There was a pause. The words sank in.
Ottis curled into the sheets, horrified. “I didn’t mean to call you a magic dildo! Oh gods.”
“But you called my cock a magic dildo.” Doc sounded amused.
“Oh, fuck me and my gaping hole.”
“I already did.” The alpha laughed, faint vibrations carrying through Ottis’ bed. “I’m not offended. In fact, it feels like a compliment.”
Ottis peeked over his shoulder at Doc’s face. Except Doc leaned out of sight, wrapping his muscular arm around Ottis’ waist.
“You’re funny,” Doc whispered somewhere behind his ear.
For a moment, no one moved. Then fabric rustled, and warm breath fell on Ottis’ nape.
Ottis’ eyes widened. Doc’s breath grew warmer, as though he was breathing onto Ottis’ neck without the scarf.
Then he leaned closer yet, touching the point of his nose to Ottis’ neck, a brush of uneven skin.
Ottis’ eyebrows almost touched his hairline. “Did you take off your scarf?”
Doc jerked away, sitting upright.
When Ottis dared to peek again, the scarf was back around Doc’s face.
Huh,he thought.
“Sorry,” Doc said. “Thought I was going to sneeze.”
It was obviously a lie, but Ottis wasn’t going to call him out on it.
“You can sneeze on me, you know,” Ottis said. “I promise I won’t be grossed out by snot. Marcie’s done a lot worse.”
Doc’s eyes crinkled as he laughed. “You’re a brave soul.”
“Well, if you’ve got a pup as amazing as Marcie, you’d think the same way.”
“Yeah?”
“Mm-hm.”
Doc rumbled. “Well, you’ll have to introduce us properly.”
Vaguely, that sent a spike of alarm through Ottis. “Are you going to kidnap Marcie? Wait. You’ve already kidnapped us both.”
Doc squinted at him. “I’m not going to separate you from your baby, if that’s what you’re worried about.”
“Oh, phew.” Ottis relaxed, the sudden tension draining out of his limbs.
“Sorry, I didn’t think a child would be involved when Hijinks wrote the contract. That’s why it isn’t in there. But I can provide a revised version, if you’d like.”
“That’s very considerate of you. I’d like that.”
Doc straightened, looking... pleased? It was hard to tell with only his eyes visible. He plastered himself against Ottis’ back, running his huge hand down Ottis’ side. “Hijinks will have the amended contract ready in a bit.”
Ottis hadn’t heard any confirmation from the butler, but maybe Doc didn’t need it since Hijinks could hear them anyway.
He relaxed further, stretching out his hearing. Marcie’s quiet breathing meant that she was asleep, and Hijinks was bustling around muttering to himself. There was someone else in the kitchen, accompanied by the soft clang of pots and pans. “Breakfast?”
