by Aiden Bates
“Did we like Rory and Ryan?” Chris’s voice was high, like he might be on the edge of panic.
“Hm . . . no . . . that sounds like two evil twins on a soap opera. Doctors who sleep with each other’s wives.”
Chris giggled. The painkiller was kicking in. “What about Zach and Ezra? Two Z names?”
“Nope. They’d be cooking meth within weeks.”
Another giggle. Raff was glad he could make his husband laugh during a stressful time.
Dr. Young’s smiling face appeared from around the curtain. “Are we ready, daddies? Because it’s time.”
They looked at each other and nodded together.
And about thirty short minutes later, Chris and Raff were holding two beautiful baby boys.
“How about Eric and Edward?” Chris asked. He let Raff hold him due to the caesarean, but he hadn’t been able to take his eyes off their peaceful faces since they appeared. “I like the idea of our three kids having similar names.”
“I love that. Classic yet not old-fashioned. Which is which?”
Chris was still drugged and he smiled sleepily, but his words showed thought. “This little guy here has a more regal nose, so I think he should be Edward. And this one has more hair and looks like he’s smiling already. Eric seems like a good little troublemaker’s name.”
“That’s perfect. I love it. Hello, Edward. Hello, Eric.”
Chris’s smile grew, and he closed his eyes. “You just might need to remind me in the morning.”
Chapter Twenty-four
Life with three kids under two.
Two in diapers, one on the potty chair (and she occasionally missed).
The expense of those diapers, formula, and a little girl who refused to eat anything except chicken nuggets and applesauce, but only certain nuggets and certain applesauce, and only from her dinosaur plate and bowl.
A wonderful, loving grandmother who came over frequently and explained to her omega son that he did everything wrong—fed and bathed the babies wrong, fed and bathed the toddler wrong, should be on a schedule, should be stricter with the toddler—and claimed that’s why reproductively typical men shouldn’t become omegas.
A protective alpha that got on his mother-in-law’s shit-list because he kicked her out of the house.
Sore belly, sore back, sleepless nights all around.
A toddler that thought the babies would play with her, just as they did with each other in the womb, and then became disgusted with them that they were so boring, then became jealous that, despite their boringness, they got most of the attention. Tantrums.
City sounds that woke the babies up just after they’d been nursed to sleep.
No sleep.
No sleep.
No sleep.
***
At four months old, the babies were given a clean bill of health and the okay to fly, and the new and improved family was off to Alaska for the summer.
What was it about that big building in that little town that was so conducive to rest and healing?
Part of it was certainly the enthusiastic help that they received from their friendly neighbors. At moments when Elizabeth, now officially in her Terrible Twos, was about to make her parents tear their hair out in frustration, Denise swooped in and offered to take her for a few hours. Raff and Chris got a little break, and Bizzy came home tuckered out from playing with her buddies. Win/win.
Or just when they thought they were going to have to put another frozen pizza in the oven because they were too tired to shop and too un-showered to head up to the café, Holly sent down a delicious, foil-covered casserole plus a side of chicken nuggets.
They loved Brooklyn and would likely never move away, but there was a different pace and different priorities in Stellar, Alaska, that was much needed for a few months out of the year. Particularly this year.
It was fun getting to know the babies. Different from getting to know their sole little girl. Edward was always calm, even staid, as long as he got his meal and a change. Eric was fussier and a messier eater, and he always pooped a second time, immediately after getting into a new diaper.
Raff liked to imagine what they’d be like in a few years.
“Edward, you’re going to be a reader and a writer, I bet. You’ll love Harry Potter. You’ll probably get into middle school politics too. Eric, you’re going to a skateboarder and beg us every year until we get a dog. Hopefully you won’t have ADHD, but if you do, it will be okay. And you guys will be best friends and worst enemies.”
Chris wondered if the boys would be reproductively typical or if they were alpha/omega. It was impossible to tell until puberty, and it really didn’t matter, but he hoped that, whatever happened, they would be happy. Just as Raff was glad to be an alpha but had suffered at times because of other people’s bigoted perceptions, and just as Chris had longed to be an omega and had to work hard to accomplish that, there were pros and cons to both. That didn’t stop him from wondering.
Around the time that the boys turned six months, Denise begged to babysit.
“I miss babies so much!” she cried. “Let me have them, just for a few hours. I can stay at your place. It will be a break for all of us.”
