by Aiden Bates
When the pair parted, he stepped in, and invited his father in law to stay for dinner. Gary accepted, much to the surprise of Pete and apparently of Ozzy. Pete left his alpha and his father-in-law to chat n the TV room while he and the kids hid out in the kitchen, preparing dinner.
Gary met Ruth over dinner. The meeting was cordial, and Gary even bought a piece of art for the church offices before he left. All in all it was a successful visit, for all that it was unplanned, and as Pete cleared the dishes he smiled to himself. The surprise visit could have gone so much worse.
After Gary left, they got the kids changed and put to bed. Then they retreated to their master suite, their personal retreat, and shared a shower. Showers always made Pete frisky, and he found himself mouthing at Alpha's jaw and neck more than he'd planned to.
Ozzy chuckled at him and playfully smacked his ass. "Someone's eager tonight."
"Can you blame me?" Pete laughed. "I've got this amazing alpha, who by the way rode a bicycle from here to D.C. How impressive is that?" He calmed down a little, even though having Ozzy's hands on hm was about the least calming thing in the universe. "Are you okay?"
Ozzy didn't have to ask what he meant. He just knew. He was like that. "I'm good," he decided. "It's a little weird. I might not be as good tomorrow, but right now? I’ve got the most beautiful omega in the world in front of me, a big bed behind us, and we've been apart for days."
Pete let his alpha turn the water off and grabbed a owe for him as they stepped out into the steamy bathroom. He didn't pass it over. Instead, he devoted himself to towel drying every inch of his alpha, from the top of his head to the tops of his ankles. The little gasps and choked back moans from Ozzy told hm that he was on the right track, that his ministrations were shaving an effect.
He didn't dry off Ozzy's cock until he'd dried off every other inch. Only then did he move his cloth-covered hand to stroke the water off of his beloved, stroke after stroke. Ozzy groaned. His knees buckled, just a little bit, and be braced himself up against the wall so that Pete could dry him off completely.
When Ozzy was fully erect, cock purple and almost painful to see, Pete backed off. He toweled himself off quickly and efficiently so that he could get into the bed. He didn't need any teasing, any buildup to get himself in the mood. The mere scent of his alpha, after several days apart, was enough to get him going. He climbed into the bed and peeled the covers back in invitation.
He wasn't being subtle. He wasn't trying to be.
Ozzy strutted toward the bed and rummaged through the bedside table for the lube. "Huh. I wonder what my omega wants." He nipped playfully at Pete's jawline.
"Please, Alpha." Pete hated to beg, absolutely hated it, but he would do it if he got what he wanted. "I need you to touch me."
Ozzy picked up the lube. His hot, hard, insistent cock was already pressing at Pete's hole, but it wasn't a demand. It was more of a gentle rocking, a "hello, I'm here," kind of signal. Ozzy would never hurt Pete, and Pete could relax and trust his alpha because he knew that. He wrapped his legs around Ozzy's waist, another invitation that he knew Ozzy would have a hard time ignoring.
Ozzy gave a low laugh and caught his mouth in a kiss. He knew what Pete needed, all right.
Ozzy stretched him out quickly, and entered him as though his life depended on getting inside quickly. Pete didn't mind. H loved the feel of his mate inside of him. He bucked his hips to meet Ozzy's thrust, and cried out when Ozzy dragged across his sweet spot.
Ozzy set up an athletic pace. Pete could keep up, although he knew that he would feel it tomorrow in all of the best ways. He could live with that.
Ozzy's thrusts became more erratic, and Pete reached in between them to stroke himself to completion. He could see the veins standing out in Ozzy's face. He was trying to hold himself back; he hated to come before Pete. Fortunately for both of them, Pete was close. One, two, three strokes and he was done, spilling hot and messy over his hand. Ozzy followed soon after, and he pulled gently out.
After, when they'd had another shower and gotten back into the bed, Pete encouraged Ozzy to roll over. Usually the alpha was the big spoon, but sometimes they needed to feel held and cared for too. Pete could offer that to his mate. He wrapped an arm around his waist and molded himself to his back. "You doing okay, there, Ozzy?"
"Well, I'm better now." Ozzy gave a little chuckle and held Pete's hand. "I think I'm still in shock that he showed up, you know? I've got so many questions. Why did he show up alone? Why now? Why not years ago? I don't know how to feel about this." He closed his eyes. "I don't… I know that he means well. He's always meant well."
"A lot of people mean well, or think that they mean well." Pete kissed his mate's hair. "That doesn't mean that they always have great motives. In this case, I don't know him at all. But you… well, I mean he's a man of God, right? He's supposed to be willing to accept that he was wrong. He seemed sincere. Your hurt is sincere too."
"What should I do?" Ozzy asked after a moment. His muscles released their tension as he accepted Pete's embrace.
"I don't think there's really an answer for that. I think it's good to try to reconnect, but only as far as you feel comfortable. Take it slow. Maybe we can invite him to dinner sometime. Don't stretch past where it's a good stretch, you know? And maybe you'll both feel a little more comfortable taking it a little farther next time, maybe not." He gave a little laugh. "Maybe he'll want to come to Land's Sake Farm with us sometime soon. That's not too confrontational, and everyone likes a hayride."
