Nolan

Aloud whir fills the kitchen as I pack the remaining frozen strawberries and bananas into the ice chest on the island. This will be the last smoothie made at the townhouse for the next six months, at least, so I'm bringing all of Leo's favorites.

The locks on the lid snap into place, and I pour the fruit mixture into a to-go cup. After a quick wash and dry, the blender goes into the box with the other items we're taking. I would have preferred to just buy duplicates of everything for our suite at the family house, but Leo's frugality got the better of me.

I raise my voice to carry upstairs. "Are you almost packed? Our appointment is in twenty minutes!"

"I just need a few more things!" Leo yells back, bringing a smile to my lips.

Over the three months we've been together, he's blossomed and gone from carrying all of his possessions in a pillowcase to needing actual luggage, thanks in no small part to my insistence on buying him new clothes.

My driver, O'Donnell, walks in from the garage to collect the ice chest. "We're about full, Mr. Rockford."

I pat the box with the blender. "This is the last one, aside from Leo's suitcases."

As he takes the food from our fridge out to the waiting car, a thunk from overhead sends my heart lurching.

I run from the kitchen to find my fiancé struggling to haul a suitcase nearly as big as he is down the stairs. "Stop right there, unless you're looking to get spanked."

Silky blond hair falls over his blue eyes, and he blows it out of the way to glare at me. "There's no reason for you to come upstairs to get it when I can just bring it down with me."

"Not when you can't see the steps past your belly." I hurry up the stairs to take the heavy, hard-shelled case from him with one hand and kiss his flushed cheek. "You just concentrate on safely walking down."

While Dr. Wallace assures me Leo is now up to a healthy weight, his frame remains delicate. At only three months, his swollen stomach sticks out farther than his feet. Which is why we're moving back to the family house.

"You're being ridiculous." Leo grips the handrail and takes the stairs far faster than I like. "If you get any worse, I'm going to demand Aaiden give me a separate suite on the other side of the mansion from you."

The threat makes me smirk. "You'd just come waddling back at night when you can't sleep."

"I don't waddle," he huffs as he reaches the ground floor and waddles after me.

"Sure you don't." The doctors have assured us there's only one baby, but at the rate Leo's growing, I question if there's another one hiding in there.

"I'll get one of those belly support pillows, so I won't need you at night." He sticks his little button nose in the air as he sweeps past me, the material of his lightweight coveralls fluttering. "We'll see who comes crawling."

With a growl, I snag the back of his bib and tug him into my arms, claiming those lush lips in a heated kiss. The first time I encountered him in the smoke-stained gray of my club, it was like an angel had been cast into my den of sin. The mask that covered half his face drove me crazy with fantasies of what it hid.

When I finally saw his full, uncovered face, with his little pointed chin and mouth that looked like it was made to wrap around my cock, it had taken all my self-control not to throw him down on the nearest flat surface.

My patience paid off when the chance to claim him landed him in my lap, and I'm going to be miserable having him outside the city, where I lose an hour and a half every day with him because of travel.

But it will be worth it, knowing he's safe and surrounded by servants and my family who can come to his aid if something goes wrong with the pregnancy. Not to mention the fully equipped care facility in the fortified wing of the Rockford estate.

A whimper escapes his sweet lips, and slender arms wrap around my neck as he rises onto his toes, his belly pressing against my stomach.

"Fifteen minutes, Mr. Rockford," O'Donnell calls from out of sight in the kitchen.

With a groan, Leo pulls back, and his hand disappears into his coveralls to adjust himself. "You're horrible. Don't think you're getting lucky in the car. There's not enough time."

Suitcase in hand, I follow him. "Don't forget your smoothie from the island."

Leo veers away from the open door to grab the pink cup, raising the straw to wrap his lips around it. He hums happily, his long lashes fluttering and roses blooming in his cheeks. He looked just like that last night with his lips wrapped around my cock, and it makes my blood rush south.

When his blue eyes flick to me, I realize he's tempting me on purpose, the little minx.

With a growl, I chase him out to the garage and smack his little ass as he climbs into the back of the sedan. I pass O'Donnell the suitcase to stow in the back and climb in after Leo, intent on proving to him that fifteen minutes is more than enough time.

Ten minutes later, Leo tugs his coveralls back up as I rejoin him on the seat.

His chest rises with quick breaths and his hand trembles as he reaches for the smoothie in the cupholder. "I want my own car."

I lick the taste of him from my lips. "Do you? Because I'll buy you one and hire a driver for your use."

He slumps against my shoulder. "Don't you dare. That's an enormous waste of money when I work and go to school from home."

Leo had finally started university classes again and landed a data entry job at a company not owned by my family. When I broached buying it to Aaiden, he told me to let Leo have the independence, but if they don't treat him right, I'll crush them.

We drive past a row of dilapidated buildings, and Leo leans forward, his lips parting in surprise. "Stop the car!"

Thank god O'Donnell is well-trained and doesn't slam on the brakes. Instead, he slows and pulls over to the curb.

Leo crawls across my lap to stare at the gaping hole where his old apartment complex once stood. Now, it's just an empty lot, surrounded by a chain-link fence.

