Chapter Text
“We’re not doing this,” Andrew snaps, turning his back on the stubborn-as-shit freshman and taking an agitated puff of his cigarette.
“Andrew,” comes Neil’s equally frustrated tone. “We have to.”
“No, we don’t,” Andrew rejoins, even though he hates repeating himself. “Doing this means you’ve already accepted that it will happen, and I told you I will protect you.”
“Yes, I know,” Neil snaps back, and the conviction behind those three words are almost enough to make Andrew pause. “But I’m an omega and we both know Riko doesn’t play fair. The second he finds out, he’ll try to use it to his advantage somehow.”
Rage flares to life inside Andrew’s chest. “I won’t let him touch you,” he snarls, allowing his alpha voice to bleed into the furious statement.
Neil, however, isn’t cowed.
“That’s the point,” Neil huffs. “By doing this, no one can. Except for you.”
Andrew glares at him, then down at the sheet of paper in Neil’s hand.
“PSU thinks you’re a beta,” he reminds Neil.
The only reason he knows the freshman isn’t one is because he’d found the illegal suppressants he uses in that stupid duffle bag of his, which Andrew had happily rummaged through as soon as he’d been able to get his hands on it. It had taken a combative conversation full of snarling, growling, and posturing before the two of them were finally able to agree on the shaky deal they have now – one that Neil is already doubting.
Neil rolls his eyes. “Your belief in the administration system is woefully optimistic,” he deadpans. “They’re not going to cross-reference their records if we walk downstairs and tell them I’m a freshman omega. They’re just going to take our contract, review the contents with both of us, then witness us signing it. After that, should anything…” and here Neil falters before he continues “…should anything unplanned occur, there will be an objective third-party who can substantiate your position.”
He means when the Foxes come for Andrew’s head, once they figure out Neil is an omega and that he’d allowed Andrew to be the alpha who “helped” him. It would be an officially sanctioned document that Neil will have filled out legally, logically, and with full consent before instinct and need take over.
Damn the omega’s practical nature.
“You don’t swing,” Andrew ruthlessly points out next.
Neil had been adamant about this from the moment he arrived on campus. He wasn’t interested in getting off or finding a mate – he wasn’t interested in anyone, period. Neil Josten came wrapped up in a bunch of warning signs that read, leave me the fuck alone.
The fact that they’re even having a conversation about this feels like a violation to Andrew.
“Well, if you’d stop arguing with me about this and come over here and look at this form, you’d see I chose platonic options as my preferred method. Any…any sexual interactions would come second. An alternative, if needed.”
Andrew bristles. “I would never take advantage of you,” he snarls. “If you don’t want sex, then no one will touch you. Including me.”
“Again, it’s not you I’m worried about,” Neil says dryly.
Andrew narrows his eyes at him.
Neil sighs. “Let’s just say I’m…familiar with some of the methods Riko may use.”
Andrew continues to stare at him.
“Not that I’ve ever used them!” Neil says hurriedly. “I’ve just…heard about others who did. About what…other terrible persuasive methods are out there.”
There’s a lot to process in those last couple of sentences. But Andrew supposes that with Neil’s father’s shady connections to the mafia, it isn’t completely unbelievable that Neil would have been exposed to something unsavory.
Andrew feels a rush of bile gather at the back of his throat that he swallows quickly. He takes a deep breath before finally asking, “Why me? Why not Boyd or Reynolds? Or any other alpha on campus?”
Because…Neil must know what it means to ask him, right?
Neil casts his gaze to the side. “It’s just sex,” he hedges.
Apparently not.
Andrew crushes the solitary spark of feeling in his chest as he snorts, “Says the guy who’s never had it.”
Neil gives him an irritated look. “First off, if I had to do this, Matt and Allison are friends of mine. So preferably, I’d still like to be able to look them in the face afterwards.”
Unlike you, who I could care less about, Andrew hears implied.
“And second,” Neil clenches his jaw before admitting, “I know how serious you are about keeping promises. If I say not to touch, then I know you will. No matter…no matter what I say in the moment.”
Andrew is quiet for a full minute. Then he clears his throat and grounds out, “Given this a lot of thought, rabbit.”
“I believe in preparing for the worst,” the other man responds flatly.
And this would be, in Neil’s eyes. (With good reason). It’s a precaution that he’s trying to set up as a very last resort, and part of Andrew can’t fault him for that.
Besides, there’s still very little to suggest the situation will actually occur. All of Neil’s identification documents mark him as a beta. He’s also on those wretched suppressants – ones that hide his scent and prevent his heat from coming. And all of this is unnecessary anyway, as Andrew has zero intention of letting anyone, least of all Riko, touch him.
“Fine,” Andrew snaps. He stands up from the rooftop’s edge and throws his cigarette over before walking towards Neil.
“Fine?” Neil echoes, his voice a little funny.
Andrew doesn’t respond to that. He simply snatches the paper from Neil’s hand and begins reviewing it.
Like Neil said, platonic interactions were marked as his first preference – things like scenting, snuggling, napping, feeding, etc. were all marked as okay. Unsurprisingly, he’d marked bathing and dressing as solo activities, which aligned with his reluctance to change out in front of the team in the locker rooms.
Andrew has no disagreement with any of his preferences, so he skips down the page to where Neil marked sexual interactions as his “alternative” method.
He begins reading Neil’s sexual preferences – only to find them blank.
Andrew pins Neil with his stare, mildly satisfied at the way he squirms beneath it. “Seem to have missed a section, rabbit.”
A little color blossoms in Neil’s cheeks. “Well, like you said – how would I know what I like if I’ve never done it?”
There’s a stupid little thrill that goes through Andrew at the thought of being Neil’s first for any of these.
He immediately squashes it.
This is supposed to be a worst-case scenario only – as in Neil intends for it not to happen at all, if possible. Andrew would do well to remember that, regardless of how stupidly attractive the omega is.
So, he takes a deep breath and asks, “Let’s start with what you don’t want.”
“No knotting,” Neil says immediately, without pausing for breath. “And no penetration.”
Understandable, but…
“No penetration at all?” Andrew asks clinically. “Or no dick penetration?”
Neil’s brow furrows. “Well…what else…what else would there be?”
Andrew swallows. “Fingers, tongue, toys.”
Neil’s eyes widen, and Andrew can hear his breathing pick up slightly. “Um…toys? Like…what?”
“Dildos, vibrators, plugs, prostate massagers, anal beads,” Andrew rattles off a quick list without removing his gaze from Neil’s face.
“Oh,” Neil says faintly, before he swallows audibly. His eyes dart to the side, a slow flush starting to creep up his face as he says, “Um, okay.”
“Okay to what specifically?” Andrew asks.
Neil goes silent.
Andrew sighs, then uses his alpha voice to growl, “I need an answer, omega.”
With the advantage of being closer this time, he sees the little shiver that comes over Neil before he whispers, “Um…I don’t…I…”
Andrew tries a new tactic. “Fingers, yes or no, Neil?”
Then tries not to swallow his tongue when Neil’s heavy-lidded gaze slides down to his fingers. There’s a slight hitch in Neil’s breath before he chokes out, “Yes.”
Andrew nods, ignoring the heat under his collar as he writes it down, then asks, “Tongue? Yes or no?”
Again, out of the corner of his eye, he watches Neil focus on his mouth. With a herculean effort, he stops himself from sticking his tongue out and licking his lower lip.
“Yes,” Neil whispers again.
“Toys?” Andrew asks next, actively fighting to keep his voice even. “Dildos, vibrators, plugs…?”
Neil hesitates, then nods slowly. “Yes, yes, and yes, but…um – no uh, massagers or anal beads? They aren’t…I’ve never…”
He looks at Andrew confusedly for help, but Andrew just nods, writing his specifics down. If they ever actually come to this fork in the road, he’ll just stick with the basics – the kid seems overwhelmed enough as it is.
“What else don’t you want?”
“No biting or marking,” Neil says firmly.
Andrew crosses out both of those boxes. “What else?”
“Um…I uh, I don’t know what it’s called but…um, no handcuffs or um, ropes, or uh…things like that,” Neil’s face is definitely burning now, but he sticks his chin out stubbornly and remarks, “I don’t like to be restrained.”
Andrew taps a hand on the paper. That might be a problem, depending on the situation for him. “What about hands?” he asks, before clearing his throat and clarifying, “What about my hands?”
“What about them?”
“What if my hands are the ones to hold you down? Not hard enough to hurt, just to…stop you from touching sometimes?”
Neil’s pupils flare, before he nods and says, “Yeah, that’s…yeah, okay.”
Andrew nods in return, jotting it down. He can work with that. “What about your dick?”
Neil scowls. “What about it?”
Andrew rolls his eyes before pinning Neil with another bored stare. “Can I use my hands? Or my mouth to get you off?”
“Oh.” Swallow. “Yes.”
“Nipples?”
Neil frowns. “Why would you…would that even feel-”
“Yes, it would,” Andrew tells him, matter-of-fact.
Neil hesitates before he slowly shakes his head. “Not my…not my torso. I want to…I want it to remain covered.”
“We could do that,” Andrew nods. “I could keep them covered while still licking and playing with them.”
“Oh,” Neil squeaks before clearing his throat. “Oh, okay then…only if they’re covered then, but…um…yes.”
Intrigued despite himself, Andrew still writes Neil’s request down, word for word.
He sees Neil waver in the corner of his eye, before he clears his throat and asks, “What about you?”
Andrew lifts an eyebrow at him. “What about me?”
“Is there anything you don’t want?”
Andrew stares at Neil, wondering for a moment how much of a sex education the omega’s been given. Because the truth of the matter is this – when it comes down to biology, alphas are much stronger than omegas, and omegas are instinctually programmed to surrender to them. That means that regardless of what Neil promises when he’s of sound mind now, he has little to no chance of remembering it once he’s in the throes of a heat.
“Doesn’t matter,” Andrew scoffs.
Neil glares at him. “Of course it does. Just flip over the paper and start writing them down. Or, if you want, I could go and get another form-”
“No,” Andrew grumbles, flipping over the form so he’s staring at the back. He rolls his eyes once, just to visually remind Neil how pointless this is before he begins writing furiously. He whips through listing out his no-go’s while he watches Neil grow more and more antsy out of the corner of his eye.
Finally, Neil snaps, “Are you going to share with the class, or am I going to have read the book?”
Andrew gives him one long look before reciting off, “No pet names, humiliation, bondage, pain, penetration with any genitals or toys, water games, fisting, hair-pulling-”
“Wait, wait, wait, what?” Neil asks, almost panicked. “I don’t – what are – I’ve never even heard of-”
Andrew gives him a small smirk before he explains, “Here’s the basic rule: don’t touch me anywhere without asking.”
“Oh. Well…” Neil looks puzzled for a moment. “Why didn’t you just say that?”
“You asked me what I didn’t want,” Andrew reminds him.
Neil huffs before rolling his eyes. “Ass.”
Andrew shrugs, then adds, “I can explain them, but I wouldn’t suggest introducing any of these into your first time regardless.”
Neil rubs his upper arm with his opposite hand, casting his gaze to the side for a moment. Then he shrugs and says, “Okay.”
Andrew blinks at the simple acquiescence before handing the form back to Neil so he can review and double-check all the details he added. Once Neil nods, satisfied, Andrew crosses his arms. “So? We doing this?”
Neil swallows. Then he nods. “Yeah.”
“Lead the way, omega,” Andrew motions with his hand.
Neil gives him a scathing glare before heading down the stairs, Andrew solidly at his back.
~
Like all perfect plans, it only takes a couple months for everything to go to hell.
Kevin forces Neil onto the Kathy Ferdinand show, where he antagonizes Riko in front of the entire world. Riko takes revenge by killing Seth via a drug overdose. Neil retaliates by punching Riko in the face at the winter banquet.
Technically, it’s Riko’s turn in his and Neil’s sick game, so Andrew just waits for the fallout from a rabbit who promised he’d stay under the radar. (Liar.)
But Riko strangely doesn’t make a move.
