by Eva Lyra
“That’s what they always say,” Nero said, scooting his chair away. “Please, don’t have the babies here. I’ll never be able to eat in the salon again if you do. I’ll be traumatized for life.”
“Idiot,” Reese muttered, snickering. “Both of you, stop. I’m trying to eat my burger.”
Pleased that his omega felt well enough to resume eating, Tiberius shut the hell up and kept watch.
***
“Reese... let me take that.” He took the backpack from his unresisting Mate’s shoulder and watched with worry as Reese rubbed at his belly and moaned, leaning against the doorframe. “Should I call the doctor?”
“No, I’ll be fine.”
“More Braxton-hicks?”
“Yeah.”
“Damn.” He waited until Reese felt he could make his way inside, watched as he waddled to the bed and sat gingerly down.
“I feel like I’m about to pop,” his omega complained.
“It can’t be long now.”
“Right?” Reese was rubbing the top of his belly. He looked adorable like that, all belly and legs, his dark hair grown a bit too long, falling in those large blue eyes. His pregnancy shirt was straining over his belly, the buttons looking about to fly away. “I’m large like a whale.”
“A very cute whale,” Tiberius said, abandoning the backpack at the desk and coming to sit beside Reese. “You’d tell me if you felt different, right? Any different kind of pain.”
“You’ll be the first to know,” Reese said, shooting him a sideways grin.
It made Tiberius’s heart flip over.
He was worried. Couldn’t help it. Reese’s belly was very large and seemed very heavy. The babies had to be big, and he still hadn’t gone into labor. He kept having those false pains, but if he didn’t go into labor soon, the doctor wanted to induce him.
And he kept studying. Tests were coming up and Reese was determined to pass them before he had the babies.
“Come here.” He pulled Reese into his arms, loving the feel of that large belly pushing into his side. “Tell me, love... are you unwilling to have the babies? Is that what’s happening? Are you telling your body to wait?”
“Would that work?” Reese sighed. “I would like to take my exams before the birth, yes. Afterward, I’d have to study all over again.”
“I get it. But you’re full term. Those babies have to come. The sooner the better.”
“I can’t...” Reese bit into his lower lip. “I’m scared, Ty.”
“Of the birth?”
Reese nodded against Tiberius’s shoulder.
“We’ll be in a birth center. They have drugs. And whatever else is needed to take away the pain. You’ll be fine, okay?”
Reese nodded again, some of the tension leaving his frame.
“Now...” Tiberius kissed him. “You’re cute. And you’re sexy. And I’ve been thinking about you all day.”
“Pervert.”
“Only for you, babe.” He rubbed Reese’s belly, then slipped his hand under the shirt to reach his nipples. It was so tight he couldn’t, and as he tried to pull his hand out again, he ripped off the buttons. They pinged away, hitting the walls and furniture with gentle plics.
Reese blinked. “Did you just destroy the only shirt that still fits me?”
“Not sorry,” Tiberius breathed, pushing Reese on his back and opening the shirt, baring his omega. He stroked his omega’s heavy belly. “Oh boy... so hot. Not sorry at all.”
Bending over him, he latched on a dark nipple, making Reese hiss. God, he tasted sweet there, like caramel. Tiberius licked and sucked until Reese started to writhe, moaning and begging. With his hand, Tiberius tormented the other nipple, until both nipples stood hard and puckered and Reese was trembling.
Lashing the nipple under his mouth with his tongue one last time, Tiberius lifted his head and winked at Reese who was panting hard, his arms around his belly.
“Please, Ty,” he rasped.
“What do you need, babe?”
“To come. Please.”
“Since you ask so nicely...” Ty spread Reese’s legs and pushed a finger into his wet hole, making him cry out. His slender cock wavered, hard and flushed, pressed against Reese’s big belly.
Tiberius didn’t touch it, though. He watched, his own cock aching, fucking Reese with his finger, then adding a second one.
“Please...” Reese’s head thrashed on the bed. “Ty...”
With this other hand, Tiberius flicked at the head of his lover’s erection, getting a yelp out of Reese. “Ready for me, babe?”
