by Grace, Aria
“Is that…” I look straight into Curtis’s eyes, needing confirmation that what’s happening is normal.
He nods bashfully then rolls to the side with me still attached. “It’s my knot. We’re lock together for a little while. Is that okay?”
“Uh huh.” I try to come across as indifferent but I love that he’s physically locked inside my body, unable to escape me for a little while longer. “Feels good.”
“Rest now, baby,” Curtis coos against the top of my head as I nuzzle against his chest, basking in his warmth as if he was a sandy beach on a summer afternoon.
“I want to stay like this forever.” The mumbled words are out of my mouth before I have the presence of mind to stop them. My eyes shoot open and lock on Curtis’s.
His are glistening as he smiles softly. “Me too, Max, and you have no idea how happy it makes me to hear you say that.”
I just shrug and relax against his chest, knowing I’ll be safe if I doze off for a little while. I don’t know how I know that, but I just do. Just like I know there’s nowhere safer I will ever be than right here against my mate.
* * *
Is it possible to feel like I've been run over by a truck and also feel like my whole world has fallen into place at the same time? I stretch out across Curtis’s plush bed, taking inventory as every muscle in my body protests the movement. My ass is raw, my lips are chapped, and I've never been happier in my life. The only thing that would make this moment even better is if Curtis was still wrapped around me like he was last night.
Unable to ignore my bladder for one more minute, I slide out of the bed in search of the bathroom. After a quick shower and rinsing with some mouthwash I find under the sink, I wander down the hallway. The aroma of bacon and eggs is unmistakable, but it's the coffee that has me beelining it into the kitchen and directly into Curtis's arms.
“Good morning, sleepyhead.” He pulls me into a tight hug and nuzzles the top of my damp head.
“Is it late?” One glance at the microwave confirms it's ten fifteen. Not bad considering we were up for hours last night.
Curtis shakes his head then reaches for a steaming mug of coffee. “Not really. And you looked like you needed the rest.”
I take a sip of the hot brew, peeking at Curtis over the rim of the mug with a shrug. I was sated. So, sue me.
He just smiles as he gives me a onceover. “How are you feeling today?”
Taking a deep breath, I quickly evaluate my condition. “I feel good. Everything hurts, but in a good way.”
Curtis chuckles softly then pats my ass. “Have a seat. I'll make you a plate.”
As soon as he mentions food, I realize how hungry I am. I haven't eaten since those few bites of pizza yesterday, and I’m ravenous. Without preamble or manners, I dig in to the feast he's prepared, but after just a few bites, his heavy gaze feels like an actual weight on my shoulders.
“What?” I stop mid-bite and look between him and my plate. “Am I eating too fast? I do that sometimes. I know it's rude—”
“No, nothing like that.” He looks nervous, which makes me nervous.
“What, Curtis? Is everything okay?” The man who I’ve recently learned is my mate gives me a heart-melting smile, conveying so much affection that my heart doubles in size. What he doesn’t give me are words. And as much I love the look in his eyes, I need actual words right now.
Resting the fork on the plate, I give him a pointed glare and lean back in the chair with my arms crossed over my chest. “You said we had to be honest with each other. Making fun of me or whatever you're doing is not nice and it's making me doubt all these feelings I'm just starting to come to terms with it.”
“Baby, no. I'm sorry.” Curtis scoots his chair closer to mine so his knees are touching my thigh. Strong arms encase me and pull me into his chest. Once he’s touching me and I can breathe in his scent, any momentary self-consciousness is gone in an instant.
Curtis buries his nose in my neck and inhales deeply, rubbing against my skin until it tickles. The gentle touch makes me squirm, but I don't stop him. I've never been held like this before, but I'm already addicted to it. “Do you feel any different?”
I really don't know what he’s getting at, and I wish he would just spit it out. “Should I feel different?”
Curtis pulls back and looks me in the eye. “You smell different...”
Instinctively, I raise my arm and take a whiff of my armpit. “I just showered. Does your body wash smell weird on me?”
A gorgeous grin covers Curtis's face as he pulls my wrist to his nose and kisses the tender skin before taking another sniff. His eyes drift shut as he rubs my wrist against his cheek. That same smile only gets bigger. “You smell like a mix between you and me.”
His eyes peek open as he waits for me to understand what he means. Of course, I don't. Completely clueless, I continue to stare at him and wait for the punchline.
When I don’t pick up what he’s trying to tell me, the man feels sorry for me and says the words that change my world for the second time in as many days. “I think you're pregnant, baby. Your scent has already started to change.”
12
Curtis
Things are touch and go for a minute there as Max fully comprehends the fact that he is carrying our child. It’s crazy considering we just met, but I wouldn’t change a thing. I don't know if it's because of our advanced biology, or if he's just that perfect, but I feel like I've known him forever—like two halves of one whole, separated for a short time but finally reunited to complete the circle of life.
For the next forty-eight hours, we don't leave my house. Although his heat cycle has subsided because of his pregnancy, his desire only gets stronger and stronger. I don't know how he can walk, but I'm loving every second of his newfound sexual awareness and his willingness to try everything with me.
