Page 152 of I Replaced His Husband
He shrugged slightly. "We once talked about it back in high school, the possibility of meeting True Mates in the future. We had totally different takes on it. I told him I'd want him to let me know so we could talk it through, say goodbye, and all. But Kay disagreed. He said he'd prefer me todierather than leave him. He was really upset during that conversation, very emotional. I tried to lighten the mood by saying it was silly because situations like that happen all the time, people leave. Even if it's not with a True Mate but with some other higher mateship, people get through it. But he got even angrier, saying it would be like endless torture. Death, he said, cuts things off clean, and then you can rebuild and maybe find happiness again. But knowingthat the person you love so much is out there, not caring about you anymore and fucking someone else, that's too much. Kay said he couldn't bear it."
"There's a simple thing you could have done to never meet your True Mate."
"Suppressants?"
"Exactly. I bet you felt his Allure."
Maurice laughed dryly. "And here's where you're wrong. My True Mate used suppressants because he was also married. He had a similar approach to yours."
Silence fell. I dreaded asking, but I had to. "I don't understand. So how did you know?"
Maurice bristled with irritation. "My parents sent me to a hotel conference on the other side of the continent. There were many owners of smaller hotel chains discussing industry issues. By chance, I was seated next to an omega. He wasn't from the hotel industry; he had a network of restaurants but had shown up to listen to problems related to hotel restaurants and bars. From the moment I saw him, I was very… moved. We talked, and though I didn't scent his Allure, I felt a strange attraction that scared me because I'd never felt anything like it before. And he looked a lot like Kay, he could have been his brother, which is often a sign, as people are drawn to those who resemble their True Mate imprint."
He tilted his head, gesturing meaningfully toward my face and then his. "You must have noticed the obvious."
"So, there's another person out there who looks like Kay?" It was almost hard to believe.
Maurice snorted with laughter. "He's not as tall, but he's very similar, right down to the navy-blue eyes and the long black braid."
"Incredible… So we indeed unconsciously seek out people who closely match that imprint image."
"Yeah, that's how it works. So, after some casual talk, we introduced ourselves, and that's when we first shook hands."
"First Touch? What's that like? I never had that with Kay."
"Electric! And you… Weren't you on that super-strong Seprudin 1000?"
My eyes went as big as saucers.
"What the fuck? How do you know? Did you eavesdrop?"
He smirked. "I have my ways of knowing things that concern Kay."
"Wait. The strange stone bench in the woods near Adam's house… I thought it was a vantage point of Dawsons."
"It was mine. But it wasn't the only one."
The information made me even more uneasy, knowing he was watching us, listening, maybe even during our intimate moments? Sick bastard.
"Did you watch us fuck?" I growled, clenching my fists.
Maurice's face contorted painfully. "No! I'm not a masochist! Anytime it was starting, I walked away. It was… hard for me. Believe me."
My eyebrows almost involuntarily furrowed, but I said nothing.
He only sighed. "So. When I touched his hand, our bodies literally shook, it was like a shock. Then I knew, but I had to be sure. I couldn't risk my whole life for a fleeting sensation."
"How did you get certain? You had to sleep with him, it's the only way!" I growled.
Maurice gasped angrily. "No! I'm not the jerk you think I am! No, I didn't cheat on Kay. I didn't sleep with my TM before arranging my… death. We just took a separation test."
I blinked, feeling stupid for not thinking of that. I'd had the same test with Kay, after all.
"But wait. For the Pull to start and, in consequence, the veradiol spike, you had to somehow initiate it. The touch of his hand alone would work, but over weeks, not days."
Maurice blushed. "Well. We kissed. A lot."
"So youdidcheat!"
