Erin rolled over in his bed for the seventh time that night, buzzing from head to toe. Anticipation? Perhaps. But more likely due to the unfamiliar bed and the trace of Alpha still lingering in the air. He had a busy day tomorrow, both he and Annalee’s first day of school, yet he couldn’t seem to close his eyes. Every time he felt himself drifting, he would think of something else he forgot to do on Remy’s endless list of “to dos.” The man had left earlier that day, and Erin couldn’t say he was sad to see him go. He hated the way Remy scoffed at anything that he didn’t deem ‘appropriate’. Not to mention that he hadn’t even hugged Annalee since Erin moved in.

But he’s not all bad.

Remy had after all helped Erin move in, and he’d even offered him the Princess suite when Erin’s belongings wouldn’t fit in the guest bedroom.

But still…

He was cold, and unyielding majority of the time. The man was as hard and sharp as a nail, and when he wasn’t complaining, he was roaring out orders to Erin and Annalee like a drill sergeant.

A sexy drill sergeant...

Certainly, he was handsome enough. Even Erin had to admit he’d cut a fine figure in his pilot uniform earlier that day. His hair was pulled back, sleek and dark with his sideburns meticulously lined. The blue in his jacket accentuated the blue of his almond eyes, and Erin felt his cheeks flush when Remy stared at him. Just the sight of him had literally taken Erin’s breath away…

When midnight rolled around, Erin abandoned his search for sleep and decided to make himself a cup of warm milk. He slipped out of the feather down comforter and tiptoed down the hall, past Annalee’s room. After checking that she was sleeping soundly, he crept down the stairs and into the dimly lit kitchen.

Erin opened the fridge and grabbed the gallon of milk, searching for a pot to heat it in. The condo was everything that he would want in a home if he could afford it. Clean, but not sterile, and though it could use a bit more color, Erin appreciated the simplicity of the design.

“Now if I was a pot, where would I be.” He looked in the cabinet under the sink and even in the stove. He was just about to check the dishwasher when he heard someone say:

“Try checking above you.”

Erin jumped back and screamed, clutching his hand to his chest. He scooted his back toward the sink and searched for something to swing.

“Who’s there!?” Erin held the skillet at the ready.

“Stop yelling or you’re going to wake Annalee.” Erin frowned through the darkness, feeling strangely drawn to the rigid voice. The light clicked on and Remy stood in the entry wearing a wicked smirk.

“Jesus, Remy!” Erin let out a relieved breath. “Don’t sneak up on me like that!”

“My apologies.” He stepped toward Erin still dressed in his uniform. “I didn’t mean to startle you.”

“Startle is an understatement!” Erin’s heart was still racing. “You scared the holy trinity out of me!”

“That wasn’t my intention.” Remy chuckled lowly and Erin could see the tips of his heavy fangs when he did. They glistened under the beaming track lights and felt starkly primal in such a domestic kitchen.

“I was just making some warm milk.” Erin reached up on tiptoes to grab the sauce pot, but he was still an inch too short to reach it.

“Allow me.” Erin froze as he felt Remy’s muscular frame press against him. He barely needed to reach in order to unhook the sauce pot, but the shift in his weight made Erin tense. Then they were chest to chest, or more like, face to chest. Remy was nearly a foot taller than him and in this position, the contrast was clear.

“Here.” Remy offered him the handle. Erin took it from him slowly and placed it on the open range burner behind him.

“Thank you...” he muttered softly, avoiding Remy’s potent stare drilling into the side of his neck. “I umm...didn’t expect you back this early.”

“It’s 2am...” Erin’s ears heated at the husky timbre in Remy’s tone.

“Then I guess I should say so late?” Erin giggled in an attempt to calm his nerves, but it only made him more aware of Remy’s presence. As he laughed his chest heaved and he was more aware of the fact that Remy was less than an inch away from him.

“I decided to come home early,” Remy answered to his question.

“Why?” Erin’s voice cracked. “I mean, I didn’t expect you to come back so soon. Is everything okay?”

“Everything’s fine.” Remy grinned, and something clenched in the pit of Erin’s stomach. Maybe he was imagining it, but Remy felt somehow different to him...

More open.

More...raw...

It didn’t help that the Alpha’s hair was a muss of soft waves, laying gingerly on the front of his brow. True, he still wore his pilot uniform, all sleek and formal, but the buttons were undone at his collar, allowing Erin a peek at Remy’s smooth chest. His white shirt was untucked and his tie unknotted, giving Remy the air of a man caught half dressed.

And then Erin remembered his own state...

He’d slipped from the bed in his pajamas, and was currently dressed in a long night shirt and boxer briefs.

“I should get to bed,” Erin mumbled, waiting for Remy to take a step back. He didn’t. Instead, the Alpha raised his hand up to Erin’s cheek and smoothed the tendrils of hair behind Erin’s reddening ear.

“I convinced myself that I was coming home because I wanted to be here for Annalee’s first day of school...” Remy whispered.

“That...” Erin swallowed the growing lump in his throat. “Was very admirable of you-that is...” Erin let out a gasp of air as Remy’s thumb caressed his jawline. “I know she’ll appreciate that.”

“Of course. But that isn’t the reason I came back.”

“It’s not?” Erin quivered as Remy’s thumb reached his bottom lip. The Alpha shook his head slowly, and pulled down the crease of his mouth, exposing the root of Erin’s Omegan fangs.

“Then why?” Erin whispered, resisting the urge he had to bite down on Remy’s thumb.

“I thought that would be obvious.”

“If it was obvious then I wouldn’t be asking.” Erin’s jaw tightened at the arrogance laced in Remy’s words.

“Hush...stop talking for once.” Remy leaned in closer to him, oppressing the air with the perfume of Alpha musk. Erin breathed it in deliberately, and let out an involuntary whine when he exhaled.

The world seemed to still around them. Remy’s mouth hovered above his and Erin breathed out the words, “tell me.”

When their lips finally met Erin’s heart leaped and then ricochet in his chest. He stood painfully still, unable to believe what was happening.

“Is it obvious now?” Remy whispered against his lips.

“Remy...” Erin’s body finally loosened, and he wrapped his arms around Remy’s waist, pulling him closer. Remy held the bottom of his jaw firmly, sliding his tongue up, and teasing the inside of his cheek.

Oh god...

Erin’s body lit up and gooseflesh erupted over his skin. He clung to Remy’s jacket as the Alpha lifted him up by his thighs and carried him over to the kitchen island.

Oh god...

Was he doing this? He must have been because Remy’s hand steadily crept up his thigh and cupped his taut sac. Then Remy kissed him. A kiss that made his breath hitch and his mouth water. Erin flicked his tongue against Remy’s, savoring the taste of him and mingling their spit.

Remy growled low from his gut and Erin answered the Alphan call with a purr, raising his head and exposing his neck. He closed his eyes and waited for the inevitable bite, a loopy smile on his lips.

“Rin?” A soft voice called to him.

“Hmm?”

“I think it’s time to get up for school.”

“School?”

“Yes.” The voice affirmed more urgently. “The bus is going to come soon.”

“Bus?!”