by Dakila Reed
There was the hint of laughter and disbelief in Liam’s voice when he said, “Because this seems too good to be true. This second chance…”
“The feeling is mutual.” He ran the pad of his thumb into Liam’s slightly parted lips. He felt their warmness, their softness, gazing at them in awe. He then looked back up at Liam’s eyes and whispered, “Wanna worship you.”
* * * *
He could kiss Liam forever and he wouldn’t tire of it. He’d removed his shirt earlier and taken down his cotton trousers, tossing them all on a single chair closest to him. Without haste, he walked towards the bed, allowing himself to smile when he glimpsed Liam’s anticipative glance over his body.
Now, a tangle of limbs on the bed, Wayne rolled them over so Liam was on top. He let his bulk carry Liam. Both of them still kissing, nipping, tasting and talking into each other’s souls. It was a silent conversation wherein Wayne could feel the little laughter coming from Liam, those short gasps when he’d probed Liam’s entrance a little deeper with his fingers. Lip locked like this, Liam’s nails digging into his shoulders, painful and sweet, Wayne would never trade this for somewhere else.
Liam pulled back, smiling down on Wayne, lips moist and raw and well-loved. The man pushed a little harder into Wayne’s probing. The tight channel growing hotter, slicker, and velvety around Wayne’s digits. Gently, Wayne pushed Liam to the side, rolling them again until he was leaning over this unique man beneath him. Sweat gleamed on Liam’s forehead. His hair damp, framed a blissful, encouraging gaze. Kneeling in between Liam’s spread legs, Wayne let his fingertips brush by like a feather to Liam’s burning skin. From the man’s stomach up to the man’s chest.
Liam smiled, spreading his creamy legs wider. Wayne grinned back his reply before lining his already aching member right into Liam’s waiting entrance. The first push, Wayne watched Liam’s face contort into that flash of pain. The next inch, Liam was already breathing shallow breaths, holding onto Wayne’s arms encouragingly. It was an excruciating wait for Wayne until he was fully inside, claiming, marking this man as his. When Liam opened his eyes again, he grabbed the back of Wayne’s neck and pulled Wayne down. His amber eyes were tearful. But they weren’t sad.
“Thank you,” Liam mouthed before kissing Wayne painfully. A bruising, life-sucking kiss as though Liam was giving his own in return. “Thank you,” he repeated into Wayne’s mouth. “Thank you for making me feel complete again.”
“You complete me too,” Wayne whispered, surprised at the break in his voice. Before he even knew it, his eyes had become hazy, hot, and he had to blink a couple of times to clear his vision. He was crying too. Like Liam, Wayne found himself in a vulnerable state. And they were happy, cherished tears.
Wayne latched onto Liam’s damp neck and began to move. He pushed in and out, slowly and carefully, as though they were dragging back time along with them. Liam’s quiet whimpers filled in the room together with Wayne’s silent grunts. The longer he dragged his movements, the stronger the furnace from his core seemed to glow. Extending from his middle straight to his spine, Wayne bucked and began to lose his rhythm. He bit Liam’s neck, sinking his teeth hard enough to draw trickles of blood. Liam tightened all the more around him, almost extinguishing all of Wayne’s breath. Bracing his hands on either side of Liam’s face, Wayne grinned, eye to eye with Liam who was gazing as passionately and as hard.
“I’m yours now, Liam.”
“Yours,” Liam choked. “From now on...”
* * * *
The next morning, Wayne peered at the gap of the window blinds. The horizon was tinged with pink and light blues. He climbed back into the bed and nudged Liam who was now in an over-sized red shirt, holding a book he found somewhere.
“I wonder what happened to Sweetie.”
Liam who was about to flip to the next page looked at him. “Sweetie?”
Crossing his arms over his bare chest, he stared at the senseless prints of the carpet. “He was my informant inside The Prey Ground. I was even leaning to think he’s you. But…”
“I’m no informant,” Liam said thoughtfully.
