Chapter 12

Chapter

Twelve

R eed didn't let his boss know he was leaving. He just got up and walked out at six.

He was exhausted, worn through, and Tyler was waiting for him. All he wanted to do was dive into Tyler's arms and hide. All of the little annoyances and careless remarks he could usually ignore, today they had made him so tired and sad.

Tyler's truck was there, running and warm, and his mate was waiting, smiling at him.

"Oh." He hurried, careful not to slip in the slush, and hopped into the truck. "Hello, love."

"Hello, sweet. I was very impatient; I have to admit."

"I just walked out. I didn't even say I was going. I just went." And he couldn't quite believe he'd done it. Something about Tyler made Reed brave.

"Good for you, love. Overtime is necessary sometimes, but not when it's just expected because they don't hire enough people to do the jobs."

"Spoken like a true manager," Reed teased.

"Mmmmhmm. That's why we're a chain." Tyler leaned over to kiss him gently.

"Can we go somewhere? I need to snuggle in your arms, bear." He didn't need to have sex, but he needed to sit in his bear's arms.

"Let's go back to my place. I know it's just a long-stay place, but the bed is big, right?" Tyler got them moving, one hand always reaching out to touch him, his leg, his hand. Something.

He leaned his head back, letting himself relax for the first time in a couple of weeks. He needed this—needed to breathe.

"That's it, Reed. Breathe with me." Tyler's hotel wasn't far, and they were in the parking structure in no time.

"I'm going to order you anything you want for supper, and then we're going to spend the night holding each other."

That sounded so good he almost cried. "Promise?"

"I promise you, love. I just want to be with you and rest. I need to know you're okay." Tyler came around to let him out of the truck, then wrapped an arm around him as they made their way inside and to the elevator.

He leaned, soaking up his mate's strength. Tyler was warm, so supportive.

"I love you, little bear. Does anything sound good? Maybe soup? Or breakfast?"

Oh. Oh, breakfast. "Pancakes."

"Pancakes it is. I think I know just the place."

They got inside the suite, and Reed gasped. The slightly sterile room had been padded with an explosion of pillows and blankets, candles and a little electric log fireplace.

"It's amazing. Oh, Tyler." He turned in a full circle.

"I wanted it to be special."

He burst into tears, so honored, so pleased. He grabbed his bear and held on tight. "Thank you."

"You're welcome, sweet one. My mate." Tyler kissed him. "I have some jammies for you. Go change while I order pancakes and I'll get the fire going."

"You have clothes for me? Really?" Reed beamed at him, joy pouring through their bond.

"I do. They're in there on the bed." Tyler kissed him again, then sent him on his way.

He washed up after he stripped down, noting the toiletries that had come from his apartment. Aw. The pajamas were new though. Soft. They'd been washed.

Reed had never been so pampered—not ever. He felt like his stomach was easy for the first time in a couple of weeks, and he could feel Tyler's love inside him like a hum.

He dressed so he could head back out where Tyler had the little fire thing going, and the couch had been folded out with clouds of bedding and such. Perfect snuggling ground. He was a lucky omega.

"Hey. They comfy?"

"Mmmhmm. Thank you."

"Let me go change, and we can wait for the food and laze around and stuff."

"Are you busy this weekend?" He watched Tyler's fine backside on the way out toward the bathroom.

"Nope. I got my interview done early and I'm all yours." Tyler's voice floated back.

"I like that. What interview?"

"For the manager spot here. One of our other managers stepped up for a transfer." Tyler came back in soft jersey pants and a T-shirt. "Snuggle!"

Oh, did that mean Tyler was leaving? Fuck, that would suck.

Still, he opened his arms, because he needed a hug. He needed Tyler.

Tyler grabbed him, whisking him over to the couch. They cuddled up together, Tyler kissing the top of his head.

Oh, so much better. He inhaled, filling his lungs with the scent of his bear. That relaxed him more than anything else. He loved how Tyler smelled.

Tyler kept touching his belly like he was reassuring their baby. It was so sweet, and kind of made him want to giggle. It still seemed unreal.

"I never let myself imagine having a baby, you know? I thought I'd be a high-powered agent…" Reed had imagined himself a fierce shark in freezing waters. He was beginning to understand that had been foolish.

"You would be amazing at helping people navigate Valleywood, but you don't have the meanness it takes to cut people off if they aren't making money."

"I like that—how you make it sound like a pro instead of a con."

"It is to me. I know it's your boss's business to be ruthless. But it's not in you not to care." Tyler stroked his back, loving on him.

"Thank you." Reed kissed Tyler's collarbone, lips brushing the soft skin. "I'm so glad we're together."

