I was so frustrated with Jesse's assumptions, but it wasn't like I'd been terribly great at communicating my intentions with bringing Nick and Kit here, had I? My Alpha was busy finishing up cleaning and Jesse was putting Aspen to bed, but as soon as I could, without awkwardly leaving Nick and Kit, I would have to have a talk with them. At the very least, I should have warned them that this was only for a week. What happened after that was up to Nick and Kit. 

"Welcome to the bachelor pad." I opened the door and bent in a courtly bow. "It's pretty simple. You're welcome to anything and everything you find." The kitchen and living room were split by the kitchen island/breakfast bar. "We have pack meetings in the morning, but other than that, there's nothing big you need to know. The bathroom is here." I opened the door and flicked on the light. "And Kit, your room is here, the first one past it." The bed was covered with a comforter I'd never seen before, and I wondered how Jesse had had time to conjure it up. Or had he bought it a while ago and simply been waiting for the opportunity?

"Thanks. I'm probably going to take a shower and another nap, if that's okay?"

How she could sleep again after sleeping all the way here astounded me. But whatever worked for her. "Of course. My room is just across the hall if you need anything."

Kit tossed her stuff on the bed and began rifling through her bag as I turned to open my door. I turned the light on and waited for Nick's judgment with bated breath.

"This is nice," he said, bending down to pick up his suitcase, but I beat him to it. I lifted it and set it on the bed.

"Nick, I just want you to know, that if you're uncomfortable staying in my room, we can figure out other arrangements. I can sleep on the couch. Or in the tiny house." I didn't want him to feel like he had to stay with me just for appearances.

"I think if the tiny house is an option, you might have to fight Kit," he said with a laugh. When I didn't smile, he wrapped his arms across his chest. "You said it was okay if I stayed with you... do you not want me to stay in your room? Honestly, I had kind of figured this would be the arrangement when you first invited us. If I misread anything, please tell me."

I sat on the bed and buried my face in my hands, at war with the beast within me. He wanted to push Nick down on the bed and tell him to stay now, stay forever. My human side was terrified of scaring him off. Nick stepped in front of me and pulled my face up. His eyes flickered between mine, and then that mischievous smile that had first caught my attention blossomed on his face. "Your eyes are burning... tell me you want me."

"I do." My words rumbled deep in my chest, both man and beast in agreement. "But I want you to want me as well."

"Oh, my alpha, I don't quite fully understand all the ways that I want you, but have no doubt that I do."

"I'm already dreading you leaving in a week." 

Nick's breath hitched and I tugged him closer to me, spreading my knees so that he could stand between them. He rested his arms on my shoulders and toyed with my hair. "What if... what if I don't leave in a week? What if I already know I want to stay?"

My beast roared in triumph. "Do you?"

Nick nodded. "I think so." Shaking his head, he corrected himself, "No, I know so. Regardless of anything else, you are this child's father, and I want you in the baby's life. I want to explore whatever possibilities bring us to that path."

Feeling bolder, I let my hands drift up Nick's legs. "What possibilities might those be?"

Nick blushed and glanced down. My fingers clenched as I recognized the scent of his arousal. "We already know we're compatible... your scent is so strong, I can hardly smell anything else over it. Beyond that, we're very compatible in bed."

He looked up at me through those thick lashes and my cock throbbed. "These are both true."

"And from what little I've seen, I love your pack. They clearly care for each other, and it seems they accept you, and by extension me, without conditions. That's not something I can say for my family."

I growled at the idea of Nick suffering even the slightest bit of hardship from his family.

"Calm down, big boy," Nick whispered, but there was an undercurrent to his voice that wasn't intended to be soothing... it was need.

"Tell me what you hope we can be, Nick." I wanted it all. I wanted Nick as my mate, our child growing up under our care and protection and the protection of my pack. I wanted him in my bed and my life as I'd never wanted anything so badly before, I felt I was going to go crazy from the simple power of that desire. He soothed my bear so that he was more than just a beast. 

"I want to give this a try. A real try, not just a week." 

I closed my eyes, unable to express the excess of emotion welling up from my soul. "How long is that?" I rasped.

Nick slid his hands back to press against my shoulders. "I don't want to put a date on it. I don't want to think about this ending. Is that okay?"

