by Aria Grace
“Oh, be quiet. Just wait until you see your present under the tree. It’s at least as long, but twice as thick. And I can’t wait to try it out on you, sweetheart,” he said sarcastically.
I resisted the urge to retort. Instead, I held his hand and told him how much I loved him for the tenth time that day.
The doctor finally came back in and sat down, giving us a kindly smile.
“It’s your first?” he asked.
I nodded enthusiastically.
“Well, get ready for the magic. It might take me a while to find the baby, but I’ll turn the monitor to you as soon as I do.”
“Thanks, doctor.”
Colton took a deep breath as the doctor pushed the probe into his anus.
“Just relax and keep breathing,” he was told.
A minute later, the doctor turned the monitor and gave us a wide smile. He turned a switch and the most wonderful sound filled the room. I squeezed Colton’s hand.
“Is that the baby’s heartbeat?” Colton asked weakly.
“It sure is,” the doctor responded. “Nice and strong, and the baby measures the right size for its gestational age. Everything looks perfect.”
I breathed a sigh of relief. I hadn’t expected bad news, but liked to be emotionally prepared, just in case.
“Thanks, doctor. That’s the best news in the world.”
“I’m glad to be the one giving it to you. Now, I’ll leave the room and you can get dressed. See my assistant and make an appointment for late January and enjoy your holidays! Merry Christmas!”
“Merry Christmas, doctor,” I said thankfully.
When we were alone in the room, I leaned over Colton and kissed him deeply.
“I love you so much, Parker.”
“I love you too,” I said. “Now, let’s get out of here and chill at home before we head over to your parents’ place, okay?”
I tried pulling him up, but he resisted.
“One second, I’m still cleaning up the lube,” he said, cracking a smile.
I burst out laughing. “Alright, let me know if you need any help.” I winked at him and handed him another tissue.
Colton’s entire family had gathered by the time we arrived at his parents’ home. I’d already met them back in the day, except the uncle, aunt, and young cousins who’d also been invited.
We planned to share the pregnancy news after dinner. It was excruciatingly hard not to blurt it out, but we managed.
“This turkey is delicious,” I told his mom, Jane.
His family was lovely, just as I remembered them, and they were overjoyed that we’d reconnected.
“You know, I’d always hoped you’d find your way back to each other,” Jane had said to me during a private moment in the kitchen. “You’re such a responsible man, and he’s--well, he needs a stabilizing force in his life, like you.
“Thanks,” I’d told her. “He’s a free spirit at heart, though, and I don’t want to change that. I think we’re a perfect match. He’s helped me to see that life should be fun and exciting. He’s very special, you know.” That’s when she gave me a warm hug, and I knew I’d found a second family.
After dinner, we made ourselves comfortable in the living room as Colton and his dad served holiday drinks.
“Excuse me,” Colton announced when everyone had drinks in hand. The room quieted down.
I watched and listened as he shared our news with the room, and as expected, we were instantly caught up in a storm of hugs and congratulations, the likes of which I’d never seen. His mom fell into my arms with tears in her eyes.
“Wow, I’m finally going to be a grandma. I’m so happy for you two! I love you so much!” she cried.
It was all very sweet and heartwarming, and when they finally turned to other topics, I pulled Colton aside, grabbed our jackets, and led him outside into the crisp, night air.
“I couldn’t wait to get you alone, omega.” I gave him a long, sensuous kiss, pulling him close with my arms around his waist.
“I know. Same here. You’re sleeping over tonight, I hope,” he said with wide eyes.
“Of course, I am. I couldn’t imagine sleeping without you. Whenever you’re not beside me, I wake up in a cold sweat, wondering why you’re not beside me.”
The next morning, I woke up in an exceptionally good mood. It was Christmas, and I got to give Colton the gift I’d been hiding from him.
I glanced at him beside me in bed. Good. He was still asleep. This gave me a chance to sneak the present to its spot on the tree.
I rolled out of bed quietly and tiptoed out of the room. I closed the door gently, found my jacket in the front closet, and pulled the gift out of my pocket.
A pair of keys. But not just any keys. They were keys to our new house, the one that I secretly bought a few days ago. Of course, I hadn’t bought it without considering Colton's preferences. We’ve been looking at local real estate at my suggestion, and I’d paid very close attention to Colton’s reactions to the listings. This was a gorgeous two-story home, close to his parents, and after checking out the listing, he couldn’t stop raving about it. He was smitten, and I knew he had to have the house. Of course, I’d pretended we were just browsing, but I’d made a mental note and called the agent as soon as I could. I had bought it on the condition that we could cancel within one week, so if I was totally off the mark and Colton did not want it, no harm done.
I hung the keys on one of the most prominent branches of the tree, in hopes that he wouldn’t miss it, and then I made us a quick breakfast.
“Parker, what are you doing out here?” Colton asked as he strolled out of his room.
“My Prince, you’re up! Merry Christmas!” I pulled him close and gave him a kiss on his forehead, followed by his lips. “This is the best Christmas I've ever had,” I said, “and it’s all thanks to you, my crazy, wild omega.”