It’s only on the drive back from spending Christmas in New York City with the upperclassmen that Andrew gets the hint something’s wrong.
They’ve just passed the exit for Edgar Allen University on the highway, Kevin unsuccessfully trying to suppress his panicked scent and fluttering heartbeat in the passenger seat next to him, when a random number pops up on Andrew’s phone. It’s shrill ring interrupts the easy banter in the car instantly. Kevin stops breathing, so Andrew snaps his fingers in the man’s face to get him going again before he opens the device and places it on speaker. “Talk.”
“You have twenty minutes to get here before your striker becomes useless for the rest of your season.”
Everyone stares at each other in confusion for a moment before their eyes immediately slide to Kevin. Kevin, who’s sitting there, whole and healthy in Andrew’s car.
The man’s voice is lightly accented, though, and Andrew only needs one glance at Kevin’s pale face to know it’s Jean. So he quickly rejoins, “Think you’ve taken one too many Exy balls to the head, Jean Valjean. My striker is sitting right next to me.”
“Not that one,” Jean scoffs. There’s a very brief pause before he adds, “The omega.”
Andrew’s brain stalls out for a second before it comes back online with a vengeance. He immediately snarls, vision nearly going red as he barks into the phone, his alpha voice commanding, “What the fuck have you done to him?”
“Come see for yourself.”
Then the phone call ends.
With a screech of tires, Andrew does an illegal U-turn over the highway divider to start racing back to the Nest.
“Omega?” Nicky pipes up from the back. “Wait, what is he talking about? We don’t have an omega striker on our team. Seth was an alpha and Neil’s a beta like Kevin, right?”
Andrew is silent, nearly flooring the gas pedal as he wills the car to go faster.
“Right, Andrew?” Nicky insists, his voice growing tighter and his own panicked scent bleeding into the air, mixing with Kevin’s.
Andrew ignores them both.
Fuck. The asshole had told him he was visiting his estranged uncle for Christmas – had even promised not to do anything stupid while he was away from Andrew. Goddamn, motherfucking liar.
If Neil isn’t already dead, he’s going to kill him.
“Fuck,” Aaron says softly into the damning silence.
The moment they pull into the stadium parking lot, they spot him.
Neil is lying on the ground next to a black raven’s bag with his hood up. Andrew screeches up next to him, throws the Lexus into park, then sprints out of the car, over to the striker.
He rips the hood back and blinks for a second because the image that greets him isn’t what he’s used to. Neil’s hair has been dyed a devastating auburn color that suits his skin tone remarkably well, making him even more attractive, if possible. However, this improvement is dampened by the number of cuts and bruises Neil’s covered in, including Riko’s new tramp stamp on his cheek.
But Andrew observes all of this in two seconds before bringing his hand to Neil’s neck, trying to find his pulse. It’s there but weak.
Andrew lets out a shaky breath.
Then his hackles rise when he hears voices coming towards them.
“Holy shit, is that Neil?”
“Fuck, is he-”
Andrew immediately whips his head around and growls viciously at them, throwing his body over Neil’s to protect him.
“Whoa, whoa, Andrew! We’re not-”
“What the hell are you-”
“Jesus Christ, just stay back, idiots!” He hears someone snap before they turn to him. “Andrew, calm the fuck down. I need to check Neil out to make sure he’s okay,” Aaron tells him, throwing his hands up and approaching Andrew slowly.
Brother. Omega. Safe.
It takes a few seconds for the rage to recede. He drags ragged breaths into his chest, willing himself to calm down. Once he has himself back under control, he finally lets Aaron come close.
Aaron checks for a couple of vital signs, taking Neil’s pulse and respiration rate, leaning close to sniff his nose and mouth, before opening one of his eyes and shining a light down over his pupils.
Slowly, Aaron shakes his head, looking back up at Andrew. “They have him on something but…I’m not sure what it is. It’s obviously mixed with something to knock him out right now but it…smells wrong.”
Andrew leans closer to Neil and sniffs the air – then immediately curses.
Because the first thing Andrew smells is his first scent of Neil as a true omega. Which obviously means Riko stripped away Neil’s access to his suppressants, but it’s not the immediate concern on his mind.
The real problem is how goddamn delicious Neil smells.
It’s weak but there’s a hint of oranges and cloves that makes Andrew want to burrow closer, makes him want to put his nose right up against the glands of Neil’s neck and scent him deeply. His mouth begins to salivate, and he can feel his canines lengthening. If he moves just a little closer, then he can lick a stripe up the gorgeous skin of the omega’s neck and -
Andrew shakes his head violently. With an extreme amount of willpower, he manages to stay frozen, resisting the siren’s call of Neil’s mouth-watering smell and focusing on the other notes that Aaron mentioned.
And…yes, there it is. He can smell it. Something sickly sweet and cloying enough to make his nose wrinkle.
He stares back at Aaron. “They drugged him.”
Aaron nods. “Yeah, but with what is the problem. It’s not something I recognize.”
Which is saying a lot, knowing his brother’s past experience with illegal substances.
“We need to get him back to Abby,” Aaron says.
Andrew nods.
He slides his arms under Neil’s knees and back and lifts before starting towards the car. Aaron grabs Neil’s bag and follows them.
Back at the vehicle, Kevin and Nicky are waiting for them.
“Oh my god, what have they done to him?” Nicky whimpers the moment he sees Neil up close.
All the color drains from Kevin’s face upon seeing Neil, his gaze lingering on the new tattoo, but he says nothing.
Andrew tucks Neil into the corner of the backseat before sliding in next to him, protecting him from the others. He tosses his keys at Nicky before snapping, “Get us to Abby’s. Now.”
Nicky doesn’t say a word for once, the others scrambling back into the vehicle before he steps on it.
Andrew gathers Neil carefully against his side, trying to prevent him from accidentally slamming into the door or getting jostled, and doesn’t let go the entire ride back.
Luckily, Edgar Allen is practically on the border of West Virginia, meaning it’s only about a four-hour ride back to Palmetto.
Nicky makes it there in three.
Kevin calls ahead to let Abby know they’re coming, so the moment they pull into her driveway, Abby is sprinting out the front door in her bathrobe to come over and check on Neil. Reluctantly, Andrew allows her to do a quick, clinical once-over of Neil’s visible symptoms before she nods at him.
“Let’s get him in the house,” she says firmly.
Andrew nods, lifting Neil into his arms again before carrying him inside.
He brushes past Kevin to get there and watches the man freeze before wincing, taking a couple steps back. Andrew ignores him, following Abby into a back room where she has a bunch of medical equipment and supplies set up. He lays Neil gently on the bed before glancing over at Abby.
“I’m going to need to give him a physical exam in order to assess the damage, Andrew,” Abby tells him quietly. “Which means I’m going to need you to leave the room.”
A snarl rips out of his throat before Andrew even has time to think about the meaning of that statement.
Abby winces but stands firm. “This is patient-doctor confidentiality, Andrew. You two are not mates. You have no legal right to any of his medical information.”
Andrew balls his hands into fists as he wills himself to calm down. Neil himself had said he didn’t want Andrew seeing his torso – he had no right to be there, no matter how much his instincts were telling him to stay by the omega’s side and protect him at all costs.
So he whips himself out of the room and down the hallway to where the others are waiting.
“Wymack’s on his way,” Kevin announces. “Just sent him a text and-”
Andrew throws his hand against the wall beside Kevin’s head, cornering him. “Why did you flinch when you smelled Neil?”
Kevin stares at him, mouth agape for a moment. Then his gaze darts to the side.
Andrew slams his foot against the wall next, making Kevin jump. “I won’t ask again, beta,” he growls, using his full alpha voice. “Tell me why you flinched at Neil’s smell.”
Kevin cowers, his head firmly bowed as he answers, “I…I think I recognize what drug they gave Neil, but I…I’m really hoping I’m wrong.”
“What is it?” Aaron demands, drawing closer.
Kevin looks over at him, finding it easier to stare at the omega’s eyes than Andrew’s. “It’s something Riko created for his own personal use at the Nest. It’s definitely illegal and highly potent.”
“What does it do?” Nicky asks warily.
“It…it’s a mix of an increased autonomous curative, some biological activators, and…a very effective aphrodisiac.”
“Which means?” Nicky whispers.
Kevin winces. “It means the drug will force Neil to go into a false heat.”
Aaron blanches, stepping back. “What? But that’s-”
“Absolutely inhumane,” Nicky cuts in, horrified. “Why in the world would he…”
But he trails off as Kevin casts his gaze to the side, making an even worse face than before.
There is nothing Andrew wants to do more than find Riko and rip his goddamn face off before plunging his knives so deep he rips the bastard’s heart out. But his need to protect Neil outweighs his bone-deep thirst for vengeance right now, since he knows he’s the only person Neil consented to help him through a heat.
He cusses the rabbit out violently in his head for a second, hating that his precautionary plan has come true with every bone in his body.
Then he focuses, homing in on what must be done.
“Fine, so he goes into heat,” Andrew snaps at Kevin. “We’ll take him to the heat suites back at the dorm, and I can help him through it there. How long does it usually last?”
Three pairs of eyes snap towards him.
“You can what?” Aaron says.
“When did you even-” Nicky starts.
“Neil made you his heat partner?” Kevin asks, stunned.
Andrew nods at Kevin. “It was meant to be a last resort,” he says bitterly, the words sour in the open air, even to his ears.
The house is grimly silent for a moment.
“But…but I thought Neil didn’t swing,” Nicky says at last.
“He doesn’t,” Andrew confirms.
Nicky furrows his brow. “But then how can you-”
“He asked for platonic assistance, didn’t he?” Aaron pipes up.
“Oh, right. Duh. Of course, I totally forgot,” Nicky shakes his head.
But Kevin makes a noise in the back of his throat that has them turning back towards him.
“Now what, Day?” Aaron snaps. “What could possibly be worse than finding out Josten’s actually an omega who’s been drugged, forcing him to go into an unnatural heat?”
Kevin runs a hand shakily through his hair as he explains, “Because that’s exactly the problem – it’s not a real heat. There’s not just a difference in timing. Riko engineered it so that if the omega isn’t…satisfied physically…then they’ll be in tremendous pain for as long as the drug lasts.” He throws an apologetic glance at Andrew before he adds, “Just cuddling won’t be enough.”
Andrew grabs one of the nearby kitchen chairs and throws it against the wall with enough force to smash the furniture into pieces. “I’m going to fucking kill him,” he roars, eyes glowing red and marching towards the front door.
Abby comes running out from the back hallway. “What is going on?” she snaps, surveying the damage to her kitchen before grimacing at the scent of fear and rage in the room.
Kevin and Nicky huddle off to the side, away from the murderous vibes Andrew gives off, but Aaron plants himself in front of Abby’s front door.
“Move,” Andrew commands, using the full force of his Alpha voice.
His twin shrinks a little but doesn’t budge. “No, Andrew. He needs you.”
“What he needs is for me to kill Riko,” Andrew growls, his tone lethal.
“No, what he needs is for you to take care of him through this fucked-up situation Riko has forced him into,” Aaron growls back. “If he’s named you as his heat partner, then you’re the only one he has fully consented to help him through this.”
“He doesn’t want that kind of help,” Andrew snaps.
“At all? As in he crossed off any sexual contact with you during heats on his form?”
Andrew clenches his jaw before ripping his gaze away from his twin’s knowing one, remaining silent.
“Neil agreed to have sex with you?” Nicky blurts out, awestruck. “And you…you said yes?”
Andrew turns slowly to give his cousin the eye. “Problem?”
Nicky cowers back from the glare. “No, I…no, I just didn’t know…um…that you…with guys…” He falters before growing silent under Andrew’s stare.
“Exactly,” Aaron pipes back up, using the opportunity to hammer his point in. “So, if both of you have consented already, then why would you let him suffer through a tremendous amount of pain instead?”
“Andrew,” Abby asks, stepping forward. “Aaron…what are you talking about?”
Aaron’s gaze doesn’t leave Andrew’s as he answers, “Apparently, Neil’s true designation is an omega. Riko found out and drugged Neil, causing him to go into a false heat that can only be resolved with the help of a heat partner. Otherwise, I’m guessing the drug will cause Neil’s body to attack itself if certain hormones and secretions aren’t produced, resulting in him being wracked with pain.”