Raff thought that Chris would balk but, as they joked later, he practically threw the twins at the woman and ran out the door.
It was easy to find the best restaurant in Fairbanks—there weren’t many to begin with, and a quick Yelp search was fruitful. It was a romantic Mediterranean place that featured beautiful belly dancers in spangled, jewel-toned costumes on Saturday nights. The iced tea had fresh lemon and pine nuts floating in it, and the tables were set back into alcoves separated by silken curtains woven with gold thread.
“We’ve gone out a lot in Brooklyn. And Manhattan too. And I cannot remember a more romantic location than this,” Chris said. “Or maybe I’m just starved for a night out.”
“No, I think you’re right. Imagine finding it in the Last Frontier.”
Their appetizer was a mezze platter, with vegetarian delicacies—hummus, baba ganouj, stuffed grape leaves, and a variety of olives—all drizzled in imported olive oil.
“Mm . . . olive oil.” Raff gave his husband a salacious wink.
Chris winked back. “Hey, I’m drinking wine tonight. You might just get lucky.”
The drive home was relaxing. Classic rock played quietly on the radio, and Raff drove at a leisurely pace. The summer sun was low in the sky and he said he wanted to enjoy the view together. Chris was glad to let his husband make the plans.
Ever since Chris decided to become an intentional omega, he heard people express their preconceived notions and biases about alphas and omegas. They weren’t wrong, exactly. After all, stereotypes usually existed for a reason. Alphas were usually physically larger. Omegas were usually more involved parents. Alphas could be excellent businessmen, whereas omegas enjoyed the domestic arts. He’d heard it all, and he’d seen in in real life when he met other alphas and omegas.
He also knew that he was the top-notch legal eagle, and Raff was the ever-patient full-time father. Chris was the one who made the investment decisions, and Raff was the one who was deciding which preschool to send Elizabeth to. It worked for them and it was great.
But Raff was the one who was brave and strong when Chris got anxious. Raff was the one who was dominant in the bedroom, and knew how to give Chris exactly what he desired. Chris knew how to comfort and console his man, with tender touches and kisses, and he knew how to give him encouraging pep talks when the going got tough.
He wasn’t sure if any of that was a result of them being alpha and omega, or if it was just two human men being compatible and flexible. But he knew that he was happy with this alpha by his side.
Chapter Twenty-five
“Happy Birthday to you . . .
Happy Birthday to you . . .
Happy Birthday, dear Elizabeth . . .
Happy Birthday to you!”
The little beauty leaned forwar
d and blew out her candles in one big breath.
“I did it, Dad! I did it, Papa!”
“You did it, Bizzy!” they exclaimed with her.
“Can I have two pieces?”
Raff laughed. “How about we start with one. Wow, Gladys, this cake is gorgeous. You’ve really upped your game recently.”
“Thanks, Raff! As soon as I heard that Elizabeth wanted a rainbow theme, I knew I had to give this one a shot.” Each of the seven layers of her beautiful creation was a different color, and on top of the cake was a big number 5. Elizabeth was five years old today.
The rec room was decorated with rainbow-hued balloons and streamers, and her classmates from Stellar Landing Pre-K Through 8 School were there, standing around waiting for their share of the sweets. A small pile of gifts sat at the table nearby.
April in Stellar was warmer than usual this year and, after cake and presents, the children took off to play outside, while the adults relaxed with coffee.
“How are the boys adjusting to preschool?” asked Denise.
“Great!” Raff replied. “It’s just a few days a week, but they really are benefitting from the structure. Eric already knows his ABCs. Edward has no interest in learning anything except about trucks and elephants, but he’s got time. They’re only three, after all.”
“And how are you two adjusting? It’s been almost a year now. You can’t run out and get Ethiopian food any time of day or night like you can in New York City, and we don’t have a decent zoo. Do you ever miss it? Any of it?”
Raff and Chris looked at each other.
“We do, sometimes,” Chris said, “But that’s why we go back every Christmas and Thanksgiving. That’s really the best time of year to be in New York anyway.”
“The pace of life is just better here,” Raff added. “And it’s a lot cheaper.”
“Pardon me for interrupting,” Gladys said. She tossed a large stack of magazines on the table. “Denise, I need you to start looking at bridesmaid’s dresses. The wedding is in five months, and we need to order now.”
Denise promised that she would get on it right away but, as Gladys walked away, she rolled her eyes. “I love that girl to death, but who thought that Gladys would be a bridezilla?”
