“That’s not really an answer,” Billy pointed out, though his heart gave an extra thump in his chest.
Cord huffed a laugh. “Yes, I want kids. With you. When we’re ready, when it’s right.” His expression grew serious. “But Billy, you need to know… my job is dangerous. There might be times when…”
“Stop.” Billy pressed his fingers to Cord’s lips. “We already talked about this. I know what you do. I know the risks. And I still want everything with you. The house, the kids, the whole darn thing.”
“The whole darn thing,” Cord repeated, wonder coloring his voice. He leaned down to kiss Billy properly, deep and thoroughly. When they broke apart, they were both breathing harder. “How many?”
“How many what?” Billy’s brain had gone a bit fuzzy.
“Pups. How many were you thinking?”
Billy grinned. “I don’t know. Two? Three? Enough to fill up that house we looked at today.”
“The one with the perfect home office for your work?”
“And the huge backyard for wolf pups to run around in,” Billy added. “And close enough to town that Cece and Tristan can spoil them rotten.”
“They absolutely will,” Cord groaned. “Cece’s already planning our wedding in his head, I can tell.”
“Is that... is that something you want too?” Billy asked carefully. “A wedding?”
Cord’s answer was to roll them over, pinning Billy gently to the mattress. “Billy,” he said in a deep voice that made Billy’s breath catch. “I want everything with you. The wedding, the house, the pups, all of it. I want to wake up next to you for the next hundred years and still think I’m the luckiest alpha alive.”
Billy’s eyes burned with sudden tears. “That’s really cheesy.”
“You love it.”
“I love you,” Billy corrected, then gasped as Cord nipped at his mating mark.
“Say it again.”
“I love you.” Billy arched under him. “My big, protective, wants-babies-with-me alpha.”
“My brilliant, beautiful, going-to-be-an-amazing-dad omega,” Cord countered, and Billy had to kiss him then, had to find a way to show all his joy and hope and dreams of the future into the connection between them.
When they finally broke apart, Billy was grinning so hard his cheeks hurt. “So we’re really doing this? The whole family thing?”
“We’re really doing it.” Cord nuzzled into his neck. “Though fair warning - I have no idea how to change a diaper.”
“That’s what YouTube is for,” Billy said practically, then squeaked as Cord tickled his ribs. “Hey, no fair, I’m sensitive there.”
“I know.” Cord’s grin was wicked. “I know all your sensitive spots now.”
“Yeah?” Billy wrapped his legs around Cord’s waist, pulling him closer. “Prove it.”
And Cord did. Twice.
Chapter Twenty-One
Cord’s phone buzzed against the nightstand, the secure ringtone cutting through the peaceful morning. He groaned softly, careful not to wake Billy, who was curled against his side, one arm thrown possessively across Cord’s chest.
“This better be important,” he muttered, reaching for the device. The encrypted message app showed a priority notification from headquarters.
Report to the Regional Office. 1400 hours. The Civilian Consultant known as Billy, is expected to attend with you. Debrief regarding Mission Echo-Seven-Nine security breach.
“Shit.” Cord scrubbed his hand over his face. He’d known this was coming, but that didn’t make it any easier. The organization didn’t take kindly to operatives going rogue, even when they had damn good reasons. Cord’s behavior toward Rapid, despite the provocation, wasn’t going to sit well on his record.
I didn’t kill him. That has to count for something.