“What?” Abby asks, her face paling. “Neil is…but all his forms say….” She shakes her head before continuing with a trembling voice, “But I’ve never heard of-”
“It’s something Riko created at the Nest,” Kevin pipes up. “And I can assure you, the drug is very real.”
Abby whips her head to the side. “Kevin, no. Tell me you haven’t…”
Kevin shakes his head quickly. “I’m not an omega, so it wouldn’t work on me. And I never…I never partook in any of it. But…I know others who have.”
He means Jean, Andrew realizes with startling clarity. As one of the only registered omegas on the team and Riko’s property, of course he would experiment on him. It makes him wonder if Jean’s call was really a threat or a last-ditch effort to save Neil from what he knows to be a horrible fate.
“But…it’s been hours since the original dosage,” Abby argues. “And it’s clearly been mixed with a sedative so-”
“The drug has a purposefully delayed reaction,” Kevin explains, his tone full of sorrow. “So likely…whenever he wakes up, it’ll begin.”
Abby’s jaw clenches before she asks quietly, “How long does it last?”
Kevin sighs. “For twenty-four hours. Usually.”
“Of course, it does,” Aaron replies scathingly. “Enough time for that shithead to have his fun and to majorly fuck with an omega’s system. There’s a reason omega heats last for three to five days. They give enough time for the body to prepare for, and safely come down from, the insane rush of hormones.”
He glances over at Andrew. “So…are you going to help him?”
Abby turns towards Andrew. “Are you his registered heat partner?”
Andrew swallows before answering, “Yes.”
“Oh good,” Abby visibly relaxes, making Andrew blink. “So you’ve filled out all the consent forms?”
Andrew clenches his jaw before nodding.
“Then let’s get him over to the dorms and-”
“There’s no other way you can think of to avoid this, right?” Andrew asks one last time, though he knows the answer is fruitless.
Abby and Aaron turn towards one another before she offers, “Well, we could try and flush the drugs out of his system, but…in reality, it’ll likely take a few days.”
“And he’ll be out of it and in extreme pain the entire time,” Aaron adds. “He’ll not only be feeling the effects of the drug but trying to fight off an influx of hormones due to his heat along with the detox process itself. It…wouldn’t be pretty.”
“We’d be taxing his body horribly, Andrew, and he could potentially sustain long-term damage,” Abby adds sympathetically. “If he’s already prepared for this scenario…and there’s a way for you to help him be comfortable and safe through it…then I’d likely recommend he complete the unnatural heat cycle. It’s, unfortunately, the safest option for him at this point.”
Which means there will be no hiding it. Riko has metaphorically fucked Neil over by drugging him within the exact right timeframe to make it irreversible. He’ll either suffer through a heat alone, or Andrew will help him – and regardless of which option he chooses, everyone will know Neil’s an omega by the end of it.
Andrew shoves a hand through his hair before gripping and pulling it tight for a moment.
He has a choice – he could say no. But he’d be condemning Neil to enormous suffering in the process. And that was the entire point of their conversation about consent, right? Just in case the worst were to happen.
And here they are.
Andrew takes one last deep breath before letting it out in a sigh. Despite the bullshit he knows others think about the designation, he’s an alpha. And alphas protect omegas – especially omegas they make deals with.
He knows what he must do.
“Let’s get him to Fox Tower.”
Wymack meets them over in the parking lot at Fox Tower, where Aaron and Abby calmly explain the situation to him.
Afterward, Wymack lets out a string of curse words that have even Andrew’s eyebrows lifting before their coach asks many of the same questions Andrew had: Can he avoid it? Is there a way to get the drug out of his system? Are there any other safe alternatives?
But after receiving all the same answers, his shoulders slump, and he sighs deeply, scrubbing his face and beard multiple times before turning towards Andrew.
“You two filled out consent forms?” he asks.
“Yes,” Andrew bites out shortly. As if he would be doing this otherwise.
But Wymack surprises him when he tiredly says, “Thank god. At least later, he’ll have the comfort of knowing it happened with someone he trusts.”
The words sink into Andrew’s chest like stones thrown into the deep end of a lake, somehow feeling like both an anchor and a condemnation all at once.
The group piles mutely into the elevator, with Andrew carrying Neil and Aaron walking with an IV beside them.
“He may be groggy at first, but at least he’ll be hydrated,” Abby says briskly as she presses the button to take them to the basement. “The…restorative effects of the drug are already helping with a lot of his injuries, but…just be careful, Andrew.”
Andrew nods, his jaw so tight he feels like it could crack.
It’s just about two am when they enter the heat suites, which, between their unusual arrival time and the large group of people entering the section, has the official there blinking rapidly.
“What is going on?” she asks sternly, striding forward.
Immediately, Abby draws her to the side to explain the situation while Andrew picks one of the open suites and lays Neil down on the bed.
While Aaron detaches the IV, Kevin draws Andrew off to the side.
“When he wakes up, you’ll only have a few moments of sanity with him,” he warns him. “So use them wisely.”
Andrew’s heartbeat slams into his rib cage. “How long is a few?” he snaps at Kevin.
Kevin shrugs. “Can’t say – really depends on the dosage and the person. Sometimes with Je – sometimes the person only has a few seconds, sometimes more. The longest I’ve ever seen is five minutes, and that was with them…actively trying to stay aware and conscious before it rolled over them.”
Andrew turns his head to the side, both angry and grateful all at once for even the slightest chance to tell Neil what’s going on.
“Okay, I understand the situation,” the official says gravely, stepping into the room. “But the safety of this omega is my main priority, and only one person is officially sanctioned to be in this room with him right now. Is there an Andrew Minyard here?”
Everyone else turns to look at him.
Andrew swallows hard before stepping forward. “Yes.”
The official turns a stern glare at him before asking, “Two forms of identification?”
Andrew turns over his license and student ID. She leaves the room to photocopy the items and verify his claim. When she returns, she hands both back to him and nods. “I need everyone else to clear the room. Now.”
There’s an awkward pause before Wymack gruffly nods and tells Andrew, “Take care of him, kid. And don’t worry about school or practice for the next couple of days. I’ll handle it.”
Kevin makes a kind of squawking noise at this, but Wymack immediately puts a firm, calming hand on his neck. The striker wilts instantly. He turns and looks one more time at Andrew but doesn’t say anything. He doesn’t have to, though – the stench of guilt and sadness is practically rolling off him in waves, enough to make Andrew choke.
“Um, I’d say good luck, but…it just kind of feels wrong in this situation,” Nicky deflates. “So…I’ll make you guys lots of homemade tamales and guac in the meantime, okay? So you can both have a decent meal when…when this is all over.”
He looks so defeated that Andrew gives him a slight nod of approval, which is enough to make Nicky perk up. He leaves with Wymack and Kevin, the older man putting a hand on both of their shoulders.
“Just…be careful with him, Andrew,” Abby warns him again. “Not only is he injured but…with the lack of suppressants in his system and the fact that this will be his first heat in…well, maybe his first heat ever, things might be more intense than usual.”
A sliver of panic spikes sharply in Andrew’s chest suddenly. What if he can’t control himself? What if he succumbs to his instinct and ignores every boundary he and Neil carefully set up? What if he –
But he snarls at himself an instant later. No, he promised Neil he would do this, and he will respect his wishes, no matter the cost. This entire situation is about helping Neil, and he will do everything in his power to make sure he’s as comfortable as possible.
It’s as if Abby sees the determination in his eyes because she smiles softly before she too takes her leave.
And finally, it’s just Aaron in the room with him.
As per usual, his brother pulls no punches. “Have you ever helped an omega through their heats?”
Andrew clenches his jaw. “A few times in past foster homes – but it’s always been strictly platonic. As you know.”
Andrew only had to help Aaron through one or two of his heats. Aaron luckily didn’t seem to have it as bad as some omegas do, so most of the time, he’s able to make it through on his own, with only a few creature comforts from Andrew.
Aaron nods. “This will likely be much worse. Your instincts will be fighting against you to claim him, so you’ll need to have ironclad control of yourself. And don’t forget to use some platonic methods as well. While sex is intimate, heats are…intense. Having someone there to…help guide you and take care of you can make the entire experience…a lot easier, okay?”
Aaron’s face is nearly red at this point, but he continues to stare stubbornly at Andrew.
If he’s being honest with himself, Andrew’s a bit surprised by the advice, seeing as Aaron and Neil are akin to oil and water. They’ve hated each other from the moment Neil joined the team. He wonders if this tip for comfort is an omega solidarity thing or if having a heat is a much more difficult situation than he first realized.
Had he been ignoring his brother’s pain this entire time?
Aaron scoffs, rolling his eyes as if he can somehow hear Andrew’s thought process. “You did nothing wrong, Andrew. I’m just telling you that…we want to be comforted. The whole thing is…well, it’s just a lot to handle, okay? So, knowing that the person there with you will be respectful of you through all of it, and actually hearing and feeling them take care of you, means a lot to us.”
Andrew nods.
Aaron nods jerkily back, rubbing his upper arm a little as he takes one last look at Neil’s sleeping form. “Well…see you on the other side, I guess.”
Then he walks out of the room.
Andrew can hear him saying goodnight to the official, who appears at the door moments later.
“Here is the key to your suite,” she hands it over to him. “Although you may feel comfortable otherwise, we do require locked doors to keep heat sessions private. No one else will be allowed in the suite during this timeframe other than individuals Neil Josten marked down on his consent forms – which is you alone, Mr. Minyard. The official at the desk is the only other person who will have a copy. Still, we will only use it if you inform us you need help in some way or if we are concerned for the omega’s safety.”
She walks over to a small cupboard in the wall and opens it. “We will deliver food and drink three times a day here for your consumption. You may already know this, but omegas regularly need assistance and encouragement to replenish their energy during a cycle. Their appetites are often extremely diminished, but their bodies' exertion requires regular sustenance and hydration. Family and friends can also use this cubby as a method of delivering snacks, gifts, clothes, etc., if you need something, but note that any items will be thoroughly inspected before being allowed to pass into your suite.”
Shit, clothes. Andrew hadn’t even thought of that. He can’t imagine Neil or him wanting to walk out of here in the same clothes after…well, after.
He whips out his phone and texts Aaron quickly. The official waits until he’s finished to continue her spiel.
“Bathroom is over here, with towels and supplies in this closet,” she opens the closet door, “as well as several sets of fresh sheets, pillows, and blankets. First aid kit is above the sink in case any minor injuries occur. We have a small refrigerator in this corner, and you can charge any personal devices over here next to the desk, which is also equipped with paper and pens. We do have several subscriptions for the two of you to pick from should you choose to watch TV together – the remote is kept here in this drawer.”
She walks over to a small chest near the bed next. “In here, we keep a well-stocked supply of lubricants, condoms, and devices for you to choose from to aid the heat cycle. All supplies that are not sealed or packaged after an occupant’s use of the room are tossed, so we can guarantee they are hygienic and safe for use. You may also bring your own supplies, but if they are being used with a partner, they must pass inspection before the omega’s next heat cycle.”
She goes over to stand back by the door. “If you require anything, simply flip this switch.”
She flips it on, and Andrew can see a small, blue light appear above their doorway on the outside.
“This will inform us that you need something. You can also leave a note in the cubby if it’s hard to communicate the request for some reason. We are available 24/7 to assist.”
She tilts her head at him, her face impassive. “Any questions?”
Slowly, Andrew shakes his head.
The woman nods hers in return before shutting the door with a final click. Immediately, Andrew walks over and locks it. Then he turns around and leans against the door.
Standing there in the silence, looking at Neil’s peaceful form sleeping on the bed, the reality of the situation slams into him at full force.
Fuck, this is really happening.
He’s really helping Neil Josten, the feisty and insanely attractive omega who’s been a thorn in Andrew’s side since day one, through his heat cycle. Neil had chosen him, had trusted him, to be the one to take care of him when he’s at his most vulnerable.
