We exchanged rings and then we kissed to seal the bargain. “I love you,” I murmured before pressing my lips to his, and kept them there until laughter from the congregation brought us back to reality.
“Excuse me,” the minister whispered close to me. “But I think you’ve got a problem.”
I drew back from my new husband to see him staring at me with wide eyes. He gestured to the floor where a puddle around his shoes indicated we wouldn’t be making it to the reception. I winked at him and turned him with me to face our guests. “Folks, we will have to make a little side trip, but don’t let that stop you from partying. Looks like we’ll have something else to celebrate tonight.”
Chapter Eighteen
Kipling
If Jane said everything was going to be fine one more time, she’d be on her way to the emergency room with a socked jaw.
“It doesn’t feel fine,” I said, tightening my jaw, thinking about clocking hers.
I lay in her birthing room inside her cottage-like house. She wouldn’t let me see the room on my other visits, claiming it would be the best surprise.
It was beautiful, but I would’ve enjoyed it much more when a baby wasn’t trying to Alien movie right through my butthole.
“Breathe in and out. Lean on your alpha for support and love.”
I looked at Hal who, if possible, looked more mortified than me. Lean on him my ass.
“Can you not look so terrified? The babe is coming out of me, not you,” I sniped at Hal, wanting him to snap out of it. My attitude was wretched.
All that mumbo jumbo about the baby being born in a serene atmosphere had gone to shit when the first contraction hit me.
The swell of back pain grew until I almost ripped Hal’s sleeve right off his shirt.
“Omega mine, breathe. It will help. Please.” His voice cracked, and my heart did along with it.
“What’s wrong with you?” I asked him as he stared at my belly.
“I’m...I’m utterly helpless. This is the one thing in life I can’t help you with, or carry part of the burden. It’s killing me. But this isn’t about me. This is about our baby girl.”
We hadn’t learned the sex of the babe, but Hal had been calling it a daughter for a few weeks now.
“Your babe is fine and healthy. You can help him by breathing with your omega. Remember your classes.”
Another part of Jane’s practice was teaching natural birth classes. Both of us had attended, but it seemed like so long ago.
“I can do that.” From that point on, Hal was with me. We breathed together, and I hated to admit it did help with the waves of pain.
It went on for three hours before Jane gasped and did a little clap. Again—emergency room danger for her. Labor made me violent.
“You’re fully dilated. And I see the hair of a babe. Time to push, Daddy.”
Hal’s eyes widened, and he smiled at me, still holding onto my hand. “Let’s do this, Kipling. Let’s make a family.”
I pushed hard three times before I felt the whoosh of weight leave my body and heard the first cry of my babe.
She was here.
Or he was here. Either one.
“You have a daughter, Kipling and Hal. Ten fingers and toes and hungry as all get-out. A few minutes on your chest and then I have to clean her up. I’ll step out.”
I loved that woman.
She put our daughter on my chest and immediately the crying ceased. With an open mouth, the babe rooted around, but a good cleanup was necessary.
She had a head full of red curly hair and perfect heart-shaped lips.
I bet she was a star just like her daddy.
“Hal?” I asked, looking at him looking at her. Tears rolled down his cheeks while he gently touched her toes sticking out through the linen blanket.
“I can’t believe she’s ours. Look what you made, omega.”
With my finger, I tipped his chin up. “Look what we made. This is our family now.”
He nodded and Jane came back in, now clean again and holding a small tub of water. She took our babe from us, and the little girl protested—hard. She had a set of lungs for sure.
After cleaning her up, Hal sat with her in a chair next to my bed. He whispered all kinds of things to her while Jane helped to clean me up and onto the other side of the bed, the clean part. In minutes, the room was empty again with fresh sheets and my family.
We’d done it.
Who knew that the man I watched sing every night and dreamed about every day would be the father to my child.
That he would love me the way he did.
“What’s her name?” I asked.
Hal didn’t take his eyes off her until she began to wiggle and get frustrated at the sound of my voice. He brought her over to me, and she took to my breast like a champ.
“How about Amber?” he answered and then shrugged.
“Amber is lovely, Hal.”
“Amber was the name of my grandmother.” He gave a soft smile. “When my dads made things hard, I always knew she’d be there for me.”
“Amber it shall be,” I cooed at the babe now losing steam. Her little eyes drooped as she fell asleep in my arms.
“Are you hurting?” Hal asked me, pushing a stray hair from my face.
“A little but not like I thought it would be. I do wish I was in our bed.”
He nodded. “Jane said you could go home today if you want. You are healthy, the birth was normal, and Amber is healthy and strong. No reason to stay.”
I hadn’t heard her say that. Then again, I was in a post-labor baby fog and loving every second of it.
We waited for Jane to type up the information on Amber’s birth. She would send off for an official birth certificate and do all of the necessary paperwork.
Hal wrapped his arms around us both while she did.
“I’ve loved you every second since I met you, Kipling. I’ll love you always,” he said, and kissed my temple.
“You have my love for life,” I responded and nestled into his embrace.
