The Pretense (Men of Meadowfall Book 7)

by Anna Wineheart

  “A long time ago, I made you a promise,” Cole murmured. “I swore to protect you, and you were my best friend. And... and now you’re my best friend again. You’re the light in my life. You’re the omega I want to share my future with. And I love you more than I can say. Levi, will you marry me?”

  Levi had been staring at Cole, his mouth open, his eyes wide. Then his throat worked, and he blinked hard. “Yeah,” Levi croaked, his voice breaking. “Of course I will. Did you think I wouldn’t?”

  Relief unfurled through Cole’s chest. He kissed Levi’s knuckles, then stood, and kissed him on the lips. Breathed in Levi’s jasmine-and-honey scent, savoring Levi’s warmth. He wants to marry me.

  “You make me so happy,” Cole whispered, pressing their foreheads together. Levi leaned into him, the bump of his belly pushing against Cole’s hip. He tipped his head up and kissed Cole fervently, and Cole couldn’t help cupping Levi’s cheeks, returning the kiss. Showing Levi how much he wanted this bond between them.

  “I love you,” Levi breathed, his eyes filling with tears. “I can’t believe you did all this just—just to ask me to marry you.”

  Cole huffed. “It’s an important question. It affects the rest of my life.”

  And Levi broke into a smile, so warm and beautiful. “I’ll always answer yes, you know.”

  “You’d better.” Cole grinned, scooping Levi into his arms, twirling him around the courtyard. “You’re the very best thing that happened to me.”

  Levi laughed, wrapping his arms around Cole’s neck.

  If they could have Bryce, too... That would be perfect, wouldn’t it?

  27

  COLE

  THE DREAM BEGAN in Micah’s backyard like it always did. Cole tensed, wary of what would happen. He knew the fireworks that would come, he knew the blaze that would rip through Micah’s home.

  Spike looked up at him, the fireworks in his hands. “I wanna play,” the ten-year-old said. “Light a firework!”

  Cole took the firework tube. Tried his hardest to stop himself from lighting it. He didn’t want to see the devastation. He didn’t want to face that pain all over again.

  When he looked up, he found Levi by his side. Levi had been very pregnant the last few times Cole dreamed, except today, his belly was flat.

  Cole almost panicked. Then Levi held up a bundle to him—a bundle that moved.

  “This is Bryce,” Levi said, his smile warm. “Our son.”

  Cole forgot about the fireworks. Spike complained, but Cole took the baby gently from his omega. Bryce was tiny. He blinked up at Cole, all large eyes and tiny hands; Cole realized how important this baby was.

  And the scenery around them faded like water sweeping through pigments.

  They were now in the nursery, with tiny fire trucks painted on the walls, and a cot in the middle of the room. There was a changing station that Cole had assembled recently, and a dresser full of baby clothes.

  Levi was still there. Bryce wailed in his arms. Cole cradled his family close, his heart growing full. They’re mine.

  When he opened his eyes again, he was in a different room. The bed smelled like jasmine and maplewood and musk, and a hint of honey. And Levi was curled up next to him, sleeping soundly, his back to Cole.

  Where was Bryce? Cole held his breath, looking around. He slipped his arm around Levi—and realized Levi was still pregnant. Bryce wasn’t here yet.

  It had been a dream. A good one. So much better than those countless nightmares of Micah’s place. Did this mean... his subconscious was finally letting that accident go?

  Cole breathed out, closing his eyes. Thought about waking Levi to tell him the good news. But Levi was almost at thirty-eight weeks, and Cole wanted him to get as much rest in as he possibly could. When Bryce arrived... they were going to have their hands full.

  He couldn’t help kissing Levi’s back, though, and Levi’s bare side. Then he stroked down Levi’s thigh, where Levi had curled it close to his belly.

  Levi’s skin was soft, his belly streaked with red stretch marks. Cole wanted to cradle him, hold him. He ran his hand over the smooth skin of Levi’s abdomen, kissing down Levi’s arm.

  Levi stirred, curling his leg further up. This exposed his hole a little, and a coil of musk wafted off his skin.

  Cole grinned. Was his omega having a sex dream?

  Slowly, Cole ran his palm down the inside of Levi’s thigh, cupping him between the legs. He found Levi’s balls pulled up tight, Levi’s cock full. It jerked when Cole nudged it lightly with his fingertips.