"I am too. I was so worried about you. Make sure you talk to me from now on? Please?" There was no accusation there. Just a sweet concern.

"I was scared that you'd think badly of me."

"Never. I think we need to talk to the doctor when we do go, because if you were on suppressants, they failed, but I'm not upset. We knew you had your heat."

"We did. And now we're having a baby. Together." At least he hoped so.

"We are. Oh, honey. I can't believe it." Tyler squeezed him, laughing out loud, and Reed could feel his pure, unadulterated joy. How could he ever think that was a bad thing? His grizzly seemed almost giddy with happiness, and he knew they had a lot to talk about, but he let the sweet feeling be a balm to him.

"I was a silly bear. I freaked out. I don't—what if James fires me?"

"Then you slap him with an anti-omega lawsuit threat." Tyler winked, which made him laugh.

"I'm not sure I have the balls."

"I do. I'm your alpha mate, love. I know very well you can take care of yourself, but it's my honor to have your back."

He nodded. His alpha mate. His Tyler had found him.

Found him and loved him and made him know he was cared for. So much. He could hardly ask for more. He would. Reed knew he would ask for Tyler to help him decide what to do, to spend their lives together.

And he also knew his lover would do just that. Tyler was with him all the way.

The doorbell rang and Tyler stood up. "Pancakes for my omega."

"Thank you, love." It was the first thing that sounded good in forever.

"You are most welcome. I skipped the meat, since you didn't ask for any. Just stacks of pancakes and some fruit."

"And butter and syrup."

Tyler smacked his lips. "Heavens yes. Lots of both."

Yay. He grabbed them plates out of the to-go bag, then laid out forks. There was milk and juice, and he knew Tyler was a coffee fiend and wasn't having any for his sake.

He fell on the food as soon as they both sat, his bear so close to the surface. He hadn't been so hungry in weeks, but now everything tasted amazing, utterly perfect.

Thank God Tyler had ordered like, four boxes of pancakes. They ate them all, Tyler giving him the last few perfect bites.

"That was so good."

"I'm pretty happy myself." Tyler did look a little smug.

It was well-deserved, when you got down to it. Tyler had made a terrible day a good one.

"Mmm." Tyler leaned over to kiss his sticky lips.

They tasted like butter and syrup and pure need. Oh, he wanted to touch. All over. Bear. Bear, can we? I need you.

Yes. We can. Bed? Tyler lifted him off the couch.

Bed. I—I finally feel better. He'd needed not to hide himself from his mate.

Thank goodness. I want my sweet love. Tyler lowered him to the bed, then knelt on it to kiss him.

Reed hummed and opened up, tongue sliding along Tyler's. Oh, his bear.

The kiss went deep and amazing, Tyler pressing down against him. That big body felt so good, Tyler's scent strong and musky, the hard cock prodding him through the fabric of their pajamas.

He let his hand slide down along Tyler's back, smoothing it along the heavy muscles. He loved the feel of Tyler's smooth skin, a nice contrast to the fur on his chest and legs.

Tyler sat back to tug off Reed's jammies, baring him to that hot, golden gaze. "My mate. I've not touched you in too long. I want to sleep with you, every night."

"Every night?" He searched Tyler's face. "That sounds very serious."

Tyler stroked his cheek, stopping every other movement to stare into him. "It is. I mean it, Reed. I don't take mating lightly. I believe it's real and forever."

"Forever?" Oh please. Please yes. He'd never dared hoped for something like this.

"Yes. I want you with me. As my partner. Raising my babies." Tyler rubbed noses with him.

"Oh. Oh, you mean it?" Reed was in. He wasn't sure how, but he was in.

"I do, love. We have a lot to talk about. Just not right now. This is just for us." Tyler kissed him again, loving on him so well.

The words made him melt, and he could relax and snuggle in, kissing Tyler back with all the joy he could muster.

Tyler moaned, rubbing, and he had to reach down to yank at Tyler's pants, wanting that amazing cock bare. He was so wet, so hot for Tyler, and he needed.

"Mine." Tyler's voice went straight to his balls. "All mine."

All he could do was moan, his body awake and needing. "I want you, bear. I can't get more pregnant, right?"

"Not right now." Tyler winked for him, and he had to laugh, which caused things to jostle and rub so he gasped.

"Okay, well, we could try."

They both started to laugh, deep, happy belly laughs that shook the bed. Then Tyler was kissing him again, so he wrapped his legs around Tyler's hips and hung on, rubbing up and down and back and forth.

Tyler took him in hand, stroking him, base to tip.

He hissed, his body lighting right up. "Tyler! Oh, do that again."

