He missed Wyatt. Missed his easy smile, the warmth of his eyes. He missed touching Wyatt’s belly, feeling their baby kick against his palm.
“It’s not yours,” Raph muttered. “Stop acting it like it is.”
But he remembered Wyatt’s smile when Raph caressed his belly. Hazel had beamed when Raph made her mac and cheese. He’d been hoping to start a new life with Wyatt, build their family, meet the baby Wyatt carried.
For someone who hadn’t even wanted a kid... He wanted those two now, and he’d royally fucked up.
Raph dragged his finger across Wyatt’s Call button, squinting at his phone. He needed to get ready for work; he’d missed his other commitments three days in a row, and Grandma had gotten her original chauffeur back. There was no avoiding her at the office.
Before the breakup, work had been tolerable. Raph had trudged through each day, looking forward to Wyatt’s voicemails, and then the weekend visit. He’d play Wyatt’s voice messages on the drive to Meadowfall, and sit with Hazel at the drive-in, chat with her about school while he waited.
For the last three days, his phone had been silent. Raph hadn’t realized how much he’d anticipated hearing from his omega.
His omega? Wyatt wasn’t his, not anymore.
He groaned, rubbing the scent glands at his wrists. Wyatt had never marked him. And that was telling, wasn’t it? Wyatt had never wanted the relationship to last.
Raph swallowed, his throat tight. For as long as he carried his debt, he couldn’t return to his omega. Couldn’t possibly allow the debt to fall on Wyatt, and his parents. Wyatt didn’t need an extra thing to worry about.
His phone buzzed in his hand.
Heart leaping, Raph tapped on the message.
Hey, Raph, bud. You didn’t show up at the consult last night. Our client’s damn angry. Last night was the third strike. We’ve got to let you go. Sorry.
His stomach dropped. He read the message again, painfully aware that he’d been shitfaced last night. He’d bought a couple bottles of whiskey, and looked at old selfies of Wyatt and Hazel. That one photo of him braiding Hazel’s hair.
Funny thing was, he’d never been fired. Raph had hired and fired people—he handled the staff at his office. But being told he could fuck off? That was unusual. Shameful. He couldn’t even hold up a part-time job.
He pulled his pillow against himself, wishing it was Wyatt. Wishing he could bury his face in Wyatt’s chest, hold Wy for a while. How the hell was he paying off a hundred and fifty grand? By taking out another loan? Grandma had placed restrictions on his credit. He could only take loans at 50% interest, from shady back alley shops in the slums of Highton.
It was enough to make him consider drinking again.
If he could just hold Wyatt... if he could forget everything for a while... that would be nice. He wanted to touch Wyatt’s belly, see how he and the baby were doing. Wyatt might not even forgive him. Hell, he probably hated Raph now, because Raph had kept the true horror of the debt from him. But Raph needed to smell the magnolia of his skin, hug him, hold him close.
Raph wanted to feel like he had an omega again.
It was a Wednesday, and he was due to show up at work in thirty minutes.
If he showed up an hour late... If he showed up a day late... Grandma might throw a fit. And Raph found that he didn’t care, not anymore. He had pills for his hangover. He had a working car. Meadowfall was an hour away.
He swung his legs off the bed, excitement coiling in his gut. He didn’t deserve to see Wyatt again. But if he could hold Wyatt for a minute... it would be worth it.
29
Wyatt
The doorbell rang.
Wyatt groaned, pulling the covers over his head. It was far too early; he’d just dropped Hazel off at school and returned to bed. He hadn’t even been asleep for an hour.
The bed smelled like magnolia and honey, and faintly like teak. Wyatt burrowed into the spot where Raph used to sleep, pressing his nose into the pillow. Everything was fine. Raph would be here soon, and they’d snuggle in bed, Raph spooning him, stroking his belly.
It wasn’t as though he’d broken up with Raph, or anything like that.
Wyatt whimpered, huddling into himself. He still regretted that. Regretted telling Raph that the baby wasn’t his. Of course it was Raph’s, but it would also chain Raph down, make him believe he needed to stay with Wyatt.
He’ll move on and find someone better for him.
It had only been four days. Wyatt still hadn’t gotten over him. Last night, Hazel had come into his room, frowning. I asked Uncle Raph why you and him broke up, she’d said. Wyatt had almost tripped over himself, trying to see what Raph’s reply was.
Except Raph had said, I think your dad will have a better answer, and the conversation had ended at that.
