by Nora Phoenix
He lay cuddled up against Palani, with Lidon cradling him from behind. Enar’s head rested on Palani’s other shoulder, looking sexy even in his sleep. Vieno smiled. They looked exhausted, his men. It had taken three of them to sate him, and he’d fucking worn them out.
He bit back the giggle that threatened to escape from his lips. It wasn’t funny, he told himself, and yet it so was. Here he was, this itty-bitty omega compared to these big men—well, Lidon and Enar anyway—and he’d plain worn them out all by himself. How about that? He held back another snicker, then disentangled himself from Lidon and Palani, crawling out of bed at the foot end. He’d better make them some food, because when they woke up, they’d be ravenous.
He threw on a pair of shorts and a shirt, not bothering with underwear since his ass felt sensitive after all the… Yeah, not going there again. Barefoot, he walked into the kitchen where he gulped down two glasses of water first. All right, he’d better get to work. They’d need protein and carbs, so he’d make a nice pasta salad and Lidon could grill some of those big ass steaks he loved so much.
He boiled pasta, meanwhile cutting little tomatoes in half. He’d sprinkle them with olive oil and herbs and grill them in the oven. Combined with the pasta, bacon, some mozzarella, and fresh spinach cut into little strips, it would make for a tasty salad. His thoughts wandered off in every direction as he prepared the food.
A foursome.
They were a foursome.
Enar had been right with his theory about Vieno having mated with Palani. Vieno experienced this deep peace in his whole being now that Palani was close again. He’d suffered without him, and he hadn’t realized why until Enar had pointed it out. And Palani had experienced the same, being just as forlorn without Vieno. They belonged together.
But Lidon was just as much a part of him, of them. When Lidon’s knot had swollen for the first time, the alpha power of his mate had barreled through him. The alpha mark on his shoulder had burned for a second or two, affirming the bond they shared.
Where did that leave Enar? In this reasoning, he constituted the odd man out because Vieno did not experience that same closeness with him as he did with Lidon and Palani. Vieno bit his lip at the realization, guilty for feeling that way. Enar belonged with them, Vieno knew it with every fiber of his being, but why did he not sense the connection with him the way he did with the other two?
He sighed as he cut bacon into small pieces and put them in a skillet to get crispy. The tomatoes already sat in the oven, so all he needed to do was prepare the rest and wait till his men woke up so they could eat. Hmm, he could fire up the grill already?
As he walked back inside, he almost ran into Enar, who looked amazingly awake for someone who’d been so out of it mere minutes ago.
“Hi,” Enar said, shoving his hands into the pockets of his shorts, and half-avoiding Vieno’s eyes.
Vieno smiled. He was insecure, this sexy, strong man. Vieno might not have all the answers to how he fit with this man, but this insecurity he could alleviate. He stepped in, offering his mouth to him. Enar’s face lit up with surprise before he leaned in and kissed Vieno gently.
“Hi to you, too,” Vieno said, dropping another quick kiss on the man’s lips. He tasted like more… Vieno’s omega reached out, wanting to connect with Enar and Vieno gave in. This wasn’t about sex. He’d had enough of that for a while. No, this was about intimacy, about longing to connect with Enar.
He reached out to pull Enar’s head closer, then latched on to his mouth. Their tongues twirled, dancing around each other, chasing each other until they met, licking and sucking and claiming. Enar’s taste was still the newest to Vieno, and he sighed a little into his mouth as he remembered how good the man could kiss. Where Lidon was aggressive and dominant, and Palani kissed with sweetness, Enar was sensual and could reduce you to a whimpering mess with a kiss.
When he pulled back, Enar’s cheeks were flushed, his eyes darker than usual. “You taste so good,” Vieno whispered.
“You, too.” Enar’s voice croaked, and he cleared his throat. “Thank you.”
Vieno stepped back. “I’m making lunch.” He looked at the clock. Three in the afternoon. “Or dinner, whatever. Wanna help?”
“I’m a horrible cook,” Enar admitted.
Vieno smiled as he sighed over-dramatically. “You guys only want me for sex and to cook and clean, huh?” he teased.
