by Eva Lyra
“Well, one should hope so,” Marcus said drily, “if you want to Claim him. One should hope he loves you back. Right?”
And Tiberius had no answer to that, because although he knew what he felt for Reese, had finally come to terms with it, embraced it, he had no idea what Reese had to say about it.
Not until he asked.
Chapter Eighteen: Reese
“Oh man, that’s great!” Ethan gushed, sitting down on Reese’s bed and grinning broadly at the pregnancy test. “I mean, I sort of knew it the moment I saw you, but hearing it confirmed is awesome. Congrats. Are you...? Aren’t you happy?”
Reese smiled faintly, stroking the swell of his belly. “Yeah, I am. A bit scared, though.”
“Have you told the alpha father?”
“No... not yet.”
“You have to, though, right? He has to know.”
Reese frowned. “I dunno, Ethan. I’m not sure he’d drop everything to be with me, or that he’d be happy that way.”
“Reese—”
“He’s getting married.”
Ethan swallowed hard. “Ow.”
“And didn’t even tell me about it.”
Ethan sighed, mouth downturned. “Damn. I’m so sorry.”
“Yeah. Me too.”
The silence stretched, vibrating like a live wire.
“How far along do you think you are?” Ethan eventually asked.
Reese had to think about it. “Two months, maybe?”
“You need to book a doctor appointment, for an ultrasound.”
“Yeah...”
He’d never really imagined having babies, but in the rare instances where he’d allowed himself to picture it, he’d done such things accompanied by his alpha. Doctor appointments. Buying pregnancy clothes. Buying baby clothes. Oh fuck...
He turned his head away to hide the tears spilling out of his eyes.
“Oh cuz... come here.” Ethan was suddenly right beside him, wrapping him up in a hug. “I’m here. I’ll go with you.”
“Thank you,” Reese choked out, annoyed that he couldn’t hold back the tears.
“They are my nephews, after all.”
“Distant nephews.”
“Family, all the same.”
Reese clung to him, trying to get himself under control, the act of kindness hitting him hard after he’d tried to be so strong, convince himself he could do this all on his own.
It was such a relief to have someone to depend on.
But how awful was he that he still wished it was Tiberius there with him, instead?
***
He made an appointment with the doctor, though it wouldn’t be for another week. Buying clothes was quickly becoming urgent, as his overlarge shirt barely fit anymore.
He really was pregnant. Looking at himself in the mirror fastened on the diner wall, he smoothed a hand over the roundness of his belly. His baby, he thought.
God.
He really hoped it was only one and not more. First-time pregnancies usually were only one baby, though shifters tended to have multiple pregnancies.
Fear twisted his stomach once more. How was he going to do this? Would his uncle understand, help him, when the moment came when he couldn’t work anymore?
Could his uncle afford it? Since his injuries in the tournament, ten years ago, he’d never fully recovered and lived mainly from social allowances.
He wondered if the Shifter State would help Reese. Unclaimed pregnant omegas normally received some allowance, too. Maybe they’d overlook who his fathers had been and help?
Suddenly, he felt sick. Pulling out a chair, he sat down and bowed his head, trying for a deeper breath. He’d be okay. Everything seemed impossible right now, but he’d find a way. He wasn’t one to give up. He never had and wasn’t going to give up now, when the life of his baby depended on him.
Not their fault he’d fallen for an unavailable alpha.
Customers walked in and he made himself get up. He could do this. Omegas had babies every single day around the world. He was healthy, and had a roof over his head, a job, and a nice cousin helping him. Honestly, what more could one ask for?
Tiberius, the treacherous little voice in his mind whispered.
Yeah, well. He couldn’t have him. It was about time he let that sink in and made his own plans for the future.
***
It was late in the afternoon, and Reese had been dragging his feet as he carried dirty dishes back to the kitchen, when the door chimed again.
Reese heaved a sigh of exhaustion at the thought of more customers. His shift was almost over, thank god, but Mace who was supposed to start now had called to say he was sick and wouldn’t make it.
