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“Yeah, he’s meditating, maybe? Whatever it is, our bond is humming.” His gaze pops back to Rowan’s. “Don’t worry, okay?”

If Nix says it’s okay, then it must be, right?

His omega rubs that spot under his breastbone and then offers Rowan a piece of bacon.

It’s a ploy to distract him, and it works because his treasured omega wants to share his food with the wolf. They have never talked about this ritual. Never once, but they both seem to understand the steps of the dance.

Rowan feeds Nix as much food as he and the babies can hold, hopefully from now on, the food he’s made with his own two hands. Once they’re full, Nix offers Rowan some of what’s left.

Never anything new or from someone else. Alwaysfood that Nix could have eaten, but didn’t.

It has worked every day since they started, and Rowan isn’t sure whether he’ll stop once the babies are on this side.

It satisfies the wolf and the man. It’s something just for them.

When he’s at the studio, he hates the idea of Nix fending for himself. Hates that their babies won’t eat things Rowan has provided. Even though Nix is capable, he lets Rowan do it. It’s a gift, and one he doesn’t take lightly.

“I think we shouldn’t tour for a bit. Maybe just studio stuff,” he blurts out, knowing it’s true the minute he says it.

Rowan wants to be at home with their children.

All of them.

Nix squeals and claps his hands. “Stay-at-home-dads? I love this for us, Ro.”

“You do?”heasks, and accepts maple syrup-flavored kisses from his omega as a reward.

Jay smiles and shrugs. “Works for me.”

“I don’t want to miss a thing. But what do you think, Gideon?” he asks the one personherealizes he’d been worried would be disappointed.

Tilting his head, he offers Rowan a proud smile. “I think it’s a brilliant idea.”

It feels like the truth when Gideon says it, and it vibrates through him, like relief and revelation.

He swings Nix around, a handful of his really sweet butt filling the palms of his hands, and he’s reminded that Finn has been monopolizing their omega the past five days, admittedly through no fault of his own.

In the blink of an eye, Rowan has the tips of his front teeth gently pulling up the skin on Nix’s throat over his mating bite, and two fingers pulling at Nix’s dark pink nipple.

“No, thank you, Ro. I want ice cream, please.”

Nix derails his visions of adding his load to the others leaking out of Nix’s hole, along with the slick he’s producing like it’s on tap.

As he’d predicted, there is a slippery mess glistening on the counter’s previously pristine surface.

With a growl, he frowns at the recurring idea that the mess has got to be leaving a permanent mark on the counter as they speak.

Jay drops the bowl he’s holding onto the counter, and both he and Gideon take up defensive stances.

“What? We don’t have ice cream?” he pouts around a strawberry, not at all worried. Nix’s ears are better than the enigmas’ even, and if he’s not worried, they shouldn’t be either.

“What? Ro? You hear something?” Jay asks again and leaves to check the front courtyard, while Gideon scans the back deck.

It all happens so quickly that Rowan has to blush.

“Yeah, there’s ice cream, Nixie.”

“Then what’s got you worked up?” Nix asks, confused.