“Well,” Enar said after a quick look, probably to make sure Vieno was joking, “Your ass is heaven, and from what I understand, so is your food, so yeah. Guilty as charged.”
Vieno pulled the tomatoes out of the oven and put them in a bowl to cool off. “Here,” he said. “You can cut mozzarella into little pieces. I’m sure you can’t fuck that up too badly, considering you’re a doctor and all that.”
Enar grinned. “I should be able to handle this and thank you for the vote of confidence.”
Vieno looked at him sideways. “Did you mean it? What you said about me…my ass?”
“God, yes. You're...special. I’m sorry, I wish I had better words to describe it. Was it…good for you?”
Vieno nodded. “Fuck, yes. Best heat I’ve ever had. You guys were…amazing.”
“You look good. Better than I’ve seen you so far.”
Vieno added the bacon to the tomatoes, then the spinach he’d cut into small slivers. “I feel better than I have in a long time. I think what you said about the alpha hormones and proteins and shit was true. And the knotting felt amazing.”
“Mine, too?”
Enar’s voice was so soft, Vieno wasn’t sure he’d heard him correctly until he saw his face. Why would he be insecure over that? Unless… It sunk in. “Was that your first time?”
After a slight hesitation, Enar nodded. “I’ve fucked a few omegas through their heat, but I could never make it further than a half knot. It’s not uncommon,” he added quickly. “In theory, alphas can knot at will, but the reality is that we often need a connection to achieve a full knot. It’s hard when you don’t know your partner well, and even harder when you’re wearing a condom. So this was the first full knot for me.”
“It was perfect. Lidon’s first knot took off the edge, quenched the most desperate need, and yours was…comforting. Soothing. Fulfilling.”
Vieno heard Enar exhale. “Thank you.”
Vieno stepped in and pushed against Enar’s hands until he put his knife and the mozzarella down to meet his eyes. Vieno wiped Enar’s hands off with a paper towel and stepped into his arms, hugging him. It took a few seconds before the man hugged him back, but when he did, he pulled Vieno close, resting his cheek on Vieno’s head.
“Don’t thank me,” Vieno said after a while. “We needed each other. There’s no room for thanks there.”
Vieno sensed a presence behind him before Enar did, but he made no move to let go. Enar’s body froze and then he pushed Vieno away. “I’m sorry,” he said, probably to Lidon, but Vieno didn’t turn around. His eyes stayed trained on Enar, who was clearly scared he’d fucked up somehow and that Lidon would be upset with him.
“No,” Vieno said, raising his voice. “Don’t be sorry.”
“You’re his omega,” Enar explained, his eyes shifting from Lidon back to Vieno.
“I’m also yours. And Palani’s.”
Enar shook his head. “It doesn’t work that way.”
Vieno felt Lidon step in behind him, even before the man’s hand landed on his shoulder. Palani stood at his side and Vieno reached out for him, lacing his fingers through his best friend’s hand. “It does, Enar,” he said softly. “We’ll need to talk a lot about this, because I don’t understand everything either, but I do know this: I was Palani’s long before Lidon claimed me, so I belong to them both. And I choose to belong to you as well. You’re mine and I’m yours, and that means we can kiss whenever the hell we want to.”
Lidon watched as Enar’s face showed all the confusion the man must feel. It seemed the insecurities he’d experien
ced before had come back in full force now that Vieno’s heat had passed. No wonder, it was hard to think when all your body wanted was to fuck. Now that that urge had dissipated, Enar’s mind would switch on again.
“Vieno’s right,” Lidon said. “But let’s talk about it over…” He looked at the clock. Quarter past three. Not lunch but not quite dinner either. “Food. I’m ravenous.”
Vieno turned around, sending him a sweet smile. “Grill is ready for you. Steaks are on the counter.”
“Thank you, sweetheart. I’m in the mood for meat.”
“I figured. I ordered the biggest ones they had for all of you, and the smaller one is for me.”
His mate already knew him well. Lidon wasted no time throwing a bunch of juicy, thick ribeyes on the grill.