“God, fuck me already,” Reese gasped.
Chuckling, Tiberius pulled his fingers out and positioned his own cock at Reese’s entrance. “You sure?”
“Asshole! Put it in me now!”
Laughing outright, Tiberius pushed.
And groaned in pleasure as Reese’s passage opened slowly to accommodate him, slick and hot and tight like every time. “Oh yeah...”
“Ooh!” Reese moaned loudly as he rocked his hips, his hole sucking Tiberius’s cock deeper. “God...”
Not sure if that was pain or pleasure, Tiberius stilled. “You okay?”
“Yes! Just... move.”
Grinning, Tiberius grabbed Reese’s legs and lifted them around his waist. In the last weeks, they’d only done it with Reese riding him, but it was hot to see him like that, on his back, his pregnant belly pinning him down.
He started to fuck his omega in earnest, holding on to Reese’s thighs since he couldn’t lean over him, loving Reese’s moans and gasps. He freed one hand to stroke Reese’s belly, and Reese keened, his lashes fluttering, his hole tightening around Tiberius.
“Oh god...” Reese was gasping and groaning, trying to arch up and failing. “Harder!”
Tiberius gave it to him, close to losing control himself, his balls slapping Reese’s ass, his chest gently thumping against Reese’s belly. “Come with me,” he gasped, pressure coiling behind his balls. “Come now.”
“Ah”! Reese pressed his hands to the sides of his belly. “Ty!” His hole spasmed, taking Tiberius’s breath. “Oh, I’m coming!”
Just knowing that tipped Tiberius over the edge, and he fell with a shout.
Chapter Twenty-Six: Reese
He was coming. His lover’s command was a powerful trigger, especially when he was so close.
Lately, he was always close to coming, always horny, his hole always slick and ready. The doctor had mentioned that hormones might make him hornier during pregnancy, but oh boy, this was crazy.
Then again, Tiberius never missed a chance to make him come, and now... ooh. His body stiffened as pleasure gripped him. It ripped through him, making his hole clench and his cock spill in sweet spurts against his belly.
And then again.
And again.
And when Tiberius started coming, too, his hot seed hitting him deep inside, he came again with a cry, feeling as if he was being turned inside out.
“Oh, crap...”
“Reese?” Tiberius was holding Reese’s legs, his broad chest heaving with each breath, sweat gleaming on his handsome face.
“That was...” Reese lifted a hand off his belly to wave it in the air, grasping for a word. “Spectacular.”
“Yeah, it was.” Tiberius grinned, and something in Reese’s chest tightened with happiness.
How lucky was he, to be with such an alpha?
Carefully, Tiberius pulled out of Reese, who winced anyway. Yeah, he was horny and slick, but everything felt tight inside, and Tiberius had a hell of a big cock.
Reese managed to prop himself up on his elbows and watched as Tiberius went to bring a clean cloth and clean him up, like he did every time, gentle and pressing kisses to Reese’s full belly.
He waited until Tiberius went back to the bathroom that he allowed himself to grimace and rubbed at his belly. Ow... It was cramping pretty badly. Though it often cramped after sex, so it didn’t worry him too much.
H
e couldn’t believe how full he was, how huge and heavy. Getting up from the bed or a chair was impossible. Walking was hard. The pressure between his legs was unbearable. His nipples ached. His back ached. His belly ached.
It felt like the babies would be coming soon, but he had to take the two tests he’d studied for first. Fingers crossed he made it until then.
Three more days, babies. Please, wait.
“Hey, babe.” Tiberius came back out, gloriously naked. “Shower with me?”
“Do we still fit in there together?” Reese asked ruefully, still rubbing at his belly. The babies kicked, making him hiss. “I don’t know.”
“Sure we do.” Tiberius came to stroke Reese’s belly, kiss it. “Don’t we, babies?”
“You expect them to answer? I thought only Nero thought I was getting too big.”
“You’re beautiful,” Tiberius said. “And I think the babies like it when we shower all together.”