Colton sighed and rested his head on my shoulder. “I’m just happy you came back,” Colton said.
I could feel his heart beating against my chest, and I swallowed a lump in my throat. I was going to start crying tears of joy if I didn’t change the subject.
“I hope you like the breakfast,” I said, moving aside so he could see the stove.
“Wow, you’ve really outdone yourself, I see.”
It wasn’t fancy, but I made feta and tomato omelets, breakfast sausages, pancakes and toast.
“Oh, it’s nothing,” I said, leaving out the fact that the previous day I’d spent close to an hour looking at recipes. I was proud of myself, considering that my diet in New York had consisted of Chinese takeout and tons of pasta and pizza from the Italian place down the street from my apartment.
We ate breakfast, planned out the rest of our day, which consisted of having dinner at my parents’ place, and then I pulled him to the living room.
“Do you want your present now?” I asked.
“You first,” he said, pulling out a box that had been hidden behind the tree.
My eyes lit up and I ripped the wrapping off the box. Wow!
“A season pass to Blue Mountain?” It was a huge ski resort just thirty minutes from Kingston. I had mentioned wanting to try skiing, and he must have been listening.
“It’s something fun to try on these cold winter days, and though we could go together sometimes, you can always go on your own to get away from my whining and bitching. Because pretty soon, my belly’s going to be huge and uncomfortable, and you know I won’t be able to shut up about it. So, you'd better take advantage of that pass, or we’ll both go crazy.”
He always knew how to make me laugh. I kissed him and sat down on the couch.
“Okay, your turn now. It’s up on the tree,” I said in response to Colton’s quizzical gaze after he noticed there was nothing else under the tree. I had more presents, but I wanted the house to be first.
He bit his lip and scanned the tree. Finally, his eyes popped wide open.
“Is this it?” he asked, reaching up for
the keys. “What is it? What are these keys for?”
I strolled over to his bookshelf and pulled a picture out from between two books. I held it up and grinned.
“The keys are for this,” I said, pointing to the beautiful house in the picture. I’d driven out there the previous morning to snap a pic.
Colton’s mouth dropped open, and he appeared to stop breathing. “You are shitting me! You can’t be serious!” He ran and jumped into my arms, half laughing, half crying. “Parker! That’s amazing! I never expected this. Are you for real?”
I nodded. “I sure am. That house is now ours. Yours, mine, and the baby’s. We’ll live there forever, the happiest people on the block—in the town, dare I say, and our baby, or babies will grow up in that house. That is, if you want it. Because if you don’t like it, we could return it.” I shrugged, knowing full well that it was out of the question. Colton loved the house.
“Parker, I don’t know what to say. I love you more than ever!”
He kissed me again, and I knew I’d made the right decision to stay in Kingston and fall in love.
Epilogue
Colton
Almost one year later
“Are you ready, sweetie?” Parker called out from the front hall of the house.
I hurried to join him and Jamie, who was simply adorable in his bear snowsuit. He was amazingly cheerful for a three-month-old baby, and cute as a button.
He had Parker’s dark hair, but also had bright blue eyes. That might change over the months, but at the moment, they provided a striking contrast to his jet-black hair.
“Coming!” I said, grabbing my keys from the kitchen counter.
I slipped into my boots and coat, and led the way to the garage, where we placed Jamie into his stroller. Saturday mornings were reserved for family walks, and today I was particularly excited, because a fresh blanket of snow had fallen overnight, and the scenery was gorgeous.
Outside, I took a deep breath of cool, crisp air, and glanced down at Jamie, all bundled up for his walk.
“Let me push him today,” Parker said with a great big smile at Jamie. “I’m so glad the week is over.”
He’d worked hard all week, so I didn’t blame him for wanting to monopolize Jamie, who was ecstatic to have his alpha dad’s attention.
After last year’s holiday season, Parker started his own accounting firm, and business was going well. His hours weren’t quite as bad as they’d been in New York, but Jamie usually went to bed early, so Parker only got about one or two hours of his “awake time” every day.
When he wasn’t working, he was all about us and our family, and I loved him for it.
I’d decided to take some distance courses in bookkeeping and planned to join him in his business as soon as Jamie reached his first birthday. It was nine months away, and although I looked forward to working and contributing to the family business, being away from Jamie would suck. So, I made the most of every day that I was home with him.
We stopped at an empty playground and sat on a bench, watching the snowflakes fall to the ground.
“Wow, look at that,” I said, spotting a cute snowman on the other side of the playground. “Some kids put some real work into this.”
I got up and walked over to take a closer look. Parker made sure the stroller’s brake was engaged and followed me. When he was close enough, I bent over and grabbed two handfuls of snow, forming a tight snowball, and chucked it at him, laughing gleefully.
“You jerk,” he yelled through laughs, running after me.
I was halfway back to Jamie when Parker caught me in his arms, spinning me around and putting me back on the ground.
“You’re going to pay for that!” he said with a mock sneer.
“What are you going to do?” I asked playfully as he held me prisoner in his arms.
“It rhymes with blow job, but not quite as fun for you,” he said, and before I could escape, he pulled me down to the ground and shoved handful after handful of snow in my face.