Vieno was right, Lidon mused. They did need to talk about their relationship. Enar needed it the most. He’d always been a man of rules. As much as he loved breaking them, he thrived on clear expectations, always wanted to know what was expected of him. Maybe it was because he’d always felt like such a disappointment to his father? Lidon had met the man a few times, but his impression hadn’t been favorable. He could only hope the man fared better with Enar’s younger brothers. At least they wouldn’t have to deal with the weight of the alpha expectations.
Enar might need ground rules the most, but they all could benefit from voicing their needs and expectations. As tempting as it was to adopt a laissez-faire approach, it would backfire on them. With four people in a relationship they would have to be more intentional, even if it would cause some cringey moments and difficult topics. He wasn’t the best at communicating shit like this, but Palani and Vieno seemed to be better at it, so maybe they could contribute?
When Lidon brought in the steaks, they all sat down at the table. It looked picture perfect, all set with a table cloth Lidon hadn’t even known he possessed and with plates, glasses, and even napkins for everyone. Vieno had been busy the last few days, apparently, ensuring he could serve this.
For the first few minutes, no one spoke, as they were all too focused on getting calories into their systems.
“God, that’s good,” Palani mumbled with his mouth full.
Like Lidon, he’d attacked his steak first. A quick check revealed Enar had done the same. Only Vieno was eating the pasta first.
“Look at you guys devour those steaks,” Vieno commented with a smile. “You’d think you had run a marathon or something.”
“Baby, your heats are a fucking marathon, even with the three of us,” Palani said.
“How can an itty-bitty omega like me wear out three big, strong guys like you?” Vieno teased.
Lidon loved hearing him so carefree. What a difference with how he’d been when he had met him for the first time. If you saw him now, all beaming and glowing, it was hard to imagine the shape he’d been in.
“Two big strong guys,” Palani corrected him. “I’m just a puny beta compared to these two.”
“Size isn’t everything,” Vieno said, his eyes sparkling.
“That’s not what you said when Lidon had his big cock in your ass,” Palani shot back.
Vieno blushed, a lovely heat that crept up from his nose all the way to his ears. Lidon smiled. “Is he teasing you, sweetheart?”
“Yes,” Vieno said, demonstrating a cute as fuck pout. “Say something, alpha.”
It was said in jest and yet Lidon felt a deep appreciation for the way Vieno turned to him for protection. He still had a lot to figure out about their relationship, but he knew the little omega already had him wrapped around his finger. It was a good thing he didn’t realize it and wasn’t coy enough to abuse it.
“Do I need to beat him up for you?” he said with a smile.
Vieno pretended to consider it. “Nah,” he then said. “He still may come in handy.”
The joking continued until they’d all finished their meals. Enar had been quiet, and Lidon shot him a questioning look. “You okay?”
“It’s…a lot to process.”
“You need rules,” Lidon said. “I get it. Let’s talk.”
Enar sighed with frustration. “I got nothing. I don’t even know where to start. My head is a mess right now.”
“Maybe we start with defining what we are,” Palani said. Lidon appreciated the beta’s sharp mind more and more. He had the uncanny ability to get right to the heart of the matter.
Lidon nodded. “I like that. So, what do we think we are?”
Vieno responded first. “A foursome. All four of us together.”
“As opposed to…?” Enar asked.
“As opposed to Vieno and Lidon being together, me and Vieno being a couple, you and Lidon fucking around, and you and me being whatever the fuck we are,” Palani said. “The difference is that we are all together, rather than being in individual relationships.”
“How does that work?” Enar asked. “I get it in theory, but what does it mean? Does it mean we always do everything with the four of us?”
“Sex, you mean?” Vieno asked.
“Well, for one, but I meant broader. Sleeping, eating, hanging out, and yes, sex…all the things normal couples do together.”
“I don’t like the word normal,” Palani said. “It implies that we’re not normal.”
“We’re not,” Enar said. “How many foursomes do you know?”
Palani leaned back in his chair. “There’s a difference between not normal and unusual. What we are may be unusual, but that doesn’t mean it’s not normal. Normal is normative, judgmental.”
