A Bundle of Mannies

by Lorelei M. Hart

  “Were they mad?” I’d promised to be home after missing dinner three days in a row and then once again let them down to attend a meeting, one that might be life changing. I needed to talk to Lincoln about it all. His hands sliding across my chest and pushing my shirt to the floor wasn’t helping me remember to be responsible. “And I need to talk to you about what happened at work today.”

  “Shhh, there is time for talk later.” He yanked my undershirt from my slacks and pulled it up and over my head. “I haven’t seen you all week, and I go back on call in a few hours.”

  As proud of my husband as I was, being the youngest attending physician on his floor had its ups and downs—the downs being the on-call-never-really-off thing. But he loved what he did and was amazing at it, so I couldn’t complain. I mean, I could, and inwardly I did far too often, but I now worked just as much as he did, and he rarely whined about it, not really anyway.

  “In that case…” I stopped his hands at the button of my slacks, my cock ready to go, my brain needing to unload the events of the day. “We have to talk first.”

  He reached into the front of my slacks and cupped me with a gentle squeeze, my moan filling the air. He was not helping. Although he wasn’t pretending to. “Let’s talk with our bodies.” He licked my nipple and blew on it, sending shivers down my spine before giving it a nip, resulting in my bucking into his hand. “Then we can word.”

  I slammed my lips to his, his logic remarkably sound. His scent enveloped me while we explored each other’s mouths, his hands helping relieve me of my pants as mine helped relieve him of his boxer briefs until we were both standing there buck naked and panting.

  “You look good enough to eat, omega mine”.” Lincoln licked his lips and gave a twirl of his fingers, directing me to turn around for him. It had been a long time since he’d wanted this position, and I took my time giving him exactly what he wanted. Between our jobs, the kids, and our crazy schedules, we rarely had time to indulge like this, and gods I missed it.

  I bent down, my ass on display, pretending to tidy up our clothing mess as sassily as I could, earning me a smack.

  “Is this how you are going to spend the next two hours before I’m on call? Cleaning?”

  I shook my ass slightly. “If it keeps getting me a spank, I’m not opposed to it.”

  And just like that, he scooped me up, mumbling about naughty omegas not getting to choose their punishments and depositing me on the bed, climbing between my legs, and settling his chest upon my own.

  “I’ve missed you, love.” He brushed an errant hair from my brow and kissed the spot he’d revealed. “So much.”

  His cock settled beside mine, and I ground into him, wanting more friction.

  “Patience omega.” He tsked.

  “I need you now,” I whimpered, grinding into him again, my arms wrapped around him, holding him close. “Please.”

  “Then have me.” He punctuated his promise with a kiss. “On your knees,” he whispered into my ear, giving it a nibble as he rolled off me. I scrambled to do what he’d asked, quickly finding myself on my hands and knees, his palms rubbing circles on my ass. “The unevenness of the pink is going to bug me,” he teased, giving the other cheek a slap. “I’ll just have to deal. No use feeding your brattiness.”

  Oh yeah, he was going to cave. The dip in his voice told me he wanted it badly.

  “Let’s see how slick you are for me, omega.” He tapped the inside of my thighs, urging them wider. “Hmmm, so slick.” His finger circled my waiting hole. I fought the urge to push back against him and failed miserably.

  Smack.

  “You did that on purpose, but I’ll allow it.” The bed shifted as he climbed behind me, his finger circling my hole and entering it, giving me what I wanted except not at all.

  “Don’t tease me,” I begged, not sure if I meant it or not, the precum on my tip coming perilously close to dropping onto the bed.

  “What?” He circled my hole again ever so slowly. “You don’t want me to fill you?”

  “With your knot”,” I cried out. “Give me your knot!”

  At my plea, he lined up his cock with my hole. “‘As you wish.’” He quoted my favorite movie then slammed into me, filling me so completely. I never wanted him to leave. Move? Yes. But, leave? No.

