Page 67 of Where the Current Takes Him
Loriun didn’t want to imagine what his face looked like to Beau, but probably something similar to being slapped upside the head.
“Loriun?” Beau rose from the sofa.
“It is late, and you have both had quite a shock,”Dr. Enas continued.“Get some rest, and come to the clinic tomorrow morning. We will do a blood test as a formality, then go over your next steps.”
Beau rested a hand on Loriun’s arm. “What did he say?” The Omega looked fragile now, more than ever. His feeble lungs, skin so easily torn, eyes without any protective covering… This delicate creature was carryinghischild?
Loriun cast his mind around, looking for the piece responsible for forming words, but came up empty-handed. All he could do was stare down at his mate.
“Mr. Kolhn?”
Beau reached up and removed the phone from Loriun’s hand. “Dr. Enas? It’s Beau. What’s going on?”
Loriun’s heart thundered under his ribs as he watched the blood drain from his Omega’s face. Would he scream? Cry? Lash out? Tell Loriun to never touch him again?
“I’m… pregnant?” Beau whispered. “Are you… Are you sure?”
His horrified gaze shot up to meet Loriun’s.
Gaish utenye, Beau, I’m so sorry.Loriun braced himself on the countertop. He’d always pictured this moment would be a time of joy and celebration. Something both he and his partner longed for. This was nothing like his daydreams.
“I understand,” Beau said. “Thank you, Dr. Enas. Yes, we’ll see you tomorrow.”
From the corner of his vision, Loriun saw Beau’s golden-skinned hand set the phone down.
Silence.
For the first time in his life, Loriun wished he was capable of crying.
“Beau.” His voice cracked. “I am so sorry. I was irresponsible. I should have been more careful, more thoughtful.” Loriun clenched his hands into fists until his claws broke skin. “We will schedule a termination first thing tomorrow. I will not ask you to suffer for my mistakes.”
Loriun forced himself to look at his mate. Beau’s handsome face was still contorted in an expression of shock. The sandy hair that brushed his forehead was curling under the influence of seawater. He looked so very young.
“It will all be okay,” Loriun heard himself say. “We will get through it. The termination procedure is much more advanced than—”
“Termination?” Beau blinked, as if returning to his body. “You want me to get an abortion?”
Loriun ran a hand through his hair, trying to focus on how the wiry strands felt below his fingers. Yet try as he might, images of nymphs with sandy hair and teal scales danced through his mind. “I do not want you to carry my mistake for the next nine months and irreparably alter your life, not to mention what pregnancy does to your body and mind. Not if you aren’t ready.”
One of Beau’s hands came to rest on his flat stomach. “A baby?” he murmured. His eyes were still staring into the distance.
“Beau.” Loriun pulled his Omega’s hand away. “You do not have to make a decision now. We will go talk to Dr. Enas first. And there is plenty of time for you to consider.”
Slowly, Beau nodded.
As Loriun guided Beau towards a hot shower, a cacophony of emotions roiled within him. Shame, guilt, fear, and, worst of all, joy. He knew he could not ask this of Beau. Their relationship was too new, and his Omega too young. But if there was even the slightest fragment of hope that Beau might choose to go through with the pregnancy, Loriun couldn’t help but cling to it.
∞∞∞
Beau had never looked more beautiful. Pale, predawn light filtered through their gauzy curtains, alighting on the Omega’s high cheekbones and smooth skin. Light lashes splayed across his cheek and mussed hair spun across his pillow. Perfect, pink lips parted just a bit, allowing quiet breaths to ghost between them.
“Yai aenwe,”Loriun whispered. He couldn’t bring himself to say the words in English.
“Mm?” Beau’s lashes fluttered and a yawn stretched his mouth.
“Good morning,luae,” Loriun murmured, pressing a kiss to his mate’s forehead.
“Mornin’,” he mumbled.
