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Bruiser pressed a kiss to the crook of his neck. “Whatever you decide, just know that you’re very lovely.”

“Sweet-talker.”

“Mm. I’m just telling the truth,” Bruiser murmured, his lips soft against Uriel’s skin.

Uriel had never experienced this before, an alpha willing to just touch and hold him. Bruiser kissed his neck, chasing away the somber mood that had fallen over them.

“I’m glad you’re safe now,” Bruiser said, running his hands up and down Uriel’s sides. “What you’ve suffered... No omega should have to go through that. But you got yourself out of there, and I admire the strength and courage it took for you to do so.”

Uriel’s heart warmed. “I still remember what it felt like to be a captive. Some nights more than others.”

“If you’re agreeable, I’d be happy to guard you in your sleep.”

Uriel bit his lip. He couldn’t deny how safe he felt, wrapped up in Bruiser’s arms like this. It felt like a slippery slope. If he let Bruiser guard his back at night, what if he also wanted it in the day? What if he grew to rely on Bruiser, and Bruiser left?

“I’ll have to think about it,” he mumbled.

“Of course.” Bruiser kissed his hair. Uriel’s heart fluttered.

He hadn’t expected it, but moving off Bruiser’s lap suddenly seemed like a very difficult task. Especially when Cassie climbed onto Uriel’s lap, all tiny paws and wings, and made herself comfortable.

“Awww,” Bruiser cooed. “She’s adorable. Just like you.”

“Sweet-talker,” Uriel said firmly.

“Rawr,” Cassie said.

“Roar,” Bruiser replied, turning sideways to glance at Uriel. “Are your clothes—What am I saying? Of course your clothes are fireproofed, I forgot for a second that you can spell them yourself. “But if you’re pregnant, then your body will be fireproof too.”

“Huh.” Uriel must’ve been immune to fire damage while he was pregnant with Cassie, only he hadn’t realized it at the time.

Bruiser skimmed his thumb over Uriel’s belly. “Also,” the alpha murmured. “If you don’t mind, I’d like to build a nest for you. If you’re pregnant. Or belatedly, since you were pregnant with Cassie.”

That was... very sweet of him. “I don’t need...”

“Seriously. It’ll be a little nest with everything you can possibly want,” Bruiser said. “Sheets with the highest thread count. Several fluffy pillows. A bookcase with rare and obscure spell books. A canopy with twinkling fairy lights. A mini fridge and warming drawer for anything you might like to eat. Indoors or outdoors, it doesn’t matter. I’ll make sure it’s there.”

“Even if I want it made with expensive and rare ironwood, and balanced on a giant bean sprout?”

Bruiser twitched, but he squared his shoulders. “I’ll make it happen.”

“No! Not the ironwood or bean sprout,” Uriel said hurriedly. “I was just testing you. Ironwood is magical and takes several decades to grow, sometimes even centuries. It would be a damn shame to cut down one of those. And the giant bean sprout would just be painting a target on our backs. Not to mention the airspace. Fairly sure you can’t build above a certain height.”

Bruiser huffed. “Why don’t I plant some ironwoods at the back of my property, and you can do whatever you want with them when they’ve grown big enough?”

Uriel chewed his lip, balancing Cassie on his lap when she shifted back into a human baby. “Lignum vitae. That’s the densest of the ironwoods, and the most magical. It’s also an endangered species, but if we grow our own...”

Bruiser broke into a huge smile. “We, huh?”

Uriel spluttered, his cheeks growing warm. “You offered!”

“Of course. If it lures you to my lair, all the better.”

Uriel scowled. Bruiser grinned. Somehow, Uriel couldn’t resist him.

“Damn it,” Uriel muttered.

“Da ee!” Cassie said.