Page 52 of Omega's Triplets

Her eyebrows raised. “I thought you might not want to,” she admitted. “Now that—”

“What? Now that you’re pregnant?”

“Well.”

The truth was that he wanted her more than ever now. Knowing that she was carrying his babies, knowing that their line would continue, even seeing the subtle hints of her pregnancy that were starting to show—all these things lit a fire within Mark and strengthened the urge he felt to take her.

Instead, he cupped the back of her head, pulled her to him, and kissed her, deeply and passionately.

She melted into him and he felt the warmth of her body. How lucky they’d been. How perfect she’d turned out to be! In all his long time spent planning the acquisition of an omega for his family, Mark had never spent much time thinking aboutwhoshe would be. What she would be like as a person, and how she would fit into their little pack. But now that she was here, now that it was all coming true, he couldn’t imagine doing this with anyone other than Maddy.

He got to his feet and brought her with him, holding her hands, deepening the kiss. Almost, he abandoned his plans for the day right then and there. Wouldn’t it be divine to blow off all his responsibilities? To spend the next several hours here, by the river, naked with Maddy, reveling in her beauty?

But that would be giving in to his animal side. He was going to be a father. He needed to find balance.

He drew back from her. “Let’s get back to the house,” he said.

“More jogging?”

“You’ve got to keep up your strength.”

“Sex is exercise,” she pointed out, a little stubbornly.

He smiled and kissed her forehead. “Oh, don’t worry,” he said. “It’s on my to do list. But later. We can wait.”

Together, they jogged back toward the house.

***

AMY HAD COMPLETED HERschoolwork and was graduating months earlier than anyone had anticipated. The results of her GED test were in, and she’d passed with flying colors. And Jamie thought that deserved a party if anything ever had.

He was at the table with Piper, peeling potatoes she’d grown in her garden, when Mark and Maddy came back from their run. They were both flushed, and it occurred to Jamie to wonder whether they’d had themselves a little romp in the woods, but he decided not to ask. The fences between him and his brothers were still too newly mended.

It had been impossible to stay angry when they’d learned about the babies. Maddy had been in tears when she’d given them the news, begging them not to fight anymore, and they’d looked at one another and immediately set their anger aside. It all seemed so small and petty now that they were going to be parents. This was so much more important.

Mark went upstairs to wash up. Maddy washed her hands, grabbed a knife, and sat down at the table to help.

“When the babies come,” said Piper, “will they be my brothers and sisters? Or what?”

“How would they be your brothers and sisters?” Jamie cuffed her on the head. “We’re not your parents.”

“No, I know that,” she said, flushing. “I just mean...what kind of relationship will we have?”

“They’ll be your packmates,” Maddy said, smiling. “Sometimes, it will feel like you’re their big sister. Sometimes, it will feel like you’re a parent to them. That’s how it was in my old pack, when I was growing up.”

“You never talk about that,” Jamie said.

“I hadn’t thought about it much until recently,” she said. “When I was with the Death Fangs, I had to put that behind me. I couldn’t afford to get caught up reminiscing about how nice it was to be part of a family, to have people who loved me. It’s not so painful to think about that now.”

Jamie kissed her. Piper giggled.

There was the sound of a motorcycle coming to a stop outside the house, and all three of them stopped what they were doing to listen as the engine disengaged and light footsteps came up the patio stairs. A moment later, the door burst open, revealing Amy. “I got a job!” she declared.

Piper shrieked with glee, jumped to her feet, and hugged Amy, who grinned as she returned the hug. Her eyes sought Jamie, though, and Jamie knew she was looking for approval.

“That’s great,” he said. “What’s the job?”

“It isn’t anything much,” she said. “Day manager at the movie theater in town, that’s all. But it’s something. I’ll be able to bring in some money.”

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