Chapter 4

Chapter

Four

W ade held onto Morgan, and the reason his little omega had run off became readily apparent in just a few moments of them pressing together.

Morgan was pregnant. Not hugely so yet, but clearly just about right for it to have been from the last time they'd been together. Not that he thought Morgan would cheat on him.

They'd been circling each other for centuries. Far too long to go astray now. But this was…new.

"You could have found me," he murmured.

"I was worried you'd hate me. I didn't think I was in heat. It isn't a holiday."

"It's not." Wade frowned, taking Morgan to the ugly couch. "That's pretty weird, right?" Then it occurred to him what Morgan had said. "And I'm not going to hate you, love. Though I am hurt that you didn't try to get a hold of me."

"What? I'm supposed to just say I felt really crappy for the last couple of days and then suddenly I'm starting to get bigger, and nothing is staying down and… I couldn't do that. I didn't even know what to do. I still don't know what to do. This is the only place I had to come to, my brother's not even here, and he hasn't left in years. And then there's the vampires!"

Wait. That wouldn't work. Not if this place was dangerous. "Have you seen vampires?"

"No."

Wade stared at Morgan, wondering if this was like, some kind of crazy hormone thing.

"So what if I haven't seen any vampires? There could be vampires. You don't know. You've never been here before. How did you find me anyway?"

Fascinating. Comforting as well, because vampires were right out.

Obviously, Morgan had lost his mind. That was really the only answer.

Either Morgan had lost his mind, or… Or he was trying to deal with the pregnancy when his mate had been away.

As soon as that thought hit him, the throbbing in the back of his neck eased. There. That was the answer.

His stubborn, beautiful, pregnant mate needed him.

That was a deeply satisfying thought, especially along with the thought that finally he got to stay. Wade got to be in love with the most frustrating, aggravating, neurotic little dragon he'd ever known in his entire life.

"I heard you in my mind, in my soul; you called to me, so I came. It's obvious you need some help." Wade tried for a smile but got a scowl in return.

"Help? What kind of help?"

"Well, you're up here without any cookies. Or your brother. And this is an ugly couch."

Morgan stared at him. "I know, it's absolutely awful. What was Max thinking?"

"Obviously there was quite a bit of marijuana involved."

Morgan glared at him, then almost smiled. "That is a totally reasonable assumption to be honest."

"I thought so. I brought groceries. And movies. And big fluffy blankets and pillows." He'd been thinking comfort just in case this place was like, a basic cabin, but now he was glad he'd been all about cushy stuff.

"You did?"

"I did. I wanted us to be comfortable. I also brought popcorn." He'd brought an entire load of things, and he'd have to make sure that he procured anything they would need for the baby…

"I love popcorn. I'm still not—We're not going to live together like this big, happy family. I'm not going to be with you forever just because we're having a child."

No. Morgan was going to be with him forever because they were mated, and it was intended by the gods. Morgan, of course, was going to fight like anything because at one point—three hundred years ago—Wade had made the mistake of saying that he had no intentions of ever not being a bachelor and tying himself down with a flirty little dragon while they were having a fight.

Morgan had never forgiven him.

But he was happy to spend his time making it up to his mate.

He was. Wade grinned. Alphas thought about things differently, he guessed.

Morgan whacked him. "What are you grinning about?"

"How much fun we're going to have. I love being with you. You know that." That was no lie, and he touched Morgan's cheek to add emphasis.

"And you make me nuts. And not in a good way."

"Not true." He kissed Morgan gently, earning a gasp and a full-body shudder. "See? You enjoy us being together."

"Well, of course I do that way. I'm not an idiot." Morgan tried to push away from him. "But you're so…so… Alpha. You make me want to hit you in the head with a rock."

"Mmm. I'm afraid that won't change." But it meant he was a good protector.

"What if I tell you to leave?"

"I'd sleep in my truck because I want to know you are safe." That was fair, right?

"Oh." Morgan actually smiled for him a little. "You would, too."

"I would."

"Well, then, there's no sense in that. Especially if you brought popcorn." Morgan patted his chest.

"I did. Let me go unload so the cold stuff doesn't go bad." He eased out from under Morgan. "The power is working, so I assume that monstrosity of a fridge I saw is functional?"

He wanted to get the cookies in the oven, too.

"It is, and don't harsh my refrigerator mellow. It's amazing." Morgan rolled his eyes as if contradicting that statement. "And I cleaned it out. It was nasty."

"Oh, come on. You know I like your shiny appliances." He grinned. "But I applaud you cleaning it. Be right back."

Wade slipped out to his truck, where he grabbed bags and boxes of groceries. He would leave his personal bags until later. Luckily, he'd bought all the stuff to make cookies, both peanut butter and chocolate chip.

So he would start with the popcorn to soothe the savage dragon, then make cookies. He'd picked up some skills over the years, baking being one of them.

The thought that Morgan was pregnant hit him just outside the front door, and he had to stop, because it was like a body blow. A good one, but hard, nonetheless.

He breathed in and out. In and out.

Goddess. He was going to be a dad.

With Morgan.

