Chapter 10
10
B efore the heat took all his control, Brett sank onto Pierce’s big cock over and over, holding the alpha’s gaze with every deep plunge. Not any alpha— his alpha. He’d felt the same pull Pierce had mentioned. He’d fought it, as well. There was no reason to fight any longer. He pressed his palms against the big man’s chest and bit his lower lip, riding that perfect cock with abandon. He worked his ass over Pierce’s cock with measured strokes, wanting his alpha’s pleasure as much as his own. Over and over, he bounced up and down Pierce’s shaft, the pace quickening as his heat demanded more.
As the heat laid claim over him—a hint of panic fluttered within. Brett could see—and more importantly—feel, but he had no control. Something primal within had taken over and he was simply a captive to the need. The disconnect was frightening, yet there was something wild and wanton about it. There were no more lines. No fear holding him back. He was a creature made of pure craving and utter desire. What his body wanted, it took.
He couldn’t stop—even if he wanted to.
Fortunately, he didn’t want to. He had the alpha he’d wanted all along inside him and all was right in his world.
He held Pierce’s gaze, the connection hinted at for all those years blossoming between them. A sense of rightness washed over him, and he stopped fighting against his nature and surrendered to it completely. When he let go, he felt like he was floating, his body used as a vessel for pleasure, filled to the brim.
Pierce held his hips tight, fingertips almost biting as he was held, but he’d have it no other way as their bodies clashed together. They worked in tandem, as if they’d been together for eons—two souls made one.
Pierce moved one hand while he held Brett’s gaze. Soon, he also held Brett’s cock, stroking it in a huge, tight fist. Brett fed the alpha’s cock into his body. When Brett came, screaming his alpha’s name, he stared into the amber eyes he’d longed to truly see him. For the first time in his life, he felt seen in a way he’d never expected.
He’d never assumed it would happen like that—but he felt more himself in Pierce’s arms than he’d ever felt in his life. Sure, it was physical, but there was an intimacy about it he’d never shared with another man.
Pierce rolled him over, pinning him to the mattress again with that big, powerful body. His alpha’s eyes were almost entirely black, the pupils blown. For a split second, it was hard to breathe. He didn’t see the Pierce he knew.
“Mine,” Pierce growled.
The sound rippled through Brett. His back arched, his head falling back at the verbal claim. It was as weighty as the physical claim Pierce had on his body.
Mine. The same word had been whispering in Brett’s mind all night—whenever he looked at Pierce.
Pierce thrust forward, already deep inside Brett. “All mine.” He nuzzled against Brett’s neck before whispering, “I love you, baby.”
Brett shivered, smiling. It was his Pierce… “I love you, too.”
He moaned with delight, smiling as his alpha drilled him deep with that big cock, all while staring into his eyes. Adoration shone in the depths. Pleasure coursed through Brett with every thrust, his entire body trembling from urgency and the need to shatter into a million pieces. He sensed Pierce would be there to pick up the broken fragments and put him back together again.
The pace quickened, earning Pierce a moan of gratitude. Brett met every hard thrust, whining and whimpering for more. What more he could possibly get, he didn’t know, but his body drove him faster and faster—and closer to the edge.
Pierce rose to his knees and flipped Brett over with ease before driving deep again. He sank his fingers through Brett’s hair and gripped a hunk tight, pulling hard—but not too hard. Brett liked to play a little rough. He moaned, the sound reverberating around the bedroom and mixing with the moans pouring from Pierce’s lips. His alpha put him through his paces, fucking him until he was begging to come.
They changed positions multiple times. Pierce tossed him about like a rag doll, and Brett loved every second of it. His alpha’s strength was its own erogenous zone—and helped him reach the peak. He sensed they were both seconds from coming—and the instant Pierce paused deep inside, and the knot expanded, Brett came, screaming his alpha’s name. Pierce roared, heat blasting deep within. Brett was shocked at how clearly he felt his insides warm. He’d never noticed that with another man.
He smiled, enjoying the heightened sense and how connected his body was to Pierce’s. It wasn’t the only change he’d noticed. His sense of smell seemed suddenly sharper, too. Pierce’s scent was driving him mad. His sense of touch seemed more profound. Every caress was electrically charged, sending frissons of warmth through him. Would there be more he would experience? They might have days to find out, lost to his heat. He looked forward to seeing what else might be different with his newfound omega body.
