“I can assure you that Atlas is not mad at you,” Asmos said. “He’s worried.”
“He is?” Bel questioned. That was not the feeling he’d gotten from his mate.
“Of course I am.”
Bel scowled at Asmos as Atlas strolled in to sit behind Bel. He hadn’t even known that Atlas was in the room. All his senses were off. All Bel could smell was the sweetness of the icing on the pretty cupcakes and the heavy butter scent of the popcorn. He hadn’t even felt Atlas coming closer.
“Mate.” Atlas kissed the back of his head. He tried to wrap his arms around Bel’s stomach but with Bel as big as he was, Atlas’s hands only reached the sides.
“You’re not mad at me?” Bel asked softly.
“No, I feel helpless that I can’t do anything to make you feel better,” Atlas assured him.
Bel leaned back against his mate as Atlas rubbed the side of his belly. That felt amazing. “You help me. You’ve done nothing but help me.” And Bel was beginning to feel bad about everything Atlas did for him.
He was the big bad demon yet Atlas practically waited on him hand and foot. Mostly because if he didn’t have magic, Bel wasn’t sure how he would manage anything. How did human women and female demons do this?
Atlas’s phone chimed. He shifted around, bumping Bel, and Bel grumbled.
“It’s Seb. He and Ari want to come over. They said they found something on my heritage,” Atlas told him.
“Fine. I’m not sharing my popcorn or cupcakes though.” No matter how nice Seb and Ari were. He waved a hand to float another cupcake to him.
Atlas kissed the back of his neck again. “Of course, my mate. No one would try to take your sweets.”
That’s right. He was the one pregnant after all.
There was a prickling of his skin before Seb, Ari, and Ash appeared in the nursery.
“Oh! It’s so pretty!” Seb gushed.
Bel started to preen a little. He was very proud of the gorgeous nursery done in simple yet warm colors and furniture. After seeing some pictures online, Bel had fallen in love withthe earth tones and natural woods. Even the touches from hell that Atlas had insisted on so both realms were represented came from the realm itself and not magic.
Another lightning-quick arc of pain shot through him. Bel gritted his teeth so no one else would notice. He was a tough demon. It was fine.
“It really is a beautiful nursery,” Ari said.
“Thanks, guys,” Atlas replied. “Sorry for not getting up. Bel really likes this carpet.”
The nursery was the only room in the house with carpet. Instead of black stone throughout the rest of the house, Bel had insisted the nursery had soft carpet for when the baby started to crawl. Or roll. Whatever.
“We don’t mind!” Seb plopped down across from them then pulled Ash to sit as well.
Ari knelt before settling on his ass. “How are you doing, Bel?”
Ignoring the pulses of pain, Bel smiled. “Pregnant.” It had become his go-to answer.
Ari laughed. “I see that. Sorry we aren’t able tell you more. All the material I found that mentions male pregnancy, most just theorize it.”
Bel shrugged. “Luci is basing his intel on angel pregnancies so we were just guessing anyway. Raphael has been visiting daily as the doctor for the angels and he thinks I’m only a few days past labor date and that’s natural for a first child.”
“I’d love to pick his brain,” Seb declared.
“After he helps deliver our child,” Atlas said.
“Of course.” Seb waved his hand. “But we did come with news.”
Ari perked up, leaning forward. “And we’re glad you’re here too, Asmos.”
