Page 18 of Where the Current Takes Him (Mermate #1)

Beau

B eau dropped to the cool, tile floor, and lay like a beached starfish.

What the fuck had he done? His mind was racing through any possible way to get himself out of this situation.

Two days ago, he’d been single, picking up men in bars, with no plans to have children.

Now, he was handcuffed to a Mer, who definitely expected children from him.

He’d barely gotten to live his life. He was only twenty-four, and had never left North America.

There were places he wanted to see, things he wanted to do…

and all of it had been washed away in a single haze of heat.

Not for the first time, he cursed himself for being born an Omega.

Beau pulled his phone from his pocket and scanned through his texts. So many drinking friends… not a single true friend. No one he could go to for advice or support. He draped an arm over his eyes, trying to steady his breathing. Something blue caught his attention.

The business card Jaime had given him. Beau stashed it in the back of his phone case so he wouldn’t lose it, thinking it might be nice to have at least one person he knew, even if there was nothing Jaime could do to rescue him.

He popped his phone cover off and retrieved the card. Jaime told him to call if he needed something, but the last thing Beau needed was to deal with a phone call.

Beau Montgomery: Jaime? It’s Beau

He didn’t need to wait long for a response.

Jaime Rodriguez: Beau! Are you okay? What’s going on?

Beau Montgomery: I’m okay, I just… I need someone to talk to

Jaime Rodriguez: Do you want me to come over there? Or we can come pick you up?

Beau Montgomery: I don’t think I can go anywhere right now, but if you could come here… I would really appreciate it

Jaime Rodriguez: Is Loriun there? Why can’t you leave?

Beau Montgomery: No, he’s not here. I’ll explain when you get here

Jaime Rodriguez: Send me your address, and I’ll be there as soon as I can.

∞∞∞

It turned out Jaime and Vuos lived only fifteen minutes down the shoreline. Vuos dropped Jaime off before getting shooed away.

“The Omegas need to talk,” Jaime said. “I’ll call you when I’m done.”

Vuos frowned, but nodded. “If I need to beat up Loriun Kolhn, I’ll do it. You will just have to use his money to bail me out of jail.”

“Yes, yes, you’re a big, strong, tough Alpha,” Jaime said impatiently. “Now leave!”

Jaime wrapped an arm around Beau’s shoulders and guided him inside.

When they were both seated on the couch, and Beau had a steaming cup of peppermint tea, Jaime took one of his hands and asked, “What’s going on?”

Beau let out a shaky breath. “Loriun didn’t do anything wrong. I’m not in danger. I just… Everything is happening so quickly. The longest relationship I’ve ever been in was like three months, and now I’m supposed to live with Loriun forever.”

Jaime nodded, squeezing Beau’s hand. “It’s a lot to process.

But you have to remember—if things don’t work out between you two, you have every right to leave.

Sometimes, an Omega and an Alpha just don’t click.

You can request a new match, or you can just go back to the mainland. You’re not trapped, Beau.”

Beau bit his lip. “Actually… I am trapped.”

Jaime furrowed his brow. “What are you talking about?”

Slowly, Beau reached up and peeled the bandage from his shoulder. Jaime inhaled sharply. “He mated you?”

“It’s not his fault. I did it too.”

“You… You marked him too.” Jaime ran a hand through his graying hair. “Oh, Beau.”

“There was something wrong with my medication. Last night, I went into heat and… Well, you can guess what happened.” He avoided the older man’s eyes.

“Heat or not,” Jaime said, “ Loriun is the Alpha here. It’s his job to control himself. Even if he gave in and had sex with you, he has no excuse for marking you.”

“But I—”

“You,” Jaime interrupted, “are a young Omega in a new place, swimming in pheromone levels you’ve never experienced before.”

Beau hung his head. “He feels awful about it.”

“He should.” There was a bite to Jaime’s tone. “Where is he?”

“I said I needed time. He went back to his place.”

Jaime hummed. “Hopefully it’s not too far. The side effects of separating from a new mate are unpleasant, to say the least.”

Beau winced. “What happens?”

“Headache, dry mouth, hard to breathe, skin crawling, things like that.”

“Oh, god.” Beau put his mug on the coffee table and let his head fall into his hands.

“Hey now, calm down. It’ll be okay. You said he’s been good to you, right?”

“Yeah.” Beau’s voice was muffled through his fingers.

“He’s being considerate?”

“Very.”

“Showing any signs of anger issues?”

