Oliver Dault was one of my longest and closest friends. A fellow Alpha, we’d actually met after being cat-fished. We both thought we were going to the club that night to meet an Omega—thesameOmega—and instead, we ran into each other. Confusion ensued, but after realizing that we’d been fooled, we decided to stay and throw back a couple of drinks. As it turned out, we had a lot in common.
That was years ago, and Ollie had gotten me through the highs and the lows of my relationship with Ronnie. He’d been the first person to know I’d proposed, and the first person I broke the news to after Ronnie cheated on me. He’d had myback through it all, and there was no one I trusted more, except maybe my sister.
He answered on the second ring. “Hey, Big Mac. Long time, no see. You doing alright, buddy?” Ollie’s effervescent happiness bubbled right through the phone line, setting my worries at ease. He knew that this time of year was hard on me, knew that I usually holed up inside and didn’t peek my head back out until after New Years.
“Yeah,” I said. “I’m doing good. Doing real good, actually.”
“Really? Man, I’m so happy to hear that. You’ve been heavy on my mind lately, but I didn’t want to bother you if you were in mope-land. I get it.” He chuckled. “Been there, done that. How’s Marina and the boys?”
“They’re good.” I found myself smiling. “Actually… You’ll be happy to know that she harassed me into going on a blind date.”
“Oh?” I could practically envision his brows bouncing up and down. “And?”
“And I’ve been seeing this guy for a couple of weeks. It’s been…really nice, actually. I think maybe I’m finally moving past the bullshit.”
“Wow, Mac, that’s great news! What’s his name?”
“Nathaniel.” We spent a couple of minutes chatting about everything that’d happened in such a short amount of time, and Ollie’s happiness was contagious. “I really like him,” I admitted.
“But?” he prompted, expectant.
“I haven’t told him about…you know.” I swallowed. “I know, I know. I need to, but I’m scared, I guess. We haven’t talked about kids or the future or anything like that, but I just… Ifeelsomething when I’m with him. I know it’s still too early to tell, but I think he could be it for me, Ollie. Really.”
“That’s wonderful, man. I’m so fucking happy for you, and I know I’m beating a dead horse here, but hear me out. If this guy is meant to be yours, if you two are meant to be together?Nothing can stand in your way. Nothing, you hear me? And besides, Mac, you know you’re like a brother to me. If you ever wanted or needed a donor, I’m just a call away. I know how much family means to you and after what Ronnie did? I would happily lend you some baby-juice.”
I snorted a laugh. “Thanks, Ollie. I really needed to hear that.”
“Anytime, Big Mac.”
After we hung up, I crawled back into bed and cuddled up against Nathaniel, who didn’t even stir. He was out like a light. I pressed my lips to the nape of his neck and breathed him in, and my heart gave a bittersweet pang.
I needed to tell Nathaniel the truth before we got in too deep, because losing him would only hurt worse the longer we did this.
CHAPTER 7
Nathaniel
Mackenzie’s cock was the strongest of drugs, and I was insatiable. Every time we came together, I wished I could tell him the truth that was festering in my heart, but the words just wouldn’t come. Guilt nipped at me, but I pushed it aside. Mac pounded into me from behind, and I couldn’t help but wish I could feel him, raw and unhindered when he spent himself inside of me.
He came with a growling grunt and my entire body lit up. Tingles zipped down my spine as my own climax came roaring to the forefront. I cried out his name, his knot filling me so perfectly. I never wanted this to end…
“You’re amazing,” I moaned, cum-drunk.
Mac kissed my shoulder. “I try. Sleep, baby.”
“Don’t leave,” I mumbled into the pillowcase. “Stay…”
“I’m right here,” he promised me and as I was dozing out, I could’ve sworn I heard him whisper, “As long as you want me, I’m here.”
In the morning,I found Mac sitting at the kitchen table, cluttered with yesterday’s newspaper and the take-out boxes from last night’s Chinese. He stared down into his coffee cup, and he was so intent on whatever was going through his head, that he jumped when I came up behind him.
“Sorry!” I said, squeezing his shoulder to reassure him it was only me.
“No. No, it’s okay. You startled me.”
“What were you thinking about?” I asked, and a deep sadness filled his eyes. For some reason, that scared me. I tensed up. “Is everything okay?”
“Can we talk about something?” Mac asked, all of a sudden.
