Page 23

Julian

“You’re sure you don’t want your furniture?” Andreas stood in my mostly bare living room with his hands on his hips. Since finding out I was pregnant and now moving into his home, he wouldn’t let me pick up anything. It was cute.

“The couch I got from the thrift store and the chair I got from the side of the road? I think I can say goodbye to them in good conscience.”

“You don’t have a lot.” He had counted the boxes. Twenty-three of them.

“I’ve been single, and I’m frugal. I buy what I need and things that will last. It’s okay. I’m not lacking for anything. You look like you feel sorry for me or something.”

He smiled and walked over to wrap me up in his arms. “I don’t. But I might spoil you for a while once you’re all moved in.”

“But with kindness, right? I don’t like a lot of things.”

He growled. “Fine. Then I’ll spoil you with breakfast in bed and candlelit dinners and date nights and flowers.”

“That sounds wonderful. And we can spoil Reed together.”

“And our baby.” His hands roamed down until they were on either side of my belly, and he leaned down to nuzzle my neck.

“Oh, I can’t wait to meet them.”

“Same. I’m excited for Reed to have a sibling too.”

“How do you think he’s going to react? I mean, he’s had you to himself for so long, alpha.”

“I think he’s going to love it.”

“It’s time to go, then. Are you going to let me help?” I asked, laughing. “There are some smaller boxes.”

Andreas sighed. “I suppose that would be okay. Are you still feeling nauseated?”

“Not right now.”

“But this morning?” he asked. The thing was, he already knew I was. When I stumbled into the kitchen after throwing up my guts, he simply cocked his eyebrow and offered me a hot tea instead of coffee.

“Is there any point in saying no?” I asked.

“There’s not. I wonder how much longer this is going to last? I hate seeing you sick.”

“Should be over any day now. It’s just the influx of new hormones. But I wouldn’t protest too much if you stopped to buy me a burger after we move these boxes.”

“I think I could make that happen. Let’s go.”

We made quick work of getting all the boxes out and into his house. We’d talked to Reed about me moving in and, while I was sure he understood, his reaction was to go get his wooden blocks and build a tower.

When we got into the truck stuffed with boxes, I reached across the console and threaded my fingers through his. “Do you think Reed is okay with this? I know we talked to him, but he’s not old enough to express himself. If he didn’t want me in your lives, would we know?”

“Ah, omega. Reed loves you. I know he does. Do you know the way he scrunches his nose at cucumbers?”

I did know. It was adorable. Andreas did it as well. I nodded in response.

“You would see some of that if he didn’t like you. Want to know what I see?”

“Please,” I said on the verge of tears. I already loved him like he was my own son. The last thing I wanted to hear was that he didn’t like me or was rejecting me in their lives.

“When I tell him that you are coming over, his smile is undeniable. He beams. And when you walk into a room, he lights up. He does those adorable grabby hands at you. I think you carry him around more than I do. He adores you, Julian. Almost as much as I do.”

My chest warmed. I loved both of them but hadn’t said it out loud. “Andreas, I have to tell you something.”

He nodded. “You can tell me anything.”

“I love you. I know we’re mated and I’m moving in, but I wanted you to know that I love you. We haven’t said it before, but…”

In seconds, Andreas pulled onto the side of the road and threw the truck into park. “What did you say?” The smile on his face told me everything I wanted to know.

“I said I love you. It’s not that big a deal.” The lie flowed out of my mouth.

“It’s a very big deal. I was going to tell you tonight. I was nervous about it and wondering if it was too soon but at the same time not soon enough. I love you, Julian. I have since the night I first saw you and it grows every day.”

We shared several kisses and the rest of the way home, we basked in the aftermath of our confessions.

When we pulled into the driveway, Andreas turned to me. “Welcome home, omega. I’m so glad you’re mine.”