My lips trailed from his to make a path along his jaw, the stubble there tickling my lips. My hands mapped the curves of broad shoulders and beef biceps as I made quick work of removing the shirt in my way. I wanted Pierce right now with a passion and I didn’t care where we were or the fact it was the middle of the day.
With the shirt gone, my mouth traced a path across heated flesh until my lips found the flat disk of Pierce’s nipple. The small nub hardened under my ministrations, my tongue dipping out to taste my alpha. Small moans of pleasure erupted from the man I loved as I left one nipple, seeking out the other across his rippling muscles.
I dropped to my knees in front of Pierce, unzipping his jeans to get to my prize hidden inside. My alpha’s cock practically jumped out of his boxers and into my mouth as I leaned in, reveling in the musky scent of him. I’d become addicted to Pierce’s unique scent. The further into my pregnancy I got, the more my need for this man ramped up. I couldn’t get enough.
My tongue wrapped around the head, lapping at the precum seeping from it, the salty flavor making me groan as my own cock woke up and took notice. I needed this man, wanted to make my life with this man, wanted to make him happy.
Sooner than I expected, Pierce’s cum filled my mouth. I’d barely swallowed it all before he had me against the counter, his still hard cock filling me in the way only my alpha could. It was rough. It was quick. It was just what I needed. My orgasm hit me with a suddenness that was mind-blowing in its intensity.
When his knot eased down and we could move apart, Pierce lifted me in his arms, my legs wrapping around his waist as we moved to the bedroom for round two. And maybe, rounds three and four, if I was lucky. I was very lucky indeed.
Chapter Nineteen
Pierce
As September sped by, our baby’s due date came and went without a baby. Our little one was being stubborn, leaving Max cranky and on edge. It was a little disconcerting to have my omega snapping at me because I was breathing too heavily as we watched a movie together. At more than a week past our due date, we’d tried every suggestion we’d been given to encourage our baby to make his or her appearance into the world.
We still didn’t know what we were having. After a lot of back and forth on whether we wanted to know ahead of time, the baby took the decision out of our hands by refusing to cooperate during each of our scheduled ultrasounds. In the end, we shrugged our shoulders, painting the nursery a soft pale yellow. On one wall, Max had hired a local artist to paint a storybook mural, depicting vignettes of his favorite nursery rhymes from his childhood. When asked, I’d told the artist some of my favorites as well.
“What’s taking that doctor so long?” Max asked, despite knowing I didn’t know the answer to the question even as he asked it. He paced the room back and forth, waiting for the doctor to come back. The current plan was to admit Max to induce labor. If that failed, we were looking at a C-section. Not something any of us wanted.
Max stopped in front of me, resting his head against my chest. As my arms wrapped around him, he sighed as if being in my arms comforted him. I hoped so. I’d do anything for my omega.
Suddenly, Max stiffened in my arms as he let out a groan of pain, doubling over. If I hadn’t been holding him, he might not have remained standing. The grimace on his face told me that as I held him.
“Oh, that hurt! I think my water just broke!”
“Good, good,” the doctor said as he walked back into the room. “We might not have to induce after all. You’re all set at the hospital. There’s a labor and delivery room with your name on it, waiting for you. I’ll meet you at the hospital. Did you bring your bag like I suggested?”
“Yes, we did. It’s in the car.”
“Great. I’ll have a nurse bring Max a pair of scrub pants he can change into so he’s not soaked through. Just be aware more fluid might leak out so a towel on the seat might be a good idea. Let’s get this show on the road so we can meet your little one.”
Ten minutes later we arrived at the hospital where Max was admitted. We’d already preregistered with the hospital so admitting didn’t take long. Once the contractions started, they never seemed to stop. Max went from contractions five minutes apart to one minute in less than half an hour. Before we knew it, it was time to push.
“Are you ready to see your baby? On the next contraction, I want you to push Max.”
The next few minutes were a blur as Max squeezed my hand so hard I thought it would break. Apparently, the labor part gave omegas superhuman strength. Grimacing through it, I spoke encouraging words in Max’s ear. The grip on my hand released as Max’s whole body gave a sigh, relaxing.
“Say hello to your daughter, boys. She’s a beauty,” the doctor said as he placed her on Max’s stomach. He handed me a pair of scissors, showing me where to cut the cord between the two clamps which had been placed there. Cutting through the umbilical cord was tougher than I had expected. It was like trying to cut through rubber, but I did it.
My omega had the biggest smile on his face, looking the happiest I’d ever seen him. Seeing him lay there with our daughter in his arms, looking exhausted, he’d never looked more handsome to me. He was amazing.
I looked at my daughter, her little face all scrunched together as her lips pursed. She was beautiful. Soon, the nurse took her to the isolette to clean her up and do her post-birth checks. Our daughter was given a green light and was soon back in Max’s arms where she belonged. I couldn’t take my eyes off either one.
