Page 24 of Temporary Omega

Luca checked price tags and winced thinking about how he could pay rent on a better apartment for the price of things he would never have thought twice about buying just a year before.

Living on his own and having to decide between food and light had given him a whole new perspective. Made him appreciate his life before in a way he had never done. It wasn’t that he’d been ungrateful, or even a snob, it just hadn’t mattered. It was how he’d been raised, it was his life.

He suddenly felt less like shopping than he had earlier in the day when Luca had handed over a credit card and told him to get what he needed.

They’d spoken over breakfast about meeting Lincoln’s papa on Saturday but Linc had clammed up every time Luca tried to ask why he didn’t just take an omega he was actually dating to meet his papa.

There was a story there. But Luca wasn’t sure if it was his place to pry.

Luca sighed, that thought actually made him a little sad. Sure he’d known the alpha for less than twenty-four hours but there was something about Lincoln. Luca could tell there was a story in the alpha’s refusal to speak about his reasons for asking Luca to be his boyfriend, lover… Luca wasn’t even sure what the correct title would be for them.

But Lincoln was definitely commitment-phobic if his curt answer of “I don’t date” was anything to go on.

It wasn’t like the alpha would be lacking in suitors, the man was the very definition of alpha perfection. From his bone-structure to his prominent cheekbones beneath smooth tanned skin, dark hair with lighter highlights he assumed where natural after seeing the pictures of both his parents.

Nope, the man should have no trouble attracting any omega he wanted, but for some reason, he’d decided to ask a total stranger to play the role of his significant other to make his papa happy.

Luca had seen and heard the love and worry in Lincoln’s voice, and the little frown that appeared on the alpha’s brow when he spoke about his papa’s declining spirits since losing his father.

Lincoln’s willingness to go as far as procuring a boyfriend… lover—oh he wasn’t sure what to refer to himself as––but the fact that the alpha was willing to do this to make his papa happy, well it told Luca more about the alpha than mere words could.

Luca simply hoped he didn’t end up being a disappointment. He’d already disappointed his parents, he would hate to disappoint Lincoln and his papa.

But how could he not? He was an omega pregnant with another alpha’s child. Although, Lincoln might not be planning to have Luca stick around long enough for his papa to figure out that not so little detail.

Luca couldn’t imagine Lincoln’s papa being pleased about that development.

He sighed. Gods, he’d really messed up his life hadn’t he?

Luca decided he would pick out one outfit, one outfit that would make the best impression on Linc’s papa. Maybe if Luca could make Linc’s papa happy it would make up for how much he’d disappointed his parents.

He knew one had nothing to do with the other but… he really missed his parents.

Lincoln had deduced that Luca came from money, not that Luca had been forthcoming with his last name. He wasn’t sure why though, it wasn’t like he had to worry about Lincoln wanting him for his trust fund, not that he had one anymore. Even if he did have his trust fund, the alpha was probably as wealthy or wealthier than his family. So it would be moot.

What if Lincoln’s papa knew his papa? They probably ran in the same charitable circles. Fuck. All these thoughts were making him feel a little ill.

Luca picked up two outfits and hurried to the register while pretending he hadn’t spotted any of the usual sales associates that helped him when he used to frequent the store. He paid for his purchases and decided he was done for the day. He needed to go home.

When he got back into the chauffeured car that Lincoln had insisted he use, Luca closed his eyes and breathed in deeply, trying to stop the onset of panic. All the stress couldn’t be good for the baby.

Luca met the chauffeur’s gaze in the mirror, “Home please.”

It wasn’t until he was back in his room at Lincoln’s, resting before he got up to make dinner for himself and Lincoln, that he realized that he’d called Lincoln’s house home.

13

Linc

True to his word, Linc left his office at six p.m. on the dot. His assistant looked at him like he’d suddenly grown a second head when he came out of his office at six sharp and told the man they were done for the day.

Linc had convinced himself over the past few hours that he was simply going home early to make sure his house guest was settling in. He couldn’t very well leave Luca in a strange place by himself on his first day.

Even to his ears the excuses sounded ridiculous but knowing that didn’t stop him from getting home earlier than he could recall doing in the past five or so years.

When he walked into his home, he could tell immediately there was someone else in it. Usually when he came in, the penthouse was dark unless the cleaning service the building employed had been through that day, and even then, they usually left the place as they’d found it—except for the cleaning of course.

But today the lights were turned on, dimmed in some places, and there were food smells coming out of his kitchen, delicious food smells.