“It’s not them that I’m thinkin’ about,” he pointed out, glancing up at Caleb and smiling sadly. “I’m thinkin’ about our little one, and how they need to grow up around children like them. How they’d be safer here. You saw firsthand what happens when one of our kinds goes off on their own. People see us, they overreact. The last thing I want is for my daughter or son to be wandering out in the forest one day and wind up getting shot by some overzealous monster hunter.” Frowning, Caleb’s hand fluttered up to his stomach. A worried sound falling from his lips, he nodded and looked up at his lover.
“Will you be happy if we stay here?” Caleb asked, reaching out and trailing his fingers through his lover’s hair. “I want you to be happy, no matter where we decide to go.” He mumbled, smiling when Emeric turned his head and pressed his lips to his palm.
“I’ll be happy no matter where we are, Cher,” Emeric promised, leaning in and sliding their lips together. “As long as I have you, I would face the world.” He mumbled, laughing when Caleb lightly bit his lip.
“Then let’s stay here. At least until the little one is old enough to keep out of sight of those hunters,” He suggested, pulling at the front of his lover’s shirt with a smile. Giggling when Emeric pressed their lips together, he hummed happily.
“I think I could handle that,” Emeric mumbled, his eyes sparkling lightly. Sliding their lips together with a soft hum, he moved gingerly until he could pin the man to the bed. Growling lowly once he was sure that his lover was alright, he leaned down and kissed the other heatedly. “What about you? Do you think you’ll be alright hanging out with us freaks? Don’t cha want to go back to your life at all?” he asked, earning a sigh from Caleb.
“At some point, I want to go at least tell my parents that I’m alive,” Caleb mumbled, sliding his hands over the man’s chest, “I hate to think of how much pain I’ve put them through as it is.” He sighed softly. “But after that? I’m more than happy to spend the rest of my days chasing after our kids and sharing a bed with my favorite swamp monster.” He teased, laughing when Emeric bit his shoulder playfully.
“Monster am I?” Emeric teased, laughing when Caleb winked and wrapped his arms around him. “Suppose I can handle bein’ your monster, as long as you’re willing to be the Beauty to my Beast.” He insisted, leaning down and trailing their lips together slowly.
Humming lowly at the action, Caleb slid his hand over his lover’s chest, mapping out his broad chest and the soft skin of his bare chest. This was exactly where he belonged. Cradled up in his lover’s arms, breathing his warm scent and relishing in the gentle touches of his calloused hands.
“I suppose I could be your Beauty,” Caleb giggled, licking his lips and pulling the man down into a slow kiss. Humming softly when the other growled, he wrapped his arms around the other’s shoulders slowly.
“Good, because you’re already my hero, I suppose that it makes sense that you would be my Beauty as well,” Emeric mumbled, kissing the other on the lips and laughing when Caleb raised an eyebrow at him and lightly slapped his shoulder with his good hand.
“How am I your hero?” he asked, rolling his eyes when Emeric laughed and nuzzled against his good shoulder with a happy noise.
“Are you kidding me? You saved my life, Cher! Jumpin’ in front of Blaise was the only thing stoppin’ me from dyin’ just like my Pa did!” Emeric pointed out, trailing his fingers over Caleb’s cheek, his golden eyes studying the boy in front of him with an adoring smile. “You coulda stayed behind where it was safe, and left me to fight my own battles, but you didn’t. You did what I couldn’t do all those years ago and you put your life on the line to save my sorry ass.” Caleb’s cheeks lit up at the sudden praise, his eyes lowering as he smiled softly.
“I was just being selfish,” Caleb explained, his fingers tangled into the man’s shirt. “I didn’t want to just stand by and let the best thing that has ever happened to me disappear.” He mumbled, leaning in and kissing the man sweetly.
“Well, Cher, your selfishness saved my life,” Emeric whispered, resting his head on Caleb’s chest with a happy noise and chuckling when Caleb let out a content noise. “I’m actually going to get to see my baby, and get to have a life with you. I don’t think I’d trade that for anything else in the world.” He muttered, trailing his fingers over Caleb’s chest and closing his eyes as he listened to his heart.
