Serge and Dex went out to dinner and the theater that evening for a date night, so Karter ordered delivery for him and Jax, and they ate in the living room while watching a movie. They’d put Karson to bed in his crib a while ago, so it was nice to spend time with his bondmate, just the two of them. Jax hadn’t brought up the fading mark on Karter’s face, for which he was grateful, but Karter would have to explain his morning at some point.

The movie was good, but Karter spent most of the time watching Jax’s reactions. Every smile and silent peal of laughter. The delight in his eyes, which seemed a brighter blue than before, but it was probably just the lighting. He soaked in Jax’s strong floral scent and spent half his time fighting off an erection just from his omega’s proximity. Goddess, he smelled good. Intoxicating.

As the credits rolled, Jax angled to look at him with unexpected heat in his eyes. “Can we kiss?”

Karter’s pulse jumped. “Definitely. I love kissing you.”

Jax crowded into his personal space and slanted his mouth over Karter’s, more insistent than most of their previous kisses, but no less special. He surrendered to Jax’s eager explorations, welcoming Jax’s tongue into his mouth, caressing it with his own. The sensuality went right to Karter’s dick, which thickened without permission, but how was he to resist when his omega was kissing him like that?

Karter threaded his fingers through Jax’s thick hair, then let one hand drift down to clutch at Jax’s shirt. Jax squeezed his waist, fingers wickedly close to the top of Karter’s slacks. His very tented slacks, because damn! Jax knew how to kiss and mean it. He pressed in until Karter surrendered, and then he found himself flat on his back on the couch, with Jax above him, slotted between his spread legs like he was always meant to be there. Their erections rubbed together, and Karter gasped into Jax’s mouth. Jax thrust against him, and Karter saw stars. Beautiful stars of pleasure as his omega rutted against him. Not because of heat, but because he wanted to.

“Fuck, you feel so good,” Karter gasped in between kisses.

Jax lifted his head, eyes blazing and lips shiny. He looked down where their groins met, then back up at Karter, his eyebrows lifting and lowering.

“You want to get off like this?”

Nod-blink.

“Should we take this to the bedroom, in case your roommates come home?”

Jax hesitated, as if the thought hadn’t occurred to him, then nod-blinked again.

“Are you absolutely sure? What if us doing this triggers your heat?” Karter didn’t want to do something Jax wasn’t ready for.

Jax sat up and worked out a few signals. “Want you. Want us. Feels good.” They didn’t have a signal for heat yet, so he pulled some paper out of his pocket. “If I heat, I heat. I’m not afraid of it. I want to be close to you. Share a release with you, my alpha.”

Karter’s dick throbbed with want, but he took a moment to study Jax’s face. His cheeks were flushed and his breaths were short, but Karter saw no hesitation. No clear sign Jax was doing this for any reason other than the pleasure of a release with his bonded alpha. “Okay,” Karter said. “Whatever you want, Jax.”

“I want you in my mouth.”

Karter gasped at the blunt statement, then shoved the scrap of paper into his pocket so no one else found it. “I want that too.”

Jax stood and offered Karter his hand, which Karter took with pleasure. They went into the bedroom and shut the door. Jax covered the crib with one of the extra baby blankets, which made Karter smile. The infant wouldn’t have a clue what was happening if he woke, but the extra precaution was adorable. So was the way Jax blushed as he walked over to Karter and pushed him to sit on the edge of the bed.

Except, as Jax sank to his knees in front of Karter, Karter saw the flash of trepidation in Jax’s eyes. Concerned, Karter cupped his chin with one hand and tilted Jax’s face up. “I don’t ever want to hurt you, or for you to resent me, Jax. Are you absolutely sure you want to do this?”

Jax opened his mouth, as if he’d forgotten he had no voice, then slammed his lips shut tight. Frustration rolled off him in waves, and he rocked back on his heels. He made multiple hand signals, until Karter was pretty sure he’d pieced together what Jax was trying to tell him.

“You want to do this because you think it’s what I want?” Karter hedged.

“Yes.”