  He grabbed my hips and slowly began to slide in and out of me, holding my body firmly, just the way I liked it. His pace increased with each trip, and my orgasm came barreling toward me embarrassingly fast. It had been too long. Far too long. We needed to make time for this—for us. And yet, I’d come home tonight with news that could shatter that plan entirely.

  “Come for me, Adam.” Lincoln slid his hand down to wrap his fingers around me, his chest to my back, and, giving it one pump, I gave in to my climax, screaming out his name as he slammed into me two more times, his knot filling me. We collapsed to the side, my back to his front, his arm holding me tightly to him.

  “I love you.” He kissed my shoulder, and my eyes fluttered closed.

  “And I love you,” I whispered back. We’d talk about my new promotion and after a short nap. Or so I thought.

  Next thing I knew, I was awakened by the ringing of his phone, the ring devoted exclusively to work, and, ten minutes, later he was out the door to save a life as I lay in bed wondering if the decision I needed to make in the morning would destroy ours.

  Chapter Two

  Lincoln Graves

  I hadn’t told Adam how the kids cried for him night after night and only consoled themselves by making up stories about Super-Dad and how he would be home soon.

  More than anything, I was intent on supporting and pushing my mate to pursue his dreams. He’d worked so hard and waited so long for the opportunity.

  But this arrangement, even in the few weeks we’d been at it, wasn’t working.

  I hadn’t slept in those weeks—only a nap here and there—and while that was indicative of my being a doctor, it wasn’t good for the kids. When I was home, I was exhausted, and when Adam came home, well, usually they were already asleep.

  Something had to give.

  And it would not be Adam’s job. I’d be damned if my weakness would make him quit.

  I’d emailed Manny’s Mannies the day before without Adam knowing. I would have to tell him soon, but first, I awaited a call to see if anyone would meet our specs. We needed a live-in manny who could be flexible with our crazy schedules.

  He had to be able to keep up with two active little ones. Penny and Beau never stopped. We didn’t allow them to watch TV, so entertaining them took work and effort.

  Sometimes, I wished we’d rethink the TV thing.

  My phone rang, and I pushed the button on the steering wheel, just as I pulled into the hospital parking lot. I’d gotten there as quickly as I could.

  “I’m here—in the parking lot,” I barked and then regretted my tone.

  “In our parking lot? Okay. Well, we will wait to give you the qualified applicants when you come in.”

  Shit. “I’m sorry, who is this?”

  “This is Manny from Manny’s Mannies. You requested I pull some mannies for you to think about. Did I get the wrong number? This is Lincoln Graves, is it not?”

  “It is. I apologize. I thought this was my work. Can you email me the list of those mannies, please? I’m not sure when I’ll have time to look through them.”

  “Of course, sir. Consider it done. Thank you for choosing us.”

  “Yep.” I hung up and tied the string on my scrubs before heading inside. I’d been called in for a difficult bypass, one my colleagues apparently couldn’t figure out.

  Twelve hours later, and a surgery and four heart-attack victims seen, I was dead tired and on my third set of scrubs.

  I got home to kids running around screaming—the house an absolute and total wreck.

  And not an adult in sight.

  “Hello?” I said, scooping up Beau. The two-year-old was easy to catch—the five-year-old, n
ot so much. She was lanky and lithe. Sometimes, I caught her, and she simply slipped from my grip.

  ’That was why Adam called her Noodle.

  “I’m here,” a voice I didn’t recognize called from the kitchen.

  “Who?” I asked, walking toward it. I hated this. I came home to chaos, and someone I didn’t know watching or, in this case, not watching my children.

  It wasn’t anyone’s fault—but we needed a solution. Stat.

  “It’s me, Becky.”

  I racked my brain, repeating the name over and over but coming up empty. As soon as I entered the kitchen, I recognized her. The neighbor’s daughter. Must’ve been Adam’s last straw in finding someone.

  Enough was enough.

  “Thank you, Becky. I’ve got it from here.”

