by Avery Brite
“Again, you are amazing.” He bent down and rummaged past the papers that could easily implicate Grady on embezzlement, a stack of junk bonds, and about five grand in hundreds. Underneath it all sat a white plastic card in a clear sleeve, Rumfoord Museum stamped across the front. “Bingo,” he said and slipped it into his pocket. Without further ado, we made sure the office looked that same as we found it and quickly exited.
Taking a back door out, we made a clean break. Once back on the street, we leisurely strolled down the sidewalk and back to his Mercedes. The giddy elation of a successful burgle tingled my nerves. Taking Declan’s clue, I made sure not to show it. Never look suspicious, ever.
The moment we got into his car and behind the tinted glass, my hands were all over him. I wanted him now. I had a hand down his pants, and my lips on his when he pushed me away. “Let’s get home first and you can show me what else those sensitive finger tips can do,” he said, excited. We took off like a shot and sped the whole way there.
{8} – Declan
It had been nearly a week since robbing the BCT bank manager of his key card. Zenith and I had spent most of our nights together, the ones he didn’t were lonelier than I expected. One night, after a dinner of crispy chicken, shallots, a fresh salad, and cold Stella Artois, we lay in bed enjoying our own company.
“Have you thought about having a baby,” I asked. The question left my lips before I realized that I had been mulling the idea over. By the way Zenith jumped, I could tell it hit him like a shot. He didn’t answer immediately and I didn’t take offence to the silence. The issue is complicated.
“I knew my parents briefly,” he said. “Since nine years old, I survived on my own. The thieving started as a way of survival and grew from there. Before then, I thought nothing in the world could be as perfect and happy as having a baby. Given my lifestyle, a baby seemed like the most impractical thing possible. Alphas I met, and bedded, would want to impregnate me, but I always put it off. Sometimes to the point of leaving the moment they mentioned it.” I tried to hide the pain and disappointment in my eyes as he talked. I asked an honest question, I should have expected an honest answer.
“I didn’t put much stock in the idea of fated mates, as you know. That sort of romantic fluff didn’t sit well with me. People were only out for themselves, so how could they live so exclusively for another? Then I met you. You’ve turned my world upside down. This is all going so fast, that I don’t know what to think right now. You’re very existence has challenged everything I thought about myself, and what I feel about love.”
“Maybe it’s an unfair question,” I said after digesting what he had just said. “You’re right, this is going incredibly fast. I’ve had the same view you did about love and reproduction, but you have put some interesting, and wonderful, thoughts in my head. Let’s table this discussion for now.” He turned to face me. I met his gaze, and looking into his eyes, something deep down knew for certain that we would have children.
“I could just knot you now. Make you have my child.” My tone didn’t threaten, just stated a fact.
“You could, but I know you won’t.” he said, laying his head on my chest.
“I could never make you do anything you don’t want.” He relaxed on top of me. His hand traveled down my muscular side, over the ridge of my pelvis, and down my thigh. I could feel the goose bumps rise under his fingers. Tracing a finger around my cock, which instantly responded, his long fingers took hold of my hardening cock. Nuzzling my neck, he stroked me.
Our sex had become more loving, especially if we were already lying in bed. Neither of us minded at all. Every time with Zenith became the most wonderful experience ever and every time we became closer.
His mouth replaced his hand and I could only lay back and enjoy it, his skills being out of this world. I reached down and ran my fingers through his hair. Occasionally he would lick his way down and suck on my balls, then come back up and swallow me whole.
So lost in the sensations, when he stopped, I almost whimpered. His kissed me deep as he repositioned himself. We kissed long and hard, our comingled desire charging the air around us. His erection rubbed against my stomach as he lay on top of me. Running a hand down his back, I slipped two fingers into his already wet ass. A moan escaped his lips while he gyrated his hips. As I fingered his ass, he continued gyrating, the movements also rubbing his cock against my abs.