Andrew cannot screw this up.
Neil shows no sign of stirring, so after Aaron delivers a couple sets of clothes for each of them, Andrew takes a much-needed shower to rid himself of the scent of travel, frustration, and anger that’s clinging to him like a second skin.
On top of everything else, he knows Neil is likely to be overwhelmed by the sheer amount of scent he’ll be able to register now, so he doesn’t want to trigger any unnecessary panic. He must stay as calm and relaxed as possible – a blank slate for all of Neil’s tumultuous hormones to bounce off of.
He pulls on underwear, a soft pair of sweatpants, and a black tank top, followed by his armbands (though he leaves the knives out). The suite is quite warm temperature-wise despite it being January, which Andrew assumes is on purpose. They must turn up the heat to make the person or person(s) comfortable with all the…clothesless activities occurring.
Andrew’s heart jumps into his throat when he hears Neil stir a little, but it’s only to shift over onto his side in his sleep. Thankfully, Abby has changed him into a soft, navy-blue tracksuit instead of the awful black and red outfit that was a parting gift from the Ravens. He can also smell remnants of a clean lilac soap, which means she’d also bathed him to rid him of the stench of the Nest.
Andrew is relieved by this small act of kindness because he recalls Neil specifically marking down bathing as one of their no-go’s, and it would have driven Andrew nuts if he still had to smell Riko on him.
Andrew stares at Neil’s small, prone figure on the bed, watching his chest move up and down with each breath. The fabric of the tracksuit is just thin enough to outline the curves of Neil’s body perfectly. He can see the dip between Neil’s back and his hips, the generous sloping curve of his ass, the tiny sliver of skin peeking out of his collar at the back of his neck.
A tiny hint of arousal starts to rise unbidden in him. Andrew licks his lips and swallows, casting his gaze to the side.
To be honest, he’s kind of been ignoring the side of him that is absolutely preening at the chance to be with Neil this way. He’s never doubted his attraction to the smart-mouthed man – he’d simply cut it off, stifling the spark whenever it rose, knowing that Neil didn’t reciprocate.
Even now, with Neil’s full permission, he still feels somewhat guilty being here. It’s only the repercussion of Neil being in pain that makes him stay, watching the clock anxiously and waiting for the man to regain consciousness.
Neil sighs into the open space, shifting again, and Andrew’s pulse begins to race once more. Neil’s obviously starting to come out of it, slowly. They’re in the final countdown before he wakes.
Andrew clears his throat before standing up and slowly walking over to the chest by the bed. He looks through the selection of lube, pleased to find one of the brands he likes available. He takes it out and removes the plastic packaging before putting it on top of the desk.
He considers the condoms next before moving past them. Both he and Neil had gotten tested in conjunction with handing in the consent forms, so he knew they were both clean. And besides – this whole experience is about Neil, not Andrew. Neil made it explicitly clear there was to be no penetration or knotting from Andrew, so he doesn’t see the point.
After all, he doesn’t mind swallowing.
There’s a slight shiver that races across his skin, heat gathering in his groin at the simple thought. He grinds his teeth together and moves on to the toys next.
There are…a ton of them. Andrew’s somewhat surprised by the selection. But knowing that Neil has little to no experience with any of this, he chooses a couple of simple options – a slim prostate vibrator, a dildo with an inflatable knot, and a small anal plug. He removes them all from their boxes, fiddling with the twist-ties and packaging before bringing them over to the sink and washing them. He dries them afterward, double-checking that the electronic ones are either charged or have working batteries. Then he goes over and snags a dry towel from the bathroom and throws it on the chest next to the toys.
As a last thought, he wanders over to the mini-fridge and is pleased to find it stocked with some cold water bottles. He grabs one and sets it down on the chest before going back over to the side of the room, sitting against the wall and waiting once more.
Though it feels like forever to him, it only takes another ten minutes for Neil to finally open his eyes.
Immediately, Neil jerks violently, whipping his head and limbs around as he takes in the strange room. A wave of panic and fear assaults Andrew’s nostrils, making him jump to his feet instinctually. But while his reaction is motivated by the need to protect, Neil recoils at the movement.
Andrew freezes. Taking a deep breath, he calmly states, “It’s me, rabbit.”
Neil stops moving at the sound of his voice, and Andrew watches the man shudder before rasping out, “Andrew?” He licks his lips before adding, “Are you – are we-”
“We’re back at PSU in Fox Tower,” Andrew says quickly. “We’re in one of the heat suites in the basement.”
Neil blinks at this information. “The heat suites…what? Why?”
He tries to take a deep breath, and Andrew sees the exact moment Neil smells him. His pupils blow wide, and he lets out a little gasp, fingers curling into the sheets as he blurts out, “What is that?”
Though his reaction makes something coil tightly in Andrew’s gut, he knows they’re up against a ticking clock, so he ignores the question and asks, “Can I come closer?”
Neil nods his head.
So Andrew walks over calmly and sits on the edge of the bed next to Neil, grabbing the water bottle and opening it for him. Neil gratefully takes it and begins gulping it down. As he does so, Andrew quickly tries to explain.
“Here’s what you need to know, Josten. That piece of shit Raven drugged you with something that’s made you go into heat.”
“Into heat?” Neil chokes, coughing up water. “But I’ve never – how the fuck -” He sets the water bottle down before running his fingers through his hair. “Okay, okay – so that’s why you’re – okay, so we just…do this how we talked about. Platonic shit.”
Andrew shakes his head slowly. “This isn’t just any heat,” he tells him grimly. “It’ll only last twenty-four hours, but it’s made specially to encourage you to want to be fucked. If you don’t, then your body fights back.”
“What the fuck?” Neil shouts, scooting backward on the bed and curling up into himself. His scent becomes drenched in equal measures of terror and anger. “But I said – you promised-”
“And I’m going to keep that promise, Neil, so just relax,” Andrew tells him, using his alpha voice.
Neil relaxes by a fraction.
“I told you I wouldn’t fuck you, and I meant it,” Andrew insists, staring into Neil’s eyes. “I’m only here to help you in whatever way you want me to. Nothing more. If you don’t want me to touch you at all, then I won’t.”
Neil swallows before looking around the room wildly. “Maybe we could – maybe we could just try cuddling or napping together, or – you know? To start with? Maybe it’ll be enou-”
But he suddenly cuts himself off with a gasp, arms clutching around his middle and doubling over in pain.
“Neil!” Andrew snaps, drawing closer to him on the bed. He hovers his hands near Neil’s face and neck, hearing him grit his teeth. “Can I touch you, yes or no?”
Neil lets out a frustrated noise before he chokes out, “Yes.”
Immediately Andrew slides one hand to the back of Neil’s neck and the other to cup his face, lifting it. Neil’s eyelids flutter, leaning into the contact before he clenches his jaw and goes rigid. Andrew can see him fighting to keep his focus on him.
“Maybe…” he gasps. “Maybe I can just…do it myself?”
“You could try,” Andrew considers the suggestion seriously. “But the likelihood is it won’t be enough – you’ll grow tired too fast. But if you want, I’ll leave you alone.”
“NO!” Neil immediately snaps, nearly growling before closing his eyes and spitting out a frustrated, “fuck.” He takes a deep breath and repeats the curse. Then he opens his eyes and says, “Okay.”
“Okay?” Andrew parrots.
“Okay, you can help me,” Neil explains tiredly. “But only using the conditions we…we talked about before.”
“Yes,” Andrew promises instantly.
Another wave of pain shudders through Neil, and this time he lets out an unhappy whine. He slaps a hand over his mouth as if embarrassed, but Andrew could give two shits about the noise – he just needs to make the omega feel better.
“Can I hold you, Neil?” he asks.
Neil nods, so Andrew slowly begins drawing him into his arms until he’s resting against his chest. Strategically, he tucks Neil’s head underneath his chin, but Neil draws back, rigid until Andrew urges him forward again. “You can scent me, Neil.”
Immediately, Neil relaxes before his nose dives into Andrew’s neck and breathes deeply.
A shiver races over Andrew’s skin, goosebumps rising as Neil continues to scent him.
Neil gives a happy sigh before tucking his forehead into Andrew’s neck. “What…what about you?” the redhead asks sleepily. “Are you sure you want to…I mean, you don’t have to…I could-”
“I already said yes when I signed the forms, Josten. I’m not backing out now,” Andrew tells him.
“Don’t have to if you don’t want to,” the omega grumbles before sighing again. He nuzzles closer and asks, “Where can I…where can I touch?”
The question stuns Andrew. That Neil would focus on this – would remember Andrew’s boundaries, using the last moments of his consciousness to solidify them. It’s…well, it’s something.
“Waist and above, rabbit,” he whispers into Neil’s ear.
Neil gives a full-body shiver, confessing, “I like when you call me that.”
Andrew huffs, his breath causing a few hairs on Neil’s head to flutter. “And yet you always look so pissed when I do.”
“Hated it…in the beginning,” Neil manages to eke out. His hands slowly trail up Andrew’s chest until his arms are wrapped around Andrew’s neck. “Now I…don’t mind.”
“Don’t mind is different from like,” Andrew cautions him, dragging his cheek against Neil’s so that their stubble rasps together. “Can I scent you, Neil?”
Neil makes a little whining noise before leaning his head to the side and baring his neck. “Yes, alpha,” he whispers.
The small submission is enough to draw a pleased rumble from Andrew’s chest before he leans forward and tucks his nose into Neil’s neck, and breathes deeply. That scent of oranges and cloves from before blooms beneath his touch. Unable to help himself, Andrew softly kisses the skin there, just a light brushing of lips.
Neil jolts as if branded, a livewire reaction that makes him gasp and his heartbeat thunder beneath Andrew’s hands.
“Shh, it’s okay, Neil, it’s okay,” Andrew soothes, his hands stroking steadily over Neil’s back. When Neil relaxes back into his touch, Andrew praises him without thinking. “Good boy.”
A pleased purr erupts from Neil’s chest. Startled, Andrew draws back to see a small smile on Neil’s face and his eyes shut tight.
Looking around the bed, Andrew decides to make them a bit more comfortable, dragging nearby pillows closer to prop them behind him. But the move jostles Neil, who whines his displeasure. A small note of fear trickles into his scent, and he clutches onto Andrew tighter.
“Don’t leave, alpha, don’t leave,” he pleads.
Andrew swallows hard before reassuring him, “I’m not leaving, rabbit.”
“Good,” Neil settles, his nose diving into Andrew’s neck once more. “Stay with me, Drew.”
Drew?
Andrew scowls at the nickname, but he quickly forces himself to take a breath. Neil probably won’t even remember it when this is all over. And he doesn’t want to upset the omega if he’s already feeling uneasy that Andrew might leave.
Though he has to admit, the mere thought of it nearly makes him scoffs – as if anything could make Andrew move from this spot.
No, Neil has no reason to worry. Because he isn’t going anywhere.
For a while, Andrew wonders if Kevin is wrong about the drug because Neil seems perfectly content to just be held and scented. They cuddle for a bit, with Andrew even getting Neil to eat some fruit provided through the two-way cubby door.
He’s not exactly with it mentally, weaving in and out of consciousness, but he responds to Andrew’s asks and praise beautifully. Andrew continues to speak to him in calm and soothing tones, each sigh and purr Neil makes satisfying his alpha instinct immensely.
He’s just about concluded this could work, that they might be able to make it through Neil’s false heat without having to do anything sexual in nature when Neil wakes up from his next nap.
He blinks slowly up at Andrew, watching him with those crystal blue eyes.
“Hey rabbit,” Andrew tells him softly.
Neil blinks again. Then he begins to squirm, shifting uncomfortably on the bed. A small whine of distress clears his throat.
“What’s wrong, Neil?” Andrew asks, brows furrowed.
“Hot,” Neil whines again, pulling uselessly at his jacket.
Andrew carefully pulls Neil’s hands aside before unzipping the jacket. “Is that enough?”
“No,” Neil shakes his head. “Off.”
