Chapter Text
Alleria has slept with a few different rutting Alphas before, and it’s always been… unpleasant. They’re grabby, possessive, annoying, selfish, they whine when she’s too tired to fuck and they fall asleep once they cum. They don’t put any effort into making her feel safe, and as a result she has to spend the entirety of the cycle within her nest just to counteract the blanket paranoia that comes with being an Omega with an untreated anxiety disorder.
This is not that. This is nothing like that.
The smell of butter and cheese wafts through the air as Xal’atath, wearing just a shirt ‒ a shirt that happens to belong to Alleria, she can’t help but purr in satisfaction every time she thinks about it ‒ makes them breakfast. She’s been acquainted with Xal’s cooking, the Alpha had made an absolutely delicious pasta dish for dinner the previous night, but it’s still so hard to believe, that Xal’atath Inanis is cooking for her. Panic and fear claw at her throat as she remembers that this glorious oasis is quickly fading, that they’re already three days into what’s going to be, if she’s lucky, maybe a week of Xal’atath, and after that she’s gone, it’s over, and Alleria never gets this again. And that’s assuming that she doesn’t do something to scare the Alpha off first. This is fine, she tells herself. She is alright. And she looks at Xal’atath, because it’s always easier to convince herself that she’s okay when she’s looking at Xal’atath.
“Concorde, I miss you, don’t text me till winter.” Xal’atath has hijacked Alleria’s speakers, claiming that the one making the food is the one who gets to pick the music. Alleria’s not exactly sure if that’s how it works, but it means that she gets to watch Xal’atath sing along to her favorite album, and that’s good enough for her. “I can hardly afford a second summer of splinters. This staircase it leads only to, some old pictures of you, through a thousand mile long tube. What’s a city boy to do?”
Alleria kicks her feet. She’s sitting on the counter, leaning back against the cupboards, wearing sweatpants and a loose t-shirt ‒ she wishes she could say that it’s Xal’s, but the only clothes of Xal currently in the apartment are her work clothes, and those aren’t really ‘lazy morning grilled cheese and makeout session’ material. Which isn’t to say she hasn’t already stolen them and hidden them in her closet under a stack of boardgames. Xal’atath hates boardgames. It’s the perfect crime. “It’s very morose. I can see why you like it.”
Xal’atath hums. “People always say there’s beauty in tragedy, but I prefer it the other way around. There’s tragedy in beauty. We’re not meant to look at perfection, because we can’t help but compare ourselves, find ourselves wanting.”
Alleria gazes at Xal’atath’s neckline, one shoulder poking out of her shirt, soft skin on display. Her mouth is dry and she is certainly finding herself wanting. “That’s rich, coming from you.”
Xal’atath looks up at her, brows furrowed. “Hmm?”
“I mean, look at you.” Alleria gestures at Xal, gestures at her hair and her lips and her fit body. “You’re tall and beautiful and attractive and you know how to cook and you have your whole life together. And you’re a much better lawyer than me. I don’t…” Alleria shrugs. “If there’s a perfect human, it’s probably you.”
Xal’atath sets down the spatula and comes to press herself into Alleria, slotting in between her thighs and resting her hands on Alleria’s waist. “Alleria,” she says dryly. “I was talking about you. You are the perfection that I compare myself to.”
Alleria wrinkles her nose. “I think you need to get your eyes checked. Or maybe read up on the definition of perfection.”
“I could say the same to you,” Xal’atath counters. Her warm hands slip underneath Alleria’s shirt, rubbing soothing patterns into her back, soft and affectionate and entirely too domestic for Alleria’s tastes. She doesn’t want to know what Xal’atath looks like when she’s being domestic. She knows she’ll never be able to forget it. “First of all, you’re far sexier than I am. No, don’t protest, it’s true. And you’re twice as smart as I am, Alleria, you just can’t see it because you’re too wrapped up in criticizing every tiny mistake you make. And…” Xal’atath sighs, smiling wistfully. “You’re a good person, Alleria. A much better one than me. It’s, quite honestly, surprising, that you see fit to deign me with your presence. I’d have expected you to despise me, what with my laissez-faire attitude to the rules, my petty dislike of practically everyone I meet ‒ besides for you, of course.”
“I did despise you,” Alleria admits. “I hate… I hated how much you compliment me. It felt like you were just making fun of me, like you were just rubbing it in that I’d… because you were so hot, I’ve been ridiculously attracted to you this entire time, y’know?” More than attracted, in love, but Xal doesn’t need to know that. Whatever this is, this vague friendship or fuckbuddy relationship, it’s better than what she’ll have if she slips up and tells Xal. She can imagine it now, the pity, the I’m sorry, Alleria, I don’t see you that way, and it makes her a little bit clammy. “So I thought you knew, and you were teasing me. Dangling yourself in front of me because we both knew you’d never actually talk to me, let alone fuck me.”
Xal’atath blinks. “I ‒ what? You can’t be serious. This whole time, you’ve thought I was teasing?”
“Well.” Alleria smiles weakly. “Can you blame me? What’s the alternative? That Xal’atath Inanis, the most beautiful woman I’ve ever met, wants to talk to me?”
“Yes,” Xal’atath says instantly. “Yes, Alleria, of course I want to talk to you, are you daft? I’ve literally been inside you.”
“I know that now,” Alleria protests, and it’s almost true. She was pretty sure, before this conversation, but the confirmation is nice. She wonders if it means she’ll get to keep talking to Xal after this is all over, and then quickly shoves that thought deep in her box full of thoughts she is not going to think about.
