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He was coming. His lover’s command was a powerful trigger, especially when he was so close.
Lately, he was always close to coming, always horny, his hole always slick and ready. The doctor had mentioned that hormones might make him hornier during pregnancy, but oh boy, this was crazy.
Then again, Tiberius never missed a chance to make him come, and now... ooh. His body stiffened as pleasure gripped him. It ripped through him, making his hole clench and his cock spill in sweet spurts against his belly.
And then again.
And again.
And when Tiberius started coming, too, his hot seed hitting him deep inside, he came again with a cry, feeling as if he was being turned inside out.
“Oh, crap...”
“Reese?” Tiberius was holding Reese’s legs, his broad chest heaving with each breath, sweat gleaming on his handsome face.
“That was...” Reese lifted a hand off his belly to wave it in the air, grasping for a word. “Spectacular.”
“Yeah, it was.” Tiberius grinned, and something in Reese’s chest tightened with happiness.
How lucky was he, to be with such an alpha?
Carefully, Tiberius pulled out of Reese, who winced anyway. Yeah, he was horny and slick, but everything felt tight inside, and Tiberius had a hell of a big cock.
Reese managed to prop himself up on his elbows and watched as Tiberius went to bring a clean cloth and clean him up, like he did every time, gentle and pressing kisses to Reese’s full belly.
He waited until Tiberius went back to the bathroom that he allowed himself to grimace and rubbed at his belly. Ow... It was cramping pretty badly. Though it often cramped after sex, so it didn’t worry him too much.
He couldn’t believe how full he was, how huge and heavy. Getting up from the bed or a chair was impossible. Walking was hard. The pressure between his legs was unbearable. His nipples ached. His back ached. His belly ached.
It felt like the babies would be coming soon, but he had to take the two tests he’d studied for first. Fingers crossed he made it until then.
Three more days, babies. Please, wait.
“Hey, babe.” Tiberius came back out, gloriously naked. “Shower with me?”
“Do we still fit in there together?” Reese asked ruefully, still rubbing at his belly. The babies kicked, making him hiss. “I don’t know.”
“Sure we do.” Tiberius came to stroke Reese’s belly, kiss it. “Don’t we, babies?”
“You expect them to answer? I thought only Nero thought I was getting too big.”
“You’re beautiful,” Tiberius said. “And I think the babies like it when we shower all together.”
“Really?” Reese shot him a narrow look. “The babies like it?”
“Well, I like it.” He shrugged and grinned. “I like touching you and holding you. Is that a crime?”
Aw shucks. “No, of course not,” Reese said, mollified. “Still don’t know if we still fit in the stall together.”
“We’ll make it work,” Tiberius whispered.
And suddenly it wasn’t only about the shower stall. “We will?”
“Yes, love. We will. You’ll see.”
It made Reese’s heart lighter. He leaned into Tiberius who wrapped his arms around him. “I trust you,” he said and smiled.
***
“Reese!”
At the sound of Jace’s voice, he stopped and turned, one hand massaging the small of his back. It ached fiercely. “Hey. Haven’t seen you around in a while.”
“Yeah, I... I had some things to take care of.” Jace was wearing a huge parka that seemed padded with a million layers of clothes underneath.
“You look like a burrito.” Reese smiled. He couldn’t help it. Jace was pretty, and looked cuter than ever. Had he gained weight? His cheeks were rosy.
“It’s cold.” He gestured at Reese’s open jacket, his huge belly barely fitting in his pregnancy sweater. “You’re still pregnant.”
Reese snorted. “It’s that obvious, is it?”
“Saw it from a mile away.” Jace grinned. “You look great, though. Honestly.”
“I don’t feel...”
Jace frowned. “You don’t feel okay?”
Reese bit the inside of his cheek. “I’m okay. Damn uncomfortable, though, and... I feel I look like a stranded whale.”
“Nah, don’t think that.”
Reese smiled. “You going to class?”
Jace nodded. “Calculus test. You?”
“I took that one. Got a military history test before midday, and a business management one in the afternoon.”
“Loaded day.”
“You can say that again.” Reese rubbed the small of his back again. It all hurt so much more today, but he had to take those exams. He had to.
“You sure you’re all right?”
