Page 21 of Such a Delicious Omega (His Alpha Desires #4)
Echo
Week thirty-eight of this pregnancy could be summed up in one word—discomfort. Samuel and Jabez, mostly Jabez, had insisted I take the last two weeks of my pregnancy off, not because anything was wrong but because standing that long at the hotel desk was proving exhausting.
Plus, I had a full-time job feeding this pup inside me.
“I need cheese,” I exclaimed but paused, determining the best way to roll off the couch and get to the refrigerator.
“Let me,” Samuel said. He’d come in right at the second I’d professed my need for dairy. He had impeccable timing in all things.
“You don’t have to,” I pouted, but contrary to my statement let myself roll back to comfort like a beached whale. Saying things like that was only allowed in my mind. Samuel said mates didn’t let mates talk badly about themselves.
Still, sometimes it slipped out.
He came over and kissed my forehead and gave my belly a bit of a rub. “But I like to. Snack plate, or do you want the block?” He chuckled. Yes, a few days ago, I’d stood in front of the fridge and bitten into a block of cheese. Was I ashamed? No.
Would I do it again? Absolutely.
“I want a fancy plate. You make the best snack plates.”
“Okay, but only a small one. And to go. I have a surprise for you.”
“What is it?”
“I bought you an outfit, and we have to leave in about an hour.”
I groaned. Nowadays, I needed a two-hour buffer on all outings. Maybe three. “Where are we going?”
“To the club.” My mate came back with a small plate of snacks and a bag in his other hand.
“I’m too big, Samuel. No one wants to see a manatee get spanked.”
“None of that, omega. And there’s not going to be any spanking. I have a surprise.”
I devoured my snack while he showed me what he’d purchased. “That’s going to show my whole belly, Sam,” I protested. “I’m not feeling so beautiful right now if you haven’t noticed.”
“But you are.”
“It will ride up. No way that shirt is covering this belly.”
“You’re hurting my feelings, mate. I bought this for you.” Complete with a pouty bottom lip.
“Oh, that was low,” I laughed.
“I know. I’m sorry not sorry. Come on. I’ll help you get dressed.”
Not long later, since Samuel was helping me, we made our way out and to the club. It was during the day, so I wasn’t sure what the surprise was, but my tummy fluttered with nerves about it.
“This way,” Samuel said, and I knew from being here enough that he was leading me to the meeting room. If this alpha, no matter how much I loved him, brought me here for a meeting, there would be trouble.
Not really, but my hormones were making me feel tough.
When we walked into the room, it was dark until Samuel flipped the lights on and I heard, “Surprise!”
I stepped back, hand on my heart, and gasped.
A surprise shower.
That was what he had been doing all day.
All the owners and their omegas were there. Even some of my friends, including Zack and Kendall.
“Samuel wanted you to have a shower. We have one for all the omegas,” Talon said.
“Thank you so much,” I said. It certainly was a surprise. Samuel and I had bought everything we needed for the baby, but our friends loaded us up with things I hadn’t even thought of. A chest-feeding pillow. Gadgets that they swore by.
Even some things for after the birth for me to be more comfortable.
They’d thought of everything and more.
“This is why I kept your snack small,” Samuel chuckled and wrapped me up in a hug while the cake was being cut. We hadn’t found out the sex of the baby. Another surprise for us. We’d decorated the nursery in neutral tones so we could reuse everything for the second baby.
Yeah, my alpha was already planning on another one.
I told him, I would decide on that after this one came out.
“Thank you for doing this. We love you, don’t we?” I rubbed my belly.
“I can’t wait to hold him or her. I know we have a while yet, but they are going to be beautiful, just like their papa.”
Ah, this man never failed to make me blush.
He thanked everyone for coming, and they helped us put the gifts into the car.
Kendall was the last one to leave. He came over and gave me a big hug.
“I know you still hold guilt over what happened, but there’s no need to. Really. I have long ago forgiven you, but you have to forgive yourself.”
“I’m trying. I really am. I’m so happy for you. If I ended up with someone like you, mate, well, maybe I need to create a bucket list of my own.”
“You should. Life is too damned short for waiting. We both know that.”
Once we got home, Samuel ran a bath for me, at my request. Even that hour or so of the party had worn me completely out and my feet hurt. I hadn’t experienced any of the swelling or other side effects some omegas did, but tonight, this baby was weighing on me.
Even my back hurt.
“Are you enjoying your bath?” Samuel asked later. He’d gone to put everything away.
“I am. Thank you again for doing that for me. It was really special. I had no idea.”
He came over and kissed my lips and took off his clothes. “I’m glad I can still surprise you. Now, scoot up a bit. I want to spend some time holding my mate.”