“I love you, too, baby.”
* * *
When Mik’sknot finally came down, he pulled out of Rowan and rolled his mate to the bed from on top of him. He stood on shaking legs and went to the bathroom adjoining their bedroom. After steadying himself using the edge of the sink, he grabbed a washcloth, ran it under warm water, and wiped himself clean first. Once he finished, he tossed it in the laundry bag kept there for towels and went to grab another washcloth, then returned to the bedroom. Rowan’s eyes were closed, and Mik thought his mate was asleep. Still, he cleaned his mate, gently wiping the dried cum from his skin, then placed a kiss on his belly.
“Hey, little one. Your papa and I can’t wait to meet you.”
Mik used the washcloth between Rowan’s legs, and his mate chuckled as Mik took his time. “I think you got it all, babe.”
“Just making sure,” Mik teased. He tossed the used washcloth in the general direction of the bathroom and then crawled into bed with Rowan.
Rowan turned so he was the little spoon to Mikhail’s big one.
“Are you comfortable, love?” Mik asked.
“I’m good,” Rowan said. “Although, I wouldn’t mind some of the apple crumble I made, with those Asda gherkins I had you pick up? Oooo, and the vanilla ice cream too.”
Mik snort laughed. “Well, your wish is my command.”
He was about to roll out of bed, but Rowan held on to him.
“Not yet. I just want you to hold me a little longer.”
“Whatever you want, love.” His arms around Rowan tightened, his hand resting on Rowan’s growing bump.
Twenty-Eight
Rowan
The last month of Rowan’s pregnancy was perfect. He knew that was a big word to throw around, but it fit this time.
Rowan knew he would never regret the time it took to get them here, but he also wished he’d felt Mikhail with him sooner.
It wasn’t like they could communicate through their minds, but there was something to knowing how much your partner loved you. How his heart raced whenever he laid eyes on Rowan. Or when he said he missed him, Ro could feel how much.
“Okay, what is with the dopey smile?” Alfie’s voice was teasing.
“You’re thinking about your mate, aren’t you?” Axel’s voice was knowing.
“Like you aren’t,” Rowan shot at his brother.
“Fair point,” Axel said. He had just put Mason down for his nap, and the twins were in the playpen next to Alfie.
Rowan shifted in his seat as his back twinged again. It had been doing that the past week, but he wasn’t worried as his scheduled delivery was in four days. Mikhail was worrying that he would go into labour since he was close to his due date, so Alfie and Axel had duly showed up at his house every day.
Even though he’d told his mate that he was fine, and as a midwife he could tell what was going on with his body, the back pain was totally normal for this time in his pregnancy. He’d been reading Cameron’s books on shifter medicine and especially obstetrics.
He was at full term which meant, well, his body was basically not his anymore.
“How’s the search going?” Rowan asked Alfie.
“Pretty good. Manchester is obviously the closest, and if I ever have to go into Uni, it’s a quick car ride,” Alfie said. “But I think they only do post-graduate stuff. So I’m looking at Essex.”
He was proud of Alfie. His brother had decided to enrol in distance learning, and since a lot of the top universities offered it now, his options were not limited.
“Manchester would be the easiest, but if they don’t...” Rowan’s voice trailed off as he felt another twinge. He shifted where he sat, but it persisted.
“Don’t what?” Alfie prompted.