Smiling softly at the action, Caleb rested his good hand on Emeric’s shoulder. Letting the man’s warmth flood over him as they lay in each other’s arms. He was going to get to raise a child with the man of his dreams. He was living his own personal fairytale, with his monster turned prince charming.
Glancing towards the window as his lover dozed off against his chest; he smiled as he spotted a pair of fireflies dancing outside their window his heart fluttering as he pulled Emeric closer. The light of his life was alive, and he couldn’t be happier.
***********The End*********
Omega’s Boss
Description:
Richard my boss has always been off limits. He doesn’t know who I am and doesn’t care too. That is until I met him at a shifter bar one night. He was drunk out of his mind and I doubt he will remember anything.
Turns out that bar isn’t safe for a pretty boy omega like me. Will my boss stop freaking out long enough to save me and his unborn child or will we be left to the wolves?
*************************************
Richard sat on a bar stool, slumped over the bar while he rotated his glass with his fingertips. The whiskey inside sloshed up to the rim of the glass, the ice tinkling against the sides. He had come here to forget about the ten million dollar account he’d lost, but it was the only thing he could focus on. A hard lump began to form in his throat, so Richard washed it away with the remainder of his whiskey.
Much better. Now all he could think about was the burning sensation careening down his throat, warming him until he began to sweat. After rubbing his weary eyes with his knuckles, he exhaled through his nose. How could he go to work tomorrow? How could he live with the memory of losing the account?
“I’m the CEO, dammit!” Richard shouted as he slammed his fist onto the counter. “I don’t have to be ashamed.” His voice trailed off to a mumble as heads turned to face him, their eyes wide and curious. He waved them all away. “You don’t understand, you don’t get it.”
Their eyes drifted away as their shrill voices began chattering again. Richard put his elbows on the counter and held his chin in both hands, breathing steadily, thinking about the account.
“Barkeep!” Richard called. “I’ll have another glass of your finest, most expensive whiskey.”
A group of people nearby scoffed at him and shuffled to the other side of the room to sit at a free booth. Richard laughed through his nose, snorting at the offended, and gazed around at the dark bar.
It was only illuminated by a handful of the sconces on the walls, most of the bulbs had blown and no one had bothered to replace them. There were tables and chairs littered all over, covering the wooden flooring that used to act as a dance floor. The music was different than it used to be, too. It was quiet, playing gently over the hum of conversation. Once, the bass blared so loud it made the whole building tremble.
Richard had been coming to this bar for years, he had seen it slowly decline and fall into disrepair, but he kept coming back.
It was the only place in the city that he felt he could be himself. Even though the public was aware of the shifter population, and accepted them into society most of the time, they were outsiders.
These days shifters preferred to stay home, hiding behind closed doors. Richard understood why they did it, but he thought it was a travesty. All his people could do was sit at half-empty, dilapidated bars to socialize with their own kind. It made him feel physically sick.
In the corner of his eye, Richard saw a young man stumble through the front door and peer at his surroundings. All of Richard’s thoughts vanish
ed as he watched a large clump of the man’s hair fall down, obscuring his azure eyes.
The man stepped up to the bar and sat three seats away, unaware that Richard was watching him. Inaudibly, he spoke to the bartender, his lips moving too quickly for Richard to attempt to read. While the man waited for his drink, he craned his neck this way and that way, only focusing on the room around him.
“You lost?” Richard asked.
The man frowned at Richard, his eyes glittering in the dim light, and then nodded. “You could say that.”
Richard gulped the rest of his drink, tripped over his own feet as he slid off his chair, and sat himself down next to the young man. “Never seen you here before, am I right?”
With flushed cheeks, the young man took his beer from the bartender and took a long, deep swig.
“I’ll take that as a yes,” Richard said, leaning one arm on the counter, “But that’s okay. I’m a regular here. I’ll be your guide for the evening. I’ll tell you who to avoid and who to go home with.”
Laughing, Richard pointed to himself and winked at the young man. In reply, the young man took a large mouthful of beer as his cheeks reddened.
