Chapter 29 #2
“Still!” Emerson said, grinning wickedly. Hearing how out of it Dash had been actually pleased him for some reason. Maybe it was because they were mates.
Emerson looked over his shoulder. The guilt in Dash’s eyes made him realize he was pushing too far. “I’m not upset. I was just enjoying seeing you squirm.”
Dash sighed with what looked like relief. A hint of a smile came to his lips.
“I put out for you, Mister. And you barely remember?”
Dash rammed Emerson a little harder, the hint turning into a full-blown smile. “This time will be burnt into my memory forever.”
“Also, don’t make it sound like I’ve kept this sweet ass of mine away from you. You’ve been the one fixated on bottoming,” Emerson said between panting breaths caused by Dash’s delightfully hammering cock. “That’s not on me.”
“True enough,” Dash whispered against his ear. “Now I have a new fixation. Pounding this sweet ass of yours.”
Emerson frowned. While he didn’t mind the occasional switch, he preferred topping—though as good as Dash felt inside him, maybe that would change.
Emerson couldn’t help but wonder if Dash’s recent heat caused this swing in the other direction?
If so, the pendulum might sway in the other direction the closer the next full moon arrived.
During the last, Dash had been at his most vulnerable.
Perhaps he needed to play the dominant role after that to rebalance his scales.
If Dash needed that, so be it.
Dash surged a bit deeper, almost seeming like he was attempting to push his knot in.
“Oh, that’s not happening,” Emerson whispered over his shoulder. He met Dash’s dark gaze. “Not without a lot more practice.”
“I wasn’t gonna,” Dash said, his eyes falling closed for a few seconds. Pain and pleasure coalesced over his face, his winces and looks of delight stunning as he rolled his hips against Emerson. “Just getting as deep as I can. You feel so good wrapped around my cock.”
He dragged Emerson’s head back again for another kiss before sliding his fingers free of the strands. Lowering his hands, he gripped both sides of Emerson’s hips and picked up the pace.
Emerson let out a low howl from the pleasure of it, his prostate worked by Dash’s thick cock on each inward thrust. Tension built by the second, tightening every muscle and sinew to near breaking point.
The second he shattered, his knot inflated, pressing against the surface of the desk.
Cum shot from him, spattering across the wood under him.
Dash followed him seconds later, his cock spasming.
Emerson gasped, the sensation of heat warming his insides.
Another came following the next spasm and Emerson trembled, the awareness of being bred alluring.
Their moans merged into one sound as they came together.
Dash’s fingertips burned into his hips until languidly releasing.
They slowed their movements, Dash collapsing on top of him, pinning him to the desk.
Emerson breathed deep, smiling to himself. While he still preferred topping, shaking things up wasn’t a bad thing at all. They breathed together for a couple of minutes before Dash’s weight lifted from him. Emerson missed it when it was gone.
Dash pulled out and dropped into the chair behind them, still breathing a bit hard. He spread Emerson’s cheeks again and watched as his seed slipped out and down Emerson’s thighs.
“That’s so fucking hot,” Dash murmured.
Emerson pushed more of the cum out, giving his mate a show. Dash groaned, kneading Emerson’s cheeks. When he let go, Emerson spun to face him. Resting his bare cheeks on the edge of the desk, he grinned. “That was fun.”
Dash grinned… but it quickly faded. He rolled the chair closer and pressed his forehead against Emerson’s abs. He lifted his hands and caressed Emerson’s thighs. “Thank you.”
Emerson frowned, adding a bemused smile. “I think I should be thanking you.”
“No,” Dash mumbled, shaking his head from side-to-side without removing his forehead from Emerson’s abdomen. “This is all you tonight.”
Emerson smiled softly, massaging Dash’s tense shoulders until they relaxed.
He wished they were home, in his bed, and could curl up against one another and drift off to sleep. Instead, they’d need to clean up the mess—and he suspected he’d end up driving home alone. Though Dash didn’t look like he planned to move anywhere for a little while.
Long minutes passed and Emerson grew a bit worried at Dash’s silence. “You okay?”
Dash leaned back, releasing his hold. He rested his head against the high-backed chair and smiled softly. “Yeah. You?”
