His Big Secret

by Austin Bates

  Daniel asked, “What? I didn’t think that’s a question. We have to bring it back.”

  I felt a tear start to form in the corner of my eye. It was easy to go to work every day and not realize how meaningful your job was to so many other people. I knew that we changed lives, but there were other clinics in the country that could take up the slack.

  Rhonda stepped up by my side. She rubbed my bicep. “I understand. It’s hard. When I saw all of the glass, bent metal and rubble everywhere, I wanted to cry, and I wanted to run. I didn’t want to come back. It was too scary to think about, but now that I’ve had some time, I know that we can’t let them win.”

  I looked at the people in the room. It was almost all of the most important people in my world. My spirits began to rise.

  Daniel asked, “Do you remember the story you’ve told us all about what inspired you to start OBU?”

  I nodded. In my head, I saw Benjamin speaking at his alpha’s funeral again.

  Mary said, “I love that story. It’s one about almost perfect love, and every day that I go to OBU, I think about it. Inteus, when you get up out of this bed, we all know what we’ve got to do.”

  Daniel added, “And you’ll be a father soon, too. Don’t forget that.”

  7

  Timothy

  It was surprising to me how easy it was to get to Inteus’s room in the hospital. The front desk staff merely waved me on without question. The hospital’s entry had metal detectors to sniff out firearms, and a policeman stationed himself at the front desk to look for shady types, but none of the precautions got in my way.

  As I turned toward the elevators, I heard one of the receptionists behind me explaining the policy. “If it’s a reporter, contact the policeman here at the desk. If they are friends, wave them on through unless you think there’s a problem.”

  When the elevator door slid shut, I shook my head, and a chill ran up my spine. I couldn’t figure out what would stop one of the protesters who took part in the bombing from marching right up to Inteus’s room to do more damage. While the elevator rose to the third floor, I tried to stop thinking about it.

  I had picked up a small flower arrangement in the lobby gift shop on the way and held it in both hands. Inteus’s room was 311, and I heard voices, friendly-sounding chatter, as I approached. Looking to my left and right, I didn’t see anyone blocking my way and stepped inside. An arm reached out from seemingly nowhere to cut off my access. Stumbling, I nearly pitched the flowers into the floor. They were saved by deft juggling with both hands.

  The arm belonged to Rhonda, and she stood at the foot of an empty bed shielded by a white curtain. I saw feet tenting sheets at the end of a second bed near the room’s windows.

  Rhonda hissed, “What are you doing here? I can’t let you in there. Doing so would violate all of our procedures. Inteus only sees staff, friends, and family. You’re none of the three.”

  I wasn’t in the mood to have a patient conversation about the procedures belonging to a building that now stood as a burned-out shell. “Doesn’t a bomb destroy your procedures, too? I think this is a special situation. He’s the father of my baby, and I want to make sure he’s safe.”

  She shook her head. “The clinic building’s a mess, but OBU continues. I can’t let you in here. Give me your phone number. I’ll pass that along.”

  “And what about the option of meeting the father of my child? Is someone sitting at a desk out in the ether managing those messages?”

  “We think the database is safe. We didn’t house it on-site. I’ll let him know you stopped by. You can call me and get updates on how he’s doing.”

  I pushed hard against her arm. I wanted the unseen figures around the next bed to hear the sounds of a scuffle. I spoke louder. “He’s less than twenty feet away. Why can’t I see him right now?”

  A thick, hoarse voice sounded from beyond the curtain. “Let him in. Mary…go see.”

  Grandmotherly Mary rounded the foot of the bed. She smiled warmly and whispered, “Timothy!” I tried to shake her hand, but she insisted on hugging me instead crushing the arrangement of flowers between us.

  Rhonda interrupted. “This is against procedures. We can’t…”

  Mary stepped between Rhonda and me. “Sometimes we have to break the rules. You heard Inteus. I think this is a perfect moment for a reunion. If they’d never met, it might be different.”

