Chapter 7
Hudson
First question answered exactly as I’d hoped – and pretty sure Alex’s mouth had already given me half my answers. I laugh and admit, “I probably should’ve written these down.”
My muscles relax a little when they chuckle along. They’re probably used to being peppered with questions if they’ve been trying to find someone to carry a child with them for twelve damn years.
“I’m tested regularly, though I always insist anyone I, um, play with wears protection. But I’ve never been tested for fertility.”
“We’re more than happy to pay for any and all testing. We’ve each had our sperm counts tested and as far as we can tell, there’s nothing glaring that would prevent us from impregnating you,” Mason says.
Even after an hour, their differences are clear – Mason all polished control, Desmond quiet and kind, Alex pure flirtation…and entirely too talented with his mouth.
My dick twitches and slick coats my special boxers even further. The second I walk through my apartment door I’m going to have to head straight for the shower.
“I think one of the biggest questions is, how long do you wish to try for a child?”
“As long as you’re willing,” Mason says without hesitation.
“You offered me a million dollars. I know you said you would pay as long as I’m willing to try, but…you can’t be serious.”
More like they can’t possibly have that much money. Sure, lawyers make a lot of money, but enough to pay millions of dollars for both my willingness to at least try to get pregnant along with living expenses whether I stay here or in my own apartment?
Oh, and a new car and personal security.
I can’t even comprehend the total all that would come to in the long run. I might like gifts and soft, pretty things, but I’m not exactly a gold digger.
“I wouldn’t feel right about bleeding your bank account if I couldn’t conceive after a few cycles,” I say.
“It can sometimes take a few tries,” Mason says with a slight shrug of his shoulders.
“Well, I have three, sometimes four, cycles a year. You don’t think a year is plenty long enough to determine whether my body will accept your…seed?” I wrinkle my nose. Why the hell did I say seed, for fuck’s sake?
A surprised laugh leaves Alex’s mouth, but he tries – and fails – to cover it with a cough. He even keeps his hand over his mouth a few more seconds like he’s trying to cover his grin.
Instead of letting myself get all embarrassed, I smile back and shrug. “I couldn’t make my mouth say sperm, but seed doesn’t sound a whole lot better.”
When the hazel-eyed sex pot winks, I squirm.
I can’t help it. I’m fighting my instincts so freaking hard being surrounded by these alphas.
Every part of me wants to climb into Alex’s lap and cover myself in his scent.
I want to nuzzle my nose into the crook of each of their throats so I can huff their pheromones deep into my lungs.
I want to strip naked and present for all three of them.
If I agree, I’ll have to remember this is temporary.
No matter how my body insists I’ve found the pack I never wanted, they’ve asked for a surrogate, not a mate.
Still, after years of doing everything alone – since my fathers disowned me for presenting as an omega – it would be nice to be taken care of, even briefly.
Besides, from the research I’ve done through the years, it’s the alphas who carry the genes that determine what designation each of us present as at puberty.
Circling back to all the what ifs, agreeing to their offer will mean the possibility of a pregnancy. A child. And then making the decision of whether I want to stick around as a cool uncle or simply walk away from these incredible men and the child who will carry half my DNA.
I told them they can court me. Maybe we should start there so I’ll have time to think about it, get to know them better to decide whether I want to spend so much time with them while trying to conceive.
“Do you need a decision right away?” I ask, turning first to Mason, then to Alex, before finally turning my attention to Desmond.
The alpha is too damn sweet. I swear he blushes a bright pink any time I show him any attention at all.
“Of course not,” Des says with a sweet smile.
“You agreed to allow us to court you. We can use that time to get to know each other,” Alex says, drawing my attention to him. “And give me time to –”
“Alex,” Mason barks, causing my body to tense. He didn’t bark an order yet my body was ready to obey when he wasn’t even talking to me.
“What?” Alex says with a smirk. “I was just going to say it would give me time to spoil him.”
Except the way he says the word and winks at me is proof he was substituting for the word seduce.
Not that it would take much from him.
Or the other two for that matter.
Even now as we sit and discuss life changing matters, I’m fighting the impulse to lean into Desmond’s side or Mason’s. I want them to drape their arm over my shoulders and pull me against their side, to nuzzle their cheek against mine, to purr away the anxiety that continuously tries to take over.
