Page 66 of One Wild Omega

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Fitz stared down at Tanner, recognizing some signs of shock. He placed his hands on Tanner’s shoulders before running his hands down the omega’s arms and drawing him close. Tanner shivered slightly before melting into him.

He sighed inwardly, shocked that Tanner was letting him so close.

But it was only for a brief moment, as he should’ve guessed.

Tanner turned to eye him. “I don’t need you, you know? I don’t. You can go home. I can catch a cab… or the trolley.” He scratched his head, his eyes wide and glassy. “Is it even late enough for the trolley yet?”

“It’s late enough, but you’renotgoing home on the trolley,” Fitz said. “I’mtaking you home.”

“I don’t need you,” Tanner said again.

“Of course you don’t.” Fitz stood up a little taller. “But you’re going to get my help regardless if you like it or not.”

“Why are you even here? Did my brother call you? Or Bellamy?”

“No one called me.”

Tanner frowned, his mind racing. “Then what in the hell were you doing here at o’dark thirty?”

“I couldn’t sleep. I wanted to talk to you… but you weren’t home. I remembered Bellamy once telling me of the weird hours you’d keep when the muse hit… so I figured I’d come to the studio.”

Tanner turned to fully face him. “Why did you want to talk?”

“It doesn’t matter. Not now.” The last thing Fitz wanted to do was add more chaos to his world in that moment. Tanner had enough to deal with.

“It’s that stupid article, isn’t it? You’re not going to let it go… is that it?”

Fitz turned to fully face him. “That’s a discussion for another time. Not now.”

Tears came to Tanner’s eyes. “Not when I’ve had the shittiest day of my life.”

Fitz shook his head slightly. He lifted a hand to Tanner’s cheek and trailed his fingertips over it. “No. Not now. Not when you’ve had the shittiest day of your life.”

Tanner glanced up at him, bottom lip quivering… and Fitz’s heart clenched with pain. It was then that he realized the usual anger he felt when around the omega hadn’t reared its ugly head. He felt it simmering on the edges, but his need to protect seemed to hold it back.

Whatever it was, he was grateful he was able to control it.

Fitz rubbed a hand on Tanner’s shoulder. “Let’s get you home.”

“I can get mysel—”

“I’m taking you home.Period,” Fitz ordered. “You don’t need to be alone right now.”

Tanner glared up at him for a moment, his mouth opening to argue, before he closed his mouth and nodded. “So… take me home then.”

Fitz led the omega to his pickup and made sure they were both strapped in before he took off. He glanced at Tanner here and there. The man was curled against the door, staring out blankly. Utterly silent. Tanner was never silent, and that quiet didn’t feel right. Instead of filling it, he left Tanner to his thoughts. Fitz had his own churning in his mind, thoughts he couldn’t burden Tanner with.

Once at Tanner’s apartment, he urged the omega toward a shower. They both smelled of soot and dust… removing it would make things a little better. One less reminder. Once he heard the water start, he searched Tanner’s refrigerator and cringed. It was full of takeout boxes and leftovers. Remembering a burnt grilled cheese from his last visit there he found the ingredients needed, along with a can of soup, and went to work.

By the time Tanner walked out of the bathroom—a towel draped around his waist—Fitz was waiting just inside the bedroom door.

Tanner froze. “Ever hear of the word privacy?”

Fitz felt the fire of lust wash through him, but he shoved it aside. His stare quickly moved down Tanner’s lean body and back up before he held the omega’s gaze. “Put some clothes on. I made you something to eat.”

“Not hungry.”

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