Enar gestured. “Okay, I’ll grant you that. But it doesn’t change my point, or rather my question. Do we do everything together?”
Lidon scratched his chin. “That seems impractical to me considering our conflicting work schedules.”
“So you would have no problem with me hanging out with Palani…or Vieno,” Enar said.
Lidon’s eyes narrowed. “You say hanging out, but you’re talking about sex.”
Enar threw up his hands. “I’m trying to figure out how you can be okay with this? Are you telling me you’d honestly be good with me fucking Vieno behind your back?”
Lidon leaned forward. “It wouldn’t be behind my back, now would it? And yes, I would be okay with that, as long as Vieno wants it, but you'd never do anything against anyone’s will.”
“I don’t understand this. I get why you’d be okay with Palani, since it’s clear he and Vieno are mates as well. But me, that’s different. I’m not your mate, Lidon. Sure, we fucked occasionally, or rather, you fucked me, but we didn’t mate. And I’m sure as hell not mated to Vieno or Palani…. So what am I doing here? Why are you all so okay with me being a part of your threesome?”
His words hung in the air, his pain almost tangible. Lidon hadn’t realized how deep his friend’s insecurity ran until that moment.
Vieno reached across the table to grab Enar’s hand. “Because we’re not a threesome. We never were. It was me and Palani and then me and Lidon…and when we figured out that we were more, you were a part of that.”
“But I’m not your mate…” Enar said again, his voice filled with desperation.
“Don’t you get it? You’re something much more powerful. I didn’t choose to mate with Palani. It just happened…maybe because I’ve always loved him or because we’ve been so close the last few years, I don’t know. And I didn’t choose to have this fated mates connection with Lidon. The goal was to marry him and hopefully grow to love him, but I didn’t choose all of this. I’m grateful that it’s there, but it wasn’t by choice.”
Everyone’s eyes were focused on Vieno as he spoke with such passion. Lidon felt the words originate in Vieno’s very soul, knew them to be true in the depths of his own being.
“But you, Enar, you I choose. I choose you to be my third mate. You’re the only one I chose myself… Don’t you see how special that makes you?”
Hours later, Lidon, Palani, and Vieno were asleep again, still tired after Vieno�
�s heat, but Enar couldn’t sleep. In the light of the moon that fell through the cracks of the curtains, he watched his men sleep. Vieno lay cuddled up against Lidon, using his shoulder as a pillow. He was a snuggler, the little omega, always seeking someone to nestle himself against.
Palani lay closest to Enar, his face turned toward him. Enar gave in to the temptation to brush his forehead. He was so strong and yet so kind and soft, knowing when to be bossy and when to embrace, when to push and when to let go. It was a rare quality.
He checked the clock. He’d been awake for over an hour now, and his body wasn’t showing any sign of wanting to go back to sleep. Careful not to disturb the others, he crawled out of bed and found a quiet spot outside on the porch. It held a swinging porch bench that Lidon’s grandpa had built, a sturdy wooden thing that made no sound as Enar gently swung back and forth on it, his legs pulled up. It was quiet outside, crickets chirping in the background, interrupted by the howl of a coyote every now and then. Enar wished his head was as tranquil.
He was still trying to come to terms with what they had discussed. Vieno’s words rang true, yet still he struggled with accepting it. They didn't understand who he was inside, of how fucked up his mind was…or his body, wherever it had gone wrong inside him. All he knew was that he wasn’t a real alpha and he never would be. No matter how hard he’d try, he’d never be able to conform to the norms, the expectations society had of him as an alpha.
Sure, they all suspected, Palani probably on a deeper level than Lidon and Vieno, but Enar had never put it into words to them. How could he? He still had trouble defining it himself, let alone accepting it. Acknowledging his true status meant losing everything he’d built. Maybe not with them, but definitely in society. And it shouldn’t matter, but it did.
Even thinking about the hurtful words his father had hurled at him over the years made his heart contract painfully. As a child, he’d already felt different. The alpha behavior that should have been so natural to him instead felt forced. He’d always been more content to follow than to lead, and that was about the worst thing for an alpha.
