Beckett touched a finger to his lip where Arden had managed to bite him.
Arden’s hand flew up and he patted clumsily at Beckett’s cheek. Beckett jerked out of his reach. Arden’s hand fell away.
Beckett stared down at him.
Arden’s eyes were clouding over. Any minute now, he’d lose it. He’d lose control over his body. Over his mind. Over his determination to not use Beckett.
Arden knew it. He felt it coming. Beckett could tell by the way he was squirming around, one moment pushing away from Beckett, the next moment pulling him closer.
And Beckett had wanted him to command it. But…
“Listen,” he said briskly. “You need a good fuck and a big cock.”
Arden turned bright pink with mortification. “Oh,” he said softly.
“I’m a good fuck. Got a big cock, an’ all.” He rocked into Arden, who moaned and rocked back. “I’m offering it. Up to you whether you take it or not.”
“Can’t I?—”
Beckett began to flex slowly into Arden’s tense body, trying to gentle it with his own. “You can’t go through a heat alone, pet,” he said. “Haven’t you worked that one out yet?”
“I’m sure I can,” Arden said. “I’ve managed this far. I know what to expect now, after…after last night. And I’ve been knotted. It’s a matter of enduring before it burns out. I can do that! I’m good at enduring.”
“It won’t burn out unmet,” Beckett corrected. “It’ll burn you. From the inside out.”
Arden stared.
“If’n it don’t kill you, will leave you sick as a pig. Rest of your life.”
And the ridiculous man considered it, even after that, Beckett could tell. “Listen. I ain’t beggin’ for it. That’syourjob, omega. Hop on my cock, now, like a good boy, and I’ll see about giving you another knot. Let’s get it over with.” Beckett almost lost his breath all over again at how cruel he was being. He couldn’t seem to stop.
“But—”
“Arden,” he said, at the very end of his patience. “Fuck me.”
So Arden did.
He parted his legs, he welcomed Beckett in, he stroked his sides as Beckett worked inside him—gods, he was soft, he was ready—and he pressed his silly, clumsy kisses wherever he could reach. He whimpered and shivered with relief. With orgasm. He came and came and came. As did Beckett. They fucked each other mindlessly.
Beckett’s anger, his cruelty, his fear for Jack…everything fell away.
He was tending to his omega, and it felt right. It felt perfect.
Itwasperfect.
All the way to the last, exhausted time.
Arden was on his side then, thoroughly knotted. Beckett was behind him and rolling his hips lazily, pulsing his sore cock in Arden’s swollen hole at a languid, savouring pace. His hands drifted over Arden’s front. It was a gentle touch; exploratory. He sighed and kissed the back of Arden’s damp neck, inhaling the addictive scent of his satisfied omega. Sunshine, honey, and something sweet and light, like lavender.
His hand drifted up to circle the base of Arden’s throat, collaring it protectively. He rubbed a thumb along Arden’s tight jaw. He’d have thought the dampness he found there was sweat, if not for the minute quiver and a hitching breath. He paused before tracing his fingers higher, to Arden’s face.
He went still.
Hot tears were pouring down Arden’s cheeks.
Slowly, carefully, Beckett drew his hips back. He grimaced at the pressure. It wasn’t too much. His knot had been down enough to pull out for an hour or so. He’d stayed there because he’d been enjoying it. He thought they both were. He held Arden’s hips firmly, withdrew, and rolled Arden to his back.
In the dim light of the room, Arden’s grey eyes shone. His russet lashes were stuck together in spikes and his lips, which were as puffy and well-used as his hole, trembled.
