Chapter 4 Aaron
AARON
It’s one thing to awaken to something unusual. It’s another to be called an animal you’re not. Not that I have anything against rats or rat shifters. Both are noble creatures on their own. But I am mink.
I wait to see what Pax does. Will he join me in the bedroom and tell me off and then we’ll make out until he begs me to fuck him? Will he ignore me? Will he storm in here and want to talk? I plop onto the edge of the bed and wait.
And wait.
And wait.
What the hell? I push to my feet and tiptoe across the floorboards, hoping they don’t groan under my weight.
I’m not a small man, with muscles announcing I’m more than likely an Alpha.
I could probably pick Pax up with my pinky finger.
Not that he’s a small man. For an Omega, he’s nicely built.
There aren’t many Omegas that look like him.
Most are thin and have low muscle tone by nature, but Pax, he’s different.
His body tells me he wants more than to be seen as an Omega.
He wants to be seen as simply Pax. At least that’s the vibes I get from the man.
I push the door open just slightly to look out into the living room.
What I find has me chuckling. The poor man must have had a long flight, then the fright of discovering shifters are in fact real and not myth must have exhausted him.
He’s passed out on the couch with his knees to his chest. I pad toward him as softly as I can and shake out the blanket from the arm of the couch to lie over him.
Pax is peaceful in sleep. His long lashes brush his cheeks.
His short hair is a mess and I want to brush it all into place.
But I won’t touch him without permission.
I don’t want him to see me or other shifters as a threat.
So, to keep the peace, I make my way to the kitchen to bake.
Hopefully, by the time he wakes I have some treats he likes finished.
“So, it wasn’t a dream.” Pax’s voice is thick from sleep and I turn to face him.
Sadly, he’s in a t-shirt and a pair of jeans now.
I’m still in my silk robe. Sue me. I like the way it feels against my skin.
I protect it with a red apron I found in the drawer and I look like a Valentine’s Day ad instead of getting ready for Christmas.
“No, it wasn’t a dream, but I can be your dream.” I wink at him as I blow a kiss.
Surprising the absolute sugar and spice right out of me, he mime’s catching the kiss and blows one right back.
“Sorry for being an asshole earlier. It really was rude of me to act the way I did, meeting your animal.”
I blink back at him. The timer buzzes, breaking me out of my stupor. “It’s nothing.” I slide oven mitts on my hands and rush to the oven to pull out mini pumpkin loaves. I made four and hope they’re enough.
“Do you own a bakery? Is that what makes you semi-famous?” Pax asks as he drops a few potholders onto the counter for me to plop the tray on.
“No, but my mom loves baking and so do I.”
“My gran, loved it, but I didn’t pick it up. I…” Pax scratches the back of his neck. “I’ve never embraced traditional Omega ventures. I’m a mechanic and love it. But sometimes I wish I had a talent like baking or something.”
I bob my head. “You know, humans really like to create separate gender and designation roles. Shifters don’t really do that.
I’m an Alpha that loves designing stuffed toys, bakes, sews, and a few other traditionally Omega activities.
No one in my community ridicules me for not being masculine or manly enough.
They don’t force anything on me or anyone. I’m simply Aaron.”
“That must be nice,” Pax whispers. He leans against the counter and watches as I whip up a basic icing for the pumpkin loaves.
“It really is. I can’t see how humans can deal with it. I can’t imagine being stifled because of what’s between my legs or who I’m supposed to fuck because of our designations. I don’t care about any of it. If we vibe, we vibe. That’s what I say, and it’s always worked for me.”
“That’s… that’s really beautiful, actually.” But instead of seeming happy, Pax’s shoulders drop. “Some days I don’t even know who I am. Who the heck is Pax? I sure as… fudge don’t know.”
I chuckle. “I appreciate the attempt at not cursing.”
Pax gives me an adorable crooked smile. “I aim to please. At least attempt it.”
“And I thank you for it.” I tip my head.
I drizzle the icing over the still warm loaves, and Pax practically drools on the counter as he watches me.
“Would you like some?” I ask.
“Yes, please. I love pumpkin. Everyone makes fun of me because I buy up everything I can when it’s pumpkin season, but it’s so freaking good. My friend Buckle is the same.”
He must sense my inner snarl because he laughs.
“Buckle and I are just friends.”
“I suppose if you were more, he’d be here with you.”
Pax shrugs. “Perhaps, but I’m not boyfriend material.” Sadness pours off him as I dig one of the loaves from its little pan.
I plate the loaf and hand him the leftover icing. He drizzles more on until it’s practically drowning, but I don’t say a thing as I dig my own loaf out.
He lifts a bite to his lips, and I hold my breath. I know I’m a good baker, but sometimes a new taster still makes me nervous.
Pax’s eyes shutter closed as he takes the bite. His moan is sinful and my cock perks to life instantly.
“Holy hell, this is probably the best pumpkin loaf I have ever had the pleasure of eating. You are a culinary genius.” He slowly eats another bite, savoring it.
I don’t normally go hot from praise, but apparently he is the exception. Maybe I’ll be the one begging him to fuck me by the end of the night.
“I’m verse, by the way,” I offer. “In case you were wondering.”
Pax chokes on his next bite. He places his precious pumpkin loaf on the counter as I fill a glass with water and pass it to him. He chokes on his first sip and coughs until he’s cleared his throat.
“Why did you feel the need to tell me that?” He asks when he can talk again. He’s almost laughing, which I take as a good sign.
“Why not? You’re moaning into my loaf and it got me all hot and bothered.” I fan my face, which makes him laugh again.
“I don’t think I’ve met anyone so free with their thoughts.” Pax lifts his loaf again.
“That’s shifters for ya. We share a lot of TMI. Or maybe it’s just me? I don’t know. I’m number four in a set of quints and they all tell me I’m the wild child.”
“I don’t even know your siblings, and I’ll have to agree.” Pax grins as he takes another bite. A bit of icing stays on his lips and I want to lean in and lick him clean. He’s beautiful.
“In all seriousness,” I start. “I’m harmless. If you tell me to cut it off with the sex jokes, I will. I don’t want you uncomfortable during your vacation.”
“Thank you for that.” He bobs his head and moans into another bite. “Sorry. Sorry. It’s just so good.”
I pull out a chair from the table and wave for him to take it. “When was the last time you ate a full meal?”
Pax looks up at me, but doesn’t exactly meet my gaze.
“PHS kills my appetite. Besides this, I haven’t really eaten in two days.
And you’re probably right about my Heat officially hitting tonight.
I should probably hole up in the bathroom or the closet or something and stuff a towel at the bottom of the door so you don’t have to scent me. ”
“You’re absolutely not doing any of that.
Relax and I’ll make us some real food for dinner.
Then you can find where you think you’ll be comfortable and I’ll get out of your way for however long your Heat lasts.
But like I said. I can’t get humans pregnant, so if you need a real knot, I’m happy to help. ”
Pax swallows the last of his loaf. “Let’s just… see what happens? But we might need a safe word or something. I get incredibly needy in Heat. I will beg and it’s so embarrassing.” He goes red and I want to caress his cheek, but keep my hands to myself.
“Don’t be embarrassed. What would the safe word be for?”
“So you know if it’s me or the Heat talking. If I’m coherent enough to say the word, you know it’s full consent.” Pax refuses to look at me still.
“Perfect. What would you like that word to be?”
“Pumpkin.”
“Pumpkin it is.” I tap my hand to the table before I turn to rummage through the fridge for the ingredients I bought.