In the same conference room as before…
Gray leaned over the document, the words blurring together. He’d already read over the copies Tensen had couriered over a few days before. Hours had passed as he’d read through the legal mumbo-jumbo, trying to figure everything out.
Everything had appeared in order.
Now, they were all together in the same meeting room they’d met in the last time. Tensen had set the room up so the table where he sat was close to the open window. Unfortunately, the heat of summer was upon them, and there wasn’t much of a breeze. Rohan’s scent seemed even stronger today, and Gray teetered on the edge of need.
Sucking on the peppermint he’d brought along, he refocused on the document. Why he was hesitating to sign his name at the bottom, he wasn’t sure. He’d already agreed to their terms. But once he wrote his name across the last page, he’d be forever bound to his decision.
Last chance.
I can’t do this. I can’t be with him like this.
What was I thinking?
Gray drew in a deep breath—which was an absolutely terrible idea. Rohan’s alpha scent surrounded him, making the need mount with each passing second. His instinct nearly drove him off the edge, willing him to offer up his body then and there.
Across the table.
Both of them naked.
Rohan shoving his big, hard cock deep into Gray’s womb.
A moan nearly rolled off his lips.
Sweat began to bead along the base of his neck. The primitive desire had turned him feral, it seemed. No longer caring what happened next.
He turned to Jamie, trying to will himself to refuse. But when he saw the desperate smile on Jamie’s lips, he knew he couldn’t back out now.
Sign it and be done.
“Second thoughts?” Jamie asked quietly.
Gray lifted his stare to Jamie and tried to ignore Rohan at the omega’s side. “Are you…” He paused, sighing. “Are you sure this is truly what you want?”
Jamie smiled, looking supremely confident. “Absolutely.”
Gray eyed the omega… They’d shared so much over the last weeks… “You want me to lie with your alpha… and make a child together.”
Jamie nodded. “Yes.”
Gray lowered the pen for a moment and took Jamie’s hands in his. “I know we haven’t known each other for very long, but I already consider you a friend.”
Jamie smiled and squeezed Gray’s hands. “And I, you.”
“Will you be able to forgive me after it happens?”
Jamie frowned. “Forgive you? What would I have to forgive you for? I’ve asked you to do this… It’s what I want.”
“Getting what we ask for can have dire consequences… sometimes,” Gray said. “And while I think you would recover from losing my friendship, I worry what this might do to you and Rohan.”
Jamie lifted his gaze away from Gray for a moment and eyed his alpha. He took Rohan’s hand and brought it to his lips. “He knows why I’m doing this,” Jamie said, holding Rohan’s gaze. He turned to look at Gray. “And I think you do, too.”
Gray eyed Jamie a moment before looking up into Rohan’s eyes.
He realized then… they all knew why they were here.
Need.
Their needs were all different yet linked by this one act.
Gray lifted the pen and initialed a few spots before flipping the page. Tensen pointed to another spot where he initialed. Moving to the last page, he signed his name with a flourish, holding his breath as he did it.
Tensen took the set of papers. “I’ll have copies made and delivered to both parties by tomorrow. Arrangements will be made to collect Gray and bring him to your home the morning of his heat. We have a service we use for cases such as this, and I will have everything scheduled. Gray—you will need to forego your normal Heat Repress doses the day before and during the three days you will spend with Rohan. Bring a bag with a change of clothing and any toiletries you will need before you return home. A car will be on call, ready to take you as soon as you are ready to return home.”
Gray lifted his stare to Tensen. The solicitor was all business now. He avoided Gray’s stare and continued his comments. “You will need to assure there are no other alphas on your property during those three days. Jamie, you can remain, if you choose, but I recommend you make arrangements to leave for those days and spend the time with family or friends. If you choose to leave, as with any heat mating, ensure there is ready food for the alpha and water for them both before you leave.”
Tensen paused and looked between them. “Jamie—are there any particulars you wanted to add? Any limits you need to make them aware of?”
“No,” Jamie murmured quietly.
“Then the last thing required is the initial payment to the surrogate,” Tensen said stiffly.
Gray looked away, hating the feeling he was being paid for. He listened as Rohan laid a checkbook on the table and stroked off a check. Rohan ripped it from the book, the tearing sound loud in Gray’s ears. Instead of sliding it over, Rohan rose to his feet and walked to stand beside Gray. He lifted his stare, meeting Rohan’s. The alpha offered the scrap of paper… a small fortune. Gray stared at it, not wanting to take it.
But this was the reason he’d chosen to do this… was it not?
Another wave of need rolled over him. A mew of desire came from his lips, and he felt shamed by it. He met Rohan’s gaze again before lifting a shaking hand to pluck the check from the man’s hands.
In that one moment, he felt cheapened.
They’re renting my body. I’ve become little more than a prostitute.
Tears burned in his eyes as he rose to his feet. Barely looking at either of them, he gave them a quick thanks before tucking the check into his bag and trying to leave.
“Gray? Do you mind staying another moment?” Tensen asked. He turned to Rohan and Jamie. “You both can go. I’ll send over the packet for you to review soon.”
