I’m jittery and impatient, and I’ve been wide awake for hours, worrying about Lila and the others and how their visit on Vilax is going. In the past, something like this wouldn’t have bothered me, but the further along I get in my pregnancy, the more I worry about my loved ones. Previously, all I worried about was Maxsim and me and surviving the next day, always on alert for Natalia to attack, and now that is no longer an issue, you’d think things would be easier, but it really isn’t. Now I have a lot more loved ones to worry about.
Our five little bundles of energetic joy make my heart swell with emotions. I can’t imagine how I could love anything more, but the thought of our own flesh and blood babies is low-key terrifying. What if something goes wrong? What if I’m a bad father? When I expressed my feelings to Maxsim last night, he laughed so hard he would have fallen off the bed if it were off the ground.
How could he be so insensitive? I rolled over and didn’t speak to him for the rest of the night, but it meant I didn’t get mydaily dose of sex, and now I am irritable and horny, which is not a good combination in a hormonal person. I want to be knotted or locked, and I’m kind of jonesing for it. These pregnancy hormones are no joke.
Huffing, I sit up in our nest. Maxsim’s quiet snores tell me he’s still fast asleep, and I’m still annoyed at him. He tried to talk me around when he realized I was upset, telling me I was going to be a wonderful father and that I already was with our current babies, but it was too late. I need Lila. She is the only one who will understand. Or is she? Nikos! He would understand too. I quickly climb out of the nest and leave the room, the change in temperature making sweat trickle on my fur. Our room is kept at subarctic temperatures, especially for us, so it always takes me a moment to get my bearings and for Xavier’s spelled pendant to work.
Once my temperature is regulated, I head down the hallway that houses all the bedroom doors, going to the very end. The children’s nursery was deliberately placed far away from the rest of the bedrooms just in case the soundproofing didn’t work in any of them. There is nothing more disturbing than walking in on your parents copulating, especially if it’s a group bonding experience. I still shudder at the memory of seeing my own omega father getting railed by the rest of my parents. I stick my head in just to check. They have been known to get up and wander around the suite in the middle of the night, but all five of them are tucked safely in their beds and water pods.
Smiling, I close the door again and make my way to Nikos’s room. I knock on it and wait. It doesn’t take too long before he opens it completely naked, his hair a tangled mess and his eyes blurry with sleep. He blinks at me for a moment before opening the door wider and letting me in.
I enter without a word, hurrying over to his bed and climbing in. It smells like him, like spicy, salty margaritas, and I burymy nose in the pillow. He stares at me before shrugging and returning to bed, climbing in next to me.
“What’s wrong, little pussy?” he asks, rolling onto his side and arching an inquisitive eyebrow. “It is very early for you to be awake in your state.”
I freeze. “My state?” I ask, snarling a little.
He holds his hands up in defense. “You’re growing two living beings. I remember how exhausting it was,” he explains, reminding me why I am here. He has been where I am.
I sigh. “Sorry, I’m a little irritable, and it’s making me irrational. I had an argument with Maxsim. He pissed me off.”
His eyes brighten with understanding. “Ah. It is alright, sweet kitty cat. People who are not so knowledgeable about how being pregnant feels can make the mistake of speaking before truly thinking about what they are saying.” He runs a soothing hand over my head and down my shoulder.
I close my eyes and start to purr at the sensation, wiggling a little closer. My perfume begins to fill the room with my need, and I wince in embarrassment. When I crack my eyes open, he is looking at me with knowing eyes.
“You would like your fins stroked, no?” he asks, and I frown.
“Huh?”
He shakes his head and chuckles. “What I mean is that the pretty kitty needs to be stroked? Am I right?”
I bite my lip before nodding. “I’m so freaking horny. It’s basically a permanent state.”
He nods with knowing eyes. “I remember it well. I spent most of my pregnancy aching for Lila since I was being held prisoner by my father with no relief in sight. I understand very well.”
He’s quiet for a moment, and I look everywhere but at him.
“Would you like me to take care of your need? I can’t lock or knot you like your alphas, but I bet I can make you feel good andtake off the edge until Lila can get back or Maxsim removes his head from his ass.”
I gape at the merman. Gone is the silly airheaded prince he always portrayed, and in his place is a male who looks at me with desire and want in his eyes.
“No need for reciprocation. I would just be happy to help you out—if Maxsim won’t bite my head off, that is,” he promises. “If not, I am happy for you to snuggle in here until Lila returns.”
He waits patiently for me to decide. My body is already joyfully accepting the offer, my blood rushing to engorge my cock and make my asshole throb with need, but my mind is at war. Lila wouldn’t care one little bit about me taking Nikos up on his offer. She would probably pout that she wasn’t here to join or watch, but Maxsim’s reaction is another thing.
He has been much more relaxed since I became pregnant, and even liked my suggestion for Link to join us during our next heat, but we haven’t really discussed playing with anyone else in our mating group. He didn’t outwardly reject it, though, when Lila was talking about it during our last time together. I reach down and grab my cock through my loincloth. It aches something fierce, and although I know I could take care of it myself, I do like the idea of Nikos lending a hand.
“I can see you are conflicted. How about I go wake your mate and have him take care of you instead?” he suggests, starting to get out of bed. He doesn’t seem upset. Instead, he is perfectly understanding.
“He laughed when I told him I was worried about being a bad father.”
He stops and turns back to face me, no amusement on his face at all.
“Ah, well that was pretty stupid of him, wasn’t it? I completely understand. I have had the same feelings, and I am sure he feels the same way too, but Echo, he probably laughedbecause you have taken to fatherhood more naturally than most of us. You protect and cherish our babies like they are the most important things in the galaxy.”
“They are,” I reply. “I would give my life for them.”
He nods. “Exactly. You have nothing to worry about. Trust me, okay?” He reaches out and strokes his hand over my fur again, and I push up into his touch. “Maxsim laughing was not okay, and you are entitled to feel hurt. He will grovel to you when he wakes and finds you are not in bed with him. All will be right again.” He drops his hand and rolls to face the ceiling, closing his eyes. “Sleep here for now, and Lila will be back soon.”