Taking another deep, deep breath, he moved back inside, putting a smile on his face. Never let Morgan see you sweat. That was his philosophy. Had been for a very long time.

Morgan was straightening things in the house, turning on lights, and making things sparkle as much as possible with the weird '70s color scheme.

Wade figured it was a little too early for nesting behavior or whatever his moms had called it, so Morgan must really be tickled he was here.

Of course, Morgan was a little fussy, but he'd obviously been here long enough to clean some already. So Wade was going to hope he was right.

"So what does the bathroom look like? More '70s colors? Mushrooms?" Wade asked as he unloaded groceries.

"On the surface, yes. But the tub is amazing, and there's a new rainbath shower." Morgan grinned over at him. "Max does enjoy some of his creature comforts. You'll like it."

"And you can like me liking it with me." Or something that made him sound suave. Really, he was kind of a cave dragon when it came right down to it.

"I will. I mean, you're here. For now. I might as well take advantage of you." Morgan waggled his eyebrows in a suggestive manner.

He almost dropped the groceries. Morgan was never this forward this fast. He always played a little hard to get. But goddess, he smelled like need. So maybe he was ready to cut the red tape and get right to the main event.

"Well, if you want me to show you my showering skills, call it now, love. Once cookies go in, I'll have to keep an eye on them so they don't burn." He put all the bags on the kitchen counters.

Morgan chewed that lower lip in the adorable way he had, clearly torn. Which might be a bit insulting, but he'd accept it. Hormones were crazy things.

Cookies could just win the day.

"I want both." Morgan looked contrite but determined.

"Mmmm. Well… I could always put you on the couch, suck you off, make cookies, and then take you to the shower to fuck."

Morgan blinked, and he could see his mate doing the math in his head.

Wade tucked the cold food away in the fridge while Morgan mulled it over.

"I approve that series of events," Morgan finally told him.

"Oh, good." He practically flew to the other side of the room to whisk Morgan to the couch and push him down. Gently. He didn't want to jostle things about too much.

Morgan grabbed his shoulders, clinging to him like a limpet. "I've been so scared, dragon. I didn't know what to do."

He understood, and he was going to fix it, and they were going to build their family.

"You protected our baby. You did the right thing."

"Promise?"

"I do." He reached up to stroke Morgan's cheek, careful not to be sexual but not wanting to be too casual. Just touching. If Morgan didn't want to make love, they didn't have to right now, no matter how hard he teased.

"No. I want you. I want you badly, Wade. I was—I was calling to you, I think. Neck and all."

"Good." He hummed, nuzzling Morgan's hip. He wanted to be careful to avoid the belly to begin with, because he didn't want Morgan to think that was all Wade was about.

He was here for Morgan first. The baby was an amazing thing, but not here with them yet, really. This was about them.

He tugged at Morgan's sweats. "Is this okay?"

"It's amazing. Your hands are so warm. It's even colder here than in Santa Fe."

"You know I'm never cold."

Morgan chuckled. "I know. You're my fire breather."

"I am." He blew hot air over Morgan's thighs as he bared them.

"Wade!" Morgan jerked, his pale skin warming to a sweet pink, the beautiful thighs flushing.

"You're lovely. I don't tell you that enough." He nipped at a sharp hipbone, then licked his way down one thigh so he could work his way up the other.

"Wade." Morgan buried one hand in his hair. "Hot."

"Too much?" He glanced up just in time to see Morgan shake his head madly.

"It's perfect."

"Good." He hummed, licking at those sweet balls, and he could smell how wet his mate was. So he sank one finger deep inside Morgan while he took Morgan's cock in his mouth.

"Uhn!" Morgan arched up under him, cock pushing between his lips.

He could do this all night. Oh, his own cock was hard as hell, and sooner or later, his knot was going to get insistent. Needy. But right now, this was for Morgan. He wanted to give comfort and pleasure.

He'd ignored the itch in his neck too damn long, and Morgan had been scared as hell.

That wasn't a good thing, dammit. And he wasn't going to let Morgan worry anymore.

He sucked, letting Morgan feel it, letting him get everything he needed: friction, heat, wetness.

"More."

"Mmmph." He pushed down farther, taking Morgan deep.

"Yes… Yes, another finger too. I need you more than breathing." Morgan drew one leg up, offering him everything, more easily than Wade had known in a century.

"Anything you want, love." He pulled off just long enough to say it, then sank another finger inside as he pushed back down with his mouth. Wade wasn't usually the one sucking, but he didn't mind it at all, and Morgan always tasted so sweet.

He listened to Morgan's happy noises, his hard breathing, and Wade felt damn proud. He was doing this. This was him giving his mate what he needed.

"Please. Wade. Oh. More."

Anything, love. He sucked hard at the base, pressing his fingers deep, and Morgan shook apart for him, crying out, coming for him, giving it all up.

Morgan went limp on the couch, and Wade grabbed a blanket as he pulled free, wrapping Morgan up well so he could get to his feet.

"Where are you going?" Morgan asked, his voice already sleepy.

"To make cookies."

Morgan waved a hand. "Oh, good." Then he giggled. "Be sure to wash your hands."