“Yeah. I just hope he got out after of all the mess in TPG.”
“Wait…” Liam lightly scratched at the back of his ear, his eyes narrowing at a distant thought. “Maybe it’s Gordon,” he said at last.
Wayne spluttered. That skinhead, built like a tank, brooding giant? Sweetie? “Why do you think so?”
“I guess it’s safe to tell you now. Gordon’s the guy who’s helping me pass messages to the omegas in the establishment. He’s also the one who burned and cranked all the wiretaps inside my suite. He’s a crackhead hacker too.”
“Seriously?” Wayne frowned. It could be possible. “Gordon. Codename: Sweetie?”
Liam laughed. “What’s so hard to believe? It makes sense. Gordon’s first name is Mithai. He’s Mithai Gordon. Mithai in Bengali means ‘sweetie’.”
“Bengali?”
“Yeah, I think it’s on his father’s side?”
Wayne frowned even deeper. It was him who brought it up but honestly, hearing Liam say ‘Gordon’ multiple times in one sentence was making him cranky. He inched a little closer to Liam. He was being a pest while Liam was trying to continue reading his book. “Our kid sleeps like a log,” he whispered playfully. He didn’t even realize saying ‘our’ until he heard it from his mouth. It sounded natural, perfect. “Besides, he’s in the next room. He won’t notice anything. Let’s continue from where we left off…?”
Liam who was leaning against the headboard with his book, shook his head. “You are terrible.”
Wayne took the biography book off of Liam’s hold and hurriedly tossed it over the bedside table.
“Hey, I’m close to finishing it,” Liam whined.
“I’m so far from finishing Liam.”
“We can’t. Any moment Laurent will wake up.”
A predator on the prowl, he pounced and bit Liam’s ear, kissing and nibbling. The other man turned his face to the side, exposing more of his neck to Wayne’s assaults. He took it as permission and drew a deep inhale, releasing it slowly through his mouth. He moved slightly, eyeing Liam with a grin. “Says you smelling so ready and needy for me again.”
“Ah well,” Liam blinked innocently at him, “one of us should talk sensibly… even for pretend.”
Wayne threw his head back in a laugh, almost forgetting to keep quiet. He brought his face down into Liam’s chest. And there he laughed. He laughed while admiring the strong beat of the other’s heart below his lips. He turned to the side, biting the omega’s nipple through the fabric of Liam’s shirt, nipping and pulling it with his teeth.
“God, you drive me insane…”
* * * *
The plaza was unexpectedly crowded. There was laughter of the little kids chasing huge bubbles. Somewhere, the bell’s tinkle by an ice cream vendor was enticing the ears. Loud and festive music pounded into the ground, along with the easy chatter of people occupying all corners of the area.
Wayne watched Laurent run to a cotton-candy store. The kid’s curls were a beautiful mess. And what was even more breathtaking was Liam taking the boy’s hand, looking over his shoulder to catch Wayne’s gaze.
“What flavor do you want?” Liam asked Wayne, while Laurent was going all crazy at the vendor.
“Uh,” Wayne seriously considered the puffy pinks and baby blues on display. “You?”
Liam snorted. “No. Unfortunately, there’s no Liam flavor here. Bubblegum, chocolate, vanilla?”
“I want the bubblegum!” Laurent replied. “We should all get the bubblegum!”
Liam nodded. “Then it’s decided.”
Apparently, that Sunday afternoon was the last day of Sierra Micasa’s Lantern Festival. Everyone had pin pointed the best spots close to the banks to watch the lanterns being set off to the sky. But since they were already late, Wayne and Liam decided they could all just watch together with the others in the plaza. It was the sole r
eason for events like these anyway. To be in the middle of a massive crowd and be one with it.