The memory of Loriun’s fury over his medical file rose to the forefront of Beau’s mind. “Not directed at me.”

“Directed at what?” Jaime’s hand now rubbed soothing circles on Beau’s back.

“Someone who hurt me, back in Gainesville.”

“Ah, being protective. That comes with the whole Alpha thing. Well… I can understand why you’re freaking out.

” Jaime took Beau’s wrists and gently drew him upright.

His warm, brown eyes creased in a smile.

“But it sounds like he’s a good one. A good Alpha will do everything in his power to make you happy.

Whatever you’re worried about, you just have to tell him.

He will find a way to fix it, I guarantee it. ”

Beau lowered his gaze. “What if he doesn’t? What if he only wants me around so he can get kids out of me?”

Jaime shook his head. “Loriun is wealthy and handsome. If that was all he cared about, he could have had a willing Omega over here a decade ago. A Mer doesn’t reach his age without a mate unless they’re holding out for the right person. Try putting a little faith in him.”

Beau found himself nodding.

“Good. Now, do you want me to talk about something else, or do you want to call that fine, redheaded Mer back over here?”

A little smile tugged at the corners of Beau’s mouth. “I guess I should call him back here.”

Jaime squeezed his shoulder. “I think that’s the right move. If anything goes wrong, Vuos and I are only a phone call away. Our oldest is off at college, so you can take over his room for a bit if you have to. You’re not alone here, Beau.”

“Thanks, Jaime. Really.” Beau got to his feet. “I probably would have spiraled if you hadn’t been here. Actually, I definitely would have spiraled.”

Jaime stood and gave Beau a quick hug. “I remember what it’s like,” the other Omega said, releasing him. “Being new to all this. Adjusting to a new life, a new culture, a new species. But you can do this. Everything is gonna work out in the end.”

The look on Jaime’s face was so sincere, Beau discovered he actually believed it.

Loriun returned minutes after Vuos came to collect his mate. His crimson ear fins looked sunken, and he wasn’t standing quite as tall as before.

“I did not expect you to call tonight,” he said quietly.

Crushed cedar filled Beau’s lungs, chasing away a headache he hadn’t realized he had. “I talked things through with Jaime. The human Omega who runs the speedboat service? He helped me work through some stuff.”

“What stuff?” Loriun asked warily.

Beau looked down at his feet. “He told me to be honest with you. So that’s what I’m doing.”

“You do not wish to stay here.”

Startled, Beau’s gaze shot back to the Mer’s face. Loriun’s teal eyes focused on the tile floor. “Everything is happening too quickly, and you are afraid.”

“Well. I can’t say I’m not scared, because I am, but I don’t want to leave.”

Loriun’s face tipped back up, hope lighting his sharp features. “You do not?”

Beau shook his head. “I panicked about the whole mate thing. I couldn’t stop thinking about all the things I never got to do, and worrying about what would happen if we realized we were wrong for each other. To be honest, I’m still worried about those things.”

Loriun straightened. “What can I do to reassure you that I can be a good Alpha?”

“I already know you’re a good Alpha,” Beau said with a small smile. “I’m just a little sad about settling down already. It happened so fast, and I had things I wanted to do.”

Loriun’s hand stretched out for Beau’s. “I will not be the reason you are unable to do the things you wish to do. Just tell me what you want, and I will make it happen.”

Jaime was right. Loriun was desperate to prove himself, all while Beau was busy thinking the worst of him.

“Well… I haven’t traveled much…”

“Travel? We can travel anywhere you wish to go. We can make a list right now.” Loriun spun around and began digging through the drawers in search of a pen and paper.

Beau laughed. “We don’t have to do it right now—”

A notepad slammed down onto the granite counter. “Tell me where you want to go,” Loriun demanded.

“Wait.” Beau carefully removed the pen from his Alpha’s grip. “There’s one more thing we need to talk about first.”

“Anything, luae .”

“Since we can’t really be apart without feeling sick… You should probably just move in. Right?” The words sparked terror as they left his lips, but he knew it needed to be said. What was the point in suffering through separate housing when they had to end up together anyway?

Loriun’s brow furrowed. “I don’t have to, if it makes you uncomfortable.”

“No,” Beau interrupted. “No, it’s fine. Just move in. We’ve already gone through an… active… heat together. Moving in together feels less intense now that you’ve been inside me.”

Loriun’s eyes rounded with shock. Then, he let out a roar of laughter.

“Yes,” he coughed, wiping at his eyes. “I suppose it does.”