“Good. Now, do you want me to talk about something else, or do you want to call that fine, redheaded Mer back over here?”
A little smile tugged at the corners of Beau’s mouth. “I guess I should call him back here.”
Jaime squeezed his shoulder. “I think that’s the right move. If anything goes wrong, Vuos and I are only a phone call away. Our oldest is off at college, so you can take over his room for a bit if you have to. You’re not alone here, Beau.”
“Thanks, Jaime. Really.” Beau got to his feet. “I probably would have spiraled if you hadn’t been here. Actually, Idefinitelywould have spiraled.”
Jaime stood and gave Beau a quick hug. “I remember what it’s like,” the other Omega said, releasing him. “Being new to all this. Adjusting to a new life, a new culture, a new species. But you can do this. Everything is gonna work out in the end.”
The look on Jaime’s face was so sincere, Beau discovered he actually believed it.
Loriun returned minutes after Vuos came to collect his mate. His crimson ear fins looked sunken, and he wasn’t standing quite as tall as before.
“I did not expect you to call tonight,” he said quietly.
Crushed cedar filled Beau’s lungs, chasing away a headache he hadn’t realized he had. “I talked things through with Jaime. The human Omega who runs the speedboat service? He helped me work through some stuff.”
“What stuff?” Loriun asked warily.
Beau looked down at his feet. “He told me to be honest with you. So that’s what I’m doing.”
“You do not wish to stay here.”
Startled, Beau’s gaze shot back to the Mer’s face. Loriun’s teal eyes focused on the tile floor. “Everything is happening too quickly, and you are afraid.”
“Well. I can’t say I’m not scared, because I am, but I don’t want to leave.”
Loriun’s face tipped back up, hope lighting his sharp features. “You do not?”
Beau shook his head. “I panicked about the whole mate thing. I couldn’t stop thinking about all the things I never got to do, and worrying about what would happen if we realized we were wrong for each other. To be honest, I’m still worried about those things.”
Loriun straightened. “What can I do to reassure you that I can be a good Alpha?”
“I already know you’re a good Alpha,” Beau said with a small smile. “I’m just a little sad about settling down already. It happened so fast, and I had things I wanted to do.”
Loriun’s hand stretched out for Beau’s. “I will not be the reason you are unable to do the things you wish to do. Just tell me what you want, and I will make it happen.”
Jaime was right. Loriun was desperate to prove himself, all while Beau was busy thinking the worst of him.
“Well… I haven’t traveled much…”
“Travel? We can travel anywhere you wish to go. We can make a list right now.” Loriun spun around and began digging through the drawers in search of a pen and paper.
Beau laughed. “We don’t have to do itrightnow—”
A notepad slammed down onto the granite counter. “Tell me where you want to go,” Loriun demanded.
“Wait.” Beau carefully removed the pen from his Alpha’s grip. “There’s one more thing we need to talk about first.”
“Anything,luae.”
“Since we can’t really be apart without feeling sick… You should probably just move in. Right?” The words sparked terror as they left his lips, but he knew it needed to be said. What was the point in suffering through separate housing when they had to end up together anyway?
Loriun’s brow furrowed. “I don’t have to, if it makes you uncomfortable.”
“No,” Beau interrupted. “No, it’s fine. Just move in. We’ve already gone through an…active…heat together. Moving in together feels less intense now that you’ve been inside me.”
Loriun’s eyes rounded with shock. Then, he let out a roar of laughter.