Karter’s stomach sank, and his erection flagged. “Love, I don’t want you doing something sexual because you think I need you to. It should be about your pleasure, too, not some sense of duty to me.”

Jax blushed and lurched away, moving to stand by the wall, arms crossed over his chest in a protective way.

I need to fix this, how do I fix this?

“Why do you feel like you need to prove something to me with a blow job?”

Jax glared, then pointed at Karter’s face. Karter reached up to touch his still-tender cheekbone.

“What happened there?”

Karter sighed. “I hadn’t intended to tell my parents about you today, but I forgot my scent changed from us bonding, and my omegin knew right away. So I told my family about you, and my father had a…negative reaction. We both shared harsh, angry words, and he hit me.”

Jax made a pained noise, both hands flying up to cover his mouth. Karter stood, instantly reacting to his omega’s distress. He crossed the small space between them and tucked Jax into his arms. Hard to do with a man the same size as himself, but he needed to comfort Jax somehow.

“This isn’t your fault.” He stroked Jax’s back in what he hoped were comforting circles. “It’s not, it’s his own prejudice and misunderstanding. He’s assuming the fertility issues with Eroch were your fault, and not even entertaining the idea they were the alpha’s, or that the embryos simply weren’t viable and your body knew it. To him, me having biological offspring is more important than the promises I made to you, but that’s his narrow viewpoint. I don’t feel that way at all.”

Jax shivered and clutched at him, and Karter held him tighter. He needed Jax to believe him—to believe in him and trust that Karter wasn’t going to abandon him. “You and Karson are my family, whether we mate in your next heat or not. My father has no say in the matter, because I’m an alpha, same as him. Maybe he can control my brothers’ lives to an extent, but not mine.”

Jax wiggled out of his hold enough to write. “But what if he cuts you off from your family? Your omegin and brothers?”

“It won’t come to that. Once Father has time to think, he’ll come around. I have to believe that. He isn’t an unreasonable man. Besides, everyone who’s met you so far has loved you, haven’t they?”

Nod-blink, and the barest hint of a smile. “What did you tell them about my past?”

“Only a little about Eroch and how he died. Father was so stuck on you having mated before that I didn’t get a chance to say much else before he stormed off. I didn’t say a word about your captivity, though.”

“Thank you.”

“I did tell them how strong and beautiful you are.” Karter rubbed his thumb across Jax’s cheek, right above his beard. “My big, beautiful omega.”

“I’m sorry for leading you on. The kissing felt so good, I thought I’d be ready to do more for you.”

“Oh Jax.” Karter softly kissed his mouth. “Don’t do sexual things for me, love, do them for yourself. I don’t ever want to be that selfish, prick of an alpha who demands sex when you aren’t in the mood, or who expects his kindness to be repaid with blow jobs. That’s not the kind of man I want to be. I want to be an alpha who deserves you.”

Jax’s eyes glittered as he signaled. “Kiss. More.”

“We can absolutely kiss more.”

So they did, wrapped up together on the bed, for a long damned time.

* * *

Jax woke the next morning feeling strangely alone. Karson was sleeping in his crib after multiple middle-of-the-night feedings, and Karter hadn’t stayed the night. He’d cited needing clean clothes, as well as not wanting to press his luck with the Freels. Jax hadn’t minded the separation, but he missed his alpha terribly.

He was exhausted that morning, which he attributed to his very hungry infant. Karson seemed deeply asleep, so Jax left him in the crib while he visited the bathroom, and then shuffled out into the kitchen. Serge was up and cooking at the stove.

“Morning, Jax.”

“Good morning.” He really needed to study the signal alphabet more and figure out name signs for his friends. Maybe he’d do that later today. Karter was picking him up after breakfast to go clothes shopping, so Jax could stop borrowing Dex’s stuff.

Serge served him a plate of scrambled eggs and toast, but they tasted odd to Jax. Not bad, but not good. Serge gobbled his up without a word. Jax ate his toast and a few bites of egg.

“You feeling all right this morning?” Serge asked.

Jax shrugged.

The nurse in Serge took over, because he got up and brought back a thermometer. His temperature was up two degrees, which wasn’t alarming but Serge studied him like Jax was a puzzle problem to solve. “Do you feel crampy at all? Skin prickly?”

