by Noah Harris
Liam nodded. “True, but you’re still not the type to defend someone just because you’re getting to know them. Hell, I’ve seen you outright condemn most of the people you get to know.”
Adrian snorted. “That might have something to do with the types of people I end up finding myself around most of the time.”
“But Michael isn’t like that.”
What could Adrian say? Liam was right, and Adrian didn’t want to admit it. Michael was nothing like what he had expected, and he had met very few people, let alone alphas, who were like him. At first, Michael appeared stoic and uninteresting, his only desire to grown his empire. Adrian had since seen how badly the idea of a traitor wounded Michael, and hints of a hidden, if somewhat dry, sense of humor beneath the friendly smile and deep voice.
Adrian shrugged, giving in a little. “Alright, fine, no, he’s not like that, not at all. I’m sitting here thinking about it and really, he’s an alpha, and a person, that I can respect.”
Liam’s brow rode up. “An alpha other than Eli that you can actually respect?”
Adrian frowned at him. “Don’t make it sound so weird.”
Liam laughed softly. “This from the guy who gave Eli the hardest time when he was first thinking of joining up. The same person who scoffs at just about every alpha who speaks more than a few sentences in his presence. The same one who won’t take an order without wanting to know why he’s being given the order.”
Despite the teasing tone, Adrian knew there was an edge of annoyance and disapproval in Liam’s words. The age-old battle between omega and beta was at play, one that he and Liam had never quite settled. Liam was a follower and, deep down, a soldier, through and through. He believed in following his leader’s command, even following the orders of other alphas like Marcus. Adrian wasn’t one to follow quite so easily. He wanted to know every aspect of what was expected of him, and why it was expected in the first place. Despite his deep respect for Eli, Adrian still poked and prodded, teased and tormented the alpha constantly. It was something that came from a place of affection, something that Eli seemed to understand, and something that Liam still despised.
“Well, Michael’s not giving me orders. Plus, I also said ‘as a person’,” Adrian added with a huff.
Liam looked at him curiously. “I’ve never known you to speak highly of another alpha that wasn’t Eli. You’re one of the most cynical people I’ve ever known when it comes to alphas.”
“For good reason,” Adrian muttered.
“Which still doesn’t tell me why this alpha is different.”
Adrian knew what Liam was driving at but he wasn’t sure what to say. He had been sitting in the diner for a few hours, trying to figure out exactly what was going on in his mind. Liam was right, most alphas were boorish brutes with large egos, or power hungry assholes who would bowl over their whole pack to get what they wanted. It was refreshing to find another alpha who wasn’t like that. The problem was, Adrian’s feelings for Michael’s easy confidence and smooth sense of command didn’t stop at just respect.
“Feel like sharing with the rest of the class?” Liam asked, apparently reading Adrian’s expression.
Adrian raised one shoulder and let it fall slowly, unsure of what to say. He could very easily play it off as simply wanting to sleep with the man, but the churning in his gut told him not only that he’d had too much coffee, but that there was more to it than that. His mind drifted over how overwhelming and demanding Michael’s strong scent had been. How he found himself wanting to open up and trust Michael in a way that unnerved him. There was something about the ease with which Michael seemed to operate, his easy acceptance of Adrian, and his seemingly genuine interest in Adrian.
It wasn’t just sexual attraction, but Adrian didn’t quite know what to call what he was feeling. There was a warmth there, one that reminded him of someone from many years ago. If anything, that warmth was more terrifying than it was comforting, and Adrian wanted to pull away from it even as he could feel himself drawing nearer.
“Would you accept it if I told you that I don’t know?” Adrian finally asked weakly.
Liam sat back, looking surprised. “You don’t know?”
Adrian shook his head, “If I did, do you think I would be sitting in this diner, drinking cup after cup of coffee?”
Michael had disturbed Adrian’s understanding of how people generally worked, and it had taken less than a week. The idea that someone could come along, and just by virtue of being themselves, tilt some of Adrian’s beliefs askew, was unsettling. Adrian understood on an intellectual level that there were people out there who could still surprise him. The last few people who surprised him were his pack, and he had ended up signing up to spend the rest of his life bound to them.