Okay, so Neil had said no assistance with dressing, but…he’s also somehow reduced himself to the ungraceful coordination of a two-year-old, trapping his arms in the sleeves and rendering himself useless. After a few more moments of struggle, Andrew bites his lip and helps Neil out of the jacket. Then he firmly decides that if Neil wants any other clothes off, he’ll have to do it himself.
Apparently, though, the jacket winds up being the only article of clothing Neil’s mystified by. Because two seconds later, he’s whisked his pants off faster than Andrew can blink.
“Uh, Josten,” Andrew blurts out ineloquently before all the air is sucked out of his lungs when Neil rips off his underwear too.
Andrew’s eyes shoot to the ceiling for a moment as he slowly takes a breath. Then another.
Okay. Okay. He can do this.
Neil had said it was okay to help him, and he’d meant it. So if Andrew is going to keep his promise, then it means he’ll have to look at the redhead sometime.
And Andrew never breaks a promise.
He waits another couple of seconds, then slowly drags his gaze back down until he’s looking at Neil’s body once more.
Unfortunately, the first thing Andrew sees is the number of abrasions, cuts, and bruises that mottle Neil’s skin – leftover souvenirs from the Nest. It’s clear they’re all in the process of healing, as Abby said, but the sight of them fills him with an unspeakable rage.
Without thinking, he growls, low and deep in his throat, and Neil immediately freezes before cowering. He curls up into his own body, making it as small as possible before whimpering.
Stupid, stupid, stupid, Andrew chides himself.
He tries to blank his mind out, removing all traces of aggression from his scent. He doesn’t touch Neil, but he does reassure him, whispering praise like, “No rabbit, it’s okay. I’m not mad at you. You did nothing wrong. Come on, will you turn back around and look at me? Let me see those eyes?”
Slowly, Neil turns back to him, those guileless blue eyes searching his face. Andrew keeps it impassively blank, not even flinching when Neil raises one hand up to cup his cheek. Neil smiles then, something soft and sweet before he sighs. His hands start drifting towards the hem of his shirt – the only article of clothing left on him since he’d apparently ripped off his socks while Andrew was having a mental breakdown.
Andrew captures them both quickly, kissing Neil’s palms when Neil frowns at him. “Why don’t you leave that alone, rabbit? You look…” and here Andrew swallows for a moment, nearly choking out the words, “…you look good with just a t-shirt on.”
It’s true but not the kind of statement Andrew Minyard usually makes. He feels like an idiot saying it if he’s being honest. But Neil makes it all worthwhile a second later when a smile blooms on his face, the redhead flushing happily from Andrew’s praise.
Pleased by the omega’s reaction, Andrew finally allows his gaze to roam, eyes drifting over Neil’s gorgeous tan skin, his lean legs and slim ankles, the tangle of matching auburn hair at his groin, the long, rigid length of his fully erect dick –
Oh shit.
Stupidly, it’s only then he realizes the room is flooding with the heavy scent of Neil’s arousal. Andrew takes a deep breath and – oh yeah, goddamn, how had he missed that? The intoxicating scent is practically oozing from Neil’s pores. Andrew even catches a tiny whiff of Neil’s slick growing.
His eyes shoot back up to Neil’s face, which still looks dazed and happy. The redhead scoots closer to him, nose burrowing into Andrew’s neck before his hand begins to drift down his own chest. Andrew watches it skim over the dark fabric of his t-shirt, traveling lower and lower before finally gripping his dick firmly in his hand.
Neil sighs against Andrew’s neck, his hot breath skittering across Andrew’s sensitive skin before he begins tugging on it slowly.
Andrew drags in a ragged breath as he watches the slow, steady rhythm of Neil’s hand on his own cock. Holy fuck, why is that so hot? Instantly, a boner tents in his own pants, and he’s almost disappointed in himself for not being able to hold out longer.
He hisses through his teeth when Neil begins nuzzling against his neck, leaving soft kisses as he starts stroking his dick a little faster. Andrew fists his hand in the pillow beside him and fights to take a breath.
Okay, okay, so – Neil had said that maybe he could try doing it by himself first. If that was the case, then Andrew’s only option was to sit back and let him do it, right? It was what Neil wanted. (And it’s not like watching this is exactly a hardship).
Andrew holds himself as still as possible, letting Neil scent him to his heart’s content as he jerks off. But soon, the redhead begins to shift again, a slight frown tugging at the corner of his lips.
Quickly, Andrew rolls over to grab the lube from the chest next to them.
“Here,” he tells Neil. “Try this.”
He squeezes a small amount out onto the head of Neil’s dick. Neil takes a quick indrawn breath at the new sensation before running his hand over the slippery liquid. When he drags it downward again, the friction between his hand and his cock makes a loud, squelching noise that echoes through the room. Neil arches and shudders at the sound, a small moan growing in the back of his throat.
Jesus Christ.
Andrew buries his head in the pillow next to Neil’s, breathing in the scent of his hair and trying his best to calm the fuck down. Which is nearly impossible when an insanely hot omega is masturbating next to you, making lewd noises, and smelling delicious enough to eat.
Neil nuzzles closer to Andrew’s head, rubbing his cheek against Andrew’s hair.
Andrew turns so that he’s staring deep into Neil’s eyes.
As Neil returns his gaze, Andrew hears words begin to spill from his lips. “That’s it, rabbit, you’re doing so good. It feels good, doesn’t it? So hot and tight – why don’t you try squeezing the head with your fist? Yes, just like that. Now rub your thumb right below it, right there…yes, good. That’s it.”
Neil’s feet shift on the sheet as he helplessly follows Andrew’s instructions, his breaths growing rapid and noises pouring freely from his lips. His head lolls on the pillow, eyes opening and closing, but Andrew notices that he fights to keep his gaze on him.
“That’s it, Neil. Keep going, that’s it. Now try going faster. Grip your cock tighter and stroke it harder. Yes. Like that. Do you like it? Tell me, does it feel good, omega?”
“Yes, alpha,” Neil groans out, his hips starting to jerk.
Andrew can tell he’s close. He’s gasping, toes curling, face and neck flushed. Andrew keeps up the steady praise in his ear, and Neil reacts to each word as if Andrew’s physically caressing his body. Finally, he’s nearly shaking on the bed, and Andrew expects him to cum any second, but it doesn’t happen.
Neil just keeps going and going and going – and Andrew realizes he’s the most idiotic alpha on the planet.
So he moves close enough for Neil to feel his lips against his ear as he whispers, “Cum for me, Neil. Come on. Cum, omega.”
And with a cry of relief, Neil spasms all over his shirt and hand. Large, thick ropes of cum cover him as he shudders, his clean hand curling tightly into Andrew’s shirt. Content and happiness flood his scent, coating the air with evidence of his gratification.
“That’s it,” Andrew whispers in his ear. “Good boy. Good omega.”
Neil whines in pleasure, lifting his head, seeking Andrew.
And Andrew leans forward, lowering his own before he suddenly pauses.
Shit, how the hell had they talked about everything but kissing?
He stares down at Neil’s plump, lush lips, the omega’s tongue absently flicking out to wet them, but something doesn’t sit right in Andrew’s stomach. He can’t do it – not without Neil’s consent.
And then his mind comes up with an even worse thought – what if this is Neil’s first kiss?
Oh, fuck no. He is not getting kissed for the first time while out of his mind. Neil deserves to kiss whoever he wants, if he wants it, on his own terms – and to remember it.
Neil rubs his nose against Andrew’s, jerking him back to the present. So he brushes the hair back from Neil’s forehead and presses a soft kiss there. He follows it with another at his temple, another at the corner of his jaw, and one on his neck.
Neil preens under the attention, his happy purring filling the room.
He lifts his hands towards Andrew’s neck, but Andrew stops him before he can slip his cum and lube-covered hand into his hair. This close, the smell of Neil’s cum on his fingers fills Andrew’s senses, and before he can think twice about it, he sucks Neil’s fingers into his mouth.
The taste is both sweet and bitter – and utterly addictive. He continues licking it, cleaning Neil’s fingers until it’s all gone. Then he drags the towel over and wipes the rest of the excess lube off Neil’s hand.
The moment the appendage is clean, Neil threads their fingers together, thrusting his other hand into Andrew’s hair and tugging him forward. Again, Andrew dodges his lips, brushing soft kisses across Neil’s cheeks and on the skin beneath his ear. He tugs gently on Neil’s ear lobe with his teeth, and Neil murmurs encouragingly.
Andrew rolls over so he’s hovering on his elbows over top of Neil, shoving one leg between his thighs so he can –
Holy shit. Neil is hard again.
Andrew stares down at the rigid member and wonders if a shortened recovery period is a natural effect of Neil’s heat or the drug. He shifts to move away, but Neil keens, his hips arching as he starts rubbing shamelessly against Andrew’s thigh. Andrew stays still for a second before slowly pressing down.
Neil ruts up against him instantly, his leg lifting to circle Andrew’s hip, but at the last moment, he hesitates.
Andrew raises himself up slightly to check on Neil, but…nothing seems to be wrong. With a furrowed brow, he looks back at Neil’s face to find him breathing hard, his fingers clutched tightly in the sheets, and his front teeth buried in his bottom lip. He slams his foot back on the bed, toes digging in, while his thigh shakes from the angle he has it turned at, hovering away from Andrew’s hip –
Waist and above, rabbit.
Shocked, Andrew realizes Neil is trying to keep his promise. Andrew had said he could only touch him above the waist and, somewhere deep inside him, Neil was holding true to that boundary.
This is what he gets for not communicating properly, Andrew chides himself mentally – for skipping over Neil’s question as inconsequential. Because what Andrew meant was Neil just couldn’t grab him anywhere below the waist. But this? He can handle this.
So he grabs on to Neil’s thigh and shoves it up against his hip, easily resisting Neil’s muscles as he says, “It’s okay, rabbit. This is fine. Just no hands or mouth below my waist, okay?”
Neil looks into his eyes, licks his lips, and nods. Then he gasps when Andrew maneuvers his other leg out from underneath him and drags that thigh up to circle his hip as well. Carefully, Andrew watches Neil’s face as he lowers himself down until his full body weight rests on Neil, their groins pressed intimately against one another.
Neil immediately lets out a small whimper, hands scrabbling on Andrew’s back, and thighs squeezing tight. His fingers dig into the material of Andrew’s shirt, pulling at it, and Andrew realizes he wants it off. Andrew considers for only a brief second before ripping the tank top over his head and flinging it to the side.
Neil is immediately pleased with the amount of skin he’s been granted access to. His fingers trace every inch of Andrew’s chest and back, exploring with a kind of wonder and reverence that makes Andrew still. Then the redhead surges upwards, trying to rub their chests together before pulling back and whining at the thick cloth of the t-shirt between them. Again, he starts to try and rip it off, but Andrew immediately grabs hold of his wrists and pins them down above his head to stop him.
Neil’s eyes widen as he tries to buck against Andrew but realizes quickly it’s no use. Andrew worries for a moment that this will trigger something or that maybe he’s somehow hurting him. But his gut wrenches hard a second later when Neil’s eyes flutter, and he positively moans beneath his grip. He arches again under Andrew’s hands, and Andrew presses down on them tighter, watching Neil’s cock jump at the sensation.
Yep. Okay – they are definitely talking about this once Neil’s heat is over.
Right now, though, he focuses on the dilemma of Neil’s t-shirt. It’s clear that the fabric is muting sensation, and Neil doesn’t like it. But he also knows that Neil really didn’t want him to see his torso, so…what other option is there?
His eyes search the room, looking for an answer before they snag on his tank top.
Shit, of course.
The tank top is a lighter, thinner material than the cotton t-shirt but not see-through – meaning not only would it be less hot for Neil to wear, but it would still cover him completely. A perfect compromise.
Andrew switches hands to make sure Neil’s wrists are still pinned before he leans over the side of the bed to snatch the tank top off the floor. He brings the bunched-up fabric closer to Neil’s head so that he can try and untangle the clothing – and is completely floored when Neil surges forward and buries his nose in the top.
Right – his alpha scent. How could he forget?
Neil soaks in the scent like he’s getting high off it as Andrew wrestles with him to get it untangled. After some particularly sweaty moments, it’s ready for Neil to wear.
