He made his way over to a narrow wooden bench tucked against a brick wall lined with espaliered pear trees. Leaning back against the sun-warmed stones, he took out the small piece of bread and square of cheese that he’d swiped from the kitchen and broke it into crumbs. He gave a low, piping whistle, and was rewarded all of five seconds later with the whirr of wings from a nearby gooseberry bush and a beady pair of black eyes fixed on his from three feet away.
You could always count on a robin to show up for grub.
He tossed the cheese and breadcrumbs onto the path, noticed some weeds doing their best to poke through the small paving stones, and slid easily to his knees. This was habit as much as carrying a little something for the birds. He wiggled his fingers between the crack, grasped the herb-robert seedling close to the root, and teased it out.
He spotted another, and moved on to that. May as well, since he was down here, he thought—and broke off to huff a quiet laugh at himself, remembering the last time he’d said that to Jack.
Jack had been on his knees and one elbow, attempting to rescue a stocking from under the bed, which Beckett was sitting on. He’d abandoned the stocking, knee-walked his way between Beckett’s spread legs, and made Beckett all but scream when, in retaliation for the cocky suggestion, he’d playfully gnawed the sensitive skin of Beckett’s groin.
Then he’d given Beckett a blowjob that made him all but scream for more pleasurable reasons.
Anyway. Since he was down here, he may as well pull more weeds.
He did so, enjoying the brief moment of sun and quiet, until the robin’s demanding song spilled out sweet and golden and he heard a light scuff on the path ahead.
“Spoiled little thing, aren’t you?” he said, sitting back on his heels to dig around in his breeches pocket for more bread. “Come on, then, lordling. I’ve got what you want right here.”
He glanced up, looking for the robin. Instead of a feathered little body and beady black eyes, his gaze landed on a pair of buckled boots, traveled up slender legs, touched on hands clasped nervously over a flat midriff, and finally hit a pair of wary grey eyes.
Fucking shit timing, eh? So much for keeping out of his way.
Still, Beckett couldn’t do a thing to stop the wide smile that broke over his face at seeing his little omega right there in front of him.
Right where he should be.
Arden smiled back reflexively.
Beckett was going to hold on to that, he decided, and ignore the way that Arden just as reflexively tensed up as his smile faded.
Maybe this timing wasn’t so shit after all. Maybe this was the best way for him to encounter Arden again—on his knees. Beckett’s own smile faded but, unlike Arden’s, it didn’t vanish. He kept it soft.
Behind him the robin sang out shrilly, not at all pleased about sharing Beckett’s attention.
Oh. Beckett knew how to do this.
He’d been wondering how to win Arden back from the day he’d found him gone. He’d have tried Marl’s flowers and poetry, gods help him. He would have. Didn’t need to, though. While he didn’t have the first clue how to woo a shy omega, he was well-versed in charming wary, half-wild creatures who wanted to come closer for a treat but needed careful handling.
After all, wasn’t that exactly what Arden was?
He’d had the thought before, hadn’t he, back when he nearly went for Garvey when they were moving furniture and Garvey had been flapping his noise hole.
This time, it clicked.
He remained kneeling, giving Arden the height advantage. The robin flashed past to land in a nearby bush.
Beckett grinned and tipped his head in the robin’s direction though he didn’t look away from Arden. “Greedy little bastard,” he said, and winked.
Arden looked shocked then drew himself up.
Beckett’s grin widened. “The robin,” he said gently.
“Oh.”
Beckett tossed the crumbled bread and cheese onto the grass a few feet away. The robin darted down as if it had been shot from a sling. It danced about a bit, cautious, but couldn’t resist. It fluttered in, filled its beak, and was off in a whirr of wings.
Beckett rested his hands loosely on his thighs, and looked at Arden. He wanted to jump in.Hello. How are you? I’m sorry. I’m sorry. I missed you.
He kept his big mouth shut for once, and waited.
