In the kitchen, Markus pulled out a selection of cardboard boxes from the cupboards, a handful of fruit from the bowl and a bag of gummy candies he spotted tucked behind the bread bin. With his impressive stash tucked in his arms he crept back out, turning the light off behind him to plunge the ground floor back into darkness again. His ears were pricked the entire journey back up the stairs, listening out for any night-owls who might spot him smuggling his midnight meal-for-ten.

When he reached the top floor he dimmed the lights that had been left on and slipped back through his bedroom door, keeping the edge as close to his body as possible so as not to let in any unnecessary light.

Sam hadn’t moved even an eyelash since Markus left, he still looked like a swaddled angel. Markus released his stolen snacks onto the bed with a much louder clatter than he had been expecting, he winced and peeked over at Sam nervously, the smaller boy’s eyes cracked open and he struggled weakly against the heavy blanket on his chest.

“Easy,” Markus whispered, pulling the duvet back from Sam’s toasty skin and prying him out from the confines of the soft mattress by his armpits. “I got all kinds of fun things from the kitchen, these sweets yours? I found them hiding out behind the bread.” Once he was sat upright opposite him, Markus handed over the sweets.

“Mm, yeah,” Sam turned the brightly coloured bag over in his hands, “I didn’t even… know they did bags of just the worms,” he blinked sleepily and took a deep breath. “Charles got them for me.” Markus bristled but managed to hold his tongue, of course Charles bought him snacks, probably trying to fatten him up to eat him.

“Well, I also brought these.” He tried to draw Sam’s attention to the snacks that the vampire didn’t buy. He spread the array of cardboard boxes he had found in the cupboard in front of him for the omega’s perusal. Sam blinked up at him, then back down at the selection.

“Sir, that’s kraft mac and cheese.” He held up the nearest box in the dim light, presumably to confirm his diagnosis and then placed it to one side.

“Yeah?” Mac and cheese was edible, Markus thought, what’s the problem? Sam began to laugh quietly, then louder and louder until he almost knocked himself over in his hilarity. Markus steadied him, perhaps he was delirious, he thought. “What’s so funny?” Markus asked. Sam shook his head and took the next item in the line-up.

“This is a three-year-old gingerbread house kit,” He piled the second box onto the mac and cheese, “and this is… I think a selection of seasoning packets?” he added another box to the tower, he laughed to himself again as he inspected the fourth box, it was bordering on a cackle now. “And baking soda.” He put this box aside as well. Markus was beginning to feel rather offended, his mate was laughing at him, at his attempts to do something helpful.

“So, none of those are any good?”

“Not as a midnight snack, sir.”

“I brought fruit too.” He offered grumpily. Sam gave a soft smile in return and he felt his defences crumbling. He slid a banana, apple and tangerine across the blanket, muttering, “Healthier than candies.” as he did so.

“Thank you, sir.”

“No worries.” Markus suddenly felt incredibly awkward, he looked away as Sam bit into the apple. “It’s my fault anyway.” He fidgeted with the blanket under them, refusing to look at Sam as he made his admission, alphas found it painfully hard to apologise but especially to those in lower ranks… He could tell Sam had slowed his movements without looking directly at him, probably bewildered by his words… “Which is why…” He had to fight a groan, for a moment he genuinely didn’t know if he would get the words out. “I feel I… owe you an apology?” It came out like a question but Sam didn’t answer it, he seemed to be frozen solid. “I mean, I do.” Markus managed to drag his eyes to meet Sam’s, who looked like he had just spotted an alien somewhere over Markus’ shoulder. “Sam?” He whispered.

“Yes, sir?”

“I’m sorry.”

“Yes, sir.” Sam mumbled, although he didn’t look as though he had understood the two hardest words Markus had ever had to say.

“Don’t call me sir.” Markus took the side of his face in one hand, “Just for tonight, please don’t call me that.”

“Okay, sir.” He spluttered.

Markus forced a smile,“Eat, you need your strength.” he pushed the hand holding his forgotten fruit back to his mouth and the smaller boy took a much more reserved bite than he had previously, chewing slowly. A heavy silence fell between them.

Once Sam had finished all of the fruit (at Markus’ insistence) he was plopped back under the covers again.

“It’s the middle of the night, you need more sleep.” Markus murmured, pulling the blankets up.

“You too, sir.” Sam reached out for him, his small hand grasping for Markus’, and the alpha’s heart squeezed. He pulled the blankets up and joined his mate underneath, taking him by the waist and pulling him close, resting one hand on Sam’s ass and another around his lower back. There was something about that space, under the covers together, and that moment, in the dead of night where no one could hear or see them, they would be undisturbed for hours, it brought over a warm feeling that spread through Markus’ entire body. Sam was his to be one with, at least for tonight.

He tilted his head and pressed his lips against Sam’s temple as the starting line for a trail of kisses, he kissed him gently and quietly all along his forehead, cheek, chin, pretending he was chasing all the faint freckles that speckled his mate’s face. He turned them over, rolling on top and pushing himself up so as not to squash the smaller boy, and finally kissed his lips, soft and plump. Sam laid still, watching him cautiously.

His hands slid over the sheet beneath them and along to the hem of Sam’s top, his fingers darted under the material without hesitation, finding the warm skin of his flat stomach and brushing along his hips with his fingertips.

He paused suddenly,“Can I touch you?” he asked.

“You already are.” Sam whispered, he didn’t sound perturbed but Markus knew omegas weren’t exactly allowed to express annoyance like most would.

“More?” He pressed, holding his hands still until Sam gave a small nod, barely susceptible in the darkness. He pulled the shirt up and over Sam’s head, ruffling his already messy hair. He lowered his head to Sam’s navel and kissed at the skin, working his way up the centre of his stomach and following with his hands along his sides, Sam shivered a little under his touch.