Andrew glances up at Neil’s face before he leans close and asks, “Can you be good for me, Neil? Can you keep your hands here and promise not to touch until I say?”
Neil nods eagerly, and Andrew feels the bed give under the pressure Neil puts behind his own hands to keep them there.
“Good boy,” Andrew says as he releases Neil’s wrists slowly, dragging one hand across his cheek for just a moment.
Neil smiles and purrs, nudging his head into Andrew’s hand, though his hips shift restlessly.
Determined to make this quick, Andrew shoves the tank top over Neil’s head with little finesse before dragging it down over the top of Neil’s t-shirt. Then he grips the bottom hem of the tank top tight before he begins scooching the cotton piece underneath up, making sure Neil’s torso is covered at all times. It takes him a minute or two of uncoordinated efforts before he finally can pull the cotton t-shirt over Neil’s head and off his hands.
Neil sighs with relief the moment the garment is off, and Andrew takes a quick glance back down at his body to make sure his plan worked. Neil’s entire torso is covered by the thin cloth of the black tank top, but he can see the outline of his hardened nipples perfectly. There’s only a slight gap at the neckline since Neil’s chest isn’t as broad as Andrew’s, allowing a hint of collarbone to show through, but that’s it.
Andrew sits up and sighs, pleased that his plan worked before Neil whines at him.
He blinks back up at the redhead, finding him watching him, his hands still pinned obediently to the bed.
“Such a good boy for me,” Andrew praises him, his chest rumbling as he slides his hands lightly over Neil’s chest. He starts rubbing Neil’s nipple with one thumb while the other continues up over his neck until it rests on Neil’s bottom lip. “Aren’t you? Aren’t you a good omega?”
Neil squirms beneath his touch, thighs tightening instinctively around Andrew’s hips and eyes hooded as he stares up at Andrew. Then his tongue reaches out to lick Andrew’s thumb before sucking it into his mouth.
Fucking hell.
Andrew is frozen for a second, watching Neil suck on the digit lightly. Neil positively oozes sensuality for someone who’s never done anything remotely sexual. Is it instinctual for omegas, he wonders? Or is this just something quintessentially Neil?
A sharp nip of teeth draws him out of his woolgathering, and his hand jerks a little in response. Neil opens his mouth immediately, eyes widening as he glances up at Andrew with a worried look on his face.
Andrew immediately caresses Neil’s cheek, running his wet thumb over Neil’s lips again. “No rabbit teeth this time, okay, omega? Only sweet bunny nibbles…yes, like that,” he croons as Neil nibbles his teeth gently on the pad of Andrew’s thumb. “Perfect, bunny. Now flatten your tongue and pull your lips over your teeth…yes, exactly. And suck on it gently…so good, little bunny.”
Neil gives a pleased whine in the back of his throat as he sucks on Andrew’s thumb, following Andrew’s instructions to the letter.
And suddenly, an idea comes to mind.
While Neil continues to suck and nibble on Andrew’s thumb, he repositions him, so he’s on his side, body curled slightly. Andrew slowly works his way down until his head is even with Neil’s groin. Neil’s hard dick is still there, waiting patiently, a dribble of pre-come sliding slowly over its head.
Andrew groans softly before licking his lips at the sight.
He tucks Neil’s upper thigh over his shoulder so that he has easy access to him before breathing Neil’s scent in deep. His mouth begins to salivate as he reaches up and firmly takes Neil in his own hand.
Neil bucks for a second, dislodging Andrew’s thumb from his mouth as Andrew slowly strokes the engorged member. He doesn’t give Neil much time to think about it, though, gently pressing his thumb back against Neil’s lips, asking for entrance, and Neil submits without a second thought, sucking him back inside his mouth.
He gives a shy lick against Andrew’s thumb, and Andrew smirks in return – before leaning forward and giving the head of Neil’s dick a shy lick as well.
Neil yelps, surprised, letting go of Andrew’s thumb. Andrew immediately stops touching him.
Neil has always been quick, though, and Andrew can’t help the rush of pride he feels when the omega leans forward and tentatively sucks his thumb back into his mouth. Following his lead, Andrew slowly sucks Neil’s head into his mouth as well.
Neil waits a moment, but when Andrew doesn’t do anything but sit there and hold Neil’s cockhead in his mouth, Neil slowly swirls his tongue around the digit. In return, Andrew slowly swirls his tongue around Neil’s dick. Neil shudders, his stomach contracting slightly, but he doesn’t let go of Andrew’s thumb this time. In fact, they repeat the movement for a bit before Neil places his lips around the tip of Andrew’s thumb and sucks lightly on it.
Andrew mimics him, and Neil gives a small cry from the back of his throat at the pleasure.
They continue like this with Andrew letting Neil lead, the redhead trying different techniques, changing tactics when something isn’t working, and repeating certain moves over and over when it does. Andrew mirrors each movement and sensation Neil offers, never pushing or urging the pace along faster. He simply lets Neil explore to his heart’s content, grateful to even be allowed to have this man’s hard, delicious dick in his mouth.
Finally, Neil slowly sucks Andrew’s entire thumb into his mouth, all the way down to the base, and Andrew gladly echoes the movement. It’s enough to throw Neil off entirely, his jaw and tongue going slack at the feeling of his cock down Andrew’s throat, and Andrew decides the lesson is over.
He removes his thumb from Neil’s mouth and pops off for a second to roll Neil onto his back. Then he swallows him down in one go and begins sucking hard.
Neil keens, his hips instinctively thrusting upwards, forcing Andrew to grip his hips tightly to keep him anchored. Then he begins a steady rhythm, swallowing Neil deep before rising up to circle his head, sometimes humming, sometimes scraping his teeth as he goes.
It has Neil nearly shaking, his body vibrating with the need to cum, but his hands stay locked tight in position above his head.
Andrew continues his ministrations, never stopping, when Neil finally cries out, “C-cumming, Drew! Cumming!”
And he spills down Andrew’s throat beautifully, that sweet and bitter taste filling his senses once more. Andrew milks him until Neil is whining, jerking his hips back, and even then, Andrew can’t help but tease him some more. He gives one last tiny lick to Neil’s head that has his cock jerking before he travels back up towards Neil’s face.
He soothes the omega with long, sweeping strokes over his legs, hips, back and chest, whispering to him how good he is, how he listened perfectly, how he didn’t touch and came so hard for Andrew. Neil gasps and squirms at the praise and Andrew’s eyes nearly fall out of their sockets when he sees Neil grow hard once more.
“Fuck, rabbit,” He groans before switching their positions. He rolls Neil on top of him, so that he’s straddling Andrew’s waist. He looks directly into Neil’s eyes as he orders him, “Show me how fast you can cum, omega.”
And he’s pleased to find Neil is still in there somewhere because his eyes light up with the challenge, immediately rising to the occasion (as it were) as he puts his hand back on his cock and starts pumping.
Andrew gives him some more lube before holding onto his thighs, encouraging Neil along. And he can’t stop the tiny quirk of his lips when Neil throws his head back before he lets go.
Andrew gasps as he pulls back, taking a quick break to catch his breath.
They’ve already been at it for hours.
He’s led Neil through a few more handjobs and blowjobs, but as he predicted, Neil’s stamina for pleasuring himself had exhausted quickly. Luckily, Andrew’s managed to shove some more food down him in between sessions, along with three more water bottles and one bathroom break, but it’s been easier said than done.
Neil craves constant contact – any distance from Andrew has him whining and, if it’s been too long, like in the case of the bathroom episode, minor ripples of pain start shooting across him again.
Cursing Riko for the millionth time for making a drug that makes it painful for an omega to even take a piss between sexual bouts, Andrew had dropped to his knees and given Neil a blowjob right in the doorway of the bathroom to stave them off.
By that point, he’d given Neil permission to thread his fingers through his hair, instructing him not to pull or tug. And he’d been so pleased when Neil did precisely that. Even as he was orgasming, he never tightened his grip on Andrew’s hair, simply continuing to sift through the strands with wonder before dipping his thumb to trace the soft skin behind Andrew’s ear.
It was enough for Andrew to cum untouched.
To be honest, he was kind of surprised he’d lasted that long, and instantly cursed himself for not putting a condom on because now he had jizz in his pants, but unfortunately, that wasn’t even the first issue he had to deal with.
Because in the blink of a second, after he came, he was knocked onto his ass on the floor as Neil pushed forward, diving for Andrew’s crotch. He stopped a few inches away and began whining, remembering Andrew’s command, but Andrew could tell the smell of his own cum was driving Neil insane.
It’s not the first time that Neil’s tried to reciprocate during their session, but Andrew steadfastly refuses to let him touch him. Riko put Neil in this position to be made a plaything, and Andrew will not let that happen. He’s here to service Neil – not the other way around. So he’d made a vow early on not to even touch himself – he would get no sexual gratification for helping Neil through this.
Of course, he hadn’t planned on cumming untouched, so now he had that to deal with. And he was pretty sure he only had two changes of underwear too. Taking the underwear off and putting a condom on would definitely make himself cleaner but the temptation would be too great. The barrier his underwear provided, while minuscule, was helping him abstain mentally. And it was dirty already, so…
He’d grimaced before wrapping Neil up in his arms and hauling them both into the bathroom. He’d set Neil on the sink and turned on the faucet, warming the water up before grabbing two washcloths and cleaning them both.
It wasn’t bathing per se – Andrew just quickly did what he could to clean the mess in his pants so that he could get most of it out – but for Neil he took a little more time, wiping him down gently around his neck, face and thighs, as well as his sensitive member before carrying him to the bed again.
Neil had been docile through the whole ordeal, letting Andrew move and touch him as needed. Then he threw his arms around Andrew’s neck and cuddled against his chest the moment he picked him back up. He’d purred loud enough to fill the entire room, and something rumbled in Andrew’s chest in return, without his permission. When he laid them both back down, he simply held Neil there for a while, fingers gently carding through his hair as he silently pressed kisses against his forehead.
But Neil’s next wave of arousal hit them with a vengeance, and somehow Andrew instinctively knew that he needed to bring it to the next level when Neil began to thrash, his scent spiking and body heat soaring.
Which led them to here and now, with Neil’s ass in the air and Andrew plunging his tongue deep into his hole, slick dripping from it as he laps and laps at the puckering bud. Andrew’s eyes nearly roll into the back of his head with each flavorful burst of the liquid – Neil tastes so fucking good that he just can’t help himself. Neil’s hips rock and shake with each masterful swipe, a suite of noises dropping from his lips that Andrew’s yet to have the pleasure of hearing. He somehow knows they’ll be playing on repeat in the back of his mind at a later date.
He’s only pulled back for a second when Neil begins whimpering. “C-can’t, alpha,” his voice shakes. “N-need…ah, you…mmh.”
Andrew dives back in, pulling one of Neil’s cheeks apart to go deeper, while his other hand sneaks between his legs to begin stroking him.
Neil gasps at the dueling sensations, and Andrew can tell from the hesitant undulations in his hips that he isn’t sure whether to push himself back on Andrew’s tongue or thrust forward into Andrew’s hand.
Andrew helps make the decision for him by timing it perfectly, stroking downward on Neil’s cock with his hand as he rocks forward before thrusting his tongue deep as Neil shoves his hips back. From that moment on, Neil becomes a machine, working his body into a dizzying high, a sheen of sweat covering his skin as he pushes on, relentless.
Andrew’s tongue begins to tire but he forces himself to keep going, especially when Neil begins uttering soft little exclamations like, “Yes, alpha, yes,” and “so good, I can’t, so good” and “more, more, more.”
Finally, Neil cries out, his body shaking like a leaf as he shoots his load all over the sheets. Almost instantly, he collapses onto them, body gasping for breath.
Andrew instantly clamps down on the base of his cock inside his underwear to stop himself from cumming again. Fuck, maybe he should grab one of those cock rings he saw in the chest – it would probably help, right?