Abandoning the tray with the dishes inside the kitchen, Reese grabbed his notepad and headed back out, ready to take an order.
And froze in his tracks, the notepad falling from his hands.
He barely noticed.
There he was.
Tiberius.
Flanked by Marcus and Nero, he stood there, larger than life, his presence filling the small diner.
“... Ty?” Reese whispered, his breath gone, his knees buckling.
“Reese.” In two strides, Tiberius was there, hauling Reese into his arms. “Reese, thank god I’ve found you.”
He sounded relieved and choked. His arms were steel cables around Reese, crushing him to Tiberius’s chest.
“Ty. How are you here? I just...” Reese clung to him, rubbing his face against Tiberius’s chest. “I can’t believe it.”
“You were a hard one to find. You hid well. But why, Reese... why? Don’t you know how I feel about you?”
Reese pulled back a little, emotion choking him. “Your father said you were getting married. When were you going to tell me? What do you want from me?”
“Oh god... everything, Reese, don’t you see? I want everything, with you.”
“But how...?”
“We need to talk. And we will, now that I’ve found you.” Tiberius’s gaze heated. “But first I need time with you.”
God, Reese needed that, too. Tiberius smelled amazing, even better than Reese remembered. And he looked so good when Reese raised his gaze to gaze at him. Gorgeous. Powerful.
So sexy that Reese felt himself grow wet with desire. It had been weeks since that had happened.
Ever since he’d left the Academy, in fact, and Tiberius.
He couldn’t believe that his alpha was here, right here, holding Reese in his arms, emotions Reese couldn’t decipher playing over his handsome face.
Tiberius pulled him again closer, against him, and frowned. “What the hell are you carrying under that hoodie? A basketball?”
Oh. That.
Shit.
“I think we should start by talking,” he whispered, casting a quick look at the other two alphas who were looking on with a lot of interest, and Ethan who had appeared from inside the kitchen, his phone in his hand, probably to call the cops if something was wrong.
And of course, Ethan spoiled it all when he put the phone down, eyes wide, and all but yelled for everyone to hear, “Don’t tell me this is the baby daddy? He’s hot!”
***
“Baby daddy?” Marcus was frowning, hands shoved in his jacket pocket, hair standing up in all directions. “What’s he talking about?”
“Who is this guy, anyway?” Nero asked.
“This is Ethan,” Reese said, “my cousin, and my boss.”
Tiberius was silent, his gaze jumping between Ethan and Reese.
Then his eyes moved down from Reese’s face to his belly, pressed between them. “Reese?” he breathed. “Is that...?”
This wasn’t exactly how Reese had planned on telling Tiberius.
In fact, he hadn’t planned on telling him at all.
“What’s going on, Ty?” Marcus was moving toward them, Nero, too, and Ethan was closing in from the other direction.
“Back off,” Ethan said. “You alphas, stay away from him.
He doesn’t need the stress in his condition.”
“His condition?” Nero muttered.
Tiberius’s eyes were too bright as he unwound his arms from around Reese and placed his hand on Reese’s belly. “Is it true?”
“Will someone finally tell me what’s going on?” Marcus demanded.
“I’m pregnant,” Reese whispered, “with Tiberius’s baby.”
The silence that followed was breathless. Tiberius’s silence was the most worrisome of all. His lashes were lowered, his hands still on Reese’s belly, and Reese couldn’t read his face. Was he angry? Was he disappointed?
Was he going to turn around and leave?
And then Tiberius leaned in and kissed Reese on the mouth, hard, and Reese saw that his eyes were wet.
“This is the best surprise ever,” he whispered. “It’s like Christmas. And I want to unwrap my present now.”
Chapter Nineteen: Tiberius
Reese was pregnant. With his baby.
That was fucking amazing. Incredible. Perfect.
And hot.
It was so damn hot. Reese was sexy on any given day, but that baby bump set Tiberius on fire. He wanted to see it, touch it, kiss it. He wanted to kiss and lick Reese all over.
