Page 104 of The Don’s Omega

I don’t want to get my hopes up, but I think I know what he’s hinting at. “You mean you might be pregnant?”

He swallows hard. “It’s possible.”

I bite my bottom lip, excited at the thought he’s carrying my child. “We can take a pregnancy test. I have some in my medicine cabinet.”

He frowns. “Do you?”

“I had Ornella stock them,” I admit. “Since the idea was you’d give me an heir, it seemed like we should have some tests handy.”

“Oh. Good thinking.”

I help him to his feet and have him sit on the side of the big tub. “I’ll get a test.”

“Okay.” His hand goes to his stomach.

I go to my medicine cabinet and find the pregnancy tests where Ornella put them. My hands are shaking, which is a surprise. My hands don’t shake easily. Of course, it’s also not every day I might find out I’m going to be a father.

I return to him and hand him the box. “Do you want me to go?” I ask. “While you take the test.” I don’t want to go, but I want to do whatever he wants.

“No.” He looks up at me. “Stay.”

“Okay,” I say relieved. I sit beside him on the edge of the tub.

His fingers are clumsy on the cardboard as he opens the flaps. He pulls out the foil wrapped stick and unfolds the instruction sheet. His eyes scan it, his lips moving slightly. “It says I pee on the stick and wait three minutes.”

“Easy-peasy?” I smirk.

He rolls his eyes and takes the stick to the toilet. I turn away to give him the pretense of privacy. I hear him unwrap it. There’s the sound of him using the toilet, I hear him cap the test and set it down on the counter. Then he flushes the toilet and washes his hands.

“Okay,” he says. “Three minutes. Starting now.”

I turn around. He’s standing at the counter brushing his teeth, staring at the white stick. I check my watch for the time. Once he spits and rinses, he comes and sits beside me again on the edge of the tub.

I take his hand and he sighs. Through the highest window in the room, the sky is shifting from black to the pinky-gray that comes before dawn. The house is silent. I can hear Elio’s nervous breathing and the soft tick of my watch counting down the minutes.

“This is so weird,” he whispers.

“Yes.”

He’s quiet, but then says, “If I’m pregnant, at least I’m finally fulfilling part of my obligation to you.”

The old me would have agreed without thinking how that would make him feel. I’d have wanted him grateful for all I’d done for him. But that kind of arrogant response would only reinforce the idea he’s only here temporarily. That this is a business transaction.

Now, I don’t want to do or say anything that makes him feel like our relationship is transactional, because it isn’t anymore. I want Elio in my life forever. Playing it cool at a moment like this will only put a wedge between us. While I hinted at how I feel last night, I want to be very clear about my feelings for him. Even if it’s terrifying to be so vulnerable.

Even if he rejects me.

I bring his hand to my lips, and ignoring my nerves, I say, “This isn’t just about the contract for me anymore, Elio.”

He stills, turning his head to meet my gaze. I can’t read his expression, and my heart is thumping so hard, I feel light-headed. If he doesn’t feel the same way as me, this is the moment I find that out. I don’t know what I’ll do if he doesn’t want me the way I want him. But I have to know where he stands.

“What are you saying?” he asks in a hushed voice.

I lick my lips. “I’m saying my feelings for you are real. I want you pregnant with my child because I want you to be my omega for real. I don’t only want you here to give me an heir. To fulfill an obligation. I… I want you to be mine forever, Elio.”

He makes a surprised sound.

I swallow hard and then say, “Screw only being together three years. How about a lifetime instead?”