Jax took stock of his own body, and then he groaned. Or tried to groan. He knew the signs; he’d been through enough of them.

“That’s what I thought,” Serge said. “Being near Karter must have spiked your heat.”

Which meant he had a day, maybe two, before Jax was in full heat. He thumped his head against the kitchen table. He’d wanted more time to decide if he wanted to mate with Karter now, or to wait, but fate had other plans. Or maybe this was the goddess’s way of telling Jax to go for it, to mate his alpha. Once they were mates, Karter’s father couldn’t do a thing to come between them. They’d be forever entwined as one.

“I’ll call Karter, let him know what’s going on. Have you two discussed this?”

Jax waved his hand in a “kind of” gesture. “Karter says he’ll respect my decision, whatever it is.”

“That’s good to know. Trust me, I’d rather lock you away in this apartment for the duration than hand you over to an alpha who wouldn’t respect your decision when it comes to your body.” Serge’s face puckered up with anger.

Jax reached over and squeezed Serge’s shoulder, surprised by how upset Serge had gotten on his behalf.

“Hey, love, what’s wrong?” Dex asked. He squatted next to Serge’s chair and turned his husband to face him. “You guys okay?”

“Yes, sorry, I got distracted. Jax is entering heat, and he isn’t sure what he wants.”

“Ah.” Dex seemed to know exactly what about this situation was bothering Serge, because he kissed Serge gently on the mouth. “Have you called Karter?”

“Was just about to.”

“I’ll do it.” Dex stood with a bit of trouble, then limped away from the table to make the call, which didn’t last long. Jax poked at his uneaten eggs until Dex rejoined them. “He was already on the road, heading this way. Said he’ll be here in fifteen minutes.”

Jax huffed.

“Don’t worry, we’ll give you two space to discuss this,” Serge said. “And if you don’t want his help, you can stay here. I’ve gotten more than my fair share of omegas through heats without an alpha to help.”

“I’ve never had to endure a heat without an alpha. I mated during my very first heat.”

“It can be painful, if you resist a knot for the duration, but it is possible. If that’s your choice.”

Jax nodded his understanding. Serge smiled, then signaled, “You’re my friend.”

With a grin of his own, Jax returned the gesture.

* * *

Karter’s entire body buzzed with a combination of anticipation and nerves when he knocked on the apartment door. Dex opened it with a grin, then welcomed him inside. Jax’s enticing scent mixed with a heady combination of heat pheromones smacked Karter in the balls the second he entered the apartment. Beta noses weren’t attuned to it, but it was all Karter could do not to pounce on Jax and kiss him stupid, so he could soak himself in the scent.

Jax stood by the sofa, hands clasped over his belly, Karson suspiciously absent from his arms. His eyes widened when he saw the bouquet of flowers and small sack of candy Karter had stopped to buy once Dex phoned him with the news.

“We are heading out,” Serge said. “You two talk. Good luck.”

Once the Freels were gone, Karter went to his knee and held up his gifts. “For you, my omega.”

Jax’s mouth fell open. “Thank you.” He accepted the flowers and candy with a big smile, but he still seemed wary.

“I’d say this is a surprise, but it really isn’t, considering last night.” Making out with Jax for hours had been a wonderful gift, and Karter had jerked off twice before being able to fall asleep alone, without his omega in his arms.

Jax put his gifts on the coffee table so he could signal. “I know.”

They both moved to sit together on the couch, Jax using a combination of hand signals and writing to communicate. “I felt the first symptoms this morning. Serge figured it out right away. He said I could stay here if I want to endure it alone.”

“Do you?” Karter’s heart tripped. He’d do whatever his omega chose, even stay away, if that’s—

“I want to mate with you.”

Karter nearly fell off the sofa. “You do? Really?”

“Yes. I’ve thought about it since the gardens. I’m nervous because we’ve only known each other a few days, but I’m also excited to unite with my bondmate.”

“I’m excited too.” Karter held both of Jax’s hands in his, then kissed his knuckles. “I’ll do right by you, I promise. Goddess, I want this to be special for you.”