That last idea sent a shiver up Adrian’s spine. “I’m going to have to stick with not knowing as an answer.”
Liam smiled, chuckling softly as he lifted his cup . “Then I guess you had better go back there and find out.”
Chapter 9
Having left the diner with more questions than answers, Adrian wandered the busy streets for several hours. At one point, he had been tempted to wander into a bar and see what he could discover at the bottom of a bottle. He had even gone so far as to stand outside one of his favorite dives, laden with cheap drinks and decent conversation, before finally turning away. When he thought about Michael returning to his home and wondering where Adrian was despite the late hour, he couldn’t justify walking through the bar’s front door.
As evening approached, Adrian made his way back to Michael’s. He wasn’t surprised when he entered the spacious house and found it empty. Michael had spent a lot of the earlier part of the day at home, and Adrian had no doubt that the businessman was making up for lost time. There was a smart comment about how dedicated Michael was to his work, but it was a bit like the pot calling the kettle black. For all his flippancy and dismissiveness, Adrian was as dedicated to his role within his pack as Michael.
Yet, without anything to do, save poring over the same information he had tried to run away from earlier that day, Adrian chose to watch the sunset. There was beer in the fridge and Adrian grabbed one as he wandered out onto the back deck to find a seat. He hadn’t noticed before, but every piece of furniture on the back deck was built for comfort. Everything from the chairs and small outdoor loveseats, to the cushions laid out on them was meant for relaxation. It fit, as every other part of the house had been built and decorated with comfort in mind.
He had no sooner sat down than he heard the faint sound of the front door opening and closing. Adrian waited, listening intently as he heard Michael’s soft steps shift throughout the house. He knew that Michael would be able to see him through the sliding glass door as he passed, and he smiled when he heard the alpha barely pause, as if unsurprised to find Adrian in his house once more.
After a few moments, the door opened to the sound of Michael’s amused voice. “And how did you get past the alarm system?”
Adrian chuckled. “I watched you punch the code in the other night when you came in.”
Michael found a seat near Adrian and sat, a beer in his own hand. “I didn’t know you were close enough to see it.”
Adrian grinned. “If you had, then I wouldn’t be very good at what I do, now would I?”
Michael hummed in affirmation as he took a drink. “A valid point. I suppose I should take that as a mark of your skill rather than a comment about my being unaware.”
“I take a lot of people unaware, don’t worry about it,” Adrian said with a laugh.
Michael looked sideways at him, a smile on his face. “I suppose you do.”
Adrian, trying to ignore the new flip in his stomach, held his grin. “So, what’s got Mr. Workaholic home early? I didn’t expect you for a few more hours, considering your late start this morning.”
Michael shrugged, “It’s been a rather boring day actually. With all this sabotage business going on, everything else f
eels rather mundane. That, and everyone seemed to have everything under control without me hovering behind their shoulders.”
“Took my comment about being a helicopter boss to heart, eh?” Adrian teased.
Michael’s smile warmed. “It might have passed through my mind, yes.”
That unsettling warmth in his stomach flared up again and Adrian turned to nod at the horizon. “At least you’re back in time for the show.”
Michael’s eyes lingered on him for a moment before drifting to the glowing, crimson sky. “I so very rarely have moments like this to appreciate.”
Adrian had to fight to not look at Michael’s face. “Well, when you’re busy busy all the time, I’m sure you don’t often get the chance to sit down and appreciate a sunset.”
Michael chuckled softly. “And I’m sure that you are afforded chances to see sunsets more often.”
“And sunrises, sometimes in the same day, and other times I don’t see one or the other for days at a time. It’s a busy life, being a sneak and a spy.”
Michael glanced at him then, a crease in his forehead. “Do you always have to refer to yourself as such?”
Adrian looked at him in surprise. “Why shouldn’t I? It’s what I do, and it’s what I am.”
Michael’s blue eyes looked even darker in the fading light, gazing at Adrian with an unnerving intensity. “Are you saying that all I am is a businessman and alpha?”
