by Olivia Black
“We’ve been blessed,” Ragnon said.
“Are you ready to eat?” Gogrek asked, stepping into the room.
Dennis nodded.
“Congratulations, Gogrek,” Hokr said.
“Thanks, Father.”
“You two take care of Dennis.”
“We will,” Gogrek answered without hesitation.
“Dennis, I’ll see you tomorrow.”
“Yeah, I’ll see you tomorrow.”
Ragnon pressed a button on the device, disconnecting the call.
Before Dennis could stand, Gogrek was there, picking him up. The male held Dennis in a tight embrace as he strode out of Ragnon’s room and went into their shared bedroom. On the bed, there was a blanket with a few plates of food. Gogrek set Dennis down, and he climbed onto the bed. Sitting cross-legged, Dennis started eating, shoveling the food into his mouth as if he were starving.
“Are you okay?”
Glancing up, Dennis looked at Gogrek. “Sorry, I didn’t realize how hungry I was.”
“Have you eaten anything today?”
Dennis shook his head. When he woke up, the last thing on Dennis’s mind was food or eating. He saw the scales and freaked out.
“Gods above,” Gogrek muttered, clearly concerned. “We were at medical for hours. Why didn’t you say anything?”
Dennis shrugged. The thought of food never crossed his mind.
Gogrek sighed. The male climbed onto the bed beside Dennis, and Ragnon joined them a few moments later.
“Have you given any thought to baby names?” Dennis asked.
“I like the names Rhider and Brokr,” Gogrek said.
“I’ve always liked the name Kesan,” Ragnon added.
“Are there any names from your home world that you like?” Gogrek questioned. “We can give our young a human name.”
Dennis appreciated the gesture, but it wasn’t necessary. There wasn’t anything or anyone that Dennis wanted to hold on to. Earth was a distant memory.
“I would like our son to have a Noglion name.”
“Why?” Gogrek asked.
“This is our home.”
Gogrek smiled. “This is your home.”
“We’ve got plenty of time to think about a name,” Ragnon said.
Dennis was hoping they would have at least five months to get ready. And even then, Dennis wasn’t sure he would be prepared for a baby. As they ate, Dennis thought about how much his life had changed since leaving Earth. It was still difficult for Dennis to believe that he’d found love on an alien planet so far away. But now that Dennis was on Noglion, he couldn’t imagine being anywhere else.
After the meal, Dennis yawned and rubbed his eyes. Suddenly, he felt incredibly tired.
“Will you clear off the bed?” Gogrek asked Ragnon. “It’s been a long day. I think our mate needs to get some sleep.”
Gogrek reached out and grasped the hem of Dennis’s shirt. Dennis held up his arms, and the male removed it. Dennis lifted his hips up off the bed, and Gogrek took off his pants.
“Lie down on your stomach, and I’ll give you a rub-down.”
Dennis dropped down onto his belly. Gogrek ran his hands up and down Dennis’s back in long, gliding strokes before focusing his attention on Dennis’s aching muscles.
“Ahhh,” Dennis groaned. “That feels good.”
Not to be outdone, Ragnon started rubbing Dennis’s feet, moving up his calves to his thighs. The males moved their hands and fingers, expertly massaging every square inch of skin.
“Mmm,” Dennis moaned.
By the time they were finished, Dennis couldn’t move. Luckily, he didn’t have to. Ragnon and Gogrek turned him over and continued with their ministrations.
“Go to sleep, love,” Gogrek whispered before gently placing a kiss on Dennis’s lips.
“Will you stay?” he murmured.
“I’m not going anywhere.”
“Me either,” Ragnon said.
Gogrek continued his massage while Ragnon lay down beside Dennis. The male moved in close until their bodies were touching. With a smile tugging at the corner of his lips, Dennis fell asleep.
* * * *
As soon as Dennis’s breathing changed, Ragnon said, “Last night, you said you weren’t yourself.”
Gogrek nodded.
“I think you must’ve sensed the changes in Dennis’s hormone levels,” Ragnon told him. “You were acting on instinct, marking and claiming your mate.”