  Goosebumps rose on my forearms. I couldn’t believe that I would finally see Inteus in person for the first time since junior high. Rhonda grumbled while pulling her arm back, and I stepped forward, self-consciously fluffing up the bouquet. I saw Daniel’s smiling face and a muscular bruiser of a man standing by the side of the bed. The last person in the room I saw was Inteus.

  Despite the weariness in his eyes, the dark circles, and slightly sunken cheeks, he was still stunningly handsome. I immediately noticed the massive brace on his leg exposed with the sheet pulled back. He was injured, but it was possible that it was only a broken bone.

  My hands started to tremble, and I set the flowers on the bedside table to avoid losing my grip on them. I struggled to figure out the best words for our reunion. Inteus beat me to it and whispered, “Timothy?”

  The huge man by his side stepped back. I moved forward close to Inteus’s shoulder and reached out for his hand. “It’s me.” When the words finally came, they tumbled like a waterfall out of my mouth. “I know it’s against all of the rules, but I heard the news report, and I was still in town. I couldn’t leave without seeing you. We’re old friends. It’s not just OBU or my baby.”

  I exhaled deeply when I saw a smile spread across his face. Despite the exhaustion, Inteus had a sparkle in his eyes. He said “Timothy” again and paused. “No rules when this happens.” His voice was scratchy, but it was strong.

  I reached out for his hand again, and we clasped our fingers together. “I’m so glad you are okay. I was scared. I had to be here to do anything I could.”

  Mary said, “Oh, he’s smiling. We haven’t seen that since he woke up.”

  Impulsively, I reached out and touched Inteus’s long, wavy hair, pushing it back away from his face. He pressed his cheek against my hand. I wanted to kiss his full lips, but I couldn’t do that with so many others standing around.

  Mary suggested, “Why don’t we all leave the two of you alone for a few minutes? We’ll be right outside the door.”

  Ever the gentleman, Inteus held up a hand. “Timothy, do you know everyone?”

  I looked around the room. “Everyone except this man here.” I placed a hand on the burly man’s muscular bicep.

  “Blaze, my personal chef.”

  Blaze grinned. “And any other tasks as assigned. Boss, should we leave you with this man for now? I see that you have a unique connection.”

  Inteus nodded.

  As they all filed out of the room, Inteus continued to talk. His voice was more animated in tone. “I hate myself for this. No one would be hurt if I didn’t build the damned clinic.”

  I held the side of his head and stared into his emerald green eyes. “The good you’ve done for omegas who wanted babies, and were ready to be outstanding fathers, far outweighs a broken arm or leg. I hope there’s nothing worse. They all love you. I’ve seen it already. The town loves what you’re doing. I…” I bit my lip to cut off my own words.

  I knew that I’d never get tired of Inteus saying my name. He confidently stated, “Timothy.”

  I grinned. “Yep, it’s me.”

  “I don’t think I’ve known anyone named Timothy since you. The name means you. Does that make any sense?”

  “I think so. Do you remember junior high then, too?”

  “How could I forget? You were my first kiss.”

  “Mine, too.”

  Lifting his arm, Inteus reached out for my free hand. I saw the strain of the effort on his face. I gripped his hand in mine. He whispered, “I think my entire body hurts. They give me this drip to take the edge o
ff it, but it’s still there. What did they say about my leg?”

  “You’ll have to ask Mary or the others about that. I only just arrived. I don’t think the doctors know that I’m here. I told the receptionists I was a close friend. They’re only banning the reporters as far as I know.”

  Inteus tried to smile, but I saw worry in his eyes. “You’re having my first baby, too.”

  I opened my eyes wide. “You mean you run that place, but nobody has selected you before? I’m really the first?”

  “You’re the first.”

  “That’s so hard to believe. You’re an amazing alpha.” On my drive back to Naomi’s house after the insemination, I’d reasoned that I didn’t have a realistic chance of forming a family with Inteus. If he were interested in that, surely other matches would have snagged him for a happy trio with a two-story house and a white picket fence. Perhaps I was wrong.

  With a grin on his face, Inteus said, “I honestly thought I’d never see you again. Remember that day when we found the door that led to the roof of the school building? We stayed after school until all the janitors were gone and climbed up there. I thought we were both going to break our necks trying to get away once they found out.” Inteus started to laugh, and it made him cough. I winced when I saw him grab the side of his chest and groan.