“Yeah.” Reese had already had to fend off Tiberius’s worried questions and his insistence that Reese stay and rest and forget about the exams. “I’ll be fine.”
But Jace didn’t seem ready to let him go just yet.
“Have you...?” Jace hesitated, glanced away. His hair had grown long, flying about his face. “Have you ever considered having babies on your own? Without a Mate, I mean?”
Reese frowned. “Well, “considered” is not the right word, I think, but for a while, I wasn’t sure that Tiberius wanted me, wanted to Claim me, so... I did think it could happen. Why?”
“Oh, nothing. Just wondering.”
“Let me tell you what I know now, in hindsight, after five months of carrying these babies.” Reese rubbed at his lower belly that was cramping again. “It would be tough to go through pregnancy without a Mate to help you. Especially if you carried twins like me. I mean, look at me. I can barely walk. I need help to get up and get dressed and bathe, and I can’t begin to imagine the panic when the babies come. I...” He drew a shaky breath. “I’m scared.”
He hadn’t meant to blurt that out and he tried not to admit such things in front of Tiberius who was worried enough as it was. There was something about a fellow omega that had Reese lowering his guard without realizing it.
“Aw. You will be great.” Unexpectedly, Jace moved forward and wrapped Reese in a sort of sideways hug, avoiding his belly. He smelled... sweet. Very sweet and somehow familiar. “You’ll see.”
“Yeah...”
He was still mulling over it, trying to place the scent, when Jace pulled back and flashed him a quick, bright smile. “You’re so lucky to have an alpha who loves you so much, and you deserve it. If you ever need a friend, give me a shout.”
“Okay.” Reese blinked. “Uh. You, too.”
Turning around in a whirlwind of blond fine hair, Jace left.
What had all that been about?
***
He thought he did all right at the test. The ache in his back and belly persisted, coming and going, distracting him. He rubbed at his lower back, wincing.
“You okay, Reese?” the teacher called out.
“Why is everyone asking me that today? I’m fine.”
“You look...”
“... big?”
The teacher shrugged. “You look tense. Restless.”
“And big.”
“Well, you’re carrying full-term twins, Reese.”
“Yeah.” Then why did Reese want to cry? And also throw up. Why he was nauseous? It was all too much, the constant pains, the weight of his belly, the discomfort.
Turning away, he made his slow way to the door.
“If you need help with anything, just let me know,” the teacher said.
Reese walked out without answering. He didn’t even know why he was annoyed. The teacher meant well, but he couldn’t help him. Nobody could. He needed to finish these exams and...
And have the babies.
He stopped, his breath catching as a vise tightened around his belly.
No...
Not yet, damn it.
“Reese?” There was Tiberius, right outside, waiting. “What is it?”
“Nothing,” Reese whispered. If this was labor, it would take a while, right? He’d heard of cases lasting for all day and all night. He shivered at the thought. Point was, he still had time. Take the second exam, and then tell Tiberius about it, gather his things and drive to the birth center.
Besides, it was probably just strong Braxton-hicks. Nothing serious yet.
“Didn’t the exam go well?”
“It went okay,” I think. He managed a smile for his alpha. “I’m just tired.”
“Hungry? Let’s grab a bite.”
Reese let him take his hand and tug him toward the salon. The thought of eating brought bile up his throat, but if he told Tiberius, he’d worry him more and then have to suffer the alpha overprotective urge taking over. Easier to just go along and pretend he was fine.
He would be, when these exams were done.
Stifling a groan as another pain wrapped around his belly and his back, he waddled beside Tiberius and tried to empty his mind.
No exams.
No babies.
No birth.
He floated on a warm cloud where nothing could touch him, relaxed and resting... His alpha was beside him, holding Reese in his arms, keeping him safe...
“Reese. You’re scaring me.”
He opened his eyes to find they’d walked inside the building and Tiberius was facing him, giving him an uneasy look. “Uh... Sorry?”
“Don’t be. Tell me what you need.”
“Maybe some food would be good,” Reese muttered. “Something light.”
“Done. Now come on and sit before you fall down. You’re looking pale. We need to get you fed and rested for the afternoon exam.”
Grateful, Reese let his Mate lead him to their usual corner and told himself he’d really be fine.
I’m fine. I’ll be fine. The exam will be fine. The babies will be fine.
That was his new motto.