Page 20 of Billy and Cord (Omega Hearts #1)

Billy adjusted his glasses nervously as Cord pulled up to the curb. The house sat on a quiet street lined with mature oak trees, their branches creating a natural canopy overhead. It was a two-story craftsman with a wide front porch and original wood siding painted a soft sage green.

“This is it?” Billy asked, his voice catching slightly. After the emotionally charged morning, looking at houses together felt surreal. It was such a normal thing for a couple to do - and yet another sign of just how much Billy’s life had changed.

“Yeah.” Cord cut the engine and turned to him. “The realtor said she’d meet us here in about five minutes. We can walk around the outside first if you want.”

Billy nodded, climbing out of the truck on shaky legs. He’d changed three times that morning, finally settling on dark jeans and a button-down shirt that Cece had bought him as part of his mating gifts. He brushed his hair out of his eyes and straightened his glasses on his nose.

“Hey.” Cord came around the truck and caught his hand. “We’re just looking, remember? No pressure.”

“I know.” Billy squeezed back, drawing comfort from his mate’s solid presence. “It’s just... I’ve never done this before. Looked at houses to buy, I mean. My parents’ place was the only home I knew until...”

He didn’t need to finish. Cord pulled him close, pressing a kiss to his temple. “You made a home for yourself regardless, and now we’ll make our own home together. Wherever that ends up being.”

They walked up the cracked concrete path together. Billy was already cataloguing the details he knew his friends would want to hear about. The porch needed new boards in places, but the foundation looked solid. Good bones, as they said on those renovation shows Tristan loved.

“Look at this.” Billy pointed to a corner of the yard where someone had started a raised garden bed. “We could grow herbs. Maybe tomatoes.”

“You want to garden?” Cord sounded amused but pleased.

“I don’t know. Maybe?” Billy shrugged, feeling his cheeks heat. “I’ve never had the chance to try. I’ve always lived in my little house where the most I could manage was a sad succulent on my desk.”

“Which you killed,” Cord teased gently.

“Which I killed,” Billy agreed with a laugh. “Maybe I’d have better luck with growing plants outside.”

A silver sedan pulled up behind Cord’s truck, and a middle-aged woman in a sharp pantsuit emerged, waving cheerfully. “You must be Cord and Billy. I’m Janet. So sorry I’m running a few minutes behind - traffic was murder downtown.”

She bustled up the path, keys jangling, and Billy found himself automatically stepping closer to Cord. His alpha’s scent wrapped around him, calming his nerves.

“Now, this is a nineteen twenties craftsman, four bedrooms, four and a half baths,” Janet said, unlocking the front door.

“The previous owners did some updates about five years ago - new electrical, plumbing, HVAC - but kept all the original character. It sits on five acres, so you’ll have plenty of privacy here. Come on in.”

The front door opened directly into the living room which had gleaming hardwood floors and a brick fireplace. Sunlight streamed through the windows, casting geometric patterns across the built-in bookshelves that flanked the fireplace.

“Oh,” Billy breathed, immediately drawn to the shelves. “I could put my books here. I’ve collected a few over the years, although most of the time they live in boxes under my desk. These shelves are perfect.”

“Kitchen’s through here,” Janet continued, leading them through an archway. “They kept the original cabinets but updated the appliances.”

Billy barely heard her, too busy running his fingers along the smooth wood of the doorframe. The kitchen had a breakfast nook with a built-in bench and a huge island. He could already picture himself working on his laptop there while Cord made coffee.

“What do you think?” Cord asked quietly while Janet rattled on about square footage.

“It feels...” Billy searched for the right word. “Safe. Do you know what I mean? Like the wood is wrapping around us and keeping us safe.”

“I like that idea for our home.” Cord smiled.

They followed Janet upstairs, where the master bedroom overlooked the backyard. Billy pressed his face to the window, spotting a massive oak tree with branches perfect for a swing.

“The office is just down the hall,” Janet said. “The previous owner worked from home, too, so it’s already wired for…”

“Can we see it?” Billy interrupted, then flushed. “Sorry. I just -my work setup is really important to me.”

“Of course!” Janet beamed. “Right this way.”

The office was smaller than the master but had two windows and enough space for his desk setup. Billy mentally arranged his monitors, already calculating where he’d need to add outlets for his equipment.

“I could work here,” he said softly to Cord. “Really work. I feel like I could build something solid here, not just survive.”

Cord’s hand found the small of his back. “Then we should think seriously about it.”

They spent another twenty minutes exploring.

Billy was fascinated by the basement workshop and imagined Cord making things there.

Cord was busy checking out the foundations, tapping on the wood framing, and asking about the roof and all the other structural elements.

After a thorough walk through, Janet tactfully gave them space to talk privately in the backyard.

“It needs work,” Cord said, nudging a loose porch board with his boot. “But nothing we couldn’t handle. The structure’s sound, roof’s only a few years old according to the listing.”

“We?” Billy looked up at him, still not quite believing this was real. “I’m not sure I’m very good with a hammer.”

“I’ll help you.” Cord grinned, but then he turned serious, cupping Billy’s face with his hands. “Billy, I want to build a proper life with you. A real life in a real home we’ve created together.”

Billy’s throat felt tight. “I’ve never... I mean, since my parents kicked me out, I’ve never thought about living in a family home again. My place was just somewhere for me to work and sleep.”

“You deserve more than that.” Cord cupped his face gently. “We both do.”

“The kitchen needs updating,” Billy said, blinking rapidly as his eyes filled with tears. “And that guest room carpet is horrific.”

“Bullet would help us rip it out,” Cord said immediately. “He loves demo work. He claims it’s a great way to let his aggression out.”

Billy chuckled at the idea of a rampant alpha tearing up carpet. “Cece will want to pick paint colors. And Tristan is going to insist on staging every room perfectly.”

