"I just told you," I said.
Nishiki paused as the knowledge sank into him. There was no shock or horror at the idea. It was like part of him had known the entire time and he was only now allowing himself to seriously think about it.
"We don't have time for this," I said, averting my gaze. It felt so unlike me. I usually didn't have a problem staring alphas in the face. Something about Nishiki was different. He was changing me. But not in a bad way. With him, it felt like I let my guard down. Like I could expose the most vulnerable parts of myself safely because Nishiki would be kind and gentle with them.
I'd never felt like this before in my life and it scared me. Despite my high temperature, I shivered.
"We have to find Nero," I said.
"I know," Nishiki answered. He still wouldn't look away from me. "But we can't travel when you're in this state. You can barely walk, Weston. Whatever's wrong, please let me help you."
"You should go ahead without me," I argued through short breaths. "It's a straight line to the lake. You don't need my help to get there. Go and find Nero. He's more important than me."
Nishiki’s grip on my wrist tightened, but not in a painful way. It was more comforting than anything.
"You're important to me too, Weston," Nishiki said. "Nero's worried, but he's not in any danger. You look like you're gonna fall apart at any moment and it's freaking me out." His voice softened. "I don't want to see you suffer."
I faced him seriously. "If you give me what I want, then your life will change."
"Tell me what that is. I want to hear you say it."
"I want a fated mate," I blurted out.
Nishiki's eyes widened. He didn't rip his gaze away from mine. I expected fear or disappointment or disbelief, but saw none.
"You know," Nishiki murmured, "some people don't think that a twin's connection is real. Especially not for fraternal twins like me and Nero. But I know it's true. It may sound silly to people who don't understand, but I know my own bond with him."
My heart raced as he spoke.
"I think…" Nishiki inhaled an unsteady breath, then released it slowly. "I may have jumped to conclusions about the whole fated mates thing."
My heart went faster and faster.
"Tell me, Weston," Nishiki said softly, staring into my eyes. "What do you think?"
I replied honestly, without a filter. "I think you're mine." My body moved on its own. My hand reached out to stroke Nishiki's cheek. "I think you're my fated mate."
His gaze drifted down, raking over my trembling body. The lust in his expression flared like a flame.
"Okay," Nishiki finally said.
"Okay what?"
Nishiki's hand pressed against my chest, then travelled down, stopping dangerously close to my already hard cock.
"This is what you want, isn't it?" he asked.
I smirked. I took his hand and moved it towards my slick hole. "Thisis what I want."
A bright red blush bloomed on Nishiki's cheeks but he didn't draw away. If anything, he pressed a little closer. There was no way he didn't feel the intense heat radiating off of me.
I risked a glance down and was rewarded. Nishiki's cock was fully hard. I licked my lips automatically.
I noticed for the first time that his breathing was a little haggard, too.
"If we do this, I could get pregnant," I warned him.
I waited to see the wall he would put up between us. If he didn't want this, this was his chance to run. This was usually the point of no return for most alphas. They wanted the omega in heat; they wanted to rut.
