“Hey, man, you tore out of here so quick we didn’t get a chance to debrief. I had Elliot and Evan talk to the press. Hope that was okay.”
“Of course, yeah. Listen, I’m in a bit of a predicament—”
“Rowan went into heat?”
“Yeah, how did you know?”
“The scent lingered in the locker room. The guys were all pumped up, so I doubt they noticed. Since it clearly wasn’t Elliot or Nix, I figured it had to be Rowan. Is he okay?”
“Yeah. He’s fine. He’s at my house. I, um…” Fuck, I was not used to being out of sorts.
Thankfully Mario didn’t need me to spell it out for him “Water. Lots of water. Do you have a cooling blanket? Lube, because he’s going to need to relieve himself, and if he’s doing it alone, lube helps. Are you... Pardon me, Reid, but are you planning to help him through it?”
“I don’t know,” I said honestly.
“Well, if you are, then it will speed things up. Just go at his pace and listen to what he wants and needs. I cannot stress this enough, but get some water into him. Electrolytes too. Do you have any of those energy things they gave us when the team was training for that half-marathon? My omega likes those. Henever feels like eating during his heats, but he always needs the calories.”
“I don’t know what I’m doing.”
“Trust your instincts. If he doesn’t want you there, then leave him some water and then leave the house. I can send my omega over there later to replenish his water and check in on him.”
I nodded, even though Mario couldn’t see me. I hated the idea of anyone else being around Rowan while he was so vulnerable. Because I was an alpha reacting on instinct? Or because it was Rowan and the man had intrigued me since the day I met him? I thought it was the latter.
“But then again, based on how he looks at you, I doubt he would be opposed to you offering to help.”
I couldn’t let myself think of that right now. I had no right to even think about it, letalone offer or ask.
“How about this, I’ll run to the store before I head home for the night. I’ll pick up everything you need for the next few days. And if you end up helping him out, then at least you’ll have extra stuff for next time.”
I hated relying on anyone to provide what Rowan needed, which was a ridiculous feeling, since who was I to stake that sort of claim on him?
“Thanks, Mario. I owe you one.”
I hung up the phone. I’d speak with him tomorrow or the next day. Technically we had tomorrow off, then we were traveling with the team again. It wasn’t enough time for Rowan to fully recover. Damn the organization for putting him in this predicament. Couldn’t they see he was suffering?
Evan must’ve texted me while I was on the phone, because I had an unread message from him.
Is Rowan all right? He said that you were giving him a ride home, but he hasn’t arrived home yet?
I took a deep breath. Normally I wouldn’t allow my team to get this personal with me, not this early in our relationship, but Evan was Rowan’s close friend. He had a right to know that Rowan was with me.
Ro is fine. He went into heat. He’s at my home.
Three dots appeared. Then disappeared. Then appeared again.
I trust you, Coach, but if anything happens to Rowan...
Yeah. I agreed with that sentiment. I, too, was protective of Rowan, only unlike the rest of the team, it wasn’t because I felt any sort of brotherly love for the omega. My feelings were not of that nature.
He’s safe with me.
I finally made it back to my room where Rowan was sitting up against the headboard. His chest was bare, the sheet covered his lower half, but his cock was clearly hard. A thin sheen of sweat covered his chest. The thin smattering of hair he had was plastered against his skin. His nipples pebbled from the heat of him. His eyes were closed.
“Rowan?” I said.
“Hmm?”
I sat on the edge of the bed. The scent of him went straight to my cock. I could control myself, I knew that I could, but goddammed he smelled good. All I wanted to do was cover him with my body, keep him safe, and chase the heat away with my cock. I would bury myself so deep in his body and let my seed take root to bring him out of this torture.
