Chapter 9
Amonth later, Walker came to a stop in front of Fernando’s apartment building, turned his bike off, then kicked the side stand down.
He was exhausted and anxious. Seeing the omega after months apart was nerve-racking.
Through several talks and emails, Walker felt sure of his feelings, but what if being together in person was different?
Awkward? Having a person of your own was hard.
He barely had time to get off his bike and remove his helmet before a familiar omega was suddenly there in his arms.
“Welcome home, asshole.” Fernando hugged him tightly and glared at him. “Why didn’t you tell me you were arriving today? I could have been so much better prepared. Pug only texted me like ten minutes ago.”
Walker leaned back and grinned. Fernando wore grey athletic shorts and a bright pink shirt with a UFO and Bigfoot on the front. His usually styled hair was a mess, he needed a shave, and black-framed glasses perched on his nose. Walker loved it. His worry melted away as he hugged his omega again.
“Fuck, it’s good to hold you.”
“Truth.” Fernando buried his nose in Walker’s neck. “I’m so glad you’re here.”
After a few more moments, Walker reluctantly let go of Fernando. “I kind of wanted to surprise you.”
“That’s all well and good, but today’s laundry day, so you’re lucky I’m wearing pants at all. I was going to look so good for you.”
Walker cupped Fernando’s face and gently kissed him. “You look perfect to me.”
Fernando’s face flushed, and he pulled Walker up the stairs. “Come see our place. Beans was sleeping when Pug texted, but he’ll want to see you, too.”
“Will he even remember me?”
Fernando arched a brow. “Our son has an excellent memory. Of course, he’ll remember you.”
Walker laughed and followed him up three flights of stairs and into the apartment. The place looked nice. Better than anywhere Walker had lived before. Granted, he’d been living in barracks for about eight years now, so it wasn’t much of an accomplishment.
The small living room, kitchen, and dining room were open with light grey walls and darker grey flooring.
The spots of color were in the furniture and decorations.
The couch was royal blue, with a fuzzy brown-and-black dog sleeping on it.
A green and blue rug lay in front of the couch with an empty dog bed in the corner.
“What do you think?” Fernando asked. “Charlie, Steve’s wife, helped me pick out the couch and rug.”
“It looks really good.” Walker walked around, smiling at the bits and pieces of his omega that were everywhere. Fernando had added his touches in brightly colored abstract paintings and framed pictures of his family and friends. Three of the frames were empty.
“What will you put here?”
Fernando’s smile widened. “You.”
Walker froze, mind short-circuiting for a moment. “Me?”
Wrapping his arms around Walker, Fernando shook him. “You’re my person, Walker. Do you know how important that is? I’ve never had a person of my own. You have my back, and I have yours. Of course, I want your pictures hanging on my walls. I want every bit of you I can get.”
“Me.” Walker huffed out a laugh. “You’re really mine, aren’t you?”
Fernando settled his head on Walker’s shoulder. “Yes.”
They stood there a while, soaking in one another’s presence. The house was peaceful. Beans snored from the couch, and the television played a soccer game. Piles of laundry lined the hallway, and the washer shook as it changed cycles.
Walker wrapped his arms around Fernando and hugged him tightly. My omega, he thought again and again.
Beans stirred on the couch, head raising and searching the room. Spying Walker, he woofed happily and rolled until he stood on his feet. Two big jumps, he was right beside them, standing on his back legs to join the hug, tail wagging furiously.
“I love you, Fernando.” Walker couldn’t keep the words inside any longer. Was it too soon? Yes, but he didn’t want another second to go by without his omega knowing how he felt.
Fernando’s eyes widened, and he slowly smiled. “Really? Are you sure?”
“Yes,” Walker said, eyes full of amazement. “I knew you were special the night we met, but what I feel for you is more than I thought possible. I’ve never loved someone, Ferdie.”
“I love you too,” Fernando whispered. “I’m so glad you’re home.”
Beans barked and jumped up.
Walker caught him and pulled him into their arms. “Damn, he’s huge.” Walker laughed. “We love you too, Beans.”
The large dog woofed, then jumped out of their arms to run in circles around them.
“Want to go on a walk?” Fernando asked Walker.
Even though he’d love nothing more than to sit down and fall asleep on the couch, Walker couldn’t say no to both Fernando and Beans.
“Sure.”
“You brought your things, right? You’re staying the night?” Fernando gave him a worried look.
“Yeah, my bag is on my bike.” Walker ran his hand over his short hair, feeling his ears heat up. He knew they were red as tomatoes, but he didn’t care. His omega wanted him to stay.
They walked together, hand in hand, letting Beans lead them on his leash. It was still hot, but the day was turning to night, and the temperature would be more comfortable in another hour or so.