Pierce rolled them again, allowing Brett to sprawl over his chest as his cock was locked in place. Brett rose on his elbows and eyed his alpha. “Are you feeling a womb again?”
Pierce nodded in the affirmative, silently watching Brett’s reaction.
“I guess… that means…”
“You could get pregnant,” Pierce murmured, filling in the blank space Brett had been scared to fill.
“Do you think I could? The first heat?”
Pierce lifted a brow and shrugged his shoulders. “Dunno.” He searched Brett’s face. “I have no condoms here and even if I did, it can be hit or miss to remember them when a heat comes. If we luck out and you’re not pregnant by the end, we can look into birth control options. I hear the regulations are lifting on that soon, if not already.”
If we luck out… “Do you not want children?”
Pierce frowned, and it stung a bit. “I didn’t say that. I…” Pierce sighed. “You just learned you were an omega an hour ago. Are you really ready to be pregnant?”
“You’re right. I’m not ready,” Brett murmured. That hadn’t really answered his question, though. “If I’m truly an omega…” Brett paused. It was suddenly harder to breathe. “We don’t know anything for certain yet.”
What if he wasn’t? They were making massive assumptions, and he didn’t want to get his hopes up.
Pierce brushed a long curl back from his forehead. “You don’t seem terrified at the prospect of getting pregnant. I think I would be in your shoes.”
Brett shrugged, dragging his gaze away.
Pierce wasn’t letting him run. He tugged on Brett’s chin. When he’d recaptured Brett’s gaze, he lifted a brow. “Talk to me.”
Brett wasn’t sure where to begin. “Being a beta… has never… felt right. If that makes any sense.” He searched Pierce’s face, curious how his alpha would react to that. “I’ve wanted to be an omega almost my entire life. I dreamed of being one and having a family one day.”
Pierce smiled softly. “You got your wish.”
“Maybe,” he whispered. “But to answer your question—the prospect of getting pregnant isn’t terrifying. Not at all. It probably should be, but… I’ve wanted to be someone’s papa and now… maybe…” The thought that he might not truly be an omega returned. A wave of emotion hit, and he fought hard to keep from crying, but as his eyes welled with fat tears, he crumpled. He wiped one that slid down his cheek. “I don’t do this! I don’t cry!”
“Hey, hey, hey,” Pierce murmured, hugging him close. “This has got to be emotional for you. It’s okay to feel overwhelmed.” He tilted Brett’s chin up. “It’s okay to cry and let it out, too. It’s better than holding it inside and letting it eat you alive.”
Brett shook his head, tears streaming. “This isn’t me, though.”
“You’re adjusting to a new normal and everything might be out of whack. Your hormones are likely changing. Your body chemistry is off. I’m fairly sure there’s a degree of shock mixed in there. Go easy on yourself, hmm?”
Brett lowered his head to Pierce’s shoulder and allowed the emotions to roll over him. He breathed through it, comforted by his alpha’s gentle hands rubbing his back. When the swelling of the knot went down, they never moved. Pierce didn’t pull out. They remained in one another’s arms, both silent. Brett had never felt so comfortable and close with a man in his life. Vulnerability wasn’t something he showed anyone . The closest person to see inside Brett’s walls was Avery and even he’d only gotten so far.
Assuming he couldn’t be the right man—or rather, the right omega— he'd fought his attraction to Pierce for years. All along, he might be the right one after all. If so, they would be bound for the rest of their lives. It made him want to tear down his facade and share every secret he had. Every joy. Every hope. Every painful memory.
Every everything. Good, bad, and in between.
This man was his person.
His forever.
He’d never had someone that was his and his alone.
“I always assumed me wanting to be an omega was because it would’ve made my parents love me, but I think I knew down deep that it was more than that. The need to be omega was almost desperate at times. Maybe a part of me sensed what I was and longed for the change to come. I don’t know.” He scoffed. “Yet, hearing you say I’d gone into heat, I freaked out. I’m still freaked out. I’ve been a beta my entire life. I don’t know how to be an omega.” Tears burned again. “What if I fuck it up like I’ve fucked everything else up in my life?”
“You’re not going to fuck it up,” Pierce whispered, still rubbing his back. “You’ll be the omega you want to be. Fuck the rules.”
Brett lifted his head and eyed Pierce. “Fuck the rules? You really just said that, Mr. Stick-Up-His-Ass?”