Gogrek was silent for a moment, as if he were digesting Ragnon’s words. Finally, the male nodded.
“I’m going to talk with the king and change my work schedule,” Gogrek said.
Ragnon had to admit that he wasn’t completely surprised. Having a mate might not change Gogrek’s ways—the male was a workaholic—but a child definitely would.
“I want to be here for Dennis throughout the pregnancy and when our son is born. I don’t want to miss anything.”
“That sounds like a good idea.”
“We need to be careful with Dennis,” Gogrek said. “We can’t let anything happen to him or our child.”
“Of course,” Ragnon agreed without hesitation. “We’ll protect him and keep him safe.”
“Let’s make a pact,” his brother continued. “Neither of us will do anything that may cause harm to Dennis or our child.”
Ragnon nodded.
“And we won’t have sex with Dennis until after the baby’s born.”
Ragnon paused. No sex. Could he make such a promise? It was impossible for Ragnon to keep his hands off Dennis.
Gogrek arched a brow. “Ragnon.”
He sighed. “Fine.”
“I’m curious about something,” Gogrek started. “Why were you getting rid of all of your weapons? We have plenty of time to prepare for our young’s arrival. You don’t need to start today.”
“You know Noglion young grow quickly,” Ragnon said.
Noglion young not only grew rapidly they were also incredibly curious and had a knack for getting into trouble. After the young’s first shed, which usually happened within a year of their birth, they were practically unstoppable. Noglion young were wild, and they enjoyed running free. Ragnon could remember his own childhood clearly, and he knew what a handful he was for both of his fathers.
“Gods above,” Ragnon said, suddenly having a realization. “What if our son doesn’t have scales?”
Gogrek’s eyes widened, and a look of concern crossed his face.
Noglions relied on their scales for protection. The scales enabled them to live in their natural environment and protected their bodies from injury. The scales were similar to armor.
If their son didn’t have scales, he would be delicate and fragile, like Dennis. It wouldn’t change their feelings for him. Ragnon and Gogrek would love and cherish their son. They would just need to be more vigilant and protective.
Gogrek sat up. He looked down at Dennis before climbing out of bed. “Come on. Let’s get to work.”
Together, they spent the rest of the evening cleaning out Ragnon’s bedroom and getting rid of anything that could potentially harm their young.
Chapter Fifteen
Dennis had to admit that he was excited. Today, he was meeting Hokr. They were going to share a meal and do some shopping for the baby. Dennis, like his mates, wanted to be prepared for the baby’s arrival. Dressed and ready to go, Dennis pressed his hand against the wall, and the door slid open. He stepped over the threshold and chuckled lightly. Now that Dennis was a member of Noglion society, he didn’t need to be escorted around by his mates.
Strolling down the hallway, Dennis hummed happily. It seemed silly that something so simple could bring him joy, but it was actually really nice to have more freedom. He was tired of sitting around, waiting for his mates to return home from work. It wasn’t fair to Gogrek and Ragnon either. The males shouldn’t have to work all day and then come home and entertain Dennis. Now, at the end of the day, Dennis would finally have
something to share with his mates.
As Dennis made his way to the Qinqra Marketplace, it felt as though everyone was watching him. Noglion males stopped and stared. This time, the males weren’t looking at Dennis with lust in their eyes. Instead, the males were looking at him in awe.
“Dennis!” Hokr called out, waving.
Smiling, Dennis walked over to his father-in-law.
“How are you feeling?” he asked.
“I’m good.” Dennis reached down and touched his belly.
Hokr’s eyes dropped down to Dennis’s stomach, and he grinned. “We are so happy to welcome a new babe to the family.”
“Thank you.”
“Are you hungry?”
Dennis’s stomach growled, loudly. “Starved.” He chuckled.
“Come on.” Hokr took Dennis’s arm. “I know the perfect place.”
Hokr led Dennis to a dining stall located near the marketplace. When Dennis stepped over the threshold, he glanced around.