“Really?” Reese shot him a narrow look. “The babies like it?”
“Well, I like it.” He shrugged and grinned. “I like touching you and holding you. Is that a crime?”
Aw shucks. “No, of course not,” Reese said, mollified. “Still don’t know if we still fit in the stall together.”
“We’ll make it work,” Tiberius whispered.
And suddenly it wasn’t only about the shower stall. “We will?”
“Yes, love. We will. You’ll see.”
It made Reese’s heart lighter. He leaned into Tiberius who wrapped his arms around him. “I trust you,” he said and smiled.
***
“Reese!”
At the sound of Jace’s voice, he stopped and turned, one hand massaging the small of his back. It ached fiercely. “Hey. Haven’t seen you around in a while.”
“Yeah, I... I had some things to take care of.” Jace was wearing a huge parka that seemed padded with a million layers of clothes underneath.
“You look like a burrito.” Reese smiled. He couldn’t help it. Jace was pretty, and looked cuter than ever. Had he gained weight? His cheeks were rosy.
“It’s cold.” He gestured at Reese’s open jacket, his huge belly barely fitting in his pregnancy sweater. “You’re still pregnant.”
Reese snorted. “It’s that obvious, is it?”
“Saw it from a mile away.” Jace grinned. “You look great, though. Honestly.”
“I don’t feel...”
Jace frowned. “You don’t feel okay?”
Reese bit the inside of his cheek. “I’m okay. Damn uncomfortable, though, and... I feel I look like a stranded whale.”
“Nah, don’t think that.”
Reese smiled. “You going to class?”
Jace nodded. “Calculus test. You?”
“I took that one. Got a military history test before midday, and a business management one in the afternoon.”
“Loaded day.”
“You can say that again.” Reese rubbed the small of his back again. It all hurt so much more today, but he had to take those exams. He had to.
“You sure you’re all right?”
“Yeah.” Reese had already had to fend off Tiberius’s worried questions and his insistence that Reese stay and rest and forget about the exams. “I’ll be fine.”
But Jace didn’t seem ready to let him go just yet.
“Have you...?” Jace hesitated, glanced away. His hair had grown long, flying about his face. “Have you ever considered having babies on your own? Without a Mate, I mean?”
Reese frowned. “Well, “considered” is not the right word, I think, but for a while, I wasn’t sure that Tiberius wanted me, wanted to Claim me, so... I did think it could happen. Why?”
“Oh, nothing. Just wondering.”
“Let me tell you what I know now, in hindsight, after five months of carrying these babies.” Reese rubbed at his lower belly that was cramping again. “It would be tough to go through pregnancy without a Mate to help you. Especially if you carried twins like me. I mean, look at me. I can barely walk. I need help to get up and get dressed and bathe, and I can’t begin to imagine the panic when the babies come. I...” He drew a shaky breath. “I’m scared.”
He hadn’t meant to blurt that out and he tried not to admit such things in front of Tiberius who was worried enough as it was. There was something about a fellow omega that had Reese lowering his guard without realizing it.
“Aw. You will be great.” Unexpectedly, Jace moved forward and wrapped Reese in a sort of sideways hug, avoiding his belly. He smelled... sweet. Very sweet and somehow familiar. “You’ll see.”
“Yeah...”
He was still mulling over it, trying to place the scent, when Jace pulled back and flashed him a quick, bright smile. “You’re so lucky to have an alpha who loves you so much, and you deserve it. If you ever need a friend, give me a shout.”
“Okay.” Reese blinked. “Uh. You, too.”
Turning around in a whirlwind of blond fine hair, Jace left.
What had all that been about?
***
He thought he did all right at the test. The ache in his back and belly persisted, coming and going, distracting him. He rubbed at his lower back, wincing.
“You okay, Reese?” the teacher called out.
“Why is everyone asking me that today? I’m fine.”
“You look...”
“... big?”
The teacher shrugged. “You look tense. Restless.”
“And big.”
“Well, you’re carrying full-term twins, Reese.”
