Chapter 28
After a long workday filled with mind-numbing insurance reports and zero replies to his texts to Dash, Emerson rolled up in the elevator towards Keller Security.
If his mate couldn’t bother to give him the bare minimum of a thumbs up that he was alive and well, he’d check in up close and personal.
The workaholic was likely pushing things too hard his first day back in the office—and Emerson wasn’t going to allow Dash to completely ignore his needs.
He’d seen exhaustion still lingering in Dash’s eyes that morning.
To help persuade his mate to take a break, he carried dinner for the both of them in a large paper bag which he’d picked up from Lucas’s restaurant minutes before.
There was no way he’d be able to convince Dash to leave work at a decent hour, he was quite sure.
If nothing else, he’d make sure the man was fed.
The fact he’d calm his own nerves was all the better.
As he exited the elevator, he noticed a tiny, well-dressed omega standing at a desk outside Dash’s office, appearing to be shutting down for the day.
Thanks to a wall of filing cabinets obscuring his view, he couldn’t see straight though to Dash’s semi-glass-walled office, but the lights were on inside.
“Sorry. We’re closed for the day.” The omega lifted his gaze from gathering his personal belongings.
As soon as his stare met Emerson’s, a lust-filled smile blossomed over his face.
After giving him an interested once over, the omega grinned mischievously.
“We open up at nine tomorrow morning, handsome.”
Emerson’s cheeks warmed for some reason. “Dash is expecting me.”
The smile faded as the omega’s gaze went to the bag in his hand and then back to his face. “Oh? He didn’t tell me he had any late appointments.”
Emerson wasn’t backing down from the little white lie. “Must’ve slipped his mind.”
“Boss?” the omega called out over his shoulder. “Someone’s here to see you. Says they have an appointment.”
“I’m not expecting anyone!” Dash’s voice called out, a thread of frustration in it.
“Smells like he brought dinner!” the omega yelled.
Emerson fought a smile when he heard a loud thump and a curse. A few seconds later, Dash appeared in his cracked doorway, eyeing Emerson.
“What’re you doing here?” Dash asked, cheeks growing red.
“You avoided my texts, so I came to see if you were still alive.”
“You know I’ve got a lot on my plate right now,” Dash snapped, but the usual annoyed intensity in his voice was lacking. From the look in his eyes, he was happy to see Emerson, but his gaze traveled the room instead of remaining where it likely wanted to be.
“I do know.” Emerson lifted the bag in his hand. “Which is why I brought dinner.”
The corners of Dash’s lips lifted just a hint. “You didn’t have to do that.”
“Have you eaten anything since this morning?” Emerson had tossed Dash a breakfast bar on the way out, figuring it was better than nothing. He’d not been prepared to tend to the aftereffects of a heat. Next time, he’d be better prepared.
Dash opened his mouth, but nothing came out. He tilted his head before saying, “No. I haven’t eaten.”
“I offered to order you lunch,” the omega snapped, reminding Emerson the guy was still there. “You said you weren’t hungry.”
Emerson fought a growl. Dash had barely eaten for days because of his heat. He needed fuel.
Dash’s cheeks grew even darker as he turned to his employee. “On your way home, Eliott?”
The omega glanced between them before pulling the handles of a massive tote bag onto his shoulder. “Yep. See you first thing.” He gave Emerson another once over as he approached. “Bye, Mr. Firefighter.”
“That’s Mr. Arson Investigator.”
“Hmmpff,” Eliott said before giving him another scan. “As long as you can throw me over your shoulder, I’m good either way.”
Irritation crossed Dash’s face as he glared holes into Eliott’s back. As the omega locked the front door, Dash took a few steps closer. “You shouldn’t have come here.”
“Too bad. Someone clearly needs to take care of you,” Emerson replied. “Did you even eat that bar I tossed you on the way out?”
“A few bites,” Dash admitted, face darkening more.
Emerson didn’t hold back his growl this time. “You’re going to eat dinner.”
“I’d argue but whatever’s in that bag smells amazing,” Dash said, rubbing his stomach absently.
“I brought enough for two.” Seeing hunger in Dash’s eyes, Emerson suddenly craved something other than food. No way that was happening, not with his mate recovering from a heat. “Maybe you can take a break to eat with me?”