His cute omega was kissing him back passionately, so that was a good sign, right? A good sign that Reese still wanted him, that he hadn’t run because he hated Tiberius. He’d have to explain to him the thing about the wedding, reassure him that he had no intention of marrying anyone but Reese.
If Reese was willing, of course. So much they had to discuss.
But first...
Reese had led him to his room upstairs, and the moment he’d unlocked the door and switched on the light, Tiberius had pushed him inside, remembering in the last moment to be careful, gentler. It still hadn’t sunk in completely that Reese had a bun or two in the oven.
Pressing Reese’s back against the wall, Tiberius kissed him. He couldn’t get enough. Fuck, I missed you, he breathed, cupping Reese’s face and kissing him again, harder, deeper, fucking Reese’s mouth with his tongue.
Shit, this was damn good. It was always amazing with Reese.
Reese was making faint, desperate noises. Tiberius felt desperate, too—desperate to sink inside his omega. His mouth tasted like chocolate and honey. He tasted like he smelled, heavily sweet, with a hint of Tiberius’s spice.
Pregnant.
He needed to see. Breaking the kiss, panting, he grinned at a flushed Reese. With one hand—the other sliding around Reese’s neck, holding him in place—he lifted Reese’s hoodie.
And there it was, the swell of his belly, already round, and the hint of his dark nipples above. He released the hem and the hoodie remained bunched up on top of Reese’s belly. If he was so round already, how big was he going to get?
The thought was exciting.
“You’re beautiful,” Tiberius breathed. “So damn beautiful.”
“You think?” Doubt darkened Reese’s pretty blue eyes. “I’m so—”
“—so perfect,” Tiberius finished the sentence for him. “So sexy, Reese.”
“But—”
“Prettiest boy in the world,” Tiberius whispered, fumbling for the fly of Reese’s pants. He didn’t find one, then realized they had an elastic band waist, and just shoved them down, releasing Reese’s cock.
Making him gasp and whine in the back of his neck.
Tiberius took a small step back to admire his lover’s arousal—that slender cock so hard and flushed, the slick coating the inside of Reese’s pale thighs.
Going down on his knees in one smooth movement, he sucked that gorgeous cock into his mouth. Reese cried out and shook, one landing on Tiberius’s hair, fingers tangling in the strands. He tasted stronger than before, the sweetness of his precum laced with something slightly bitter. Tiberius moaned, so turned on that he ached, his cock swollen huge inside his pants.
“Ty...” Reese had thrown his head back against the wall, dark tassels of hair falling in his eyes, chest rising and falling rapidly. He had his other hand on his belly, rubbing slowly, and the sight had Tiberius’s cock twitching.
Damn.
He longed to suck on Reese’s nipples that looked bigger and darker than before, standing in stiff peaks, but he had his mouth full. His hands, too, gripping Reese’s hip with the one, using the other to spread those smooth thighs open and slip a finger inside Reese.
“Oh god...” Reese was panting open-mouthed, eyes closed, his cock leaking sweetness in Tiberius’s mouth, hard as a rock. “I’m gonna come...”
Tiberius hummed in agreement, and Reese groaned, coming in thin streams inside Tiberius’s mouth. He swallowed greedily, and once Reese was done coming, he released the limp cock from his mouth and licked his lips.
“Delicious,” he murmured.
“Ty...” Reese was gasping for breath. “That was...”
“Good?”
“So good.”
“I need to fuck you now.”
“Oh god, yes...”
Rising to his feet, Tiberius grabbed Reese’s hand and dragged him to the bed. He shoved him down on it, pulled off Reese’s pants, then bent over his omega and kissed him firmly on the mouth.
Reese kissed him back wildly, opening his mouth, tangling his tongue with Tiberius’s, wrapping his arms around Tiberius’s neck.
Oh yeah.
Reaching between them, Tiberius freed his painful erection from his jeans and positioned the head at Reese’s entrance.
So damn wet. Opening to let Tiberius’s cock inside, inch by inch, opening more and more, and yet gripping Tiberius’s hard-on like a vise. So tight.
“Fuck, Reese.” Tiberius struggled to control himself but he couldn’t. With a groan, he shoved his cock inside all the way, making Reese cry out. “Sorry, fuck. Did I hurt you?”