“Something else I want to discuss with you,” Mason says, drawing my attention back to the pack lead. “Is it possible to talk you into staying here with us?”
“If I agree to…” I wave my hand in the air instead of coming out and saying if I agree to let them breed me.
His face remains stoic. I suppose he’s had this conversation more times than I would like to hear. Though I have no right to be jealous they’ve approached other omegas – and possible betas – with the same proposition.
“I assume you put out the offer to bid on your heat because the time is near. Stay with us, let us at least help you through so you’re safe and comfortable.
There are only betas who work inside the house, the alpha guards remain outside.
It will only be the three of us with you, no risk of anyone within these walls being sent into rut or attempting anything without your consent. ”
My nose wrinkles and the skin between my brows creases. This is by far the least sexy conversation I’ve ever had involving fucking me through my heat.
Yeah, of course I would prefer to be safe and well taken care of during my cycle, but I’d also like to know I’m not the only one enjoying myself.
“I’d be happy to forward the appropriate payment to your account so you won’t feel as though you’ve lost out on any other offers. Even if, after allowing us to court you, you decide carrying a child isn’t the best choice for you,” Mason says, as though he’s reading my thoughts.
Although, I’m sure my face and scent are speaking volumes.
Even with his kindness, I can’t shake the sting of feeling like a paid fantasy.
Actually, I suppose that is kind of what I’ve been doing and plan to do again. So many alphas have paid for my company, paid to experience sex with an omega.
And I’d put up an ad, allowing alphas and packs to bid on spending that time with me, to fuck me through the pain and fever.
With a heavy sigh, I lean forward and reach for one of the drinks sitting on the coffee table, not so much because I’m thirsty but more to give my hands something to do rather than fidget.
I flinch lightly when Mason takes the bottle of water from my hands and unscrews the lid before handing it back to me.
Something inside me softens. It’s been a long time since anyone took care of me, even with something so small.
“Okay,” I say before I really think it through.
Mason’s brows lower slightly.
“I’ll stay until after my heat. We’ve got about a week before preheat starts, and I’ll decide by then. I am on birth control, but I’ve always required my lovers to use protection. I’m happy to be tested if you’d like, for your own peace of mind.”
“I’m not worried. And, though I assured you the three of us haven’t been with another since we bonded twelve years ago, we are also willing to get tested if that would make you more comfortable,” Mason says in that stuffy, obviously educated way he speaks.
I wave his offer away.
“Would you like us to escort you back to your home and help you pack?”
“Nah. I’ll just pack a few bags. Grab my essentials. You don’t mind if I bring some items from my nest, do you?”
“Of course not,” Mason says.
“We can take you shopping, too. Get anything else you might need or want for the nest. Is the color okay?”
“The color is fine.” For now. “But the windows?”
“We’ll have them covered before your heat,” Mason offers.
I notice Desmond remains quiet, but I’ve learned in the short time I’ve been here today he’s a man of few words.
It’s kind of endearing, to be honest, but I’m curious how a shy lawyer can get anything done.
Don’t lawyers have to speak to a variety of people, including judges?
Don’t they have to stand in front of the court and make super impactful speeches in front of the jury?
Obviously, real life lawyers and real-life court is nothing like the shows I’ve seen through the years.
“Would you like to have lunch? Or we can go get some dinner before you head back to your apartment,” Mason says. I don’t miss the way his eyes flit to Desmond behind me and I’m tempted to look back and see if he’s making a face or reacting to whatever either Mason or I have said.
“I think I’ll go get packed. Do you want me to call you when I’m headed back so the guard will let me in again?”
“I’ll make sure you’re allowed in and out whenever you please,” Mason says.
I frown. He said if I join them in this adventure, I’ll be given private security. I can’t help but wonder if that means I’ll still be allowed to come and go as I please, or if I’ll need to not only alert one of them but also be either driven around or shadowed.
The mention of private security makes me picture some muscled bodyguard shadowing my every step, a scene straight out of the romance novels stacked by my bed.
A tremor runs down my spine as my perfume spikes. Mason’s nostrils flare, and I know it’s time to leave before I embarrass myself by begging one of them to ease the ache they’ve stirred.
By the time I reach my car, my pulse is still racing. I came here to sell a heat, not lose my balance to three alphas who make me forget where my boundaries end.