Chapter 31: : Chapter 30

Lincoln and I finish the crib and changing table. We roll out the rug in the nursery, lug the now-assembled furniture up the stairs, and get it situated before Lincoln offers to go grab dinner. Neither of us particularly wants to cook tonight. He orders and heads out while I focus on changing over the loads of baby clothes. Either Kase went majorly overboard, or babies require a mind-blowing number of things.

It’s likely some combination of the two. I fold the load from the dryer, following my mom’s recommendation of keeping clothing sorted by size and then making piles of things like bibs, rags, and blankets.

By the time I finish, I start to realize Kase and Chelsea have been gone for a long time. I text them, but neither reply, so I shove my phone into my pocket.

Sky pops her head up when she spots me striding toward the door, but I wave her off.

“I’ll be back in five minutes. Guard the house,” I say, heading out the door without bothering with a coat. It’s a quick trip down the driveway and a few yards walking along the road before I make the turn onto Chelsea’s driveway.

My phone chimes, and I tug it out to see a message from Easton.

This has been the trip from hell. Be around to let us in. We’re three minutes out, according to the GPS. I’ve got a pissed-off omega who has to pee. Make sure no one else is around. She’s still trying to claim I kidnapped her.

My head tilts, but no matter how many times I read the message, I still have no idea who the omega is that he’s speaking about. However, the kidnapping line finally clicks.

Jesus Christ.

I need to get Chelsea over to our house immediately. If she was disturbed hearing the three of us talk, she should never be introduced to Easton. Picking up my pace, I stomp up the stairs and into the front door without bothering to knock.

“You can just go without it,” Kase says. “I get the concept, but the little hook thingies don’t want to cooperate.”

Chelsea snorts as I step past the wall that closes in the entryway and fully into the living room. She’s in her panties while Kase attempts to hook her into her bra. The baby belly seems lower than it has yet, almost like Luna has dropped into her pelvis, rather than being up by her ribs.

Kase is nude, and I remember why I was rushing.

“Let me take over. Kase, get yourself dressed. Easton and his team should be here literally any minute.” I stride over and take up the mantle of getting Chelsea situated. Snagging her dress from the back of the couch, I just get it pulled over her head when the banging on the front door starts.

“Oh shit, you weren’t kidding,” Chelsea whispers.

Kase has managed to get into his sweats, and he snags his shirt, walking toward the door as he pulls it on. “I’ll get it.”

They don’t wait to be invited in, and a woman with dark, wavy hair leads the way.

She does a double take when she spots Chelsea but quickly says, “Bathroom? It’s an emergency.”

Chelsea slides her hands down her sides and walks to the woman in bare feet. “Right down this hallway. Second door on the right.”

Easton watches the woman, leaning against the wall, like he intends to monitor her from the second she leaves the bathroom. His eyes flick to Chelsea, and his nose wrinkles. “Could you not contain yourselves long enough to return to your own home?”

“Easton,” I growl, swiping a hand over my face.

If there’s a human being with less tact than Kase, it’s East. It’s also easier to recognize that he’s a natural predator just by looking into his cold, dead eyes.

Chelsea bristles. “This is technically my house, but I’m going back to my other house. Nice to meet you.” She waves and begins searching for something. “Thanks for coming to help out.”

Easton chuckles, still staring down the hallway at the bathroom the woman disappeared into.

Calder and Keir come in next, and they’re loaded down with suitcases and boxes of who knows what.

I snag Kase’s arm. “Yes, get Chelsea back over to our house. Point out anything you need me to bring back when I head over.”

“The laundry basket by the washer,” Chelsea says, sliding her feet into her flats. She relocates to the couch, grabbing a diaper bag and hefting it over shoulder.

Kase follows her, grabbing a moving box and nodding for Chelsea to head to the door.

“I’ll be right behind you,” I assure them. “Lincoln should be back shortly with dinner, if he’s not already there.”

Kase nods, acknowledging my words.

Keir and Calder drop their loads of stuff and follow Chelsea and Kase back out the door.

My gaze moves back to Easton. “Tell me you didn’t bring a kidnapping victim into my pregnant omega’s home.”

“Briar is my assistant.” He shrugs. “Did she particularly want to come on this assignment? Not really, but it’s not like she’s going to report me.”

I scoff.

That man lives entirely in his own world.

