“I was old enough to get pregnant and like it,” Owen mumbled. “I don’t even know if I can conceive anymore, or if all these heats are duds. All the things he injected into me, telling me it was going to be okay, and that it was just part of the process… I… I don’t know what they were, or what they didtome.”
“And we’re going to find out together, if you trust me,” Crawford promised. The softness of his paternal instinct remained. The pre-teen Owen replica he was willing to take under his wing didn’t exist, but the scared teenage boy Owen used to be was real. Crawford would give him closure, even if it was a decade too late. “We might not be able to make it okay, but I can get you answers. Will you let me do that foryou,pet?”
Owen closed his eyes and nuzzled against Crawford’s cheek. In the moments where the world was darkest, Crawford hoped their bond would give Owen light. Crawford vowed to care for him. He’d never letOwendown.
“Yes,” Owen whispered. His body sagged against Crawford, and Crawford held him close and sheltered him from everything that was and everything that would be. “I’ll let you, but you have to be patient. You have to be understanding. It makes me sick to think about it, like I havetorun.”
“I know.” Crawford stroked his back. “You’re entitled to feel that way after all that happened. We’ll go slow. But I want you healthy, pet. I want to make sure nothing’s wrong, and if there is something wrong, that we take measures to fix it before it’s too late, or before you suffer through anymorepain.”
“I love you, Crawford,” Owen whispered. His arms tightened aroundCrawford’sneck.
“I love you, too,” Crawford whispered. “I’m going to make this right, Owen. Iswearit.”
To Crawford, there was no other option. He would protect Owen until the end. Hesworeit.
20
Owen
Crawford never pushed toohard.One week he introduced Owen to a friend at dinner. Over dessert it casually came up in conversation that the man—a beta—was an expert in male omega reproductive health. Owen went quiet, but hedidn’trun.
It was astart.
Month seven turned into month eight. Owen never went a full year without a heat, but he found himself hopeful that his body had finally shut it down and done away with his fertility for good. He’d always be an omega, but not worrying about when his next heat would arrive would be arelief.
At the end of Owen’s eighth month without a heat, while still flying high in sub space and eager to please Crawford however he could, Crawford tested Owen’s limits by bringing him into the waiting room of a hospital under the pretense of asking after a patient who didn’t exist. Owen, pupils blown wide with pleasure, a vibrating butt plug shoved up his ass and a cock ring keeping him hard, barely felt the panic. On the way back to Crawford’s condo, in the privacy of Crawford’s town car, Owen rode Crawford’s cock until theybothcame.
After that, the hospital was a little lessscary.
By month nine, Owen was texting Crawford’s doctor friend regularly. Brad Niegels was charmingandkind.
By month ten, Owen was on Brad’s examining table in a blue hospital gown as Crawford heldhishand.
“What we’re going to do is run some blood tests,” Brad explained. He’d ditched his white medical robes in favor of casual attire. It helped Owen forget what was happening. “Crawford says that you’re adverse to needles, but I promise we’re not putting anything in. All we’re doing is taking a little bit of your blood toanalyze.”
“Right.” Dread swelled in Owen’s chest, but he didn’t let it get the best ofhim. “Okay.”
“After I draw the blood, I’m going to do a physical, then we’re going to use an ultrasound to get a look at your insides. I might send you for x-raysafterthat.”
Overhead was a bright white light. Owen stared into it. He didn’twantto do any of those things, but they were important for hishealth.
“Can Crawford stay with me?” Owen asked. He didn’t want to bealone.
“Absolutely. The only time Crawford wouldn’t be permitted to stay is in the x-ray chamber, but the only person in that room would be you. The lab technicians stay in a different room to avoid theradiation.”
Owen bobbedhishead.
Crawford’s hand tightened around his. “You’re doing a good job, pet. I’m proudofyou.”
“So, are you ready?” Bradasked.
“I think so.” Owen didn’t look at Brad. Brad was nice, and Owen had come to trust him, but the discomfort of being on an examining table like he had when he was sixteen didn’t sit well with him. All Owen wanted was for it tobeover.
Brad swabbed down the crook of Owen’s arm with something that made Owen’s skin cold, then Owen felt the prick as a needle slid beneath his skin. He bit down on his jaw and turned hisheadaway.
“Good boy,” Crawford whispered. He stroked Owen’s hair. “You’realmostdone.”
Almost spanned for close to a minute. At last, Brad pressed down against the crook of Owen’s arm and drew the needle free. When Owen turned his head to look, he saw eight vials of blood lined up on the cart Brad’s medical equipmentrestedon.