“Really? That is surprising,” Chris said. “What’s she doing?”
“She’s got me and Celia as her bridesmaids and making us throw her a wild bachelorette weekend in Vancouver. And she wants live butterflies at their reception. I’m not even sure if that’s possible in Alaska in September? She wants the entire reception to take place on top of Flat Rock in the State Park. Plus she’s making her own wedding cake, which I predict will be a control-freaky disaster.”
“That sounds expensive,” Raff said.
“Oh, did you hear that Cranky Craig’s parents are filthy rich? They’re paying for the whole thing, and Cranky is their baby, so nothing’s too good.”
Raff and Chris sputtered with laughter. “Don’t let her hear you calling him Cranky.”
They were happy for their friend though. She was a wonderful woman who celebrated and supported them all, and they would do the same at her wedding, even if it meant she went a little nuts.
After the party, Raff and Chris each carried an exhausted boy in their arms, and Elizabeth dragged a boxful of gifts up the elevator to their home. Plastic sheeting hung up over one large hole in the wall, through which workers spent the weekdays converting a second condo into a master bedroom, bath and playroom. It was when this second condo went up for sale, cheap, when Raff and Chris realized that they could make it work.
The unthinkable had happened. Little Stellar, Alaska, and the building that housed most of its population, had stolen their hearts from New York City.
After the children were asleep, Raff and Chris snuck past the plastic sheeting to see how much work was left to do. They stood at the giant picture window in the empty room, held hands and gazed out at the mountains that surrounded them. Stars were just beginning to shine.
It was quiet, but not the kind of tense quiet that they experienced a few years ago when their marriage was struggling. This was a satisfied peace that meant their day had been spent doing what gratified them most, being with their little family and each other.
In Stellar Landing, every day was a little gift.
Turn the page to get your preview of One Big Family! It is the First book in the Hot Alaska Night Series!
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Psychologist Bastian Byers is fascinated by the people who live in Stellar Landing, a small Alaskan coastal wilderness. Refusing to accept that there is anything missing in his own life, Bastian focuses on the lives and stories of the people around him. But when, he encounters nature photographer, Zachary Kelso, Bastian begins to long for something more.
After a snowstorm traps them in, Bastian and Zachary grow closer--unable to resist their desire any longer. But when Zachary faces an injury, Bastian learns that he'd do anything to save and protect the sexy and sensitive omega. The two men forage a path of love and family as they discover the true meaning of forever. But will their happily-ever-after be enough to include one big family?
In this 60,000 word gay romance novel, One Big Family, two men learn that their stories start with each other. One man looks for the answer behind the lens of a camera, while the other searches in the lives of those he meets. But when they get together, they find exactly what they've been looking for all along. With sexy and steamy scenes, this book will have you begging for more wood and heat for the fire as these two men find warmth in each other's arms. And after one man discovers he's pregnant, they both realize that family starts and ends with love.
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Turn the page to get your free book Love in Stereo!
A musician's tune can cure any bookworm's broken heart....
With his nose in a book and his heart on his sleeve, Mel has no interest in any more drama in his life. After all, he's just discovered he's pregnant with his ex's baby. And when, a popular and sexy rockstar moves into his building, Mel keeps his distance. But after a chance encounter in an elevator, he can't resist the musician's charm.
Connor is comfortable in the spotlight. Everyone likes him--except for his mysterious and reserved neighbor. Connor would like nothing more than to get the attention of studious librarian. But when they finally succumb to their desires, Mel's pregnancy isn't all that jeopardizes everything they've worked for. Suddenly, the omega and the alpha have more to overcome. Will music bring them together or tear them apart?
In this 25,000-word gay romance novel, Love in Stereo, two men create beautiful music together while one man carries his ex's baby. With explicit scenes and strong sexual content, this ballad will have you singing for more.
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Broken Bliss
Aiden Bates
© 2017
Disclaimer
All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, distributed, or transmitted in any form or by any means, including photocopying, recording, or other electronic or mechanical methods, without the prior written permission of the publisher, except in the case of brief quotations embodied in critical reviews and certain other noncommercial uses permitted by copyright law.
This is a work of fiction. Names, places, characters and events are all fictitious for the reader’s pleasure. Any similarities to real people, places, events, living or dead are all coincidental.
This book contains sexually explicit content that is intended for ADULTS ONLY (+18).
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