But the ridges of Neil’s spine are too appealing, and Andrew finds himself nosing forward and pressing small kisses all the way up the omega’s back. He reaches the base of Neil’s neck and licks there a couple times, feeling the gland beneath it giving way, soft and oh, so tempting. He nuzzles it a little more before his teeth begin to dully nibble, just soft little bites that allow Neil to feel him but don’t bruise or break the skin.
Neil lets out an obscene purr, hips arching under Andrew to ground up into his groin.
Andrew bites the skin a little harder, feeling his fangs elongate.
“Yes,” he hears Neil gasp out. “Yes, bite me, alpha. Make me yours.”
The request is like dousing cold water on top of Andrew.
He jerks away, furious for allowing himself to be drawn in for even a moment. Neil had barely wanted to sexually bond during the heat – he sure as fuck doesn’t want to be mated with Andrew. He quickly scans Neil’s neck for any kind of mark, sick to his stomach for a moment that he’d left something when Neil had explicitly said not to. But to his relief the skin is slightly red but fading quickly, no marks to be found.
Fuck.
Andrew lets out a relieved sigh. Shit, that had been too close.
Okay, new rule – Neil’s neck is off-limits for the rest of their time together.
Some of his panic must have bled into his scent because Neil whines and flattens his body so he isn’t rubbing against Andrew anymore. “Sorry, alpha. Sorry, Drew. I won’t – I won’t ask anymore. Just…don’t leave, yes? Don’t…don’t go.”
Andrew furrows his brow a little, intrigued by the request. It’s the second time Neil’s begged him not to leave and Andrew can’t help but see the irony of the runaway asking someone else to stay.
He tucks the interesting kernel of information into the back of his mind, though, as he rubs soothing hands down Neil’s back. Now isn’t the time to interrogate Neil, although he’s pretty sure Neil would be willing to tell him anything at this moment – another danger that Riko likely planned on taking advantage of, if he’d had the chance.
“I’m not leaving you, and I’m not mad at you, Neil,” Andrew whispers into his ear. “But no more asking me to bite you, okay?”
Neil nods instantly. “Okay,” he promises, with a tone that is both determined and stubborn.
Andrew’s not sure how long the promise will last, but he smirks against Neil’s skin anyway, laying a soft kiss on his shoulder as he asks, “Would you like me to touch you again, bunny?”
Any leftover tension in Neil’s frame melts away at the pet name. “Yes, Drew,” he sighs happily before slowly shifting. Andrew waits, watching Neil draw himself up so that his legs are folded neatly under him, his ass slightly raised once more. Then he uses the position to start rutting it against Andrew’s stiff crotch.
Ah, crap, crap, crap.
Andrew hisses at the movement before jerking his own hips away, ignoring Neil’s sounds of protest. “Stay there,” he orders Neil, and watches Neil’s body shiver at the command. He snatches the lube from the other side of the bed before he kneels to the side of Neil, and his fingers slowly begin circling Neil’s hole.
Neil gasps and digs his fingers into the sheets as Andrew teases him maddeningly, dipping his fingers below and lingering before stroking up and away again. Each time he gets closer and closer to Neil’s entrance, sometimes tapping on it before he begins circling again. Neil’s hips follow each motion of his fingertips as if in a trance.
It has the redhead mewling into the pillow, sounds muffled as he tries to withstand the exquisite torture. Slick weeps from him, steady and thick and heady as Andrew breathes it in. He doesn’t relent, though, until finally, Neil wrenches his head from the pillow, gasping in a breath as he chokes out, “A-alpha. Drew, I – won’t you – I need-”
“Yes?” Andrew asks him, letting his alpha voice bleed easily into his teasing question. “What do you need, omega?”
“I need you,” Neil whines. “Need you…inside…fill me up? So…so empty.”
Fuck.
Neil is going to be the death of him.
“Such a good bunny,” Andrew praises him. “Such a good boy for telling me what you need. And good boys deserve rewards, don’t they?”
Neil nods rapidly, eyes shining as he stares over his shoulder at Andrew.
“Then I’ll give you one,” Andrew tells him, his gaze never dropping from Neil’s as he slides one finger in.
Neil’s eyes widen and go glassy, no longer seeing Andrew as he clenches down hard on the digit inside him and moans. His ass gives way immediately – there’s almost zero resistance between Neil’s slick, the lube Andrew covered his hand in, and how riled up Neil is. Still, Andrew moves gently, sliding his finger in and out slowly to give Neil time to get used to it.
Before long, Neil is riding his finger enthusiastically and begging for more – so Andrew gives it to him. He thrusts two fingers inside and hears Neil’s high-pitched little “oh” as he does so, which makes his own cock jerk a little in response.
Stoutly ignoring it, he continues thrusting and scissoring inside of Neil, opening him up slowly. He changes the angle of his hand, searching, and smiles the moment his fingers find Neil’s prostate.
The omega shouts, body jerking and head whipping towards Andrew to ask, “Wha-what? What is – ah – need – mmmh – again, again, again-”
So Andrew does it again, watching Neil’s body spasm in pleasure once more. He starts setting a rhythm, thrusting deep and barely brushing over Neil’s prostate on the drag outwards each time. He watches Neil pant and arch, a little string of drool dripping from his mouth as he takes it again and again.
Then Andrew adds a third finger and begins thrusting faster, concentrating on hitting that spot each time as he does so. Sweat drips from his forehead as he closes his eyes and hears the erotic squelch of his fingers in Neil’s ass, the noise intermingling with Neil’s gasping and the creaking of the bed.
Neil moans, trying to thrust himself farther onto Andrew’s fingers but the position doesn’t give him much leverage with his legs tucked beneath him. He can do nothing but squirm as Andrew fucks him with his fingers again and again.
He can see Neil’s cock weeping pre-come against his stomach and over his thighs, but he doesn’t touch it and neither does Andrew. Andrew just keeps going, determined as he thrusts harder.
“Come on, bunny,” Andrew croons. “Gonna cum for me? Gonna cum from my fingers in your ass? You like it so much, I know you can do it. I know you can be good and cum for me. Come on, that’s it, come on…”
Andrew can just barely see Neil’s abs clenching beneath the tank top, muscles heaving as he takes it over and over, reaching towards the very crest of that pleasure wave. And finally, Neil finds it. Andrew vibrates his fingers inside of Neil as he cums, fingers hitting his prostate in a spastic tempo as Neil’s entire body quakes in satisfaction. The redhead throws his face down in the pillow once more, ass rising in the air as hot liquid spurts all over Andrew’s tank top, Neil’s legs, and the sheets.
Andrew marvels at the amount Neil’s still able to produce, and is extremely tempted to lick him clean again, but Neil collapses onto his side and instantly falls asleep. Letting out a shaky breath, Andrew takes advantage of Neil’s unconsciousness to wobble over to the bathroom and run another warm washcloth beneath the faucet.
He returns and wipes Neil down perfunctorily before removing the sheet around him. Andrew grabs a new set and replaces it on the bed before silently collapsing next to Neil. His cock is absolutely throbbing, but Andrew grits his teeth and staunchly ignores it.
Instead, he lets his eyes drift closed and feels Neil cuddle closer to him before fatigue sweeps him under.
Andrew is utterly exhausted.
Neil’s unnatural heat makes him a sexual powerhouse – his body keeps going and going, regardless of whether his mind keeps up. Although he hasn’t said anything, Andrew would swear Neil is exhausted as he is, but his naps have become fewer and farther between even as his body demands more.
It’s gotten to the point where Andrew has to negotiate to make Neil eat, praising him for each little bite. One time, he’d assumed Neil’s voice was getting hoarse because of the pleasure until he realized neither of them had drank water in a couple hours. So he stopped what he was doing and forced Neil to drink two full water bottles before they continued.
Neil’s scent each time Andrew takes care of him like this is a strange combination of frustration and content, of desperation and satisfaction. His hands reach for Andrew at all times, settling only once he can feel Andrew’s heartbeat fluttering beneath his fingertips, or the muscles in his forearms flexing, or can entwine his fingers in Andrew’s own. He loves when Andrew puts his hand on the back of his neck, when Andrew’s fingers grip his hips tightly, or when he softly encircles Neil with his arm, rubbing his belly in gentle circles.
Right now, he’s arching back against Andrew, laying on his side with one leg lifted in the air and Andrew’s arm shoved underneath it while he slides the vibrator in and out of Neil’s slick ass. He tweaks one of Neil’s nipples with his other hand, rubbing the bud back and forth while Neil’s hand clings to his forearm. His other hand is shoved in Andrew’s hair, while Andrew presses soft kisses all over his shoulder.
The room is an inferno, absolutely sweltering from their constant movement, smelling of nothing but sex, sweat, and hormones as Neil’s heat continues. It’s starting to make Andrew’s own mind melt, his instincts screaming at him to let go, to take Neil, to end this madness.
He came twice more in his boxer-briefs before giving in and snatching a cock ring from the box, shoving it down on his own dick to try and help hold him off. It’s working so far – but barely.
The heat also caused him to strip off his armbands some time ago, unable to stand the sweat pooling beneath them. The moment he removed them, his stomach nearly dropped through the floor because Neil began nosing along his forearms. The omega inhaled the smell and began pressing soft kisses to the top of his arms, as if he somehow knew instinctively to stay away from the multitudes of scars on the inside of them.
It shattered something inside of Andrew, nearly making him tremble until he pulled himself back together and decided to ignore it.
He’d plugged both Neil and his cell phones in a long time ago, and every once in a while he can hear one of them going off, but they may as well be on Mars for how far away the desk seems at the moment. Their connection to the outside world feels as if it’s thousands of lightyears away, he and Neil existing in this pocket of time and space only for each other.
But even so, he knows they must be getting close – that the twenty-four hours must be almost up. He can tell because Neil’s arousal seems to be rising, like a pulsing wave that’s beginning to surge upwards into a tsunami.
It’s the most out of it he’s seen Neil this entire time – he keeps begging for Andrew’s cock, telling him to fuck him, mate him, breed him, and Andrew’s gut clenches with each new ask. Although he’d thought the vibrator would help, he can tell it’s not doing it – that Neil needs something more.
His hair and neck are damp with sweat, Neil feeling equally as slippery, and all he can think of is that they’re so close. That they’re almost done, if he can just –
Neil whines again, hips grinding back against Andrew. “Alpha, need you,” he begs. “Want you inside of me, need your cock, take me – make me yours.”
Andrew grits his teeth and closes his eyes, trying to ignore the request. He doubles his efforts between Neil’s legs.
But then Neil grabs onto Andrew’s hand and removes it from his nipple to slide it down until it’s pressed right over his stomach. “Drew, want to feel you inside, right here,” he whispers against Andrew’s forehead, lips brushing against his skin with each word. “Want you to slide into me, so big and hot, want you to fill me up with your cock.”
Andrew chokes, lungs seizing before he wrenches the vibrator out of Neil’s ass, causing him to spasm a little.
Fuck it – it’s time to bring out the big guns.
He leans over the side of the bed and whips the chest open, pulling out a black harness he’d seen stored in there earlier. He slides it onto his legs, over his underwear, and secures it.
“On your knees,” he snaps at the omega, who eagerly gets into position, his chest on the bed and hands coming up to spread his cheeks so that Andrew can see his soaked hole clenching onto nothing. Andrew grabs the dildo with the inflatable knot and snaps it into place on the harness. Then he moves forward and lines the dildo up so that Neil’s kissing the head with each squeeze.
“Relax for me,” he tells him, and Neil immediately obeys, relaxing. Andrew bites down on his bottom lip as he slides the dildo inside, watching the way Neil’s body eats it up eagerly. Neil is scrabbling at the sheets, clawing and mewling and utterly wrecked at Andrew’s long, slow glide. Once he’s fully seated inside of Neil, the base of the knot rubbing against his entrance, Andrew sits there for one long moment to let him get used to it.
Then he pulls back and snaps his hips forward.
“Oh fuck!” Neil cries out, arching his back. “Fuck, fuck, again, again-”
So Andrew does it again, a smooth slide out before thrusting deep once more. This time Neil’s moans are a string of unintelligible words mixed with some French, Andrew suspects, the gibberish making his own cock twitch and strain against its trapped position.