  “I’m sorry to say it was my idea, and I’m not sure my curiosity is any less strong these days.” Inteus started to laugh and cough again. “Oh, man, I’m sorry.”

  The coughing wracked his body.

  “Easy, easy.” I placed a hand on his chest, and he tightened his grip on my opposite hand. Inteus’s voice was still getting stronger. “I don’t know what to do now. Fuck, what a mess. What will we do with the clinic? I don’t know how bad it’s damaged. Can we fix it?”

  I rubbed his cheek. The skin was perfectly smooth. For a moment, I speculated about what moisturizer he used. “Hey, hey. You’re letting your brain run too fast. I understand. It was an awful thing, but you need to relax. You need rest.”

  I watched him take a deep breath. His mighty chest rose and fell. “Okay, but I can’t be stuck here in the hospital long. I have so much work to do.”

  “Yes, you do, and I suspect that will keep you out of trouble while this leg heals. Do you know how the rest of the staff are? I saw Daniel with the cast on his arm.”

  “Nothing worse than broken bones, according to Mary. I haven’t seen photos of the clinic yet. I’m nervous about that. I put my life into that facility. Fortunately, the database is housed in another place. It should be okay. How are you?”

  If I were truthful, I’d tell him that I was in shock and worried that my knees would soon give out, making me fall into a heap on the floor. Instead, I said, “I’m great! At least, I think it’s safe to say I’m better off than you right now. So I guess we’ve got a few things to talk about when you’re feeling better, too. That database thinks we’re good together.”

  Inteus whispered, “So handsome.”

  I smirked. “I hope so. I sort of pin my whole identity on that part, and I’m running behind. My followers probably think I’m sick. I’ll need to catch up with them tonight.”

  “Are you leaving town?”

  “No, I’m staying in Harbor for another night.”

  8

  Inteus

  The silver lining of the clinic attack cloud was Timothy. He looked even better in person than the photo I saw on the computer screen at my desk in my office. I bit my lip when I thought about my office. It was gone. If we rebuilt, I could have a new one, but it would never be the same.

  I looked up into Timothy’s blue eyes. “I never knew why you left.”

  He frowned. I thought he was going to say something, but then his lips remained firmly closed. An awkward silence passed between us. Without warning, Timothy leaned forward and kissed my lips.

  I didn’t know what to predict after so many years apart, but his lips were soft. I kissed back and parted my own. I couldn’t remember for sure the last time I’d kissed a man. It wasn’t because I disliked the act. Other concerns pushed it aside. Those commitments elsewhere in life left me a virgin in my thirties. I kept that fact to myself. In the deep darkness of the middle of the night, I occasionally admitted that it was the one thing that embarrassed me about my life.

  Timothy reached down and gently cradled my torso in his arms. Our tongues touched, and an electrical surge raced through my body to my cock. I gasped when my arousal became apparent beneath the sheet.

  I knew that he’d notice it, but he didn’t say anything. “Oh, fuck, you taste amazing,” whispered Timothy. He swept his fingers into my hair, and a soft moan escaped my mouth between kisses. My arm still ached, but the erotic arousal soon pushed all sensations of pain from my mind. I wanted Timothy to be my first. I took the fingers of his hand on my chest and slipped them inside my hospital gown.

  I whispered, “Please…”

  Timothy’s fingers caressed my muscular chest. I gasped again, and my cock stiffened more when his thumb brushed over a nipple. It grew to a hard little nub beneath his touch.

  “Are we breaking rules again? Fuck, I’ve never felt like a bad boy before. I’m the pretty one.”

  I laughed softly, and it made me cough again.

  With his hand flattened against the smooth skin of my chest, Timothy said, “Don’t laugh like that. Every time you cough, I’m worried that it hurts. And that’s painful to me.”

  He was both thoughtful and kind. It was no wonder that Timothy flew through our screening tests. He would make a fantastic father, and he would understand about my lack of experience.

