Page 34 of Where the Current Takes Him (Mermate #1)

Loriun

H e was coerced. Loriun’s veins filled with ice. His Omega was forced to come here. To be with him.

He leaned across the table, seizing Beau’s hands. “Why didn’t you say no?”

Beau shrugged. “He has his ways of getting me to do what he wants. And it’s not like my life was incredible back in Gainesville.”

Does he even want to be here? Has it all been an act?

Before Loriun could spiral any deeper, Beau squeezed his hands. “I’m glad it was you. Even if the way we met wasn’t… great, I don’t have any regrets.”

The frigid terror that had flooded Loriun’s body slowly began to thaw. “You don’t?”

“Not at all.” Beau’s beautiful face split into a dazzling smile. “I met you. Nothing else matters.”

Loriun felt on the verge of collapse. He was going to skin Ashford Montgomery and wear the leather as a belt.

“He told me that you didn’t know anything,” Loriun said. “And that you would be upset to know that I donated money in exchange for you. But that’s not what happened. He said—”

“I know,” Beau interrupted. “My father is a master manipulator. He told me that you basically bought me. As soon as I met you, I should have realized he conned us both.”

Instinct told Loriun to seize his Omega and take him right here, in the middle of the busy restaurant, but the thought of the newspaper headline stopped him.

“Ikatere Desalination CEO, Loriun Kolhn, arrested for public indecency after graphic sexual behavior at local restaurant”

He would never financially recover from that. Instead, he growled in a low voice, “Finish your meal, quickly. I need to get you home.”

Beau appeared to understand exactly what that meant, because he ate at top speed and leapt up from the table. “Let’s go.”

∞∞∞

“We’re going to have to tell my parents.

” Beau was lying in bed, propped up by a stack of pillows.

His graceful fingertips drew small patterns along his belly.

To anyone else, it might appear flat, but Loriun was intimately familiar with the small swell that had appeared between his mate’s hips over the weeks.

“We can postpone a little longer,” Loriun said, coming to sit beside him. “I know you are concerned about their reaction to the news.”

Beau sighed and pulled his shirt back down. “I’ve been thinking about it a lot, and I feel like what my dad said about my mom freaking out is bullshit.”

Loriun blinked.

“He said she wouldn’t be able to handle seeing me pregnant with an…” Beau pressed his lips together.

“Alien parasite?” Loriun supplied, recalling that first visit to Gainesville.

Beau winced. “Yeah. But Mamá never said anything like that. Even when my dad brought it up, she only seemed worried about us moving too quickly. I really think she’d be happy about it—getting to meet her grandchild before she…” Beau trailed off again.

“I understand, luae .” Loriun pressed a kiss to his mate’s forehead. “Why don’t we visit her this weekend? I saw an interesting video online where a woman gave her mother a false court summons, but inside it said she was preg—”

“Okay, no.” Beau laughed. “Love the energy, but we cannot do that.”

Loriun frowned. “I suppose that method may cause unnecessary stress. I will search for more videos.”

Beau snorted. “Let me know what you find.”

Loriun glanced at the bedside clock. “We should start getting ready. Our dinner reservation is at seven.”

“Where are we going again?” Beau asked, swinging his legs over the edge of the bed.

Loriun grinned at him. “It is a surprise. But you should dress nicely.”

“While I still can,” Beau grumbled. “In a few months, I won’t fit into any of my clothes.”

“I will purchase new clothes.”

Beau got up on his toes and kissed his Alpha. The feeling of this man’s soft, warm lips would never cease to make Loriun shiver with desire. But there was no time to toss him back onto the mattress and ravage him.

With some difficulty, Loriun turned to the wardrobe which overtook most of the wall. Most of his clothing was formal, as he only wore it for work and human interactions. He selected a navy shirt—the one he’d worn when he first met Beau.

“Wow,” Beau said behind him. “Must be fancy if you’re putting on clothes for it.”

Loriun laughed. “It is an interspecies location. I do not wish to offend.”

“I find it offensive that you’re covering yourself up.” Beau ran a playful hand down his mate’s spine.

Loriun shuddered, willing his cock to remain in place. “You are not making this easy, Beau.”