Xal’atath looks at her, and then she leans in and presses a soft, indulgent kiss to Allera’s lips. It’s not the kind of kiss that someone gives to a fuckbuddy, or a cycle-partner, and Alleria is terrified of what that could mean. She won’t get her hopes up. She can’t get her hopes up. The inevitable rejection will kill her, literally kill her, the grief stopping her heart and powering down her lungs. She still kisses back, though. She doesn’t think she’ll ever be able to not kiss back. “I’m sorry,” Xal murmurs, “if I’ve been making you uncomfortable. I just… I assumed you hated me. I was trying to… God, this makes me sound like such a dumbass. I was trying to win you over. I thought if I kept at it, maybe you’d let me in.”
“Why?” Alleria thinks she might be about to cry, and she swallows it down furiously. “Why work that hard? I’m not worth it, Xal.”
“I don’t know how you ever came to that conclusion,” Xal’atath whispers, “I don’t know if you were born with it or if you’ve been hurt enough times to make you believe it, but you are wrong, Alleria. You are the most worth it person I have ever met in my entire goddamn life. These last three days have been the best of my life.”
Then stay, Alleria wants to say, almost says. Then let’s keep it going, let’s run it back again and again. Let’s be together forever and mate and have a dozen pups and buy a house (let’s be honest, rent) and spend every night making love to each other for the rest of time. “The food’s gonna burn.”
“Say it,” Xal’atath demands. “Say: I, Alleria Windrunner, am worthy of affection.”
“I, Alleria Windrunner, would really rather not eat burnt grilled cheese, so‒”
“I’m not flipping them until you say it,” Xal’atath warns. “Do you really want to play this game?”
“A little bit, yeah,” Alleria replies, but her stomach is growling and the sandwiches do smell pretty damn good, so she sighs and flicks her gaze up at the ceiling. “I, Alleria Windrunner, am worthy of affection.”
“Good girl,” Xal’atath says proudly, and if Alleria’s heart flops awkwardly in her chest, that’s really nobody’s business but hers.
(The sandwiches are not burnt. Thankfully.)
<OOO>
“Xal,” Alleria pants against her Alpha’s lips, “Xal, fuck, you’re so goddamn hot, baby, you’re so fucking absurdly hot ‒ right there, please‒”
“Alleria,” Xal’atath growls, craning down to nip at Alleria’s neck. She has her Omega pressed up against the wall of the kitchen, breakfast half-finished and forgotten, and her leg is slotted between Alleria’s thighs as she runs her hands up and down Alleria’s body, yanking her shirt up and off her body so that she can lean down and take one of Alleria’s plump breasts into her mouth. Alleria keens, grinding down desperately onto Xal’atath’s thigh, and Xal’atath feels like she’s going fucking feral. “Fuck, baby, I need you so bad.”
“Fucking hell, please, yes‒” Alleria breaks off into a moan as Xal’atath swipes her tongue across a dusky nipple, and her hands scramble for Xal’s cock, already achingly hard. “Please, Xal, need you, need you to fuck me now.”
Xal’atath groans with pleasure, lifting Alleria up by her hips, rocking forward as Alleria frantically lines the Alpha’s cock up with her sopping cunt, pressing in, and, oh, she’ll never get used to this, to the mind-shattering warmth, the spongy, velvety heat, like nothing else matters, besides for her, besides for Alleria. “Right here, baby? You want me to fuck you against the wall like a goddamn animal?”
“Xal,” Alleria moans, eyes fluttering shut as Xal’atath begins to thrust ‒ the angle is awkward, and she can only really get the first few inches inside, but it’s still so fucking wonderful. “Fucking ‒ God, that’s so goddamn hot, Xal, yes, please, fucking ‒ ruin me‒”
“You drive me wild,” Xal’atath husks, sucking red-hot marks into the pale skin of Alleria’s neck. It’s not a mating bite, but it’s still a mark, and it makes her inner Alpha roar with delight, a delight that usually she would scold herself for ‒ but here? now? it’s all she can do not to truly bite down. “You’re so goddamn pretty when you beg for me, darling, I can’t get enough of you ‒ you drive me wild.”
“Xal,” Alleria whimpers, rolling her hips to try to meet every clumsy thrust. “Xal, that’s so fucking hot, oh my God.”
“You like that, baby? You like knowing how fucking hot and bothered you get me?” Xal’atath licks her lips, and a part of her knows this might be a bad idea, but she’s literally inside Alleria right now, it should be fine. “Do you know how long I’ve wanted to fuck you, Alleria?”
“Um ‒ I ‒ maybe a f-few… weeks? Months?” Alleria moans eagerly as Xal’atath’s fingers dig possessively into the soft flesh of her thighs. “I don’t ‒ I don’t…”
“Years,” Xal’atath growls. “Fucking years, Alleria. Every time I saw you around the office, in those gorgeous fucking suits of yours, I just wanted to strip you naked and fuck you against every desk, every couch, every door.”
“Xal,” Alleria whines, her cheeks flushed as she sucks in breath after needy breath, her chest heaving, breasts bouncing with every thrust. “Xal, fucking, please, oh, you ‒ you could’ve, I would’ve… would’ve let you‒”
“Oh, you would’ve let me? Be honest, Alleria,” Xal’atath murmurs sweetly. “You would’ve fucking begged me for it. You would have done anything to feel me inside you.”
“Xal, that’s so fucking hot,” Alleria whimpers, and Xal’atath growls as she suddenly decides that this is nowhere near enough. Alleria’s yelp is as adorable as it is sexy as Xal’atath pulls back, flipping her around and bending her over the counter, savoring the way her breasts mush up against the cool marble of the countertop. “Yes,” Alleria rasps, “yes, fuck, like ‒ yes‒”
Xal’atath can’t help but groan as the new angle lets her hilt herself all the way in, knot-deep in Alleria Windrunner once more, and she leans over, one hand on Alleria’s lower back to steady her, the other fisting in Alleria’s hair as she ruts wildly into her Omega. “You want me like this, darling? Bending you over and reaming you out? This gets you wet, baby?”