Ozzy snuggled back into his embrace. "That's a good idea. I'll give him a call and set something up for maybe next week."
"Sounds good. I love you."
"I love you too. You're the best."
Pete buried his face in the crook of Ozzy's neck and let himself drift off to sleep. Life was pretty good, he had to admit. He and his alpha were pretty solid. He had two amazing children. He had friends who cared for him, and he had a fulfilling career. His family life had improved since he'd gotten together with Ozzy, and now it looked like Ozzy's family might finally be coming around.
Pete had thought that this kind of domestic bliss was out of reach for him. Getting there might have taken a little bit of a roundabout path, but he wouldn't trade any of it.
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Preview Chapter: Omega’s Kiss
Doug removed his belt, his shoes, and his briefcase. He put them onto the table for the guard to search and turned his pockets inside out. Then he stepped through the metal detector. When he emerged on the other side, he received his hand stamp and signed the visitor log.
The guard looked up at Doug and wrinkled her nose. "How many times have you been here this week, Doug?"
"Twice, Katie." Doug smiled at her. The guards weren't bad people. He had to try to remember that. They were just trying to do a difficult job, with very few resources. "But those visits were different. Then I was his son."
She raised an eyebrow. "Any big news you want to share with the class?"
"Today I'm his attorney." He passed her the document. "It's taken a while, but I filed the paperwork yesterday."
Katie scanned the document and clicked her tongue ring against her teeth. "Well I'll be damned. I didn't even know you were a lawyer."
"I've been cleverly disguised as just another family member for months, right?" He gave a little laugh. "But hey—now you know who to call if you ever need a lawyer." He passed her a card.
She rolled her eyes. "Do you have any idea how many lawyers I get through here?"
"Yeah, but I'm different. I'm good. And I actually like you." He winked and she laughed, buzzing him into the visitor waiting room.
He had to wait his turn to be allowed into one of the confidential visiting rooms, so he sat back and took a good look at the other visitors. Most of them were family members, all looking tired and not terribly happy. Shirley wasn't exactly easy to get to, especially if you lived in one of the more remote parts of the state. It was also the only
maximum-security prison in Massachusetts.
Doug saw young mothers carrying fussy babies. He saw a couple of anxious-looking omegas in the mix, and he winced when he saw their claim scars. He wouldn't wish this kind of life on his worst enemy, to have to come all the way up to Shirley for conjugal visits or die. There were a few young people who were there without other family members. They might have been there to see siblings, or parents, or friends. None of them made eye contact with anyone else.
Then there were the lawyers. There were four of them there today, Doug included. They stood out like sore thumbs. They were well rested. They were well dressed. Their eyes were sharp and keen, not filled with despair. They nodded at Doug like they saw a kindred spirit in him, and he supposed that they did.
He glanced at the family members, and then he went to sit with the lawyers.
They made small talk as they waited to be called. The guy defending a double homicide got called first. Then went the woman defending a guy who'd gone on a violent spree down the Cape over the summer; he hadn't even bothered to deny what he'd done, but she was trying to appeal based on mental incompetence and get him sent to a secure hospital instead. She was replaced by a dark-skinned man in a gorgeous silk suit, who was defending one of the alleged dirty cops that had kidnapped a state trooper's omega last month.
Doug wished him all the luck in the world. He was going to need it.
They called Doug next. He got up and followed the guard into a confidential visitor room, where he sat down and spread out his documents. Then he waited.
Five minutes later, three guards escorted his father into the room. Orange was not a good color for Larry Morrison, or for any other pale person really, and Larry had only gotten paler in prison. He blinked at Doug owlishly through his thick glasses and smiled broadly. "Dougie!" he said, as the guards pushed him gently into his chair. One of them watched him carefully while the other shackled him both to the chair and the table. "What is this, the third time this week? And what's with the funeral director get-up? Did you just come from work?"
Doug huffed out a laugh, even though he had to blink back tears. "I'm at work, Dad. I filed a motion for a new trial yesterday." He smiled, broad and happy. "I managed to find proof that you were in Maryland when Melina Bonnaire and Ada Alumi were killed."
Larry's green eyes widened. "Are you serious? That's great news! That's fantastic news!" He laughed out loud. "I didn't even know them!"
"I know you didn't, Dad." Doug closed his eyes and hung his head. "I am so, so sorry that I didn't find this before your first trial, but we're going to make it right. We are. I promise."
"I know you are. You're the best son a father could hope for. I know it wasn't always easy growing up. I wasn't always around as much as I wanted to be, but Dougie, you turned out amazing. You made me so proud. I'm telling you, I'm so proud to call you my son." He chuckled and shook his head. "And my lawyer, now, too. Seriously. Who would have thought it?"
Doug glowered at the walls. "Who'd have thought that you'd need a lawyer? Seriously, dad. Maximum security? Shackled to a chair? You don't need that. That's not you."
Larry shook his head. "Son, they think I'm a serial killer. If it were anyone else—if I were a serial killer—you'd be the first one to tell them that they needed to keep me as secure as possible. I don't really mind, son."