  For months now, Levi’s belly had been so big that he couldn’t see his own cock at all. Cole had been showing it to him through a mirror.

  Levi moaned, his cock nudging at Cole’s palm, blunt and hungry. Cole swallowed hard. Having Levi writhe against him, hungry like that... it made his own cock stir.

  “Cole—” Levi whimpered, rolling his hips.

  “You awake?” Cole asked thickly.

  “Yes. Want you inside.”

  All the blood in Cole’s body surged between his legs. Couldn’t help it. He was hard in seconds, his cock straining to slide into Levi, so he could savor the warm, snug heat of his omega’s body.

  “I don’t want to hurt you,” Cole rasped, pumping his own cock.

  “Slowly. Should be fine.”

  Then Levi angled his hips toward Cole—an invitation—and Cole’s breath rushed out of him.

  He dipped a couple fingers into Levi, gathering some of that slick so he could lube up his cock. Then he angled his tip against Levi’s hole, and Levi’s moan sent Cole throbbing. He wanted to be inside. Wanted to pleasure his omega.

  He sank into Levi’s warmth, the blissful friction stealing his breath away. Cole wanted to go slow. He didn’t want to risk hurting the baby at all.

  Inch by inch, Cole sank into Levi. He watched as Levi’s smile grew, Levi taking him deep, his cock neglected against the bed.

  So Cole curled his fingers around Levi, dragging his foreskin down, touching his sensitive tip. Squeezed it, at the same time he thrust slowly into his omega.

  Levi’s breathing quickened.

  They built a rhythm, Cole massaging his omega inside, Levi doing his best to rock back against him. With his belly so round, he had trouble moving on the bed.

  “Feels almost like a kiss,” Cole growled, smiling. “Like when I slide into your mouth, this is what it feels like.” He sank into Levi, letting their hips press together. Then he pulled back out, the friction sending pleasure thrumming down his nerves. Levi whined.

  Cole stroked Levi’s heavy cock, Levi’s body squeezing tight around him, growing slicker yet. Their options had been limited these last few months, with Levi’s belly getting so round.

  This was one of the best positions they’d found, and Levi had begged for Cole to fuck him more often than not, his hormones running wild, his musk driving Cole to distraction.

  After all the hard, rough sex they’d had in the past, this was different. Slow, but just as intimate.

  “I th—think I’m going to come,” Levi gasped, his spine arching, his cock swelling thick in Cole’s fist.

  “Come for me,” Cole growled. “Gonna taste all of it.”

  It made him throb, thinking about Levi’s pleasure. Cole rolled his hips slowly, grinding against Levi’s prostate so Levi gasped and shuddered. Then he pulsed in Cole’s hand, thick spurts of come smearing across Cole’s fingers.

  Cole had to pull out so he wouldn’t lose control. He jerked himself off, imagining his hand as Levi’s body, Levi squeezing around him.

  He came in a burst of pleasure, sliding back into Levi’s body as he spilled. Made a mess of the sheets.

  “That’s the best way to wake up,” Levi purred, squeezing around Cole.

  Pleasure jolted up Cole’s spine; he closed his eyes and swore, his body sensitive right after his climax. “Sure is. Especially with you.”

  Levi chuckled, sinking down on Cole’s cock, taking his knot.r />
  For a while, they drifted in the afterglow, Cole stroking Levi’s hair, Levi falling back asleep. Then Levi’s body clenched, harder than Cole had ever felt from him. Pleasure and a hint of pain whispered through Cole.

  “Ow,” Levi breathed, panting. “That hurt.”

  “That wasn’t you?” Alarm filtered through Cole’s senses. “I thought you were playing a prank on me.”

  “Gods, no,” Levi wheezed, wrapping his arms around his belly. “That... that felt like a contraction.”

  A contraction? A tendril of fear coiled around Cole’s heart, squeezing tight. “Okay. And... And I’m still knotted inside you. You’re not going to give birth to Bryce while I’m still inside, right?”

  Cole wondered if EMTs found themselves responding to a situation like that. It sounded extremely awkward. Would it be dangerous?

  “Oh gods, no.” Levi groaned, covering his face. “Besides, I’m going to dilate. You’ll be free when that happens.”