The doorbell rang again, twice this time.
Wyatt groaned. It couldn’t be Penny or Max, or even Hazel—all of them had keys to this place. And Raph was probably at work in Highton, an hour’s drive away.
What if it’s Max?
Wyatt stopped breathing. Max couldn’t have found him here. His address wasn’t publicly listed. Or was it a delivery of some sort, or...
The bell rang, and Wyatt slid out of bed, his limbs trembling. He was fully alert now, his veins coursing with adrenaline. If it was Max... he’d hide. Pretend he wasn’t home.
Silently, he tiptoed down the hallway to the front door, looking through the peephole.
The person behind the door was tanned, with sea-blue eyes and dark hair, his face so familiar that Wyatt would recognize him with his eyes closed. His heart leaped. Why are you here? You should be at work.
Raph was no longer his alpha. But the sight of him had Wyatt sagging into the door, relief washing through his bones.
His hand found the doorknob. He needed to step away, pretend he wasn’t home.
Somehow, his grip tightened. There was an empty spot in his bed, and in his heart.
Wyatt turned the doorknob. Opened the door a crack. Beyond, Raph was broad and tall, his eyes warm, his jaw dark with stubble. Wyatt stared at his strong shoulders, his full lips.
“My hand slipped,” he said. “The door opened itself.”
Raph’s gaze raked over him, hot, yearning. He pressed his fingertips to the door, nudged it open with the barest of pressure. Wyatt let him. Raph pushed at the door again, until the gap was wide enough that he could slip through.
Then he stepped in. Shut the door. Locked it. And they were completely alone, sealed in the privacy of Wyatt’s apartment.
Wyatt couldn’t breathe. He’d thought he’d lost Raph, breaking their bond in front of their family like that. And yet Raph was here, his gaze intent, heat radiating off his body. Wyatt’s mouth went dry.
“How’s the baby?” Raph asked, his eyes locking onto Wyatt.
Then he reached out, his fingertips skimming over Wyatt’s shirt. Except it was that extra-large Jaguar T-shirt Raph had left behind, that Wyatt hadn’t returned yet. He’d pulled it on, thinking he could keep his longing a secret. Raph’s fingers cupped his belly, stroked down his side.
“The baby’s fine,” Wyatt croaked. He needed to step forward, lean into Raph’s chest.
“What about you?”
“I’m—I’m fine.”
No, he wasn’t fine. He’d needed Raph for days. For weeks. He’d wanted to be held and told he was loved. Not wait by his phone, wishing his alpha was closer to home.
Raph’s hands slipped around Wyatt’s face. He leaned in, brushing their lips together. His breath soughed against Wyatt’s skin, and his tongue flicked over Wyatt’s lip. Gods, they hadn’t kissed properly in forever. Wyatt arched toward him, his body humming, his nerves strung too tight. “Raph—”
Raph slid into his mouth, seeking, cautious, and Wyatt opened for him with a groan. Raph tasted like bitter coffee, like sleep, but he was so familiar, that Wyatt sank against him, clutching at his hips, at his shirt, needing him closer.
>
Instead, Raph pressed him up against a wall, his hands stroking down Wyatt’s sides, cradling his belly. He was so damn careful, like he always was.
“We broke up,” Wyatt whispered. “We shouldn’t be doing this.”
Raph paused for a heartbeat, his teeth dragging along Wyatt’s lip. “Tell me to stop, and I will.”
Then he kissed down Wyatt’s jaw, nipping at his earlobe. Wyatt trembled, his blood rushing south. He didn’t want Raph to stop. He’d thought he’d never have Raph this close again, and Raph... was touching him like he cared. Like he wanted Wyatt.
Raph smoothed his palm over Wyatt’s belly, and down between his legs. Wyatt gasped, his hips rocking forward, his blood surging down.
Raph knelt at his feet.
For a moment, Wyatt stared, his mouth falling open. They weren’t alpha and omega, not anymore. But Raph’s thighs were splayed by Wyatt’s ankles, his gaze dark as he looked up. He was vulnerable then, strong and beautiful and everything Wyatt had ever wanted.
And Wyatt had complete control over him.
“You aren’t my alpha,” Wyatt whispered, his heart aching. “Why—why are you doing this?”
Raph glanced at Wyatt’s belly, his fingers slipping under Wyatt’s shirt. Then he eased the fabric up, exposing the expanse of skin, the silvery tiger stripes of Wyatt’s stretch marks. Raph pressed soft kisses to them, his hands drifting to Wyatt’s waist, holding him.
