Page 103 of Where the Current Takes Him
“It was quite shocking. Are you feeling okay? Should I call the nurse?”
“No, no.” Beau wiped his eyes. “It’s hard to explain, but he deserved it. That’s why I’m laughing.”
“If you say so.” Loriun remained unconvinced. Too many painkillers perhaps. “The other condition he agreed to is holding a proper funeral for your mother on a day you are able to attend.”
Beau’s smile turned watery. “Come here.”
Loriun leaned down and kissed his mate, trying to press all the unspoken words into his lips.
“Yai aenwe,”Loriun murmured.
“I love you too, Loriun Kolhn.”
A quiet knock at the door pulled them apart. A shy, quiet, human nurse stepped in.
“Sorry to bother you, Beau, but I need to run a few quick checks on you and Makai.”
“Is something wrong?” Loriun demanded. The nurse flinched. He seemed very new to this job. “No, sir, this is all routine.”
Loriun grunted and dropped into a nearby chair. Beau noted the way his new nurse’s eyes flitted to the Mer. He was the very picture of discomfort.
“Actually, Loriun,” Beau said. “Could you go out to the cafeteria and get me some chocolate milk? That’s all I can think about right now.”
Loriun wrinkled his nose. “How can you want sugared cow secretions at a time like this?”
“Oh, shut up and get me my damn secretions.”
The Alpha snorted a laugh and left the room.
The nurse visibly relaxed, cornsilk blond hair falling in his eyes. Every visible bit of skin was dotted with freckles. A sweet scent like candied violets emanated from his scent glands.
“You’re new here, right?” Beau asked kindly. The other Omega wrapped a blood pressure cuff around Beau’s upper arm.
“Is it that obvious?” he asked dully. “I just transferred to the Mermades last week, from the same small town I was born and raised in. The first Mer I ever met was a gigantic Alpha at the docks when I landed.”
“Green scales, black fins, and unreasonably low voice?” Buea guessed.
The nurse blinked. “How did you know?”
Beau laughed. “His human mate, Jaime, runs a lot of the transport between the mainland and Miami. He likes to tag along and do the heavy lifting. His name’s Vuos, and they’ve been together since before the first Omega program.” Beau lowered his voice in a stage whisper. “They’ve got four kids.”
“Four? Damn.” The nurse was now scribbling something on Beau’s clipboard. “Um. Can I ask… What’s it like? Is it anything like the Natural Order people say?”
Beau shook his head with a smile. “It’s amazing. I know the Alphas look big and scary, but it’s all for show. Don’t get me wrong, Loriun would do anything to keep me safe, but no more than any human spouse would. Actually, I’ve never met an Omega that wasn’t head over heels in love with their partner. Don’t let those speciesist bastards get to you.”
The nurse smiled back at him. “That’s a huge relief. Thank you. May I?” He held his willowy arms out for Makai. Beau begrudgingly handed his baby over.
“What’s your name, by the way?” Beau asked.
“Grayson Miller.”
“Nice to meet you.” Beau watched him press a pre-warmed stethoscope to his son’s chest. “You know… If you’re looking for a nice Alpha, I think I can hook you up.”
Jameson looked up from the infant in his arms. “You can?”
Beau grinned. “How do you feel about the color gold?”
