of this.”
“Charles!” Peter protested, but the men listened to their boss, put their guns away, and returned to the Porsche.
Travis lifted Peter from the ground and shoved him forward.
“Leave. Now.”
Peter stumbled but regained his balance just above the short flight of stairs.
“Peter, let’s go,” the older man said.
“What? Who’s that, Charles?”
“I apologize for my friend’s ignorance and rudeness, Mr. Whitehall. We won’t bother you again.” The older man hopped up the stairs with surprising agility and put a hand on Peter’s shoulder. Peter flinched away, gesturing at Travis angrily.
“He has Micah in his house, Charles!”
“I know. We need to leave.”
“I’m not going anywhere without Micah!”
Charles grabbed Peter’s wrist and tugged hard. “Peter,” he said in a rushed, low voice. “We are leaving. Now!”
“Micah’s in heat. I can smell him,” Peter hissed.
“Exactly. He’s in heat, in Travis Whitehall’s house. We’re done here.”
“Peter, listen to Charles,” Travis said loudly. “You have fifteen seconds to start the car, gentlemen.”
“That man there can ruin your life with a snap of his fingers, Peter.” Charles pointed a trembling hand in Travis’s direction. “Car. Now!”
Finally, Peter Cunnings seemed to relent. Without looking back, he marched to the passenger’s side and climbed in. The Porsche’s tires crunched on the gravel, and they were gone.
Travis locked the door from the inside and followed Micah’s scent. He found him on the living room floor. Micah was kneeling on the carpet, clutching Travis’s T-shirt in his hands, eyes red, cheeks wet with tears. He was shaking, whimpering into the fabric he held in front of his mouth. The T-shirt was damp with saliva. When the heat wave had begun, Micah must have used the fabric as a gag.
Travis rushed to him, and Micah’s eyes rolled back into his head. He whined, biting into the T-shirt.
“Oh, sweetheart. I’m so sorry. I’m so sorry,” Travis babbled as he tore his clothes off and laid Micah on his back and pulled his sweats and briefs down in one go. Micah’s underwear was already drenched with slick. Without pausing, Travis pushed his hard cock inside Micah’s hole and gathered him close, prying the wet T-shirt from his hands.
Once they were joined, Travis kissed him. Micah clung to him, tasting of tears. He hooked his legs around Travis’s waist and looped his trembling arms around his neck, pressing his face into the crook between Travis’s neck and shoulder.
“Travis…”
“It’s okay, Micah. I’m inside you. I’ll make love to you over and over. Nobody will disturb us anymore. You’re safe. You’re safe.”
“He’s not…”
“They’re gone. It’s just me.”
“He’s not…not my husband.”
And while Travis knew the man had lied, overwhelming relief to have it confirmed crashed over him. Micah was his.
“I know. He can’t be. You’re mine.”
“I want to be yours.”
“You are. And I belong to you.”
“Travis.”
“Come for me, Micah. Let me feel you.”
Micah never loosened the tight grip he had on Travis’s body. Not while they fucked, not when he came the first or the second or the third time, not even when Travis’s knot grew in his body.
“You’re safe, Micah. I won’t let anyone ever hurt you.”
Drained both mentally and physically, Micah fell asleep in Travis’s arms.
They sat at the kitchen table when Travis found it acceptable to start asking the difficult questions.
“What were you doing in the forest alone, Micah?”
It took a minute, but finally, Micah spoke, slow and quiet, as if choosing every word with utmost care.
“My name is Micah Lipsky. My father owns a large development company in Dalton City, and Peter is my father’s business partner. He’s been around since I was twelve, turning up at family functions, bringing presents. It was years later when I understood he’d been pursuing me. His first husband died of cancer. He’s educated, influential, handsome. At first I was flattered. I thought I could do worse. I grew up sheltered. Private schools, and church every Sunday. My brothers are both alphas, and my father is quite conservative. They thought they were protecting me. Instead, I was clueless and defenseless.
“He’s manipulative and cruel. I was too inexperienced to see it. When his character became obvious later on, I avoided him as much as possible, but my father kept encouraging him. Earlier this year, I found out through my friend at college that Peter had raped a few men before. Young omegas from poor families, whom he paid off afterward. I also know he used to buy first heats. My father doesn’t believe it, but I know it’s true.” He lifted his gaze to Travis’s face as if checking