“Let me touch you,” Raph murmured. “Just for now.”
A whine slipped out of Wyatt’s throat. They shouldn’t. Wyatt had told him the baby wasn’t his. And here Raph was, his stubble scraping over Wyatt’s skin, his breath heavy on Wyatt’s hip.
Wyatt’s throat grew tight. He loved Raph. And Raph nuzzled his belly, trailed kisses down the dark line of his abdomen, to the waistband of his shorts. He looked up, met Wyatt’s eyes past the bump of his belly. Then he pressed his face into the front of Wyatt’s shorts, breathing in deep.
Gods, this was beyond intimate. Wyatt groaned, rocking up at him, his covered cock dragging against Raph’s lips.
Raph pressed his mouth to the base of Wyatt’s cock and blew, a warm puff of air filtering through soft fabric, lighting Wyatt’s nerves. Then he eased Wyatt’s shorts down, freeing his cock. Wyatt squirmed.
Raph caught him by the hips, pressed him against the wall, and trailed kisses down the underside of Wyatt’s cock, his tongue flicking soft and damp against Wyatt’s skin.
Wyatt trusted him. He’d trust Raph with anything, period. Raph cupped Wyatt’s balls, rolled them between his fingers. Stroked the back of his balls, then underneath them, and took one ball into his mouth, his tongue silky against it. Wyatt’s limbs shook. He was so hard for Raph, and Raph was taking his time, catching Wyatt’s other ball, sucking it into his mouth.
He groaned, winding his fingers into Raph’s hair, his cock leaking. He couldn’t see past his belly, but maybe he was leaking onto Raph’s face, with the way Raph made him squirm, his fingers rubbing slow, firm circles into Wyatt’s ass.
The shorts pooled at his ankles with a rustle. Raph’s soft lips dragged up Wyatt’s cock, and he caught Wyatt’s foreskin, dragged it down to expose his tip. Raph blew over his sensitive skin, trailed the points of his teeth over it, sending a jolt of pleasure up Wyatt’s spine.
Wyatt jerked and hissed, and Raph took him into his hot, wet mouth, sucking him deep.
He shuddered. Pressure built between his legs, his cock throbbing against Raph’s tongue.
“Raph,” he gasped. And Raph swallowed him down, his throat tight, his face hidden. Wyatt was almost afraid to find out how he looked. Whether he was hurt. Because Wyatt had hurt him—Raph had a debt, and Wyatt had cut their ties, instead of promising he’d help. Fuck, he was a terrible omega.
More so when his alpha was on his knees for him, pleasuring him, with no expectation of a favor in return.
“Why—why even this?” Wyatt gasped, his fingers tightening in Raph’s hair. His limbs shook.
Raph sucked on him, a sharp pressure that made Wyatt’s knees buckle. Raph held him up, his wet mouth sliding off Wyatt’s cock. Then he licked his lips, leaning back far enough to meet Wyatt’s eyes. “I missed you.”
Wyatt’s chest squeezed. “You’re not my alpha anymore.”
Raph breathed out, pressing his forehead to Wyatt’s belly. “I still think of you as my omega.”
“You shouldn’t.”
“Damn it, Wy.” Raph kissed his abdomen. “Just—just let me taste you. I’ll leave after this.”
So Raph would leave. Wyatt’s cheeks prickled with shame. Warmth swept down his body, made him wet.“Oh.”
Raph sighed, licking up Wyatt’s cock, his tongue flat against Wyatt’s skin. Then he caught Wyatt’s tip in his mouth, his hands slipping up between Wyatt’s legs, his fingers dipping between Wyatt’s cheeks. He found Wyatt’s hole easily, and pushed inside.
After all these months, Raph knew his body. He found Wyatt’s prostate, pressed down on it hard. Wyatt jerked, gasping for air. “Raph—”
Raph sucked harder on him. The pressure on his cock increased. Raph slipped his finger out, massaged Wyatt’s hole. Then he pushed back inside, fucking him slow and intimate.
Wyatt came hard, gasping, his spine arching as pleasure crashed through his body and he spilled into Raph’s mouth. His cock pulsed so hard he couldn’t breathe; his limbs spasmed. Raph’s hand stayed firm on him, his mouth so warm.
When he caught his breath and blinked himself back to the present, Wyatt found that he was sitting on the floor of his living room, his legs splayed over Raph’s thighs, Raph’s lips red and gleaming.
