his eyes when he spoke, voice calm and firm. “And you feel like you’re taking advantage of me. But it’s me taking advantage of you, isn’t it? I invaded your home, and I’m taking up your time.”
“You didn’t invade my home. I brought you here when you were defenseless. But that’s beside the point. Are you aware of how physically and emotionally vulnerable you’re going to be?”
Micah bent his head over his plate, shoulders tense. “I wanted to handle it myself,” he whispered. “But I can’t.”
“You’ll need help in any case.”
He was quiet for a long moment, and then, raising his tired eyes, he said quietly, “Please, let me stay.”
“You can stay here, Micah. I already said so. But there might be options. I’ve sent for an artificial knot.” No need to tell Micah Travis’s dad was involved. “It should come by courier from Dalton City as soon as the road from Birdsview is passable again. Maybe twelve more hours.”
“But it won’t be the same, right?”
“No. It’s not as…satisfying without human contact, but it keeps the pain away. You’ll still need care, food, and rest, since you’ll be fatigued between waves. But I’ll help you as much as I can.”
Micah was quiet for a while. What was he thinking? If he decided to handle the heat waves alone with the help of toys, Travis would make sure he had all he needed to make it through. Travis’s own desires were unimportant.
“You don’t want to fuck me anymore?” Micah asked softly.
Oh, sweetheart! Travis grabbed Micah’s hand on the table and squeezed.
“Micah, it’s not about that. I want you. You’re beautiful, and your scent is the most glorious thing on earth. I do want you. So much. But you didn’t choose me.” Travis paused for emphasis, looking for understanding in the brilliant blue eyes. Micah watched him with sad solemnity. “You should’ve had a choice. You should’ve had the possibility to choose a partner for yourself. Do you understand what I’m saying?”
“Based on what you’re saying, I understand that I’m lucky it’s you,” Micah said in earnest. “I didn’t have a choice, but neither did you.”
Travis frowned. Was that true? He could have let the boy suffer and just fed him, kept him hydrated between waves, and stopped him from hurting himself—tied him up, held him down. He didn’t want to imagine the horrific scenes. Micah would have survived, traumatized for life but physically unharmed. Travis would have sent for the artificial knot, and Micah would have endured three heat waves without any relief. Maybe four. Travis recalled the state Micah had been in after the first one. Could he have watched Micah suffer for hours? He’d never know because he had fucked Micah instead. And he’d enjoyed it tremendously.
He remembered what his father had said. He knew he didn’t take advantage of Micah, not intentionally, but it felt wrong all the same to draw so much pleasure as an indirect consequence of somebody else’s misfortune.
“I remember it, you know. You said no, but I begged you to fuck me.”
“Micah…”
“I could smell you in the room, and I remembered how you carried me from the river. When you finally touched me… I liked what you did to me.” Micah shook his head, and his voice got stronger when he continued. “No, scratch that. I loved it. You’re considerate and just…kind. Please, Travis, let me stay with you. If you can.”
Travis watched him for a while, taking in Micah’s features, trying to see beyond the beauty to discern his emotions. Micah looked back, a slight furrow between his eyebrows and subtle tension around his pouty lips. Nervous, tired, hopeful. And what were the options anyway? What would happen to Micah if Travis said no?
Trust his judgment. Treat him right.
His dad’s strong voice resonated in his mind. A heady mixture of sadness and excitement seized him now that he’d made his decision. During the upcoming days, Micah would be dependent on Travis for food, warmth, rest, even hygiene. He’d need some form of physical contact most of the time, twelve to sixteen hours of sleep a day, a high-calorie diet, baths and long showers to release muscle tension, and he’d need to get fucked and knotted daily. He’d need to feel safe and loved, yet they were strangers. He’s my lover, and he’s in heat. I know what to do. It’s a part of me. I only need to let it happen.
Intertwining their fingers on the table, Travis met Micah’s serious gaze.
“I’ll do everything