Total pages in book: 62
Estimated words: 58808 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 294(@200wpm)___ 235(@250wpm)___ 196(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 58808 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 294(@200wpm)___ 235(@250wpm)___ 196(@300wpm)
“That’s not true,” Eric said, speaking up for the first time.
Their eyes met, and Hugh felt his heartbeat spike. “It’s a statistical impossibility, Eric,” he said, struggling to keep his voice calm and professional. The idea of Eric with Ascott’s child inside was extremely aggravating.
“There are twenty-nine occurrences of artificially inseminated male pregnancies,” Eric said, lifting his chin a little. “And that’s Mr. Ascott. I’m not in the habit of allowing strange alphas to call me by my name.”
“Yes, twenty-nine, out of hundreds of thousands attempts,” Hugh bit out. “Male omegas, especially male Vos omegas, are not as fertile as their female counterparts. They don’t ovulate like females do. The ovulation can only happen during penetrative sex with an alpha.”
Eric’s gaze was still unflinching, almost daring. “Yes. I’ve researched it. When the mating glands inside the omega are stimulated, it sometimes triggers ovulation, and the likelihood of it is increased by eighty-six percent during heats. I can’t see why that can’t be accomplished with toys.”
“Eric,” Ascott hissed, sounding vaguely scandalized.
Hugh didn’t even glance at him.
Neither did Eric, their gazes still locked.
“You’re not incorrect about the mechanism of ovulation,” Hugh said tersely. “And toys have been tried for artificial insemination, but the results weren’t satisfactory. The prevalent opinion now is that it’s not just the physical stimulation of the inner mating glands that triggers ovulation, but also the pheromones emitted by an alpha when he knots the omega.”
The Eric he’d known would have blushed endearingly.
This Eric didn’t even blink. “I still can’t believe there is no solution.”
“There is,” Hugh said. “If you can afford it, there are genetic centers on the Inner Core planets that can grow an embryo in an artificial gestation chamber.”
Eric’s full lips pursed. “I’ve read that option isn’t recommended for Eilans because it’s nearly impossible for an artificially gestated baby to form pack bonds to the parents.”
“Yes. Pack sense of an Eilan child forms the moment of its conception. The issue is known, which is why that option isn’t popular on Eila. Artificially created Eilan children often end up on permanent anti-depressants because of the feeling of displacement they feel in their families. Implantation of a fertilized egg has the same downside.”
The tip of Eric’s tongue emerged to wet his lips. “Then it’s not an option. Are you saying there’s nothing you can do to help us?”
I can put my cock into you and knock you up.
Hugh nearly flinched from his own thought—and belatedly realized that he was low-key aroused. During an appointment with a patient, while he was discussing ovulation and pregnancy with said patient.
Hugh breathed evenly, trying to will it away. Like all alpha doctors, he wore scent dampeners to put his patients at ease, but they weren’t like his old suppressants and didn’t dampen his scent much. His scent could betray his arousal.
The fact that it was a concern at all was disturbing on several levels. Had his suppressants helped his self-control that much in the past? Apparently yes, because he’d never had such unprofessional thoughts about an omega patient, especially while said omega was seated beside his alpha.
His alpha.
“I’m saying that it’s statistically impossible,” Hugh said in a clipped voice. “I want my patients to have realistic expectations instead of getting false hopes.”
“Yes, you’re all about setting realistic expectations, right, doctor?” Eric murmured, looking at him through his eyelashes.
Hugh’s body stiffened, in more ways than one. He wanted—
He wanted nothing. Eric was a married omega.
It was difficult to think of him that way. His—the wide-eyed boy he’d once known had grown up. Now there was something jaded and sad in Eric’s eyes, and it rubbed Hugh the wrong way, making him want to fix it, to bring back the trusting, bright-eyed look into those eyes.
But Eric wasn’t his to fix.
“All I’m saying is that I need more to work with.” Hugh glanced at the patient chart on his tablet and his lips thinned when he saw Ascott’s age. He’d often felt like he was robbing the cradle with Eric, but Ascott was old enough to be Eric’s grandfather. What the fuck had Eric’s brother been thinking, marrying him off to a man three times Eric’s age? What was wrong with Pelugians that they considered such an age difference normal? It pissed Hugh off so much that his voice was harsher than he would have liked when he said, “Full physicals to start with. Comprehensive hormone and pheromone screenings. My nurse will schedule them for you.” He met Eric’s eyes. “If that’s agreeable with you, Mr. Ascott.”
Eric gave a tight nod.
“Very well,” Ascott said, clearing his throat and making Hugh wrench his gaze away from Eric. “We’ll schedule another appointment, then. Let’s go, love.”
Hugh struggled to keep his expression blank.
Eric was still looking at him. Watching him. At long last, he got to his feet and said, giving Ascott a sweet smile, “Let’s go.”