Gray watched as they both hesitantly left the room. He could tell Jamie wanted to talk… and that Rohan wanted something that required no talking at all. Finally, the door closed behind them and left him alone with the solicitor.
“Are you alright?” Tensen asked.
He wasn’t. Nowhere near alright. Plastering a smile on his face, he eyed Tensen. “I’m great.”
Tensen took a step closer.
Too close.
The beta collected Gray’s face in his hands and shook his head. “No. You’re not.”
Gray swallowed back the emotion he felt. But that emotion was for what he’d just done… not for Tensen—which was a travesty. He sensed Tensen’s concern…
“I’ll be alright. I just need to go home, take a warm bath, relax…”
“I had no idea Jamie would want this,” Tensen said. “I don’t know that I would’ve introduced you two if I had.”
“Why not?” Gray asked, confused.
Tensen reached out and rubbed the back of his hand against Gray’s cheek. Immediately afterward, he took a step back and ran a hand through his salt and pepper hair. An odd smile crossed the beta’s lips. “The thought of Rohan touching you—” Tensen paused, shaking his head. “If only things could be different in our world.”
“They’re not. This is the way of things,” Gray murmured.
Tensen’s face hardened. “Yes. It is.” He lifted his stare to Gray’s.
Gray was almost taken aback by the need he saw in the solicitor’s expression.
“I’ll take you home,” Tensen said, collecting papers. “Just give me a moment.”
“No,” Gray whispered, shaking his head. He didn’t want to give Tensen any reason to think there could be more between them. It was impossible. “I’d rather walk.”
“Are you sure?” Tensen asked.
Gray nodded before squeezing the solicitor’s shoulder. “Thank you for caring so much. But I’ll be fine. I swear it.”
Tensen’s hand came across to cover and squeeze Gray’s. Gray felt the warmth of the man leeching into him, hating the lines drawn between them.
And then that hand was gone—and he felt even emptier.
Gray left the conference room, even more shaken and wondering if his world would ever right itself again.
* * * *
Gray walked into the kitchen after departing his studio, wiping his paint-splattered hands on a spare cloth. Before he could do much more than get some water, Avery came bounding in. Excitement was etched over his face.
“Where are the boys?” Avery asked, near to bouncing.
“I’m not completely sure. I just walked back into the house. I assume you had a good time.” Avery had had orientation that day. The first day of college was nearly upon them.
“Orientation was amazing!”
“Shhhh….” Gray hissed looking around. He glanced through the lower floor before angling his head toward the stairs. “You boys okay up there?”
He got two mumbled calls and was thankful the boys weren’t close by.
“You know full well you can’t extract Lake from his Z-box,” Avery said. “And Auggie is never far away from Lake.”
“But you need to be careful, regardless,” Gray told him.
“I know, I know. I’m just excited.” Avery was full of boundless energy. “I need to go change into something cooler. I think we need to go out to celebrate tonight.”
“Celebrate?”
“It was a very good day, and the boys have been stuck in the house all summer.”
“Not true. They go to the summer program a couple of days a week.”
“But we don’t have the money to go on summer vacations like we used to as a family. Papa always had us going somewhere—art museums and mini-golf and out for adventures. I know they’re bored. We need to go have some fun tonight.”
“We can’t leave the quad,” Gray reminded him. “Well, at least—I can’t. And most of that stuff is in the Family Quadrant.”
“We have a bowling alley,” Avery said. “It’s cheap, and it’s fun. How about that?”
“And how much you want to bet Lake and Auggie end up in the arcade and never step out of it until we leave?”
Avery groaned. “Can we just do something and get out of this house as a family?”
Gray smiled. “Yeah. We can do that.”
Avery grinned. “Good. I’m going to change and get the boys ready.”
“Wait… before you go,” his uncle said.
Avery turned back.
Gray slid a piece of paper from his pocket and pushed it across the island. “That should hopefully help cover your first semester’s tuition at your fancy college.”
Avery walked closer and picked up the paper.
Rohan’s check.
“I can’t take that,” Avery said, shaking his head.
“You will. I’m doing this for you, Avery. I’m signing it over to you. Cash it and use it toward tuition, books, whatever it is you need. I know you’ve already taken some out of savings, but you can repay it now. I’ll be getting another one once I conceive, and another once I give birth, which should come in time for your next few semesters or close enough.”
“I can’t tell you surrogacy is a bad idea in one moment and then use the money you earn from it in another. I won’t be that person.”
“Then I’ll deposit it into the family account and it’ll be yours one way or another,” Gray said defiantly. “You might disagree with me, but I won’t let you refuse this. Don’t make me beg you to let me help my brother’s children.”
Avery eyed him. From the look on his face, Gray knew he was considering his response. “Thank you for the gift. You’re amazing, Uncle Gray. And I love you for what you’re trying to do for us.”
“It’s no gift. I expect payback.”
“Oh?”
Gray walked closer and placed his hands on Avery’s shoulders. “Good grades. A degree. And once your alpha claims you, you let me remain in this house until my dying day. Fair enough?”
“And what about your alpha?”
