“Are you all right?”
I shook my head. “I just need a ride home. I don’t want to bother you with all this.”
“Mario’s going to handle the team and the press. I’ll get you home.”
“Okay, I’m sorry.” Fuck. I’d made progress with Reid. He didn’t seem to think I was a fuck-up anymore, but this would probably change that.
He tucked his fingers under my chin and forced me to look at him.
“This is not your fault. You have nothing to be sorry for. That fucking director needs to have his ass fired for putting you in this position.”
“I could have not gone out there.”
“And what? Been fired for it? Your performance was great tonight. No one knew what you were suffering through, but now you’re paying for it. Come on.”
I didn’t know exactly where we were going. All I knew was that I trusted Reid. Being alone with an alpha during my heat was dangerous, yet I trusted him more than anyone. More than Evan even, and Evan was my closest friend.
Reid helped me into the back seat of his car, and I lay myself down on the cool leather. The cold water had worn off, and I was burning up.
“Do you have some place you want me to take you?”
“With you,” I said, then I shook my head. “No, fuck, that’s not what I—home. Home is fine.”
“What about Evan? Does he help you through your heats?”
“No. We’re just friends,” I said, fighting through the shivers that rocked through my body. I refused to let my hand drift down to my hard cock. I wanted. Oh, how I wanted.
“My place is closer. Let’s get you into a bed.”
I groaned at that. A bed was exactly where I wanted to be. And he was the alpha I wanted to be with. I just hoped I didn’t say those words out loud.
“Do you have anything you can take? I grabbed your bag from your locker.”
“Yes, I have my heat kit inside. There should be plenty of medicine to help me through the worst of it, since I won’t have an alpha.” I hated the whine that entered my voice. I’d never had an alpha help me through my heats, but I’d heard that it would significantly shorten them. With an alpha it would last a day at most. But without one, I would be in agony for forty-eight hours or more, and it would take me several days to recover. It would be quicker if I had an alpha to help me through it. The right alpha could bring a heat from forty-eight hours down to sixteen. That was why mated or married omegas had an easier time getting jobs. They didn’t need as much time off for their heats.
“You’re going to be safe with me, Rowan. I promise.”
“Thank you,” I said, and my eyes drifted closed.
Chapter 11
Reid
The level of expertise I had in this area was nonexistent. My experience with omegas in heat was that my alpha father and I left the house while my younger brother experienced his first few heats. It wasn’t talked about around me. I knew the basics thanks to biology classes in high school. More than one of my alpha friends boasted about being with omegas during their heats. My mated friends would get a glazed-over look of pure pleasure and desire if heats were ever mentioned around them. But I had no idea what to expect or what was needed from me.
I could only assume and operate on pure instinct. Which told me to protect and care for Rowan at all costs. I wanted to bring himwater, and sweets, and cozy blankets. I needed to provide him with whatever his heart desired.
Why I couldn’t bear the idea of leaving Rowan’s side was a problem for another day. He was in my house now, and I had to take care of him. Maybe not physically, because of course I wouldn’t do anything he didn’t want to do. Though I would not say no to him if he asked.
The first thing I did was adjust the temperature in the house down a couple of degrees. Then I took him to the main suite, which was my room, and turned on several fans. I put him in the bed, stripping away the covers and leaving him with only a sheet.
“Do you want a comforter? Or a different blanket? I don’t have many, but I have a fleece one my brother bought me at Christmas time.” I was pretty sure it was still wrapped in the packaging in my closet.
He shook his head. “Water. Please. Staying hydrated helps.”
“Of course.”
I left the room and went straight to the kitchen. My hard cock strained against the confines of my suit pants. I tore off my jacket and loosened my tie. As I gathered bottles of water, I pulled out my phone and dialed the only person I could think of. My assistant coach, Mario, answered.
