by Austin Bates
“I knew you wouldn’t approve of my feelings for Aaron. Frankly, I don’t care about your opinion. The only thing standing between us is Aaron’s unwarranted respect for you. I could live with you destroying a relationship, even my own. What I refuse to sit back and listen to is your derision for your son, who is damn good at what he does. He has a passion for programming, and more than that, he has talent. You can accept Aaron’s choices in life, or you can fight them. But you won’t win that fight. I’m not going to let you force Aaron away from what he’s good at,” I said venomously, feeling Aaron tense in my grip. He stared up at me with eyes as wide as dinner plates, and it was obvious that he didn’t expect me to come to his defense. From the looks of it, he’d been fighting the battle alone. He had no help and no support, but that was no longer the case. “You can have all the tantrums you want, but know that I’m not afraid of you.” I kept my voice level, though the threatening undertone was audible.
“Where do you get off on telling me how to raise my son? My very son that you’re fucking, you sick bastard! I refuse to stand by and--”
“Leave us or I’ll make you. You know I’ll do it, Thompson.” I interrupted his tirade, locking eyes with him. His expression was furious, but I knew mine contained more vitriol. I was impervious to the other alpha male’s fury, and I tightened my arm around Aaron in a show of dominance. Thompson wasn’t going to get his way. Not this time. He parted his lips to speak, and I gave him an expression of warning. “You can’t hurt me. I won’t let you hurt Aaron. Not anymore,” I said, leaving no room for argument. The other alpha’s mouth opened and closed wordlessly before he turned away from us, apparently done with the conversation. I’d forced him into submission, as much as I knew he’d like to deny it. He was completely quiet as he walked away, save his angry gasps for air. Aaron quaked in my arms, tears pooling in the corners of his eyes.
“I’m sorry,” he whispered, looking as if he wanted nothing more than to flee with his tail between his legs. “I shouldn’t have let you get involved with all of this. My father can be very cold.” The shame on his face broke my heart, and I wanted nothing more than to kiss his fears away. For the moment, I settled for rubbing his back soothingly.
“This isn’t the worst fight I’ve had with your father, and won’t be the last. He’s a stubborn bastard, but sometimes it just takes someone getting him to pull his head out of his ass. Just relax, okay? I’m here for you, and I’m not going to just stand and watch you get pushed around anymore,” I murmured into his ear. He relaxed into my embrace and for all the things I’ve achieved in my life, I never felt as proud as I did in that moment. We would have to return to the gala soon, and remembering the fact that Aaron had already lined up a replacement bowled me over. For the moment however, all that mattered was holding Aaron in my arms. I had never felt so complete, and I was determined to enjoy it as long as I could.
15
Aaron
As I watched my father walk away, my heart thudded so frantically that I could hear the pulse in my ears. My worst nightmare had essentially come true, and there was a dull ache in my chest as I considered my father’s words. Unlike the nightmare, however, I didn’t have to face Dad alone. It was perhaps the first time in my life that someone had stood up for me at all, let alone defending me from my father. Logan could have simply walked out if he truly wanted to, there was nothing keeping him there to face my father’s wrath. Yet, he’d stayed, and he had even put his friendship with my dad at risk on my behalf. Most of all, he hadn’t just stood up for me, he defended my work-- my greatest passion, and my father’s biggest annoyance. If I were being honest with myself, Logan had been right on the mark with his guess that it was my father who was keeping me from pursuing a relationship with him. Although I’d told myself that my intent was putting myself first, everything I did could always be traced back to Dad. My whole life had been spent trying to make him happy, and I had started to believe his insistence that I was wasting my life with programming. The fact that Logan believed in me and respected my work meant more than I could properly put into words. Instead, I settled for another lingering kiss.
“Thank you. You shouldn’t have been dragged into all this, but thank you for sticking up for me. No one’s ever done that before,” I muttered, pulling away from the kiss to bury my face in his shoulder. He laughed, a deep rumble that made my heart flutter.