He licked at the tip of his right nipple and Sam jerked a little. The reaction fed his need to touch, to taste,Markus latched on to the bud and sucked softly at it, Sam keened beneath him, lifting himself just a little. His tongue seemed to guide him with its own path in mind, round and round the small pink nub, gliding across his pale chest to the other nipple, already hard and waiting. Sam whimpered, quickly covering his mouth with his hands but Markus had already heard and it hit something inside of him, a sweet spot, an itch deep in his core that could only be scratched by his mate’s adorable submissive voice.

He continued to switch back and forth, giving both nipples equal attention from his mouth and tongue, sucking harshly when Sam moaned and shook beneath him, rewarding the sensuous sounds and movements.

The small shivers and trembles that ran over Sam’s skin were addictive, every twitch Markus could illicit from his teeny body sent a wave of arousal through him, there was something about being the one to cause those reactions that set him aflame. The only one to make him feel this way, to make his body quiver under his touch. With Sam’s nipples and his heart rate raised, Markus slid his body down lower to concentrate on a very different part of his mate’s body, one he had much less experience with. The blanket was shuffled down with him, baring Sam’s skin to the air.

He slipped Sam’s jeans off, tugging them hard around the knees as they bunched up, it seemed these were not meant to be worn by someone of his size, Markus wondered where he got his clothes from, he had never seen Sam out on their large group shopping trips. When his skinny legs were finally free, Markus parted them gently. Sam had an expression of mild alarm but Markus continued, determined to convince him he meant no harm. He ran his fingers around the bulge in his tight boxers, it seemed his mate was already half-hard just from having his nipples played with. Sam gasped softly beneath his hands and Markus took a moment to look into his eyes, make sure he was still okay to continue. Sam stared back. He grasped Sam in one hand, squeezing gently, and began to stroke him through his underwear. As he rubbed at the sensitive organ, Sam’s legs spread further and further, blossoming like a flower in the spring.

“Mmmm…” Sam mumbled behind his hands, Markus couldn’t be sure if it was a moan or if he was actually trying to say something but he seemed to be enjoying the stimulation well enough, so he continued, stroking and squeezing until his dick was straining at the boxers furiously.

Markus froze. He had never touched his mate’s naked penis before, he had ground against him that time in the office and Goddess knows Sam had given him a fair few hand and blow jobs, but Markus had never reciprocated… He knew he was afraid of showing affection, afraid of what people would think, afraid of hurting his mate more if he pulled away later, afraid of being like this for the rest of his life. Alone despite living in a pack house full of his brethren. He steeled himself, this wasn’t about him, it was about Sam, and pulled the boxers down. He dragged the, all the way to Sam’s ankles and discarded them off the side of the bed.

Normally, Markus didn’t know what he would do if it was anyone else’s junk in his face, he had known he was attracted to males since he was a kid but he had never had to actually interact with another dude’s genitals. Now he was face-to-face with Sam’s cock it seemed utterly natural, he wanted nothing more in that moment than to pleasure his mate.

He ducked his head and took the tip into his mouth. Sam’s body jerked inwards and their eyes locked again, this time his expression wasn’t just mild alarm, it was utter shock. Markus stretched a hand forward to push his chest back down as he sucked more in, his tongue stroking hesitantly at the sides as he gained his bearings. Sam allowed himself to be pressed back into the mattress although his face still conveyed his surprise very clearly.

As Markus began to get the hang of swirling his tongue around the hot flesh he leant forward, pulling another inch into his mouth.

“Aaah! S-sir!” Sam moaned through his fingers.

Markus pulled his lips away to murmur, “Don’t call me sir, say my name.” before clasping his mouth around Sam’s cock again, dragging his tongue in circles over it. Sam cried out again but this time it was wordless, a pleasured moan. Markus sucked harder, pushing himself to take almost all of it and using his tongue like the muscle it was, working it over every inch of his mate, drawing pants and whimpers from the smaller boy.

“Ah! Aaah!” Sam’s legs flattened themselves either side of him and his hips lifted slightly, encouraging Markus to keep giving his all, sucking like his life depended on it. “Oh… Oh God!” Sam clamped his little palms over his mouth again, squeezing at his own cheeks hard enough to leave nail dents but Markus wouldn’t ease up, he continued to suck, lick and tongue fuck until his jaw ached dully.

When Sam threw his head back and his legs became rigid, Markus knew he was there. The alpha was torn between wanting to watch him orgasm and wanting to give all his attention to the task he was still performing. He strained his eyes trying to stare up at him but continued to pull on him with his tight lips and the sight was glorious. Sam’s ragged breaths built and built, his brows pulled together and his light stomach muscles flexed. His hands finally dropped from his face to grip the pillows as he came, shooting into Markus’ mouth in hot spurts.

“M-” Sam moaned. Yes, Markus thought, please, say my name. “Markus!” Sam gasped, his eyes flying open and his hips jerking to push his cock further into Markus’ mouth. That sweet voice, calling his name… He knew the sound would be haunting his wet dreams for a long time to come…

When the initial shock wore off his limbs unclenched, turning into limp noodles. He pushed himself up on trembling arms. Markus released him gently, pulling his lips closed over the tip which caused a shiver to run through his mate - something he greatly enjoyed watching.

“You okay?” He whispered, lifting his hand to brush a few stray hairs from Sam’s sweaty forehead.

“Y-yeah.” Sam mumbled. Markus swiped his boxers from the floor and handed them back.

“I think it’s definitely bedtime now.” He waited for Sam to pull on his underwear, then stripped off his own clothes down to his boxers and pulled the covers over them, wrapping Sam up in his arms and pressing their naked chests together.

Sam’s heartbeat lulled him into a peaceful sleep.