“So ‒ so fucking hot, feels so good,” Alleria pants. Her cunt is hot and velvety and tight and every drag of her walls against Xal’atath’s cock feels like heaven condensed. “You’re making me feel so good, taking such ‒ such good care of me, Xal, it’s ‒ please?”
Xal’atath swallows, closing her eyes and trying to stave off the building ache in her knot. “Say that again,” she rasps. “Say ‒ say that again.”
“You’re taking such good care of me,” Alleria whimpers, and, oh, how Xal’atath has yearned for those words. She’s doing a good job, she’s being good for Alleria, it’s so wonderful, and more than that the submission, the willing eagerness, this beautiful, spectacular, wonderful creature wants her, wants Xal’atath ‒ she trusts Xal’atath, she fucking trusts her. “Wanna ‒ wanna cum, Xal, please, please can I ‒ please can I‒”
“If I said no,” Xal’atath asks quietly, knowing and loving the answer, “what would you do? Would you listen to me? Would you obey?”
“Yes,” Alleria whispers, and by her voice, by her hushed and reverent tones, Xal’atath can tell she’s not lying. “Yes, Xal, I’d do anything.”
“Cum for me,” Xal’atath demands, or maybe begs. “Cum for me, Alleria, like the good little girl you are ‒ cum for me and moan my goddamn name when you do it.”
“Xal,” Alleria sobs, her folds fluttering rapidly as she cums around Xal’atath’s cock, and Xal’atath follows with a growl, slipping her knot in with a glorious pop and rutting desperately into that welcoming heat, flooding Alleria’s cunt with sticky warmth. For a long, long moment the only sounds are their ragged breathing, until eventually Alleria, her voice muffled against the countertop, speaks. “Thank you,” she breathes, sounding utterly fucked out, and Xal’atath can’t get enough. “Fucking ‒ thank you, oh my God, that was so fucking hot ‒ I, uh, I don’t know if I can ‒ if I can move‒”
“That’s alright, baby,” Xal’atath murmurs, pressing soft kisses into the nape of Alleria’s neck, affectionately running her hands across her Omega’s back, her thighs, her waist. “We can stay here for a little while, darling, if you’d like, and then I can carry you to your nest and we can go again. Does that sound nice?”
“I ‒ yeah,” Alleria murmurs. “Yeah, Xal. That sounds nice.”
<<<>>>
“This is my favorite scene,” Xal’atath murmurs. They’re cuddling on the couch, lying on their sides, Alleria’s back pressed into Xal’atath, Xal’atath’s arm curled protectively around Alleria’s waist. The lights are off, their faces illuminated only by the soft light of the television. There’s a bowl of popcorn on the floor; occasionally Xal’atath reaches down to snag a handful or two. “It’s so romantic.”
“Buttercup isn’t even in this scene,” Alleria says. She’s chosen a blanket from her nest, the one that smells the least like Xal, to drape over the two of them; she’s trying to circle around, get every blanket and sheet infused with Xal’s scent, before her heat ends. “Unless you mean you’re rooting for Westley and Inigo to get together?”
“No, no,” Xal’atath laughs. “Although I suppose that would be fun to watch as well. No, it’s just… the idea of loving so much you’ll fight to the death for them… I’d kill to have someone like that. Er, pun unintended. Someone who I can call my own, someone who would let me move mountains for them. Or climb them, in this case, I suppose.”
Alleria hums. Onscreen, Inigo admits that he is not left handed, and Alleria wonders how spectacularly it would fuck everything up to tell Xal’atath that she can be that someone. “That’s just being an Alpha, though, isn’t it?”
“Ehh… sort of?” Xal’atath shrugs, and the gentle movement reminds Alleria of how close they are. She would tell herself not to take it for granted, but she thinks that this is impossible to take for granted: Xal’atath’s warm, soft body pressing into hers, her arm around Alleria’s waist, her nose in Alleria’s scalp. “It might very well be because I’m an Alpha, but maybe not. There are plenty of Alphas who don’t care about their mate’s pleasure.”
“What’s it like?” Alleria asks. “To be an Alpha? I’ve always been curious.”
“It’s normal,” Xal’atath replies. “I don’t know. Women are beautiful, specifically Omega women. Not that there aren’t attractive Alphas, and not that I can’t appreciate them, but that’s just never been my cup of tea. It’s uncomfortable for me to be in a room that smells heavily of another Alpha, although obviously I’m very much able to ignore it.”
“When I…” Alleria swallows. Westley has just barely reached Fezzik by now. “When this all started, in my office‒”
“Your closet,” Xal’atath interrupts. “Your adorable little baby office-closet.”
“In my office,” Alleria continues. “When I asked you to leave, you left, even though I was in heat. Most Alphas would have stayed and insisted that they could help. I never properly thanked you for that.”
“And you won’t.” Xal’atath presses a kiss into Alleria’s wavy hair. “If we start thanking each other for the bare minimum of not being a horrible person, we’ll be here all day. Actually, nevermind. Alleria, thank you so much for not grabbing the steering wheel as I was driving us here and careening the car into a streetlamp. I know that was very difficult for you.”
“You’re such an asshole,” Alleria says happily. “But seriously, Xal. You make me feel really, really safe. That’s what it’s like, for me, being an Omega. It feels like I’m always on edge, like someone’s always out to get me, like there’s going to be a trap around every corner. Like I can never relax. But these last few days… I’ve never felt so secure in my life. The only thing I’m worried about is‒” Alleria realises what she was about to say and quickly slams her mouth shut.
