Page 70 of The Omega's Fake Mate

“Fuck,” I muttered as I tucked myself back in, trying to clear my head. Getting up, I turned to look at the window. Had anyone seen us?

“That was nice,” Nick said, looking about as satisfied as my dog after a large meal of leftovers from the dinner table. Like he'd gotten an unexpected treat and he couldn't be more pleased with himself.

“Have you read a book?” I asked.

“What?” Still stuck in post-orgasmic daze, it seemed to take him a moment to parse my words.

“Your part of the challenge, remember? I believe I've just fulfilled mine.” I pulled his boxers and pants back up before anyone could walk in on him parading his junk around in my store. The sign on the door saidClosed, but we all knew precious few people respected that.

“Oh, that. I... still have two days, right?”

“Don't tell me you're failing your challenge the first month. You're the one who suggested we do this.”

“I'm not failing!” Nick pouted. He was too cute when he did that, so I kissed him.

“Well, better pick a short book then.”

Nick took a step back and bit his lower lip. Was he nervous about something? Which reminded me. Why was he here? “I've actually already kind of picked my book. I just haven't finished it yet.”

I frowned. Was he nervous about his choice of reading material? He should know I would never judge him for what he wanted to read. With somesmallexceptions, maybe. “What did you pick?”

Scratching his neck, Nick went to retrieve his bag from where he'd discarded it by the door. “You have to promise me that you won't flip out.”

“I won't.” Why would I? What book could possibly make me flip out? “It's not one of those books about how great the bachelor lifestyle is, right? Or100 Reasons to Break Up with Your Long-Distance Boyfriend?”

Nick turned back to me. “Does that book exist?”

“I don't know, but if it does, I don't want you to read it.”

“Noted. I'll take it off my list. Oh wait, I don't have lists. That's you.” Nick tried a laugh, but his voice wasn't steady.

What had him so upset? “You don't have to tell me what book you're reading if you don't want to, you know.”

“No, I'm going to tell you, it's just...” He took a breath. “It's going to change a few things and I don't know how you're going to react.” Finally, he pulled the book out of his bag and handed it to me.

My eyes flew over the title.What to Expect When You're Expecting.

I blinked.

I read the title again.

Nick was trying to tell me something here, wasn't he? I gulped. But he couldn't be... I took a few steps back to lean on my desk, gripping the edge of it with my fingers. “You're... you're not reading this forfun, are you?” He'd said things were going to change when I knew what he was reading. “Are you trying to say that you want to have a baby or that you're...” God, I couldn't even say it.

Nick exhaled. “You know we didn't use a condom that night at my brother's place.AndI was in heat.” An uneasy smile formed on his lips. “Really, this was kind of bound to happen.”

He was right. We'd been stupid and this was the result.

Nick took a step toward me. “Say something, please?”

“I...” I had absolutely no idea what to say. Nick was pregnant. He was carrying my baby. I was going to be a father.

Jesus fucking Christ.

And Nick was still expecting some sort of response from me, looking just about as nervous as he felt.

Of course he's nervous. He's pregnant, you idiot. This is harder on him than it is on you.

I needed to tell him that things were going to be fine. Now more than ever I needed to act like the alpha everybody told me I was. I had to be strong for my omega. And so, in spite of the panic raging inside of my head, I forced a smile on my face. “That's great,” I said, and to be extra convincing, I threw my arms around Nick. “You're going to make an awesome dad! Can you imagine how much fun that kid is going to have growing up?”