Page 21 of Such a Shy Omega

Erik

After our first night together, we were together most of the time. Because I made some big changes in my life. Somehow it seemed that meeting my mate helped me see things more clearly, and some matters that had been spinning around in my brain for the longest time had come into focus.

I could no longer afford to waste time arguing with people who were no longer on the same page or even in the same book as me. My partners and I had a whole lot of fun getting the company off the ground and making a lot of money for all of us, but somehow, they’d left behind the joy and creativity and zeroed in on the money. I had heard them talking about which of us would be a billionaire first. I felt no need to tell them it was me. Each of them lived in huge houses, drove fancy cars, took elaborate and expensive vacations and, if I had to guess, had very little money put away.

I still inhabited the home I’d bought when we got some of our first contracts. It was nice, and I’d remodeled it, but basically, it could be anyone’s home, and I had no desire for more. I drove a decent car and traded it in every few years. And my only vacation was my membership at Cuffed.

When I walked away from our association, I took a couple of things with me. Our loyal employees who had built our original device and all its iterations and the ownership of the device itself.

Oh, and the contracts. Because they went with the device. We’d had a very good attorney when we drafted our corporate documents, and he knew I was the inventor/designer, whatever we called it at the time. The patents were in my name. Andthe documents clearly stated if we went our separate ways, my brainchild was mine.

And they knew it. But they must have forgotten or thought I’d never leave no matter what they did because the looks on their faces were pure shock and horror. “I never would have left if you didn’t turn your backs on our employees,” I told them. “But you have other things to build in your new factories and sell. And you are welcome to buy me out of the building if you like. I can set up my operation anywhere.”

Then they caved, insisting we could work it out, maybe make some things here…remember we were all friends. But it was too late. They’d broken my trust by ganging up on me, showing their lack of loyalty to our people, and doing it with great glee.

So now I had a small, modern factory in the works, the use of the old one until it was finished against the purchase of the building, and an interest in Cuffed.

My omega and I worked together in the tech department. It had begun as a joke, but I was temporarily the tech director until we hired someone or Heath was ready to take over, and was having the most fun designing the sound and lighting for not only the outdoor spaces but the new buildings. Their function was evolving, and it was amazing to be on the ground floor for it.

I thought I’d feel bad, regretful, but I didn’t at all. Nor was I angry at them anymore. Disappointed at their selfishness where the workers were concerned, but we had a lot of good years together, and since everyone would be all right in the end, I chose to remember the good times. People could change—they’d already done it for the worse. Maybe the better was a possibility.

On this day, I’d just finished signing the last documents for most of the parts of this whole life change and was looking forward to getting home to my omega. He would be at my house; I’d given him a key as soon as we mated. Even though he rarely went home at all, he technically did not live with me,and I understood. With everything in his past, he valued his independence, and as long as I got to see him every day, I would make it work.

The lights were on in the kitchen, and I headed that way, ready for a kiss and hug, but he wasn’t there, and nothing was on the stove. He’d promised to start dinner so we could eat outside before it got too late, but maybe he hadn’t been in the mood. We could order out.

“Omega,” I called, climbing the stairs to the bedroom, “did you want to get a pizza delivered? Mexican maybe?”

His pale face appeared over the railing at the top of the stairs. “Don’t mention food.” He disappeared again, and I broke into run, taking two steps at a time.

“Heath, what’s wrong?”

The hallway bathroom door slammed. “Don’t come in. Not for two more minutes.”

“What?” Two minutes? “Omega, I am worried about you. Are you sick?”

Silence. For a long time, but probably only two minutes. Then the door opened, and Heath held something up, tears streaking down his cheeks. It took far less time than I’d waited to guess what it was.

“You’re pregnant.” It was not a question.

He nodded. “Is that okay?” His words broke my heart.

“Mate, I’m over the moon but not if you aren’t.” I took the stick from his hand and set it on the sink vanity before gathering him in my arms. “How do you feel?”

A sob emerged, and he buried his face in my shirt, tears soaking the white cotton. “I wasn’t sure if it was okay to be happy.”

Scooping him up, I carried him to the bed and set him carefully down. “Can I get you anything? Water? Something to settle your stomach?”

“How messed up am I that I have to ask that question?” He sniffled then smiled, sunlight through rain. “Maybe it’s pregnancy hormones?”

“We’ll talk to Jabez. He can answer all our questions. For now, though, oh my gods, aren’t you amazing.” I kissed his still-flat tummy. “You are growing our pup in there.”

“I guess I am.”

“You’re the most wonderful omega ever.” I peppered his face with kisses. “And now we’re going to be dads. You’ll be the best.”

“No, you will.” He started to say something else then he was off the bed and racing for the en suite. Hopefully Jabez would have some ideas about what to do with morning sickness so my mate would be more comfortable for the duration.

And then…a baby! I couldn’t take in the wonder of it. Not that we hadn’t been doing what would create one pretty consistently, but still!

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