Page 90 of His Surrogate Omega

Lust?

Shame?

Both?

Rohan closed his eyes, his body quickening as his own lusts rose. The omega was right. Sharing the same spaces would be hell on both of them. He didn’t need the added distraction when he had Jamie to care for. “Maybe you coming around isn’t a good idea.”

“No…please. Ineedto spend time with him. We can come up with a schedule of some kind, can’t we? I can care for him during the day, so you can get some work in, perhaps… I need to be home in the afternoons for my nephews, but that would give you several hours of work each day. I can be here by ten-thirty… and leave by one or so.”

That would allow him to check in at work on occasion and bring files to and from the office. There was a lot he could do from home, but he could check in here and there… but those hours didn’t give him much space. “By the time I’d get to the office, I’d have only a few minutes before I’d have to turn around and come home. You couldn’t get here any earlier?”

“I’m stuck to the school and trolley schedules.”

“What if I sent a car?”

“Every day?” Gray asked, looking stunned. “You already send cars for my doctor’s appointments. That’s a lot of expense. I couldn’t ask that of you.”

Rohan considered that a moment. “You comingwouldbe a help for me, actually.” Time away, here and there, would be good for his own mental health. And it would be good for Jamie to have a change of pace… or face, so to speak. Gray had been the one to inspire hope. Jamie needed that in his life. “Two or three days a week. If you could be here by, say nine… and gone by two… I can hire a nurse, as well… to help fill in any gaps if I’m running late,” Rohan said. “We can avoid each other as much as possible—and both be there for him. I hate the thought of working, but I’m in the middle of a few large projects and can’t abandon them completely. If I have to leave, I’d feel better knowing someone who truly cared was here with him for the bulk of it.”

Gray smiled before speaking. “That would be perfect.”

The timbre of Gray’s voice washed over him, and the instinct roared within him again. His stare traveled lower, to caress the swell to Gray’s stomach. When he lifted it again, he saw the shock and need filling Gray’s eyes.

Claim him.

Make him yours.

He closed his eyes, hating the animalistic part of him. “How much longer are you staying tonight?”Go… before I do something I’ll hate myself for.

“Just until he awakens… and then I’ll get him some tea and talk a little more before I leave. If that’s okay. It’s become a bit of a tradition between him and I. Our afternoon teas.”

“That’s fine,” Rohan murmured, feeling a tiny thread of jealousy that he and Jamie had grown so close when there was only distance between them. Excusing himself, he headed straight up to peek in on his mate.

And remind himself who he belonged to.

Jamie slept, his body so still it frightened Rohan. He sat on the side of the bed… wanting to see the gentle rise and fall of his omega’s chest before he left. From the corner of his eye, he saw the small piece of paper on the nightstand. Rohan reached for it and drew in a shuddered breath as he stared at his child.

A pang of need swept him again. He wanted to run back down the stairs and draw Gray into his arms and celebrate this beautiful life growing within the omega. Rohan turned to see Jamie, pale and so still. They’d supposed to have that moment, celebrating a new life.

He lowered the piece of paper back to the nightstand before sliding into the bed beside his omega. Rohan drew his omega into his arms, knowing Jamie would hate him for this… but it was his turn to be selfish.

Rohan needed to hold the man he loved.

Chapter Twenty-Two

Home again…

Gray bustled into the cottage, slamming the door. He pressed his back against it once he was inside. He’d held himself together while at Jamie’s.

And during the long ride home.

But once he crossed the threshold of home, he couldn’t hold back any longer.

The tears came in a torrent. Sliding down the door, he fell until his butt hit the floor. Soon after, Avery appeared in the foyer, a kitchen towel over one shoulder and flour on his nose. As soon as he looked at Gray, he rushed closer and knelt.

“What’s happened? Are you okay? Is it the baby?”

Gray took a moment to capture enough air to speak. “The baby… is fine. I’m fine.”

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