Page 41 of His Surrogate Omega

And there was something inside that told him Jamie was right. He would give in.

He was too weak in his love for his omega.

One of these days, this weakness of yours is going to get you into trouble. Trouble you can’t get out of. It might tear you both apart.

Warden’s words came back to haunt him.

He just hoped that last part didn’t prove true.

And hoped Gray could be strong enough for all three of them… strong enough to say no.

Chapter Twelve

Paint therapy…

Gray stroked the brush across the surface of the canvas, letting his hand go where it willed. It had been weeks since he’d painted last, though he had gotten in a few doodles and sketches in between. Since his brother’s death and the boys coming to live with them, his free time had been cut short.

But he needed this, with his mind in utter chaos.

Now that there was a little rhythm to the madness, he hoped to carve out more time to work. He dabbed at the oil paints on his palette before lifting to take another couple of short strokes. Letting his mind go blank, he focused on the image coming to life before him. An hour later, he realized what his subconscious had brought to life upon the canvas.

It was Rohan.

He lowered his brush as it became clear. Even now, he was preoccupied with the man. The night before, Rohan had invaded his dreams, touching his body and filling him. Gray had awoken to a wet spot on the bed and his cock in hand. Embarrassed to be lusting after another omega’s alpha, he’d quickly cleaned up, changed his sheets, and tried to get some sleep.

Sleep hadn’t come, so he’d used a new tactic. He’d gotten up early, fed the boys, and wandered out here into the old shed-turned-art studio and hoped to find solace in some creative expression.

Another failure.

He tossed the brush down before laying the palette onto a nearby table. Gray set about to clean up, leaving the unfinished painting on the easel. As he turned to leave, he looked at the painting—at Rohan staring back at him.

There had been such soul and heat in that gaze, but it hadn’t truly been for Gray.

Instinct. That’s all it was.

Nature, nothing more, and for him to think a few nights in the man’s bed would give him any true insight, he was crazy.

Yet it preoccupied his mind.

Jamie wanted this. Nearly demanded it.

Gray had needs of his own, needs Jamie seemed to understand. He’d offered his alpha up to Gray on a silver platter.

As Gray locked up the shed and crossed the soft, green grass of the backyard in his bare feet, he felt his phone ringing. Lifting it after fishing it from his pocket, he saw it was Tensen.

Gray hit the Accept button before bringing the phone to his ear. “Hello?”

“It’s Tensen Atkinson. How are you?” he asked.

“I’ve been better,” Gray admitted before slipping into the kitchen’s back door. The cool air from the air conditioning washed over him, cooling his heated body. “Can you hold a second?”

“Sure.”

Gray put the phone to his chest and yelled upstairs to let the boys know he was back inside. Once they both replied to him from their rooms, he lifted the phone back to his ear. “Sorry, I’m back.”

“That was a bit of a bombshell Jamie laid down. I just wanted to check in and remind you that ultimately, this is your decision. You don’t need to agree to Jamie’s terms if they’re too much for you to accept—unless you wanted to.”

Gray stood there, the phone to his ear and unsure what to say.

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