After a moment, Leo turns narrowed eyes on me. "You did this, didn't you?"

I lift a shoulder. "It was slum housing and a health risk to the inhabitants."

He slams me in the chest with the strength of a kitten. "I already let go of my lease and moved out of there. You didn't have to knock it down to make sure I won't run away again."

"This was a business investment." When his feathery blond brows arch, I add, "I'm also purchasing the buildings on either side."

O'Donnell glances at me in the rearview mirror, and I nod for him to get back on the road. We have an appointment to make, after all.

Leo settles back in his seat. "What will you do with the lots?"

"Stores on the bottom and apartments on top. I've been in discussion with the Omega Outreach Program to bring a clinic to this area so that Omegas have access to free suppressants and healthcare." I pull him closer against my side. "Employees at my clubs will receive subsidized living so that no one else will have to go through what you did."

Tears well in his beautiful eyes, and he leans up to press his lips to my cheek. "I love you so much, Nolan Rockford."

"Come here, sweet boy." Warmth spreads through me, and I tug him in for another kiss.

I thought I had been caring for the Omegas in my employ, but Leo opened my eyes to how far I still have to go. And if it rolls more money into the family coffers, all the better.

"We're here." O'Donnell parks in a reserved space at the curb and climbs out to open my door.

I slide out and drag Leo after me so that he's not getting out on the street side. We haven't tracked down Tony and Bugrov yet, and I'm cautious of giving them another chance to snatch Leo.

Watchful for people showing us too much interest, I entwine our fingers and lead the way to the jewelry store, which had closed to the public for our appointment.

"Mr. Rockford, Mr. Daniels, welcome." The manager, who stands at the entrance, offers two champagne flutes. "Sparkling pear juice?"

"Thank you." Leo takes one and sips, then looks up at me. "It's sweet."

I accept mine, and we follow the man to an intimate sitting area. With a hand on Leo's elbow, I help him onto the padded cushion farthest from the windows, which earns me an exasperated look of affection.

Taking the seat on his other side, I drape my arm over the back of his chair.

The store manager opens a locked safe on the table and lifts out a small, dark wood ring box, setting it in front of Leo.

He leans forward to open it and gasps before twisting to stare at me. "This isn't the one I picked out."

No, when we came here two months ago to choose his engagement ring, he had been overwhelmed by the prices and had chosen a simple silver band, but I had seen where his heart lay. I had used the excuse of needing to size the one he chose to have a custom ring designed based on what he really liked.

"No, but it's the one you wanted." I caress the back of his neck, where the faint circle of my Mark lingers.

It's not a permanent one, since he hasn't gone into Heat again because of his pregnancy, but it's a promise of what will come after he gives birth.

His hand trembles as he pulls the platinum ring from the box. Sapphires and black diamonds inset around the band give the impression of a waterfall. On the inside, in delicate script, are the words: To my heart, forever.

Leo's throat works as he swallows back tears and turns to me. "Will you put it on me?"

Chest tight, I slide it into place on his slender finger. The thick platinum band stops just below his first knuckle and sparkles as he moves his hand back and forth.

He sniffles. "It's beautiful, Nolan."

I cup his cheek. "Not as beautiful as you."

His bottom lip wobbles, making me want to pull him onto my lap and smother him in kisses.

Before I give in to the temptation of his lush lips, my phone buzzes in my pocket, and I take it out. "I'm sorry, but business calls. Why don't you pick out a chain while I take care of this?"

Leo's brow furrows. "Chain?"

I rub his belly. "For when you get too fat and the ring won't fit."

His indignant squawk fills my ear, and I dodge his swat. Laughing, I move off to the side to check the message from Sebastian.

It's a link to an article from an online gossip site that stalks the families of the elite, digging up sordid details about our lives to expose to the public. This specific journalist latched onto us a year ago, and the articles he writes about the "Rockford Corruption" doubled the website's income.

The newest one focuses on my new multi-use building venture, where he speculates what the exact purpose of the apartments will be, citing my nightclubs to titillate his readers with the scandal of sex workers taking over the city, which pisses me off from two fronts.

The first is that there's nothing shameful about people who enjoy being sex workers. The second is that this is a passion project that grew from my love for Leo, and I refuse to have it tarnished by some gossip columnist disguising himself as a real news person spreading lies about our family.

Opening my texts, I shoot one off to Caleb: We have a problem I'd like you to deal with.

"Nolan, what do you think of this one?" Leo calls out.

I turn to see him holding up a chain from the cheaper side of the store.

Smiling, I tuck my phone away and stride toward him. "Be less frugal, sweet boy. We want to make sure it's sturdy so you don't lose the band."

Suspicion fills his eyes, but he slides down to the pricier section.

At the glass counter, I cup his round waist. "Pick what you want. This is forever."

He pulls my hand farther around to rest on his belly. "Say that again."

I lean down to kiss the top of his head. "You and me, forever, Leo."

From the moment I saw him, I knew he was mine, and I look forward to claiming him for the rest of our lives.

The End.