“Yeah.” Then why did Reese want to cry? And also throw up. Why he was nauseous? It was all too much, the constant pains, the weight of his belly, the discomfort.
Turning away, he made his slow way to the door.
“If you need help with anything, just let me know,” the teacher said.
Reese walked out without answering. He didn’t even know why he was annoyed. The teacher meant well, but he couldn’t help him. Nobody could. He needed to finish these exams and...
And have the babies.
He stopped, his breath catching as a vise tightened around his belly.
No...
Not yet, damn it.
“Reese?” There was Tiberius, right outside, waiting. “What is it?”
“Nothing,” Reese whispered. If this was labor, it would take a while, right? He’d heard of cases lasting for all day and all night. He shivered at the thought. Point was, he still had time. Take the second exam, and then tell Tiberius about it, gather his things and drive to the birth center.
Besides, it was probably just strong Braxton-hicks. Nothing serious yet.
“Didn’t the exam go well?”
“It went okay,” I think. He managed a smile for his alpha. “I’m just tired.”
“Hungry? Let’s grab a bite.”
Reese let him take his hand and tug him toward the salon. The thought of eating brought bile up his throat, but if he told Tiberius, he’d worry him more and then have to suffer the alpha overprotective urge taking over. Easier to just go along and pretend he was fine.
He would be, when these exams were done.
Stifling a groan as another pain wrapped around his belly and his back, he waddled beside Tiberius and tried to empty his mind.
No exams.
No babies.
No birth.
He floated on a warm cloud where nothing could touch him, relaxed and resting... His alpha was beside him, holding Reese in his arms, keeping him safe...
“Reese. You’re scaring me.”
He opened his eyes to find they’d walked inside the building and Tiberius was facing him, giving him an uneasy look. “Uh... Sorry?”
“Don’t be. Tell me what you need.”
“Maybe some food would be good,” Reese muttered. “Something light.”
“Done. Now come on and sit before you fall down. You’re looking pale. We need to get you fed and rested for the afternoon exam.”
<
br /> Grateful, Reese let his Mate lead him to their usual corner and told himself he’d really be fine.
I’m fine. I’ll be fine. The exam will be fine. The babies will be fine.
That was his new motto.
Chapter Twenty-Seven: Tiberius
His omega was in pain. Tiberius could tell by the white lines around his mouth, the paleness of his face, the stiff way he held himself, the way his face tightened from time to time.
False pains, Reese had said. Normal, he’d said. Sure. Tiberius had googled it every and each way, and okay, it seemed valid.
But how did you know when the false pains turned real? Tiberius was on high alert, his alpha instincts screaming at him to make a nest for his Mate and stash him inside until the babies came. A nest or a fortress maybe, something defensible.
From what, he couldn’t tell. It was his wolf howling at him, demanding he protect a vulnerable Reese from other wolves, other dangers.
From Reese himself. Because his pretty omega was pushing himself too hard. He’d made up his mind to finish his studies and he wouldn’t sit down and relax until he did. Even if he could barely walk.
He got an omega’s attention and ordered some food, then led Reese to their corner, helped him lower himself into a seat.
Reese leaned back with a sigh, wrapping both arms around his belly.
Yeah, his Mate couldn’t fool him. He was in pain. “Reese... are you in labor?”
“No.” Reese scowled and looked away.
That was categorical and emphatic. “Okay.”
Tiberius was a bit confused. He could have sworn Reese was. His scent was mixed with the sourness of fear and stress.
Then again, he had just taken a difficult exam and was about to take another, so... it could be that.
“Let’s eat,” he decided. Maybe part of the discomfort his omega felt was hunger.
Just then their food arrived, and Reese glared down at the plate of spaghetti Tiberius had ordered him as if it had offended him. “I’m...”
“You don’t want spaghetti?”
Suddenly Reese was struggling to get up. Alarmed, Tiberius stood to help him. “Bathroom,” Reese managed.
He looked green.
Damn.
“Out,” Tiberius decided. He tried to pick Reese up but Reese shoved at him so he gritted his teeth and helped him as quickly as he could out of the building.