The space was lit up by lamps contained within wrought-iron sconces of varying designs along the walls. There was live music playing on a raised dais. Music filled the space, coming from different-sized drums and brass instruments. It was heady and tribal but not loud enough to drown out the conversations. Noglions, along with other types of aliens, sat on thick pads on the floor at short-legged tables eating from platters of food.
Together, Hokr and Dennis walked through the dining stall to an empty sitting area. Dennis took a seat across from Hokr. He glanced around at the other patrons seated in the restaurant and quickly realized that some of the males were performing various sexual acts on one another. Dennis automatically averted his eyes, not wanting to intrude on an intimate moment, even if it was in public.
Hokr lifted his hand, and a few moments later, a server came to their table. The male placed a platter filled with food onto the table, along with a clay pitcher.
“We didn’t even order anything.”
“This eatery serves a set menu each day.” Hokr picked up the pitcher and filled Dennis’s mug with water. “It’s important that you stay hydrated and eat. Your body is going through a lot of changes right now, and it’s burning energy very quickly.”
Dennis nodded in understanding. If anyone knew what Dennis was experiencing, it was Hokr. Dennis picked up his mug and took a drink of the cold water. After the first sip, he guzzled down the contents. It seemed as though Dennis’s body was in need of water. Hokr gave him a knowing look and refilled Dennis’s mug. Picking up his utensil, Dennis started eating.
“Have you started having any sexual cravings?”
Dennis gasped, surprised by the question, and immediately started coughing, choking on his food.
“I’m sorry.”
Dennis shook his head, waving off the apology. He took a drink of water and cleared his throat. “Uh…no, not yet.”
“When I was pregnant, I couldn’t seem to get enough of Bheilf. There were times when we didn’t leave the house for days.”
Dennis’s eyes widened slightly. “Really?”
Hokr nodded.
“Wow,” Dennis muttered.
Dennis wasn’t sure if he should be scared or excited about the prospect of becoming a sex-crazed maniac. For a moment, Dennis thought of his mates. How would Gogrek and Ragnon respond? Dennis grinned. His males were up for any challenge.
The rest of the meal went smoothly. Dennis ate while Hokr reminisced. The male told Dennis about his pregnancies and everything he endured while giving birth. Hokr’s stomach actually split open. After the stories, Dennis had to admit that he was relieved to be having a surgical procedure. Dennis couldn’t imagine dealing with the pain Hokr had to go through in order to have both of his sons.
“There are only a few stalls that carry clothing and supplies for children. But I think we should find everything you need.”
“I’m sure it will be fine.”
Hokr walked by Dennis’s side around the marketplace, and the male pointed out the stalls. Dennis stopped at each one. He ran his hand over the soft material. There were tunics, leggings, and loincloths in natural colors of browns, olive green, and the red desert sand.
“As you can see, Noglions don’t wear a lot of clothes.”
Dennis was well aware of the lack of clothing. His mates usually wore only a loincloth and sandals. So, it wasn’t a surprise that their son would wear something similar. Dennis picked up a few tunics, each in a different color, and leggings. He laid them over his forearm and walked around the stall.
“I see a cradleboard over there,” Hokr said. “I’ll be right back.”
Dennis nodded and watched Hokr stroll over to a nearby stall.
“You’re wearing clothes.” The words were said in an accusatory manner, as if Dennis were doing something wrong.
Turning around, Dennis looked at the human standing before him. The man was naked with his leash hanging loosely against his chest. He was also incredibly tense, and the look in his eyes scared Dennis. It was pure hatred. The other man looked as if he wanted to reach out and wrap his hands around Dennis’s throat.
Dennis took a step back, needing some space between them, and placed a protective hand on his stomach. “I’m pregnant.”
The other man scoffed. “Why you and not me?”
Dennis wasn’t sure what to say, so he kept his mouth shut. He figured it was probably a rhetorical question anyway.
“It’s not fair,” he said, raising his voice. “I’ve been here for years, and you just arrived and you’re pregnant.”