Chelsea barely pecks at dinner, which would worry me significantly less if she didn’t excuse herself to bed shortly after.

I’ve barely had the chance to process that she and Kase bonded, but based on the way she let him toss his arm over her chair as he fed her the few bites of dinner that she actually ate… I’m going to guess there was no coercion involved.

Okay, at the very least, I’ll assume it was consensual.

Lincoln and Kase congregate in the living room, assembling a few of the smaller items we didn’t tackle this afternoon. I choose not to join them, instead making my way to my room for a quick shower before sneaking into the primary suite.

Chelsea lies on her side, and she appears to be sleeping. Closing the door carefully, I make my way over to the bed and climb on behind her. She’s in a pajama dress, and her hair is wet.

I gladly would have joined her had she invited me. It’s a fine line of being available if she needs one of us and hovering to the point she resents being stuck with such overbearing alphas.

Snuggling up to Chelsea’s back, I carefully weave my arm around her. It’s a slow process to keep from bothering her, but I smile to myself when my hand comes to rest on her stomach.

Things are going to change drastically in just a few weeks—if she makes it that long. Women routinely give birth after the thirty-six-week mark for a variety of reasons. I learned that from listening to a parenting audiobook that Lincoln put on while we assembled the crib.

It’s a sturdy set, but I do hope the wall clings arrive swiftly. We put out the baby pink rug, but there was no time to paint. The room is a bit generic, and I can only hope that will be fixed once the cartoon animals arrive. They can be placed right on the wall and peeled down when we plan to redecorate.

I’m not even sure Chelsea got a look at the room with all the furniture placed in it, but pregnancy is taxing. We can show her tomorrow once Kase and Lincoln get the other items assembled. They also planned to tackle hanging the video monitor tonight.

Yes, the gift will have more impact once all the goodies are in their places.

My mind drifts as I caress her stomach and try to fall asleep. We need to call the hospital and schedule her registration tour tomorrow.

Chelsea’s skin begins to bounce against my hand, and my heart thumps wildly.

It’s enchanting.

Luna is awake and moving while Chelsea sleeps. It slams home that she’s carrying an entirely new person. Someone else for us to love and protect.

I wake in pure confusion. For a moment, I assume I’m in my bed, but I quickly determine I’m in the pack bedroom. Chelsea is nowhere to be found. Throwing the comforter back, I make a quick check of the bathroom before going searching throughout the house. If she wanted to sleep with Lincoln or Kase, she could have woken me to give me some warning.

The light streaming from the open nursery door catches my attention, and I poke my head inside.

Chelsea sits on the floor next to the dresser with piles of clothes strewn about. She grabs a set and tucks it into the dresser drawer before collecting the one next to it and doing the same.

I stride inside and squat at her side. “I woke up, and you were gone.”

She blinks at me from behind her long lashes as her teeth dig into her lower lip.

“I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to wake you. I woke up and started to panic that this wasn’t done yet.” She shrugs, swiping her hair behind her ear. “You were really warm. I tried to force myself to go back to sleep, but it just wasn’t happening.”

“Is there anything I can help with?” I ask, brushing my fingers over her pink cheek.

“You can help me up.” She laughs awkwardly. “I’ve been working for a while. I was on my way back to you, and I thought, let me just put these away first, but then I sat down and…”

An unabashed smile crosses my face. “And getting back up was tough?”

“Yeah,” she admits.

Holding out my hands, I stand and wait for her to place her fingers in mine. There are still multiple piles of clothing and other items that will need to be tackled tomorrow, but for now, it’s time to rest.

Chelsea isn’t settled, even after we make it back into bed. She wiggles around, and even though she tries to stay quiet, she’s grunty.

Pulling the hair back from her face, I plant a kiss just below her ear. “Are you doing okay, love?”

She glances at me over her shoulder with her brow furrowed. “Sorry. I’m ruining your night of sleep.”

“Hardly, but I would like to know what has you unsettled.”

“I don’t even know,” she whispers as her eyes fall shut. “I just can’t seem to shut off my head.”

“Would you like me to rub your back?”

Her head shakes.

“Hmm, would you like me to massage your scalp?” I offer.

“I’m not sure, but I love the way you smell. It soothes my system, even if my mind is kind of a mess.”