“That’s good. I’m trying to make it hard.” He gave a quiet laugh.

“Ah! That was a joke!” Loriun declared in triumph. “You are making an innuendo about my penis.”

“Alright, well, that moment is over.” Beau dropped his hand and began flicking through the hangers.

When the couple finally left the house, they were more finely dressed than they had been in weeks.

Loriun wore his navy shirt with the sleeves rolled to his elbows (at Beau’s insistence), and a light pair of cream pants.

He’d also managed to scrape his wild hair back, the top half in a bundle of curls, and the bottom half flowing over his shoulders.

Beau wore a complimentary shade of beige that set off the golden tones of his hair and eyes, and caramel-hued slacks.

Before they’d left the house, Loriun had reached out and undone a button at his Omega’s chest. The faint shadow of his collarbones made the Mer want to skip dinner and spend the rest of the evening buried deep inside him.

It took quite a bit of effort to convince his legs to carry him to the car.

Beau watched the sun set over the sea as they drove.

Loriun was busy watching him , with each glance bringing a thrill of nervousness.

He felt certain Beau would enjoy the surprise he’d planned, but a small part of him was still afraid.

Though he loved his human mate, the cultural differences still caused the odd miscommunication, and Loriun hoped this would not be one of those times.

“Hey wait a second.” Beau leaned forward, staring out at the streets. “I know where we are.”

Loriun pushed his fears aside. “I thought you might. But I assure you there is still a surprise.”

Beau shot him a look of narrow-eyed suspicion as they pulled into the parking garage for the observation deck.

Loriun said nothing further as he rounded the car and helped his mate from the passenger seat.

They walked to the elevator, and Loriun recalled the feeling of Beau’s fingers running through his hair for the first time.

He tapped the uppermost button.

“We’re going back to the observation deck?” Beau said, raising an eyebrow.

Loriun attempted a casual shrug. “You have never seen the island at night.”

The elevator doors opened, and Beau let out a gasp. Crystal vases filled with red roses lined every surface, and trails of rose petals on either side formed a walkway. Candles flickered between the flowers and vases, casting a warm glow around the space.

“You did this?” Beau asked, his voice breathless. He stepped onto the petal-lined walkway and looked back at Loriun.

Loriun’s heart fractured at the look of pure joy on his mate’s shining face.

“Come,” he murmured. “I think we should follow the path.”

Hand in hand, they moved through the maze of roses and candles. It guided them past twilit windows and toward a small table, set for two.

“Wow, Loriun,” Beau whispered. “You’ve really outdone yourself.”

Loriun’s throat was now too choked to reply. Instead he gestured to the sparkling city lights splayed out before them. Beau stepped away, gazing at the view in awe.

Loriun felt as though his whole body had gone numb as he sank to the ground, one knee striking granite floors. The velvet box in his hand seemed to pull his body toward the Earth’s center. Inside rested a thin ring with a teal Montana sapphire suspended between two golden arms.

Gaish ausye, I hope I’m doing this right.

Beau turned back from the window, arm in mid-gesture, then froze. “Loriun, what…”

“Beau Montgomery,” Loriun said, his voice low.

He wondered if Beau could hear the tremor.

“Our bond was not built in a way either of us could have expected. Our love was built on passion and mistakes. Our family, created by mere chance. Yet I do not have the words to express the gratitude I have that fortune brought you to me.”

Beau’s fingers were pressed to his lips, and his dark eyes were strangely bright.

“We are mates,” Loriun went on. His voice sounded very far away. “But you have upended your entire life for me, and in doing so, you have lost some of your culture. I do not wish for you to lose any more. So, Beau, will you do me the honor of becoming my husband?”

Tears were streaming down Beau’s face, and for one horrible second, Loriun thought he had irreparably screwed up.

“Yes,” Beau choked out. “Yes, I will.”

The relief that swept through Loriun’s whole body nearly knocked him over. He rose back to his feet and took Beau’s left hand. He slipped the ring onto his fiance’s finger and kissed the back of his hand.

“It suits you,” Loriun said softly.

“It’s beautiful,” Beau managed. Then, his mouth was on Loriun’s. His lips tasted like the sea.