It was more than okay, but my ability to form words had disappeared. I reached up to pull Nick's head toward mine and claimed his lips, hoping they could communicate better this way than with empty air. Nick hummed in pleasure as I explored his mouth. But my bear wasn't content being under Nick, even the slightest bit, for very long. I rose and flipped him onto his back with a growl. He bounced on the mattress, his mouth open in a silent 'O' of surprise. Oh shit. "Did I hurt the baby?"

"What?"

I crawled onto the mattress next to him. "Did I hurt the baby throwing you around like that?"

"Oh, no, I don't think so."

But it wasn't certain. So no more throwing Nick around until after the baby was born. I wouldn't forget.

"I was just surprised at your strength. I mean, I remember it, but remembering and experiencing are two very different things. And I don't think you picked me up and threw me down like that before." His eyes were lit wit that heady excitement. He definitely loved being manhandled. That I could do, just... gentler.

"Sit up," I commanded, and Nick's eyes glazed over as he obeyed my command. I stripped him of his shirt and slowly pushed him back down on the bed to do the same to his pants. Then it was my turn. I stepped off the bed to rid myself of my clothes and relished the hunger in Nick's eyes as I stroked my cock. "Have you thought of me since that night?"

Nick gave me a look like I was crazy. "All the time."

"Did you pleasure yourself while thinking of me?" I stepped to the edge of the bed, still slowly stroking myself. 

"Only you," Nick whispered. 

Fuck. I squeezed the base of my cock, below the bulge of my knot, holding back the sudden tightness in my balls. Too soon. Way too soon. "Show me."

Nick's blush spread down his chest, but he did as I said without question, reaching one hand down to palm himself, his eyes still on my hand. I started moving it, slowly.

"Is that all you do?"

Nick's cheeks burned brighter. "No. I have a toy dildo and knot I play with, but I didn't bring it with me."

"Were you planning on getting the real thing?"

Nick's eyes met mine. "Hoping."

"Do you want this?" I asked, stroking down my cock, watching his eyes fall to watch, unconsciously biting his lip. 

"Yes."

"Then come over here and take it."

Nick sprang up as if he had been waiting for my command. He knelt before me, his hands fluttering at my side like butterflies before finding their perch, and then he took me into his mouth. Remembering how eager he had been before, I grabbed his hair to make sure he didn't go too far too fast. He went limp in my grip, and I thrust slowly in, not sure how much he could take. We'd been in a different position before, one that had given him a lot more control. But Nick swallowed eagerly around me, and my hips began twitching in instinctive thrusts, fucking his mouth. 

Nick's mouth was heaven. Hot and wet and tight. I was amazed that his pert mouth could take my full width, but it did, and he looked amazing, stretched wide around me, his lips already red and wet. 

I pulled all the way out and Nick whimpered, swaying toward me. 

"I want to come this way, is that okay?"

"Please," Nick moaned, and that was all the answer I needed. I split his lips with my thick cock once more and pressed deep. Watching Nick take me physically, as thick and overwhelming as I was, stirred emotions I thought I would never know: complete acceptance. Nick had talked of how accepting my pack was, and how amazing it was for him, but to me he was the amazing one. He didn't balk at my commands, at the switch between my public and private personas, and Nick had seen deeper into my private self than anyone ever had. 

I thrust harder, deeper, and Nick only moaned in desire, his hands clenching at my sides. As the energy wound tight in my gut and I was about to warn him, one hand dropped to my balls and tugged them. His touch was like a trigger. I roared as my cum filled his throat. His muscles clenched around me, sucking down every drop. When I stilled, he gently licked every inch of my cock, leaving no drop of cum behind. He kept his touch light, and it was almost too much, but I didn't want him to stop. 

When he sat back with a satisfied smirk, I leaned forward to kiss him, tasting my seed on him. I wanted to do the same for him, to swallow his essence, to make it part of myself. "Your turn," I murmured.

"Too late," Nick said, glancing down. His chest and legs were painted with his cum. 

"Bad boy. But I suppose I can still get a taste." I pushed him backward and licked off every drop. It had the slight lemon taste of his scent, and I couldn't get enough of it. I took advantage of his position to nuzzle the slight swell of his stomach, then picked him up to set him in the middle of the bed, then curled myself around him. 

"Thank you," I murmured into his shoulder.

"For what?"

"For being you."