Steam rolled off them as they reached the top of the stairs, wet clothes rapidly cooling over their skin. A shiver ran down Oliver’s spine, having the alpha at his back, but he busied himself with unlocking the door in the most tipsily cack-handed way possible.
“I’ll get you a towel,” he said, finally turning the key and pushing it open. Lucas followed, hovering in the kitchen like a giant shadow as the dark shape of him was silhouetted in the dim light. He took off his dripping jacket, hanging it over the back of the chair as Oliver went to get a towel. “Here,” he said,throwing it over Lucas’ head. The alpha chuckled as he pulled it down, drying his hair and ruffling it in a most delightful manner.
“I’m gonna change,” he said, slipping off his shoes and padding to the bedroom.
Shutting the door, he stripped off his clothes and threw them into the laundry basket. He glanced at himself in the full-body mirror, sighing with relief to see that his omega-induced erection had subsided. Then he thought about how Lucas’ body must have reacted, then thought about—stop thinking about Lucas’ cock.Fucking pervert.
He heard mumbling from the kitchen, so quickly pulled on a pair of tartan pyjama bottoms and a white crew neck t-shirt. Traipsing through the hallway, he found Lucas staring concernedly at a shrivelled potted plant on the windowsill.
“Christ, Reed. Your cat-grass is in a sorry state. Don’t you ever water it?”
Oliver frowned, folding his arms. “My what?”
“Cat-grass,” he repeated, pointing at the pot. “It’s the easiest plant in the world to look after.”
“Oh, is that what it is? Yeah, Nancy gave it to me for Christmas. Said something about it attracting more pussy to my flat.”
Lucas barked out a laugh, eyes dragging over the tartan pyjamas as he turned to face him. Something about seeing the alpha standing in his kitchen—shoulders relaxed, brows very much un-furrowed—sent a thrill of nervous anticipation through Oliver’s chest. The taxi had gone, and they were very much alone.
Clearing his throat, he said, “Isn’t Sashamissing you?”
Lucas shook his head and took a seat at the kitchen table. “Not one bit. She’s having an extended sleepover at my sister’s house. Being spoiled rotten by the sounds of it.”
Oliver nodded, shuffling to the drinks cabinet to withdraw two glass tumblers and a bottle of spiced rum. Placing the glasses on the kitchen table, he poured the two of them a drink. It was probably a terrible idea to carry on drinking, but something needed to kill the butterflies flapping about in his stomach.
“Your sister?”
Lucas nodded, tapping the rim of his glass before taking a sip. “Aliya. She’s an accountant in London.”
Oliver let out an appreciative hum. “Wow, a family of high flyers. Jewellers, accountants, police sergeants.”
Lucas nodded and gave a small smile. “Not bad for two omegas that met in the slums of Favela.”
Oliver coughed into his glass, sending the rum flying up his nose. He spluttered, wiping his mouth on the back of his hand.
“Two… omegas? That’s incredible. And rare, you and your sister must be… what? One in a million?” Lucas raised his eyebrows, his tongue darting out to touch the side of his mouth. “Oh God.Oh God, sorry Lucas, that was so fucking insensitive of me,” he said, words coming out in a garble.
Shit, maybe the rum was a bad idea.
Grinning, Lucas held up a hand. “Calm down Reed, before you spontaneously combust. You’re not wrong, it is pretty rare. Aliya and I were conceived through IVF.”
Oliver nodded rapidly. “And did the lab accidentally swap out the sample for giant sperm? Because that would explain a lot.”
Lucas huffed out another laugh as Oliver withered in his chair, hands concealing the blush illuminating his cheeks. He was never,ever, mixing rum and wine again. Leaning across the table, Lucas pried Oliver’s hands away from his face, fingers brushing over his knuckles.
“You know, Reed… in the three days that I’ve known you, I don’t think I’ve ever laughed so much.”
Oliver groaned, drawing his pyjama-clad legs up to his chest, and peering at Lucas like a fucking child. “I’m glad you find my idiocy amusing,” he mumbled.
“That’s not what I meant.” Lucas reached forward to brush a stray hair out of Oliver’s eyes. “What I should have said is—I am very glad to have met you.”
They gazed at one another for a long moment, the unyielding warmth of Lucas’ eyes tugging at the aching place in Oliver’s heart. He’d felt it once before, only to have it ripped away because someone decided he wasn’t enough. It left a crater in his chest, one that had laid dormant and ignored for six years. He couldn’t do that again. Not now,not ever. So, instead of acknowledging the comment, he pulled his hand away and rose to his feet.
“Fancy a brew whilst you wait for the rain to stop?” He turned his back on the alpha.
There was a pause, then, “I take my tea black.”
Wrinkling his nose, Oliver flicked on the kettle. “Black?Black? Who the hell drinks black tea?” He scoffed, turning to look at Lucas. “I knew you were a degenerate.”