“Yeah,” Emerson replied. He stood to his full height, sliding his pants back up and half zipping them. “Where’s your bathroom?”
“Down the hall, to the left,” Dash whispered, smiling up at him.
Emerson wandered out, his body sorer than he could ever remember.
But it was a nice sore, especially after seeing Dash’s satisfied smile.
Once in the bathroom, he gathered several hand towels and wet a few.
He glanced in the mirror on his way out and noticed the dewy, shiny sheen on his face.
Cheeks red, he wore a satisfied expression himself.
With another grin, he returned to the office to clean up after their play.
“I can take care of that,” Dash said, not moving a muscle.
His eyelids were heavy, only a sliver of blue-gray showing. Not only had he not eaten well for days, but he hadn’t slept much, either.
“Why don’t you let me take you home? You look exhausted.”
Dash smiled wanly, barely opening his eyes any more than they already were. “I’ve got too much work to do.” His eyes fell closed again. “Maybe a little nap first though.”
Emerson continued the clean-up, letting Dash snooze for a few. Once the office was tidied, he returned to the conference room and discarded their mess from dinner. When he walked back into Dash’s office, his mate was passed out fully, head on his arms over the desk.
He hated to leave him like that. “Dash? Are you sure you don’t want me to take you home?”
A faint “no” came in reply.
Emerson shook his head. “I’m going to head out now.”
Dash sat up again, groaning. “Don’t go.”
Emerson sighed. “If I stay here, will you get anything done?”
Dash sighed. “No.”
“That’s what I thought. If you intend to keep working, I should go.” Emerson didn’t want to leave, but he had to. “Do you need to lock up behind me?”
“I do…” Dash rose from his chair and carefully crossed his office. Pausing beside Emerson, he rose on his tiptoes and stole a quick kiss. “Thank you for tonight.”
“You’ve already thanked me—which wasn’t necessary.”
“It was,” Dash said. He hedged a second. “I wasn’t sure you’d let me… you know?”
“Let you do what?”
“Top you,” Dash murmured.
“I already told you I was willing—and it’s not the first time.”
“I wasn’t being facetious. My heat is a blur. I don’t remember topping you.” Dash sighed. “I’m sorry.”
“Don’t be. I’m not mad,” Emerson said. “I just like messing with you.”
Dash grinned, but it soon faded. “Because I didn’t remember, I worried that after what we did this weekend… that you’d see me differently.”
“Your heat didn’t change anything.” It had changed everything, but not how he saw Dash. Well, maybe that wasn’t completely true. He couldn’t completely ignore their slight difference, but that didn’t mean the man wasn’t just as much alpha.
“That’s always been my biggest fear. An alpha seeing me as only an omega. Someone to yield to him.”
Emerson cupped both of Dash’s cheeks. “Not all omegas are bottoms, you know?”
Dash suddenly looked wide awake. “What?”
“I happen to know an omega who prefers topping,” Emerson whispered. “And I’m not talking about you.”
“Of course not. I’m not an omega,” Dash said with a bit of force.
Emerson took a step back and eyed Dash—and the shift in his body language.
Dash met his stare, his hard expression softening a little. He stepped closer, pressing his forehead against Emerson’s breastbone.
“I’m sorry,” Dash mumbled. “Right after a heat, my ego is shot to hell. I feel… all wrong.”
Emerson ran a hand over Dash’s silky locks, tugging the man even closer. “I can see how experiencing a heat could challenge how you see yourself—but all I see is an alpha in front of me. A unique alpha, sure, but an alpha nonetheless.”
Dash melted into him.
“I’ll try to remember to be careful after the next and consider my words better.”
Dash lifted his head. “I don’t want you to walk on eggshells around me.”
“Being considerate isn’t walking on eggshells,” Emerson said.
“It is. I don’t want you to have to consider your words before you say them.” He paused, searching Emerson’s face. “I’ll do better. This heat was just a little harder than the others I’ve had.”
“Because of me?”
“No.” Dash cringed. “Yes.”
Emerson struggled to not feel hurt by that.
