Chapter XVI
Keeping it together, I guide Arius upstairs so he can rest. I don’t think he even realizes how outwardly he’s panicking.
He stays as close to me as possible, bumping into my side every so often as I lead him through the house.
I notice he snagged a decorative throw pillow from my couch, but I don’t comment on it.
Possessively, I bring him to my bedroom instead of the guest room, to which he doesn’t contest either.
“Make yourself at home. I’m going to let the chef know you’re here and… I suppose, I should at least contact my assistant. I’ll be up in a minute, okay? Just get some rest,” I cup his chin in my hand. The pads of my fingers tingle where they touch his skin.
Ari nods lightly, distress and conflict clear on his face. Pressing a gentle kiss to the corner of his mouth, I turn and head out. Time to rip the bandage off.
After leaving the kitchen, I pace the windows in the main room, watching the gardeners do their work in the distance. With a deep breath, I call my assistant, Gomez.
“This is bad, Mr. Beckett. Really bad,” he answers with immediate worry.
“I know. I’m thinking of taking a vacation until this blows over,” I brainstorm, trying to decide what would be best, but Gomez makes a noise of disagreement.
“I don’t think they’ll let this go so easily. The story is already being spun in absurd directions.”
“Then what are you suggesting we do?”
“Distraction,” he pauses, allowing me to absorb the word. “Find something even more monumental that will shift everyone’s focus.”
“That sounds like adding fuel to fire, Gomez,” I frown.
“I’m not talking about another scandal. I’m here with a Senior Director of Bioengineering.
She has a huge project that requires testing on a healthy Alpha and Omega.
I can’t give you too many details over the phone, but it’s going to shake the whole world if it works.
I told her the two of you might be ideal candidates. ”
Bioengineering… I’m not sure I want to be a test subject for that, but I’m intrigued.
“We’ll discuss it in a few days. Thank you, Gomez.”
“Of course, Mr. Beckett.”
Hanging up, I hurry back to my room.
I swing open the door expecting to see Arius in my bed where the Alpha in me would like to see him.
Instead, he’s in the corner of the room, away from the windows, frantically shuffling about.
I take a few curious steps inside, spying on what he’s up to.
The throw pillow, along with many other blankets, cushions, and fabrics are bundled up in the corner.
I think I see my shower curtain in the mix.
Ari perfects each and every piece like they have a specific place in his vision. I take a step back with burning cheeks when I realize what he’s doing. Clearing my throat, he pauses and whips around. I suppose, I did tell him to make himself at home.
Assuming my presence will put him into further distress, I open my mouth to tell him that I’ll leave, but he doesn’t fret at all. He walks up to me with determination, and his hands latch onto my shirt.
“I need this,” he whispers, looking hungry for the fresh white article.
“Uh… Sure,” I avert my eyes from his nest but remove the fabric, leaving myself in a white tank. “Do whatever you need to do. You’re safe here.” I hand him the shirt and turn to leave, but he grabs my arm to stop me.
“Wait! Don’t go! Stay here with me, please,” Arius begs, clutching my shirt to himself tightly.
“You’re nesting, Ari,” I mutter awkwardly, still avoiding eye-contact with his private space.
He looks at me like I’m crazy. Like this is perfectly normal.
“Knox, I… I’ve always nested with your scent,” he confesses with a flustered expression, making my heart race.
“Y-you have? Always?” I ask in bafflement. We’ve been apart for years. How could my scent still bring him any comfort? How could it be anything more than a painful reminder of the distance between us?
“Well, y-yeah. You were always there for me growing up. Alway protecting me. My body recognizes that,” he shrugs with flaming cheeks, taking a deep inhale of my shirt collar.
My mind flashes with images of all the hoodies, blankets, and hats I’ve lent him over the years of our childhood.
I thought I was just looking out for him as an Alpha should.
Making sure he was warm enough, and comfortable.
I didn’t realize I was imprinting on him all that time.
Ari flinches when I growl, but it was a noise of satisfaction rather than anger.
Picking him up, he squeals in surprise as I march to the nest with him.
Since my scent doesn’t bother him, I get cozy beside him in the warm, soft pile of textures.
With a groan of relief, Ari smothers me, rubbing himself against my body like a cat.
I revel in it, arms wrapping around him to keep him as close as possible.
“Take these off,” he whispers with desperation, tugging at my remaining clothes.
“Barking out orders now, Omega?” I chuckle but happily obey.