Pierce smiled. “Yeah. I really just said that.” He lifted his other hand and cradled the side of Brett’s face. “Just be yourself. That’s all you can be. You can’t control what others think. You can only control your own actions.”
“When I’m not in heat.”
Pierce chuckled. “Yes. When you’re not in heat.”
He brushed his fingers through Brett’s hair. Brett closed his eyes, leaning into the caress.
“You need to get some rest before the next wave hits,” Pierce said, drawing lazy circles over Brett’s back with his fingertip. “You got a little before all this hit, but it wasn’t enough, I’m sure.”
“I don’t know if I can sleep now,” Brett said before a yawn came and made him a liar.
Pierce chuckled. “Why don’t you give it a try?”
“Are you going to leave?” Brett asked, panic at the thought of awakening to an empty bed stealing his next breath. How many beds had he raced from after the deed was done? Suddenly, he couldn’t stomach the idea of leaving—or being left.
“I’ll be right here the whole time.” Pierce smiled. “I’m not going anywhere.”
Brett slid off Pierce and cuddled into the crook of his arm. Pierce was warm and felt safe—clearly, because he drifted off seconds later.
Awakening sometime later to another wave.
All night long, they slept in fits between fucking like animals. Day came, bringing light into their dim world, but nothing else changed. He eased his need with his alpha’s cock, over and over again. Night fell and they shared that, too. Another day came and soon became night. It all blended in Brett’s mind, and he wasn’t sure how many days they’d fucked.
Brett’s body was sore in places he didn’t know he could be sore in—yet the animal need didn’t abate, and the soreness was forgotten until the next break. Through it all, Pierce was his protective alpha. He brought food and drink, though Brett had no appetite. He drained bottles of water and took a bite here and a bite there before collapsing on the bed between sessions. What he thought was the fourth day was the roughest. His body wasn’t accustomed to that kind of constant use. When the need hit, he succumbed to it, but in between, he passed out, utterly exhausted.
Late that night, he awoke, sensing it might be over. A sense of quiet had come over him, and he sighed at the sensation.
“Hey,” Pierce whispered. “You okay?”
Brett snuggled close. “As okay as can be expected.”
Pierce leaned in to kiss him. “You seem calm. Maybe it’s finally over.”
“I hope so,” Brett murmured. Yet, a little part of him didn’t want it to be over, aches and all.
“First heats usually tend to be shorter,” Pierce said, caressing the side of his face. “Of course it’s you that’s got to be extra.”
Brett chuckled, though he barely had the strength to. He smiled, his eyes closing. “That’s me.”
Brett reveled in the soft touch of his alpha’s hand sliding down his neck and onto his shoulder. Pierce had been nothing but loving and caring. Without that, he wasn’t sure if he’d have been able to survive for so long. “How long before we can call it done?”
“Maybe an hour or so,” Pierce said. “Why don’t you get some more rest, just in case?”
Brett closed his eyes, but they kept popping open, his brain suddenly unable to shut down. He stared up at the ceiling before forcing his eyes closed again. He failed to keep them closed, a running list of questions circling in his mind. “I can’t sleep.”
“You said that before and then conked out on me.”
“I feel oddly awake and aware right now. Like more aware of my body than I’ve ever felt in my life. My head’s going a mile a minute, so that’s not helping.”
Pierce kissed his forehead. “What’s on your mind?”
“Nothing— and everything.”
“Ah,” Pierce murmured, chuckling. “Is that all?”
“I think I’m so overwhelmed and over-exhausted that my brain doesn’t know what question to focus on. There’s only about a million of them.”
“I’ve been mulling it all over myself,” Pierce replied. “But there’s no way we can get answers until after you’ve recovered from your heat, and we see that doctor. The only thing we have now is speculation—and that’s just going to drive us both nuts.”
“True.” Brett smiled. “Hopefully we won’t have to wait long for an appointment.”
“No fight and you’re in a rush to be seen? Who is this man in my arms?”
Brett scoffed and smiled at the same time. “Be nice. I’m too tired to be on right now.”
They lay in the quiet a few minutes, but for Brett, it wasn’t quiet at all. Pierce had it right, they wouldn’t learn anything until after it was all said and done, but he couldn’t just flip a switch and turn his mind off, either.
“I can hear you thinking,” Pierce joked a few minutes later, kissing his forehead again. “You’d think I’d fucked you senseless by now and you’d be passed out.”