“Alleria?” Xal’atath waits a few seconds for her to answer. She doesn’t. On screen, Westley is beginning his confrontation with Vezinni. “Alleria, what were you going to say? The only thing you’re worried about is…”
Alleria closes her eyes and mentally kicks herself. Xal’atath is like a dog with a bone, she’ll never let this go. “Just… just that you’ll leave,” Alleria admits. She could have just told Xal to drop it, yeah, but it’s not overly revealing, at least not compared to what she’s said already. “And I’ll have to go back to being alone for the rest of my heat.” Of her life. “And it’ll be even worse, because now I know what it’s like to spend my heat with an Alpha who actually cares about me, so my body will know exactly what it’s missing, and it’ll just…” Alleria shivers. “It’ll be bad.”
“Alleria,” Xal’atath murmurs. “You do know I would never do that, right? I am overjoyed to be here with you. Over the fucking moon. You don’t have to worry about me leaving, I promise. It’s simply not going to happen.”
Don’t rock the boat. Don’t rock the boat. “Do you think…” Goddamnit, Alleria, do not rock the boat. “Do you think maybe we could do this again, then? Next time I have my heat?”
“I’m offended that you even think you have to ask,” Xal’atath responds. “Of course, Alleria. And the invitation extends to you too, of course. If I go into my rut again, you’re welcome to swing by. No pressure, of course, I would never make you do anything you didn’t want to do. It’s just… I’m available, Alleria. If and when you need me.”
“That sounds nice,” Alleria admits. The boat has been successfully rocked, and she remains dry. Metaphorically, that is. Physically she’s been soaking wet this entire conversation. It’s not her fault that Xal’atath is warm and close and that she smells nice and that Alleria can feel her cock against Alleria’s thighs. Perhaps cuddling naked isn’t the best way to ensure that Alleria’s attention remains on the movie, but she’s certainly not complaining. And, besides, she’d probably get distracted anyway. Xal’atath is very distracting, she’s finding. “I wouldn’t want to take up too much of your time, though. I feel horrible that I’m making you deal with me this much already.”
“Not to me,” Xal’atath says. “Not if it’s you.”
Alleria is silent for a moment. “I resent the fact that that line is kind of sort of working on me.”
“Your honor, I rest my case,” Xal’atath says proudly. “Ooh! We should do courtroom roleplay!”
“Absolutely not. That sounds fucking horrible. I would literally rather quit my job than do courtroom roleplay.”
“You could be the judge,” Xal offers. “And I’m trying to bribe you into giving my client a lenient sentence.”
Alleria giggles, choosing to forsake the movie in favor of turning around so she’s face to face ‒ face to chest, rather ‒ with her Alpha. “Do I get a gavel? I’m only doing it if I get a gavel.”
“Gavels can be arranged.” Xal sighs contentedly, tugging Alleria close against her. Softly, she murmurs, “I mean it, Alleria. I’m really, really happy to be here with you. I’ve wanted this for… for longer than I care to admit, honestly. I’d lost faith that I’d ever actually get it.”
“I’m happy too, Xal.” Alleria scoots up slightly, enough so that she can press a soft kiss to Xal’atath’s lips, and it’s not ‒ it’s not sexual, not at all. Xal’atath cards her hand through Alleria’s hair and kisses Alleria on the tip of her nose and as Alleria settles back in, lulled to sleep by the steady sound of Xal’s heartbeat and by the familiar noise of her favorite movie, she thinks that maybe she doesn’t need to be Xal’atath’s mate, if being her cycle partner is this nice.
<OOO>
Xal’atath thinks she might genuinely die of a broken heart if she doesn’t get to be Alleria’s mate.
An overreaction, sure. But then again, is it? Is it really? The movie is still playing in the background, they’re storming the castle, and Xal’atath’s beautiful Omega is snoozing, head buried in Xal’s chest, tucked comfortably into her Alpha as she snores softly. Xal’atath feels physical pain at the sight, she loves Alleria so much it hurts. She licks her lips, trying to calm her roaring urges. Alleria wants a repeat. Every six to twelve months, she’ll get this. That’s enough. That’s enough, Xal’atath, you greedy little whore, that’s more than enough, you get what you get and you don’t get upset.
Xal’atath is upset, because she’s not the best at doing what she’s supposed to be doing. Before this, if she’d been given the opportunity to spend an entire week cuddling and fucking and pampering Alleria, she’d have asked who she had to kill to make it happen. And that hasn’t changed, not at all, but she also thinks that maybe this could be the worst thing to ever happen to her. She doesn’t know how to go back, is all. She can’t imagine sitting next to Alleria in a meeting without flooding the room with her scent, she can’t imagine having a conversation with Alleria that doesn’t involve at least a few kisses. She can’t imagine pretending like she’s not desperately in love with Alleria Windrunner. And she could just tell her, she knows she could, but for the first time in her entire life she’s petrified of the possible rejection. It’s not like she’s been subtle, not before and certainly not now. If Alleria wanted her, she would have said something by now. Except, the nagging, insipid little voice in her brain says, except, you want her, and you haven’t said anything either. But she can’t. She can’t be selfish, she can’t intrude on Alleria’s boundaries. The Omega deserves a cycle partner who won’t pester her with unrequited feelings. Maybe, Xal’atath thinks, maybe, after this is over, she’ll say something. Keep it casual. Ask her out for a coffee, or maybe a movie, anything except announce her undying love for the beautiful woman and immediately whisk her away to her nest for a month straight of marathon love making. She wonders, incredibly briefly, if Alleria would ever want pups, and then immediately shuts that thought down. No good will come from that.
Although.