The day was a little bittersweet as I wished both Grant and Craig had been here to see our daughter born. I knew they’d both love her as much as I did. Forcing away all the grief which still hit me at times, I leaned in to kiss Max’s temple.
“You did good, my omega. She’s beautiful.”
“She is, isn’t she?”
“Does she have a name yet?” the doctor asked, finishing up his work with the placenta.
“She does. Her name is Keegan Marie Knowles.”
“Sounds like a winner to me. The nurse will get you settled with your daughter’s paperwork so you can fill that all out. She’ll get you all settled so you can try feeding Keegan. Don’t be too worried if Keegan doesn’t seem hungry. Not all babies are when first born. Congratulations. I’ll be back to check on you tomorrow.”
“Thanks, Doc,” Max said without taking his eyes from Keegan. I couldn’t blame him. I couldn’t look away either.
“You did good, Max. So good. I’m proud of you,” I told my omega.
“I must look like a hot mess right now.”
“You’ve never looked more beautiful than you do right now.” I swallowed as emotion choked me up. “I love you, Max. More than I could ever fully express. Thank you for barging into my life.”
“I’d do it all over again, you grumpy alpha. I love you, too.”
I never thought I’d be willing to try living again, but life with Max had pulled me out of my grief. It wasn’t completely gone, but I was able to tuck it away so it didn’t overwhelm me as it had before I met Max. My omega had steamrolled his way into my life, and I was grateful for that each and every day.
Epilogue
Max
It was Christmas. Unlike last year, Pierce’s house was decorated to the extreme. I might have gone a little overboard since it was Keegan’s first Christmas. This year, Pierce got up on the ladder to hang the lights on the roof. He about gave me a heart attack, but he successfully hung the strands so it looked like we had icicles hanging from the eaves, flashing white lights which looked spectacular at night.
On the tree were ornaments Pierce had collected with Grant. He’d admitted to feeling nervous about how I’d feel putting them out. It had been the easiest decision I’d made this year. I wanted Pierce to remember Grant and Craig. I wasn’t going to let him hide the fact he’d had a life before we met. I knew he still loved them both, but I also knew he loved me and Keegan just as much. I wasn’t in competition with Grant. In some ways, I grieved the fa
ct I’d never gotten to meet the man. He’d been a huge part of Pierce’s life. He’d helped shape the man I married. I’d be forever grateful to Grant for loving Pierce.
“The tree’s beautiful, Max.” I turned as Pierce stepped up behind me with Keegan in his arms.
“I thought you were putting her down for her nap?”
“She wanted to stay up a little longer. What can I say? I’m willing to grant her every wish.” Pierce shrugged his shoulders, smiling as he looked down at our daughter who was having a difficult time keeping her eyes open.
“I think it’s more like Daddy didn’t want to put her down for a nap. I think she has you wrapped around her fingers already.”
“Yep, she sure does.” My alpha leaned in to give me a quick kiss before holding Keegan up to look at the tree, pointing out one of the ornament’s Craig had made before his death. It choked me up, listening to Pierce as he told Keegan all about her big brother.
Wiping the tears away, I pulled out the special ornaments I’d had made for our tree this year. “I think the tree is missing something,” I said as I hung two picture ornaments on the tree, right in the middle where they could be seen. Tears welled in my alpha’s eyes as he looked at the ornaments. One displayed a picture of Craig taken his last Christmas. In the other, a picture of Grant taken that same Christmas sat next the first ornament.
“Max… Thank you. You have no idea how much that means to me. That you’re okay with me remembering…” Pierce trailed off, too overcome for words.
“I don’t want you to ever forget them. Besides, our daughter needs to know what her special guardian angels look like when you tell her all the stories about them.”
“Thank you, Max. I don’t know what I’d do without you.”
“Luckily, I don’t plan to let you find out,” I said with a smile.
This year was special. It was our daughter’s first of many firsts. Life with Pierce was amazing and it only got better with each day we were together. I was the luckiest omega on Earth. This year wasn’t a grumpy Christmas. It was the best Christmas ever.
Dear Reader,
Thank you for reading this Christmas novella. I enjoyed writing it. When I first saw Pierce in my head, he was in dire need of an omega. After having lost so much, I knew I had to find the perfect omega for him. With Max and Pierce, I played with the idea of what would happen with three men in the mix. It’s a question I’ve been asking myself a lot lately because I’m in the midst of writing my first MMM story.
In my head, I wondered what would have happened if Grant hadn’t died when he did and he had met Max. I think Grant would have welcomed Max with open arms and welcomed him into a triad relationship. I cried a little at the thought they all missed so much because Grant died too soon. It was a story I had to tell despite there being so many things in this story which made me sad.
Even in the greatest tragedies in our life, we can find hope for the future. I hope you all have a wonderful holiday in whichever way you celebrate.
Corie
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A Grumpy Christmas Page 6