Page 29 of Snowed In Sucker
“I wish it wasn’twinter,” Landon says with a whine. Not only are we in the middle of winter but it’s also Christmas Eve. He was really hoping the babies would be here before today, but they had a different idea of when they’d like to arrive. “I want to go swimming. For the record, I don’t normally enjoy swimming but right now all I want to do is get completely submerged in some water and float around.”
I smile, watching my mate try to get comfortable in bed. He keeps flipping back and forth, like a rotisserie chicken. Every time he flips over, he groans in frustration. The cycle just keeps going and going. I quickly finish getting into my pajamas so I can offer to help him.
“That’s just the babies,” I tell him in way of explanation. “You’re feeling their instincts. They want to be in the water.”
“How dare they? They’re already in the most perfect location! Why would they want to be anywhere else?”
I chuckle, overwhelmed by the affection I feel for my beautiful mate. Is he dramatic? Sometimes. Would I have him any other way? Absolutely not.
“They’re not even born yet and they’re already making demands! Well, I have a few demands of my own!”
“Oh yeah?” I ask, getting into the bed and sitting at Landon’s feet. I pull his foot into my lap, starting to massage it. He lets out a pleased noise and finally stills his movements. “What sort of demands, my heart?”
“I wanted them to be here in time for Christmas,” Landon says, moaning as I press my thumbs into the center of his foot, really digging in. “I wanted to take pictures of them next to their stockings. It was going to be adorable, Jett.”
“Mhmm,” I hum as I listen, letting him rant to his heart’s content. This must be a much needed stress relief.
Landon’s body accommodates this pregnancy but that doesn’t mean he’s been comfortable. For the last month, he’s been huge and swollen and sore. His balance has been awful because of the addition around his middle. He’s had heartburn and stomach aches and pains. He’s done it all so well and I couldn’t be more proud but now that we’re in the end, he’s ready to be done.
“My parents somehow hired movers who’re faster than these babies! And now they want water? Well excuse me for not being a water shifter.”
“You’re perfect just as you are,” I say softly, running my fingers higher and massaging his ankle. “You might not be a water shifter but you are their father. They’re going to adore you, Landon. Just the same way that I adore you.” I punctuate my statement by bringing his ankle to my mouth, kissing the skin I find there. His hair tickles my lips and it makes me smile up at him.
“You make it hard to stay grumpy.”
“Your feelings are valid, my heart. This has been a hard month, but we’re right at the finish line. I am so proud of you.”
He pokes me in the cheek with his big toe. “I love you.”
“I love you too. So very, very much. More than words could ever properly communicate.”
“Do you think true mates are real?”
I nod my head. “How could I not?”
Landon seems satisfied with my answer. His body relaxes and he lets out a sigh as he sinks against the pillows. I continue to massage his feet, pulling the other one into my lap and giving it the same treatment as the first.
“Mm, that feels so nice, Jett.”
“Good,” I say, dipping down and kissing his other ankle. “You deserve it. You’ve been working so hard.”
Landon snorts. “I’ve mostly just been a beached whale.”
“Your body is working hard at keeping our eggs safe as they grow. That’s not nothing.”
“If you say so.”
“I do. Trust me.”
I’m expecting Landon to sit back and fall asleep. Instead, he opens his thighs. I can smell that he’s aroused.
“I would ask you to do something with my hard-on but I’m not sure you can actually find it under my belly.”
I can’t help but chuckle with amusement. “Where there’s a will, there’s a way,” I tell him, moving up his body until I’m on my side beside him. I run my hand along his swollen belly before reaching up and cupping his face. I tilt his face towards me so that I can properly kiss him.
Landon makes a pleased noise as I kiss him, pushing my tongue between his lips. Despite the absence of pheromones, I’m still addicted to this taste, to the little sounds of pleasure he makes. I still want to please him as best as I can, that drive within me never going away.
I love him. Why wouldn’t I want to make him feel good?
