Page 35 of The Ruby Dragon’s Unconventional Mate (Oro Escondido #3)

Chapter

Thirty-Two

L ars rested his head on Bryant’s shoulder, his hand on his belly.

It was cold out there today, bitterly, and he needed to have an under-the-blanket day. He’d cleaned the whole house this morning before Arthur had gotten up, so he figured he’d earned some lazy time with Bryant.

“You okay, love?” Bryant asked, kissing his head.

“I am. I feel heavy, so I’m a bit lazy. I’m so ready for spring to come.”

Bryant nodded to him. “I know. It always feels like those last few months of winter are just endless, like it’s going to stay cold and stay cold and stay cold.”

Had it been wild? A hard winter? He wasn’t sure if it had been. When Samuel had come, it had been bitter cold for days and days and days because Samuel had been so unhappy. Bryant had missed that though.

Now it was the omega, Kieran, who was unhappy.

Or, if not unhappy, then very quiet. Apparently, he’d taken to his rooms in Lachlan’s house and simply refused to come out.

Alban fed him. Lachlan spoke to him about once a week, and beyond that, he and the baby just stayed in a room, in dragon form, refusing to come out.

Maybe Kieran was a frost dragon.

That would explain the cold. He wasn’t sure it was safe, really, having a depressed frost dragon living in the house.

“What are you thinking about, babe?”

He shrugged. “Kieran, Lachlan, the baby.”

Bryant nodded. “Don’t worry about him too much. I’ve talked to him. I talk to Lachlan every day, and every day, he says they’re fine. Kieran just needs time, I think. That was a terrible blow, having someone hurt him and the baby.”

“But we don’t even know the baby’s name!”

“He’ll tell us when he’s ready, love.”

“Logan’s getting restless, though. They have to know what’s going on.” Bryant wasn’t anywhere near worried enough.

“Yes, and we will. We’ll figure it out. Logan’s on top of it. You and I are just focused on growing this baby.”

“Right now, it’s getting close. Everything is getting close.” Lars snuggled in harder and held on tight, sniffling. “I wish it was better. I mean with Lachlan and Kieran and the baby.”

“Trust me, Lachlan is more awake and aware than I’ve ever seen him. I wouldn’t worry about him. I’m not worried about him.”

“And that’s a first, right?” Lars found a grin for his mate.

“I don’t know, I just feel unsettled. Nothing’s comfortable.

Maybe I’m just being lazy. But I feel lazy.

I feel like—I feel like I want out of my body for a while.

I kind of want this baby out of my body, just for a while.

Just long enough to get a good night’s sleep where I’m not peeing forty-seven times. ”

“Well, we’re ready for whenever they come.”

“I guess we are.” The nursery was painted, the furniture was in.

They had teeny tiny clothes and blankets and diapers and shoes and socks.

Little bitty snow suits and hats. A rocker that was just perfect to feed the baby in the middle of the night.

Of course, what…what if? “Do you think the baby’s nursery is the right color? Should we repaint it?”

Bryant shook his head. “It’s perfect.”

“Oh perfect is a strong word. It’s—what if it’s the wrong color? What if the baby doesn’t like it? What if it scares the baby? What if?”

Bryant rolled his eyes. “There’s nothing wrong with our baby’s nursery, it’s beautiful. You’re just…having hormones, and that sucks.”

“It does, and I don’t know what to do.”

“Well, let’s breathe. You and me together, just in and out. Let’s just focus on being us. We’re not going to be just us for a long time. Maybe never again will it be just us.” Bryant was trying so hard.

Lars smiled. “I’m not sure it ever was just us, but yeah, I understand what you mean.”

“True, I’ve never been just me. I know you haven’t.”

He shook his head. “Not really, I was born into a family where Logan was…well… Logan, and there was no doubt of that.”

Arthur knocked on the door gently. “I have warm blankets just out of the dryer. I thought they would be a comfort.”

“Oh, you’re amazing. Thank you.”

“You are very pregnant. I worry about you not being able to get comfortable.”

“You’re sweet. I think this is part of the deal, not being comfortable, being grumpy.” The warm blankets landed on them and he melted, his muscles going limp. “That’s perfect. Can you feel that?”

“Oh, you did good.” Bryant winked at Arthur. “Thank you. I don’t suppose you could make something? Maybe potato soup or tomato? Something gentle, though, so probably potato?”

“Of course I can, it would be my pleasure. I’ll let you know when it’s finished, and if he wants it brought up, I’ll bring it.”