At around seven in the evening, when the skies were nothing but a dim curtain, stars still shy to show themselves behind thin clouds, the entire plaza got drowned in a muted darkness. All vendors have dimmed their lights. The stores around did the same. The music had changed from cheery festive to a more calming ambient sound. Somewhere, a group of birds decided to sing. And the breeze was sweet from popcorns and the raw fresh air blowing calmly in everyone’s midst.
Wayne was standing with Laurent in front of him and Liam on his side. He noticed the little boy rocking up and down, trying to stand on the toes of his little feet. With an idea and a grin, Wayne pulled the kid from under the boy’s armpits and settled a squealing and delighted Laurent over his shoulders. Once he was sure the boy was settled and wouldn’t fall over, he patted the boy’s knee.
“Better?”
“Yeah! I’m so tall!” Laurent laughed. “Look Papa I’m so tall!”
Turning to his side, Wayne saw Liam smile at him. Laurent’s delighted voice, and Liam’s smile was about melting him like nothing could. The emcee’s words somewhere at the front was lost to Wayne as he absorbed every single sizzle of pride in his body. The three of them together in this solemn event. The three of them forming their own little group, as they mingled with the rest. It was a gratifying, satisfying feeling.
Soft whispers of awe came like a ripple of water in a calm sea. One by one, little lanterns were set free. They slowly lingered in the air as they went up and up, casting their unique lights to the many eyes below.
Wayne noticed Liam wiping something off his face. He nudged the man gently on the shoulder, his left brow raised in concern. “What?”
Liam looked at him. The man’s gaze deep and beautiful with the lanterns reflecting on them. “It’s just so amazing. I’ve almost forgotten that even nights could be very bright.”
In one hand, Wayne gripped Laurent’s hand so the boy won’t fall. Into the other he took Liam’s. He took the man’s hand and squeezed it reassuringly. Liam squeezed back.
The three of them, among the other people in the plaza all focused their gazes up into the sky. Lanterns lit the dark blanket of night, like drunken stars they soared in their own little time, clustering in a mini galaxy of their own.
“Papa, Uncle Regem, I wanna fly! Can I ride one of those lanterns?”
“No!” Liam and Wayne exclaimed in unison, horror etched on their faces. Others even looked at them in confusion.
“Eh… why?”
“Because they’re not made for riding,” Liam explained.
Wayne grinned. “We better find a hot-air balloon soon.”
“I can’t ride a lantern but I can with a balloon?” Laurent asked, perplexed.
Liam smirked at Wayne who was beginning to sweat. “Explain it to him agent.”
“Ah… well…”
The lanterns continued flying gingerly over their heads, reaching amazing heights, before fading into the distance. Somehow, it reminded Wayne of the beginning of their own new little family’s flight. And they were starting bright and strong.
|
— Note —
|
Dear Reader,
Thank you so much for picking up ‘Stronger than Truth’. Again, please don’t get me wrong. I love broken, timid omegas that needed saving by strong alphas. I love them with all my heart. But one time I woke up in the middle of my nap wanting to see an evil omega. A strong omega acting like a villain for a worthwhile purpose. I wanted to amuse myself. XD
I hope you enjoyed the time you spent with Regem Wayne and Liam Bridges and their son, Laurent.
Watch out for ‘Stronger than Perfection’.
****
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ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Dakila Reed is a hybrid of many cultures, living in various times and places inside her head. Her name borders between 'heroic' and 'great'. She is in no way heroic but she is striving hard to be great in the little things she do.
Black coffee runs through her veins and is in love with all shades of green.
She aims to bring M/M romances with slices of life, sweetness in love, and bites of pain.
-author site-
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Acknowledgments
Thanks Ag S, for being so supportive in your own ways.
To U Pat, what you said really motivated me.
To Leandro de Carvalho and LoboStudioHamburg for their awesome generosity, thank you!
To Alex P, I can’t say enough how huge you’ve boosted my motivation. You’re awesome! I’m so fired up for January : ) !
Thank you.