Dash hesitated a couple of seconds before saying, “A half hour. But no more.”
“I’ll take it,” Emerson said, taking the small victory.
“We can eat in one of the small conference rooms. My office is chaos right now.”
Emerson waited for Dash to get closer before leaning in and trying to steal a kiss. Dash pulled away, glancing around nervously.
“Not here.”
Emerson spun to follow Dash and noticed the omega watching them while waiting for his elevator. His anger at being denied faded. He needed to be more careful but whenever Dash was close, logic flew out the window.
He followed Dash to a conference room and stood at the table, emptying the contents of the bag. “Any breakthroughs in the case. Or rather—cases?”
“No breakthroughs. Just a mind-numbing dive through the unending paper trails from hell your brother and Jackson left me.” Dash rolled his eyes as Emerson’s jaw tensed at the mention of Jackson.
Dash scanned the items on the table for a second, ignoring Emerson’s ire.
“We’ve got some sodas in the kitchenette. Be right back.”
Emerson set the table with the biodegradable silverware his hippie brother stocked at the restaurant, questions about Jackson swimming through his mind. When Dash reappeared a few seconds later, Emerson forced them all down. His jealousy wouldn’t sit well with his mate.
Dash set two ginger ales on the table and immediately picked up one of the plates Emerson had just uncovered. “Wow! That’s almost too beautiful to eat.”
He brought it closer, inhaling. His pleasure-filled sigh went straight to Emerson’s cock.
None of that.
“Which one’s mine?” Dash asked, unaware of Emerson’s growing—and inappropriate—ache.
Emerson smiled, pleased to hear the hint of anticipation in Dash’s voice. “I wasn’t sure of your preferences yet, so pick whichever one you want. I’ll be happy with whatever’s left.”
“Or we could share them both,” Dash offered, eyeing the other plate as he sat. “They both look delicious.”
“I like the way you think,” Emerson said, grinning. He sat across from Dash and slid the other plate closer.
He wasted a few seconds, jostling his silverware and waiting for Dash to take his first bite.
Another moan made Emerson’s jaw clench.
“My gods,” Dash said, closing his eyes as he chewed. “This is heavenly.”
Emerson sat back, watching. Dash’s obvious satisfaction was enough to put a smile on his face. “I’ll let Lucas know you enjoyed it.”
“Is he the only one in the family who can cook like this?” Dash asked before shoving a high-piled forkful between his lips.
“My papa taught him a lot. Particularly how to take something plain and make it feel special,” Emerson said before finally taking his first bite.
After Dash finished chewing, he eyed Emerson. “I’m sure with eight kids on a fire captain’s salary, your papa became a master of that.”
Emerson grinned. “My parents were adept at making things work. And we had more than enough love.”
Pain lanced his chest, worry filling him. He didn’t want to lose that love.
“They sound like amazing people.”
“They are. And I hope to introduce you to them soon.”
Dash’s hand froze midway to his mouth. His gaze lifted to Emerson’s while he lowered the fork.
“I’m telling them this weekend,” Emerson said around the growing knot in his throat.
“You know I’m busy,” Dash complained.
“I wasn’t implying I wanted you there this weekend,” Emerson said. “Once the dust settles—and if I’m welcomed back—you can meet them then. I know you’re too busy right now.”
Dash frowned, almost looking wounded for some reason. “Not now. Not yet.”
“If I don’t do it now—I fear I’ll just keep putting it off.”
“It won’t hurt to wait a few weeks.”
“It’s time to rip this fucking bandage off and be done with it,” Emerson said.
“No.” Dash shook his head.
Emerson scoffed, his brows furrowing. “No?”
“You’re not doing this alone.”
Emerson froze. He’d not anticipated that reply. It warmed him to hear Dash say it.
“I should be there,” Dash continued. “At your side. I am your mate, you know.”
Emerson scoffed, laughing at the same time. “I’m aware.”
“I should be there beside you when you do it.”
“I’ve already told Harry what I planned to do. He’s got my back.”
Dash shook his head. “He’s not your mate.”
Emerson eyed him, an almost giddy feeling bubbling up in his chest that Dash was playing protector. “I’m a big boy. I can handle it.”
“I don’t care,” Dash snapped. “If you’re dead set with it being this weekend, I’ll come.”
