"He said he wanted to restore balance," Rosco said.

"Restore balance?" I grimaced.

"Does it mean something?" Avery asked.

"Some factions within the city don't like to see two of the big families getting along. They don't want an all-out war, but they don't want an alliance either. They profit from Andro and I being at odds. Us getting along impedes their business model. We’ll deal with the next steps once I get these two home.”

Knox and Rosco nodded. I ushered the two omegas outside and into the car.

"Take us home, Davison." I climbed in beside Avery and pulled him into my lap. Not the safest way to drive, but he wasn't leaving my side. I rested a hand over his rounded stomach. "Are you okay, love?"

He settled against me. "I am now."

"You’re welcome to stay in our home, Passion. As Avery's friend, you may stay as long as you need. We won’t be offended if you'd rather go someplace else, though. Just say the word."

He bit his lip. "I wouldn't mind crashing with you for a few days. I… I don’t want to go back to work right now."

I nodded. "I'll clear it with Georgie."

"Thank you."

Avery kissed my cheek. Clearly, I had made the right choice in inviting his friend.

We drove in silence for a while. My mind raced with the repercussions of what transpired. I'd need to let Andro know soon. That conversation could wait until my mate was safe at home. I focused on Avery. The warmth of him against me and the steady rise and fall of his breath.

"Thank you for coming." Avery burrowed even deeper into me.

"Of course. I'll always keep you safe."

16

AVERY

A sexy dream became a little too real when I started rocking my hips in my sleep, rutting against the mattress like a lunatic. The feel of hands on me and breath against my ear was real and warm and something I didn’t ever want to end. Maybe I knew it was a dream because I was moving slowly, dragging out the sensations that seemed to spike all the way down to the tips of my toes.

Eventually, consciousness called, and I opened my eyes. As much as I wanted the dream to last, my fruitless thrusts weren’t met with what I truly needed, so I had to come back to reality. The reality where my alpha was sleeping beside me and completely unaware of my needs.

Of course, I couldn’t hold that against him, because it was the same need I’d had a few hours ago when we first went to bed…and a few hours before that when I needed him to fuck me in the shower.

Apparently, my coping mechanism was sex, and I wasn’t mad about it. Neither was he. It was just exhausting for us bothbecause I always needed to feel my mate fully around me—preferably inside me—so I knew we were both safe and nothing could harm us.

He’d made me promise to always tell him when I needed him, so I did that. Not with words but with action. I grabbed his cock and teased it to life.

Cord’s eyes didn’t open as he smiled. "You need more already?" His throat was rough with sleep, and it was impossible not to smile too.

I knew I was being impossible, but I couldn’t help it.

I’d been warned by the Ferrini omegas about the super-horny phase of pregnancy, but neither of us knew it would be like this. Apparently, my body needed dick every chance I could get. The body that had been my own for my whole life was now huge and unfamiliar and never sated. At almost all times of the day or night, I was controlled by the growing life inside me…or the growing knot I wanted inside me. Partner that with the adrenaline from the hectic day, and I was a needy slut for my alpha.

“Then let me love you some more, sweetheart.” He rolled me onto my back and groaned as his hands moved over me. “I love every inch of you.” His touch quickly turned greedy as he worshiped me.

My alpha always knew how much I needed him.

His lips brushed over the skin above my belly button, then scooted lower until I gasped, hips rising to meet his mouth. He moved against me with the same focused intention he always had, touching me as if I were a precious gift.

I pulled him closer, desperate for his heat as energy felt almost tangible in the air. The swell of my belly pressed between us, and he loved me even more because of it.

Cord shifted me so I was on top.