We both shimmy out of our clothes, adding them to the pile. Ari swings his leg over my waist in the manner he’s accustomed to by now. My entire body quivers at each spot where our skin touches as he drapes himself over me like a blanket and my perverse hands travel to his ass.
“Is this okay?” I mutter against his ear.
I know, our hard cocks are sliding together, begging for more friction, but nesting is a very sensitive thing.
He might be pining for closeness but that doesn’t mean he’s pining for sex.
Arius whimpers in response, mouth latching onto my neck.
I groan as he nips and kisses along my jaw and collar bone.
One of my hands comes up to the back of his head, getting tangled in his wavy hair. My hips grind upward, chasing what my body wants. I hear a gush and then warm slick rains down on my cock, making me hiss and shudder.
“Oh, fuck, Ari,” I breathe out the words with wavering restraint.
He moans, face red as he shuffles against me until my tip pokes his hole. Breathing heavily, I put my hands on his hips and grip him hard to stop him. With a huff of greed, his heavy-lidded eyes peer down at me in confusion.
I feel a dangerous tingle in the base of my cock. My pheromones seep out of my skin, filling the room with the potent scent of my arousal. I’m going into a rut. If I fuck him, I’ll knot him, but he’s not in heat right now to match my libido.
I try to sit up, but Arius shoves me back down.
“Ari, my ruts are dangerous,” I warn him, voice husky with aggressive lust. “I could hurt you. I need to get out.”
“Knox,” he hushes me, still trying to rock back against my wet erection. “Let me help you through it.”
“I don’t want to hurt you.”
“You won’t,” he smiles softly. “It’s not in your blood to hurt me.”
Tense with panic, I hold his gaze for a moment. He’s not scared at all. I don’t know how, but he trusts me more than I trust myself. Yes, I’ve always protected him, but only when I was in control of my strength and my aggression.
Ari moves fast, leaning down to capture my lips before I can protest. A wave of need and obsession crashes through me, and I growl into his mouth.
My chest erupts with feelings for him that might’ve always been there but are only now surfacing.
Still gripping him tight, I roll us around so that he’s on his back and I’m looming above him.
“Mine,” I nip at his neck, and he moans blissfully.
“Fuck me, Alpha.”
His hands wrap around my neck as I devour him.
My arms shake as I hold myself up, still fighting against my intense desire to pound him into the floor.
I squeeze my eyes shut and let out a trembling breath, swaying through the intensity.
I just want him to have a chance to say no. To leave if it’s too much.
I’ve already fucked up once letting him get away, I can’t miss my second chance at having him in my life.
He doesn’t retract his consent. Instead, Arius trails his fingers along my biceps.
“You’re okay, baby. You’re not hurting me,” he comforts me gently. “I want you to have this. To have me. Nobody else could ever– “
My eyes shoot open, pupils dilating with need as I cut him off with a grunt.
“Mine!” I bite his jaw instinctively, a little harder than I meant to. He gasps but doesn’t shove me away. He can’t say things like that to me. Such pretty words from such pretty lips.
“Yours, baby,” he rasps, fingers gripping my hair while I kiss the indents of my teeth in his skin. “Go ahead, Knox. Let me take care of you. I don’t want you to have this with any other Omega. Ever.”
His legs open, inviting me between them. Claiming what’s mine, I let my cock find his hot, soaked hole and pop the head inside with a low grunt. Tears prickle in the corners of my eyes as my composure wavers. The euphoria encompassing the sensitive tip of my dick is too much.
“There you go,” Ari continues talking me through it, rubbing my arms and shoulders.
His reassurances don’t stop me from trying to hold back, sucking in a sharp breath between my clenched teeth.
I don’t want to take advantage of him. This Omega that I’ve been so devoted to protecting because he’s perfect and I’ll never find another like him.
I don’t want to let my Alpha instincts take over and ruin this, but my dick is in paradise.
“I’m going to knot you, Ari,” I try to say it as a warning, but it comes out sounding like a threat.
His hands come up to my face, lifting my head to make me look at him.
“Knot me then.” The lazy smile on his lips confuses me. Is he in some sort of Omega trance?
“That can’t be what you want,” my voice is almost too deep and raspy to hear.
“You’re already inside me, Alpha.”
“That doesn’t mean– “
“Might I remind you that I’m an Omega, Knox. I’m designed to handle it. Are you going to make me beg for your knot or are you going to give it to me?”
“Fuck,” I shudder again.