  “Oh. Yeah. Okay. I should’ve thought of that.” He couldn’t help panicking, though. This was still too sudden. After the months of preparing for their baby... they were going to be dads. “I’m not ready yet,” Cole yelped.

  “Then start getting ready.” Levi nudged him with his elbow, wriggling.

  “I would if I could.” Cole rolled his hips, pushing his knot a little deeper into Levi. Levi panted; his nails bit into Cole’s thigh. “Kinda locked inside you right now.”

  “I guess we’re stuck here,” Levi said, sagging back into the bed.

  Cole hugged him. Ran his wrists down Levi’s skin, kissing his shoulder. “That’s fine. I’m off today, but you’ll probably need to call Ollie. Think you’ll still be in labor tomorrow?”

  “I hope not.” Levi winced. After a moment, he asked, “Do you think you triggered that? The contraction.”

  Cole had heard about sex inducing labor, but... it had somehow slipped his mind when Levi had moaned for him. “Possibly.”

  And now he was nervous, all over again. Worrying about Levi and Bryce, and whether they’d both make it okay.

  When Levi’s body finally released him, Cole handed Levi his phone. He jogged around the apartment, checking Levi’s overnight bag, then the nursery, and the stash of prepared meals they’d frozen in the freezer.

  Levi waddled after him. Cole panicked. “You should be sitting down!”

  “I’m not an invalid!” Levi frowned. “Should we check into the hospital? I don’t think my water’s broken yet, which means we still have some time to wait...”

  “Here, sit down.” Cole found the office chair, seating Levi in it. Made sure his omega was comfortable. Then he pushed Levi around the apartment, double-checking everything.

  “Gods, you’re more anxious than I am.” Levi grinned. “It’ll be fine, Cole.”

  Cole wanted to think so. But with Levi’s history of miscarriages, he couldn’t help worrying.

  This was so different from before, when Levi had been the one worried about Bryce. Over the past few months, Levi had become more confident in his pregnancy, when his doctor visits had gone well.

  Instead, Cole was the one who was now far too aware of the risks—they were moving into uncharted territory. So many things could go wrong.

  “Cole,” Levi said. “Come over here for a second.”

  Heart pattering, Cole stepped over, kneeling in front of Levi.

  Levi leaned in as close as he could, with his belly in the way. He cupped Cole’s face with his warm hands. Met his eyes. “It’ll be fine,” Levi said earnestly. “Don’t worry about me.”

  Cole gulped. He couldn’t help worrying, though. “Childbirth has its risks,” Cole croaked. “I’m not willing to lose you.”

  “I’ll hang in there,” Levi murmured, stroking Cole’s cheek. “I know there’ll be someone waiting for me when everything’s over with.”

  It was the same thing Cole had said to him, months ago. Cole cracked a smile, a tiny part of his worries easing. “I’m holding you to that.”

  “Please do.” Levi leaned in, and Cole kissed him, soft and sweet.

  When they were finally on their way to the hospital, Levi’s water broke. Cole breathed out his anxiety. Levi held his hand, but Cole’s nerves were abuzz.

  It was only after Levi had gotten admitted, when he’d changed into a hospital gown and he was sitting comfortably in his own bed, propped up by a stack of pillows, that Cole relaxed somewhat.

  He squeezed onto the hospital bed with Levi, frowning when an older midwife clucked at them.

  “Off the bed with you,” she said. “I need to take Levi’s vitals.”

  He shuffled grudgingly off, hovering close. Didn’t want to release Levi’s hand.

  The midwife took Levi’s pulse, then Bryce’s. She pulled on a glove and slid a finger into Levi. Cole growled, possessive.

  “Two centimeters dilated,” she said, clucking at Cole. “You alphas. There should be a course on childbirth for the lot of you.”

  Then she bustled off, and Cole clambered back onto the bed with Levi, still growling.

  Levi nudged him. “At least she didn’t talk about any love juices she found in there.”

  “Love... juices?” Cole stared at him. And then grimaced. “The fuck—you can’t call it love juices!”

  Levi grinned. “Then what would you call it? Baby-making fluid?”

  “Gods, Levi. No. That’s just gross.”

  “Elixir of balls? Spermy splooge? Oh, I know! Cream of alpha?”

  Cole growled, tackling Levi gently into the pillows. Levi yelped, but he wriggled against Cole, pulling Cole against himself.