“So,” The young man said, “You’ve obviously been here before.”
“That I have!” Richard pumped his fist into the air, then brought it down and pointed a finger at the bartender, beckoning him over with it. “I’m a regular here, aren’t I?”
“You sure are,” the bartender said, “I see you near enough every night.” When the bartender had finished speaking, Richard mimed drinking from a glass. The bartender said, “Another whiskey? Coming right up, Rich.”
“Rich,” The young man said, “They know your name here.”
“What’s your name, beautiful?” Richard asked. He took a mouthful of whiskey and coughed as it hit his throat, dripping down to his stomach like acid.
“Gareth,” The young man held out his hand, “Pleased to meet you.”
They shook hands as Richard said, “I think I know a Gareth.”
“Is that so?” Gareth asked, a knowing smirk playing on his lips. Richard stared at Gareth’s face, his eyes squinting as he concentrated, but he quickly lost his train of thought.
“I know a Gareth,” Richard said again, starting to slur his words. “He works at my company. Below me, obviously. He’s a prick. I don’t like him.”
“That’s your last drink, Rich.” The bartender said. “You’ve had more than enough.”
Richard ignored the bartender. He planted his hands on Gareth’s cheeks and pulled his face so close they were almost nose-to-nose.
“I think I should fire him first thing tomorrow morning,” Richard said, his whiskey breath clouding over Gareth’s face. “What do you think?”
“I think you should give him a chance,” Gareth said, still smirking.
“Come on,” Richard slurred his words as he spoke, “I’m going to give you a chance. Let’s go home. You’re young and attractive… And I’m rich!”
Richard doubled over in silent laughter. His whiskey slipped out of his glass as he leaned and splashed on the floor. The ice cubes cracked on impact and splintered into slippery pieces and skittered away. Suddenly, hoarse laughter burst from between Richard’s lips.
“How ironic is that? I’m rich, and my name’s Rich!” He continued laughing as he held out his hand. “Come on, beautiful. Let’s go to my fuck and place… No, wait, let’s go back to my place and fuck. That’s it. That’s what I meant!”
Richard lunged forward and grabbed Gareth roughly by the wrist, dragging him off his seat and toward the front door. When he shoved Gareth outside, Richard stumbled back inside the bar and held up his glass.
“Sorry, I took this with me.” He swung his arm back so it was level with his shoulder and threw the glass underarm as he shouted: “Catch!” The glass flew past the bartender’s head and smashed into the wall. Hundreds of pieces burst out and sprinkled down onto the hunched bartender. Richard sprinted outside and cackled loudly, his voice bouncing around the empty street. With his hand planted around Gareth’s wrist, Richard dragged him down the sidewalk.
Richard’s feet tripped over the smallest of obstacles on the sidewalk and Gareth had to take hold of him to keep him upright. By the time Richard stopped outside an apartment building, it was long past midnight and he could no longer stand unassisted. Gareth held the man up, with Richard’s arm over his shoulder, and kept him steady while he put his key in the front door.
“Welcome to my humble abode.” Richard laughed. “Although there’s nothing humble about it.”
As soon as the door was open, Richard wrenched himself out of Gareth’s grasp and swayed as he made his way to the elevator. The shining, marble floor reflected the light and blinded him, so he hugged the wall and let himself slide along it to the elevator. The doors pinged open immediately and Richard let himself fall inside, his feet hanging out into the hallway. Gareth pushed his feet into the lift and left him on the floor.
“What floor?” Gareth asked.
“Penthouse, baby!”
Gareth sighed, almost regretting getting Richard home safe, and pressed the ‘P’ button. When the doors opened, Richard got out his keys and crawled to his front door. Gareth kept far behind him.
The front door opened into a large hallway. The only furniture inside was a long table holding a vase, stuffed with a rainbow of flowers. Richard had managed to pull himself to his feet and walked across the hallway, straight ahead, where an archway opened up into a bright, white kitchen.
The marble counters glistened in the light and the tiled floors shone, reflecting distorted images of the men’s legs as they crossed to the sink. Richard ducked his head into the sink and drank from the tap, gulping and spilling water down his chin.
