“I wasn’ttryingto make you feel bad. Only saying that you don’t have to hide how you feel from me. Everyone else, you’re fine to mask it, but I want the real you.”
Dash glared at the alpha.
“I assume this was what forced you to retire from the Guard?” Emerson asked, ignoring his ire.
Dash nodded. “The medical team had no idea what was wrong with me. I was sent to a specialist who proclaimed I was something called a hybrid male—both alphaandomega. I spent weeks at his clinic, getting all manner of tests. I was a freak for his freakshow.”
“Don’t call yourself that,” Emerson said, a note of warning in his voice.
“I can call myself whatever I choose,” Dash murmured.
Emerson shook his head. “I’ll protect my mate from whoever’s causing him harm, even if that’s you.”
Who said I wanted a mate in the first place?
Dash had planned to ask that, but somehow a different question rolled off his tongue.
“Do you still want me as your mate?” Dash asked.
What the actual fuck?
His voice had sounded so soft and vulnerable—and had a hint of begging to it. He’d hated the sound the second it slipped from his lips.
Emerson lifted a hand, cupping his cheek.“Whywould I not want you?”
Dash blinked a few times, still thrown by his own question. The answer left him just as unsteady. “Youclearlysaid you didn’t want an omega.”
“It was never the omega biology I had a problem with. It’s the fact I’ve never been attracted to smaller, passive men. I wanted someone who looked like me. Someone who matched my strength and size.Thoseare the men I find appealing.” Emerson brushed his hand through the hair at the side of Dash’s head. “You’re the man I find most appealing out of all.”
“I’ve been rather passive, haven’t I?”
Emerson froze, his mouth parted. “I suppose you have to some… extent… but… um….” Emerson sighed. “It was you.”
Dash frowned.
“I wanted to be with you more than anyone I’ve ever met,” Emerson said. “It didn’t matter how… because it was you.”
Dash sat with that answer, unsure.
“Plus, it’s not like you haven’t been aggressive, too. My ass is sore enough to remind me.”
Dash gasped. He’d been so out of it, he didn’t think his brain had fully processed that he’d topped Emerson earlier in the night.
“Did you forget?” Emerson asked, on the brink of outrage.
“No, it was hazy until you just reminded me,” Dash said, face warming. He fought a smile.
“That’swhat gets you to finally smile?” Emerson asked. “You making me sore from that big dick of yours?”
Dash finally allowed the chuckle to rumble forth. “I can’t believe you let me rut with you.”
“Why wouldn’t I? We love one another.”
Dash froze.“Who said anything about love?”
“You did,” Emerson said, grinning wickedly.“First.”
“Imost certainlydid not,” Dash said.