“Oh, you have… My body’s barely able to move. My brain’s another thing. Give me something to think about so I can ignore all the noise.”
“Okay…” Pierce said. He paused a moment before asking, “Why did you think being an omega would make your parents love you?”
Brett bit the inside of his lip, not sure how to tackle that answer without becoming a crying mess again. Tears weren’t him, and he wasn’t going to allow that change to become permanent. He stared at Pierce’s chest, running his fingertips over the thin, dark curls in the center. “You go right for the gut, hmm?”
“You don’t have to answer if you don’t want to—but that comment’s been stuck in my head since you said it.”
Brett didn’t want Pierce’s pity. It’s why he rarely talked about his parents with anyone. Nothing in-depth, anyway. It was way easier for him if people assumed he was the shallow, spoiled rich boy he pretended to be. But he didn’t want to lie to Pierce. Nor did he want to hide behind a mask any longer. Not with the man who might be his alpha. “Being a beta meant I was a second-class citizen in their eyes. I would contribute nothing to the next generation, so my life was without worth.”
“I’m sure it can be hard when so much attention is put on alphas and omegas in a family,” Pierce said. “I’m sure they didn’t mean to make you feel that way.”
“It’s not just the way they made me feel. My papa said those exact words on multiple occasions, with my father usually nodding in agreement. My papa said that I should prepare for a life of servitude to alphas and omegas, because that’s all betas are. Servants for the greater good.”
Pierce’s brow furrowed deeply. “Are you fucking kidding me?”
“I wish I was,” Brett muttered.
“That’s bullshit,” Pierce growled. “Your life had worth and meaning before you found out you were an omega. I fell in love with you while I thought you were a beta.”
Brett’s gaze flipped to Pierce’s, his chest tightening at those words. “Yet you did nothing about it until I went into heat.”
“You could have any man you wanted. Why would you want me?” Pierce sighed. “At least, that’s what I told myself. You’re gorgeous, and I see the way men react to you. You could have your pick, and I knew it would never be me.”
Brett frowned. He’d basically asked the same question of himself. Why would an alpha want a beta for anything but a night of fun?
“As I recall, you didn’t say anything about your feelings, either, so don’t put all this on me,” Pierce said. “We both had doubts and fears. But my reason wasn’t because you were a beta. That never even entered my mind. I simply thought you deserved better than me.”
“I told myself that I wasn’t good enough for you because I was a beta. That you’d always want more than I could give you.”
“You were good enough,” Pierce said. “Had I known how you felt, I wouldn’t have cared if you were a beta or an omega. One word and you would’ve been mine.”
“If only I’d said something?” Brett chuckled. “I can’t put this all on you, yet you just put it on me, hmm?”
“I didn’t mean it like that… I just… I wanted you then. As much as I want you now. You had worth then. You don’t have more now.”
“I beg to differ,” Brett whispered. “I might be someone’s omega now and we both know that this province puts alphas and omegas on pedestals. It’s not just my parents who think that way.”
“You’re right, but I don’t think that way. That kind of thinking will be the province’s downfall. You could’ve just as well been someone’s beta,” Pierce murmured. “Now I wish we’d both been braver and not assumed the worst.”
Brett didn’t want to imagine what they’d missed out on. It almost hurt physically to think about all those wasted years. He smiled at his alpha, changing the subject. “So… you think I’m gorgeous, do you?”
“You know you’re gorgeous.”
Brett’s smile faded. Men had told him he was most of his life, but it hadn’t mattered because they hadn’t mattered. He’d not wanted any of their hearts and they’d only wanted into his bed. The man in front of him mattered. “But do you think I am?”
Pierce lifted his chin with a knuckle, searching his face. “How could you not know?”
Brett stared at him wide-eyed and silent. He wanted to hear the words from Pierce’s lips. He wanted to know Pierce was truly attracted to him, not just because he was in heat. Sure, he’d seen the looks the alpha had given him over the years and felt the simmering attraction, but he needed to hear the words.
He wouldn’t beg for them, though.
Pierce narrowed his eyes, searching Brett’s face. “Do you know how many times I’ve simply wanted to stare at how beautiful you are? I could only sneak peeks when you weren’t looking. Now I get to look all I want. A feast for a starving man.” He caressed the side of Brett’s cheek, his palm a bit rough from hard work. “You’re stunning .”
Brett’s smile returned. “You’re not so bad yourself.”