  The teen barely looked up from scrolling on her phone to give me a wink and held out her hand for cash. I pulled out two twenties and gave them to her, hoping it was enough.

  She left without a word, so I’d either paid her enough or way too much. Either way, it was highway robbery. Looked like all she’d done was keep the kids from burning the place down.

  Penny ran when I called her for lunch, with Beau now in his high chair. They munched on cheese and ham along with apple slices while I picked up the disaster area.

  I sat at the table, absolutely overwhelmed.

  This had to end—for me and for the kids.

  I placed my first call to Adam.

  “Hey, my love,” I said, and he caught on immediately.

  “What do you want?” A chuckle followed his gruff tone.

  “A manny—someone to watch the kids and give us a hand.”

  He gasped. “Is everything okay? The kids?”

  “Yes. But I’m not keeping up. This can’t be good for them. They need someone steady, a schedule, security. I want to hire someone—a live-in.”

  “I’ve been thinking about the same thing. I’ll look up some places.”

  I watched Beau struggle with a piece of apple in his hand. It kept slipping from his pudgy fingers. “I already have, omega mine. I just wanted to talk to you about it first.”

  He sighed. “Okay. I’m off on Sunday. Can you please set up some interviews for then? It sounds like we need this.”

  “We do, and, yes, I can. I’ll let you get back.”

  We said our I love yous and hung up. I scrolled through the applicants on my phone and one immediately caught my eye—Pace, with training and work experience in England.

  I bet he had tons of knowledge and practice.

  I called Manny who set up an interview for Sunday after putting me on hold to call Pace.

  This had to be our answer.

  We needed someone to help us.

  Now to beg these kids to nap.

  Chapter Three

  Pace

  I’d been home a total of twenty-four hours when Manny called me with an assignment. Technically, it was an interview, but with my background the odds were slim they wouldn’t want me. In fact, I hadn’t ever heard of a family turning down a Royal Manny. It could go the other way. The interview was more about me deciding if I wanted them. And as I parked Dad’s car in front of the home and got out, straightening my uniform jacket, I suddenly became nervous.

  The home looked well cared for. While not a manor, it was certainly upper middle class and one of the nicest in our town. I’d been past it once or twice but never known the people who lived there. I marched up to the front door and rang the bell, taking in details as I waited. The windows could use a washing, but the lawn was recently cut, the plantings trimmed. Two busy men who needed a manny likely employed a service for the landscaping as well as house cleaning services.

  It took at least thirty seconds before the door opened to reveal a tall, good-looking alpha with a child clinging to each leg. Clearly, discipline was an issue in this home. But that was something I was well trained to handle. Loving discipline with positive reinforcement. The man’s hair was mussed, and he wore well-fitted jeans and a polo shirt, but his feet were bare. I’d been in England long enough that what had once seemed normal to me now seemed unusually intimate. My employers kept shoes on outside of their private suite, and even the children only bared their little toes for wading.

  “Hello, you must be Pace,” he said, stepping aside to wave me inside. “I’m Lincoln Graves, and these two imps are Penny and Beau.”

  I moved into the foyer then followed Dr. Graves into the living room where another man, who must be his partner Adam, sat in front of a laptop, typing madly. The room was not dirty, per se, but toys were scattered everywhere, as well as small shoes and socks and other items the children must have dropped.

  “Adam? The manny candidate is here.”

  Candidate? My back went up immediately. Did they not know how lucky they were to have the opportunity to hire a Royal Manny? But when the man looked up from his laptop and jumped to his feet, he approached me with his hand extended and a tired but friendly smile brightening his face. “You have no idea how happy we are to meet you. Sorry the place is such a mess.”

  I shook his hand, taking in his exhaustion and wanting to help. “It’s a pleasure, sir. And don’t think a thing about the children’s clutter. If I accept the position, picking up toys shall be my duty. Well…with the assistance of Penny and Beau, of course.”