Unable to move much farther than the kitchen without risking a fall, Richard passed the breakfast bar to his left and walked through another archway. Gareth followed silently and found himself in the living room.
Everything was white, including the rugs on the floor. A large, flat-screen TV was anchored onto the wall in front of him. He looked over his shoulder, back into the kitchen, and realized that the screen was so big that he’d be able to watch TV from the breakfast bar. Richard sat on the couch, the leather creaking and groaning, as he yanked off his shoes. They dropped to the floor and bounced noiselessly along the carpet.
Richard scooted up on the couch and threw himself down, grabbing a pillow to cover his eyes from the light. Gareth looked down at the man, who was basically asleep already, and decided to help him. Leaning over the back of the couch, Gareth reached for his tie and gently pried it from his neck. When Gareth threw it onto the coffee table, he heard a quiet snore slip past Richard’s lips.
Gareth stood up straight, deciding not to bother to remove Richard’s suit jacket, and glanced at his watch. 1:45 AM. Rubbing his tired eyes, Gareth made his way to an armchair near the couch and got comfortable in it.
I’ll watch over him, make sure he doesn’t choke on his own vomit or something, Gareth thought. Within fifteen minutes, he’d gotten bored of watching Richard snore, and could feel his eyes closing and his mind drifting off to sleep. To wake himself, he abruptly pulled himself out the chair. He stretched while gazing at the white, spotless room.
The wall in front of him, shared with the kitchen, was covered in books from top to bottom. To the right of the wall was a reading corner, complete with a Queen Anne chair, footstool, and a reading light. Books had been haphazardly placed around the chair, and one was open on the seat.
Frowning, Gareth looked back to the man asleep on the couch. Saliva had dribbled out the corner of his mouth, slowly dripping down toward the leather beneath his head.
Gareth kept the page in the book with his thumb and closed it to look at the title: Of Mice and Men. No matter how hard he tried, Gareth couldn’t see Richard sitting there late at night, reading for pleasure. It seemed to him as if someone else must live in the apartment with him.
Richard the Drunk couldn’t possibly be Richard the Reader as well. After placing the book back down where he found it, Gareth moved to the front of the couch to look at the sleeping man.
The pillow slipped away from his eyes and landed with a soft flump on the floor. Grey hairs had started to grow at his temples, and the hair on the crown of his head had started to thin. Richard kept his hair cut short, making the damage from age easy to see.
Stubble and flaking skin plagued his chin and jaw, but Gareth put that down to stress and dried saliva. Richard seemed to be older than Gareth but he was still attractive. His body was thin, almost rake-like, but under his skin there was no hint of fat, only muscle and sinew.
How could such a well-educated—and well read—man allow himself to spiral down to nothing more than a raucous drunk? Gareth supposed he was judging the man too harshly, and fetched a glass of water from the kitchen. He’d been on the receiving end of a nasty hangover once or twice before and remembered the desperate thirst well. When Gareth returned, he decided to ignore his judgement.
I’ll wait until he wakes up, Gareth thought as he placed the glass of water on the coffee table, Then I’ll find out how my boss, the CEO of Statewide Properties, could end up sinking so low.
The first thing he felt was his throat. It was dry, as if he’d eaten a pound of sawdust in his sleep, and all of the muscles in his neck were tight. When he tried to speak only a rasp came out, along with a squeaky little sound that should have been words. Clutching his sore throat with his left hand, he picked up the glass of water with his right and drank deeply. He kept his eyes closed, savouring the drenching feeling until he had drained the whole glass.
“Ahhh,” Richard sighed, feeling sweet relief in his throat, and put the glass back down on the coffee table.
It was only then that he realized he didn’t remember putting the glass there. Frowning, he glanced around and noticed a figure in his peripheral vision, sitting in his armchair. After summoning the courage to look, he realized it was just the guy he’d picked up from the bar, slumped and sleeping. The man’s name escaped him, but it didn’t matter. Richard got up from the couch, the leather groaning as his body left, and almost fell over.
Omega Wanted: Bad Boy Mpreg Romance Page 19