“Your case…”
“The case be damned,” Dash said, expression dead serious.
Emerson’s face almost hurt from the grin stretching across it. He was more important than the big case?
“What’s so funny?”
“You’re being my big, bad alpha protector. I think I kind of like it.”
Dash’s cheeks turned bright red, his lips quirking up at the corners. “We’re both alphas. We both feel the protective instincts to take care of one another. Deal with it.”
“Consider it dealt with,” Emerson murmured before taking another bite.
He chewed with a delighted smile plastered on his lips. The smile only grew as Dash appeared all the more agitated and embarrassed, mumbling under his breath before he took another bite.
“You really do love me.”
Dash’s gaze flew to his. “I think it’s a little early to be tossing that word around.”
“You already tossed it this weekend, my darling.”
Dash’s eyes widened. “I was in heat.”
“Yeah…”
“Ome—Men in heat say a lot of things they don’t mean!”
Emerson’s smile faded and Dash almost appeared guilty after its loss.
“I saw the pain in your eyes when you asked me to breed you. That, I knew was false. I didn’t see pain when you said you loved me.”
Dash blinked a few times. “I… ah…” He shook his head, staring down at where he swirled his fork through the pasta. When he looked back up, worry seemed to fill his expression. “We haven’t known one another very long yet.”
“We’re mates.”
Dash nodded. “We are… but… love isn’t a part of that chemistry. Attraction is. Desire is. Need is. The bond? It’s pure animal lust. Love is something you get after giving someone your time and attention. Love is something you work towards. It’s not automatic.”
“If it’s not a part of the chemistry, why’d you say it?”
“I was out of my mind,” Dash snapped.
Emerson winced inwardly, his mind roaring to counter the argument further, but he struggled to find the right words to sway Dash’s mind.
“Fine… no love. Just lust. Noted.”
Dash’s shoulders fell, a glimmer of sadness shining in his eyes. It almost looked like he was upset Emerson had given in—but then why say all those things in the first place?
They returned to their food, quietly eating for a few minutes of silence. Emerson’s mind continued to roar, the quiet of the room filled by bits and pieces of things he’d wished he’d said.
“I was hungrier than I thought. I ate more than half—sorry,” Dash said before sliding his plate across the table. Emerson eyed the near full plate he’d be giving up, but he’d much rather Dash eat his fill than complain. It wasn’t like he couldn’t grab a burger on the way home.
Home? Alone?
That sounded terrible.
He slid his plate closer and exchanged it with the half-eaten one.
“Fuck, this is good, too,” Dash said after the first bite. He practically inhaled the second meal and washed it down with a long gulp of ginger ale. “Please give Lucas my thanks. That was incredible.”
“You’ve had his food before,” Emerson said between chews.
“Yeah, but it was reheated and it’s never as good when you nuke something.” Dash shrugged. “Plus, I was a bit out of it after… you know. I don’t think I was fully coherent.”
“Go ahead and say it. I fucked you senseless that night.”
“Fuck you,” Dash muttered, grinning brightly as he kicked Emerson’s foot under the table.
“If only,” Emerson murmured. “But we’ve only got about ten minutes left, and you’ve been despoiled enough lately as it is.”
“Despoiled?” Dash asked, one brow arching. “You weren’t despoiled.”
Emerson squirmed a bit in his chair. “Oh? I wasn’t”
A wicked grin formed on Dash’s lips. “Nope.”
Emerson held Dash’s gaze, watching his mate’s eyes darken with lust. “We’ll have to take care of that soon. After your cases get solved.”
Dash leaned back in the chair, running a palm over his groin and back up. His lids grew a bit heavier as he held Emerson’s gaze… and he continued to move that hand until the thick imprint of his hard cock tented his tailored black trousers.
Emerson swallowed the lump forming in his throat and cast a glance to the side.
The entire office was nothing but glass windows.
Anyone coming off the elevator could see them inside.
There was the wall of filing cabinets, but was it enough?
He’d already nearly crossed the line once and Dash’s assistant might’ve seen too much.
Turning his focus back to Dash and that errant hand, he squirmed in his own chair. “We can’t. Not here.”
Dash rose to his feet and walked to the other side of the table. He offered a hand to Emerson. “Come with me.”