  Timothy began to caress my chest again. “You’re sexy as hell. I knew that from the photo, but seeing you in person is an infinite number of times better than a picture.”

  I grinned. “You’re so kind. Please kiss me again.”

  Timothy honored my request. He nibbled on my lower lip, and the slight pinch of his teeth sent another wave of sensations throughout my body. I felt like a man who’d spent at least a year wandering the desert before he was finally given a long drink of water. I wanted Timothy to devour my lips and touch my body everywhere. I had a primal urge to be inside him.

  Reaching out for his body, my hand landed on his belly. It was firm. He was in good shape. He wasn’t as muscular as me, but he kept himself fit. I wanted to see him naked.

  “Ahem…”

  Timothy suddenly pulled his hand back, and it got stuck for a moment in the hospital gown. He whispered, “Oh, fuck,” before carefully extracting his fingers. I wanted to laugh when I saw the crimson blush spread across his cheeks. He thrust his hands behind his back and turned in the direction of the man who’d cleared his throat.

  I knew it was one of the doctors, but I didn’t recognize him. He wasn’t the same man who was present in the room when I woke up.

  With a sheepish grin on my face, I said, “Sorry, Doc. It’s a reunion with Timothy here. I guess we got a little intimate for the hospital.”

  Fortunately, the doctor responded to my comments with a smile. “I think I understand, but please, save it for your homecoming. We hope to release you tomorrow, and if not then, the next day.” He reached out a hand to shake. “I’m Dr. Gordon. I’m the head physician on your case.”

  Timothy stepped out of the way. I said, “Don’t leave,” and he stopped at the foot of the bed.

  Dr. Gordon said, “I’ve got some news for you. There’s good, and there’s bad. That’s how it always happens with these things. Do you want to hear any particular side of the story first?”

  “Well, I think we could all use some good news around here.” Timothy nodded in agreement.

  “Part of the good news is that you’ll go home soon. Your vitals are stable, and you’re in excellent health. From our past experience, orthopedic patients recover more quickly when they’re home where it’s necessary to get up and move around more. I’m sure you’ll find those surroundings more pleasant than the hospital r
oom.”

  I thought about the rambling cliff house and Blaze’s phenomenal food. “I can’t wait to get home. All of this sounds good. What’s the bad news?”

  Dr. Gordon folded his arms across his chest. “I wasn’t completely finished with the good news. I think it’s very positive that we’ll have you up on crutches soon, and you’ll walk again. Your leg suffered severe damage, and the healing process will be lengthy, but there will be a lot of healing.”

  It felt like Dr. Gordon was holding back something big. “And…the bad news?”

  “You may never walk without a cane.”

  I glanced at Timothy and saw a frown on his face. After living through the explosion at the clinic, I thought walking with a cane was a minor inconvenience. I easily could have lost my life or the entire leg. If the cane was the worst news, I was in good shape. I nodded solemnly in response to Dr. Gordon’s words.

  “I’ll connect you to the best physical therapist in the Portland area. You could even consider checking into a rehabilitation facility in the Boston or New York areas if you wish. Frankly, I think the outcome would be the same, but some patients feel more comfortable with medical facilities in a larger city.”

  I shook my head. “Maine’s my home. I’ll work with the medical personnel here.”

  Glancing at Timothy again, I saw worry in his eyes. I asked, “Do you have any comments?”

  “I’m very happy that you weren’t injured worse.” He rubbed his belly and added, “We could have lost you.”

  Dr. Gordon nodded. “We are indeed fortunate about that. Due to many tragic situations, the medical community’s learned a great deal about injuries sustained in explosions during the ongoing wars in the Middle East. I don’t want to minimize the impact on your life, but what you suffered is mild in comparison.”

  “I’m thankful for that. Do you know any of the details on the other staff from my clinic? Will they all recover?”

  “I think we’ve released everyone from the hospital except for you. You were all fortunate. As a medical professional, I’m sad for what happened. There are much better ways to solve conflicts in this world. We see the results when mistakes are made. I’d rather be put out of business and have this kind of violence come to an end.”