For the hundredth time, he ignores it and begins fucking the dildo into Neil at a rapid pace, trying to angle it to hit Neil’s prostate. It takes him a little bit to find it but once he does, Neil cries out hoarsely before smothering his mouth with a pillow to try and stop it. Andrew whips the offending article away because a.) he needs to make sure Neil keeps breathing but b.) he can’t help but love the sounds that fall helplessly from his – from the omega’s mouth.
So instead, Neil drools into the sheet as the force of Andrew’s dildo rocks into him over and over again, his mouth mindlessly babbling as Andrew keeps going. Andrew can’t help but watch as Neil pushes back towards him over and over, hole clenching on the dildo as he effortlessly takes it to the hilt, and he knows the image of Neil in this position will be burned into the back of his mind forever.
He memorizes the shine of Neil’s bronze skin as his muscles shift and flex, the deep blue of Neil’s eyes that are half-lidded and nearly rolling up in his head, the way his tank top clings to Neil’s every curve, claiming him in a way Andrew never even thought of.
“Ah – ah – Drew – unn – harder, harder – more, give me…more-” Neil begs.
Andrew notes how not once has Neil used the word please or asked again to be bitten, and the alpha in him is enormously pleased. So he grips Neil’s hips tighter and snaps against him faster, beginning to inflate the knot at the dildo’s base.
“Oh, fuck yes, fuck yes,” Neil cries, whining and rutting up against it as Andrew goes faster and faster. “Give me your knot, alpha, want you inside of me. Drew, give it to me now, yes, yes, now – oh fuck – oh god – I can take it, give it to me – Drew, Drew- ”
So, with one last, giant thrust, Drew pushes the knot inside – and inflates it to as far as it will go.
Neil screams, cumming hard the moment he feels it inside, and the room is flooded with a wave of utter ecstasy. When it hits Andrew, he begins cumming as well, his own hips shaking and vibrating the dildo inside of Neil from the force of his own orgasm. His fangs jut out and his eyes zero in on the back of Neil’s neck like a beacon. The sheer need to bite Neil hits him with the force of a two-ton truck, every instinct inside of him begging him to claim Neil as his.
Through sheer willpower, Andrew manages to bring his own forearm up to his mouth before sinking his teeth deep into it. He can feel his body fighting itself, the urge to claim being sated at the same time that it registers pain. He bites down harder and watches a tiny trickle of blood begin to drip down his forearm.
Neil whips around at the smell of it, whining in displeasure but Andrew distracts him from it by clamping his other hand onto Neil’s dick and stroking him hard. At first, Neil wails, struggling to get away from the sensation, but before long his hips are thrusting into Andrew’s hand with abandon as Andrew ruthlessly pulls another orgasm from him.
And finally, finally, Andrew sees nothing but a small dribble erupt from Neil’s head.
Neil slumps down beneath Andrew onto the bed, his body completely wiped, and Andrew deflates the knot before slowly removing the dildo from inside him. He watches the redhead’s hips jerk only a little when he pops the head out. Although he can’t move, Neil immediately begins to whine at the loss, so Andrew grabs the anal plug and thrusts it back inside, giving Neil that full feeling again.
Neil somewhat settles, still keening quietly as Andrew removes the harness from his own body with shaking hands. He throws himself back onto the bed before rolling Neil on top of him with his last amount of energy, sliding a finger between Neil’s cheeks to stroke the bottom of the anal plug softly as he glides his other hand up the back of Neil’s neck to tangle them into his curls.
“Sleep, omega, sleep,” he hushes against his ear, feeling Neil relax and droop against him.
And as sleep slowly beckons to him as well, dragging him under, he hears Neil whisper back, “Thank you, Drew. Thank you, thank you, thank you…”
When Andrew wakes up next, something immediately feels wrong.
He thrusts his hand out blindly and realizes he’s alone in bed. Half-asleep, he lunges upright, panic rising in him as he searches for Neil before his ears perk up at a specific sound.
The shower is running.
Swallowing, Andrew blinks at his surroundings. Though the curtains are still closed, he can see daylight peeking around the corners, letting him know they made it. It’s over. They survived through a twenty-four-hour unnatural heat with Neil intact and Andrew not breaking any of his promises.
And yet something squiggles unsatisfactorily in Andrew’s chest. He has this urge to see Neil, to verify he’s okay, to make sure Andrew didn’t accidentally hurt him somehow during the experience.
To understand what’s currently going on in Neil’s head.
Because Andrew knows his own feels jumbled. The bed feels cold beside him, and the room smells stale and cheap. His body is sticky and gross, uncomfortable in his soiled underwear. It doesn’t help that the running water of the shower is also filling Andrew with the urge to pee, and it takes him a little bit to remember the last time he’d done so.
He reaches into his underwear and pulls off the cock ring he’s still wearing with a grimace, standing up and tossing it into the trash bin. Then he slowly pads over to his bag, rifling through it to pull out some clean clothes.
He hears the shower turn off. A few moments later, Neil pops out, skin still heated and hair still wet. He’s thrown his clothes on hastily, judging from the shortness of his breath. But something about him looks soft and rumpled, warm and relaxed.
And out of nowhere, Andrew is seized with the strangest urge to kiss him.
But clearly this urge is only one-sided because the moment Neil’s eyes meet his, they dart away, face burning. “Shower’s yours,” he mumbles, and Andrew’s nostrils are suddenly filled with the smell of shame.
It makes his own spine go rigid, irritation welling inside of him as he snaps his head back down to his own bag and continues roughly searching through it for his toiletries. So what if Neil is embarrassed by what happened? What does Andrew care? It doesn’t matter.
Neil had made it clear he never wanted this in the first place, that Andrew was only to be used as a means to an end. A weapon wielded as a last resort. Now he’s done with Andrew, obviously wants nothing to do with him – he’s clearly dying for this whole awkward experience to be over with.
So Andrew obliges, grabbing his clothes and supplies in one arm as he heads towards the shower, not bothering to look Neil’s way again. But the moment he draws near Neil, trying to brush past him because the annoying omega hasn’t moved, Neil sniffs the air and his body sways towards Andrew, pupils blowing wide.
Andrew freezes.
Neil’s reaction surprises him. Technically, he should be past the hormone blindness heats cause, and Andrew knows how gross he must smell right now. Between the scent of sweat and sex that is clinging to him, as well as remnants of fluids from both Neil and himself, he’s a disgusting mess.
And yet Neil steps closer as if he’s drawn to Andrew, like he just can’t help himself.
Neil shakes his head, as if trying to dislodge something before he says, “I’m sorry, I – I don’t know what – it’s just-”
He pauses, a flush blooming over his face and neck as he bites his bottom lip.
Andrew waits.
Neil clears his throat and whispers, “Can…can I scent you? One last time?”
Andrew waits until those hesitant eyes meet his, and though he searches them, he can’t read what’s going on inside them.
But finally, he nods before asking, “And you?”
He frowns, wondering where those words came from, but Neil nods rapidly, answering, “Yes, you can scent me.”
Then they both stand there, frozen.
Slowly, Andrew takes a step towards Neil before placing a hand on the wall behind him, half-caging Neil in. Neil’s eyes are wide, his chest rising in short, staccato whisps as he stares at Andrew.
Then Andrew leans forward, dipping his head into the crook of Neil’s neck, and feels Neil do the same. He sniffs deeply and – fuck, there it is.
Andrew closes his eyes at that tangy smell of oranges and cloves, the heady scent filling up his nostrils, clean and bright without any sickening smell attached to it. It smells purely of Neil, with just a hint of content as an undertone that makes Andrew’s chest want to rumble with satisfaction.
He hears Neil sigh next to his ear, taking a deep breath in before he starts pulling back.
Reluctantly, Andrew mirrors him.
Neil’s eyes are on the floor as he licks his lips and quietly says, “Thank you.”
Andrew grunts before walking into the bathroom and snapping the door shut. He runs through his shower perfunctorily, washing every inch of him, removing all traces of Neil from his body as he feels something leaden weigh down his chest.
Why does he feel so forlorn at the thought of this being it? Why are his instincts screaming at him to go out there and do something, anything to stop the omega from walking away without some kind of tie between them?
Which is ridiculous – they already have a deal. And Andrew doesn’t want something else – neither does Neil. Before this stupid heat, they’d been fine – a little rough around the edges but fine. They’ll be like that again afterwards too, going back to their separate rooms, separate interests, separate lives.
Which is fine.
Andrew’s just fine with all of it. Just ask him.
But there’s a yawning hole gaping inside of him, a sudden chill running through his body at the thought of Neil being parted from him. Jesus, what the fuck is wrong with him?
Andrew’s suddenly glad he’s never sexually helped an omega through a heat before because this yearning, this abrupt need for a bond, is terrifying. He makes a small note to himself to talk to Bee about it and see if there’s any information on the lingering effects of an omega’s heat on an alpha.
Because that’s got to be why he’s feeling this way, right? Just leftover hormones? Biological instincts going haywire? His body fucking him over once more?
It makes the most sense.
After he’s done showering and getting dressed, he walks out of the bathroom to see the cot stripped, the window open, and his clothes that were strewn all over the floor piled neatly next to his bag. All of the toys and lube have been tossed in the trash, and Andrew spots several empty water bottles next to them.
Neil, for his part, waits patiently on the unmade cot, his own old, duffle bag seated familiarly on his shoulder.
Surprised the rabbit waited for him, Andrew walks over and begins shoving his dirty clothing into his own bag. He frowns a little because he can’t find his black tank top that Neil wore during…yesterday, but then shrugs, figuring Neil must have mixed it in with the sheets or something.
Whatever. He doesn’t care.
So he zips his bag up before putting it on his shoulder, crossing over to the desk to throw his phone and charger in his bag without looking at them, before he turns towards Neil.
The two of them stare at each other across the room, and Andrew can feel the moment weighing heavily on them both. The realization that this is it – that once they walk through that door, it’s really over.
Andrew swallows and asks gruffly, “Ready?”
Neil pops to his feet and nods.
So Andrew walks to the door and swings it open.
They sign out at the desk, the official there giving them a tired spiel about rating their experience and the quality of service they were provided on their online survey. Andrew just stares blankly at them until they stop talking about it. Then he and Neil enter the elevator and punch in their floor.
Neil remains silent through all of it.
Andrew has no idea what time it is but he’s grateful to find the floor empty when they arrive. He walks over to his door before pausing to watch Neil amble slowly towards his. Like Andrew, Neil pauses at his own doorway before glancing back towards him.
Again, they stare at each other, some connection pulling taut between them, fraying like the last threads of a rope.
Neil is the one to finally break it, putting the key in the door before going inside and firmly shutting it.
After another moment, Andrew follows suit.
The suite is thankfully empty, and Andrew walks to his bedroom, throwing the bag inside before he comes back into the kitchen and looks at the clock. It’s ten am – everyone must be at class.
Technically, Andrew should be at one of his now as well, but he doesn’t give a shit about school and means to take advantage of the break Wymack has secured for them. Especially since he knows Kevin will be harping at him to get back to practice as soon as he sees Neil is back – and there’s no way the junkie won’t jump at the chance as soon as he’s able.
Andrew sighs, the silence of his suite suddenly deafening.
He snatches one of his packs from his desk and heads up to the rooftop. He parks his ass on the ledge, feet dangling as he lights one up in broad daylight. Then he sits there, letting the cigarette slowly burn down as he examines this strange feeling sitting heavily in his chest.
He did his duty as an alpha – he made it through without breaking Neil’s consent.
So then why does he feel so empty inside?
Though he sits there for hours, no answers come to him. When he sees Kevin and Aaron approaching the tower, heads close as they talk to one another, he sighs.
There’s no time for him to be feeling out of sorts over the anomaly that is Neil Josten. His people need him – need him to be the strong, unyielding alpha they’ve always known. None of this bullshit wavering.
Neil’s heat was just a weird circumstance he’d handled, and it’s over now.
So he pulls himself up and puts himself back together, his walls solidifying into place as he squares his shoulders and heads inside.