Again, Dennis didn’t respond. He felt a pang of sadness for the stranger. It was obvious that this man was very unhappy.
“It’s not fair!” he shouted.
The man lashed out and knocked over a table covered in baby clothes. It crashed to the ground, and the marketplace fell silent. A Noglion male that was standing nearby rushed toward them. He picked the human up off his feet. The human struggled and shouted, but the Noglion didn’t release him.
“I’m sorry,” he said. “Congratulations to you and your mates.”
Dennis tried to smile, but he couldn’t. “Thank you.”
Hokr wrapped his arm around Dennis’s shoulder. It was a comforting gesture. “Are you okay?” he asked.
“Yeah.” Dennis nodded. “I’m fine.”
“Try not to be offended by his words or actions,” Hokr said. “With the infertility issues, there are bound to be mates that will be jealous that you’re pregnant and they aren’t.”
Dennis wasn’t really sure how to feel about the encounter. He wasn’t offended. In truth, he felt bad for the other human.
It must be terribly painful to be unable to have young. Dennis truly didn’t know why he was pregnant when others weren’t. Everyone kept saying that it was a blessing from the gods, but Dennis was hoping there would be a real answer, something that would help the other mates conceive.
“I found a cradleboard,” Hokr said, changing the subject.
Dennis had never seen a cradleboard before. The device was built with a broad, firm frame. A footrest was incorporated into the bottom of the board, and there was a rounded cover that went over the baby’s head, similar to a canopy. The inside of the cradleboard was padded with thick furs. There were several leather straps that Dennis assumed were used to tie the baby to the board. It looked a little medieval in Dennis’s opinion.
“Do you think we should buy it?” Dennis asked, secretly hoping that Hokr would say no.
Hokr shook his head. “I don’t think you need it right now. I just wanted you to see it. Noglion parents usually wear it on their back so that they can have both hands free.”
“Ah.” Dennis nodded in understanding.
Hokr gave the cradleboard back to the stall vendor before returning to Dennis’s side.
“It looks like you found a few things,” Hokr said, pointing out the baby clothes hanging over Dennis’s forearm.
“I can’t believe how small they are.”
“Don’t buy too many clothes. Noglion young grow fast.”
“These were the only ones I was going to get today.”
“Can you put these purchases on Gogrek and Ragnon Vemm’s account?” Hokr asked the vendor.
“Of course,” he responded.
Dennis and Hokr walked around for a while, checking out each stall within the marketplace, and Dennis bought a few more things. When he was finished, Hokr escorted Dennis back home.
As soon as they stepped over the threshold, Dennis put the cloth bags on the floor.
“It looks like you had a successful day,” Ragnon said as he strolled out from the hallway.
Dennis nodded. “I think we got everything we need for now.”
“While you were gone, Bheilf brought over our old baby furniture.”
“Is he still here?” Dennis asked.
Ragnon nodded. “He’s just finishing up with the bed.”
“We should all have dinner together,” Dennis suggested.
“I’ll comm Gogrek.” Ragnon strode over to the kitchen counter and picked up the device. “He can pick up something up on his way home from work.”
“Sounds good.”
Picking up the bags, Dennis went down the hallway to the baby’s room. He stepped over the threshold and smiled. Bheilf was on his knees, putting together a round-shaped baby bed with tall railings. It looked like an heirloom made of iron.
“It’s beautiful,” Dennis said.
Bheilf glanced over his shoulder. “I’m glad you like it.”
“I love it,” Dennis told him.
Bheilf rose to his feet. “I brought the other furniture as well.”
“It’s a great set,” Dennis told him. “Thank you.”
“You’re welcome.”
Dennis put the bags on the floor and walked around the room, checking out the other pieces of furniture.
“Gogrek is on his way home with dinner for all of us,” Ragnon said as he came into the room.
“I love the furniture,” Dennis told him.
“Gogrek and I both slept in that crib, right, Dad?”
Bheilf nodded.
“And now your son will too.”
Ragnon smiled brightly. It seemed the male really liked that idea. “What did you buy?”
