Page 96 of One Wild Omega

“It’s hard to let go of that. I don’t know how you have.”

“Because I can see the love in your eyes now,” Tanner said.

Fitz kissed him again. “I do love you… so very much.” He paused, lifting his head. “But I think my parents will demand an official mating before we start a family.”

“As long as we know we’re together, why do we need some ceremony?”

Fitz lifted a ring in his fingers. “Then I guess I can take this back?”

Tanner gasped and grabbed it from Fitz. “When did you get this?”

“I’ve had it for a while. I had planned on getting on one knee at the end of the gallery opening—but—things sort of went off the rails and I was waiting for the right moment.”

Tanner slid the ring onto his finger. It fit perfectly. A large diamond was surrounded by a ring of smaller diamonds, amethysts, and sapphires on a platinum band.

“It reminded me of you,” Fitz said. “Purple and blue.”

Tanner smiled up at his alpha. “It’s beautiful, but my hair is faded again. I’ll have to re-dye it to match my ring.”

“I never thought I’d get used to the blue and purple—but it suits you,” Fitz said as he ran a hand through Tanner’s locks. “Loud and vibrant… just like you.”

A wave of heat washed over Tanner and he heard his alpha’s answering growl. Night was coming to the city and it was only a matter of hours before the moon grew to its fullest. They quickly peeled their clothes away, standing in the fading light of the setting sun.

The animal need soon took over. Soon Fitz was in full rut, he in full heat. They clashed over and over again, lost to the instinct. In the midst of the wreckage of their apartment, they sought each other over and over. Luckily, they’d been using the fourth floor to live in until their new home was done.

After christening the elevator—again—they made it upstairs. Sex, a shower, more sex, and a quick nap… all occurred before Fitz made a call and had some supplies delivered. Between sex and sleeping, they had water and protein bars to tide them over until they awakened calm on the fifth morning.

Fitz drew his mate into his arms and kissed his omega’s forehead. “You ready for a bath?”

“Not in that nasty tub in here. But I will take a shower with you.”

“I’m going to build you the most glorious bathroom with a soaking tub in it for after your heats,” Fitz murmured. “I know you’re sore. I’m sorry we’re so ill prepared here.”

“For now we’re ill prepared, and you have no reason to be sorry. Soon, this place will be an amazing home where we will start our family.” He nuzzled closer. “But you know we can’t have more than two or three kids here. There’s not enough space.”

“Not enough space? This place is bigger than my parent’s whole house. And we hadeightthere.”

“And were you all crawling all over each other and grumbling?”

“Abso-fricken-lutely,” Fitz said with a chuckle. “I guess we’ll have to consider other options if we have more than two or three, then, won’t we?” Fitz gave him a look. “Four?”

Tanner winced. “We’ll see what happens after I have the first. Then I’ll know if I can keep enduring that kind of pain.”

Fitz pressed a hand on Tanner’s stomach. “Who knows… there might be a little one in there right now.”

Tanner laid his hand over Fitz’s. “Maybe.”

“Or two… twins do run in the family, as you saw when you met my family.”

Tanner’s eyes grew wider. “Fitz Walker, do not put that kind of juju on me.”

Fitz laughed as he turned in their bed. He looked down at Tanner before lifting the hand wearing his ring. “So when can I make you Tanner Walker?”

Tanner chuckled. “TannerMcCreary-Walker, you mean?”

“Can’t let that name go, hmm?”

“I’ve established myself as an artist in this province,my alpha. Especially after that wonderful show you put on downstairs. I’ve had calls about new commissions coming out of the woodwork. I wouldn’t want to miss out on new clients because of name confusion.”

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