“I kinda figured. But you don’t deserve to be walked all over. Honestly, I could have been more tactful in my attempts to get your attention. I was just so… desperate. I couldn’t bear the idea that you felt nothing for me, nothing at all,” he said gently, continuing to stroke my back as he had been doing since my father left. I recognized it as an attempt to comfort me, and despite everything, it worked. Logan Bryce wasn’t the type of alpha to waste his time on someone else’s feelings, yet it seemed that he was willing to go to such lengths for me. He had literally gone on his knees for me, doing things I was sure he hadn’t done for anyone else, and as much as I hated the idea of being vain, I enjoyed feeling special. I hadn’t given him the chance he deserved, and I’d continuously turned him away out of fear, yet there he remained. Where I’d been annoyed by his persistence, I now found myself feeling grateful.
“I… I don’t know how to describe how I feel about you. I care about you. I think I might even love you, but I’m afraid of falling so hard so quickly,” I sighed, caressing his jawline.
“It’s not really all that fast, is it? We’ve known each other for years and you were never subtle about your crush on me when you were a teenager. If anything, I should have taken you the moment you turned eighteen,” he replied teasingly, pressing into my touch. I blushed, and he erupted into laughter. I pouted, giving his shoulder a little shove.
“You don’t have to tease me so much,” I insisted, my pout intensifying when he didn’t stop laughing. He took a deep breath and pulled himself together, pressing an apologetic kiss to my forehead.
“No, I don’t have to. I’d prefer teasing of the physical variety, anyway.” He smirked, and I couldn’t help but chuckle a little. He truly was insatiable, it seemed. “That said, I have a serious question I have to ask. Do you still plan to step down from your programming position with ECSD? I won’t try to sway you one way or the other, but I want you to be sure of your decision,” he inquired, sounding vulnerable, if only slightly. I hummed, tapping my chin as if giving the decision great though. I waited a few seconds to leave him in suspense, feeling a bit guilty but he needed to know I could give as much as I could get.
“Well… I think that the replacement I chose should be hired…” I struggled to keep my face neutral when he frowned. He was too easily played, and I could have prolonged the torture but I felt guilty when I sensed how genuinely unhappy the thought made him. “It would be helpful not having to shoulder the entire load. Having an extra programmer on board would give me time for things like vacations with my new boyfriend.” He blinked slowly, as if not processing the words. I smiled sweetly and after a moment, he considered me with a goofy grin.
“Your new boyfriend, huh? Goodness. He must be quite the alpha to catch your attention,” he pressed. I scoffed as I crossed my arms, settling on giving him a deadpan look.
“I’m not feeding your ego, sweetie, so stop fishing.” His eyes widened, and he looked surprised to have been called out. I could only wonder how many people actually called him on his occasional bullshit. For all the appreciation I had for his standing up for me, I wanted him to know I wasn’t just going to bend over backwards any time he wanted. “We need to get back to the gala, anyway. It wouldn’t do for the host of the event to hide away in coat check the whole time, right?” I said, teasing him as I began meticulously buttoning up my shirt and tugging my pants into place to make sure it wasn’t super obvious that I’d just been blown. I would have worried about my father spreading it around, but I was sure his shame would keep him quiet. He wouldn’t want anyone to know about his slut of a son, after
all. The thought should have upset me, but I could only smile as I wiped the cum from Logan’s chin. “There. All set, yeah? It’s not completely obvious that you blew me in the coat closet?” I asked, amused by his look of horror.
“Oh God. I love you, babe, but please don’t spread the word that I’ll take the submissive role for my omega from time to time? I would be the laughingstock of the alpha community,” he pleaded, reaching out to clasp my hands between his own.
“I don’t air my sex life for everyone to hear, unlike some people,” I pointed out a bit snidely before breathing a sigh and kissing him once more. “Your dirty little secret is safe with me. Come on. You have people to impress,” I said with a smile, striding out of the closet as if the past half hour hadn’t even happened. Logan waited a while before stepping out as well, his usual air of cockiness having returned. I was surprised that he immediately joined my conversation with some other omegas, wrapping his arm around me.