“You must hate me for being such a nerd. I just… I’m so tired. I have a little burst of energy and then it disappears, and then I have a little burst of energy and it disappears.”

“No one hates you. We all understand.”

Bryant stroked his hair. “I love you just the way you are, my mate.”

He could feel the truth of that, vibrating along their bond. Bryant meant every word, and he proved it in so many ways. Lars knew there would be times they butted heads. They were both stubborn beings, and they would bash at things until they crumbled.

But not at each other like that. Not anymore. He truly believed that they had found each other’s pattern now. The incident at the school had…well, it had made them understand how they would react in a guardian emergency, and the respect had grown exponentially.

He thought he was so ready to become a father with Bryant. To give him all the things an omega gave his mate.

Bryant was learning to be the alpha he needed, as well.

It worked.

So did the blanket.

He chuckled, snuggling in tight, laughing as Slippy and Andine squeaked and crawled under the covers with them, wiggling until they were also cuddled up, adding to the warmth under the blankets.

“I think Slippy and Andine are happy,” Bryant said.

“I think so.” He winced, the rippling across his belly making him frown. “Ugh.”

“What is it?”

“My muscles just took a little unhappy tour.”

“In your back?” Bryant asked.

“My belly.” He grimaced again. “It’s really uncomfortable.”

“Oh, crap.” Bryant gave him a concerned look. “Do I need to call the midwife?”

“Not yet.” He settled closer to Bryant, if that was possible. “I want to rest with you, if I’m gearing up for labor. I don’t want to have everyone around fussing for a while yet.”

“Okay, love. Then we’ll wait.” Bryant held on to him, loving on him gently with touches and kisses. Not enough to bother him. Just enough to comfort.

They dozed until Arthur called up, the wall phone ringing. Lars had been ignoring cramps and contractions for at least an hour or two.

“Hey, Arthur,” Bryant said when he answered. “Lars isn’t terribly hungry. No. Yeah, well… No. He’s in labor. Uh-huh. Can you just call and keep her posted? He doesn’t want a huge fuss, and he’s not too close together with the contractions yet.”

Bryant should know. He had his hand on Lars’s belly and was clearly feeling things with him. He hummed, feeling Kaden move, sliding into place, his little song swelling.

“Can you hear him, love?” Lars asked.

“I can.” Bryant sounded awed.

“He’s so wonderful.”

“I know. I can’t wait to meet him, love. You tell me when to have Arthur call in the reinforcements.”

“Soon, but not yet.” He turned a little, taking the pressure off back and belly. “Rub my back?”

“Of course, baby.” Bryant immediately reached around and rubbed, his fingers so clever, his hand pressing flat to warm the muscles.

“Ooooh. That helps so much.”

“Yeah? Good. I want to be useful.” Bryant’s chuckle made him laugh, but that had him catching his breath.

“Babe, can I call in the midwife? We don’t have to get anyone else here yet, but I want to just make sure all is as it should be.” Bryant pressed and stroked his back.

“Okay.” He nodded against Bryant’s neck. “Call Arthur.”

“Thank you, love. I think you’ve been in labor a lot longer than you think.”

“Maybe.” He took a deep breath and let it out, knowing he was about to be inundated with family and friends. And he loved them. But them all staring at him, the idea of that, made him really uncomfortable somehow.

“What’s going on, baby?”

“I don’t know. It’s ridiculous. We all come to all the births, and it’s an amazing time for family and friends. So I don’t know why I’m hiding.”

“Because you’re still weirded out about how long you pretended to be an alpha?

I think you’re worried that you’ll have to admit it to everyone you know again, because they don’t really believe it, or you’re worried someone will be mad at you.

” Bryant stroked his cheek. “Like I was worried everyone would think I was less of an alpha thanks to my fear for Lachlan and about the Keepers.”

“Well, that would be stupid. Even alphas get afraid.”

“And everyone understands why you had to pretend to be an alpha, love. They adore you, and no one will be mad. We just need to let them in. Both of us. No more fear. These are the dragons who love us.”

“They are.” He nodded, then took a kiss from Bryant.

“Okay. Bring it on.” He wouldn’t deny Logan and Dakota the joy of seeing their nephew born.

Or Lachlan. Or Samuel and Jake, who had let him be there for all their babies.

Heck, he’d been there for Grant when he was born and his moms had been there.

“All right. Let’s do this. Let’s have our baby.”

He lifted his face for a kiss. “Sounds perfect.”

And it did.