Page 75 of His Surrogate Omega

“He’s pregnant with our child. You know damned well an alpha’s protective instinct kicks in. I tried to leave, but you begged me to stay.”

Jamie turned to Rohan. “Don’t be angry. I’m not jealous. I’m asking because I’m curious. I don’t mean to make you upset.”

“Well… maybe you should be jealous.”

Jamie tilted his head.

Rohan sighed angrily. “You won’t let me touch you. You won’t touch me.”

“I have no desire for sex, Rohan.”

“I can’t even get a hug without you flinching away from me!” Rohan drew in a deep breath. “I have left you alone. Other than the morning after… after Gray… I’ve never asked. Never assumed.” Rohan tilted his head back, at a loss. “I miss the intimacy, Jamie. I miss the kisses and the hugs and you snuggling close to me in bed. Sex is onlyhalfof it. If you could give me those… it wouldn’t be so hard to miss the rest.”

“I was afraid that giving you those would make you think I wanted more,” Jamie whispered. “Ican’tgive you more, Rohan. The thought of sex… the thought of you touching me in those ways? I can’t.”

Rohan sat there, silent. But Jamie could feel a mix of emotions coming off the alpha in waves. He wanted to give his mate comfort, but he didn’t know how.

“I don’t understand,” Rohan said. “Please, help me understand this. I thought we loved one another? What have I done?”

“You’ve donenothing. I do love you, I keep telling you that.”

“And you can’t even give me something as simple as a hug?”

Jamie saw the damage he was doing written in the lines of Rohan’s face and couldn’t keep the truth back any longer.

“They took my womb,” Jamie said quietly. “And when they took it, it’s as if they took my sexuality with it. The need and desire I once had? It’s gone. And I hate that it’s gone because I love you more than words can ever express.” Jamie leaned in closer and rested his head on Rohan’s shoulder. “I thought it would come back. After the treatments. After they told me I was in remission. I prayed to the gods it would come back. I wanted to be with my mate again. To have that joy and that bliss… the afterglow, lying in your arms and holding you tight. I miss it, too. I just can’t be with you in that way anymore. I’m barren… and you deserve more than an empty shell of an omega.”

“You’renotan empty shell! I know you think you were born simply to hand me children, but there is more to us than that. The love we share is more than enough—I’ve told you time and time again.You are enough.You willalwaysbe enough. Child or no child, I love you. You… not some expectation that was force-fed to you your entire life.”

Rohan leaned over slightly and pressed a kiss to Jamie’s head.

Jamie froze again, unable to stop the tensing of his body. He slid away from his alpha, needing space.

Another long sigh came from Rohan. “Fine. You need space? Time? I will give them to you. I don’t understand it, but if you think this is what you need to heal, I will give it to you. But I won’t go far. I’m right here… I will always be right here. At your side. Where I belong.”

“You would be within your rights to cast me away,” Jamie said before lifting his stare to meet Rohan’s. “An omega who refuses his alpha—you could be free of me if you chose it.”

Rohan lifted his palm to cup the side of Jamie’s face. “Never.Never.I love you too much for that.”

“You belong with someone like Gray. You two would make a fine match.”

Rohan frowned. “No… don’t say that.”

Jamie smiled. “I chose him for you.”

Rohan sat up a little straighter. “What?”

Jamie’s smile turned a bit melancholy. “Nothing.”

“No. What do you mean youchose him for me?”

“I just sensed… that you would like him. That he would be a good omega for you.”

Rohan stared, looking confused. “You’re not goinganywhere. There’s no reason for you to find a replacement.”

Jamie nodded. “Of course. You’re right… forget I said anything...”

Rohan searched his face, not looking pacified. “No… I need to know what you meant by that.”

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