Alleria would be such a great mom. She has an unbelievable work ethic, a heart of gold, a strong backbone when it’s necessary, a quiet warmth when it’s not. And they’d have her last name, definitely. Hell, Xal would probably change her own last name to Windrunner, if Alleria was okay with it. The thought of something as foundational as her name being dedicated to Alleria, of the most basic fact of her personhood being a glimmering mating bite, proudly showing off that she belongs to Alleria… She’s getting ahead of herself, she knows she is. She needs to stop. But she doesn’t know how, and even if she did she doesn’t think she’d want to anyhow. What would that look like, being hopelessly, secretly in love with Alleria for the rest of her life? If it looks anything like this, cuddling naked on Alleria’s couch as the Omega dozes in Xal’s arms, then maybe that’s enough. Maybe she can convince herself it’s enough. It’s a pretty fucking big maybe.
The movie draws to a close, and Xal moves to turn the television off, but the instant she even begins to sit up Alleria is whining and tugging her closer. “No,” she murmurs, voice thick with sleep. “Don’t go.”
“I just have to grab the remote from the other side of the couch,” Xal’atath whispers. “Then I’ll be right back and we can cuddle as long as you’d like.”
Alleria peers up at her, blinking her gorgeous blue eyes. “Promise?”
Oh, this girl is going to kill her. “Promise,” Xal’atath tells her, pressing a soft kiss to her pouting lips. “I’ll never leave you, Alleria, not in a million years.”
“Yay,” Alleria mumbles, licking her lips drowsily as Xal’atath sits up and snatches the remote from the far arm of the couch. With the T.V. off, the room is dark, and Xal’atath eagerly lies back down, drawing the blanket up by her neck and tugging Alleria close against her. She doesn’t think she’s ever been so happy in her life.
<OOO>
“I feel a little bit bad,” Alleria says. They’re sitting at the kitchen table, a rickety little beast that wobbles more than Alleria trying to stand after Xal’s riled her into the mattress, and they’re eating pizza, because the cooking options in Alleria’s apartment are frightfully limited, and the Omega still won’t let Xal leave her side for long enough to go to the supermarket. “They’re down three lawyers, and we’re just sitting here with our dicks in our hands eating takeout and having sex.”
Xal’atath picks a piece of pineapple off of her slice and gingerly places it on Alleria’s plate. She loves everything about Alleria, which means she will tolerate her preferences with regards to pizza toppings. But only just. “They’re legally required to make some form of accommodation, Alleria. No one bats an eye when an Alpha spends their entire rut growling and glaring, that’s just asserting dominance, but the moment an Omega just needs to curl up and take a nap‒”
“Down, girl.” Alleria presses a soft kiss to her Alpha’s jaw, giggling. “I’m glad you’re such a staunch supporter of equal rights in the workplace, but I’d be saying the same thing no matter what the reason was. I’d feel horrible even if I had the flu right now.”
Xal’atath hums. “You feel horrible about everything. It’s really a dreadful habit. You work twice as hard as anyone else at that office, me included. You deserve to sit back, eat pizza, and get railed into the mattress every once in a while.”
“You are pretty decent at railing me into the mattress,” Alleria says thoughtfully, and Xal’atath doesn’t tamp down on her pleased growl in time. Alleria, of course, notices, laughing joyously. “Oh my God, Xal, that’s so cute!”
Xal’atath huffs. “I just like knowing that I’m properly taking care of my Omega. Is that so bad? Did they outlaw chivalry while I wasn’t looking?”
“You take very good care of me,” Alleria says softly, and Xal shivers with delight. That’s all she’s ever wanted to do, take care of Alleria. Make her feel safe, happy, well fed and well fucked. “Although I will not be allowing you to pay me back for the pizza.”
“It’s really no trouble‒”
“Xal, no. You’ve spent far too much money on me already, and I know you’re going to insist on spending yet more before my heat is out. Just let me have this one, okay? For my ego, if nothing else.”
“I just…” Xal’atath sighs. “I don’t know. If I’m being a stereotypical patronizing Alpha, feel free to yell at me, but I… it just makes me happy, that’s all. It makes me feel like ‒ like I’m doing a good job.”
“Xal’atath Inanis, you are doing the best damn job anyone has ever done.” Alleria takes a bite of her pizza and leans her head on her Alpha’s shoulder as she chews, purring with content. “I genuinely think this is the happiest I’ve ever been in my entire life.”
Then let me stay, Xal’atath wants to say. Almost says. But she doesn’t, she can’t, because that’s not fair to Alleria. She’ll say something after her heat, maybe, but ‒ but Alleria is well and truly happy here, and there’s still a day or two left in her cycle. How cruel would it be, for Xal to rip that safety away just to sate her own ridiculous urges? “I can’t tell you how happy that makes me to hear, Alleria.”
“You’re the best,” Alleria says. She takes another slice of pizza from the box, folding it by the ends and biting off far too large of a piece. “Seriously, though. I know we’re doing our best to work from home, but still. And poor Kyveza. I wonder if there was a get well soon card we didn’t get to sign.”
“Once again, I feel I must remind you that we have no obligation to work from home, and also that there’s no chance in hell you’re getting overtime pay.”
“Yeah, yeah.” Alleria closes her eyes, nuzzling into Xal’atath’s shoulder. “Mm. You smell so nice.”
“Just doing my job, darling. How do you feel?”
“It’s definitely going away,” Alleria says, and is that a hint of remorse in her voice, or is Xal’atath just imagining things? “Probably it’ll break tonight, tomorrow night at the latest.”
Xal’atath picks another piece of pineapple off her slice. “You have three more days of heat leave before they even start to ask questions. It might be a good idea to use that time wisely, wait it out until you’re sure that the aftershocks are all gone.”