I slid my fingers out and he pushed himself down my body as I grabbed my cock and aimed it for his sopping ass. Slowly he pushed himself against it and I gently bit his shoulder as it slid in. Never had anyone felt so perfect. Our rhythm matched perfectly as we gently thrust against each other.
The gentleness gave way to increased passion. The room filled with the sounds of our lovemaking. My grunts and moans, Zenith’s cries and breathing, as well as skin on skin. The aroma of our sex created an intoxicating perfume. I locked my arms around him, holding him against me as I pumped in and out. He licked, nibbled, and bit my shoulder and neck.
Zenith nearly screamed and then shuddered. His ass clenched around me and my stomach became wet as he came hard, on top of me. I slowed my pumping to nearly a halt to give him a chance to recover. I, however, couldn’t have been more turned on.
“Don’t stop on my account,” he panted, giving me a lopsided grin. I needed no other invitation. With him still held to my chest, and inside of him, I swung my legs off the bed and stood up. Carefully I lifted him up and I came out of him with a pop. I put him on the bed and he immediately swallowed me down to the base, tasting his own juices.
“I want to have your baby,” his words shocked even me. Z’s face mirrored my own thoughts, the wide-eyed look melted into pure love, and in that moment, I knew I had made the right decision. We sealed the deal with a kiss.
“Turn over,” I told him. Eagerly, he complied. Face down; he tucked his knees under him, presenting his ass to me. I knew he expected to feel the head of a large cock at his waiting hole, I instead he felt hot breath, then a tongue. He squirmed as I licked and poked with it. Nothing could make me want him more than I did right now. I caressed his scrotum and ran my fingers along his shaft as I worked his ass. The teasing drove him nuts and all he could do is groan in pleasure.
I stood up and eased my cock back into him. I grabbed his hips and plunged all the way in. Our combined moans sounded like music. Curled up like this made his ass tight and the sensations were amazing. Time stopped as the continued in a haze of pure pleasure and love. At some point Zenith had uncurled from his ball and I hooked my arms under his legs. I held him up and he reached behind to lock arms behind my neck. I stood, holding him tight against me, still pumping his ass.
My orgasm began to build. I buried my head in his neck and then I felt the knot begin to grow. As it did, Zenith’s breathing increased, it hit his pleasure centers in all the right places. If he wanted to back out, now would be the time to do it. Instead, his arms held me tighter. My knot grew to full size and had no time to ready myself for the biggest orgasm of my life. Unadulterated bliss cascaded through me as I came. Zenith stiffened and bucked once as he came again, jets of cum rising into the air and falling to earth. My arms locked around him as I filled him up in a nearly unending torrent.
Knees weak, I gently lay us both down on the bed on our sides, spooning. Laying there, wrapped up in each other, waiting for my knot to subside, we said nothing. No words were needed anyway. Whatever doubts still lingered about our relationship, whatever doubts we had about becoming fathers, washed away.
“I love you Declan,” he said. My heart almost hurt from the words.
“I love you Zenith,” I whispered in his ear. Even after my knot subsided and I slid out of him, we lay there holding each other, never wanting to let go.
{9} – Zenith
I woke up sore. Then I remembered why and smiled. I wanted sex with Declan for the rest of my life. He always made the rest of the world melt away, leaving only love and pleasure. For the first time,
I just wanted to do everything I could to make him feel just as amazing, if not more so.
Declan snored lightly next to me, so I carefully slid out of bed. As soon as I stood, my stomach roiled. The sensation reminded me of a mild hangover, but I didn’t drink much the night before. Trying to ignore it, I shuffled into the kitchen to start coffee, then a quick jump in the shower.
I felt a little better after the shower, but my stomach refused to settle. Pulling on the silk robe that I had claimed as mine, I stood on the balcony, a steaming mug in my hand. The morning bathed the building tops in a rich red and I thanked whatever hands of fate that led me here. I could stay in the moment forever; the love of a good man and a life I could only have imagined.
