Page 72 of Duke's Baby Deal
“You should have one of your own,” Bram told him, turning away from the window to glare stubbornly at Duke.
“I have one. Two, actually. You’re going to have enough to do this year.”
“You know what I mean.”
“Bram.” Duke glanced away from the road. “I’m happy with Isolde and Jedrick. You don’t need to get pregnant just to make sure I feel included.” He thought he’d put an end to this argument last week, when they’d had their first real, grown-up fight. He should have known better—Bram could out-stubborn the enclave walls if he wanted to.
“Who the hell said it was about you?” Bram folded his arms across his chest and scowled out the windshield, wearing a frustrated expression. “I want a baby with you. One that we make. I want to come into heat and jump you and keep you in bed for a week. Because I think it’ll be fun.” A small smile peeked out, then Bram smoothed it away and went back to scowling. “Omega heats are legendary, right? Why shouldn’t you get one for yourself, seeing as how you mated me?”
Duke felt the heat rush up in his cheeks at the mentions of Bram’s heats, and he focused on turning into their street to keep himself from blurting out something. Anything. Because it would probably be stupid.
But damned if he didn’t want spend a week curled up in bed with Bram during his next heat. He shifted uncomfortably in his seat, the rush of blood to his cock an entirely unwelcome sensation trapped in a seat belt, in brand new jeans, with his gorgeous omega mate only an arm’s length away.
CHAPTER FIFTY-SIX
We drove up to the pack house in the city, half-hidden behind its tall brick wall, the sparkle of silver topping it like dangerous Christmas tinsel. The gate stood open and we pulled into the driveway with Abel and the truck behind us. The silence that followed the engines being turned off felt huge, like the Wild Wolf from scary puppy stories.
I checked the pups—still asleep. They’d drifted off within half an hour of putting the car in gear, first Isolde, then Jedrick. I opened the car door slowly, trying not to make a sound. It would be much easier to get stuff into the house if I didn’t have to deal with cranky babies.
Duke must have had the same idea. He crept out of the car like the Wild Wolf was after him, taking the keys so the little binger didn’t bing.
A slim, dark-haired young man stepped out through the front door. “You’re early. I’m still packing.” He walked up to Abel and pulled him into a hug. “How are my nieces and nephews?”
“Busy. Good. They’re great pups.”
Duke held out a hand. “Cas. How’re things?”
Cas, Abel’s younger brother, grinned and took Duke’s hand to shake it. “Fantastic. I’m going home.” I could hear the excitement in his voice.
He turned to me. “So, Bram. You’ve grown up a lot since I last saw you.”
I stepped forward and shook his hand. “Considering I was eleven the last time you saw me, that’s not surprising.”
He laughed. “I like that. You’ll keep that big lug on his toes, all right.” He punched Duke in the shoulder.
“He doesn’t need Bram to keep him on his toes,” Abel said. “Go look in the van.”
Cas raised his eyebrows, and leaned over to peer into the van. “Holy shit! They both yours?”
Duke put his arm around my shoulder and pulled me close. “Both of ours. Jedrick is on the far side, and Isolde on this one.”
Cas pressed his face close to the window, squinting to get a better look. “They’re both red-heads.”
“I like red heads,” Duke said calmly and gently pulled Cas away from the van. “Help us get stuff in before these two wake up, and then I’ll help you get your stuff out so you can go home.”
“Oh, we’re spending the night. I want to give you the run down on everything that’s going on here and introduce you to a few locals who are friendly.”
Oh. I’d been looking forward to having the house to ourselves—our firstrealhome together. But it was a good idea for Cas to fill us in face to face, so we could ask questions and he could take us around if necessary. Actually, him staying was a relief, once I let go of the idea of being alone together the first night. The idea of friendly locals made me recognize the low anxiety that had been humming in the background of my thoughts for the past month. I wasn’t counting on friends, but I didn’t want to have to worry if I took the pups for a walk. But then I realized. “Abel, you’re spending the night too?”
He nodded. “We’re leaving the van with you, just in case. Duke’s going to see that you learn to drive in the city, and get a driver’s license for outside the enclave.”
My heart jumped up into my throat. “Uh, is that necessary?” Or even a good idea, given the rumply fender still in evidence on the van. I wasn’t terribly good at parallel parking.
Duke smacked my ass possessively and headed for the back hatch of the van. “Definitely. Come on and grab a couple of bags.”
I sighed and followed him. Funny. A year ago I would have pouted and hung off him to coax him into changing his mind. Or squawked and made a fuss about his casual affection. Now, I just pushed it all aside and did what needed to be done. I must have been growing up.
With the four of us working at it—well, three and a half, once the pups woke up—we were moved in in no time and everything Cas wouldn’t need for tonight was boxed up in the front room. The sun began to set and Cas made a last minute run out for supplies for the evening, coming back with the cab of the truck half full of beer and spirits and food. I was surprised that he’d felt it necessary to buy food, until I saw the bags of potato chips and snacks, licorice and chocolate and popcorn and other strange things that made my mouth water, they looked so interesting. Cas grinned as he carried the bags past me in the kitchen and my head turned automatically to track him.