  I saw them exchange glances, no doubt having heard what I wanted them to. “Yes, well,” Dr. Graves said. “Let me put these two down for their nap so we can talk.”

  My next action was not appropriate at all. “I need to see their rooms anyway, so why don’t I settle them for their naps before we begin”?”

  Another glance, this one so filled with hope my heart ached. “That would be nice, thank you.” Dr. Graves peeled the children off his legs one by one and handed them over to me. “I will go get us some refreshments.”

  I set my satchel by the couch and took each child by the hand. “Very good, sir.” As he headed out of the room, I bent to eye level with the pair. “And can you two show me to your rooms? Give me the grand tour?”

  The little girl, whose hair was in two lopsided braids, nodded. “Okay, but if you think this room is messy, Papa says our room is a ‘disaster area.’”

  Adam looked appalled, but I chuckled. “And that’s why you need a manny, right? So we can get organized and make sure messy messes don’t get in the way of our plans.”

  She cocked her head. “I always want to have plans, but Daddy and Papa are busy.” She led me out of the living room and down the hallway, sharing those plans. Some were doable. She loved art and swimming and the children’s museum. She also wanted to go ride a unicorn and fly to Mars.

  But when we entered the connected nurseries, my desire to organize the family vied with an urge to run. I couldn’t even see the floor. Again, not dirty, but messy to the extreme. These two dads were in way over their heads and needed me. But I couldn’t put these children down for a nap in here, so I continued through the hallway a bit and came upon what looked like a guest room. “Why don’t you nap in here today?”

  Penny shook her head. “We don’t go in here.” Yeah, that was pretty clear, since it was neat as a pin.

  “Well, today you do! I’ll cover it with your dads. Now, hop up on the bed, and I’ll cover you up and tell you a story if you like?”

  Story did it. They were cuddled up in less than a minute, listening wide-eyed to the story of Harry the Hare and Marilyn Cuddlewhump. Those eyes were closed before Harry and Marilyn finished their shopping trip to buy a hat.

  And I went back into the living room, prepared to accept the job. Hoping I wouldn’t regret it.

  Chapter Four

  Adam

  “How do you think he knew Penny takes naps?” Linc waited until they were out of view. We’d heard far too often how she was the only kid in K4 who still napped, which I highly doubted given naptime was built into their day. But the comment was indicative she was nearing the end of naptimes and that many
of her peers were long since over them.

  Oh, what I’d do for a nap.

  “Maybe because he is a Royal Manny.” I rolled my eyes and immediately felt like a jerk. Here this guy was when we needed someone with skills so badly, and I went and made fun of him. He was by far the best of the lot whose files we’d received from Manny. He had training and had worked for what we were assured was a prominent family and quite successfully, only coming back home to care for an unwell relative.

  Which explained his lack of sexy accent with the exception of a few words here or there probably picked up by osmosis.

  “Do you think the house looks that bad?” He bent down and started collecting toys, and I joined him. Sure, our life had some chaotic days, especially when we relied on sitters, but it wasn’t dirty, just lived in.

  “It is a mess,” I conceded. “But, to be fair, we both have been working a lot.” Too much. I hadn’t even fully taken over the position, and I’d already spent more time outside the home than ever before. In moments like this, I second-guessed everything. But then while I was at work and soaring, I felt on top of the world. It was as if there were two of me: the omega father and the star employee.

  Which explained why I could barely function anymore. I was attempting to do two full-time jobs simultaneously, as was Lincoln, and something had to give.

  “The children are asleep,” Pace announced as he re-entered the room, his posture perfection and his face without expression.

  “How did you manage that?” my mate asked, jaw dropped. It took us at least seven stories to get them to settle down enough to close their eyes, much less be asleep.

  “With children, it is important to have clear yet firm expectations,” he replied, and placed his satchel on the coffee table. He removed a folder from it and handed it to me. “And I might have promised them ice cream if they let me chat with their dads.” He gave a slight wink.

  Good. He wasn’t a robot.