“Hey,” Nix says.
Rowan shakes his head, pushing the sweater’s neckline out of the way.
“Nixie,” he whines when he can’t catch his new scent. “Please.”
Nix had vowed he wouldn’t let his scent out in case it reflected fear or distress, and he couldn’t exactly feel hisallof his emotions right now, so he didn’t know whether his vanilla was sweet or burnt.
But Rowan looks so forlorn.
“Okay, you big baby.”
So he lets it out, filling the space with warm vanilla and yeasty bread.
Relieved, he relaxes into Rowan’s hold and lets the alpha get as scent-drunk as he likes.
Gideon and Finn eventually bring him bacon and eggs. He lets Rowan feed him, indulging in the simple comfort of it—until his stomach warns him to stop. Too much, and it might not stay down.
Morning sickness hasn’t started yet; he’s not far enough along for that. But… Hayes has always made him sick.
“You’re going to be alright, Nix,” Rowan whispers into the back of his neck, sniffing along his hairline and down into his sweater.
It’s not a question but a manifestation, maybe.
“I will be, Ro.”
Once he’s free of this, he’ll be even better.
Tsuki comes around from under the table to nose at Rowan’s hand and receives a pat or two from Nix. He hates that he has to leave her behind today, but she seems unaffected so far.
Rowan sighs and nods, picking up the last of the bacon, rolling it into a napkin with one hand, and putting it in his pocket.
“For you, for later.”
He nods in self-satisfaction, and Nix is about to ask for an explanation when Jamie and Luca slink in.
Luca mouthslove youand makes his way into the kitchen.
Jamie sits and stares at Nix like he’s memorizing his every pore. He’s gotbags under his eyes, and while he’s freshly showered, he smells like a forest fire. He looks like he might have been crying as well.
“Jamie,” Nix says, pleading—for what, Nix doesn’t know. Forgiveness? Support? Understanding?
For a moment, he wishes he could change this just for Jamie. Not in the same way he’d felt at the church by the pond, but purely out of love—to help ease Jamie’s fears.
That he can’t makes his heart twinge, and some of his sadness seeps out of the box.
Kissing Ro on the lips and then on the nose, he climbs into Jamie’s lap so he can hold his cheeks and kiss him, too.
A sharp ache sets up under Nix’s breastbone as he kisses away the fresh tears on Jamie’s cheeks.
He doesn’t sayI’m sorryorI love you. Nix just shows him what’s in his heart—regret for hurting him and a love that has lasted through the hardest times of Nix’s life.
There’s a commotion as Leo drags several tote bags through the living space toward the front door. He kisses Nix’s head and declares, “I’m with Nixie in the Merc. No, Rowan. Me. I am putting my foot down. Respect your elders.”
Rowan stomps off like the petulant teenager he most certainly is not.
Jamie just sighs and kisses Nix’s lips with the smallest lick of his slick tongue. It sends a jolt of pleasure down his spine, and Nix is thinking of going back in for more when Grayson comes in from outside, his cheeks pink with cold.
He must have come down from the primary suite’s balcony.
