Chapter 3 Elton
THREE
ELTON
I put the lid on the weird thermal collection cup, left it where the nurse had indicated, and moved to the sink to wash my hands. My brain was spinning, trying to process what had just happened.
I still didn’t know if I even wanted kids, but I’d had to make the very expensive decision to store my sperm before Monday's surgery. The pressure of this being my last chance to have children—the ones I didn’t even know if I wanted—had been too much for me, and I hadn’t been able to get hard.
But then, against any odds you'd care to put forward, the guy in the room next door had asked for some help for his own needs. He’d distracted me enough to get me through to the end.
And if I’d pictured Pregnancy Book Guy while he texted me, no one ever had to know.
I checked my phone. No messages from the man in the next room since we’d gotten off. Which was a little rude, in my opinion, but we’d served each other's purposes. He was probably married or something anyway. Still, I hoped whatever he was providing the sperm for went well.
I put my phone in my pocket and walked to the door, pulling it open.
Was that... Pregnancy Book Guy? I almost yanked the door closed again.
“What the fuck?” But it was him, standing in the hallway.
He was as gorgeous as he’d been at the bookstore, even more so with his flushed face and perspiration-dotted skin.
“That was you? You were the one messaging me?” I glanced up and down the hall.
What was he even doing here? Donating sperm to people he knew well enough to give them a gift of pregnancy books?
“Yes, it was me.” He smiled. “I didn’t expect it to be you though.” He held out an arm in the direction of the exit sign at the end of the hall. “Would you mind if we went somewhere to talk? There's a pretty good coffee shop at the end of the block.”
Was this about us being compatible? I opened and closed my mouth a couple of times, trying to come up with some words to deny his request, but in the end I shrugged.
“Lead the way.” I didn’t really feel like being alone right now, and I wanted to know the guy’s story.
Looking at his handsome face for a while would be a nice distraction.
My brain tried to bring up the fact that jerking off to Pregnancy Book Guy hadn’t been just a fantasy, and it had been hot as fuck. I put that in a box to think about later.
He walked ahead of me, glancing back a couple of times as if to make sure I was still following.
The clinic was set up so you could either exit through the waiting area or you could go through a door directly out to the street, a boon to those of us who didn't want to walk through a room full of strangers who absolutely knew you'd just been jerking it. Pregnancy Book Guy chose that door. He held it open for me, but I made sure we didn’t touch as I went through.
Our magics had resonated strongly with each other, and the last thing I needed was to accidentally create a permanent mate connection.
“It's this way.” He gestured to the right and fell in beside me as I turned.
Fortunately he left enough room between us that I wasn't worried he’d try to hold my hand or anything.
The sidewalk was empty, it being midafternoon on a weekday.
The outside temperature was only a little chilly, but the wind blowing between the office buildings was biting.
I pulled the collar of my light jacket closer around my neck.
He frowned at me in concern. “Are you cold? Do you want my jacket?”
He started to remove his leather jacket, but I held up a hand. “No, thanks. I'll be fine.” It was a nice gesture, but I could see the coffee shop up ahead.
“My names Rafferty. What's yours?”
“Elton.”
“Nice to meet you, Elton.” He smiled that devastating grin I’d seen at the bookstore. I was disturbed at how warm and fuzzy it made me feel inside.
The coffee shop was fairly crowded, but there were a few empty tables. We stood in line silently, but when we got up to the register, Rafferty said, “Let me get this.”
“No. I'll get my own.” I stepped as far away from him as I could while still being able to speak to the barista. I was startled to feel a wave of sadness, even through the block I had on my magic, and I could’ve sworn I heard a wolf howl.
I darted a glance at Rafferty, but he was looking down at the payment machine.
I ordered a revolting green tea and left a nice tip for the employees.
Rafferty snagged two armchairs by the window. I brought my tea over and sat down, careful not to knock my legs into his.
He cleared his throat. “Will you tell me why you were crying in the clinic?”
My mouth dropped open. “You could hear that?” I could feel my face turning bright red.
“Wolf shifter.” He patted his chest. “We have very good hearing.
I set my tea down on the low table next to the window as I mentally ran through all the sounds I’d made that Rafferty had been able to hear.
My eyes must have been getting bigger and bigger, because he leaned forward and rushed to assure me, “You don't have anything to be embarrassed about. Our entire interaction was scorching hot.”
I was feeling vulnerable and defensive, and although deflecting wasn't a method approved for use in my future job as a licensed therapist, I wasn't acting as a therapist right then. “Who were you donating sperm for?”
I wasn’t expecting him to smile. “You don't have any cause for jealousy. I'm gay, and I’m alpha of my pack. If my pack members are ready for children but need a sperm donation, I’m happy to help, with the stipulation that I won’t act in any sort of parent role to the child.
I make sure we have several conversations in front of witnesses to that effect before we move forward with the donation.
” He glanced down at his coffee, then gazed earnestly into my eyes.
“But if it bothers you, I don't have to do it going forward.”
Once again, my mouth hung open. “Why would my opinion be of any consideration going forward?”
Rafferty's face scrunched up. “I know you're not a shifter, but you have to have noticed how much our magics resonate. That's never happened to me before.” He gestured at me. “You’re not bonded to anyone else. Do you—do you not want to be my mate?”