From the bedroom, I heard Declan finally stir. I took a sip of coffee and turned to meet him. The coffee hit might stomach and it lurched. Clutching the doorway, I fought to keep the contents of my stomach down. When I looked up, Declan stood there, concern on his face.
“What’s wrong? Are you sick?” the concern in his voice, something no one had for me ever before, eased some of my queasiness.
“No I….I’m not sure what…” I started to say, and then it hit me like a brick. I knew why my guts were in such a state. My body reacted in the normal way any pregnant person’s would.
“Oh my god, I…I’m pregnant.” I set my coffee cup down on the nearest surface as my hand began to shake. Declan rushed over to me, helping me to sit down. He kneeled between my legs as I sat, holding my face gently. He kissed my forehead. Looking in his eyes, I saw a mixture of emotions swirling. I had no doubts that he saw the same in my own.
Anxiety, fear, love, and excitement ran through me. I concentrated on breathing to calm my stomach and my nerves. I hadn’t expected it to happen so quickly. Rumors of knotting with a fated mate often called for a quick pregnancy, but I honestly hadn’t expected it to be like this.
“Are you okay? Is this okay?” he asked, his eyes flicking to my stomach. I knew what he meant. He wanted to know how I felt about being suddenly with child. His child.
“Yes,” I smiled wide, “I’m okay. I’m better than okay. Admittedly, this is hard to take all at once, especially since I’ve always told people I didn’t want kids, but this is our kid. Deep down I wanted a child, but I think I just had to wait to find you before I could.”
Declan’s eyes watered, another thing I didn’t expect to happen this morning, but a tear escaped his eye, he kissed me with more love than ever before. If I had any questions about his feelings on it, that kissed answered it. We would be a family, something neither of us had before.
When we parted, he stood up, anxious energy crackling off him. “What can I do? Do you want some mineral water? Do you need to put your feet up? Are you craving pickles already? How can I make you more comfortable?”
I laughed at his sudden exuberance. “I’m fine. I think I’ll just sit on the balcony and get some fresh air. I’m sure the nausea will pass.” Carefully I stood and walked back out on the balcony. I sat on the chair, and took deep breaths of the cool morning air. Already the queasiness started to subside. A few minutes later, Declan handed me a glass of mineral water and sat down. We both watched the sun continue its rise into the sky and got lost in our thoughts.
“So, about this big heist at the Rumfoord Museum that you refuse to tell me about,” I said, sipping on my glass of water.
“I suppose keeping anything from you now would just be silly,” Declan laughed. “As I’m sure you are aware, security at the Rumfoord makes Fort Know look like an open patio. The museum is getting an exhibition of Romanian royal history and a number of the pieces displayed are nearly priceless. Of course that means they are the top of my list. Given the rarity and condition of most of it, they will fetch unreal prices to the right bidder.”
“Which I assume you already have,” I said. “You wouldn’t be planning this if you didn’t already have fish on the hook.”
“I do. There are some very proud Romanian patriots that would love to get their hands on such national treasures.”
“Who’s playing Robin Hood now?” I teased.
“Either way, it’s a big job, and the timing has to be right.” Declan looked far off, his brain going over all the details of the job.
“Well, I’m sure between you, me, and the crew, the museum doesn’t stand a chance.” I said, but Declan turned to look at me instead of agreeing.
“Z...” he started.
“Really?” I stood up. “You’ve seen I’ve got the skills, you know you need someone to crack open the vault they have in the basement, and I’m carrying your child. There is no way you can sit there and tell me I’m not on this gig.” I stomped off, back in to the house.
Declan gave me a minute, and then came after me. He found me in the bedroom, putting my clothes on. “What?” I asked. “I’m pissed, leave me alone.”
“Zenith, you have to understand, this is a job that we plan on retiring with. It has to go flawlessly or not at all. We have too much at stake on it and I’ve been with my crew for years. Tanner, Cody, and I think and move as one. I don’t doubt your skill, but we haven’t worked together in the group before.” Declan tried to explain, but it fell on deaf ears. I didn’t want excuses. It hurt to know that he didn’t trust me.