“I’d rather be at work than alone in my apartment, though.”
“I would…” Xal’atath swallows. “I’d stay with you still. Until you were ready to go back into work.”
“I won’t be horny,” Alleria says, as if Xal doesn’t know that. “I’ll be cranky and tired and bitchy. Trust me, you don’t want to be there.”
“Alleria.” Xal’atath wishes that Alleria wasn’t hiding her face, it would make navigating this so much easier. “I’ll stay with you for ‒ for as long as you need me.”
Alleria is quiet for a long moment. “I’ll probably get mad at you. I might even ‒ I’ve been told I get bitey, when I’m coming down from a heat. And not in a sexy way.”
Xal’atath swallows. “If your blade was lodged in my chest,” she says quietly, “bloody and violent, still I would stay by your side.”
Alleria exhales, and the sound of her steady purr is the only thing keeping Xal’atath from full blown panic. “I would never, Xal’atath. I would never hurt you like that.”
Xal’atath opens her mouth, and then closes it, and then opens it once more. “If I rinse out my mouth can I go down on you? You taste much better than takeout.”
“I ‒ yeah,” Alleria says, a flash of… something crossing her expression. “Yeah, Xal. I’d love that.”
<<<>>>
Alleria wakes up in the middle of the night feverish and miserable, and the only thing that keeps her from instantly breaking down into tears is the fact that her Alpha is here, arms around her, warm and soft, subduing the prickling itch in Alleria’s bones. “Xal,” she whimpers, rubbing her legs together, trying to find desperately needed friction. “Xal, Alpha, please‒”
“‘Lleria?” Xal’atath blinks awake, and Alleria watches her pupils dilate as she takes in the scene, her grip tightening as she scents the air, calming waves of cinnamon and lavender washing over her. “Fuck, baby‒”
“Need you,” Alleria chokes out. Her blood is pounding in her ears and her skin feels raw and chafed and her cunt is so, so fucking wet, and there’s a clawing panic in her throat, a violent, primal want, flooding her senses, so sharp that it’s painful. “Need you now, please please please‒”
“Baby, baby, I’m here, I have you,” Xal’atath assures her. “What ‒ what do you need?”
“I‒” What does she need? Everything, anything and everything, Xal’atath, eternally. “I ‒ can ‒ wanna ‒ wanna ride you‒”
Xal’atath doesn’t waste a single second, sitting up against the wall and pulling Alleria into her lap, and Alleria throws her arms around her Alpha’s shoulders, whimpering as Xal’atath lines her cock up with Alleria’s heat and ‒ and presses in, fucking hell all the way in, the entire length in one glorious thrust. “Oh, baby,” she coos, “you’re so wet for me.”
“Need ‒ need you,” Alleria says helplessly, moaning wantonly as Xal’atath begins to thrust, hands on Alleria’s hips, lifting and dropping her. “Need ‒ need ‒ Xal’atath, please, I need you‒”
“Shh, darling,” Xal’atath murmurs. She presses a soft kiss to her Omega’s forehead, inhaling the scent of sweat and desire and primal want, and she strokes Alleria’s back soothingly as she bounces her on the Alpha’s cock. “I’m here, baby. I’ve got you.”
“N-need ‒ need you,” Alleria sobs. She’s shaking and shivering in Xal’s lap, cunt fluttering desperately as she rocks down with each thrust, trying to chase her pleasure. It’s so good, she’s so perfect, and Xal is so warm, so warm and strong and here. “Need you so bad‒”
“You’ve got me, Alleria. You’ve got me for as long as you need me, baby.” Forever, Alleria thinks, that’s how long she needs her, forever and ever and ever. “You’re doing so well for me, Alleria, don’t you know? You’re taking me so well ‒ you’re such a good girl, Alleria, such a good girl. And all for me, hmm?”
“Yours,” Alleria whimpers fervently. “Yours, Xal, all yours ‒ don’t stop, please, Mommy‒”
“I won’t,” Xal’atath assures her. Broken moans tear themselves from Alleria’s throat with each bounce, and Xal’atath groans in sympathy, her fingers digging into the plush skin of Alleria’s sides as she bounces her Omega up and down, Alleria’s slick walls dragging along Xal’s cock, so big and thick and just ‒ so wonderful, she feels so fucking full. “I won’t ever stop, baby. Not ever.”
“‘M close,” Alleria pants. She leans forward, burying her head in Xal’s neck, and she whimpers as her world melts further and further into raw, stormy pleasure, building in her gut and thrumming beneath her skin. “But I ‒ Mommy, can you ‒ can you keep ‒ ha ‒ keep going?”
“Oh, darling, of course,” Xal’atath murmurs, and, oh, it’s not been very long but Alleria is close already, so very, very close. “Anything and everything you want, Alleria, it’s yours, in a heartbeat. Forever and ever and ever. Will you cum for me, Alleria? Will you be a good girl and cum for me?”
“Xal,” Alleria moans, rocketing through her first climax, white hot pleasure searing throughout her body, through her spine and her cunt and her heart. Xal fucks her through the orgasm, bouncing her up and down, lighter, softer, but still just as steady, as rhythmic. “Xal‒”
“You’re doing so well for me, baby,” Xal’atath purrs. She takes her hand off of Alleria’s thigh and cups Alleria’s cheek in her palm, tilting her face up so that they’re making eye contact. Alleria can only imagine how broken she looks, flushed and panting, her pupils blown and gaze unfocused as her eyelashes flutter. “Oh, darling, you look so beautiful like this, don’t you know? Such a pretty little girl for me.”
