Omega Teacher’s Secret

added, hesitantly, “I don’t look the best. I’m not… young anymore. My belly’s never really recovered. And—and the scars.”
“I’m still here, aren’t I?”
“I guess.”
Brad’s knot began to recede, but he didn’t feel like releasing his omega.
“I don’t know how to explain it to Gwen,” Ian said. “So… maybe not mention it to her yet?”
Curious, Brad asked, “What did you tell her about her other dad, then?”
“Just that he was somewhere far away, so it was just the two of us.”
Brad snorted. “I wasn’t that far away.”
“I guess you weren’t.”
By now, Ian had relaxed. He breathed steadily, the tension seeping out of his body.
“Can you stand?” Brad asked, stroking his thighs.
“Maybe.”
Ian fumbled, getting to his feet. Brad’s cock slipped out of him, and it felt odd, being half-naked with his professor. He’d never known Ian outside of class, not to this extent. And now there was so much more connecting them than Brad had ever expected.
Ian straightened his own clothes, crossing the room to turn on the lights.
He looked tired, his eyes weary, his hair a mess. Brad met his gaze. Wasn’t sure what to say to him, after all that had happened.
“I don’t think you should stay,” Ian said, looking away. “It’s… probably too soon. I don’t know how to explain this to Gwen.”
He rubbed his arms, and Brad watched as Ian tugged on his sleeves. “You gonna be okay alone?”
“Probably.”
“Don’t hurt yourself anymore, okay?”
“I’ll try.”
“Call me if you’re feeling bad,” Brad said. “I’ll talk with you.”
Ian looked uncertain, but he nodded. “Okay.”
Didn’t feel right, leaving his omega alone this soon after he’d seen Ian cry, but at least Ian looked better now.
Brad fixed his own clothes, glancing at the bedroom door. “Before I leave… Can I see Gwen?”
Ian hesitated. “Sure.”
He padded to the bedroom door, knocking lightly on it. Then he opened the door, poking his head in.
Brad followed Ian into the lit room. The bedroom was just as cramped as the living room—a single queen bed in one corner, a rickety closet at one end. There was a bedside table, a tiny attached bathroom, and an army of stickers on plastic sheets lining the walls.
On the bed, Gwen had fallen asleep, the light-up truck in her arms, its rainbow lights still flashing. Her mouth was open, and her hair was still in ponytails.
“Oh, Gwen,” Ian said. He reached over, turned off the flashing lights, and eased the truck out of her arms. Replaced it with a larger pillow. Ian pulled the hair ties out of her hair, before combing it out with his fingers.
It made Brad’s chest warm, watching Ian with that soft look in his eyes. And Gwen—she was sleeping peacefully, her cheeks thin, her blond hair and stubby nose so reminiscent of Ian.
She was his daughter.
Hard to believe she was his flesh and blood.
When Ian pulled the covers over her, Brad leaned over the bed, touching his knuckles to her cheek. Her skin was warm, velvety, and she seemed so fragile, now that he knew better.
“Her next doctor appointment is in a couple months,” Ian said quietly. “I’ll text you the date if you want.”
“Yeah, please do,” Brad said.
Ian quirked a smile. “You’ll be there?”
“I’ll try. See if I can get the day off,” Brad said.
Ian looked down, but there was a faint smile on his lips.
At the front door, Brad paused. “I’ll see you again,” he said.
Ian blushed. “I can’t believe you want to.”
“Well, believe it.” Brad caught Ian’s hand. Brushed his thumb across Ian’s palm, then leaned in, so their lips were a hairsbreadth apart.
Ian breathed in sharply. “You’re still interested?”
“Yeah, I am,” Brad whispered. Nudged their lips together, giving Ian a chaste kiss.
Ian gulped. When Brad pulled away, he found Ian’s cheeks pink. It looked good on him.
“Good night,” Brad said. “And Merry Christmas.”
Ian smiled then, his eyes warm. “Same to you.”
He watched as Brad stepped away from the door. It was only when Ian closed the door and locked it, that Brad headed down the corridor, with its dim fluorescent lighting, and the ratty carpet.
Brad had a daughter. Ian was pregnant with their baby, and somehow, despite all that had happened tonight, Brad looked forward to meeting them again.

9
Ian
“Ian!” June said. “Harold wants to see you. He left a message.”
Ian winced, his stomach sinking. The department head? “What does he want to see me for?”
June shrugged. She glanced around the lab where the undergrads were tapping away on the computers, then met Ian’s eyes. “His son?”
Well, that wasn’t good.
“Can’t you go instead?” Ian asked. “It’s not like I know any more about his son than you do.”
June raised her eyebrow, and Ian’s face burned.
Two weeks ago, on the day after Christmas, Ian had returned to the lab smelling like Brad. June had been there, and she’d given him that look, and nothing Ian said could’ve erased the incriminating scent from his skin.
So June knew Ian had slept with his student again, but he trusted her not to mention it to their boss.
“I’ve got a number of things due today,” Ian said. “A couple of grant applications, and reviewing some articles for publishing. And a peer review. I can’t possibly set aside time for him.”
“I’ll help you with those,” June said. “Can’t do the meeting, though. Sorry. I did ask.”
She gave him a pitying look. Ian sniffed at his arms. At least, Brad’s scent had been fading over the past two weeks. Brad had to cancel on dinner last week due to a station emergency, and his graduate class would only start again later today. Harold couldn’t possibly know that Ian had met with Brad.
“I may as well get it over with,” Ian said.
He didn’t know what Harold wanted to discuss. Ian had been staying beneath the radar all these years, afraid that Harold would come up with some random reason to screw him over. Didn’t need more trouble than he already had, with Gwen’s hospital bills adding up all the time.
Ian was pregnant, though—anyone could smell that on him.
Worse, Brad had