Doc’s gaze sparked with interest. “But you know for sure that you can eat these, right now?”
Ottis nodded. “I can’t explain it. It’s a gut feeling. Or a craving.”
“How did you get your peppers the previous time? You said you didn’t have much support during your pregnancy.” Doc’s voice dipped into a growl.
“The grocery stores sell the common ones by weight,” Ottis explained. “When you’re buying one of each, the little ones don’t cost so much.”
“Just one—?” Doc cut off his words. “Well, these are a little less common. I know a grower around here.”
These peppers werewaymore than what Ottis ever had. Each package came with at least five of the same pepper, so he didn’t have to ration them out. When he unwrapped one of the packages, his nose tingled. “These are spicier than the ones from the grocery store, aren’t they?”
Doc’s eyes crinkled. “Maybe. I recommend starting with this.”
He pointed out a smooth green pepper that looked like a jalapeno.
“Not a jalapeno, but a spicier cousin. Try it.”
He sat down eagerly next to Ottis. Ottis glanced at the other peppers and bit the green one in half.
Tingles raced over his tongue. Usually, spice would set his mouth on fire and draw tears to his eyes. But right now, it sent sparks down his spine and made his stomach rumble.
Ottis burped, warmth shooting up his throat and out of his mouth—a tiny orange flame.
Doc’s eyes lit up. “There.”
Marcie crawled over, attracted by the fire. So Ottis nudged the pepper against her lower lip, letting her lick it. Marciehiccupped, a tiny flame sputtering out of her mouth. Ottis could’ve melted.
“So adorable,” Doc murmured.
“What about me?” Ottis protested. “Am I not adorable?”
Doc laughed. “I meant both of you.”
“Well, you weren’t looking at me when you said it.”
“Oh? Are you envious of your baby?” Doc’s eyes crinkled; he caught Ottis’ chin and turned him so their gazes met. “You’re adorable too, sweetheart.”
Ottis’ face burned bright red. Doc grinned even more.
Ottis was struck by the sudden desire to see Doc without his mask. He wanted to see that smile in its entirety, what Doc’s lips would look like when they curved.
But Doc wasn’t ready, so Ottis swallowed that longing and tore his gaze away, shoving the half-eaten green pepper at his alpha. Doc slipped it under his mask and crunched it up.
“This one next,” Doc said.
It was a wrinkled, yellow pepper, longer than the rest. When Ottis bit into it, heat burst through his nose and rushed out as a plume of smoke. Marcie tried to grab the smoke; Ottis scooped her off the floor.
But there were too many packages on his lap.
“I could... I could hold her, if you’d like,” Doc said quietly, with a tinge of hopefulness lighting up his eyes.
“Sure,” Ottis said, his pulse fluttering.
“I’ll keep her safe.” Doc accepted Marcie and held her carefully on his lap, giving her a large red pepper to hold. She began gnawing on it, hiccupping and burping tiny flames.
Actually, the two of them looked perfect like that, Marcie so tiny next to Doc’s hulking frame.
Hijinks sneaked into the living room with his phone held up, like he was taking a picture of them.