Raph swallowed, watching him. “Feel better?”
Wyatt couldn’t help chuckling, then. “I’m not sure how I’m supposed to answer that. You’re leaving, aren’t you?”
“If you ask me to leave a second time, yeah.” Raph stroked his fingers over Wyatt’s knee, squeezing him lightly. “I... I know I should.”
But there was something in his eyes, something dark and reluctant, that gave Wyatt pause. Because none of this was supposed to happen. They should have broken up four days ago, and that was all they should’ve seen of each other.
Raph wasn’t supposed to be here, Wyatt half-naked on him. He wasn’t supposed to caress Wyatt’s legs, kiss his belly. Wyatt’s heart thudded slowly, like it didn’t want Raph to leave.
“I’m sorry,” Raph said.
“You’re not supposed to be here,” Wyatt said.
“Where am I supposed to be?”
“In the movies, we’re supposed to have a huge breakup. Then you’re supposed to fight the big bad guys and declare your undying love. Not apologize by giving me a blowjob.”
Raph’s lips quirked in a tiny smile. “Does that mean I’m forgiven?”
Wyatt hesitated, and Raph’s smile fell. “You were hardly here the whole of last month, Raph. I just—You said you’d be here. You said you were going to transfer to Meadowfall.”
Raph sighed, looking away. “My application fell through. Grandma said I’d have to pay the loan in three months if I quit. So I got a couple jobs to try and earn myself out of that debt. Looking back on it, maybe gambling would’ve been easier.”
Wyatt’s chest squeezed. Two extra jobs? Gods, it explained why Raph had sounded so tired over the phone. Why Raph had fallen asleep trying to talk to him. And there he’d doubted Raph, broken their bond. Wyatt’s cheeks burned. “I should be the one sorry. I thought... I thought you might’ve found someone else.”
Raph snorted. “If I had time to find someone else, I’d have spent it sleeping.”
A tiny laugh bubbled up in Wyatt’s chest. “So... are you... are we...”
Raph slipped his arms around Wyatt’s back, pulling him close. Wyatt buried his face in Raph’s shoulder, breathing in his teak scent. Raph smelled like home. “You know the stakes now, Wy. I lost my investments, too. If I quit my job, I’ll need to average fifty grand a month. Not
sure how to do that.”
“I could take out a loan.”
“I looked. Grandma’s put a hold on your credit, too.”
“What the hell?” How did she have that power? “Is that even legal?”
Raph shrugged, pulling Wyatt closer, his strong arms wrapping around Wyatt’s back. “I’m not surprised anymore. Just wondering what the best course of action is. If... if you still want me as your alpha, with a debt like that. I can’t solve it anytime soon.”
Wyatt’s heart skipped. This was happening too fast, too easily. Raph... cared for him. And their baby. He’d skipped work, probably, and they were sitting in Wyatt’s apartment like delinquents, like when they’d skipped classes in middle school to rescue a baby bird on the ground.
“I don’t see how you’d want me, Raph. There are so many omegas out there. Someone who isn’t going to drag you down with a family.”
Raph met his eyes, his hands cupping Wyatt’s jaw. “I don’t care about the other omegas. Do you... want to be my omega?”
He said it with such trepidation, that Wyatt knew he couldn’t hold Raph’s absence against him. Raph had lied, and Raph had kept secrets from him. He had a debt neither of them could pay off. But he cared for Wyatt, he accepted Wyatt and his babies, and Wyatt needed to belong to him.
So he nodded, burying his face in Raph’s shoulder. “I don’t see how you could want me, Raph. We saw Max on Saturday—”
Raph stiffened against him. “You saw Max?”
“In the grocery store. Hazel saw him. I... I froze up. She pulled me into the employee’s bathroom. He followed us.”
“Fuck that bastard,” Raph growled, his arms tensing.
“I just... I’m so broken, Raph.” Wyatt looked down at his hands, ashamed. “I can’t... I can’t even care for myself. I wish I could stand up to Max, but I just... freeze up when I think about trying. Hazel has to do so much because I can’t.”
Raph narrowed his eyes. “That’s not your damn fault.”
“I knew what Max would do to me, and I moved in with him.”
“If anyone says you deserve it, I’ll punch their heads in.” Raph bared his teeth, eyes flashing. “What happened in the piano room was something we did by choice. It wasn’t wrong. Don’t believe that bitch, damn it. You didn’t deserve the shit Max did to you.”
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