“Mommy,” Alleria whimpers ‒ oh, how happy she is, to have Xal’atath as her mommy, to have Xal’atath looking out for her, taking care of her. “Mommy, don’t ‒ don’t stop‒”
“I won’t, baby,” Xal’atath assures her. She kisses Alleria’s nose, her cheeks, her eyelashes and her jaw and the corners of her mouth, and Alleria feels her Alpha’s body heat against hers like a furnace. “I won’t ever stop, not for all the money in the world. You don’t have to worry, darling, you don’t have to worry at all. Mommy will take care of everything.”
“Feels ‒ feels so good,” Alleria whines, rolling her hips with every thrust. “Feels so fucking good, I can’t ‒ please, Mommy, please.”
“You don’t need to beg, baby, you know I’ll… I’ll give you everything you… fuck, Alleria, you feel utterly fucking divine,” Xal’atath moans, and Alleria keens, cunt fluttering as she hurtles through her second orgasm. “Oh, darling,” Xal’atath purrs, “do you like that? Do you like knowing how perfect you make me feel?”
“Wanna…” Alleria pants, her breath hot against Xal’atath’s skin, trying to corral her disparate, desperate thoughts into a legible order. “Wanna ‒ wanna be your toy, Xal.”
“My toy?” Xal’atath’s voice is raspy and strained, and it makes Alleria want to ‒ to collapse, to collapse into her, to submit fully and entirely. “Alleria, darling, you know you’re so much more than that, right? You’re my everything, baby‒”
“N-no,” Alleria whines. “Not ‒ not now, I wanna ‒ I wanna be good, Xal, please‒”
“You’re ‒ you’re so good, baby.” Xal’atath licks her lips. “You feel so wonderful. Is that what you want to hear? Do you want to hear how tight you are, how warm and wet, how delightful you feel, scrambling at my back, fucking yourself on my cock?”
“Yesss,” Alleria hisses, the pleasure is building, building and building and building, and it’s ‒ she needs it, she needs more, and ‒ she needs Xal’atath, and more than that she needs Xal’atath to need her back. “Yes, please, Xal, wanna ‒ wanna be good for you, wanna be ‒ wanna be y-your ‒ ha ‒ your Omega‒”
Xal’atath growls as she finishes, pumping Alleria full of thick, hot cum, and it’s enough for her to hurtle through her second orgasm, coming all over her Alpha’s cock. Xal’atath takes a panting, heaving breath, and then she snarls, slamming Alleria down onto the mattress and thrusting into her, knotting her with a slick pop. “Wanna be mine, baby? Wanna be my little fucking princess?”
“Oh, God,” Alleria sobs ‒ actually sobs, her cheeks are wet with tears as she desperately clings to Xal’atath, rolling her hips for more friction. “Yes, yes, yes, please, yes, don’t stop, please‒”
“I’m never going to stop,” Xal’atath promises her. Her thrusts are shallow, they have to be, given that she’s knot-deep in Alleria’s blissful heat, but it’s still perfect, it’s everything, the fullness, the heat, the thickness, dragging against her walls, setting off sparks of perfection with every movement. “Never ‒ never ever going to fucking stop, Alleria, you’re ‒ you’re mine, alright?”
Alleria cries, she cries and cries and cries, holding Xal’atath tight, so tight, so that she can never, ever leave. “Yes yes please ‒ wanna be yours yours yours wanna ‒ wanna belong to you please‒”
“So fucking ‒ so fucking perfect,” Xal’atath snarls, and she’s fucking Alleria so harshly and so quickly that Alleria’s sure, if she checked, she’d find her hips bright red. Her heat is burning within her, bright and hot and all consuming, and every thrust and growl, every word of glittery praise that falls from her Alpha’s lips just adds more succulent fuel to the fire. “You are mine, Alleria. You’re mine, do you understand me? If anyone else so much as fucking looks at you, I’ll ‒ I’ll rip out their goddamn throats, Alleria. You belong to me. To me, and no one else.”
“M-more,” Alleria begs. She’s trembling, her entire body flushed and shaking; Xal is so goddamn beautiful, it’s almost painful. Alleria has always known that she wants it like this, wants to be underneath someone, wants to be railed into the fucking mattress, wants to be owned, but she’s never been happy with those desires, because she’s never met anyone who she trusts to own her ‒ but Xal, oh, Xal’atath Inanis, with her perfect hips and her beautiful face and her sharp humor, with her affection, her care, with how well she takes care of Alleria ‒ Alleria thinks she could give the entirety of herself to Xal, over and over and over, because she knows Xal’atath will take care of her. “More, Xal, yes, please, Xal‒”
“Fucking ‒ fucking mine,” Xal’atath rasps, biting down on Alleria’s shoulder ‒ her shoulder, her shoulder, not her neck, Alleria can’t ‒ she wants it, she wants it so fucking bad, she needs it, she needs it so fucking horrifically. “You’re all mine, Alleria ‒ you belong to me, you ‒ you belong to me, to me, you’re mine, I won’t ‒ I won’t fucking ever let you go, I ‒ fuck ‒ I’m gonna breed you, baby, gonna fill you up, cause you’re mine, all mine, Alleria.”
“Please,” Alleria sobs, coming apart at the seams as Xal’atath fucks her into the mattress, hot and fast and blissfully harsh. “Please I need it I need it so bad‒”
“Fucking ‒ fucking take it, my ‒ my Omega, my ‒ my Alleria,” Xal’atath growls, and Alleria sees stars as her Alpha hilts herself as deep as she can and cums once more, panting and heaving on top of her, eyes screwed shut from the overwhelming pleasure, and oh, oh, Alleria follows, as the heat builds and builds, the heat that’s been building for five fucking days, rising in her like a tidal wave, and then it crashes.