Epilogue
Hal
If it took me a long time to get to propose...and we’d managed to get married just a few hours before Kipling gave birth to our beautiful Amber, by the time we gathered our family and friends together for a welcome baby party and take-two reception, it was the Saturday before Thanksgiving when everyone could make it for a Friendsgiving celebration.
I’d had no idea what my album drop would entail and had been traveling some, and working more. Kipling had stepped right up, moving his office to the house. Kristin embraced her expanded role as secretary/nanny. It started innocently enough with an hour here and there, but before we knew it, she had a baby wonderland next to her desk, and she and her little buddy greeted all the children who came to see Dr. Taylor.
It was unconventional, but we liked it that way.
For our big party, Kipling’s family once again catered. Their food had been a huge hit at the reception we had been unable to attend, and after hearing the rave reviews from all the guests, we’d requested a repeat with the addition of a few classic Thanksgiving flavors. The weather had cooperated, but we had heaters for the big white tents in the yard just in case. Tables groaned under their burdens of roasted, smoked, and grilled turkey, ham, and prime rib, duchess potatoes, green beans, cranberry sauce, and so many other dishes. In addition to the cranberry-spice wedding cake towering toward the ceiling, we offered a selection of seasonal pies. Pecan, pumpkin, chocolate silk... We didn’t want anyone to leave hungry.
“In a way, it’s kind of nice we have to have a reception 2.0,” Kipling said, as I wrapped my arms around him. His basketball belly was a thing of the past and he was well into training for the next ninja games—although he’d surrendered any thought of training me—but he was taking a day off to eat everything in sight.
“And why is that, my omega,” I asked, embracing the hard, hot body he once again possessed.
“Because Amber gets to be
here.”
And that was everything. “It’s not a party without Amber,” I agreed. “In fact, where is our daughter?” She’d been being passed around all afternoon, and didn’t seem to mind in the least.
“Look.” Kipling pointed to a table against the wall of the tent where my two dads and my brother sat. They were crooning and baby talking to our beautiful girl. “Well who’d ever guess.”
I couldn’t say our relationship was perfect, but since Miss Amber arrived, my dads had stopped by several times with toys and gifts, and I had a little hope.
“You know,” I told him, nuzzling his ear, “I never figured out how you were so sure my dads would agree to be at our wedding to start with.”
“You didn’t, huh, alpha?” He tipped his head back to look at me. “They did RSVP.”
“You little devil. How did you know it wouldn’t turn into a mega cluster? I told you they hated me.”
“Yeah well.” He stepped from my embrace and led me outside into the autumn afternoon. The sky was a big blue bowl with only a few little clouds scattered as if they’d been placed there by an artist. “I didn’t believe anyone could hate you, and I wanted all our family together. They’re coming for Christmas you know.”
I stroked an errant hair back from Kipling’s forehead and took in his handsome face. Inside, there was music and laughter, but out here there was just us. Like in the beginning, almost a year before. I’d thought I was happy, and I was on some level, I suppose, but as I held Kipling close to my heart, enjoying a moment alone before rejoining the others, I thanked all the powers above for the gift of love.
“Hey, get back in here for the first dance,” called Kipling’s brother in the tent doorway.
“On our way,” he answered then flung his arms around my neck and gave me a kiss. “We’d better go.”
“Yes, and I have a surprise for you.” I took Kipling’s hand and led him toward the tent. “A wedding present.”
“What is it?” He gave a little bounce. My composed Dr. Taylor loved surprises. “Oh, is it a song? Please let it be a song.”
And of course it was.
Nothing is simple when you’re dating a single father.
I told myself after my alpha passed away that I might not ever find another. I would raise my son Dane the best I knew how and, when, years later, our family and friends were still acting as if I should mourn forever, I decided to move from The Netherlands to start over in the United States. My little guy deserved a bright future where he wasn’t constantly being asked if he missed a dad he didn’t even remember.
I didn’t do it with the intent of finding another alpha. After all, most omegas were lucky to find one to fall in love with, and I’d had mine. But when I saw Link, I knew he was mine. My true mate.
The moment Gustav walked into the room, and I took in his scent, my heart knew he was mine and there would never be another for me. It was perfect. Except his son disliked me on sight. Now I have no idea how to move on with my mate when someone so important to him disapproves. But I’m not going to give up. I’ve found not only my omega, but my family, my future. One I hope we can all share.
The Alpha’s Santa-Kissed Omega is a MM, Mpreg, non-shifter holiday romance with a strong, kind alpha, an intelligent loving omega, an adorable little boy who isn’t sure about his new situation, and a baby on the way.
The Alpha’s Santa-Kissed Omega
By
Lorelei M. Hart
Chapter One
Gustav Van Dijk
“Papa, I’m scared.”
The words made my heavy heart even more laden. I glanced in the rearview mirror to see my not-quite five-year old in his booster seat, looking out the window. His little cheeks were pale, and his eyelids fluttered, a sure sign he was about to cry. Dane, was not responding as well as I’d hoped to our move to the United States.