“You’re also stubborn, confident, and as far as I can tell, trustworthy,” Adrian said without thinking.
Michael smiled. “And you are far more intelligent, loyal, and giving than you allow yourself to take credit for.”
Adrian blinked. “I— Okay, the first two I’ll accept, but giving? When have I gave shit?”
“When you willingly took on this job without hesitating for one. When you go out, day in and day out, doing things you might not be proud of, to help your pack. You give a lot of your time and energy to your pack,” Michael explained, with the casualness of a man explaining that sunlight was warm and the sky was blue.
Adrian stared at Michael, at a loss for words. His work was generally thankless, encompassing underhanded methods that enabled him to get the job done. Eli wasn’t sparse with his thanks, and he was never shy about telling Adrian that he believed in his abilities and willingness to succeed. Yet, Adrian had never had someone openly respect and praise what he did in such a frank manner. Coming from Michael, what Adrian did almost sounded noble and honorable.
“I— Thank you,” Adrian finally mumbled, glancing away from Michael as his face started to flush.
Michael said nothing, only nodding with that same warm, unnerving smile on his face before turning his attention back to the sunset. The sounds of nighttime wildlife began to fill the air as the sky shifted from brilliant reds and oranges to muted violet before the first twinkling of the stars heralded night’s arrival.
Adrian felt himself begin to relax as the air cooled. There was something about the cover of night that always managed to relax him. Privately, he would joke that the night time suited his chosen lifestyle. But even as a boy, he had enjoyed the calmness that seemed to permeate everything when the sun went to sleep and the moon rose. He supposed that in some way, considering his inner wolf, it made complete sense.
“Would it be easier for you if I wasn’t so open about my respect for you?” Michael asked suddenly in a soft voice.
Adrian looked at him, eyes widening. “I— What?”
Michael looked at the expression on his face and chuckled. “You grew rather silent after I told you the truth.”
Adrian laughed at that. “Haven’t you ever heard that no one wants to hear the truth?”
“Generally, that’s for a hard truth, something unpleasant that one doesn’t want to hear. Are you trying to tell me you don’t want to hear good things about yourself?”
Adrian snorted, hoping it sounded dry and sarcastic. Hearing Michael compliment him so easily and without hesitation was uncomfortable. The discomfort, Adrian knew, stemmed from the fact that he had enjoyed hearing it. The words so earnestly said sent a tingle of warmth through him and made him want to draw closer to the alpha. Mingling with the night’s perfume, the strong alpha scent beginning to emanate from Michael didn’t help.
Adrian let out a bark of laughter, realizing what was happening. “You’re turned on.”
It was Michael’s turn to look surprised. “Pardon?”
Adrian cocked his head, grinning. “I’ve been trying to figure out why there were times when your scent was so strong. Now I’m figuring it out, I think.”
Michael blinked slowly. “My scent?”
Adrian nodded. “Very woodsy, smells like it just rained in the forest, with just a hint of…electricity? You know that smell that comes in the air when there’s been a lot of lightning?”
Michael nodded slowly. “I believe it’s called ‘ozone.’ I’m not quite sure where someone smelled the ozone before, but…”
Adrian drained the rest of his beer, setting it aside. “You smell like that a bit. It’s not the first time I’ve smelled it, and I’m getting it right now.”
Michael looked down at himself. “I’ve never had anyone comment on how I smell as much as you have.”
“Probably because it wasn’t as strong for them as it is for me.”
Michael hesitated, a brow slowly raising as he spoke. “And why would it be stronger for you than for anyone else?”
Adrian snorted. “Maybe you just want me that bad.”
Michael snickered, setting his own beer aside. “And if I said that I did?”
Adrian’s pulse jumped and he noticed the smell of electricity in the air growing. “Then maybe I would tell you that you should talk about it less and do something about it.”
