Page 5 of Free Me

“It’s okay.” His defeated heart plopped to the floor and he tried not to sulk, because Miko’s safety was more important than Linus’s hurt feelings. “I’m just glad this happened with me and not some random alpha who doesn’t love you. Things could have gotten dangerously out of hand. I’ll take you home.”

“This is your party. I can get a ride?—”

“You will not.”Mine. He’s mi—no, shut up.“I’ll call a taxi for us and make sure you get home safely, I promise.”

Miko’s eyes glittered, and Linus wasn’t sure what he’d do if his omega started crying. “Okay. I trust you. I mean, I’ve only been feeling off for a couple of hours, so I’m not going to spontaneously start leaking slick.”

“Thank goddess, or we’d have to tell the Westphalls they’ve got a houseguest for the rest of the weekend. Come on.”

On the way downstairs, Miko texted Jaxson that they were leaving but not why. Linus couldn’t take his arm off Miko’s shoulders or stop watching every person who came toward them. A few alphas gave them pointed looks, and the older guy who grabbed Miko’s hips while dancing actually trailed them to the front door. Linus was prepared to deck the guy if he tried anything, but he didn’t, so Linus didn’t have to.

He didn’t release Miko while they waited at the end of the driveway for their taxi, the cool night air doing little to chill the heat rising from Miko’s skin. Or the threat of arousal that had Linus’s teeth on edge. His body was just reacting to the proximity of an unmated omega edging into his first heat, that’s all. He had enough sense and self-restraint to get Miko home safely to his parents. Given Miko’s age, they had to have a heat plan in their back pockets, ready to go when this inevitably happened.

“Should I call your parents?” Linus asked. “Give Brogan a heads-up so he can get whatever started?”

“I can do it.” Miko shivered despite the body heat he was giving off. “I’m not delirious yet.” He got his mobile back out. “Omi? Hey, yeah, I’m okay…yeah, the game was amazing…no, I um, think I’m going into heat. Linus is bringing me home.” Even Linus heard the way Miko’s omegin, Brogan Tovey, squawked. “I’m perfectly safe with him, I swear. We’re waiting for a taxi now. It shouldn’t be forty minutes until we’re there.”

Linus strained to listen but couldn’t hear any distinct words from Brogan’s end.

Miko smiled. “Okay. See you in a while. Bye.”

“So I guess you’ve got a plan in place?” Linus asked as he eyeballed the headlights of an approaching car.

“Yep. Omi’s calling the nursing service to cover when he has to work at the café. Dad’s going to go stay at your house for the weekend so I have privacy away from alphas.”

“That’s a good plan.” The Higgs house had a permanent office/guest room, because they had a lot of alpha friends with mates and omega kids, and they never knew when someone might need it. Aven had even used it once a few months ago, after he and his husband Yosef had a huge fight, and Aven had needed a night away.

Dad hadn’t been happy, because he wasn’t a fan of going to bed angry or separately, but it had been what Aven needed. He and Yosef, and their son Tobias, were now as happy as Linus had ever seen them. And Tobias was twelve, almost thirteen, and probably going to start dating in another year or two. Linus couldn’t wait to see how his normally even-tempered oldest brother handled that development.

Goddess, but they were all getting so old. Linus only had another semester at university left, and even though he did enjoy studying for his Communication Arts degree, soccer was his life and his future. The one he’d chosen a long time ago, in order to stand out.

The first set of headlights was not their taxi, but the next set was. The yellow-and-black car came to a stop at the curb. Linus opened the back door for Miko. They practically shared the same seat, because Linus wasn’t letting go, and the driver didn’t give them shit about wearing seatbelts. He probably assumed they were both drunk and heading home for sexy fun times, away from the party.

Linus was still a touch tipsy, but also whole focused on the most important task at hand: getting Miko to his house safely. Then Linus would go home, guzzle some water, and face-plant in bed. Not quite the way he’d wanted this party night to end, but he didn’t want to go back to Alton’s. His interest in getting laid was wholly refocused on Miko’s comfort.

And his strong, warm, inviting scent. He’d probably dream of their near-kiss all night long.

Linus gave the driver the Tovey address.

“I’d normally use Freeway Three,” the driver replied, “but they just put up the cones for overnight construction on two of the three lanes. Probably faster if we take Faircourt Highway.”

“That’s fine,” Miko said. “We just need to go.”

“Going!”

Nice of the driver to offer them a faster alternative, instead of running his meter in merging freeway traffic. Linus couldn’t figure out his gender with the sheet of plexi-glass between them, but so far the guy was mostly ignoring them in favor of doing his job. Linus only half-noticed their route, more interested in the way Miko struggled to breathe evenly and not pant. The way Miko clung to him, like Linus was the only thing keeping him from flying away into the night sky.

Damn, but his heat seemed to be progressing fast. Or maybe because Linus was so close to him…

“I’ve got you,” Linus whispered. “Never letting go.”

Miko looked up and met his eyes, lips so close. Too close. “Promise?”

Linus smiled.

Bright lights flashed, and the world wrenched sideways.

TWO

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