“The apartment building has a pool and a hot tub. There’s a small balcony off the living room, but our neighbor smokes, so I haven’t been going out there much.”
Walker liked that he always used 'our' instead of 'my'. “You sure about me moving in? I got approval already, but the barracks aren’t terrible if you want to take it slower.”
Fernando snorted. “I want you with me, Walker. Fuck the barracks. We have an apartment. What’s something you have always wanted to do with your own space? We do have an extra room.”
Walker thought about it. One of the reasons he liked his job was because he’d learned so many skills while training.
A combat engineer had a lot of responsibilities, ranging from constructing and maintaining roads to employing explosives.
His favorite part was, of course, the explosives, but that wasn’t something he could bring into the apartment.
He winced. “You said you didn’t like cooking, right?”
Fernando shrugged. “I didn’t like having to cook for the alphas of the house like my dad expected me to. I’m actually really good at cooking; I just don’t have a use for it.”
“Do you think you could teach me?”
Fernando grinned, eyes lighting up. “I would love that. Gabs and I cook with Valentina all the time. We’re teaching her Mom’s recipes. What kind of things do you want to cook?”
Walker shrugged. “Anything really.”
“I’ll start making plans.” Fernando swung their hands back and forth. “Cooking with other people is so much better than cooking alone. Now, how do you feel about doing laundry?”
Walker laughed. “Better than you, I think. That was a lot of clothes in the hampers for just a week.”
“More like a month.” Fernando sighed. “I hate laundry, but I have to have clean clothes for interviews.”
“How many have you done so far?”
“Three.” Fernando shrugged. “They’ve gone well, and I’ve had one call back. Hopefully it turns into a job.”
“They’d be stupid not to hire you.”
Fernando squeezed his hand. “I’m glad you’re my person.”
“Have you thought about my reenlistment?” Walker asked.
The omega looked thoughtful for a moment. “I really think that’s for you to decide. How do you feel about staying in the military?”
Walker shrugged. “It’s all I know. After I graduated high school, I joined up and haven’t looked back. Before you, there was nothing else for me. I think it’s the first place I really felt I belonged. Reenlisting feels…” he struggled to find the right word. “Comfortable, I guess.”
“How do you feel when you think about leaving it?”
“Scared as shit,” he answered quickly. “Excited, but a little panicked. I don’t know what I would do. Where would I fit?” He paused for a moment. “I know that I would be here with you, though. That makes everything else pale in comparison.”
They stopped and let Beans do his business.
Fernando gave him a worried look. “I can’t lie. I want you with me all the time, but I don’t want you to come to hate me. I’m with you either way. When do you have to decide?”
“October.”
“Okay.” Fernando nodded. “Let’s see how the next few months go. We can spend time together and go visit Hobson Hills.” His worry seemed to fade. “I’m just happy to have you with me right now.”
Walker grinned. “You want me to pick up the poop, don’t you?”
“Yes, please.”
Later that night, Walker lay with Fernando on their bed. He kissed his omega, enjoying the feel of the man in his arms. When Fernando’s lips pressed back desperately, and he wound his arms around Walker’s neck, Walker sank into him.
As he kept a steady pace, he kissed his way down Fernando’s neck, then nipped his shoulder when his dick hit the right spot inside Fernando.
“Walker,” Fernando said, panting. Walker couldn’t stop himself from increasing his pace, relishing the feel of his omega’s hard dick pressed against his stomach.
He reached between them, wrapped his fingers around Fernando’s erection, and stroked him. His other hand gripped Fernando’s thigh, spreading him a little wider.
“More,” Fernando said, breathless. “I need more.”
Walker moaned and bit down on Fernando’s shoulder, careful not to break skin. His grip on omega’s thigh tightened, and he felt it coming. Everything inside him pulled tight, but he needed something to push him over the edge.
Fernando spread his legs wide, wrapping his one around Walker’s hip. The omega’s smaller body pulled tight, and he screamed as he came, splattering against Walker’s stomach. He shuddered, body undulating, as fierce satisfaction filled his brown eyes.
Walker couldn’t stop himself. He came hard at the sight of Fernando’s satisfaction. After his body steadied, he stayed wrapped around his omega, enjoying the feeling of rightness. The room quieted, their pants softening and the light glistening off Fernando’s wet skin.
A deep, deep peace filled Walker, insulating him in gentle warmth. That wasn’t sex. That was something so much better.
“Ferdie,” he said, giving his omega a gentle kiss. “Thank you.”
“Yeah, anytime,” Fernando said, looking very sleepy. “We need to clean up.”
“You stay right there. I got you,” Walker said and ran to the bathroom. He wiped himself down and grabbed a clean rag. He couldn’t wait to explore Fernando all over again.