Gray tilted his head. “I need to focus on what’s real. I need to secure a future for myself, too. You guys will one day go off, mated, and leave me here alone. I need to prepare for that.”
He’d be completely alone one day… completely. It was suddenly too hard to breathe.
Avery offered his uncle a hand. Gray leaned across the island and shook it.
“Deal,” Avery murmured.
Gray grinned.
Hours later, they arrived at the bowling alley and fed the boys. The youngest members of their tribe wandered to the arcade, leaving Gray and Avery alone. As expected. Gray looked over at Lake, watching as he argued with Auggie before one of the arcade games.
“We really need to do something about his attitude,” Avery said.
“He just lost his fathers. He’s lashing out in pain,” Gray said, lifting his borrowed ball from the return. “I wasn’t much older than him when my papa passed, and I made my father’s life hell.”
“I wished I’d had a chance to meet them,” Avery said.
Gray smiled softly. “Me, too.” He rolled a spectacular gutter bowl immediately after. Just like the one before it.
“Why did I suggest this game?” Avery asked, rising to take his own turn. “We both suck at it.”
“Because you can fail and still have fun playing,” Gray said with a smirk. “So, what comes next for you, college wise?”
“I still need to go in and purchase my books and download the syllabi for the classes.”
“You haven’t even started and you already sound smarter,” Gray said with a chuckle.
“Hardly,” Avery answered before getting himself lined up to the pins. He rolled the ball and split it right down the middle.
“Hey, at least you got some pins,” Gray said with a grin once Avery turned around.
His next attempt cleaned up one half.
“We only have a couple of weeks to prepare. We need to get ready. The boys will be starting school not long after you do. You’ll all need supplies.”
Auggie rushed over, a wide smile on his face. “I need more coins!”
Avery reached into his pocket and handed his baby brother another couple of renos worth. “Lake playing nice?”
“No. But a kid from the summer program is here. We’re playing a game together.”
Gray brushed Auggie’s hair. “Good. I’m glad you have someone to play with.”
Auggie ran back toward the arcade, all youth and excitement. His gaze fell on Lake, hard at work killing aliens or shooting bad guys—whatever he was playing. He looked back to Avery and knew these were his reasons for helping Jamie and Rohan.
These boys. They were the only thing he truly had left.
“By the way… next heat, we’ll have some help for the boys,” Gray said suddenly. “I won’t be there… and the solicitor is going to make plans for help at home.”
Avery turned to his uncle. It took him a moment to realize what Gray was saying.
“The insemination? Already?”
There was no way he was telling Avery the whole of it. He couldn’t tell his nephew just how craven and horrible he was. “The contract has been signed. You saw the check. It’s a go.” Gray looked straight ahead. “A beta babysitter is coming for all four days to take the stress off you. I won’t be there… and if it doesn’t take… it might be more than one cycle that I miss.”
“A good sitter is almost impossible to find.”
“Jamie and Rohan are going to supply someone. They’re aware I have my nephews at home and offered.”
“That was kind, but technically, they are my responsibility, not yours, so they don’t have to do that.”
Gray turned in the plastic bowling seat and faced Avery. “I really wish you’d stop saying that. I think I’ve proven how far I will go to ensure we’re all okay.”
Avery frowned.
“I know, by law, you took legal responsibility. But that doesn’t mean I’m not responsible for them, just as much as you are.”
“I didn’t mean it like that—”
“Regardless what you mean, it makes me feel as if I’m a burden, getting in the way.”
Avery paused. “I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to discount what you bring to our family. I couldn’t do this without you, Uncle Gray.”
Gray lifted his chin. “Thank you.” He looked over at Avery. “Jamie’s aware of the legalities. That you are their guardian, but he also knows I help you when we’re both dealing with our heat.”
“Wait… you told him I was an omega?”
Gray paused, his mouth dropping open. “I suppose… I did. We discussed our families, and it just came out.”
“Damnit. What if he sees me outside the quadrant? He’s a mated omega… he has the freedom to leave here. I could run into him out in the world.”
“I doubt your paths will ever cross. The city is huge and from what little we’ve talked, Jamie rarely leaves the Family Quadrant—other than to come see me or the surrogacy solicitor.” Gray moved closer. “And even if he did see you, I know he wouldn’t say anything. He’s kind… and generous. Look what he’s doing to help me take care of the family.”
“Jamie does seem to be a very thoughtful man, what little I know of him.”
Gray smiled. “He is. He’ll make a wonderful papa.”
“I’m glad to hear it. For your sake and mine.”
Gray sat up a bit straighter. “I should invite him to dinner one night… so you guys can meet him, really get to know him a little. Perhaps you’d have fewer misgivings about what I was doing if you had that chance.”
“Maybe,” Avery said.
“I’ll call him tomorrow. See what I can set up.”
Avery sat down beside his uncle and put an arm around the man’s shoulders. “If you’d told me a few months ago where we’d be right now, I’d have called you a liar.”
Gray chuckled. “Me, too.” He smiled at his nephew. “We’re going to be okay.”
“From your lips to the gods’ ears.”