We didn’t leave each other’s sides for the rest of the night, talking to a number of couples who had found success with the app. Our story was a bit unconventional, even by ECSD standards, but no one needed the sordid details. All that mattered was that I was his and he was mine. We only separated when it was time for him to give a speech and introduce some of the particularly exciting couples who’d met through the app. I watched his rear shamelessly as he walked away, smirking when an omega I didn’t even know high-fived me. I was lucky and I knew it. I only wish that I hadn’t avoided the inevitable for so long. I made my way to the front of the gathered crowd as he stepped up on the podium, and he met my gaze with a sly smile.
“Thank you all for coming. When the ECSD app was first conceived, I knew the project was destined for great success. With the help of a brilliant group of workers, and of course our valued clients, we’ve achieved greater things than even I could have anticipated. With the official launch date cemented after hours of labor, I’m sure that ECSD will connect many happy couples, and help them find their true loves. When I step down, some of our more notorious clients will be taking the time to give a few statements regarding their success.” He paused, looking as if he were debating continuing, and I wasn’t sure what was left to say. “As a final point, I wanted to share that ECSD helped me find a happily ever after of my own, which is something I never expected to get. Thank you again for coming to our gala, and may you all find love as surely as I have,” he said, fidgeting slightly. There was silence for a moment, and my cheeks were hotter than I’d ever felt them get. He hopped off the podium, and without hesitation drew me in for a heated kiss. There was clapping and whooping, and I’d have usually been terribly embarrassed.
In that moment everyone else faded into the background.
Aaron
I moaned into my lover’s mouth as he pinned me to the bed, body moving slowly and sensually against mine. I’d known from the start that Logan was good, but I didn’t realize just how good until we had actual privacy. His touches were tender, and sweet nothings were whispered hotly into my ear as I rode out the ebbs and flows of pleasure. He rocked against me, gently caressing my length as he filled me with a pleasure that I’d never dreamed possible. I was head over heels in love, and it seemed obvious that he was as well. He made love to me like he would never see me again, though I could understand... to an extent. I was flying out to Seattle to meet with Leo later that day, and wasn’t looking forward to leaving Logan’s embrace. To make parting all the more difficult, we’d just found out I was pregnant. The intense and confident alpha I knew seemed to fly out the window when he found out he was going to be a father, seeing that my every need was taken care of. It was sweet, but I really wished he wasn’t so fretful. Things had been going well since we officially became a couple, though my father seemed to have disappeared off the map. It was disheartening considering I was carrying his grandchild, but I tried not to dwell on such thoughts. Especially when my boyfriend looked so appetizing in the throes of ecstasy. We’d been going at it like rabbits all morning, but this final joining was slow, gentle and sensual. It was how we expressed all the things we wanted to say, but had no words to articulate. My peak had built for some time before it hit but when it did, it was the most powerful climax of my life. I was helpless to control the tightening of my muscles against him, and he came with a strangled cry, filling me to the brim. I loved the feeling of him cumming inside me, which might have been how we ended up with a baby on the way so quickly-- but I wouldn’t have changed it for anything in the world.
Once we’d rested up a bit, Logan all but carried me to the bathroom, drawing a bath and checking the temperature to make sure it was just so. I’d tried to tell him he didn’t need to go all out just because I was pregnant, but he was stubborn when it came to seeing my needs satisfied. Once he seemed happy with the water, he guided me to the tub and we both got in. It was a large tub, though obviously not intended for multiple people. He sat down first, then pulled me flush against him so that he could reverently wash me. There wasn’t much time until my flight, as we’d spent so much of the day in bed.
“I’m going to miss you,” he muttered against my shoulder, kissing it before lathering me up. I sighed contently, enjoying being doted on in spite of how unnecessary it was.
“I’m going to miss you too. It’ll be over before you know it, though, and I’ll be back in your arms,” I said in a reassuring tone, chuckling at his grumpy little grunt.
“I don’t understand why I can’t fly out with you,” he said sourly, sliding his soaped up hands up my side. I rolled my eyes, as we’d had the same exact conversation a thousand times over.