That was apparently all Michael needed as he stood long enough to bend into Adrian’s space. Adrian expected a kiss, but smiled when Michael stopped, hovering his mouth just far enough that the edges of their lips touched briefly. Adrian breathed deeply, Michael’s strong scent flooding his senses, the power radiating off the alpha driving a pang of sudden need through Adrian as he waited. Michael’s tongue slipped over his bottom lip, and Adrian realized that he was being teased, taunted into doing something more.
More than happy to oblige, Adrian leaned in, pressing their lips together in an eager motion. Michael slipped a hand behind Adrian’s head, pulling him in tighter into the kiss. Adrian felt the man’s strong fingers curl into his hair with the feel of Michael’s mouth parting their lips. Adrian gave a soft moan, trying to find a way to press his body closer to Michael’s as their tongues slid over each other.
The ozone scent grew stronger as Michael’s other hand ran down Adrian’s body, until he could slip it beneath the hem of Adrian’s shirt. Adrian’s hips pushed forward, up into Michael’s exploring fingertips. Michael gave an approving hum as he traced the lines of Adrian’s body with his fingertips. Adrian fought to free his own hands, which had ended up trapped between their bodies, pressed against Michael’s chest. Muscles worked against his fingers, Michael’s skin warm enough that Adrian could feel it radiating out to his hands.
Michael shifted his grip, grabbing hold of Adrian and hauling him up to his feet without breaking the kiss. Standing up, Adrian became aware of the height difference between the two of them. Michael had to bow forward to keep his mouth against Adrian’s, his shoulders broad enough that he would have hidden Adrian from view. A shiver ran through Adrian as he felt the strength of the larger man’s body edging closer until the heat coming off Michael in waves covered his front.
Happy to have an excuse to not think about the comforting warmth that Michael kept giving him, Adrian reached down to fumble with Michael’s clothes. He laughed softly into the kiss, finally breaking it as he found himself struggling. His fingers shook, and he had to force them to steady as he found the button to Michael’s pants and undid it with a purposefully slow flip of his fingers. Michael leaned away, giving
Adrian better access as he fumbled with the zipper, still chuckling at himself.
“A little too much to drink?” Michael asked in an amused tone.
Adrian snickered, finding success with the zipper and shoving at Michael’s pants. “Maybe I’m just a little excited.”
“And here I thought you would be calm and collected under pressure,” Michael said, a light teasing in his voice.
Adrian snorted, finally dropping down to his knees before Michael, smirking when he saw he was only just tall enough to face Michael’s crotch. He ran his hand over Michael’s groin, feeling the solid length of Michael’s cock through the fabric of his underwear. His eyes found Michael’s, a swelling sensation in his chest as their gazes locked. Michael’s eyes burned into Adrian’s, the raw desire on his face sending a sharp wave of pleasure through Adrian.
“Getting a bit hasty, aren’t we?” Michael asked, his voice dropping into the low octaves of a near growl.
Adrian reached up, running his fingers over the band of Michael’s underwear. “Purple.”
That gave Michael pause. “Pardon?”
Adrian tapped his fingers on the soft fabric of Michael’s underwear. “You didn’t strike me as a purple kind of guy.”
“It’s a regal color,” Michael explained with what Adrian could only call an attempt at a dainty sniff.
Adrian eyed the light and gentle hue of his underwear. “I think that only works when it’s, you know, a dark and royal purple.”
Michael raised an amused eyebrow. “They’re very comfortable.”
Adrian chuckled, chest fluttering as he continued to run his fingers back and forth teasingly. He shouldn’t have been surprised that even in a heated moment, Michael could be relaxed and nonchalant about Adrian teasing him. Somehow, it just fit that Michael had a reliable sense of humor even when someone was about to pull his dick free. Adrian appreciated that in a man, and it brought that uncomfortable warmth back into his chest.
Shoving the feeling aside to deal with later, Adrian hooked his fingers under the waistband of Michael’s underwear. With his other hand, Adrian reached in and took hold of Michael’s thick cock. Both men gave a low groan as Adrian pulled it free, his other hand pulling the man’s pants down to ease the process. Adrian grinned as he watched the heavy length bob in the dim light that streamed from in the house.
