“I need you,” Sidian told him between kisses, groaning when Roman kissed down to his throat, tongue rasping over his swollen scent gland. “I need your cock so fucking bad, alpha.”
“Anything you want.” Roman kissed him again and hauled Sidian down into his lap, caging him against the couch, and Sidian could feel the telltale swell of his erection through the wet denim of his jeans, the fabric cool and unpleasant and yet Sidian still rubbed himself against it like the bitch in heat he was. “Talk to me. Tell me what you need. Tell me what you want.”
Sidian wanted so many things. He wanted Roman’s knot lodged so deep inside of him he forgot where he ended and Roman began. He wanted assurance that nothing could tear them apart.
But most of all, as he looked up at Roman, wreathed in violence and blood and death, he wanted Roman’s teeth. He wanted the bond that had only ever been a threat, a promise of forever, a scarred pattern of Roman’s affection for him because Roman belonged to him. They belonged to each other.
For hours, Sidian didn’t know whether Roman was dead or alive. Didn’t know if he was hurt. He didn’t know if he wasokay,and he never wanted that to happen again. If any force on the earth ever parted them, then he wanted the assurance, the tangible proof Roman was all right.
“I’m sorry,” he said, and when Roman frowned down at him, Sidian leaned up to kiss the pout of his mouth, licking the taste of copper off of his lips. “All that shit I said to you. I’m sorry, Roe. It wasn’t your fault. None of this was your fault. You did nothing wrong. Youneverdid.”
Roman’s face softened, and he curled himself around Sidian, warm and protective, shielding him, and Sidian didn’t need to be protected from anything or anyone, but he was more than happy to have Roman more than willing to keep him safe. “It wasn’t your fault either. And you don’t have to apologize. You never have to apologize to me. I know you, Sid. I’ll always know you.”
It hurt hearing those words. Hurt because it was all Sidian had ever wanted from the only person he ever wanted it from and he didn’t know what to do with it, the swell of emotion in his chest. So he leaned up and kissed his mate again, twining his fingers in Roman’s hair, gentle instead of rough. He purred and dragged his cheeks over Roman’s, intent on scenting him, intent on ensuring that wherever one of them went, the other would always be present even if only in the wind's ghost.
“I love you.” Words he had never spoken before, not to anyone. Words he never thought hewouldspeak. Not in his lifetime. Not in the next. “I love you so fucking much, Roe.”
Roman shuddered in his arms and squeezed him tighter, burying his face in Sidian’s hair, and Sidian almost thought he was about to cry when he heard a small, soft laugh muffled against the top of his head. “I love you, too. I think I’ve been in love with you since the day I first met you.”
“It’s an enormous commitment, loving my fucked-up ass. I want you to know that.” Sidian laughed when Roman scowled at him, then leaned back, schooling his features. “I have a daughter. Dunno about the other one, but I’m sort of hoping for a boy so I can have one of each.”
There was something so sweetly comical about the way Roman’s brows furrowed before his eyes widened, his mouth falling open on a little almost squeak of a sound that did not fit him at all. “You’re pregnant?” he rasped, his eyes falling to Sidian’s stomach as pure wonder filled his face.
It had been stupid to hide it from him after all. “You ready to be a daddy?”
“Yes.” No hesitation. No second guessing. Roman lifted Sidian off the floor and back onto the couch, pulling his blood-stained shirt up and over his head, muscles flexing with the movement. “In fact, do me the honor of letting me prove it to you.”
Chapter Forty-Two
Roman only came to the ward when he was too restless to bear the long bus ride that seemed to wind through every single suburb before it deigned to reach his home.
He was never allowed further than the common room, but that suited him just fine as he slunk through the doorway, pressing his back up against the smooth, sterile plaster as he inhaled through his mouth. Still unpresented, he picked up the surrounding scents just the same, the edges of pheromones that he would have to contend with when he was a mature alpha. It wasn’t something he was looking forward to, though he spoke to his father about it. Dad was kind, but he didn’t understand.
Betas never did.
One patient twisted around to face him, lithe body curled up in the couch's corner, knees tucked up against a lean chest and raven hair framing a delicate face. It was only because the patient looked at him that Roman looked back, almost swallowing his tongue when a pair of the most vivid violet eyes he’d ever seen locked with his. Tangled lashes and dark circleshad never looked lovelier than they did on the face of the omega who looked him up and down, then sneered at him.
“What the fuck are you looking at?” he demanded, the sharp tone of his voice pulling at Roman’s gut in a way nothing ever had before. He looked petite, all delicate limbs and sharp cheekbones, the full pout of his mouth the only sign of softness anywhere on his person.
But he was beautiful, and Roman’s hands were sweaty as he tucked them behind his back, pressing them against the wall to ground himself. The soft floral scent that tickled his nose made his chest tingle with warmth, though he thought little of it. He was too busy staring into the mean omega’s eyes, separating the shades of amethyst in wonder. He’d seen green and blue and golden eyes before, but never such a vibrant shade of purple. Like royalty. Like gemstones.
It took him far too long to find his own voice. “You have beautiful eyes.”
“What?” The omega’s eyes widened, a flicker of shock before his face settled into a scowl once again. “I’m a fucking mental patient, asshole. You’re not getting anything from me.”
Roman shook his head, his face hot as embarrassment flooded him. “I’m just waiting for my dad,” he said, and the omega’s face softened. Just enough for him to notice. “I’m Roman, uh, Roman Kane. Doctor Kane is my father. I’m sure you’ve met him.”
What a stupid fucking thing to say. Everyone in the ward had met him.
“Obsidian Vey.” The omega’s voice was halting, slow, and it did not occur to Roman right away that it was a name at all, that it was the first token offered to him, something he would cherish for the rest of his life. “But you can call me Sidian. Most people do.”
“It’s nice to meet you, Sidian.”
He would think about the sharp-tongued omega until sleep claimed him late in the evening, and when his eyes finally fell shut, he would dream of those violet eyes.
Sidian rolled onto his hands and knees before Roman could process what he was doing, dropping to his elbows, his back arching in that position. “Fuck me like this. Mount me.”
“Are you sure?” It took everything Roman had in him not to lose his mind at the sight ofObsidian Veypresenting for him, offering his heat-flushed pussy like a true omega would.
