Page 58 of Labor of Love

“They’ll love you,” he’d said, with the same easy confidence he approached everything, and then they had. They’d been disturbingly effusive, in fact. Tanner’s mother had called Bracken the most beautiful thing she’d ever seen.

(Which was probably true, of course, but afaemother would never have just admitted to such a thing.)

So Tanner was attentive. And welcoming. And respectful. But Bracken had been here for two months—twomonths—and Tanner hadn’t taken advantage of him even once. Not once!

Did the dastardly barkeep not realize that pregnant omegas were among the horniest creatures in all the realms? Had that not come up in his extensive omega research?

Or was he really this—thiscruel?

Because Bracken simply didn’t have it in him to request sex outright. It had taken him three nights to work up the nerve to proposition Tanner on their first meeting, and that had been with no stakes at all beyond Bracken’s own immense lust. But now there was a baby in the picture. The stakes couldn’t possibly be higher.

So Bracken would find himself requesting other things.

His feet apparently hurt quite often, despite the fact that he never lifted a finger to do anything on his own. And likewise his lower back apparently ached every evening. He’d also somehow intimated to Tanner—without quite expressly stating it—that pregnant omega fae needed to be held very, very tightly for endless periods of time before turning in for the night.

And Tanner agreed to it all with a smile. He hugged and massaged and petted. And then, when it was over, he very sincerely and very deliberately asked, “Anything else I can do for you, sweetheart?”

And instead of asking for what he really needed, Bracken would then order the man to do something completely arbitrary. (“Yes. These curtains need changing. Immediately.”)

And Tanner would do it with a smile. Every single time.

Bracken was aware he was being a horrible, horny coward. But it was just awful, the thought that Tanner might say no. The thought that he might really be this kind and agreeable and have absolutely no carnal interest in Bracken any longer.

Bracken had been able to face the rest—the pregnancy, the banishment—but if Tanner didn’t want him anymore…

No. Bracken couldn’t face that.

So he spent an awful lot of time masturbating in the bathtub. He liked feeling weightless and luxurious in the water, stroking his cock languidly as he imagined Tanner barging in and lifting Bracken from the tub, lavishing him with the same determined attention he’d given Bracken during their one night together. Having his way with Bracken until Bracken was finally spent and satisfied the way he ought to be.

But the larger Bracken’s belly was growing, the more difficult the angle of these bathtub sessions was becoming.

Bracken glared down at the thing now. His lovely gold belly chain only barely fit over it anymore. Soon he’d have to put his beloved jewelry away until after…the event.

There was a flutter and a cramp, and Bracken’s belly bulged on the left side. Their baby was kicking. Bracken sighed and cupped a hand over the bulge.

“It’s not your fault,” he soothed. “Your papa’s just acting like a noble idiot.” He gave his belly a little pat. “But we’ll fix that, won’t we?”

Bracken couldn’t be a coward any longer. Not if he wanted to get laid in this lifetime.

He rose from the water and stepped carefully from the tub. He dried himself slowly and thoroughly with one of the fluffy towels he’d commanded Tanner replace his old set with. Then he covered every inch of his skin with moisturizing oil, one that complemented his natural honeysuckle pheromones. Bracken let his hair out of its knot, and the waves fell down to his biceps. In addition to his belly chain, he chose an assortment of rings and earrings and an arm band or three, as well as a few jeweled pins for his braids.

When he was as adorned as he was going to be, Bracken stood nude in front of the bathroom mirror, turning this way and that. He thought he looked rather nice with a belly, actually. And his buttocks were even rounder than usual—that was pleasing. There was a little more padding around his nipples, too, and after a moment of thought, Bracken added another chain, one that dipped between his pecs and then split along his ribs.

There. Very fetching.

Bracken slipped on a silk robe, one that barely reached past his thighs. Evocative but not wholly indecent. He studied the final effect.

Yes, Tanner’s mother was correct: Bracken was gorgeous.

Gorgeous and more than good enough for one measly mortal, no matter how good and handsome and assured that mortal may be.

So there was nothing to worry about, was there?

Tanner was working downstairs tonight, but Bracken knew for a fact there was another bartender on duty. And he’d had just about enough of this—thisspace.

He slipped out the front door of the apartment, taking the stairs down to the bar.

Bracken was horny and hormonal, and it was high time Tanner took responsibility the way he’d said he would.

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