He wrapped an arm around Titan’s waist, careful not to jostle the alpha’s injuries.
Titan glanced at him, surprise flickering across his face.
Why was he so surprised? Mathlin was being a good employee! Okay, so the contract didn’t say Mathlin had to lie aboutbeing Titan’s omega, but he was determined to help Titan with everything he needed. If this meant making a good impression on Titan’s customers, then that was what Mathlin would do.
He buried his face against Titan’s side, rubbing his nose into Titan’s shirt.
Titan’s breath hitched. He made no move to pull away, so Mathlin kept going, breathing him in.
Titan smelled good, actually. He smelled like wolf and forest, but the longer Mathlin sniffed, the more intoxicating Titan’s scent became.
“Wow, I can’t stop sniffing you,” Mathlin mumbled, pushing his face against the alpha. “You smell like a gift. Or like a box that I had lost and found, and it’s full of all my favorite things.”
“Huh,” Titan murmured, leaning in ever so slightly. “Keep breathing me in, then.”
Abercrombie snorted. “You say the baby is yours, but where have you been hiding the omega this entire time? Did you do him dirty, boy?”
Before Titan could reply, Mathlin blurted, “Titan does me very cleanly! Very thoroughly! He scrubs me all over his washboard abs like he’s washing a wet towel, then he wrings all the juices out of me! It’s like a two-in-one package deal. I clean his abs and also his balls.”
Abercrombie gaped.
Titan choked. “Math—”
Mathlin shoved his mouth against Titan’s body in the hopes that it would stop his foot-in-mouth disease. “Sorry!”
Titan shook a little; he was laughing again. “Math, you phrased that better than I could. Mr. Abercrombie, I was separated from Mathlin for a while. He brought our child back last night, and I saved him from a deadly car accident. In the process, I hurt my arms.”
Abercrombie clutched his chest. “Did the baby get hurt?”
Titan shook his head. “The baby was fine.”
“Phew!” Abercrombie relaxed, then made a face. “That wasn’t what Everdin told me. I guess she’s losing her marbles.”
Titan shrugged regretfully. “Maybe she’s having a rough time and has some trouble keeping her facts straight. With Mathlin’s help, I’m hoping to get the bakery up and running in no time. Keep an ear out for our reopening!”
“Will do.” Abercrombie peered at Mathlin from under his bushy eyebrows. “Eat your vegetables. They’re good for pup-making. Especially the eggplants.”
Mathlin stared. Titan made a strangled sound.
“I’ll eat Titan’s eggplant,” Mathlin said.
Titan choked again.
“Good,” Abercrombie said approvingly. “It may take a few tries. Young alphas like him don’t know what they’re doing.”
“Hey!” Titan stiffened, eyes flashing gold. “I know what I’m—”
Mathlin shook his head. “It’s okay. It only took once so he doesn’t have to try too hard if he wants to knock me up again.”
Titan whipped his head around so fast, Mathlin thought he might’ve hurt his neck.
Mathlin froze. Maybe he shouldn’t have admitted that out loud. He peeked at his boss just in case.
Titan’s face was red, and he looked... torn?
“Wow, I think Titan’s running a fever,” Mathlin said hurriedly to Abercrombie. “I need to take care of him before he collapses from his hotness.”
Abercrombie peered at Titan, who stiffened further. “Yes, he does look ill,” the old man said. “I’ll leave you to it. Feel better soon, Titan. Then you can focus on making more pups. Come to me if you need advice.”