“You can’t expect me to sit this one out. If you do, you are out of your mind.” I had my shoes on and started heading for the door. He stood in my way. “Move.”
“Also there is the fact that you are now with child,” he looked down at me. I think he expected that to deflate my sails, but it didn’t.
“I assume this job is happening before I give birth, so nice try. Move.” We stood there, eyes locked, waiting for one of us to back down first. Neither of us did. I was not just some docile omega, and he would have to get used to that. I survived on the streets by not backing down to any alpha.
A full minute passed and I realized that if this continued, it could put a serious rift in our relationship, something that hurt to contemplate. I refused to back down, but there had to be another way to convince him to let me on this job.
“I know you are the head alpha of your crew, but since it’s their job too, let’s see what they have to say about it.” I proposed, still pissed, but trying.
He mulled it over of a moment. “Fine. But I can guarantee you they will stand behind me on this. It’s just too risky.” Declan moved aside. “I’ll call Tanner and Cody and we can talk about it. If they don’t agree, then you’re not going.”
Relishing my victory, I kicked my shoes off again. Declan relaxed thinking he had diffused the situation. “Who does a boy gotta blow around here for some breakfast?” I asked rubbing my hands together. Arguing was hungry work and now that my stomach had finally settled down, I was ravenous. I made straight for the kitchen to fix something for us to eat. Declan watched me go, and then stood at the doorway to the balcony, just staring at the skyline.
“I said that this job would be one that we could retire on, but until now I didn’t actually think it would be. With what we clean up on, we can go anywhere and live in a lap of luxury. If we are going to be a family, then we can’t continue on with this life.” Declan said, coming into the kitchen with me.
I didn’t say anything immediately. A shot of fear pierced my growing contentment. This life of crime is the only one I’ve known. Could I handle going legit, or would I grow bored? Having a history of making questionable decisions when bored, I worried. I knew Declan waited for my response, so I said, “You are probably right. If by some chance we did get caught, as unlikely as that is,” I added with a wry grin, “it would put our child in danger. The question that keeps popping up in my mind is this: can we go legit? This is our life, big payday or not. What if we get bored and resentful?”
“Then I guess we’ll have to keep each other occupied.” He nodded towards the bedroom and I laughed. “I know we can’t spend the rest of our lives in bed, but we’ll have all the opportunities in the world
. We can find all sorts of things to stay busy without worrying about money. And who knows, maybe we’ll rob the occasional rich guy so you can give it to someone in need, you know, to maintain that Robin Hood reputation up.”
I took his hand in mine. The future didn’t look any less scary than it had before, but now I had so much to look forward to and I felt amazing about it.
{10} – Declan
Tanner and Cody were all for a meeting. They both wanted to meet Zenith. I had, of course, told them about Z, and they had giving me shit over it. In the past, I had denounced relationships and built up the virtue of being solitary in our line of work. Now they had a chance to feed me my own words. I would expect nothing less from them. Z tried to spend the afternoon acting nonchalant about it, but I could tell that he felt nervous.
I didn’t blame him, this crew functioned the same as a pack. Here we were a coyote, an owl, and a cougar acting as one of the most effective group of thieves in the city. Z understood the challenges of fitting in to such an already thriving dynamic. I knew they would accept him as my mate, how could anyone not be enamored by him. But they would side with me; he should sit out on the museum job.
"No sense worrying now," Zenith said, standing from his chair. He heard them in the hallway before they had a chance to knock. "They're here." I stood up next to him. He opened the front door, revealing a tall wide-eyed alpha next to a short blond haired omega.
"Tanner and Cody, meet Zenith." I introduced. As we stood aside, Zenith give them both a once over. I didn’t blame him, nor did I feel threatened. I will say this about our crew; we’re all attractive. Tanner wasn’t quite as tall as I was, but still long and built. Cody, one the other hand, stood in contrast. He had dark brown hair and his skin a light brown. He was about the same size as Tanner, but stockier. Most people didn’t realize the strength he possessed.