviting the station. Who do you want to invite?”
“It’s too soon to talk about that.” Ian chuckled, his breath hitching when Brad took his hand.
“I’ve been thinking about this for weeks.” Brad grinned.
Then he slipped the smaller ring onto Ian’s ring finger, and it sat snugly on his hand, gleaming in the lamplight. The darker steel was a contrast against the gold, and Ian had never seen anything so beautiful.
He swallowed hard, taking the other ring from Brad. Brad’s eyes gleamed, and he sniffled, too.
“I had them custom-made,” Brad said. “Remember your scalpel? I had it melted down. Then I had a jeweler form it into rings and add the gold. So the steel is from you, and the gold is from me.”
Ian paused, Brad’s ring at his fingertips. “My—my scalpel? Why? I thought you threw it away.”
Brad gave a wry smile. “It was part of you. I couldn’t throw it away, Ian.” He blew out a breath. “I know I don’t want you hurting yourself. But at the same time... that scalpel helped you. Whatever kept you going until the time I met you... I’m gonna be thankful for it. Because it all led you to me.”
Ian swallowed hard, his chest squeezing. He’d never expected to find anyone who would see past his scars. Brad was precious. Brad was amazing, so very kind and patient, and Ian still couldn’t believe this man was his alpha.
Carefully, he slid the ring onto Brad’s finger. It fitted snugly, gleaming against Brad’s tanned skin. With that ring... it was another brick in the wall, another piece of proof that Brad was staying for good.
Brad rumbled, kissing Ian on the lips. Then he cradled Ian’s cheek, pressing their foreheads together.
“Mine,” Brad growled, dragging his wrist down Ian’s neck. “I’m keeping you by my side for the rest of my life.”
“I like the sound of that.” Shaky, and still disbelieving, Ian leaned into his alpha. “I... kind of wondered if you were going to do this. I mean, there was Levi—”
“Levi was just a babysitter.” Brad rolled his eyes. “C’mon, Ian. ‘Sides, I fired him.”
“You make it sound so terrible.”
Brad nudged him. “It’s the same whether I fired him or let him go or ended his contract.”
Ian chuckled. “Then there’s Olivier at the music shop—”
“I think Olivier has his own problems.” Brad shrugged. “I’ve known him a while. He isn’t interested, anyway.”
Ian sniffed, disgruntled. “You’ve thought about courting him?”
Brad scratched his head. “Eh. I don’t know. We’ve just never clicked that way. Feels like he’s waiting for someone else.”
That made Ian perk up, curious. “Really?”
He thought about the lonely omega behind the music shop counter, the way Olivier had looked at his photo. “He really wants a family, I think. He really liked that picture of Gwen at the fire station.”
“Huh, really?”
“Yeah. He was looking at my belly as though he wanted a child.”
Brad shrugged, looking thoughtful. “Can’t say I’ve ever noticed. I’ve never been pregnant when I go there.”
Ian laughed then. “You, pregnant? Do you want to be?”
Brad chewed on his lip, running his warm palm down Ian’s belly. “Not particularly. I mean, if there were no other choices and I desperately wanted a baby of yours, sure. But other than that... nah.”
Ian grinned. “Imagine you and me both pregnant at the same time.”
“That’ll be fucking weird, Ian.” Brad frowned. Then he scooped Ian into his arms, dropping him right in the middle of the bed. “I prefer the impregnating part.”
He grabbed Ian’s ass, pushing his fingers between Ian’s cheeks. Ian gasped, spreading his legs.
These last couple weeks, Brad had been careful in bed. Xavier had gotten big, and Brad was wary of hurting him somehow during sex.
It was still good, though, Brad going slow, caressing Ian’s body, stroking him firmly until he came. Then he would hold Ian, and they’d fall asleep all knotted together.
The bed smelled like them now; so did the house. Ian had loved building the nursery with Brad—it was so much better than when he’d been alone with Gwen.
