“You don’t know?”
“I’ve never knotted anyone before, so I don’t know,” Emerson said.
“Right,” Dash muttered.
“How long doyounormally take?” Emerson asked.
Dash sighed. “I’ve never knotted anyone, either.”
A victorious smile spread across Emerson’s lips.“You’venever been with an omega?”
“I’m not attracted to omegas,” Dash murmured.
Emerson’s smile widened more. “Me either.”
“What… if you found him one day? Your omega?”
The alpha’s smile evaporated. “I’m doubtful that’ll happen.”
“Wishful thinking?”
“Maybe,” Emerson said, frowning. “Hopefully not.”
“But what if? You’ve had to think about it.”
“I try not to. But… if I found him, I’d probably run and hide. Idon’twant an omega in my life. Period.” Emerson forced a smile. “Considering how many alphas are desperate to have one, I’m sure he can find another with ease.”
“But he would be your fated mate.”
“I don’t believe in all that shit. Look at my brother. Cassidy wasn’t Harrison’s mate, but they loved one another with their whole heart. Not even Harry finding his omega ended things for them because my brother refused to give up on Cassidy.” He shrugged. “Fate can only get you so far. I believe you can choose your own destiny. You just have to have enough strength to make it happen.”
“I recall you yelling at me for calling Cassidy and Raimy his mates. Did you not know yet?”
“They hadn’t shared that with anyone yet. I was the only one who knew outside the three of them.” Emerson fully met his stare. “How did you know?”
“Fort Seattle fire rigs come standard with cameras. I watched the footage from the night of Raimy’s apartment fire. One of the trucks was aimed right at the back of the ambulance Harrison carried Raimy into—and it was clearly obvious how both Harrison and Cassidy felt for Raimy in the way they worried over him. And the way they clung to him once he woke up.”
Emerson frowned. “How did you get ahold of that?”
Dash clenched his jaw, stifling a grin. “Careful searching.”
“You meanhackingthe FD’s system?”
Dash did everything in his power not to smile triumphantly. “I haveno ideawhat you mean.”
Emerson narrowed his eyes, also fighting a smile of his own.
“Whoever works as your IT Security guy needs more training—or to be fired. That’s all I’ll say,” Dash murmured.
“I’ll mention that to the chief.”
Dash stared up at Harrison, examining the man’s face up close. Who knew when or even if he’d get the chance again. He suddenly realized Emerson had tiny freckles all over. How had he not noticed them before? They blended into his tan somewhat but weren’t completely hidden from view.
For some reason, they made Emerson all the more attractive. A bit more charming.
Glancing down, he noticed pale freckles were all over his chest, too. And his arms. Dash pressed a fingertip to one between Emerson’s pecs and traced a path through several more. “I never noticed these before.”
Emerson glanced down at his chest. “What?”
