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Chapter Twenty: Reese

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It had all felt like a dream since Tiberius had appeared in the diner and had demanded to spend time along with Reese. He’d barely gotten any sleep. He’d doze off only to open his eyes as pleasure hit him, Tiberius sucking on his cock, fingerfucking him, sucking on his nipples. He’d come so many times he’d lost count.

It was so good, but above all, he felt... complete. He felt that he was right where he was meant to be, for the first time in his life. Being in Tiberius’s arms felt safe and dangerous at the same time, like he was on a rollercoaster and didn’t know how things would change from now on.

But in a good way, right? That was where the feeling of rightness stemmed from. The attention Tiberius lavished Reese’s belly with, his caresses and the possessive way he often placed his hands on it made Reese’s heart skip a beat.

Tiberius really was happy about the pregnancy. There was no hiding it. And it made Reese happy, too.

But did it mean Tiberius would take care of him and the baby? That he’d stay with Reese? Claim him?

Reese didn’t want to hope too much.

Especially if Tiberius didn’t know about Reese’s brand of shame, about his fathers. Would his old man have told him? It was possible. But no, Tiberius wouldn’t look at Reese with such affection in his eyes if he knew, right?

God, they had to talk. He knew that, yet he was content to remain in this bubble where they fucked and kissed and touched, where everything was as it should be.

He was damn scared it would burst and he’d find himself alone once more.

***

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He had no idea how long they’d been holed up inside his room, but at some point, a knock came on the door. It insisted until Reese lifted his head from the pillow, and found Tiberius already on his feet and heading to open the door, totally, gloriously naked.

Reese was still staring at that muscular, tight ass on display, drooling a little, when he realized that Tiberius had opened the door and was talking to someone.

It looked like alphas didn’t know the meaning of the word ‘embarassment’. There he stood, comfortable as you please, his dick swinging in the wind, talking to...?

“... be nice if you finally got your dick back in your pants and we returned to the Academy,” a familiar, annoyed voice was saying. “There’s a thing called classes and tests and curriculum—”

“That’s three things, buddy,” Tiberius drawled.

“—and his cousin doesn’t seem to like us much either. I wouldn’t be surprised if he spat in our food, and our room smelled like piss.”

Marcus. The guy talking with Tiberius was Marcus.

The chestnut-haired alpha was looking over Tiberius’s shoulder right at Reese, a smirk on his face—a very naked Reese, big belly and all.

With a squeak, Reese grabbed the sheet and covered himself up, his face flaming.

Marcus smirked.

Arrogant bastard.

And he wanted Tiberius to leave. Reese choked on a whimper, fear and sadness swamping him. Had he misunderstood Tiberius?

“Reese? Babe, you okay?” Tiberius was turning back toward him, worry written on his face, and Reese turned his face away, not wanting him to see how he felt.

But Tiberius came to the bed and sat beside him, cupped his face. “What’s wrong?”

“You’re leaving,” Reese whispered.

“Can’t stay here forever, no matter how nice your room is.”

Reese’s breath caught on a sob. “You’re going back.”

“Yes. I came here to find you, and now I have. And you’re coming with me.”

“Wh... what? I am?”

“Aren’t you? Don’t you want to come with me?”

“Ty—”

“To be my Mate.”

Reese now thought he was going to hyperventilate. His heart was racing, just like his thoughts which were running in crazy little circles. “Are you serious?”

“Of course. Don’t you know yet? I lo—”

“Ty.”

“What?”

“You can’t say that.” Reese pressed a hand to his chest, to contain his heart. Somehow, the thought that Tiberius thought he felt as much about Reese as Reese did about him was scary, because Reese wasn’t exactly who Tiberius thought he was.

And the thought of telling him terrified Reese.

“The hell I can’t! What’s the matter?” Tiberius lifted a hand and stoked Reese’s cheek, the question echoed in his eyes.

“You don’t know everything about me.”

“You’re kind. You’re clever. You’re pretty. You’re damn amazing, and sexy, and carrying my baby. What more is there to know?”

“What more...? Are you serious? You know nothing.”

“I know all I need to know.”

“Ty—”

A knock came on the door. The knob turned and Marcus poked his head inside. “Hey, Ty, Reese. How about we get going? We’re in the way and—”

“Marcus, leave us.”

“But Ty, we have to—”

“Give us an hour.”

The door closed again.

Tiberius drew Reese into his arms, onto his lap. He placed his hand on top of Reese’s belly. “How would you ever think that anything you have to tell me would change how I feel for you? Have you killed anyone? Raped anyone?”

“What? No!”

“Excellent. Have you robbed anyone? Kicked any puppies?”

“Ty...” Reese rolled his eyes.

“Excuse me while I’m trying to think of other terrible crimes you might be hiding from me. Have you gutted any plushies? Spilled any milk?”

“No.”

“Wait, I got it: you stepped on an insect as you served tables and your conscience won’t let you rest.”

Reese was laughing when a flutter inside his belly made him gasp.

“Reese? What’s wrong?”

“The baby.” He pressed his hand to his belly, and there it came again, the small flutter.

“What? Are you in pain? Are you—?”

“Feel that?” He grabbed Tiberius’s bigger hand, moved it higher, rubbed it over his belly.

The baby kicked again, and it was Tiberius’s turn to gasp. “A baby?”

“Our baby,” Reese confirmed, grinning so widely his cheeks hurt.

“Oh god. That’s so awesome.” Suddenly, Reese found himself on his back, his belly bared, and Tiberius was lying on his belly beside him, his lips almost touching Reese’s bellybutton. “Hi, baby. This is your alpha dad. How are you?”

“Ty!” Reese was laughing, then gasping when another flutter started on the other side of his belly. “Oh.”

Not possible. Oh my God, no way...

“What is it?”

“I think...” He blinked. “I think we woke the other baby up.”

“Christ, Reese. What the hell?” Tiberius’s dark eyes were comically wide. “The other baby? It’s a party in there, isn’t it? Where?”

Reese rubbed his hand over the spot, and Tiberius shifted to kiss the spot.

“Here?”

“Yeah.”

“Hi, other baby,” Tiberius whispered. “Stop kicking your omega dad in the ribs, okay? Or if you have to, then do it gently. I’m quite fond of him.”

Reese smiled, his eyes growing blurry with tears, because, aw. “Are you?”

“My favorite guy in the world,” Tiberius said softly.

Reese wiped at his eyes, then grunted when another flurry of kicks caught him unprepared. “I think they speak in Morse code. You should write down what they’re saying.”

“They’re saying, I love this warm belly I’m in and I’m having too much fun playing with my brother.”

Reese snickered.

Could it be twins? It rarely was in a first-time pregnancy. But from all the kicks on either side of his belly, it was quite possible.

Another kick and Reese groaned. “I think the baby, or babies, want you to shut up and let them sleep.”

Now they were both snickering.

“Wow, that was amazing.” Tiberius’s eyes glimmered, his smile lingering.

It was.

“It’s twins, then?” Tiberius asked quietly.

“Honestly, I have no idea.”

“We’re going to be fathers, though... That much is for sure.”

“Yeah.”

And it was time to clarify things, to tell Tiberius all his secrets, everything he’d been hiding, see if it changed anything in how Tiberius felt about Reese. Tiberius claimed it wouldn’t, but you don’t know until you have all the info, right?

It was time to talk.