Chapter 49

The alpha only held tighter and brought Rafe’s hands to his lips, pressing a kiss on the knuckles. “Yet somehow I can’t envision a life without you in it. At least for the next sixty years or so.”

Rafe had his answer at last. He relaxed against Grant, soaking up the man’s warmth. “Then why were you sending me away?”

“Because I’m a fool, trying to be noble and give you the freedom I thought you craved.”

“Oh.”

“Are you sure this is what you want? Because once we’re joined, there’s no going back. I’ll never let you go.”

With rock-solid certainty he’d never envisioned finding, Rafe untangled his hands from Grant’s and brought the alpha’s worried, hopeful face toward him for a sweet, simple kiss full of promise. “I’m sure. More than I’ve ever been before.”

Grant pulled Rafe into his lap and hugged the omega tight. “I promise I’ll always provide for you.” His voice was thick with emotion. “I’ll love you and our children. I’ll—” Grant’s words choked off. He loosened his hold on Rafe and turned his head away.

Then silence reigned. 27

No, not now! Not when they’d made peace with biology. Rafe tried to guess what had stopped his alpha cold. Was it the hacking? After Rafe sneaked out of police lock-up, had Grant been pissed off enough to issue an arrest warrant? Rafe could have cops on his trail as well as the Omega Council. Or was it something else?

Too tired to speculate any further, he took hold of Grant’s shoulders and gave the man a shake. “What’s wrong?”

When Grant looked up, he was biting his lip—a terrifyingly uncharacteristic sign of uncertainty for an alpha. “You still might be taken from me.”

Rafe’s gut twisted at the desperation in the man’s voice. Was he going to lose his alpha?

“There’s only one way to be certain we won’t be separated.”

“Tell me!” Rafe’s jaw clenched at what new trial might be facing them.

“In all the chaos and scandal we’ve set in motion, a frenzy of angry alphas will be demanding omegas. Rules won’t apply. For us to have any chance of being acknowledged as a bonded pair, safe from interference, you need to be pregnant before we come back here.” Grant closed his eyes tight as if he couldn’t bear to see the reaction.

Rafe was speechless. A child so soon? Sure, he wanted children. With Grant. So, did the timing matter? Rafe gave himself a minute to think it through and found he was okay with the idea. If advancing the timetable was the only way to safeguard their joining, so be it. Just as long as they understood each other.

With his fingers, he applied gentle pressure to pull open the alpha’s eyelids. “I want to have children. I’m not getting any younger, so now is a fine time.”

The exaggerated look of relief on Grant’s face was almost comical. “Are you sure? You’re not thinking I’m using you as a ‘breeding sow’?”

Rafe’s cheeks flushed. “That may have been a bit harsh—at least with you. But you need to understand, if the child is an omega, I will never surrender him or her to a farm. I’ll burn the place down before I allow it.”

“And I’ll light the match for you. I promise that will never happen. Not to anyone’s child ever again.” There was no mistaking the man’s sincerity and resolve.

Rafe settled into the alpha’s arms and inhaled the man’s clean masculine scent. His mate. The father of his children. His lord and master? Oh, hell no. “There is one other thing.”

Grant groaned, and the vibration tickled Rafe’s ear.

“You know the whole deal where the fragile little omega submits to the big strong alpha?”

“Oh, yeah. That’s the best part.”

“Not gonna happen.”

In an instant, Grant had him bent over, supported by one strong arm, and was doing amazing things to his nipples, his ass, his cock, all the while launching an assault on his mouth. Rafe was breathless, helpless, swirling in a storm of sensation.

When Grant finally relented and allowed Rafe to come up for air, the omega was dizzy, hard as a rock, and reveling in the strength and sensual skill of his alpha. He licked his swollen lips and tried to catch his breath as he leaned against Grant’s hard chest. “Okay, the whole submission thing might be open for discussion. But don’t think you’re going to get your way all the time. We’re partners, right?”

“As long as I’m the senior partner.”

Oh, yeah. The smug, self-satisfied tone begged to be answered. Rafe bit down hard on the alpha’s shoulder and smiled as Grant winced in pain.