“Well, you could roll over and bury your nose in my neck. Or we could try something we didn’t get to explore the full scope of the other day in my office.”

“I’m open to whatever,” she says as her eyes pop open.

“Do you have panties on?” I ask.

Her head shakes.

I didn’t think so, based solely on when I ran my hand over her ass as I kissed her before we got into bed. Shoving my sweats down to my thighs, I grind against her backside.

“Perfect.” It comes out as much more of a purr than I intended. “Lift your head for me.” The little omega complies, and I tuck my arm under her head but bring my other hand to her mouth. I flatten my palm and tell her to lick. She again follows directions beautifully. I move my fingers into her mouth and get my entire hand nice and juicy before sliding it down and wrapping it around my cock. Once that’s saturated, I spit on my fingers and bring them to her core. “If you experience any discomfort, speak up.”

“Okay.”

“Such a good girl,” I coo. “Lift your top leg for me.” Once that’s done, I position my tip at her opening and gently thrust. I’m only half hard, but it’s enough to seat myself inside her. This isn’t about sex, anyway. It’s about intimacy and connection.

Rolling my hips a few times, I settle against her ass. I use the hand of the arm under her head to brush the top of her head and bring my left hand back to her mouth.

“Suck,” I murmur, offering her my fingers. Her naughty little tongue feels like heaven with her tight heat wrapped around my thickening shaft, but I breathe through the intense urge to thrust. I continue to soothe my hand over her forehead, and she snuggles back into my chest. It takes some focus, but I will myself to purr, the sound rattling out around the room. “See, cock warming isn’t about the physical act of completion, but the intimate connection it fosters.” I hum. “I suppose it can mean different things for different people, but that’s what I’m hoping to gain and to provide you.”

“This is nice,” she mumbles around my fingers.

I chuckle. “Very good. Now, I’ll be occasionally thrusting to stay hard, but with the way you’re suckling my fingers, that might not be necessary. If you decide you’d like to come, all you need to do is ask.” Stretching over her, I kiss her cheek before settling back against the pillow. “Otherwise, rest, sweet omega.”

I wake slowly, my palm sliding over Chelsea’s stomach. At some point, her sleeping gown ended up tucked just under her breasts. Chelsea’s breathing hitches, and she freezes.

Ahh, that would be how my cock is still rock hard and inside her. Actually, I suppose it’s hard again, because realistically speaking, there’s no way it stayed that way during hours of us both being asleep.

“Feel free to continue,” I murmur, sliding my hand down to tease her clit.

“Or you could take over,” she whispers.

“Mmm, yes, I could do that too.” Pulling out, I thrust back inside her. She’s very slick, making it easy. I never would have guessed that spooning sex would be one of my favorite positions, but I enjoy being wrapped around her back.

Once she gives birth and heals, we’ll be able to explore all sorts of other options, but for now, this works fine. Her inner walls spasm, like they’re searching for my knot, or perhaps she’s much closer to her climax than I guessed.

The thought makes my cock jolt. I do enjoy the idea of her taking what she wants. She grinds back, gyrating her hips and forcing her way farther down my swollen cock.

“Mmm, you are delectable.” I growl, pinching her lower lips and letting my palm brush her clit. “Keep clenching around me like that, and this won’t last very long.”

She moans, slamming her hips back with purpose. “Your scent is everywhere. I love it, but I need more.”

That’s the frustrating part of not being able to simply switch positions so that she could bury her nose in my scent.

Instead, I let every bit of unhinged praise spill from my lips and take over slapping my hips against her ass. Twisting back a bit, I test different directions until she starts to frantically nod while begging for more.

There we go.

“That’s it, love,” I murmur, applying firmer pressure on her swollen nub. “Soak me in your slick. I want to be coated in your scent, then I’ll fill you with mine.” The quivering of her inner walls turns to a milking of my cock that’s so intense, I can’t hold back. “You’re so fucking perfect. An absolute gift of an omega. I need you to come for me, because I’m about to drill every drop of my cum into the bottom of your very slick little pussy.”

Pleasure rips through my system, and the staggering urge to bite her hits me square in the chest. I fight against the impulse and focus on fucking her through her orgasm.

It’s several long seconds before my vision clears, and I stretch over her top half to kiss her temple. “Not a bad way to start the day.”

She smiles, glancing at me over her shoulder. “Not bad at all.”