Chapter 18

Chapter

Eighteen

" O h." Reed put a hand to his back, his whole body rippling with that pain. Whew. No more bending that way.

He still had at least a month before he was due, but he was pretty well a giant belly. Round. With swollen ankles. Neither the doc nor his midwife were worried, but he thought maybe he was the least attractive pregnant omega on earth.

Puffy.

Off-balance.

Grumpy.

He went to check the nursery. The decorations were almost done, the room a happy purple-blue, all the decorations bears and owls and foxes.

There were three pictures left to hang, so he grabbed the little ladder and climbed up to hang them.

He did fine until he stretched too far to hang the last one, and he teetered, yelping. Just about the time he thought he was going down, a pair of strong hands caught him, easing him to the floor.

"Baby, what are you doing?"

"Hanging pictures for the baby." Oh, Tyler's hands felt so good.

"You should have called me. You don't need to be on the ladder."

"No?" He let himself lean. "I was feeling fat and ugly, so I thought I'd work on Candace's room."

"Well, it looks amazing, though you are far from fat and ugly." Tyler hung the last picture before taking his hand.

"You promise? I feel gross." And I need you to prove I'm wrong.

I promise you. Tyler kept a hold of his hand, leading him to the bedroom.

I just want to feel like I belong inside my own skin, you know?

You belong to me, love. I just haven't reminded you enough.

Anticipation curled in his belly at Tyler's words. There was a growl there, a clear intent.

"Are you sure?"

"Don't poke the bear, love." Tyler stopped next to the bed to strip him down, and he expected a mad rush. Tears pricked at his eyes when Tyler worshipped every bit of his exposed skin, kissing and touching. "You're beautiful. All of you. Every inch, love. My little bear."

"Yours." He sniffled, but his entire body seemed to light up with pure joy.

"Yes. Every." Kiss. "Lovely." Stroke. "Inch." Tyler lifted him easily, spreading him out on the bed.

"All of me." He groaned and let his mate love him.

Tyler licked at his neck, then nibbled one of his ears, sending shivers down his spine.

"More. More, bear. I want you to love me like you did the first time."

"Yes. Everything." Tyler touched him, stroking his chest, pinching his nipples. They were sensitive, aching, and he arched up, begging for Tyler's attention.

He couldn't seem to get enough. Tyler's touch was like flame, licking at him.

Even better, every thought his bear had was to honor him, adore him, praise him, and he found himself wrapping his soul in that love, letting it heal him.

Reed was worthy of it. He was. And he had so much to give back.

He drew Tyler up and fastened their lips together, pouring his desire, his need into his mate.

Tyler moaned, and together they worked Tyler out of his clothes.

He wanted them skin on skin, rubbing and touching.

He wanted Tyler's cock, filling him up and taking him. It had been too long. They'd been all about the baby, but this was for him. Reed needed to feel loved.

"Loved, desired, needed. All the time."

"Thank you. Yes. Need you. All the time." Reed reached down and wrapped his fingers around Tyler's cock, stroking from base to tip.

Tyler arched, his whole big body shuddering. "More, love. Just like that."

"Anything for you." He closed his eyes and focused, stroking Tyler with a strong, steady rhythm, wanting to drive him mad with need.

"My sweet bear." Tyler stroked his skin, his back and ass, then pressed a finger between his cheeks, where he was soaking wet.

"Yours." He spread a little wider, begging Tyler to take him.

"Mmm. So hot and wet. Already open for me, but I want more time, love." Two fingers pushed in.

"More time?" He hummed and bore down, his eyelids going heavy.

"I want to touch you some. If I bury my knot in you now, I'll never last."

"But I want it." He squeezed Tyler tight.

"You can wait." Tyler stroked his ass, fingers pushing in and spreading him, making his balls draw up. His cock stiffened even more, and he began to leak, dripping for his mate.

"Please." He was panting, so sensitive, his hormones running on high. "You don't understand, Tyler." He opened up, let Tyler feel what he was feeling.

"Fuck. Oh, baby." Tyler's bear was right there at the surface, and the words came out as a rough, deep growl.

"Now!"

"Now," Tyler agreed. His alpha pulled free, then spread him wide, so far that his thigh muscles sang. The fat cock slammed into him, his eyes crossing with pure, unadulterated need. "Reed." Tyler's groan when he pushed in was so gratifying. No one made that noise for someone they didn't find attractive. Damn it.

"Yes, mate. Again." He groaned and tried to roll his hips up so Tyler could get deeper.

Tyler rocked into him again, then again, giving them both the friction they needed. Tyler was in a plank stance, hovering so as not to hurt him, but those arms never even shook.

So strong. He groaned, his hands sliding up Tyler's arms so he could hold on tight.

"Feel me, love. Feel my knot. It's swelling for you."

He did. He loved the pressure, the way his body opened and spread for his mate. "I want it. I need it. All."

"It's for you. I always want you in every way there is." Tyler set up a hard, deep rhythm.

He groaned, his shoulders leaving the mattress, pushing himself up on Tyler's cock. His own prick was aching with need, and he wanted to touch, but both their hands were busy.

So he let Tyler press into him over and over, hitting spots inside him that made him grunt and groan. That knot was taking him right to heaven, lodging in him and not moving.

As soon as Tyler was set deep inside, his mate grabbed his cock and began to tug, strong and steady. Reed shouted, because he wasn't going to last. He was seconds from coming.

Come on, then. I want to feel you around me when you shoot.

Love! That was his only thought, his only breath, his only truth.

They loved.

Tyler growled, bending to bite his neck, stilling as he came inside Reed, his seed hot and wet, his knot huge.

He held on, his climax rocking him to the core, leaving him melted and relaxed, his frustration eased off. So much better.

Tyler rested their foreheads together, their breathing in sync. "Yes. Much better, love."

He nodded. "Thank you. I needed that. More than I can say."

"Sometimes you just need to nudge me, love. I want to protect you. Even from me." Tyler chuckled.

"I need you though. I need you to make me feel sexual, desirable."

"Then I'll do better. Because you couldn't possibly be more so." Tyler shifted them to their sides, then stroked his hair. "I love you, sweet bear."

"Love you." He kissed Tyler's nose and closed his eyes, feeling like maybe he wasn't the worst pregnant bear on earth.