Sizzling for His Omega (Omegas of Oliver Creek #12)

Chapter Nineteen

Leon

Tobias had eight boxes labeled kitchen but only two labeled bedroom. That was my mate, all right. He was a fantastic chef, and even though his restaurant boasted Greek food, the man could cook anything, I was sure of it.

“Is this it?” I asked, pointing at the stack of boxes even though I asked him not to move them. Sometimes he let me take care of him, and sometimes he insisted on doing things himself. I had learned to roll with the punches and let go of any expectations.

“This is it. I’m leaving all my furniture in case I decide to rent the place out and I don’t have a ton of belongings, other than my kitchen equipment.”

He was right. While there were eight boxes stacked up, I’d already brought over the heavy things to our house. The mixers. The cast-iron pots and pans and bakeware. The bread crocks. Some other appliances he said he couldn’t live without.

“I’ll load these into the back of the truck.”

It took me no time to get all the boxes loaded, and we were on our way. Tobias’ condition on moving in with me was that he would keep his house, in his name, and wouldn’t sell it. That way, if something went south with us, which it wouldn’t if you asked me, he would have some security. A place to live. I also added a stipulation. He would have open access to my bank account, and I got him a debit card, but he would keep his own accounts so that he felt safe and secure.

If I ever intended on taking advantage of my omega and hurt him the way his ex had, I would’ve had a real problem with him having his own accounts and keeping the house, but it was because I had no ill intentions that these things didn’t bother me at all. What was mine was his, and what was his was his. As long as he felt safe, then it wasn’t an issue.

I would’ve done anything to have him with me, in our bed, at my side.

That was my safety.

We walked into the bedroom. I had one of his boxes in my hands. “I cleared out half of the closet. Honestly, it was full of things I hadn’t worn in years. And I bought another dresser over there for your things. Your nightstand is clear. If you want the other side, I don’t care.”

“Leon”—he put his hand on my chest as I dropped the box on the bed—“thank you. You went to so much trouble.”

“Nothing I do for you is trouble, omega. I’d gut this house down to the studs and concrete and start all the building again if that’s what you wanted. Moving some clothes and other things around is nothing.”

“I’m sorry to make you go through all of this. I should’ve moved in weeks ago. When I first knew we were mates. Hell, I should have followed you home after the night you marked me. What a fool.”

“Hey now,” I said, pulling him in for a kiss. “No talking about my mate like that. Do you have to work today?” I asked. He had a schedule, but sometimes he liked to pop in and see how things were going. He trusted his staff, and they worked hard, so lately he had been checking in less and less, especially now that his belly was getting bigger and his energy waned.

“I hear you, alpha. And no, I’m not going in today. Want to help me unpack?”

I chuckled. “Absolutely.”

For the rest of the day, we unpacked his things, taking a break at noon to have lunch outside at the picnic table in the backyard. I gave him a tour of my workshop, and we talked about some changes he wanted to make. He said the bedroom was too dark. He wanted to paint it a soft gray.

Hearing him talk about my house as our home made me smile.

“What is that smile about?” he asked, kissing each side of my mouth as we lay in the hammock bathed in sunshine.

“You are calling it our house. I like it. My jackal loves it. It is our home now.”

“Even though I still own my other house?” He laid his head on my chest. He always found a way to do that.

“Doesn’t matter. You could own a million houses and, as long as you’re with me, then that place is home.”

“That was so cheesy. I love it.”

“I love you,” I said, kissing the top of his head. I was well aware that this was the first time I’d said it out loud but I wanted to. I wanted him to hear the words and feel they were true.

He moved a little and looked up at me. The hammock swayed but I tried to keep us steady. “I love you, Leon. You and love and mating scared the crap out of me at first and, while I’m still scared, I do love you.”

“I love you, too, omega. And don’t forget our little one.” I reached down and rubbed my hand across his belly, the size of a basketball now. Pregnant certainly suited my omega. He looked adorable when he showed me his profile. I’d convinced him to let me take some pictures of him both with clothes on and without. I wanted him to see how beautiful he was in my eyes. Plus, the pictures would freeze these moments in time. I wanted to remember every second of his pregnancy.

“Oh, he is already loved more than I could’ve imagined.”

I chuckled as he spoke to his belly. “He is. You are both well loved.”

Tobias moved a bit. His hand slid from his belly to my groin. “I could think of a way to show me exactly how well loved I am, Leon.”

“So can I.”