Doug crossed his arms over his chest. It was funny how being around his father could reduce him to a sulky twelve-year old again. He was a successful attorney, on the partner track, and here he was pouting. "Well I mind. How are things?"
"They're things." Larry shrugged, making his chains rattle. "They gave me a cell mate about my own age. He's a guy from Worcester. He's still on trial, but I guess he's a special case. His name's Joe. Seems nice enough for a mobster."
"That's something. Do you have a job yet?" Doug tapped his pen on the table, beating out the drum part to an old Muse song.
"Oh sure. I'm working in the prison library. It's not so bad. At least I'm using my degree." Larry sighed and gave Doug a smile. "That lawyer look, it's a good one for you, son. You look all smart and stuff."
Doug blushed. "I am all smart and stuff, Dad. I've got a lot of wins. And I'm going to get this one, too. Is there anything else you can tell me that will help me out? Anyone that you can think of who will corroborate where you were when the victims were killed?"
Larry laughed and shook his head. "Son, I'm going to need a list. The real killer murdered an awful lot of women, and I can't really go ahead and tell you where I was every minute of every day for twenty years, now, can I?"
"Good point." Doug chewed on the end of his pen. "I'll get that list. And I will be back. You can count on that."
"I know you will. Dougie, you're something special. I know you'll do whatever you need to, okay?" Larry leaned back. "Tell me. We haven't talked about you in a while. Are you still seeing that guy, what was his name, Liam?"
"No." Doug made a face. "Liam, as it turned out, was really into unhealthy polyamory."
Larry mouthed out the words unhealthy polyamory. "What does that even mean?"
"It means that he had three other omegas that he was messing around with, Dad. He firmly believed that this was not a problem, and that I was just being uppity for objecting." He rubbed the back of his neck. "The upshot is that now he has no omegas, and I have three new very good friends. So there's that."
"Okay then." Larry grinned. He'd lost a few teeth while inside. Doug wondered how he hadn't noticed before. Had he just been too busy looking at his own shoes? "Hey, want me to make a few calls? You know us convicts, we all got connections." He laughed at the absurdity of his own joke.
Doug chuckled. "Thanks, but I'm good. Liam's out of my life now, let him go pester someone else. The guy had a personal hatred of toothpaste anyway. He always had bad breath. You going to be okay in here for a while, Dad?"
"You bet, son." He smiled up at Doug. "You going to go give 'em Hell?"
"It's what I do best, Dad. I love you. I'll see you soon."
Doug signaled to the guards and left the room so he wouldn't have to see them treat his father like a dangerous animal. A guard escorted him back to the visitor processing center, where he signed out and was searched yet again. He was prepared to simply head back to his car, but as he headed to the parking lot he noticed a woman struggling with a baby carriage. She wasn't walking toward the lot, but toward the road.
He glanced at the sky. Ominous dark clouds lurked overhead.
Doug cursed. He had a plan, and a direction. He wanted to set it in motion right away. At the same time, this woman wasn't much different than he was, and she had a baby with her. He raced to catch up with her. "Are you trying to catch the train?"
She blinked at him and bit her lip, clearly afraid.
He tried again, this time in Spanish. She nodded, still not trusting. "Look," he told her, speaking as gently as he could. "It's going to rain. I'll give you a ride wherever you want, okay? I'll even drive you home." He gave her a little smile. "My dad's inside. Folks like us, we have to stick together, help one another out."
She hesitated, but when they heard thunder in the distance she decided to take a chance. They ran for Doug's car and she strapped the bucket carrier into the back seat, turning it into a car seat. She folded down the stroller and put it into Doug's trunk and slid into the passenger seat just as the first raindrops fell.
When she told him that she lived in Framingham, he wouldn't hear of her taking the train. "That'll take you more than three hours," he pointed out, "and I'm going to Framingham anyway for work. Seriously. I'll just bring you straight there. It's not a problem."
She blushed, but accepted, and they hit the road.
Her brother was in jail, she explained. He'd absolutely done the crime. She had no problem admitting that. He'd made a lot of mistakes in his life, but he was still her brother. She still loved him, no matter what he'd done. That was what family was all about. It was just hard for her to get to s
ee him more than a few times a year, since she couldn't drive and the train took an entire day.
"I hear that." Doug sighed. Before his father's arrest and trial, he'd been concerned about the effect of incarceration on families, but only in an abstract sense. Now it was personal. "Look. If you want, I'll bring you up there once a month, okay?"
She gave him a suspicious glance. "Why?"
Doug laughed. "Because I'm going there anyway, remember? My dad's in there for something he didn't do. I'm his lawyer now, so I'm going to be there even more often. It's not a hassle. Like I said, we're in the same boat. We have to stick together."
Her eyes softened. "Thank you. I feel like I probably shouldn't take your help—but I will. I really appreciate this."
They pulled up to her apartment complex, and he helped her get her stroller and her baby out of the car. He gave her a card and wrote his cell number on the back. "If you need anything at all, whether it's a ride to Shirley or even just a hand with the baby, give me a call." He smiled and shook her hand, and then he headed back to the car.