Page 64 of The Beta: Part Three
“He wouldn't suggest overthrowing council rule and procedure just because I bat my eyes at him. He's too honest and good for that, you know that as well as I do.”
I breathe my answer to that into her neck, brushing my lips over one of our marks. “That's all it should take. I'd do a lot of questionable things if you bat your eyes at me.” She gives me breathy giggles I'm after and everything feels lighter. I don't mind talking about serious, heavy, incredibly important things with her, but I spend most of my days neck-deep in serious shit. Right now I just want to lose myself in her.
I'm sliding my hand over her hip when she grabs it and puts it over her stomach. Talia doesn't bring attention to the babies moving around very often, but when she does it's a little bit of a race to get to her first. This time I got it all to myself. I don't feel anything for a few moments, then the little thunk of movement hits my palm. I stay perfectly still while I wait for the next little bump, and Talia whispers for me to spread my fingers out. When I do, my hand spans across almost her entire stomach, but I can feel the little rolling thumps. “I can't believe there are three in there. It's so amazing. Trent's terrified of them.”
She laughs, “I know. It's so funny. I hope he'll calm down a little once they're here. I don't know what I'm going to do when they're bigger and in there moving around. It's strange enough now when they roll around. I'm going to be enormous.”
“You're going to be beautiful just like you are now,” I tell her and kiss her shoulder. “I don't think you're capable of being enormous, but if you do pull that off, I can't wait to see it. Jesus, I love the thought of you like that.”
“Mmm, I can tell,” she hums, reaching behind her to grip my cock that's trying to push between her thighs. She moves her hand up and down the length of me a few times, then guides me inside her.
I love how easy it is with her. I love how good it is when she lets herself be soft like this. It's everything to me that I can hold her and bury my nose into her hair while we move together. There's no urgency right now, only gentle rocking and her soft noises filling my ears. I drag my mouth across her neck and shoulder, grazing every mark our pack put on her skin. Through my bond with her, I can feel the warmth of her reaction flowing through her and that bloom is mirrored inside of me. I don't know what it's like for any of the others, but I feel things through my bonds so intensely; and Talia's want, her need, burns so hot sometimes that it takes my breath. She's not burning us up right now, though. Right now she feels so languorous and content.
“I love how you feel, Talia. So soft and warm and perfect.” I run my hand across her hip and up her side to cup her breast and circle her nipple with my thumb. She sighs and covers my hand with hers again so we can both touch her.
“I feel the same with you. So safe.” Hearing her tell me I make her feel safe, feeling the truth of it in our bond, rolls me with a dizzying sense of pride. It's the same when Jasper tells me he feels safe with me, but Talia is so much more guarded than Jasper. It's humbling that she feels safe with me like this.
I could spend the rest of the night like this, with these gentle touches and sweet sounds, but eventually my knot forms and I'm faced with a question I've been curious about for the past couple weeks. I never want to hurt Talia's body with mine, not ever. Not even if she asked me to. The others can give her that, it's not for me. It shouldn't, but I'm afraid of knotting her while she's pregnant. I've read that some omegas want it and others don't; I'll give Talia whatever she wants, but I need to know first. “Does it hurt?”
She gives me a soft, raspy laugh, “no, it feels so good.”
“I mean the knot. Does it hurt? Since you're pregnant?”
“Oh,” she pushes back against me a little more urgently, “no, it doesn't hurt. It feels right. I'd tell you if it hurts, I promise.”
“Good. I never want to hurt you.”
“I know.” She pulls my hand up her body and presses it against her chest where I can feel her heart beating. That's how we finish together, with my hand over her heart.
We're asleep, but still locked together by my knot when Jasper comes in and lays behind me so that I'm pressed between him and Talia. “Go back to sleep,” he whispers, and wraps his arm around my waist and tucks it between me and Talia. Sleeping between them actually is my favorite thing in the world. It's better than anything else. I usually try to stay awake for as long as I can just to feel the cocoon they create around me, but I'm a lost cause tonight. It probably takes me less than a minute to doze off.
I wake up a little while later when Devon comes in to pull the quilt back over us. “Stay,” Talia whispers.
“You sure? I don't want to cut in.” Devon asks.
“Stay,” I say softly, and lift the covers in front of Talia. “You can be littlest spoon for the night.”
Devon slides in and it immediately feels perfect. We have this new pack dynamic we're mostly settled into, but I've spent a lot of years following Devon. Sleeping in a cuddle puddle with him and our omegas is so relaxing. I hate to admit it, but I feel myself fully relax once he's settled in the bed with us. It's always been like that, though. There's always a part of me that stays alert, I'd be a shit alpha if I wasn't able to hang on to that; but Devon makes even that little bit feel lighter.
Chapter twenty-six
Talia
Corso's mother is even more aggressively affectionate than I remember. I don't think it even has anything to do with my being pregnant. She and Lorenzo, Corso's biological father, flew in over the weekend. They're staying at a bed and breakfast a few miles away but they've been here for everything but sleeping. I tried to convince them to just stay here, but Lucia was so excited about the bed and breakfast experience that I gave up. I've eaten so much food. Jasper has eaten just as much. I'm pretty sure Trent is planning to build Lucia a cottage on the other side of the garage.
Reid's mother and Aunty Josephine are driving up this afternoon, and Alex's parents will be here from the central territory by this evening. I'm probably most excited to see Alex's parents, if I'm honest. Likely because they're both betas. I just feel so comfortable around them. My mother and fathers are all coming, and once Jamison found out Reid's sister might come he was a pain in my ass until I told him he could come as long as he was on his best behavior. Nathan's parents couldn't make it, but they promised to come soon; and Kaleb's father will be coming. Trent's entire familial pack will be here, including his two younger brothers. There is about to be so many people in this house. I'm considering sneaking out the back before they all get here.
“The motor's still up on chains, cupcake. You're as trapped as I am.” Devon bends down to kiss my shoulder. “You've been eyeballing the keys as hard as I have. If it gets to be too much give me a sign and I'll get us out of here. They'll never miss us.”
“Yes they will. And if I try to leave the house again Corso's mother has threatened to use the spatula on me.” She'll do it, too. She whopped my ass with it the first time I met her when I tried to pass a round of drinks to the alphas gathered in the main room for Corso's birthday. She didn't, and still doesn't, speak anything but the language of her people and I had no idea what I was getting a spanking for. I thought it was because I offered the tray to Corso before his father and earned myself another swat trying to rectify the situation. That was a super fun learning experience.
Kaleb looks up from his laptop and his coffee, “I'll use the spatula on you.” Then he winks and goes back to his work.
“I won't let him,” Devon whispers against my neck, “can't have him being so rough with something so tender.”
Kaleb speaks again without looking up. “She'd enjoy it. Maybe in a few months we'll see how much.”
I take a quick minute to mull that over, deciding pretty quickly that I would definitely like it if the sudden wetness ruining my panties is any indication.