“It’s a good thing we have the friends we do, then, isn’t it?” Cord pulled him close, his arms warm and solid across Billy’s back. “What do you think? Should we make an offer?”

Billy looked back at the house - their potential home. He could see it already: his coffee mug on the kitchen counter, Cord’s boots by the front door, maybe eventually a kid’s drawings on the fridge. The vision should have terrified him. Instead, it felt like coming home.

“Yeah,” he said, surprising himself with how steady his voice sounded. “Let’s do it.”

Janet practically vibrated with excitement when they told her they wanted to make an offer. As she pulled out her tablet to start the paperwork, Billy’s phone buzzed.

Cece: How’s house hunting going??? Tristan’s already picked out paint swatches just in case.

Billy snapped a quick photo of the front of the house and sent it. The response was immediate.

Cece: OMG IT’S PERFECT

Tristan: THAT PORCH THO…

Cece: When can we come see it???

Tristan: I call dibs on decorating the guest rooms

“Your friends?” Cord asked, reading over his shoulder.

“They’ll be planning the housewarming party next,” Billy said, with a grin. “They’ve probably already called Bullet asking for his ideas, too.”

“Sounds like we’ve made a decision then.” Cord looked at Janet and nodded.

“Alright,” Janet said brightly. “Let’s write up this offer and get you boys into your new home!”

/~/~/~/~/

Billy traced lazy patterns on Cord’s chest, his head tucked under his mate’s chin. The house viewing had gone well - maybe too well. His mind kept circling back to that third bedroom, the one with morning light streaming through east-facing windows.

“Hey,” he said softly, pressing his palm flat against Cord’s heartbeat. “Can I ask you something?”

“Anything.” Cord’s voice rumbled through his chest, his hand sliding up and down Billy’s spine in slow, soothing strokes.

Billy bit his lip, gathering courage. he wasn’t sure what the protocol was for talking about sensitive topics. I’m not going to know until I ask. “Do you... Did you want kids?”

Cord’s hand stilled for just a moment before resuming its path. “That’s quite the question, sweetheart.”

“I know.” Billy lifted his head to look at his mate properly. “It’s just…that house today. That third bedroom with the lovely light. I started thinking...” he trailed off, suddenly unsure. They’d been mated for less than two weeks. Was it too soon for this conversation?

“What were you thinking?” Cord’s dark eyes were warm, encouraging.

“I never thought I’d have the chance,” Billy admitted, the words tumbling out. “After my parents... Gods, I need to stop referencing them, I know, but you know I figured I’d always be alone. No mate, definitely no family. But now” - he gestured between them - “now everything’s different.”

Cord shifted, propping himself up on one elbow so he could cup Billy’s face with his free hand. “You want pups?”

“Maybe?” Billy’s cheeks heated. “I mean, not right this second. We just met, and you have your work, and I have my freelance gigs, and we don’t even have the house yet, but” - he took a breath - “Yeah. Someday. If you wanted them too.”

“Billy.” Cord’s thumb stroked across his cheekbone. “I spent years thinking my job was all I’d ever have. Told myself I was fine with that, especially after…” he paused, and Billy knew he was thinking about Rapid. “But then I scented you on Cece’s clothes and everything changed.”

“That’s not really an answer,” Billy pointed out, though his heart gave an extra thump in his chest.

Cord huffed a laugh. “Yes, I want kids. With you. When we’re ready, when it’s right.” His expression grew serious. “But Billy, you need to know… my job is dangerous. There might be times when…”

“Stop.” Billy pressed his fingers to Cord’s lips. “We already talked about this. I know what you do. I know the risks. And I still want everything with you. The house, the kids, the whole darn thing.”

“The whole darn thing,” Cord repeated, wonder coloring his voice. He leaned down to kiss Billy properly, deep and thoroughly. When they broke apart, they were both breathing harder. “How many?”

“How many what?” Billy’s brain had gone a bit fuzzy.

“Pups. How many were you thinking?”

Billy grinned. “I don’t know. Two? Three? Enough to fill up that house we looked at today.”

“The one with the perfect home office for your work?”

“And the huge backyard for wolf pups to run around in,” Billy added. “And close enough to town that Cece and Tristan can spoil them rotten.”

“They absolutely will,” Cord groaned. “Cece’s already planning our wedding in his head, I can tell.”

“Is that... is that something you want too?” Billy asked carefully. “A wedding?”

Cord’s answer was to roll them over, pinning Billy gently to the mattress.

“Billy,” he said in a deep voice that made Billy’s breath catch.

“I want everything with you. The wedding, the house, the pups, all of it. I want to wake up next to you for the next hundred years and still think I’m the luckiest alpha alive. ”

Billy’s eyes burned with sudden tears. “That’s really cheesy.”

“You love it.”

“I love you,” Billy corrected, then gasped as Cord nipped at his mating mark.

“Say it again.”

“I love you.” Billy arched under him. “My big, protective, wants-babies-with-me alpha.”

“My brilliant, beautiful, going-to-be-an-amazing-dad omega,” Cord countered, and Billy had to kiss him then, had to find a way to show all his joy and hope and dreams of the future into the connection between them.

When they finally broke apart, Billy was grinning so hard his cheeks hurt. “So we’re really doing this? The whole family thing?”

“We’re really doing it.” Cord nuzzled into his neck. “Though fair warning - I have no idea how to change a diaper.”

“That’s what YouTube is for,” Billy said practically, then squeaked as Cord tickled his ribs. “Hey, no fair, I’m sensitive there.”

“I know.” Cord’s grin was wicked. “I know all your sensitive spots now.”

“Yeah?” Billy wrapped his legs around Cord’s waist, pulling him closer. “Prove it.”

And Cord did. Twice.