I didn’t think Dad was going to let us speak, but he clenched his hands into fists and said, “I’m going upstairs to pack my things. I’ll be back down here in ten minutes, then we’re going home.” He looked at Quincy and said, “You’d better be gone by the time I get back down, if you know what’s good for you.”
He didn’t wait for either of us to acknowledge him. He turned and stormed off toward the stairs.
“I’m not going to let him split us apart,” I said, ready to pledge everything to Quincy.
“Don’t be dumb,” Quincy said, shocking the sunshine out of me.
I wasn’t sure I’d heard him right.
“Jack, look,” Quincy said, taking my arm and leading me closer to the fire. “I don’t know if you’re aware of this, but your dad is fucking scary.”
I laughed, even though it wasn’t funny. “He’s an asshole,” I said.
“Yeah, he is,” Quincy agreed with a wary look. “But he’s a rich and powerful, society asshole who’s running for governor.”
I was suddenly worried. “Are you saying you don’t want anything to do with me?” I asked.
“I’m not saying that,” Quincy said, inching closer to me. He glanced around to make sure no one was listening to us, then leaned in and said, “Look, we’re not going to be able to come right out and make any declarations to the world about love across the class divide and shit like that. It just won’t work.”
“I don’t want to walk away from you and never see you again,” I said, panic growing. Quincy had opened my eyes and my mind to so many things in such a short time. I didn’t think I’d ever be the same. I didn’t ever want to be the same.
“That’s not what I’m saying,” he said, lowering his voice even more. “Give me your phone.”
I pulled it out of my back pocket without a second thought and handed it to him.
“I’m putting my contact information in here,” he said, adding himself. He sent himself a text straight away. “Sometimes it’s better not to push back against a tsunami right away. Sometimes you have to ease people into these things.”
“Are you saying you want to carry on a secret affair with me?” I asked. I kind of loved the idea. I mean, I hated that we couldn’t just be together, but there was massive appeal in having a secret boyfriend that my parents wouldn’t approve of.
Fuck. I really needed to work on asserting my independence more. I was too damn old to think it was cool to secretly date an omega from the other side of the tracks. But I had to start my bid to be my own man somewhere.
“I’ve never met anyone like you,” Quincy said quietly, folding our hands together as he handed back my phone. “You’re probably going to wake up tomorrow and think this whole thing was a mistake?—”
“I won’t.”
“—but until then, I had a wonderful time with you today,” he went on. “You…you made this heat so much better than it could have been. You made me feel safe, and I haven’t felt safe since….”
Neither of us said another word. There wasn’t time to say everything anyhow. I hadn’t even formed my emotions into thoughts yet.
“I have to go before your dad gets back,” Quincy said, taking a step away from me. “Keep in touch.”
“I will,” I promised.
Quincy turned to go, but I couldn’t let things end like that. I stepped after him and grabbed his hand. When he turned backto me with a look of surprise, I pulled him fully into my arms and brought my mouth crashing down over his.
For half a second, Quincy tensed in surprise. Then he melted against me like a candle burning. He grabbed hold of me and kissed me back with passion that ignited my soul.
In the middle of that heat came the warpy, blocked feeling of my alpha and his omega reaching for each other, knowing they could never touch. It was painful, but also strangely wonderful. The potential was there. If Quincy hadn’t been severed, we absolutely would have bonded, and my dad wouldn’t have been able to do a damn thing about it. Quincy was mine and I was his.
We stepped apart shakily, eyes locked on each other, saying more than words ever could. I worked my mouth for a second, trying to form everything from my heart into sound, but it wasn’t going to happen.
“I know,” Quincy said with a sad smile, then turned to go.
And I knew then and there, I wasn’t going to let my omega go without a fight.
CHAPTER TEN
Quincy
