Sam frowned again but nodded. “All right, that’s cool.”
There was no question in Theo’s head that Sam’s immediate reaction as he ran off was going to be to go get Liam.
He had no doubt.
That was okay. At least that way the pounding would stop for a bit and he could breathe.
Gael was napping, so he could just lie there on the couch and close his eyes just for a second. Deep breaths in and out as he listened to the baby go in huge circles, kicking and pushing and trying to make room in an increasingly tightened space.
Mate, are you all right?Liam sounded all stressed and worried.
I’m fine, I’m grumpy, I’m tired, and I just wanted the banging to stop.Was that too much to ask?
That makes sense. Is it all right if I come see you? I’ll bring you some peanut butter cookies.
I like peanut butter cookies.
I know you do. Good balance of fat, protein, and carbs.
Theo snorted.It’s peanut butter. This is how wolves became domesticated.
And all this time I thought it was couches and fireplaces.
Don’t make me beat you. Deliver the cookies.
Liam’s warm mental chuckle sounded across the bond, and it wasn’t but about two minutes before Liam showed up in their quarters with a bag of peanut butter cookies. “Sara is making more ginger ones, too.”
Then Liam looked at him and frowned. “You seem awful swollen.”
He arched an eyebrow. “Pardon me?”
“I meant your ankles, dork, not your belly. I think maybe you need to just put them up. Relax. Try not to get stressed out.”
“Well, there was this pounding in the walls.”
“Ah. The hazards of pack living underground.” Liam shook his head. “Sam feels bad. He promises not to do any more hammering until you’re feeling in a more hammery mood.”
“Hammery?” He had to chuckle at Liam. The peanut butter cookies were helping his mood sort of drastically.
“Yeah. You like it? I just came up with the word.” Liam swept him, and his bag of cookies, up into his arms. “Come lie down. Put your feet up. You have cankles.”
“Don’t make me beat you, Liam.” It was true. He did have cankles, and he had basically a giant tube for legs. He figured it had to be because he was the size of a house. But he could stand a little bit of pampering right now.
“I love it when you threaten me.” Liam kissed his temple and then helped him stretch out on the sofa, feet up. “Now, what can I do to amuse you? I could read to you. We could play a game. You want to play cards?”
Did he want to play cards? He wasn’t sure he had enough brains for that.
“Do you want a massage?” Liam sat next to him, smiling as he raised Theo’s legs even more, putting them on his lap.
“Oh.” He gasped and nodded, tears coming to his eyes. “That would be amazing.”
Everything was sore and swollen and heavy, and he was tired. Liam’s hands felt perfect and comforting sliding up and down his legs, just loving on him. “Oh, that feels so nice.”
“Don’t cry. It’ll be all right. Hormones suck, huh?” Those hands just kept moving.
He nodded. “Everybody else says that you’re supposed to be all horny and excited, and I’m just fat.”
“Nonsense. I bet she’s a nice, big baby. Gael’s gonna love having a sister to play with.”
