Chapter Twenty-Nine
Zinn
The twinge in Zinn’s back sharpened as he paced the living room in the small house, his breaths short and labored. It was almost time. Thank the stars! The early signs had gone on forever, reminding him just how badly the suppressants had messed with his body.
The last straw came this morning at Felton’s.
Zinn had been working in the kitchen for the past few days, as he’d become rather fragrant. Lolo and Calder were busy helping a delivery driver with a broken-down truck in the alley. When three alphas came in and took a seat at a table, Zinn figured he’d be fine to quickly grab their orders.
He was wrong.
As soon as he emerged from the back, the men began shifting in their seats. One of them started palming his cock, emitting a low rumble as his eyes flashed at Zinn. The other two were in similar states of distress.
Zinn appreciated that the alphas weren’t jerks about it.
They probably had partners and were wondering why he was at the bakery.
It was an unwritten rule in society—omegas in heat, or close to it, retreated to a place of safety and seclusion.
Although most alphas could control themselves, being around omegas exuding heat pheromones affected them powerfully.
Zinn put down his order pad, not even bothering to approach the table.
Picking up the small duffel he’d brought with him every day for the past week, he poked his head out into the alley.
“It’s, um, time,” he stammered to Calder. “I’m going to head to the house.”
The big alpha nodded, and Zinn registered the bulge tenting his pants. The rest of the staff were betas and couldn’t smell him, but Zinn realized he must have been torturing Calder lately.
“You still want to walk?” Calder rasped, exhaling through his nostrils like a bull. “I can drive you.”
“No. Walking at this stage is good.” A surge of pre-heat adrenaline pulsed through Zinn’s veins. “It helps burn off extra energy and stretch my muscles. I’ll be careful to avoid other people on the sidewalk.”
“Alright. Then you can get acclimated while I handle last-minute things here. I’ll be there within the hour.”
“Yes, alpha.”
Calder’s answering stare was so lava-hot that Zinn had to look away.
He took the house key Calder had given him a few days ago and began walking the half-mile to the rental house.
As he maneuvered through the quiet streets, his body went into overdrive. His skin itched and grew warm. Beneath the soft fabric of his briefs, his cock thickened.
By the time he shoved the key into the lock and burst through the front door, he was panting.
He almost wished he’d taken Calder up on his offer to inspect the house prior to today because he was so horny he could barely think straight. But he also trusted that the alpha had prepared for all his needs.
That was why, when he opened the fridge, he was unsurprised to find ice-cold bottles of water there. Along with a case of his favorite root beer.
After downing a water and tossing his duffel on the floor of the home’s bedroom, he sat on the couch and tried to make himself comfortable. This part of heat was familiar. The burning skin and the desperate need to be filled. His hole ached and his passage was drenched with slick.
During his past three heats, the betas his parents had hired were on him by this point, using toys and encouraging him to touch himself.
They had been kind, but it was so detached.
He’d found no pleasure, only the brief relief that came with release, and by the end of those heats, the pain of not being properly filled had been excruciating.
Maybe if he’d never experienced his first heat, never known the ecstasy of being touched with care and tenderness, he could have endured it better.
He shuddered, gulping down the memories that threatened to surface.
His eyes landed on the coffee table. He saw a sketchpad and two sets of pencils, one multicolored and the other grayscale. A note sat on top.
I wasn’t sure if you have a brand you prefer. I hope these are okay. The man at the art store said they’re the best.
They were the best. Top of the line materials Zinn never would have bought for himself.
He’d only started drawing again a year ago.
Even with the mental baggage attached to his art, he’d been unable to stay away from it.
Calder had caught him sketching in the bakery office.
That was when he’d first suggested Zinn learn to decorate cakes.
It was a thoughtful gift. Zinn was too worked up to draw at the moment, but looking around, seeing all the care Calder had demonstrated with the preparations, he calmed. He’d be able to focus on the present, not get mired in terrible thoughts of the past.
Calder was gorgeous and kind and thoughtful, and he had done all this for Zinn. He had agreed to give up his parental rights to save him from having to share this experience with a stranger. Now that it was finally happening, Zinn found himself not only relieved and grateful, but eager.
They’d taken care of the logistics, and now the only thing left to do was get through his heat.
No.
Not just get through.
Enjoy.
He would enjoy getting fucked by Calder.
He thought of the way Calder’s green eyes sparkled in the sunlight. Those eyes had been fixed on him recently, challenging him. Admiring him. Caring for him. A dam broke inside Zinn, punching through the wall he’d built years ago in Warburton.
His blood thrummed as he envisioned the hours ahead.
Boldly, he went into the bedroom and removed most of his clothing, draping his pants, shirt, and socks over the armchair in the corner. Five minutes later, a car pulled into the driveway.
Calder swung the front door open cautiously, as if he were worried about scaring him.
Zinn wasn’t scared.
He stood still in the middle of the living room. Waiting.
Calder’s eyes went wide.
“Alpha,” Zinn whispered, reaching out a hand.