“Not only did I have my own bullshit to contend with, but I worried about what was going on in your head, too. The voices in my head telling me you’d never see me as who I was again.”
“Tell those voices to shut the fuck up—because I see you. All of you. And I like what I see, my alpha.”
A shine came to Dash’s eyes. He spread his palms over Emerson’s chest. “I’ll work on my bullshit… You matter to me, Em.”
Emerson smiled softly, a lump forming. He lowered his head to capture Dash’s lips and pulled back to gaze down into his mate’s handsome face. “You matter to me, too.”
Dash rested his head on Emerson’s chest again.
“Are you sure you don’t want to go home and get some rest?”
“I don’t have much left to review. I want to read everything before I go back through it with my team tomorrow. It shouldn’t take me too long, I promise.”
“Okay,” Emerson said. He leaned in for a last kiss, savoring it before releasing Dash’s lips. “Walk me to the elevator?”
“Absolutely,” Dash said.
They soon stood outside the elevator in comfortable silence, their pinkies linked. Something replayed in Emerson’s head as they waited, and he couldn’t hold back another second.
“I have to disagree with something you said earlier,” Emerson said, his thoughts finally solidifying, perhaps too late.
He turned towards Dash. “From the first moment we first met, I knew you were my person. Maybe not consciously, but somewhere, deep down, I knew. It felt as if we were long lost friends, finally reunited after being kept apart.”
Dash snickered. “I don’t know if what I was feeling would be best described as friendly.”
“Okay, lovers finally reunited. Better?”
“Oof, no,” Dash said, cringing.
Emerson pulled Dash closer. “My point is… once I saw you at the club, I knew I couldn’t let you go again. I wasn’t going through another day where you weren’t mine. I decided then and there to open myself up to you and let you in. Giving in felt better than fighting it.”
Dash looked up at him, his eyes sparkling with what Emerson saw as affection.
“After giving in, everything soon became clear.” Emerson smiled. “And I fell in love with you, Dashiell Keller.”
Dash’s eyes widened.
“I know you think love isn’t a part of this chemistry, but I don’t agree with that because I already love you.
” A lightness washed over Emerson—a peace within for speaking the truth in his heart.
“And it’s okay if you’re not there yet, but I am, and I won’t spend another minute on this earth without you knowing how I feel. ”
The elevator dinged and the doors swept open. Emerson claimed one last brief kiss before stepping inside and hitting the button for the lobby.
“Text me when you leave… and when you get home, please,” Emerson said as the doors closed on a shellshocked Dash.
While he would’ve liked to hear it said back, he was fine without it.
He loved Dash and for now, his love would be enough.
Once the doors reopened, he crossed the lobby, waving to the old man half asleep behind the reception desk.
Climbing behind the wheel of the fire department pick-up, he had to adjust a bit before turning over the engine, his bottom sore.
He checked behind him and then pulled out—but something flashed in his mirror, and he slammed on his brakes.
Looking over his shoulder, Emerson found Dash standing behind the truck, an odd look on his face.
Emerson shoved the gearshift into Park and opened the driver’s door. He slipped out and eyed Dash. A worried shiver raced up his spine.
“What’s wrong?”
Dash walked closer, stopping inches from Emerson. He was silent, frowning deeply.
Had Emerson said too much, too soon? Panic wrapped an icy band around his chest as he waited to hear from Dash.
“I love you, too, Emerson Walker.”
Emerson sighed with relief. Without considering any eyes on them, he leaned down and captured Dash’s lips in a hungry kiss filled with every emotion racing through his body. Dash kissed him back with an abandon neither of them should show.
Dash pulled back. “Why did you have to tell me that in the middle of this fucking case?”
Emerson chuckled.
“I want to go home with you and spend the rest of the night in your arms, but I have to find Jaye.”
“I know,” Emerson murmured. “And it’s okay. I get it. You’ve already lost too much time as it is.”
Dash rose on his toes and kissed Emerson again. “I’ll text you when I leave… and when I get home. Promise.”
Emerson grinned. “You’d better.”
Dash ran back inside, offering a smile and a wave before he disappeared through the front door. Emerson couldn’t stop smiling even after he was gone.
He’d gotten all he needed and then some.