“No, relax,” Spike murmured, pressing his arm against Micah’s shoulder to try and calm him down. “I told him that Kai and I knocked someone up, but I didn’t say who.”
Micah groaned. “York’s pretty sharp. It’s risky.”
Across the table, Kai raised his eyebrow. “York say anything about you and me?”
“Well, he asked if we touched dicks. Then he asked who the omega was.”
A flush went right to the tips of Micah’s ears. Gods, he was adorable. Spike fought the urge to lean over, and suck on his earlobe. Or maybe trace his juniper scent down Micah’s front, between his thighs.
“Did you tell him?” Kai asked.
“Nope.” Spike laughed, self-deprecating. “I just fled like a coward.”
For a moment, they sat in silence, mulling over the news. Clinks of cutlery and the murmur of conversation ebbed and flowed around them, accompanied by the scent of rich pork broth in the air. Spike’s stomach rumbled.
“Are you planning to tell York?” he asked Micah.
Micah bit his lip, looking down at his flat belly. “It’s... still early. We don’t know if the pregnancy will be successful. It might not be.”
Spike almost cheered up when he heard that—except Micah’s gaze dulled. Micah... wanted the baby? Spike’s baby. Or Kai’s. Theirs.
“You want it,” Spike said, disbelieving. “You really do.”
The professor reddened, fiddling with the corner of his napkin. “Like I said, I’m not holding you to that responsibility. It’ll be my child.”
“If you lose it, I can give you another one,” Spike offered.
Kai snorted. Micah choked, glancing warily around them. “It’s not that,” Micah mumbled, so quiet that Spike had to lean in to hear him. “I’m forty-one. The risks increase as I get older. I don’t even know why you’re doing this—”
Spike’s heart swelled for him. He leaned in, wrapping his arm around Micah’s waist, reaching across Micah for his scarred hand—Micah had tucked that side of him closest to the dark, polished wall.
Micah snuffled, looking up in surprise. And Spike pressed a kiss to the corner of his lips.
Like before, Micah froze, his gaze longing, except he was too afraid to act on it. He wanted more of Spike’s touch. Spike’s heart thumped.
“In bed, you’re my omega,” Spike murmured. “Or ours, if you want Kai in there with you. Or if you just want to be Kai’s.”
It always made him afraid, saying that. Giving Micah the choice to drop Spike, and only have Kai. Despite everything Spike was doing to push Kai and Micah together... part of him, the selfish part, wanted this omega to desire him in return.
Micah blinked hard. “There are... so many things wrong with this,” he said quietly. “I’m your teacher. I’m not the best-looking person out there.”
“Spike’s been head-over-heels for you since he was a kid,” Kai said dryly. “Doesn’t matter what you look like, or who you are.”
Micah stared, disbelieving. “A kid? I didn’t even know you then.”
And now Spike’s chest squeezed tight; Micah could reject him when he found out the truth. “I was there when the fire happened,” Spike said, holding his breath. “I was in your backyard. I was the one who lit the fireworks, and I’m sorry.”
Micah’s jaw hung open. “You—You know about the fire.”
Spike breathed out, trying to stop his hands from shaking. “Yeah, that’s what I said. I started it. There was an older alpha, too. I don’t remember his name, but I was the one who asked to play with the fireworks. I gave you the scars.”
For a long moment, Micah didn’t move. There was recognition in his eyes, though. He remembered. That scared Spike even more.
“Oh,” Micah said. “That... That was you. You were York’s friend back then, too?”
“Yeah. And I’ll do anything to make things up to you,” Spike said, his throat closing. He’s gonna tell me to disappear now. His heart squeezing tight, Spike almost whined. Almost got on his knees to beg.
Then he gave up trying to quell the urge, and knelt on the floor next to the booth, gingerly clasping Micah’s hand.
“I’m sorry,” Spike murmured. “I grew up seeing you with your scars. I know I caused it. It—It doesn’t change the way I feel about you.”
Micah gaped, looking... horrified? Then he reached forward with both hands, cradling Spike’s face. “No, don’t kneel. I don’t blame you.”
“But—”
“Get back up here,” Micah said, the corners of his lips pulling down. “There’s no need for you to apologize. And there’s nothing to forgive.”
Spike bit his lip. He sat back down next to Micah, still uneasy. For the past few years, he’d been phrasing and rephrasing his apology to Micah. He’d been torn about telling Micah the truth, because he wanted this omega so much.
And the weight of his past sat on his heart, heavy and incriminating.
“He needs your forgiveness,” Kai said, his gaze understanding. Spike felt a surge of fondness toward him, too. “That fire fucked with Spike.”
Micah glanced at Kai, looking raw. “Were you—Were you there, too?”
Kai shook his head. “No, only him.”
“I looked for you around town when I was growing up,” Spike said, locking his fingers together so he wouldn’t touch Micah. He wanted to, though, so badly. Before Micah changed his mind and banished him. “I feel guilty about the scars, but they don’t make you any less beautiful.”
Micah stared. Then he cracked a smile, and touched Spike’s hands. “I forgive you,” Micah said softly. “I harbor no bad thoughts toward you at all.”
“Just the naughty ones, right?” Spike joked. Relief unfurled through his chest, rolling the boulder off his heart. “Thank the gods, Micah. I never knew if... if you were gonna shove me away if you found out.”
“I’m not—At least, not because of that,” the professor said, squeezing Spike’s hand. “The fire was an accident. No one is to blame.”
“But you won’t kiss me,” Spike mumbled, his heart fluttering hopefully.
“Because I’m older than you.” Micah looked away. “Because you’ll do better looking for a younger omega.”
“I