  “You’re... impossible.” Cole grinned, dropping kisses all over his face.

  “I’m very possible.” Levi smiled back. Then he hunched over in pain, and gasped for breath.

  Cole forgot all about the jokes. He held Levi, rubbing Levi’s back, murmuring encouragement in Levi’s ear until he began to relax again.

  “That’s going to drain every last drop of my life,” Levi panted.

  “Don’t you die on me.” Cole glared, suppressing his panic. How was he going to sit through hours and hours of Levi in pain?

  They passed the first few hours in relative peace, with Levi’s contractions occurring every so often. Then the contractions grew more frequent, to the point where Cole gave up and just spooned his omega, brushing Levi’s sweaty hair away from his face, his body wrapped around Levi’s.

  More hours later, the midwife sat Levi up against the pillows, holding Levi’s hand. “Push,” the midwife said when Levi’s contraction began. “Breathe with me, and... push!”

  Levi panted, pushing.

  Cole sat next to Levi, needing to do something aside from watching his omega struggle. He wanted to help. But what was there for him to do?

  He got an idea. When the midwife allowed Levi a break, Cole shuffled Levi forward a little. Then he squeezed himself between Levi and the pillows, pulling Levi back to recline against his chest.

  “I’m here,” Cole murmured in Levi’s ear. “Wanted to be here next to you.”

  Levi blew out a weak breath, leaning his entire weight on Cole. “I’ll need all the help I can get.”

  “You’re strong,” Cole said, kissing his nape. “And I promise I don’t mind if you swear at me and everything.”

  “I’m not going to swear at you!” Levi frowned.

  Another hour later, Levi’s nails bit into Cole’s thighs. “If you put another baby into me, Cole Lancaster, you’re not fucking bringing those balls home.”

  Cole held his tongue, his balls pulling tight against his body. Yeah, he wasn’t going to say anything right now. “I promise to give you backrubs forever,” Cole blurted instead. “And all the kisses you can ever want.”

  “No balls,” Levi snarled.

  Cole winced. “No balls,” he said. Would he lose them for Levi’s sake? Probably. But Levi would be the only reason he even thought about giving them up.

  He
held Levi through the panting and pushing, torn between worrying for Levi, and worrying for Bryce. Would he lose either of them? Gods, what would Cole do if he could only bring one of them home? His stomach twisted tight.

  Then, finally, the midwife said, “The baby’s crowning,” and Cole blew out a breath. Held Levi, stroking Levi’s back, watching as something bloody slid out of his omega.

  Levi collapsed against Cole, his head tipped back, his skin damp with sweat. He seemed okay. Cole cradled his omega, his chest tight. Pressed kisses to Levi’s ear, his cheek, anywhere he could reach.

  “You did great,” Cole whispered, caressing Levi. “I’m so proud of you.” So relieved that Levi was fine.

  “But what about Bryce?” Levi breathed, craning his neck to look for their baby.

  The midwife brought the tiny, wailing bundle over, and Cole’s heart swelled.

  “There you go,” the midwife said, placing Bryce gently on Levi’s heaving chest. “He’s a beautiful one.”

  Bryce wailed heartily. Past Levi’s shoulder, Cole saw that tiny face, Bryce’s eyes squeezed tightly shut, his fine hair plastered to his head. Sweet relief washed through Cole, calming all his jangling nerves.

  “There, there,” Levi croaked. “It’s okay now. You’re with us. Your dad and I are so happy to finally meet you.”

  Bryce quieted, hearing his voice. Cole blinked back his tears. Couldn’t believe Levi had given birth to their child. He wrapped his arms around them both, just holding them.

  “Your dad’s really brave,” Cole told their son. “I love him, and I love you.”

  Levi choked down his sob. Cole held him. Closed his eyes, breathing in Levi’s sweat and his jasmine scent, and the faint tinge of blood smeared over all of them.

  After all the trials they’d been through, after all the children Levi had lost, Cole was so glad that Bryce had made it. That Levi was still here with him, that he had his very own family in his arms.

  Their meeting had been a result of chance. But more than that, Levi was here with Cole of his own accord. Cole had made a choice, too. To stay with and protect his omega no matter what.

  And now that they had a baby together... Cole looked forward to tomorrow, to the weeks and months and years ahead, knowing he would be spending them with his better half, and the love of his life.