With the holidays coming soon, I’d decided to wait until January to enroll him in kindergarten, and my own schedule with my new company would be light until then. However, I did need to work online a few hours each afternoon and couldn’t do that easily with a fretful preschooler. Also, my son might adjust better if he made some friends. But I’d seen no other children playing near our rental house, so how?
We’d been strolling down Main Street the day before when we came upon a window covered in gift wrap and a big bow. Dane’s mood lifted and he bounced, asking, “Papa, is that a present?”
A chuckle preceded a pair of men emerging from the store, arms around one another’s waists. “It is indeed, little man,” said one of them. “A surprise present for the town, to be revealed next Saturday. I’m Liam by the way and this is my candy shop, Sugar.” He shook my hand then waved toward the other man. “And this is Edison, my mate.”
“Nice to meet you both,” I replied. “I am Gustav, Gus for short, and this is my son, Dane. So a surprise, huh?”
“We like to do a special window for each holiday, make it really special.”
The other man, Edison, rolled his eyes. “My mate has a flair for the dramatic, but he does run the very best candy store in town.”
“Edison!” protested Liam. “It’s the only candy store in town.”
His mate poked him in the ribs. “It’s the best in the country, but you already know that, and I refuse to contribute to your ego.” A twinkle in his eye offset his words. “Would it be all right to give your son a little something from the store?”
Dane’s smile stretched his chubby cheeks. Since it was the first sign of his happy self I’d seen in weeks, I nodded. “I guess so, if he promises to eat all his broccoli at dinner.”
“Papa, I love the little trees,” Dane protested. “Maybe you should make me eat lima beans instead.” He squinted his eyes and stuck out his tongue. “They’re yucky.”
Liam reached behind him into the store. “I think your son is quite the honest fellow.” He drew out a Santa Claus sucker, dark chocolate with a red suit and white beard. “Here you go!”
“It’s like Sinterklaas.” Dane closed his little fist around the stick and beamed at his new friend. “Thank you, candy-store man.”
“That’s Mr. Liam,” I chided softly.
“Thank you, Mr. Liam,” he echoed. “I promise to eat my broccoli—even if it’s lima beans.”
“You’re welcome,” the man said. “Now, I don’t offer this often, but would you like just the teensiest peek at our window?”
“Or even a bigger one!” Dane thrust out his chest.
Edison tilted his head. “I don’t know, Liam. Do you think he can keep a secret?”
“I can, I can!” my son shouted. “I never even told Daddy I broke his cup.”
A brief silence stretched before the two men burst into laughter.
“Dane!” I chided. “We’ll have to talk about that later. But I think you’ve made your point.
“Okay, little man.” Liam led him into the store and stopped right inside. He tugged back a red velvet curtain and let Dane duck his head under for a few seconds before saying, “Okay, that’s it.”
Dane backed out and straightened, his cheeks flushed, mouth in an O. “I won’t tell anybody! Not even my papa.”
I opened my mouth to speak, but Liam beat me to it. “I think we all agree you shouldn’t have secrets from your papa, so you can tell him, but only in very private, okay? We don’t want to spoil the surprise.”
Dane’s head bobbed. “Okay, Mr. Liam. And thank you for the candy and the secret.”
“Do I detect an accent?” Liam asked. “You aren’t from Holland, are you?” Although nearly everyone learned English in school back home, we by no means sounded like we were born in the USA.
“Exactly right. We just arrived last week.”
“Staying long?”
I flicked a glance at my son, who was busy ripping the plastic off his Santa sucker. “Permanently, if all goes well. I accepted a job here.”
“What do you do?”
“Computer coding.”
I hesitated, and he blushed. “What an ass. It’s none of my business.”
“No, it’s fine.” I didn’t mind answering. Dane had failed at plastic removal, and Edison was now assisting, so I took a step away and the other alpha followed. I lowered my voice. “I was widowed a couple of years ago, and I wanted a change of scenery. Dane barely remembers his other dad, but everywhere we went, people brought him up and it wasn’t good for either of us. So...when this opportunity came along, I decided to give it a shot.”
“Have any friends here in town?” he asked, without the sympathetic tone I’d learned to hate.
“No, not yet.”
“You do now.” He gave me a pat on the arm. “Come by and visit anytime.”
“That means a lot.”
“That’s okay. We have a family ourselves, three and growing. We’ll have to do a playdate.”
“That would be wonderful. Hey, since you are also a dad...do you know of a good babysitter? I need someone for a few hours in the afternoons.”
“Better than that.” He called to his omega, “Edison, do you have any openings at My Brother, My Sister for the afternoon program?”
He did. And Dane had been wildly excited for the past two days, but nerves had gotten hold of him once he was actually on the way.
I braced myself for what was to come.
Chapter Two
Link Dawson
“So what did we learn from Wuthering Heights in the end?”
One of my more smart-ass kids raised his hand, and it was my last period of the school day, so I obliged him. “Yes, David?”
“Life sucks?” Of course the class laughed, and that was his main objective for saying such a thing.
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