is beautiful.”
“You like it?”
“Are you kidding?” Hyatt flung himself at Dorian, not even caring they were being stared at by other patrons. Someone at another table even applauded. “I adore it, thank you.” He kissed Dorian, trying to put his intense emotions into that single press of lips and light sweep of tongue. “I’ll treasure it just like I’ll treasure you and the family we create.”
Dorian slid the ring onto his finger. “Perfect fit.”
“It’s the most romantic thing ever.” Hyatt admired the way the silver band stood out from his darker skin. “I can’t wait to show it off. Khory is going to squeal.”
“I can imagine.” Dorian helped Hyatt stand and get back into his chair, before returning to his own. Pride radiated from his entire body and, for the first time today, he didn’t seem weighed down by last night’s nightmares or the news about his omegin. “And the ring isn’t me trying to buy your affection or show off my money. I just…needed a physical symbol of my promises to you.”
“I love it.” Hyatt didn’t mention that he did not need whatever wealth Dorian still possessed from his sire’s estate, because of the random transfer sitting idly in his own account. But something niggled at the back of his mind—a doubt or worry that he pushed away. Today had been lovely so far, and he only wanted to focus on here and now. Maybe a little on the future.
After Dorian paid their check, they walked for a while in the bright spring sunshine. Hyatt loved their walks, most of it spent in silence because they didn’t need to fill it with idle chatter. They window-shopped a bit at some of the fancier clothing stores in this neighborhood. Hyatt coveted those clothes made from silks and fine fabrics, but he had no use for them.
They were extraordinarily pretty, though.
The morning passed in a pleasant fog for Hyatt, spent admiring expensive things, holding his future mate’s arm, and glancing at his new ring every five minutes or so. He couldn’t remember ever being so content or happy in his life—as if he was finally on the cusp of getting everything he’d ever wanted. And the thought of anything or anyone destroying that terrified him deep down in the same place where he hid all his niggling fears.
They walked until Hyatt’s feet ached, and then they agreed to hang out at Dorian’s apartment for a while. Hyatt hadn’t been back since their first chaperoned date when Dorian made the most delicious pot roast he’d ever eaten. It hadn’t changed at all, beyond a new fragrance in the air. Likely some sort of scent-blocking incense from yesterday’s cycle. He imagined the scent of slick had attracted the attention of more than one alpha neighbor.
“I really enjoyed our conversation yesterday,” Hyatt said as he sank into one corner of the couch.
Dorian, bless him, blushed as he sat with about a foot of space between them. “It was an intense call, and I thank you again for…well, all of it.”
“You trusted me to get you through a very private moment. I think I came out of my own shell a little bit, too. You gave me the first positive sexual experience of my life, and I don’t think I can ever truly thank you for that.”
The soft, protective growl Dorian unleashed caressed Hyatt’s senses like a hand caressed skin, and it soothed him rather than scared him. “Whenever I think of what Edgar did to you, I want to kill him myself and hate that he’s already dead.”
A desperate need to be honest with his alpha burbled up inside of Hyatt, and he couldn’t stop himself from blurting out, “Edgar did it twice.”
Dorian’s entire face and his posture went slack. Then shocked. “He did what twice?”
“He raped me twice, but I only ever told anyone about the second time. The one Rebel walked in on.” Somehow Dorian’s silence encouraged him to say more. To finally confess this truth to someone who wasn’t his therapist. “About three weeks before the end, Symon was sick in the basement again, and Rebel was occupied. Edgar came into the bedroom and told me to take my clothes off. To kneel beside the bed.” All true about the second time as well, so he hadn’t technically lied to anyone about it. “He told me if I stayed quiet and cooperated he wouldn’t go after Symon.”
Dorian snarled, and the sound sent a bolt of fear into Hyatt’s gut. Hyatt grabbed