The amount of trust Max has given me over the short time we’ve been together only reinforces the fact that what we have between us is real. Biology or not, we are meant to be.
When Monday morning rolls around, I consider calling in sick. Truthfully, the idea of leaving Max alone does make me sick. Especially since we haven't completed the bond. It's there and it's strong, but until we complete the process with mutual bites, Max won't be 100% mine. And I don't intend to leave him alone for one minute until that problem is remedied.
My perfect mate stretches out in my sheets before scowling and ducking his head underneath a pillow. I chuckle at his lack of morning awareness, knowing exactly what he needs to fully wake up. Gently lifting the sheet off him, I take a moment to appreciate his beautiful form.
His light skin is like silk stretched over tight muscles. And his gorgeous dick is resting on his thigh, unaware of what I'm about to bestow on it. Without using my hands at all, I lick from the base of his cock up the center vein, dropping soft kisses along his skin as I go. Max’s shaft thickens quickly, almost doubling in size beneath my tongue.
“Curtis,” Max whispers softly, still asleep but probably dreaming about what's happening in real life. Knowing that he's dreaming about me turns my own cock to steel as my lips completely close around his shaft, and I suck him to the back of my throat.
Max's hips begin to fuck my mouth, and his hand tangles in my short hair. “Oh my god. Don't stop.”
When I glance up, Max is staring down at me with a heavenly look of contentment across his face despite the wicked pumping of his hips down my throat. Before he gets too lost in the moment, I pull off and push his thighs back, positioning myself to enter him.
He doesn't need as much preparation as he did just a few days ago. His body knows what to do, and he instinctively relaxes when I begin to penetrate him.
“Good morning.” I kiss his mouth softly as my tip breaches his eager hole. Max moans in response, unable or unwilling to break our kiss in order to greet me back.
But that's fine with me.
I'll take a moan from him over words any day of the week.
My strokes are slow and smooth, not as frenzied as most of the time we've together. Max seems to sense that this is different too because his fingertips gently trail up and down my back instead of digging into my biceps and topping me from the bottom. For being only two days post virginity, he's already trained himself to take control of his orgasm when he's ready to come. It’s fucking hot.
Lifting his body up with me, I kneel on the mattress and adjust his weight so he sitting on my thighs. In this position, I can control his movements better and have easy access to everything I need. My fingers close around his hips as I direct him up and down, allowing him to slowly ride my cock. We’re both getting closer and closer to climax but neither of us is in any hurry.
After taking our time to enjoy kissing and touching through this coupling, Max reaches for his dick to find relief. But that’s not how I want this to happen…for either of us.
I swat his hand away and press him tighter against me. His shaft is wedged between our hard and sweaty bodies, giving him the friction he needs. With him held closer to me, I can easily find his prostate without much effort. When I do, Max jerks almost out of my lap, and I know I'm in the right spot.
From this position, I can nail his prostate with just tiny jerks of my hips while keeping his neck exactly where I want it.
Within biting distance.
“Now, Curtis.” Max's breath is ragged against my mouth. It’s hot and desperate as he begs for release. “Come with me now.”
With one palm wrapped around his dick and my teeth scraping against the tender flesh at the crook of his neck, I thrust up the final inch and release into Max. I don’t know how I can produce so much come after all the fucking we’ve done this weekend, but Max convulses in my arms with every pulsing shot of cream that’s deposited in his tight channel. Instinctively, I allow the pressure of my growing knot to fill him with more than just my seed. He’s getting it all, and he’s loving it.
Max's whole body shakes as warm streams of come shoot onto my chest. As soon as I feel that first load, I know it’s time.
Both of my arms close around Max’s back and hold him tightly in place as my instincts take over. With a shiver of excitement that seems to run straight down my spine and directly into Max’s, I press my teeth into Max’s neck and bite.
The shock spurs Max into action and he closes his mouth down on my sweaty neck just a second behind me. Allowing my body to guide this process, I close my eyes and just float in the bliss I already feel from the forging bond.
My scent is merging with Max’s to create something new and uniquely…us. And now our baby will be brought into this world knowing Max and I are fully and completely committed to each other.
For life.
13
Max
When Curtis’s knot finally goes down enough for his cock to slip out of me, I miss the fullness, but I don’t have the same sense of loss or insecurity I’ve had all weekend. The bond not only changed us physically but also emotionally.
I now have zero doubts about his commitment or interest in me. I can feel how much Curtis loves me. And though we haven’t said the words yet, I know as an indisputable fact that what we feel for each other is pure and complete love.
Regardless of what the calendar says about how long we’ve been together, I know what feels right. And this, lying in my mate’s arms, feel more than right.
Until nine am rolls around.
“I’ll come home at lunch and will call as often as I can.” Curtis is running some product through his hair with his fingers. He looks damn fine.
“But…” I hate sounding needy, and I know Curtis has to go to work, but I really don’t want to be alone. “What will I do all day?”
Curtis looks around the room then nods toward the big screen TV. “You can watch TV. Or there’s an Xbox set up on the TV in the living room.”
“I’m not going to play games by myself.” A memory of Trevor trying to get me to play video games with him pops into my mind. That wasn’t even a week ago but it feels like a lifetime has passed since I was that scared, loner omega. “Maybe I should go back to Omega House.”