“It’s an omega retreat. No smelly alphas allowed,” I said teasingly. I was rewarded with another grunt before water was dumped on my unexpecting head. I shrieked, slapping blindly at him as water flowed down my face. “What was that for?”
“You needed to be rinsed off,” he replied smugly. I huffed, grabbing the towel to dry my face off before getting out of the tub altogether.
“Aren’t you clever?” My voice was bland, and his face fell as he hurriedly followed me out of the bathroom.
“I’m sorry, I was being a jerk. You’re going to be leaving soon, I don’t want you to be mad at me.” He sighed, and I paused mid-stride so he could pull me closer.
“No, I’m sorry. I swear, these hormones are gonna be the death of both of us,” I mumbled. We stood like that for what felt like ages, with him just holding me as if I was the most precious of God’s creations. We were forced apart, however, when my alarm went off-- which meant I needed to head to the airport, and quickly. He whined before releasing me, and I dressed swiftly before directing him to grab my luggage. The trip to the airport was short-- too short if you’d asked Logan. His expression was sad as we entered the airport with the knowledge that my flight was boarding soon.
“You’ll call me every day to let me know you’re okay?” he asked, and I nodded with a smile, wiping a stray tear from his eye. “I love you, you know. If something happened to you…”
“It won’t. I’m sure Leo and the other omegas will see that I’m plenty comfortable. Now give me a kiss, I need to get moving,” I said gently, though he didn’t seem soothed by my reassurances.
“I love you,” he called out as a final parting.
“I love you too,” I called back, hating that I had to leave the love of my life behind, no matter how short the trip was.
Boarding the plane wasn’t as tedious as I had expected, likely because Logan had insisted I fly first class. I had intended to fully enjoy the flight, taking pictures of the view since I was right beside the window. Instead, I decided to get a little rest so I’d be ready to meet the other omegas. I ended up sleeping through the whole flight. I was gently nudged awake by a flight attendant, and I thanked her before hurrying off the plane, stewing in embarrassment.
Leo waited for me at the airport with Malcom and their little one. I hadn’t had a chance to catch up with Leo before this, so seeing him
again brought tears to my eyes, which I blamed on my hormones.
“Aaron!” Leo hugged me, his smile as wide as usual, and it was then I noticed the slight swell of a baby bump.
“You’re expecting again? So am I. I mean I’m expecting my first.” I don’t know why I sounded so flustered, but I think it was because so much had changed since we last saw each other. I had gained recognition for my work, with Logan’s help, and I was now a fully respected man in my own right, something I don’t think would have happened without Leo offering me the chance to work on ECSD in the first place.
Malcolm kissed Leo on the forehead. The alpha rubbed Leo’s stomach briefly before looking at me with a regretful smile.
“Sorry to leave suddenly, but Leo is insisting that it be a proper omega retreat. No alphas allowed,” he said, humor lacing his tone. I grinned, knowing Malcolm was one of those alpha’s who allowed his omega free reign when it came to things like this. He kissed Leo once more before the other omega gripped me by the wrist and dragged me off.
“Where are we going?” I asked. “And what about my luggage?”
“I had our driver for the day take care of your luggage. Don’t worry, he is quite thorough with his work,” Leo answered. I nodded, but found myself wondering if this driver was so thorough that he’d seen the vibrator stashed in my suitcase. My face was hot, and I was sure Leo wondered why I was blushing, but he thankfully didn’t press the issue. He simply led me to a rather expensive looking SUV, where a handsome young man hurriedly opened the door for us and helped both of us get inside.
Leo had organized this trip for the purpose of meeting some of the other omegas in the ‘in crowd’ of sorts. I wasn’t exactly sure why he wanted this get together, but I guessed it would be nice to see some of the other omegas who had found their perfect match through both the Almega and the ECSD app. As Leo chatted away, I noticed the scenery as we drove the streets of Seattle. Most of the couples had moved away from the hustle and bustle of the city for some privacy and peace of mind. I couldn’t say I blamed them, though Seattle was nice enough, if a bit wet.