Jax untangled his hands. “It will be special because it’s us.”

“Nope, not good enough.” An idea popped into Karter’s head, and he gave an internal cheer. “I have a plan for us, and I think you’ll like it. Do you trust me?”

“Yes.”

“How long will it be before you’re fully in heat and unable to travel?”

Jax tilted his head in question. “Tomorrow maybe. It’s difficult to guess.”

“Okay, then I need you to give me the rest of today to pull something together. I know I said we’d go shopping, but heat preparations need to come first.”

“All right. Whatever you prepare or purchase, can you please buy condoms? I want to mate, but I’m not sure I’m ready for another infant so soon. If we get pregnant on one knot, we’ll deal but I’d rather not risk it.”

Karter read the note twice, his throat tight with emotion. “I’ll buy condoms. As much as I’d love for you to carry my child, I don’t want to put a strain on you after everything you’ve been through.”

“Thank you.”

“You don’t have to thank me for putting your needs first. I’m happy to do it.” He dropped a chaste kiss on Jax’s lips. “Goddess, I have so much to do. Where’s Karson?”

Jax’s face went slack. “Sleeping in the crib. What will we do about him?”

“If you need your son with us, we’ll figure it out.”

“It isn’t safe for him. We’ll both be lust-drunk. What if we can’t meet his needs?”

“What if Kell and Ronin watch him?”

Jax blew a raspberry. “They already have one baby to take care of. Do you think Dex and Serge would mind?”

“Probably not, it will be good practice for when they get their own baby in a few months. Is that what you’d rather do? Leave Karson here with Serge and Dex?”

“I don’t want to leave my son, but I believe it’s what’s best. I know they’ll take care of him. It’s only for two days.”

“He’ll be perfectly safe, and they’ll have their friends as backup in a pinch.” Karter pulled Jax into a tight hug, breathing in those intoxicating pheromones for a moment before releasing him. “Goddess, I don’t want to leave, but I have to. For a few hours.”

“I’ll miss you.”

Karter nearly said fuck it and just stayed with his omega, but he had plans in his head now, and Jax deserved all of it and more. And if he stayed any longer, he’d be running around town with an erection. “I’ll miss you too.”

He left the apartment, stupidly happy to know he’d be mating with his omega tomorrow, and headed downstairs for his car. On the way, he made the first of what would be several phone calls today as he put into motion Operation: Spoil My Omega.

* * *

Jax watched television, then tried to read. He even worked out a little bit, simple things like stomach crunches, because he was anxious and bored, and nothing helped. Not even sitting and playing with Karson, soaking in his son before they were separated. Most of his anxiety surrounded leaving Karson behind with the Freels, even though he knew intellectually that Karson would be safe with them. Serge was a nurse, for goodness sake! The anxiety was irrational, born of the brutal world Jax had escaped and the four weeks he’d spent with Karson practically adhered to his skin.

Once he slipped fully into heat, he’d have less mental energy to worry about Karson, because his biggest concern would be getting fucked and knotted by his alpha—the other source of Jax’s anxiety. He’d agreed to mate with Karter for the wrong reason, and he hoped it didn’t backfire. Yes, he wanted to commit to Karter, but Jax’s biggest deciding factor into agreeing this heat was less about Karter and more about Jax’s safety.

As a mated pair, their scents would mingle and change. Jax’s scent would change, making it less likely that anyone involved in the fighting ring would be able to identify him by scent—yet one more disguise, along with his beard and long hair. And even if his reasoning wasn’t fair to Karter in the short term, he’d have his mate. Jax would have protection.

A win-win.

Unless his sire makes a fuss.

Not that Karter’s father could change it after the fact. Alpha/omega matings were quite literally “until death do us part,” unlike beta marriages, which could be legally dissolved under certain circumstances.

Jax committing to Karter was a huge deal. The story Kell told yesterday about his newborn being adopted away had horrified Jax, but from what little he knew about Kell’s dead mate, the man was a nightmare. Nothing like Karter. Karter was kind, doting, and he adored Karson. He’d never send his namesake away.

