Raph snorted, grinning. “Go ahead. But I’ve got one last gift.”
He leaned forward, reaching into his back pocket. Wyatt squirmed off his lap, his arms full of cows. A gift that wasn’t wrapped with the rest? “That’s a small gift.”
“Doesn’t make it less important,” Raph said. Penny, Sam and Hazel had fallen silent, watching them intently.
Something glimmered between Raph’s fingers when he pulled it out. Wyatt’s heart stopped.
And Raph slid onto the floor, kneeling at Wyatt’s feet. Wyatt remembered the day Raph had returned to him, kneeling, kissing down his belly. His throat tightened.
Raph caught Wyatt’s hand, stroked his fingers. “Marry me?”
Wyatt’s heart kicked back to life. Raph’s smile had fallen away from his face, his eyes solemn, hopeful.
They were bondmates—they’d already agreed on that. Marriage was a little—a lot—different. They’d have to register it somewhere. Make it public.
With any other bonded pair, marriage was just a more visible layer of commitment. With Wyatt and Raph, it could be risky. But if they registered their marriage elsewhere... the townsfolk of Meadowfall might not even know.
Raph stroked the backs of Wyatt’s fingers. “You don’t have to decide now,” he said. “You could even tell me a year from now, or whenever.”
And that was something else that he loved about Raph. Raph’s patience. His kindness. The way he gave Wyatt space to breathe.
His heart full, Wyatt leaned forward, cupping Raph’s face in his hands. “I don’t know if now would be the best time to get married,” he said, watching as Raph’s gaze grew uncertain. “But yes. At some point in our lives, I want to marry you, Raph. You’ll always be my alpha.”
Raph blinked hard, his mouth curving into a tentative smile. “Can I...?”
Wyatt gave Raph his hand. Raph slid the ring onto Wyatt’s ring finger, and the silver band fitted snugly, like it was always meant to be there.
Wyatt broke into a smile, pressing their foreheads together. Raph kissed him, soft and sweet, tracing his wrist down over Wyatt’s belly. “Mine,” Raph whispered, his eyes warm. “Thank you for being mine.”
“Always,” Wyatt whispered back.
Sam, Penny and Hazel cheered, and Wyatt felt the safest he’d ever been with his family.
An hour later, after the baby shower was over, Wyatt watched as Raph installed the new crib. Raph lowered the side of the crib, then raised it, before locking it in place. The crib fitted in the nursery, with the cartoon cow stickers on its edges, and the row of cow plushies sitting on the dresser.
Later today, when Sam and Penny brought Hazel back, they’d all paint a rainbow mural on the wall.
“Feels sturdy to me.” Raph stood, testing the joints of the cot again. Then he stepped away, setting the screwdriver on a dresser. “What do I do next?”
Wyatt chuckled, his heart swelling with warmth. The ring sat heavy on his finger, and he couldn’t stop spinning it.
He was Raph’s. He’d marry Raph, someday. It seemed so unbelievable right now. “I wish you’d let me do some of this. It’s not like I don’t have the strength to.”
Raph turned, his dark eyes coasting down Wyatt, from his hair to his chest to his swollen belly, down his thighs, then his feet. “You should rest.”
“You’ve been telling me to rest for weeks, Raph. The baby isn’t due until next month! I can still move!”
Raph snorted. “Sure you can.”
“I’ll show you ‘move’,” Wyatt muttered, stepping close, slipping his fingers down the waistband of Raph’s jeans. “That’ll shut you up.”
“You’re sure it’ll shut me up.” Raph grinned. “How are you guys doing?”
“Great.” Wyatt leaned against him, the bulk of his belly pressing into Raph’s abs. Then he dragged his nose along Raph’s neck, breathing in his teak scent, and the hint of fresh sweat. “Gods, you smell good.”
“You always say that.” Raph combed his fingers through Wyatt’s hair, then slipped his palm down, cupping Wyatt’s belly. “Can’t wait to meet the baby.”
“Ben,” Wyatt said. “I’ve decided on a name.”
“Ben.” Raph’s lips curved up. “I like it.”
Raph smoothed his palms over Wyatt’s belly, his eyes intent. Then he lifted Wyatt’s sweater, exposing Wyatt’s pale abdomen. It had grown huge, Wyatt’s skin tauter than it was months before. Their baby had been kicking lately, and sometimes, Raph whispered little things against Wyatt’s belly, kissing it all over.
“You’re so beautiful,” Raph whispered, dragging his fingertips over Wyatt’s skin. “Can’t believe how big you are now.”
Wyatt grinned. “Should I be offended?”
“Nah.” Raph flattened his hands on either side of Wyatt’s belly and held him, the heat of his palms soaking into Wyatt’s skin. He leaned forward, pressed a soft kiss to Wyatt’s forehead. “Gods, I look at the baby clothes, and they all seem so tiny.”
“You’ll get to put clothes on Ben in a month,” Wyatt said, snuggling into his alpha. “And deal with spit-up, and baby poop, and all the good stuff.”
Raph laughed. “You’ll be there with me, right?”
“Sometimes. We’ll probably be taking turns sleeping.”
Raph’s breath puffed into his hair, warm. Then he pressed a trail of damp kisses to Wyatt’s ear, and down his neck. “We probably won’t have time for this when he arrives, huh?”
“Probably not,” Wyatt said, then gasped when Raph’s teeth scraped over his scent gland. His blood thrummed, swooping between his legs.
“We should move this to our room,” Raph whispered. He slipped his hands down Wyatt’s belly, his calluses catching on Wyatt’s skin. Then he dipped his fingers past Wyatt’s waistband, scooping Wyatt’s cock and balls into his warm palm. “Get you all nice and wet.”
‘Nice and wet’ usually followed with a good, hard fucking. Wyatt’s mouth went dry. “We do have an hour.”
“Fuck you until you scream.” Raph’s breath puffed over Wyatt’s ear, and he stroked Wyatt’s cock, firm fingers on sensitive flesh. “That’s still okay?”
“You heard the doctor.” Wyatt rolled his hips, pushing back against Raph, molding his fingers against the bulge of Raph’s pants. “Just nothing too rough.”
Raph growled, slipping his other hand down Wyatt’s back, pushing against the seam of his pants. He
