Page 12 of Building Haven
“Onlysometimes.”He gives me a look, though his face is getting more and more red, his pheromones spiking just a little.“Not all the time.And when I tell you to put me down, you’ll have to put me down.”He’s fighting his wish and need to be in control of every situation and an Omega’s instinct to be close to their Alpha, to have their Alpha take care of them.
“Sounds good.”I give him a quick kiss on his lips, which makes his pheromones spike even more, though I’m probably the only one close enough to notice it.“I’m looking forward to it.”
Vera pulls on my sleeve, looking up at me with her best puppy-dog eyes, and a massive grin.“You can carry me.”
“Of course.Do you want to be at my side or do you want me to carry you bridal style?”
She thinks it over for a moment, but with the way her eyes shine, I already know her choice and I wrap one arm around her shoulders and the other under her knees as I lift her up.She lets out a squeak as she wraps her arms around my neck, before her pheromones spike and she lets out a light laugh.“I hadn’t decided yet.”
“Yes, you had, but you were contemplating if asking for the same thing as Mathew would be the cutest option or if that would be seen as needy.Just to let you know, it’s the first option, it’s cute.”I nuzzle her hair and she lets out another happy laugh.“Anyway...”
Jorge comes back over, looking questioning as everyone seems to be laughing.
“I wonder if I could carry Mathew like that...”Riley looks from Mathew to Vera and me and back.
Mathew immediately flushes bright red again and takes a step away from her, nervously licking his lips.He wants it, but not here.
Riley steps closer to Jorge.“You’re about the same size as him, right?”
“Ehhh...”Jorge’s eyes shoot around, not sure where this conversation is going.“He’s probably heavier, he’s got more muscle.”
“It should be close enough.”Riley grabs for him and lifts him up, holding him the same way as I’m holding Vera.
“Whoa!”Jorge struggles for a moment before calming down and holding onto Riley tightly.“Put me down.Put me down.”
“I think I could do this with Mathew too.”Riley ignores Jorge’s words, taking a few confident strides.“Yeah.Should be possible.”She looks at Mathew, who’s letting out a soft whine, before he clears his throat and looks away.
“Let’s stop being silly and let’s go home.”He stalks out of the cafe and Riley quickly puts Jorge back down before she catches up with him.
“Can I carry you when we’re at home too?”Riley slides her arm around Mathew’s shoulders and he nods carefully.
“Sure.Whatever.Just don’t do it right now.”His voice is gruff and his body tense.
I grin as I follow them.Never a boring moment with this pack.
Vera leans her head on my shoulder as she lets out a soft and happy sound.“He’s getting better at giving into his Omega instincts.”Her voice is quiet, filled with awe and love.
“He is, but being tall and all, I can understand why some Omega instincts are harder to give in to than others.”Like wanting to be carried, or being ‘soft’ around his mates in ways that come so much easier for Vera since she’s so much smaller than her Alphas.Being carried, being held, being cradled, they’re all things that are much easier to do when you’re small, not when you’re built the same as an average Alpha.
“Well, then it’s good that Riley and you are so tall, even for Alphas.”She laughs.“Makes things much easier.But there are other struggles, no matter if you’re short or tall.I sometimes can’t find clothes because I’m very much on the shorter side, but I know how to adapt clothes to fit me.Normally, Mathew being so tall won’t be that much of an issue, because he can still find clothes to fit him, but when it comes to pregnancy clothes, he might run into problems.I have no idea if there are going to be pregnancy clothes in stores that he’ll be able to wear.”
“Definitely not in the fabrics or styles that he’s used to.”I grin, trying to imagine Vera and Mathew in matching pastel sweats and over sized t-shirts.I can imagine Vera just fine, but my mind refuses to let me create a picture of Mathew wearing the same outfit.
While the idea is fun, I don’t think that’s going to happen any time soon.Mathew clearly has a style and sweats do not match that.
If they’re ever going to wear matching outfits, it’s going to be workout clothes or going to have to be specially designed suits.I think I’d love to see either of these options, I should ask Mathew about it… He might like the idea too.
“I don’t think I’ve ever seen luxurious fitted suits in a pregnancy store.”Vera’s eyes sparkle as she thinks it over.“Though, maybe his tailor knows how to make them?”
We’re now near the car, and I raise my voice slightly, making sure Mathew can hear us.“I hope so, because I don’t think we’ll be able to convince him that sweats, t-shirts and jeans with elastic waists are appropriate clothes for business meetings.”
“What are you two mumbling about?”Mathew turns to us, smiling as he gives us a questioning look.“What clothes are appropriate for business meetings?”
“Sweats and t-shirts.”Vera moves slightly and I put her down, keeping my arm around her shoulders so I’m still touching her, not wanting to fully let go of her yet.
His eyes go wide in alarm and he shakes his head vehemently.“Nofuckingway.Not me.I havesomepride, you know.”
“We know.”I wrap my other arm around him.“But once you start showing, you’ll have to expand your clothing range at least somewhat.Because those suits aren’t going to fit for much longer.”
