I snorted. “And make sure I’m not lying about him being at my house?”
“Damn skippy.”
Chapter Twenty-Six
Dex
I was more tired than I thought because when I woke up, it was dark out and I had slept right through the alarm I set on my phone. At least, that was my assumption when I woke up in a completely dark room. Panicked, I shoved myself to a sit and gasped as the sudden movement sent a sharp pain through my abdomen.
“Baby? You okay?” I jerked away when a big, warm hand stroked down my back, belatedly realizing I knew that hand and the voice as well.
“Shit! You scared me! What are you doing here?”
Otto chuckled softly. “First my hospital room and now my house. I think a better question is why are people surprised to find me exactly where I belong today?”
“Huh? What about your hospital room?” I turned to face Otto, squinting to try and make his features out in the dim moonlight filtering through the window.
“I’ll tell you tomorrow,” Otto promised, gently gripping my arm to drag me back down and pulling me to his chest. “Are you okay?”
“Yeah, I just slept through the alarm I set to come back. Sorry.”
“You didn’t,” Otto corrected softly. “They cut me loose early, so I caught a ride home instead of bugging you. When I got home, you were sleeping so peacefully that I decided to turn the alarm off and crawl in with you.” He hesitated, stiffening against me before shifting the tiniest bit away from me. “I hope that wasn’t crossing a line. I mean, I know you were okay with me touching you at the hospital, but I should have asked first.”
“Of course it is,” I sighed, shifting my body to snuggle back against him. “It’s good for the baby. Something about me having physical contact with the sire is supposed to help him develop better.”
“Is that the only reason? For the baby?” Otto spoke again before I could answer. “Wait! Him? It’s a boy?”
I laughed and rubbed my face against his hair-rough chest. “I really don’t know if it’s a boy, I just randomly called the baby him. And, no, it’s not just for the baby.” I swallowed hard. “I’ve, um, been in love with you for years, so I want you to touch me. I’m just having trouble convincing myself that all of the, well,problemswe’ve had lately just magically disappeared.” I drew in a breath. “If I’m very honest, I don’t understand why you’re doing such a complete about-face from not even wanting to be fuck buddies to wanting to mate with me. I, uh, I think it’s probably better not to get my hopes up, ya know?”
The sound Otto made sounded almost likeooof,but his big hand started stroking my back again, comforting me as I melted into his strong, warm body.
“I wish I could explain, I really do, but the truth is that I don’t really understand it myself. I mean, what I remember is that I didn’t feel worthy of you when I got out. I didn’t want you to ruin your future by settling for a criminal, but a lot of the other parts are still a little,” he shrugged, his shoulder moving under my head, “incomplete? I guess that’s the best way to describe it.” His lips grazed over my forehead. “But what Idounderstand is my current feelings and there is nothing even remotely incomplete about them. I am going to do everything in my power to convince you that I love you as much as you loved me.”
“Love.”
“I’m sorry?”
“You saidloved, past tense,” I mumbled. “Iloveyou, current tense.”
“Still?” I asked hesitantly. “After everything I put you through? Really?”
I groaned. “Yes. As hard as I’ve tried to make myself move on, I haven’t been able to.”
The noiseOttomade was anything but a groan. If I had to name it, I would have leaned much more toward extremely self-satisfied Alpha. I exhaled sharply, knowing damn well I had just handed him the information he needed to bring me to heel but, then as I expected him to gloat, well, he surprised me.
“It’s gonna be okay, baby,” Otto murmured, pulling me closer yet. “I’m gonna convince you. You’ll see, I’m gonna show you that I want you in every way I possibly could.”
Iwantedto believe him. Goddamnhow I wanted to believe that the Alpha I dedicated myself to a dozen years ago, my first lover, the sire of my child for Christ’s sake wanted me as badly as I wanted him. But that doubting voice was piping up, clear in my head telling me that I was falling for another pipe dream. Without me saying anything, Otto seemed to know.
“It’s okay, baby,” he whispered in my ear, peppering kisses on my cheek. “Until I can convince you, I have enough faith for both of us. For now, let’s get some more sleep.”
Chapter Twenty-Seven
Dex
After many, many, many hours all but crammed together in a hospital bednotmeant for two adult size beings, waking up with the Alpha of my dreams shouldn’t have been anything special.
But it was because we weren’t just pressing together to fit in the big bed.
