Arden’s chest rose and fell in sharp pants but he obediently did as he was told.
Beckett narrowed his eyes, staring hard at Arden as he continued to get naked.
There was no sign of the blushing, sweet omega he’d left in Jack’s arms this morning. There was no sign, even, of the writhing, heat-struck omega he’d knotted and fallen asleep inside the night before.
Other than the flags of bright colour in his cheeks, Arden was pale. He was as still as he could make himself considering he couldn’t seem to stop shaking. Beckett scowled. Arden made a soft, frightened sound, and his breathing picked up again.
He didn’t run, though. Didn’t hide.
Didn’t look away.
Naked, Beckett grabbed hold of his aching cock and gave it a slow, filthy pull. “This what you want?” he said, opening his hand flat and presenting the heavy erection for Arden’s viewing pleasure.
“N-no.”
“No?” Beckett stroked himself again, and smirked when Arden broke from his stillness to crawl over to the edge of the bed. “Looks to me like you do want it, Arden.”
Arden snatched his wandering hands off Beckett’s chest. “I’m sorry,” he said, slumping. He tried to look away again. Beckett tutted, and he returned his gaze dutifully to Beckett’s face. “I didn’t…you s-said no. I r-respect that. And you. And your relationship with Jack. I’ll be fine. It is unpleasant but I can get through it. I can.”
“Mm-hmm.” Beckett raised a brow and removed Arden’s hands from where they had once again wandered, this time to knead Beckett’s buttocks.
“I can,” he said weakly. “If not, Jack said the suppressants will wear off.”
He didn’t want to hear Arden talking about Jack. He was still furious. Mostly at Jack for taking them in the first place, but at Arden too, for making it necessary.
For marrying Jack.
So apparently, Beckett had more feelings about the whole situation than he’d thought.
Reaching out, he knocked Arden’s shoulder gently, aiming to put him on his back. Arden gasped and caught his wrist, trying to stay upright. “On your back, boy,” Beckett said.
Arden flopped at once. He frowned, as if disgruntled at his body’s compliance. “You don’t have to do this,” he said, absolutely full of it, because now he was on his back, he was restless with need. His hands gripped the covers beside him but he was up on his elbows, dropping his head back and displaying his elegant throat, beckoning. He’d hitched a leg and was sliding a delicate knee up and down the length of Beckett’s thigh as Beckett leaned over him, planting a hand either side of his head. “I can wait for Jack. Or I can wait and it will pass and?—”
“Jack ain’t comin’,” Beckett bit out. That shut the omega up right quick, didn’t it?
Not for long, sadly.
“Beckett.”
“Mhm,” Beckett said, stretching out over him. He scooted them up the bed to settle Arden’s head on the pillows, and pinned him there with his weight.
“Beckett. I know you don’t want to do this. I am so sorry.”
“Don’t mind a fuck,” Beckett said with a shrug. “Right now, I’m in the mood for it.” He rocked into Arden, making sure the omega felt his hard, leaking cock. “That’s what this is,” he said, half in jest, half to be cruel.
“Iknowwhat that is,” Arden bounced back.
The brief flare of temper quickly faded. Shame. He’d welcome a tussle. Arden, damn him, was being a fucking gentleman.
“I know what it is,” Arden said again, primly. “And I know that it’s got nothing to do with wanting me personally. I r-refuse to use you.”
“Refuse, do you?” Beckett leaned down and sucked Arden’s bottom lip into his mouth, nipped it, and slid his tongue inside like he had all the rights in the world when it came to this man. “We’ll see.”
Arden threaded his fingers through Beckett’s hair and mashed his mouth hopelessly against Beckett’s.
“Ow.” Beckett pulled back sharply.
“Sorry,” Arden said.