“That’s all I get?” Pierce asked, wincing. “I guess it could be worse.”
Brett laughed, but as it faded, he knew Pierce deserved more. Brett had wanted to hear his potential alpha was attracted to him. It was only fair he give as good as he got. “I think you’re one of the most attractive men I’ve ever met.”
“Sure,” Pierce muttered.
“It’s not lip service. When I saw those big, muscled arms of yours before Avery’s ceremony, I nearly moaned on the spot. You’re hot. Like hot, hot. Even if you’re…”
One of Pierce’s brows rose. “Go ahead and say it. Even if I’m old.”
“You’re not old. You’re… well-seasoned,” Brett said with a grin.
“I sound like a side of beef.”
“Good thing I’ve got an appetite,” Brett murmured. “An appetite… for my handsome, sexy alpha.” He grinned before pressing a kiss to Pierce’s chest. “Don’t stress about it. I have daddy issues. Your age is a turn-on, not a turnoff.”
Pierce’s eyes narrowed. “Daddy issues, hmm?”
Brett nodded. He had both daddy and papa issues, if truth be told.
“Fuck your family for saying those things to you,” Pierce said, collecting Brett’s face in two big, strong hands. “They were wrong. You were— and are —amazing. Not some servant to another generation of alphas and omegas.”
No, he might not be. Maybe he’d contribute to the next generation after all. “Amazing? I thought I was a pain in your ass?”
“Oh, you can be,” Pierce said with a mischievous grin. “You’re my precious little tornado who throws my neat little world into chaos.” His grin grew. “Maybe I needed a touch of chaos to shake things up, hmm?”
Brett smiled, but there wasn’t much joy in it. He’d worked so hard over the past year and hated that it hadn’t been recognized. But then, he’d been a royal fuckup for years before that, so what did he expect?
“That wasn’t a believable smile,” Pierce whispered. “Did I say something wrong?”
“Nope,” Brett fibbed.
“I know that tone. It’s the same one you had when you lied about not being in pain.”
Brett met Pierce’s gaze but said nothing.
“Don’t run away from me now,” Pierce murmured, brushing Brett’s hair back. “What did I do?”
“I’ve been trying to be better for you. I’ve worked hard over the last year—and it feels like you didn’t notice.”
“I noticed,” Pierce said. “And that change made things harder for me.”
Brett frowned. “How so?”
“For years, I used your attitude as my reason we wouldn’t work. Then you went on the straight and narrow and I lost that barrier between us. The next best thing was distance. I avoided you as much as humanly possible over the last year, terrified I’d cross a line if we spent too much time alone together.” Pierce caressed Brett’s face. “I probably neglected giving you hundreds of compliments you deserved. I’ll make that up to you. Whatever I have to do, I’ll do it.”
“You don’t have to do anything. I was a pain in your ass. I flouted the rules. I pushed your buttons. I even fucked up sometimes on purpose, just to see your reaction, truth be told…”
Pierce lifted a brow.
“I wanted your attention. I couldn’t have you, so it’s all I could get.”
Pierce’s ire faded, and his expression softened. “You could’ve gotten my attention another way.”
“You didn’t seem to notice me when I followed the rules. You don’t know how many times I’ve considered going back to the dark side over the last year.”
“I know it’s late, but you’ve done exceptional over the last year. I even told Avery that you might be doing a better job than he did.”
Brett’s eyes stung. “Why couldn’t you tell me that? I needed to know that my hard work wasn’t going unnoticed, Pierce.”
“It hasn’t gone unnoticed. I’ve seen how much you’ve changed. How serious you’ve become. You’ve done amazing, baby. I’m impressed more and more with you every single day.”
Brett held back a tide of emotions that praise caused.
Pierce kissed his cheek and smiled. “I held too much back from you, and I’m sorry if that caused you pain. You’re not going to be able to shut me up now. I’m going to tell you what a good little boy you’re being every day.”
A tremor went up Brett’s spine at the mention of good little boy.
“What was that?” Pierce asked slowly, grinning. “Does the guy with daddy issues like to be called a good little boy?”
Brett shivered again. “Stop.”
Pierce nuzzled his neck. “Do you really want me to stop calling you that?”
“No,” Brett whispered, closing his eyes.
Pierce growled, and it reverberated through Brett’s body.
“You’re my good little boy.” Pierce captured Brett’s lips and kissed him roughly.