Precious - Roe Horvat Page 0,37

for a reaction, making sure Travis believed him. Seemingly satisfied, he continued. “My father says a man like Peter doesn’t have to buy heat or rape to get men into his bed. He’s rich and attractive. Any omega would be lucky to marry him. But I know Peter. He wants absolute control in everything, to be the one with all the power. That’s why he buys sex, and that’s why he rapes. And that’s why he pursued a naïve virgin with money.

“When he asked me to marry him three months ago, I said no. My father got angry, and Peter suggested that once I went into heat, I wouldn’t protest the marriage.” Micah’s lips curled with disgust. “My father was in the room but said nothing. He was okay with it, Travis. And I realized why my father didn’t believe the rape accusations against Peter. To him, it’s not rape if the victim is an omega. Even when the omega is his own son.”

“Micah…” Travis reached out to touch Micah but then stilled. He’d thought he’d known enough to empathize, that he was compassionate and experienced enough to understand what an omega went through. His dad had been one of the people who’d once campaigned to make heat purchase illegal. Travis had been raised to value equality, and he took pride in his liberal views. Watching Micah’s face now, the strength and determination, the bone-deep sadness, Travis knew nothing. He had never been as vulnerable or humiliated. Nobody ever reduced him to a mere animal that could be given and taken regardless of its own will. And what had Travis done to help Micah? He’d taken him. Was he any better than the men Micah had run from?

“I was planning to get out, but I thought I had a little more time. Then I started to feel it…the early signs, you know? I woke up slick some mornings. I told my oldest brother-in-law, David, and he understood. He was going to hide me at his parents’ summer house. Show me how to deal with it on my own.”

“What happened?”

“My father found out. I think he could smell me.” The tears spilled over, and Travis burned with helpless rage. “He just stood up from the breakfast table, lifted his phone, and called Peter. Told him to come and pick me up. ‘You can marry after,’ he said.”

Travis’s stomach heaved. “How could your father do this to you, Micah?” he blurted without thinking.

“I’m an omega. The expendable son. And once I’m horny, I’m not supposed to care who fucks me, right?”

“They’ll end up in jail, both of them. I’ll make sure of it.”

“No, Travis.” Micah’s voice was stern. Travis glanced at Micah sheepishly. This was no place for his useless anger. He was supposed to be here for Micah. Micah shouldn’t have to placate him.

“I apologize. Continue, please.”

Micah nodded softly. “David couldn’t help me anymore, not without my brother and father figuring it out. So I climbed out of the bathroom window. I bought a bunch of camping gear, took a train north, got out at Birdsview station, and camped in the woods for two days. Then the first wave came.” He swallowed. “I thought I knew the risks.”

Unable to sit still, Travis stood, walked to the counter, and braced his hands on the edge. Coffee stains tarnished the surface, and he grabbed the sponge and rubbed at them uselessly. The brown tint only smeared around. He felt the guilt of generations of men fall on his shoulders. Micah was never supposed to be here in his house. Everything that had led him into Travis’s arms had been wrong. He was here because of cruelty and injustice. And Travis had benefited from it. How could Micah ever respect him, ever love him, really love him? Because it wasn’t just the heat. It couldn’t be.

Travis had fallen in love.

A gentle hand landed on his back, and he froze.

“You’re not like them, Travis.”

How did Micah know? Could he read Travis’s mind? At this point, it wouldn’t have surprised Travis.

“I wish you had chosen me freely, Micah.”

The hand stroked between his shoulder blades, and Travis closed his eyes.

“You’re nothing like them,” Micah repeated, and Travis wanted to believe him.

“I’m so sorry.” His voice faltered, and he had to swallow to be able to breathe.

“You did nothing wrong. It’s been beautiful. Everything we’ve done together has been beautiful. I’m so happy you found me.”

Travis turned and wrapped his arms around Micah, holding him to his heart.

“You