Tyler rubbed him up and down, really giving him some friction, and all he could do was moan and buck. This wasn't like his heat; the horniness was a little more constant, less frantic, but still burning hot.

"Needy, mate. You've been denying us both this for days." Tyler was driving him crazy.

"I didn't want to. I panicked." He tried to hide his face, but Tyler kissed him back into the light.

"Well, now you know better. I have your back. No matter what." Tyler pumped him. "And your front."

"And my sides. All of me." Now that he knew Tyler wanted him, both of them—he was feeling like he had hope.

"And your toes. Which are kind of perfect."

"That's not my toe," he teased.

"No, but I memorized them." Tyler's smile made him laugh out loud. Wicked bear.

"What else did you memorize, bear?"

"How the small of your back tastes. How you smell here." Tyler bent to nuzzle his armpit.

Oh, that was more than he expected, more than he deserved.

"I know your spots now, know what your paw prints look like in the snow." Tyler lifted him, pulling him up over that hot cock.

"I know your heartbeat." He met Tyler's eyes. "Because it's beating inside me now."

"It is." Tyler's eyes actually got a little liquid, a little damp. "I love you."

"I love you too." He braced his hands on Tyler's chest, then backed up and bore down on Tyler's dick.

They roared together, the entire world smashing into a curtain of light.

When they started rocking, static filled his ears, his head falling back.

Pleasure zipped up his spine, heat flooding his entire body. He wasn't sure how long he could hold it in. Tyler moaned. "You come whenever you want, baby. My knot is ready."

Those were welcome words. He craved the way Tyler spread him, filled him up. Made him ache, deep inside.

"I need more." He clung to Tyler and moved faster, gritting his teeth against the need to come. His muscles ached with it but didn't want it to end yet. He wanted to come so hard that he could rest just as hard.

Tyler huffed out a breath, his body moving faster, sweat making his skin slick. He was perfect this way, his knot swelling to fill all Reed's empty places.

"Bear. Bear, please."

"Mmm…" Tyler bit his shoulder, electricity buzzing through him.

He arched, his cock bobbing, and Tyler moaned again, watching him hotly. "Love you so much like this. So sensual."

He was soaring, flying high, his world trapped in Tyler's arms. Tyler made him feel beautiful. Loved. He spread wider, giving Tyler more space. That knot needed room.

"You fit me perfectly. Every inch of you." Tyler's fingers wrapped around his cock, the stroking strong and sure.

"I love that. How you don't care. I know I'm not perfect."

"You are for me." Tyler nuzzled his jaw. "I knew from the first day. You were made for me."

He actually teared up. "I knew it too. You gave me that honeybun, and I was so hungry ."

"As hungry as you are now?" Tyler teased, and those fingers began to move again.

"No. No, this is… You're my greatest reward. The best treat ever."

"Better than berry pie, hmm?"

"Even better than that. With honey whipped cream." And that was high praise. He would give up a lot for berry pie with honey whipped cream, but not his Tyler. Never that.

He needed his mate more than he needed to breathe.

He rocked, his hips rolling, his breath coming fast. Everything seemed sensitized, heated, and he could barely breathe.

Tyler worked him like a master, fingers dragging up and down his prick, nudging his balls with every downstroke.

His eyes rolled, and he was going to come soon. He could feel it at the base of his spine, ready to roll up and burst in his brain.

Yes, little bear. Show me how good it feels.

So good. Love you so much. He wanted to repeat that over and over, because that was the most important thing.

I know . That thought suited him to the ground.

He smiled, smoothing his hands over Tyler's chest. Fuzzy bear. Tyler's thumb dug into the slit of his cock and he roared, his head slamming back.

Reed came hard, his body jerking and dancing as his seed shot from him. He hadn't ever felt better, not even during his heat.

Tyler wanted forever with him.

Tyler wanted him .

"My little bear," Tyler moaned, deep in his chest.

"Yes. Tyler. Mate. I feel you." He needed Tyler's seed inside him.

Tyler nodded and thrust deep, then even deeper, the huge cock swelling inside him. The knot he loved lodged deep, Tyler so hot, and when Tyler came inside him, he cried out again.

Tyler held him tight, their bodies as close as they could be, and Tyler nuzzled his cheek. "We'll talk some later, huh? Right now, just rest."

Reed sighed. "Rest sounds good."

"I bet. No thinking for a few hours." Tyler nuzzled his forehead. "I have crackers for you before you sit up when you wake."

"Thank you." That would be a kindness. Waking up was the worst right now.

"It's my pleasure, mate. I need to take care of my lover and our baby."

His cheeks heated with pleasure. "Thank you, love. Thank you." That was all he wanted to hear in the world.

It just made it better that it was all true.