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The ribbing continued as they set the kitchen to rights, moving on into the living room, emptying cartons and placing Lennon’s things haphazardly around the room. Kodi was impressed with how much they’d achieved by the time the delivery driver knocked on the door.

Seeing no sign of the men coming downstairs, he used the food as an excuse to go find Lennon. Kodi headed upstairs to find everyone in the bedroom next to the one they’d picked for themselves. The walls were painted cream, and the carpet was a pale green. The house had neutral colors throughout. Nothing they couldn’t live with until they decided what they wanted together.

Kodi half expected to feel panicked. What came instead was eagerness—like that morning—to create a place for them and peanut.

“The food’s here,” he announced, when no one paid him a blind bit of notice.

Popi glanced at him and gone were the teary eyes. They were now full of delight. “We’re planning the nursery. Isley’s brother, Somme, is brilliant at artwork, and Isley thinks he’ll agree to paint a mural on the wall.” Popi pointed to the wall next to the door. “The crib could go here, then you can have a nursing chair over by the window.” He carried on and Kodi looked for reassurance from Lennon about whether he should rein him back in. Lennon, however, was nodding and grinning.

“I’ve measured this area and I can have one of those changing tables for diapers here.” Lennon pointed to the space next to the closet door. “I also thought we could knock the closet through into our room, add a door so we can leave it open, and it’ll make it quicker for night feeds and things like that.” The hopeful smile that Kodi could never resist appeared. “What do you think?”

“I think you can have whatever you want,” Kodi said, his voice soft and dreamy with how happy Lennon was.

“Oh my, will you listen to him?” Wilder wafted a hand in front of his flushed cheeks. “You’re a total sweetheart!”

“He is,” Popi agreed, giggling with the other men.

“And I’m out of here,” Kodi grumbled, spinning on his heel and escaping back downstairs as fast as he could. He’d rather suffer his brothers ragging on his ass than this mushy stuff, any day.

Liar.

Fuck you!

Chapter Forty-Three

Lennon

“Are you sure you’ll be alright driving yourself?” Kodi fussed on the driveway, as Lennon opened his car door.

He didn’t roll his eyes, but it was a close call. Kodi, it seemed, was way more protective than Lennon had ever given him credit for. They had been living together for a week, and boy was it an eye opener.

“Do we need to go back inside so I can spank you before I leave?” It wasn’t a threat, not yet.

They had taken to doing the spankings at home before going to work, as well as at work because Kodi was struggling with his emotions more than Lennon. Kodi had clearly adopted Lennon’s pregnancy hormones. This particular incident was just one example amongst many.

“No… maybe… no, I’ll be fine. Just ring me when you get there, okay. Or maybe I should follow because it is the other side of town?”

Seeing he was serious, Lennon cupped Kodi’s cheeks, dragging his head closer so they were eye to eye. “Listen, I’m perfectly fine. As is peanut, who is lucky because I’m going to feed it plenty of chocolate. I’m going to have fun with my best friends and family. Lane will be with me, I’m picking him, Frey, and Monty up now. And if anything happens, which it won’t, one of them will call you.”

He kissed Kodi hard on the lips, then let go and got in the car. He waved at the gorgeous, anxious man and reversed off the drive, heading down the street and avoiding looking in the rearview mirror. He couldn’t say he didn’t love this side of Kodi, because damn it was cute. Just never in a million years would Lennon have suspected how attentive Kodi would be. It was adorable and maddening. Just more adorable than maddening. Lennon’s cheeks ached with a smile that hardly left his face.

The builders were going to start work on the renovations in the new year. They had ordered all the nursery furniture, and they were going the following day to pick and cut down their very first Christmas tree. It was a tradition Lennon had done with his family since he could walk. He wanted to continue this tradition with Kodi and their peanut.

Lennon had debated about Christmas holidays and where to spend them. Lane and his mom had plenty to say on the subject. This year they were going to split their day between the two families because next year, they had decided they’d have Christmas in their own home.

His belly danced at what that would be like. The baby would be seven months old, not quite of an age to know what was going on, but still. Now they were living together—mated—Kodi had no problem communicating what his thoughts were on everything.

They had talked a lot over the week about what they both wanted, and Lennon found Kodi was extremely easy going with Lennon’s ideas. They had decided to wait to get married until after the baby was born. This had taken a little more persuasion when Kodi was keen for a ceremony to show the world he loved and was committed to Lennon. He’d nearly given in, then common sense had kicked in with how much effort and co-ordination it would take to get Lennon’s extensive family sorted for a wedding. There was no way Lennon wanted to be waddling down any aisle when it happened.

The streets were busy with traffic, which he’d anticipated two weeks before Christmas, but he kept an eye on the time, not wanting to be late. Isley said they were prompt to start, and he didn’t want to be the one to make the others late. The day was bright, the icy rain they’d endured had stopped the day before and now all they had to contend with was the freezing conditions.

He shivered violently at the strong breeze tugging on the thick winter jacket he wore when he pulled up into the driveway of Lane’s home and got out of the car. He pulled his beanie down and searched his pockets for his gloves, his hands already blocks of ice by the time he reached the front door only for it to burst open and reveal a flustered looking Lane.

“I’m coming,” Lane stated breathlessly, rushing out, an electric blue padded coat flapping open to reveal the elegant outfit beneath. A teal cashmere jumper and black fitted slacks. In his black leather gloved hands, he held several shopping bags with wrapped gifts poking out. As was Lane’s tradition, he brought a personal Christmas gift for all the PAs, which they received at the party they had.

Monty sauntered out behind him, dressed all in black, his face peeking out of an enormous coat that looked three sizes too big for him. A mischievous grin came with a hard hug. The aftershave Lennon could smell off the coat wasn’t anything Lennon could recall Monty wearing before. But a certain alpha, most certainly.

“So damn happy for you, Lennon. I’m gutted to have missed the house moving party.”