Curtis almost growls as he levels his stern gaze on me. “You want to move back there?”
“No!” A fuzzy feeling in my chest has me walking up to my mate, falling into his arms. “Just for the day. It’ll be boring here. At least I have a few friends there.”
Curtis rubs his nose in my hair, breathing slow and deep as if trying to calm himself. “That’s not a bad idea. I’m sure Naheed wouldn’t mind. Besides, you need to get your stuff.”
“Can you drop me off?” I glance at Curtis from under my long eyelashes, hoping the look comes across as coy and cute instead of desperate and sad.
“Of course.” Curtis kisses me hard, plundering my mouth with his hot tongue. “I’ll make breakfast while you get dressed.”
* * *
“So that’s it?” Freddie has his feet up on an ottoman and is waving a paper fan at his face. “That’s why you were so weird with Curtis? Because he’s your mate?”
I nod, hoping he understands and can be supportive of my new situation. “And there’s one more thing.”
Freddie chuckles then coughs…and then winces as his hand presses against his side. “Of course there is. What is it?”
“I’m pregnant.” I’ve never heard such empty silence as seconds tick by before he reacts at all.
“You are?” Freddie works himself up and out of the recliner and drops down next to me on the couch. “I’m so happy for you!”
“You are?” I don’t know what I was expecting from Freddie, but excitement wasn’t at the top of my list.
He smacks my shoulder then holds my hand between his. “Of course I am. We can have play dates together. Mine will be about eight months older than yours, but they can still be best friends.”
Hearing the excitement in his voice makes a few happy tears well up in my eyes. “They can?”
Freddie pulls me into an awkward, but I can kinda rest my head on his shoulder. “Yes! I’m truly happy for you. You seem like a good guy and you deserve to find happiness.”
I hold him a little tighter. “You do too, Freddie. And I know you will.”
He just nods, no longer needing words to convey his feelings.
“Max.” A soft voice calls me from down the hall. “Someone’s here to see you.”
It has to be Curtis. Maybe he’s missing me as much as I’m missing him.
“You stay here and rest.” I direct Freddie back to his recliner and ottoman. “I’ll be right back.”
Seeing Tad standing in the entryway makes my stomach clench with equal doses of surprise and discomfort.
“What are you doing here?” I look around to see if anyone's watching us. Naheed can see us from his desk, but he's on the phone.
“I just want to talk to you.” He raises his hands in surrender. “I promise to leave if you want me to. But just give me five minutes.”
I don't want to cause a scene, so I wave toward the front door. “Let's go outside.”
Tad follows on my heels, and as soon as the door shuts behind us, he reaches for my hand. “I'm so sorry if I scared you the other day.”
His touch makes my skin crawl. This isn’t right. Not at all. I try to pull free of his grip, but he doesn't loosen his hold on me.
“You shouldn't be here, Tad.”
“No, Max, you shouldn't be here. You've spent too much time locked away as it is. You don't have to stay here anymore.”
I pull harder, and Tad finally releases my hand. “I'm not staying here anymore. I'm just here to visit a friend.”
Ted cocks his head and gives me an indulgent look. “You don't have to lie to me, honey. We can start slowly. Come stay in my guestroom for now. In time, we'll see what happens.”
Just the thought makes my stomach roll and a scowl form on my face. “No, Tad. It's too late. I've already—”
Before I can explain, the rumbling of
a very loud and now very familiar engine comes barreling toward us. I look up in time to see Curtis’s BMW screeching into the driveway before he stops just a few feet away from where Tad and I are standing.
I'm frozen in place, praying Curtis isn't mad at me. I hope he doesn't think I set up this meeting behind his back. I’ve just found him, and the thought of losing him makes me want to puke.
Tad makes the mistake of reaching for my arm, almost losing his when Curtis blocks the contact him with his solid chest. “Don't fucking touch him.”
“Dude, chill. I just came by to talk to Max.” Tad takes a step back but doesn’t leave like a sane person would. “He's not a prisoner here, ya know. If he wants to leave with me, you can't stop him. I'll call the police.”
Curtis chokes out an unamused laugh. “You're kidding, right?”
“I was just about to explain it to him,” I say, reaching for Curtis’s bicep.
“Explain what?” Tad looks confused and more than a little annoyed. “What’s going on here?”
I wrap both of my hands around Curtis’s thick bicep and rest my head on his shoulder. “Curtis and I are bonded mates. And we're having a baby.”
Cheers and whistles erupt behind me, and I turn back, startled to find an audience watching us. I had no idea they were there but their excitement and support brings tears to my eyes.
“Seriously?” Tad looks between me and Curtis and then leans forward far enough to get a good whiff of the air between us. “You do seem a little different.”
“I am.” I hope he can hear the sincerity in my voice. I can’t make this any clearer.
A mix of sadness and resignation war in his eyes, but Tad finally backs off, putting a few more steps between us. “Well, I guess that's it then.”
Tad stares at me for a long moment before turning to Curtis with his arms crossed over his chest. “I hope you understand how special Max is. He deserves to be taken care of.”