I struggled to escape and finally did, laughing until my sides hurt. “Alright, you got me,” I said, wiping the snow from my face and coat.
“You deserved that,” he said in his sexy voice, helping me clean my face.
I grabbed his hand and pulled him back toward where Jamie was chilling in his stroller.
“I did, indeed.”
Once we were next to Jamie, he pulled me close to him and gave me a deep kiss. “There’s no one else I’d rather be silly with, you know.”
“Hm-hm,” I said, kissing his neck.
“Want to keep walking, or should we head back?”
Just then, Jamie let out a cry, begging for attention.
“Aww, sweetie, are you okay?” I asked, bending over him. He grimaced and squirmed, so I reached into the stroller and picked him up, resting him against my chest. “I guess you got bored in there, did you? Well, we can’t have that. Let’s go back now,” I said to Parker.
I held Jamie while Parker pushed the empty stroller, and within a few minutes, we were back in our warm, toasty home.
“Come here,” I said to Jamie once I was seated on the couch. “Let’s get you out of those clothes.” I unbundled him and threw his snowsuit on the armchair.
Parker joined us, and Jamie looked at each of our faces in turn, cooing and laughing.
“Here, take him. I want to spice things up today,” I said mysteriously.
“You know I like surprises,” Parker said. He looked amazingly sexy with Jamie in his lap.
I watched from the kitchen as he kissed Jamie’s head and shook one of his colorful toys in front of his face.
I was so damn lucky that I’d run into him at the bar that night. Until we reconnected, I’d felt like a ship lost at sea. Little did I know he’d be my lighthouse, helping me find my way back to shore.
Likewise, he said I’ve shown him how to enjoy life and not take it so seriously, and I was happy I was able to give him that.
I made two mugs of hot cocoa, but before bringing them back to the living room, I threw a splash of Bailey’s Irish Cream in each. Just a tiny little splash.
“Here you go,” I said, handing him his mug.
I watched as he took a sip. A puzzled look flashed across his face and he took another sip.
“Honey!” He laughed. “Did you spike this?”
I raised a brow. “Just a drop, I swear.”
“Well, it’s delicious. A little early for drinking, but it’s almost Christmas, so what the hell!”
Later on, at night, I snuggled close to him in bed.
“What do you want for Christmas?” I asked him. It was only a month away, and I hadn’t started my shopping yet. Granted, I’d never started this early in the past, but I was trying to be more organized this year.
He rubbed his thumb on my bottom lip.
“Nothing. I have everything I could possibly want. You...Jamie...our life together. There’s nothing missing.”
His words filled my heart with joy, but I wasn’t satisfied. I wasn’t a great shopper, and it was super important to me that I got him something he’d love.
“I feel the same way, but I’m serious. I need a hint, or else I’ll go crazy, and you’ll probably end up with something you’ll hate. So, spill the beans and tell me what you’re really hoping for.”
“Well, there is one thing...” he said with a raised brow, running a hand over my ass.
“Oh, please. You can have that any day you want.”
“No, in this case it would be a means to an end.”
I was tired and my brain was slow, but it finally clicked.
“Oh, another baby?”
He nodded and kissed me.
“Well, then, let’s get to work,” I said with a wink, running a hand down his torso. “We might have to try a few times,” I warned with a grin.
“We can try every day until it happens.”
I moaned and leaned in to kiss him.
All I Want…
&nbs
p; Xander Collins
1. Lawrence
“Dude, what are you doing? You have class at nine, don’t you?”
I rolled over onto my back, squinting at the light coming in through the window, then over at my roommate, Carl. ”Ugh, what time is it?”
“Um,” he said, looking at his watch. “It’s nine now.”
“I guess I’m missing it again, then.” I rolled back over on my side and started to drift to sleep almost instantly.
“Isn’t this, like, the tenth time you’ve skipped this semester?”
I lay there with my eyes closed calculating all the times I’d woken up too hungover to make it to my first class on Monday morning. “Fuck, I don’t remember. It can’t be ten, though. There’s no way.”
“Well, whatever. It’s been a lot. You better talk to your professor and see if you’re even passing the semester.”
Carl was right. I had missed way too many classes already. Showing up late wasn’t much better, but I knew I had to do something or I was totally screwed. This was the last week of classes. There was already snow on the ground, and the holiday break was just days away from starting, so my time to make anything up was disappearing fast. I kicked off my covers and moaned as I rolled onto my back again.
“What’s the deal?” he asked. “I thought you liked creative writing—that it was the main reason you were even going to college.”
I sat up in bed and rubbed my temples. “I do. I love the class, and I really dig Professor Lewis. I don’t know. I’ve just had a hard time getting there lately.”
“Do you think it has anything to do with how much you’ve been partying?” Carl asked with a laugh.
I picked up my pillow and threw it at him, but it missed him by at least two feet.
“Or maybe the fact that you have the hots for your professor?”
“Hey!” I yelled, then looked around and found a wadded up ball of dirty socks. I threw them at him and hit him right in the chest. “That’s my business!”