Ian rolled onto all fours, resting his heavy belly against the mattress. Xavier kicked, and Ian grunted.
“It’ll be soon,” he said. “Dr. Smith said he’ll be here in a couple weeks, but I think he’ll be early.”
“Yeah?” Brad grinned. “You know when he’s coming, too?”
Ian shrugged. “I’ve been having cramps the last couple days. They’ve been sporadic, though.”
Brad growled, climbing onto the bed after Ian. Then he fitted his chest against Ian’s back, reaching around to support some of Ian’s weight.
As Ian sat back onto Brad, his abdomen clenched. Pain rocked through his body, like fire racing down his nerves. Ian gasped, doubling over.
“What’s wrong?” Brad froze, turning Ian around.
“Contraction.” Ian panted, waiting for the pain to fade.
“It’s... just a test one, right?” Brad asked. “One of those you get way before the labor?” He rubbed Ian’s belly, holding Ian snug against his warm, solid chest.
“I don’t know.” Ian squirmed closer to Brad. Then he felt a smear of wetness in his briefs, and froze. “I think... You know, I think my water just broke.”
34
Brad
Brad froze. “Your water broke?”
He wasn’t prepared for it. Sure, they’d been packing a bag to bring along to the hospital, and they’d been talking about what they’d do with Gwen if there was an emergency.
There were several things about the birth that Brad was looking forward to. Being able to hug Ian properly again, being able to hold their baby in his arms.
But the thought of the baby arriving, of Ian going into labor, and the risks involved...
Ian was getting on in years. Brad might lose him with scarcely a moment’s notice.
“Gods, Ian.” Brad’s chest clenched. He hugged Ian to himself, suddenly terrified. He wasn’t ready to lose Ian. He would never be ready to lose his omega.
“I
’m fine,” Ian said, frowning. “Relax, Brad. I’ve done this before.”
But you’re older now.
Brad didn’t say it, though. Didn’t want to worry Ian even more. “I’ll call Levi,” he said. “Best to get ready. It’ll be quick, wouldn’t it?”
Ian chewed on his lip. “It might be. If my body remembers how.”
Brad had read articles on childbirth. He’d been asking Ian how he should hold their newborn, how often Xavier would need to feed. Being a dad to Gwen was easy enough, but Brad hadn’t held a fragile infant before. He hadn’t changed diapers, or bathed a baby, or rocked one to sleep.
He badly wanted to, but, gods, if only his fear would go away.
“Brad,” Ian said softly, touching his cheek. “It’ll be fine. You’ll see.”
Brad gulped, looking down at Ian’s round belly. He peeled Ian’s shirt up, pressing his palm against Ian’s red stretch marks.
He hadn’t witnessed this the last time, with Gwen. Brad cradled Ian close, kissing him on the shoulder, and up his throat. He held Ian, just memorizing the weight of Ian in his arms, his honey-and-rose scent.
Ian chuckled. “Weren’t you going to call Levi?”
With one arm, Brad tugged his phone out of his pocket, opening his contacts list. With his other hand, he stroked his wrist down Ian’s side, marking his omega. “Yeah, I’m calling him. But I’m also not letting you go.”
“I have to go get ready.” Ian cracked a smile. He leaned into Brad’s chest, though, and Brad pressed his nose into Ian’s wispy hair, smelling faint sweat.
Levi answered. “Hello?”
“Hey, Levi,” Brad said. “Are you free for the next ten hours or so? Ian’s going into labor. I don’t know how long it’ll take, but we’ll need someone to watch Gwen.”
Levi paused, thinking. “I can come down now.”
“Thanks,” Brad said, some of the weight easing off his chest. “See you soon.”
“Will do.”
Brad ended the call to find Ian looking thoughtfully at him. “What?” Brad asked. “You think I’m after Levi now?”
Ian cracked a smile. “Nah. Just comparing how different it is when you talk to another omega. You’re a lot more business-like with them.”
Omega Teacher’s Secret Page 33