Raph chuckled, slipping his hand between them. Then he stroked the tattoo on the small of Wyatt’s back, where the scroll unraveled and said Drive In. “Did you know, this tattoo started it all?”
“Really? No, that seems insane. Most times, I don’t even remember it’s there.”
“It did.” Raph smiled, one arm wrapped around Wyatt’s belly, his hand pressed against the tattoo. “You were at the pool when I saw this tat. And I wanted to know how many other alphas had seen it.”
“You thought I wanted them to drive in?” Wyatt smiled, leaning back into Raph’s shoulder. “It certainly got you inside. I remember that.”
Raph’s cheeks darkened. “Still can’t believe we’re brothers.”
“Stepbrothers.”
Raph laughed, nipping at Wyatt’s shoulder. “I’m just glad that we’ve got as far with Mom and Dad as we have.”
“Hazel, too.”
“Yeah.”
Raph tangled their fingers together. Wyatt brought Raph’s wrist to his lips, pressed his nose against Raph’s scent gland. Raph’s other wrist was marked; this one wasn’t. So Wyatt licked where it smelled strongest of teak. “Mind if I bite here?”
Raph sucked in a sharp breath. His heart pounded against Wyatt’s back. “You can mark me anywhere, Wy.”
Wyatt licked his wrist again. Then he bit down, hard, and Raph swore against him, his knot jerking inside Wyatt’s body. Wyatt groaned. When he pulled away, the skin on Raph’s scent gland had broken, tiny beads of blood welling up along it.
“I want to bite you, too,” Raph whispered. “The first time... I didn’t intend it.”
Wyatt’s heart skipped. He had appreciated that first bite anyway, a mark from an alpha he trusted. He reached behind with his hand, the position a little awkward. Raph’s fingers circled his wrist, and his breath feathered hot over Wyatt’s skin.
“You’re sure about this,” Raph said.
“I’m giving you my hand, aren’t I?” Wyatt grinned. “I want to be your bondmate.”
Raph grinned back. He sniffed out Wyatt’s scent gland, kissed it. The edges of his teeth pressed against Wyatt’s skin, a light touch. Then he bit down, and pain and pleasure jolted through Wyatt’s nerves, made him arch.
Through the mirror, he saw he was hard again. All it had taken was one bite.
“Mine,” Raph whispered, kissing the wound.
“Yours,” Wyatt said, turning. And Raph pressed a kiss to his lips, soft and intimate, a promise of protection.
34
Raph
A month later
In the middle of their last song, Wyatt’s water broke.
Raph hadn’t been aware of it. He’d been on the violin, watching as Wyatt’s fingers flew over the piano. Penny and Hazel stood to the side, their harmonized voices rising to the high ceilings of the piano room. Before them, Mom and Dad beamed, their faces alight with joy.
Then the music trailed off, voices and notes and vibrations dying away, and Wyatt leaned back on the piano stool, looking down at his belly.
Raph hurried over, setting his violin down on the stool. “You okay?”
“Yeah,” Wyatt said, smoothing his hand over his abdomen. “I think my water broke.”
A thrill shot down Raph’s spine. “It broke?”
He must’ve yelped too loud—Mom and Dad looked over, and Penny raised her eyebrows.
“What broke?” Hazel asked.
“My water. It means the baby will be here soon,” Wyatt said, making to stand. Raph slipped his hand around Wyatt’s arm, supporting him. “I’m not an invalid, Raph.”
“I want to help.”
Around them, their family drew closer. Although Mom and Dad had said dressing up was unnecessary, Raph was in a suit, and Wyatt had worn a flowing shirt and loose pants. Hazel had worn a bowtie with a button-down shirt, and Penny, a summer dress.
We’ll give Dad the performance he always wanted, Wyatt had said. So they’d all agreed, showing up at the mansion on a Sunday morning.
The room brought back memories—of Raph sitting with Wyatt as he played, of Raph kissing Wyatt the very first time, and of Grandma yelling while Wyatt paled.
A decade later, so much had changed. Wyatt was carrying Raph’s baby. Grandma was gone, and Hazel stood with Penny, Mom and Dad watching on with tiny smiles.
“There’s no need to panic,” Wyatt said, easing away from the piano bench. There was a dark spot on the cushion, where the water had leaked. Wyatt cleaned it off with his shirt. “We’ve packed the overnight bag.”
“Yeah, it’s still in the car.”
But their baby would be here soon, and Raph wasn’t entirely prepared for this. What if he screwed up? What if he wasn’t a good dad? What if he—of all things—dropped their baby?
“It’ll be a while yet,” Mom said, pulling Wyatt into a hug. “Call us when the baby is born. Dad and I would love to visit.”
Raph glanced at Dad. Over the past few months, Chief Fleming had adjusted to the idea of his sons bonding. He’d been wary at first, uncertain of how to react to Raph and Wyatt holding hands. Then he’d hugged them both, again, and said he still loved them.
The rest of the town wasn’t aware of their relationship. That was fine. Raph was working at the drive-in as the manager now. Wyatt helped out sometimes, but was mostly on paternity leave. He refused to sit still for hours, though.
“Come on, let’s go,” Wyatt said. “We need to make sure the apartment is ready.”
“But your water just broke!” Raph said.
Wyatt cracked a smile. “I’ll tell you when the contractions start.”
Mom hugged Raph. “Take care of Wyatt, dear. Keep us updated.”
“Will do.”
Wyatt stopped by Hazel, bending to hug her. “Hon, your brother’s coming along in a few hours. Dad and I are going back home for a bit. Can you stay with Aunt Penny for now?”
Hazel looked at Wyatt, then his belly. “I can’t come along?”
“It’ll be a terribly long wait, I think. Hours! And with nothing to do at the hospital.” Wyatt kissed her cheek. “Won’t you help Grandma make some dinner for tonight? She’ll love to try your shrimp stir-fry.”
Hazel nodded. “Okay. You’ll be all right at the hospital?”
“Definitely.”
Raph reached out for her; Hazel hugged him. “Protect the fort,” Raph said. “You’re our only hope in the