“No.” There was awe in Reese’s whisper. “It feels amazing.”
He clenched around Tiberius’s cock and reason abandoned him. He grunted, rocking into Reese, bracing himself on his hands, bent over his omega. He looked so adorable from above with his hard nipples and round belly, his wide eyes and slack mouth. So damn impossibly hot.
“Nng...” Tiberius was trembling, his whole body tightening, his balls drawn unbearably tight. His cock was so hard he hurt. “Reese... oh shit.”
His cock swelled more. More. He was going to burst.
Reese moaned. His hole spasmed around Tiberius’s cock. He called out Tiberius’s name as he came, lean hips rocking up, his hole milking him.
After that, Tiberius lost track. His entire body was clenching, his stomach, his ass, his balls—his cock was jerking, again and again, filling Reese with his cum. So much of it. The relief was excruciating.
Blinding.
When it was over, it was all he could do not to drop on top of Reese—careful, he thought fuzzily, the baby!—and rolled off him instead, pulling out of him in the process.
No condom! his mind screeched. You came inside him!
Then he remembered. Reese was already pregnant. They could do this all the time. He could come inside Reese without a condom all the time.
He’s pregnant.
With a sigh of deep contentment, he pulled Reese into his arms and fell into sleep.
***
When Tiberius woke up, it was to the sight of his lover still fast asleep, cheeks slightly flushed, his pregnant belly bare and tempting. The need to smell it, touch it, scent it was so strong it took all of his willpower not to touch it yet, let his omega rest a while longer.
It was so alluring, Tiberius thought. Such a perfect curve. Reese’s nipples winked on top of it, like dark chocolate buttons.
Unable to help himself, Tiberius touched an exposed nipple with his fingertip. It was firm, stiff even though Reese was asleep. He circled it, watched it grow stiffer, longer. His omega’s scent intensified, growing sweeter, and Reese moaned in his sleep, long dark lashes fluttering against his smooth cheeks.
Damn.
Tiberius was getting hard again. He’d heard stories of alphas getting completely obsessed with their pregnant omegas, needing to touch them and smell them all the time, to fuck them.
It looked like it was true.
Something about the omegas needed the sex to prepare their uterus and their opening for the birth. And alphas needed it, too, apparently, getting into their role as protectors of the family, getting acquainted with their babies’ scent even before the birth.
Marcus had probably told him all that. He may look badass but he was a bit of a nerd, deep in his dark little heart.
“Ty?” Reese whispered, shifting a little, and Tiberius tightened his arm around the omega’s shoulders, letting his other hand drop to Reese’s belly, where he rubbed gentle circles.
So that was the thing that had been nagging at Tiberius. That rich, sweet and heavy scent. He had smelled pregnant omegas before, once or twice, but he hadn’t connected the dots. Dots like Reese’s exhaustion, his scent, his frequent trips to the bathroom. And yeah, he should have, because of that first time without a condom. Tiberius had known that a pregnancy was possible, but he’d pushed it to the back of his mind, kind of scared of the implications.
He wasn’t scared now, not anymore. Everything was as it should be.
“Sh... I just want to touch and taste all of you,” Tiberius said, finally doing what he’d wanted to do earlier: he bent over Reese and closed his mouth around one nipple.
“Ooh!” Reese gasped and writhed, his nipple sweet like candy on Tiberius’s tongue. “Feels... hurts, and it’s so good...”
Tiberius tormented the stiff tip of the nipple with his tongue, then bit softly into it, making Reese arch up and cry out.
“Oh, Ty! I think I’m gonna come...”
So sensitive. So beautiful.
Tiberius sucked on the stiff nub harder and reached between Reese’s bare legs to push two fingers into him.
It took two thrusts, and Reese wailed, coming on his fingers, clenching hard, spilling on his belly.
Letting the nipple pop out of his mouth, Tiberius leaned in to kiss the panting breaths from his lover’s mouth. “Ready for another round?” he whispered.
Chapter Twenty: Reese