Zinn released a mirthless laugh. “It’s okay, cap. At least you see the problem. Thanks for the offer, but now that you understand, we can go back to me telling you when I need time off to meet up with my grad student.”
“And this other alpha agreed to walk away from any child you make together?”
“It’s part of the contract. I got the sense that he really needs the money. I doubt it was a simple decision. The heat service alsowould have given him reassurance that I’m a capable omega, that I would make a good parent if I chose that path.”
Zinn would make an excellent father, channeling all his ferocity into devotion to his son. Calder’s cock hardened at the mental image of the omega rounded with child.
Could he truly allow that seed to be planted by someone else?
“I’m glad heat services have improved in recent years, but it still sounds so cold.”
“It is what it is,” Zinn said. “Not to sound trite. But that’s the truth.”
“Could the alpha have asked for parental rights in the event of pregnancy?”
“Sure. And some do. But I wouldn’t have agreed to that. When I contracted with the service, I asked specifically for a man who would surrender those rights. I can’t have that kind of connection in my life.” His voice pitched higher as he added, “I don’t want…to be tethered to an alpha.”
The unspokenagainhung in the air.
Would Calder ever unravel the mystery of Zinn?
Maybe not.
But the one thing he knew was that he could not allow another alpha to service Zinn’s heat. He’d never be able to live with the thought of some random man sticking his cock into Zinn’s ass, touching him, and bringing him pleasure. Calder should be the one to do that. He needed to ensure that Zinn shared his heat with someone he trusted. Or at least someone he’d known longer than five minutes.
“Zinn…?”
“Yes?”
“I agree.”
“Huh?”
“I agree to your terms. If I breed you, and you don’t want me to be part of our baby’s life, I’ll stay away.”
“Calder…are you sure?”
“To be clear, it’s not what I want. The idea of giving you my child, of a beautiful son that ties us together forever—that part doesn’t faze me. Just the opposite. I won’t want to walk away. But I will. I’ll do that for you if you ask me to.”
“But why?” Zinn’s incredulity could not mask the sheerhopefulnessin his eyes. It strengthened Calder’s resolve.
He inched closer, running a hand along Zinn’s trembling thigh. Sugar maple perfumed the air.
Calder dragged his nose along the omega’s neck and whispered in his ear.
“Because the idea of being apart from any child we create is more tolerable than the thought of you giving your heat to another man. I want it to be me.”
Chapter Twenty-Four
Assa
Assa looked around the crowded dance floor of The Cracked Heart and tilted his head back, attempting to grab some fresh air above the sweaty bodies writhing next to him.
He wasn’t surprised the club was packed, considering it was Beta Night. Personally, he didn’t care about the genders of his dance partners, but he knew a lot of betas, especially those who had grown up in the beta neighborhoods, were less inhibited in environments without alphas or omegas.
Wes’s hands landed on his hips and Assa leaned in closer.
“I am so hot.” He flapped his hand to fan himself. “And I’m using muscles I forgot I had. When was the last time we went dancing, anyway?”
