Ian swallowed, wetting his lips. He looked interested. “My car’s at the station.”
“So’s mine. I’ll see if anyone can get us home or something.”
Brad pulled his phone out. Texted Harris, who replied after a minute. I’ll send Valen down to pick you up.
Brad winced. He had to apologize to Valen—it wasn’t as though Valen had been prepared for an impromptu shift. But that was the least of Brad’s worries, when Ian leaned into him, his muscles finally relaxing.
“Feel better?” Brad rubbed Ian’s shoulders.
“Yeah. Much better.” Ian cracked a smile. “I’ve just… never had anyone with me. This was so different. I was more grounded because you were around.”
“You liked it?”
“Gods, yes. Not the surgery, but just… you.”
Ian tilted his head, meeting Brad’s gaze. Brad stared at him. Couldn’t look away, when Ian was beautiful, all warm, soft eyes and pink smiling lips, comfortable in Brad’s arms.
“I love you,” Ian breathed.
Brad’s heart stopped.
Ian blinked. Then he glanced away, his cheeks pink. “Maybe I shouldn’t have said that.”
“Why the hell not?” Brad turned Ian to face him. He pressed soft kisses to Ian’s lips, nuzzling his cheek, his heart too full. Ian loves me.
He wanted to sweep Ian off his feet. It wasn’t appropriate in the hospital, with the nurses bustling around them. So Brad pressed kisses all over Ian’s face.
Ian blushed harder, squirming out of his arms. “I just… forget I said that.”
“No, I’m never gonna forget it.” Brad wrapped his arms around Ian, kissing his neck. “You love me? Really?”
Ian flushed darker, but he was smiling, almost shy. “Yes. Really.”
Brad growled. He kissed down Ian’s neck, dragging his teeth across Ian’s sensitive scent gland. Ian sucked in a sharp breath, musk coiling from his skin. He wanted Brad.
Brad’s pants grew tight. Yeah, he could imagine Ian beneath him, stripped and squirming on the bed, spreading for Brad’s cock. Ian taking Brad in, his body hot and tight, milking Brad for his come.
My omega.
“Gonna give you my knot,” Brad murmured in Ian’s ear. “Make sure we really have that baby inside you. Maybe add another one.”
“You can’t do that,” Ian gasped, but he was pliant in Brad’s arms now, his eyes dark with desire.
Brad kissed him, slow and deep, until Ian arched and whimpered against his lips. Then Brad leaned away, tangling their fingers together. “Get you home first,” Brad murmured, ignoring the giggling nurses to the side. “Gonna claim you. Mark you.”
Ian’s eyelids fluttered shut. His chest heaved, and he looked so hungry, right there.
With some reluctance, they turned to the window, looking at Gwen. Ian sagged. He pressed his face to the glass, his gaze trailing over Gwen’s limp body. “We’ll be back soon, hon,” he murmured.
Brad kissed his cheek. As much as they didn’t want to leave her, Gwen would be safe in the hospital.
Brad led Ian out of the ward. They took the elevator down, making their way out of the hospital. A red utility truck drove through the parking lot—Valen.
Valen pulled up in front of them, unlocking the truck doors. He was a stocky alpha in his mid-thirties, with gelled blond hair and an easy smile. Brad had heard that Valen was making his way into second-in-command on his own team.
With the door open, Brad ushered Ian into the truck. Then he sat on Ian’s other side, draping his arm over Ian’s shoulders so Valen knew Ian was Brad’s.
Valen rolled his eyes. He released the brakes, turning them out of the hospital parking lot. “I heard from Harris. Your daughter okay?”
“Yeah,” Brad said. “She’s out of surgery now. They had to widen her arteries, but she’s recovering.”
Valen winced. “Sorry to hear that.”
“Thanks for picking us up,” Ian said gratefully.
“No prob.” Valen flicked on the turn signal, and they headed back to the station.
“Thanks for covering for me,” Brad said. “Hope you weren’t in the middle of something.”
“Naw. I was on feeding duty.” Valen laughed. “’Sides, it isn’t often that I get to be on the same shift as Big H. Had time to catch a nap, catch up with Sam and the children. We’ll need to make things up to Sam big time when we get home, but that’s not so bad, either. Helps a bunch when you wear out the kids and they sleep for a while.”
Valen wriggled his eyebrows.
It always felt strange, thinking about Valen and Harris in a relationship, sharing an omega. Valen and Harris were both alphas, and sometimes Brad wondered how they did things in bed. Then he felt awkward, because that was just not something you wondered about your coworkers.
“How old are your children?” Ian asked.
“Landon’s three now. Jack’s one. Sam’s expecting.” Valen grinned proudly, puffing out his chest. “So we’ll be a bit busier with three kids, but we’ll manage. It works out pretty well when Harris and I take turns at the station.”
Brad nudged Ian. “What do you think? Want three kids, too?”
Ian’s mouth fell open. He hesitated, and Brad could already hear him say, I’m too old to carry more children. But it didn’t hurt to try, did it? As long as Ian was healthy through the pregnancy, Brad wouldn’t mind.
Maybe he kind of wanted more children, so he’d have more reminders of Ian when Ian inevitably left this world before him.
Brad swallowed, pushing that thought away. Ian was alive, he was warm and soft against Brad, and Brad wanted to cherish his omega. Wanted to sink into Ian, get Ian’s scent all over his skin, until he smelled like he belonged to Ian, too.
“Maybe we’ll have three,” Ian said, giving him a tiny smile. “We’ll see how this goes.”
He touched his belly, and Brad couldn’t help slipping his hand under Ian’s shirt, pressing his palm against Ian’s skin.
“Hey, get a room for that,” Valen said, clicking his tongue. “Don’t make me envious, Brad. I’ve got an omega waiting for me at home.”
Brad snorted, punching Valen lightly in the arm. “Fine. I’ll keep my hands off
