Page 35 of Labor of Love

“I may have to tuck my cock somewhere safe so he doesn’t get an eyeful,” Zenith whispered. “Know of anywhere I can hide it?”

“Oh, gods. That was terrible.” His ass grew wet anyway.

Zenith laughed. And Emre lost count of the kisses they shared.

Over the next weeks, Zenith finished writing his book. He talked to Abbie often while she played in Buttwheel’s belly, and he let Emre read his manuscript to see what Emre thought of it.

Zenith fixed Buttwheel’s crooked wheel, too. Sometimes, the cart followed Zenith around instead of Emre. Emre would’ve been envious if it weren’t for the way Zenith was so delighted to be Buttwheel’s friend.

“Is this enough bacon?” Zenith asked, pulling a tray of sizzling rashers out of the oven one day.

Emre drooled. He hadn’t been able to stop eating bacon; he’d craved it during Abbie’s pregnancy, too, but this time around, Zenith spoiled him with all the bacon he could possibly eat.

“Bacon,” Emre moaned. “Oh, bacon, my love!”

Zenith snorted. “My brother Griff would be happy to write you a song all about bacon and cocks.”

“Including bacon-wrapped cocks?” Emre asked doubtfully.

“Griff told me he once read a book where the omega wrapped bacon around his cock to tempt his wolf-shifter boyfriend into, ah, licking it off him,” Zenith said.

Emre gave it careful consideration; Zenith laughed.

“Would you?” Emre asked, his thoughts spinning. “Fire doesn’t hurt you. Oh, gods, you can even wrap raw bacon around your cock and cook it with fire; you’d be completely fine.”

“We should try it sometime.” Zenith grinned and set the tray down. Before Emre could reach for a still-sizzling piece, Zenith grabbed both his hands. “I don’t want you to burn yourself. Here.” Zenith knelt in front of him. Then he pressed his face against Emre’s swollen belly, and kissed him all over. They could hear the steady heartbeat of their pup; Emre listened to it whenever he could. “Hey, little pup. It won’t be long until you’re here with us. I can’t wait to meet you.”

Emre’s heart melted. “Will we still be living at the apartment?”

Zenith shook his head. “I’m making arrangements. We’ll move to our lair tomorrow. When it’s time for the birth, my friends’ wolf parents will come over and help.”

That gave Emre endless relief, too, knowing he had someone to rely on in case of trouble.

“One more thing.” Zenith seemed suddenly nervous.

Emre looked down into his dragon’s sincere gaze. “Hmm?”

“We haven’t been together long,” Zenith murmured, tracing his thumb down Emre’s throat. “But I want to promise you forever. Would you... Would you like my mating bite?”

Emre’s heart tumbled. “That’s—That’s forever.”

“That’s what I just said.” Zenith stood up halfway to rub their noses together. “Would you?”

They’d only been together for a couple of months at this point. But every day with Zenith felt like a new beginning, like Emre had finally escaped his life of loneliness and pain, to find comfort and safety in his alpha.

“Yes,” he said, choking up. “If you’ll have me.”

“Of course.” Zenith released a deep breath and cupped Emre’s face, kissing him gently. Then he tucked his face under Emre’s jaw, and nosed down his neck to find the perfect spot.

Emre felt the points of his teeth first. Before he could brace for pain, Zenith bit down hard. Pleasure and pain jolted through Emre’s body. Then his skin tingled; thin, blood-red lines swirled down his arms and back—the color of Zenith’s dragon eyes. Marking him as Zenith’s.

Emre swallowed hard, his eyes prickling. This felt like belonging, like a promise. “Thank you.”

“I love you,” Zenith whispered. “Of course I want you with me forever.”

“I love you too,” Emre said, right before Zenith kissed him again.

EPILOGUE

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