Chapter Fifteen

Jeremy

I used to come in from my perimeter runs and take a shower before going to the kitchen to eat. Turning into my wolf always left me starving.

Since Clay became my mate, my hunger had changed. It was late at night when I made my way through the hallway of the compound to my room. Clay might be already asleep, but he usually stirred once I came back.

Still, I entered the room quietly. I shut the door by turning the knob and gently letting the lock fall into place. Kicking off my boots, I saw Clay lying on the bed. His lips slightly parted. Soft snores and his sweet scent filled the room.

I tiptoed to the bathroom, thinking I could take a shower without waking him. As I passed the dresser, something caught my eye.

What was that?

I reached for the long, white, plastic…thing and picked it up. There were two pink lines on the window in the middle.

Wait a damned minute.

"Jeremy?" Clay whispered.

"I didn't mean to wake you. I'm sorry." I was even sorrier knowing that I'd woken not only my sleeping mate but my pregnant sleeping mate. Still, I withheld my glee, waiting to see how he felt about it.

"It's okay. I tried to stay awake, but lately it's hard. I don't know who stole my energy but I wish they would give it back."

I leaned against the dresser and held up the pregnancy test. "Talk to me, omega." I tried to sound cool and smooth. Didn't work. The profundity of the situation wouldn't allow it.

"I was talking to Jack and Sloan and the others about some things that have been happening to me. Exhaustion. Nausea. Jack sensed that I was pregnant almost instantly. They have tests here." His voice cracked toward the end.

I tilted my chin down, looking at the floor. My gut twisted with guilt. My mate should've been able to come to me with these symptoms, and we would've figured it out together. Instead, I'd been so busy lately, he had to go to others.

"Whatever is going on right now"—Clay sat up and rubbed his belly—"isn't making me feel good."

Shit. I'd dumped my emotions into our mate bond, and now I was hurting him. "I'm sorry." I took a seat next to him, wrapping my arm around his shoulders. "I'm feeling like a shitty mate. You've been going through some things without me."

He shrugged, moving to lay his head on my chest as he wrapped his arms around my torso. "I also didn't tell you. You have enough on your plate."

I chuckled. "Mate, you are my plate. Please tell me you're happy about this. About having my young."

"I am over-the-moon happy. I was worried you wouldn't be. We've never really talked about starting a family."

We hadn't. We should've. "I couldn't be happier," I said, dragging him into my lap. "I've always wanted a family but thought it was out of reach for someone like me—someone who lives this kind of life. Who does what I do."

"You're a good man, Jeremy. You carry out things most people wouldn't have the balls for, all in the name of helping omegas who have been abused and drugged and taken advantage of. You're so good, Jeremy. I know your heart. I hope our babe has your heart and your courage."

I cradled his head in my hand and pulled him against me, taking his mouth with mine. I hated the night shifts, being away from him when he was asleep, but I had to do my duty. His body became pliant as he circled his arms around my neck and rocked his hips.

"Are you feeling okay? I mean, are you up for this? You said you've been tired lately."

Clay pulled back, laughing. His eyes twinkled only for me. "You know, all of a sudden, I'm not tired anymore. Imagine that."

"Thank the gods."

I laid him on the bed with his hips at the edge and pulled off my clothes while he watched. He took off his own, fumbling with the boxers, making us both laugh.

I kissed his neck at the place that made him moan and worked my way down to his belly where I paid more attention. Clay had become ten times sexier now that I knew he was pregnant with our cub.

"Don't stop there, alpha. Look how much I need you."

There was no need to. I felt his hardness throbbing against my chest as I sucked and nuzzled his lower belly.

I took his hard cock into my mouth after licking a circle around the swollen head and lapping up the pre-cum pearled near his slit. His legs spread for me, I sank down on my knees and got comfortable. My mate wasn't leaving this bed until he was well worshiped and loved.

"I love you, Clay." I pulled my mouth from his length with a pop. "You've made me the happiest alpha on this planet."

"I…I can't…" he said. "Fuck me, Jeremy. Please."

"With pleasure." I stood and urged him onto his knees on the edge of the bed. An image flashed into my mind of my mate like this, with a huge pregnant belly, begging me to make love to him. "This is going to be rough," I said. "I need you so much."

"Show me."

I plunged into his slick entrance and, with a furious rhythm, brought both of us to a swift climax.

We lay next to each other, breathless when Clay turned to me. "Remind me to get pregnant more often," he joked.

"Do you really want a lot of kids?" I asked, rising up on my elbow.

He nodded. "As many as Fate gives us."

"Then we're going to need more practice." I pulled him to me.