I have to take this blind leap of faith. Even if those betas press charges and I go to jail, this is for the best. Karson will have a father to love him.

Serge and Dex returned around lunchtime with a pizza they happily shared. The pair was on board with watching Karson for a few days while Karter spirited Jax off for his heat. To somewhere unknown. The wondering was driving Jax nuts. He’d never been a huge fan of surprises.

He asked Dex if this would interfere in Tarek’s investigation, and Dex assured him it wouldn’t.

“Tarek mentioned you needed to do a lineup identification,” Dex said. “But that can wait a few days without being a problem. Think about your heat, not the case. Remember, you’re a witness, not a suspect.”

A witness about to mate the constable who originally investigated me for burglary. Goddess, why is my life so complicated?

The heat symptoms got worse in the late afternoon, his lower belly sore and aching, and his skin hot and prickly all over. Things might not wait until tomorrow at this rate, so Jax cuddled his baby and hoped Karter returned for him soon. He didn’t want to ruin Karter’s surprise by going fully into heat and get stuck in this apartment for the duration.

Moving an omega fully in heat was dangerous, because the strength of their pheromones would attract every unmated alpha within scenting distance, and horny alphas could lead to a fight. Jax hadn’t minded staying home during his heats, because Eroch was attentive in between surges, keeping him fed and hydrated.

Karter returned to the apartment just before dinner, and Jax’s mouth watered at the sight of his alpha. His passage clenched in anticipation.

“We need to go right now. It’ll start soon.”

Eyes nearly bugging out, Karter said his goodbye to a sleeping Karson, allowed Jax to do the same, and then escorted Jax downstairs to his car. Jax shifted uncomfortably on the seat, hating that this was happening so quickly, but happy to know he’d have relief for his surges.

“You’re probably wondering where we’re going,” Karter said as he eased the car into traffic. “But it’s a surprise. It’ll take us about thirty minutes to get there. That okay?”

Jax nodded. He hoped so.

“Good. When we get close, I’ll ask you to put a blindfold on. It’s in the glove box. Trust me, it will be worth it.”

It better be for all this trouble.

Jax tried to concentrate on the province as it flew by, instead of on the ways his body was changing, altering itself to prepare for possible impregnation. Alphas and betas could never understand the oddity of being omega; of being the ones responsible for carrying the next generation. How every three months, for forty-eight hours, their bodies ceased belonging to themselves and belonged solely to biology and instinct.

He’d been lucky to have been pregnant when Eroch died and Jax went to that halfway house, because another omega had heated while Jax was there. No one had seen the man enter the home, but when the omega had returned from his stay in the basement, they’d all smelled the alpha on him. And he hadn’t looked happy.

No, Jax didn’t want to think about that place, not when he was about to enjoy his first heat with his new alpha. His bondmate. He wanted to bask in the pheromones coming off Karter in waves now, prompted by Jax’s own aroused state. Jax’s dick and balls were getting into things, which meant he was close.

“Blindfold,” Karter said. “We’re almost there.”

With his eyes covered, Jax had no way of writing out Hurry up and get us into a private room before I spread slick all over your car! So he thought it, over and over, while his body turned traitor on him.

The motion of the car became uneven, as if they’d left a paved road behind for a more secluded one, and after a painfully long time, they stopped. Jax scrambled for the door’s latch, but couldn’t find it.

“Once second, I’ll get you out. And we’re in a private place, I swear.”

Jax took several deep breaths while he waited for Karter to open his door, and then eased him out. The familiar oil and rubber scent of the inner city was gone, replaced by earth and freshness that Jax inhaled deeply. Karter untied the blindfold.

“Ta da!”

Jax blinked hard against the sudden brightness of the sun, and for a moment, all he saw were trees. All around them, a canopy of trees, and he worried Karter had lost his mind and wanted to camp for his heat. And then Jax spotted the adorable little cabin tucked behind two holly bushes, and the dirt track that had led them here. No neighbors to bother them, or vice versa.

Only fresh air and a lot of privacy, and in that moment, Jax fell head over heels for his future alpha mate.