She comes to in stages. First she is aware of Xal’atath, and then she is aware of pleasure, white-hot and all encompassing, and then she is aware of herself, lying panting and spent in her nest, Xal’atath firmly knotting her and pressing messy kisses to her face. Her cheeks are wet with tears and her vision is blurry, and still her pleasure is there, clinging to her bones, like it’ll never leave. Alleria whimpers softly, happily, and she can’t ‒ she can’t really move, right now, but why would she need to? when Xal’atath is on top of her, when Xal’atath pulls the covers up around them, nuzzling into Alleria, growling contentedly. “Xal,” Alleria rasps, once she’s capable. “Xal.”
“Alleria,” Xal’atath murmurs. “Alleria, oh, darling, Alleria, I…”
“Xal…” Alleria swallows, her thoughts still hazy with her post-orgasm glow, but ‒ the heat has broken, now, and soon the endorphin crash will leave her grumpy and catty, but right now she just feels perfect. She can say, she can honestly say, that this is the best she has ever felt in her entire life. “Xal, did you… did you mean it? That I’m yours. That I belong to you.”
Xal’atath’s breath catches in her throat, and it takes her a moment to answer. “Yes,” she says quietly. “And I to you.”
Alleria nods, and then she laughs, softly, because it’s really just so obvious, isn’t it? “I love you,” she says, her voice still breathy and hoarse, but her tone clear and open. “Xal’atath Inanis, I love you more than life itself.”
“Alleria,” Xal’atath murmurs reverently, lifting her head up to peer wondrously into Alleria’s eyes. “Alleria, darling, my Alleria, I have loved you for three years and I plan on loving you for the rest of our lives. I thought ‒ oh, darling, I thought this day would never come.”
“I know.” Alleria grins, running her hands up and down her Alpha’s back ‒ her Alpha, now, truly. “But I’m really fucking glad I was wrong. I want you to…” She hesitates, not because she’s nervous, but because she’s been waiting for this moment for what feels like her entire life. “I want you,” Alleria says, looking into Xal’atath’s indigo eyes, breathing in the eternal scent of lavender and cinnamon, “to mate me, Xal’atath Inanis.”
Xal’atath makes a sound, a soft, needy, disbelieving sound in the back of her throat. Alleria thinks it’s the most beautiful thing she’s ever heard. Xal’atath leans down, pressing her teeth to Alleria’s scent gland, and exhales. “I love you,” she murmurs. “You’ll mate me?”
“Of course,” Alleria breathes, her lips already hovering just above Xal’atath’s neck. “On three, all right? One… two…” Alleria swallows, her eyes wet with tears. “Three.”
It stings a little, and it’s the greatest thing Alleria has ever felt in her entire life. They bite down in unison and it is rapturous, purely and simply. It’s as if Alleria has been seeing in black and white her entire life, and suddenly and wondrously she sees color, flashing and kaleidoscopic. It just feels right. It feels like this is what she was always meant to do. Alleria laps at Xal’atath’s bite, pressing soothing kisses into it, and shivers when Xal’atath does the same to hers. “I’m so happy,” Xal’atath murmurs. “I’m so horrifically happy. Oh, darling, you look so pretty with my mark on your neck. I think ‒ I think I was put on this earth to love you.”
“Mated,” Alleria breathes, her purr as loud as it’s ever been. “Xal, holy fuck, I don’t even ‒ do you know how long I’ve wanted this? From the fucking start, Xal, from the goddamn start.”
Xal’atath huffs out a laugh. “This whole time, then? Since the very beginning?”
“Since the very beginning,” Alleria confirms. “I’ve been in love with you since the day I spilled coffee all over your dress.”
“I’ve been in love with you since the day you spilled coffee all over the elevator and got us stuck for thirty minutes,” Xal’atath says affectionately. “So I suppose that works out.”
“You’re never going to get rid of me,” Alleria purrs. “Never ever ever. I’m going to stick by your side all the time like an anxious summer intern. You won’t be able to go longer than five hours without seeing me. Hell, you’ll be sick of me before the week’s out.”
“I wouldn’t have it any other way, love.” Xal’atath sighs, pressing a soft kiss to Alleria’s lips. “I am beginning to believe that I will actually, truthfully, finally be able to spend eternity with you, Alleria Windrunner, and I do not think I have ever been happier.”
“We’re going to be so fucking obnoxious,” Alleria realizes. “Everyone’s going to despise us, or be jealous of us, or both. We’ll be making out in the breakroom every day.”
Xal’atath laughs softly. “I can’t wait.”
<OOO>
“I love you,” Xal’atath says, because she can. She thinks she’s probably said it a thousand times already, and she thinks hopefully she’ll say it a thousand more before day’s end. Mated, mated, to Alleria, Alleria goddamn Windrunner, she can still hardly believe it. “I love you so absurdly much, baby.”
“Harder,” Alleria says. “Harder and slightly to the left. Now.”
“Yes, dear,” Xal’atath laughs. Alleria’s heat has drawn to a close, and, as she warned, she has transformed into a grumpy little diva. She quite literally has not allowed Xal’atath to disengage physical contact once since they woke up ‒ when Xal’atath wanted to take them out to the couch and order takeout, she had to quite literally pick Alleria up and carry her. Not, of course, that she’s complaining. She’s sprawled out over said couch now, her Omega in her lap, dutifully scratching Alleria’s scalp as the Omega munches on her fries. “How are you feeling, darling?”
“Mmm. Nice,” Alleria purrs, pressing her head further into Xal’s hands. “You belong to me now, by the way. Gonna scent all your clothes. Non-negotionable.”
“I’d want nothing less,” Xal’atath says happily. “Can I have a fry, darling?”
Alleria pauses, craning around to peer up at her suspiciously. “You said they were disgusting amalgamations of grease and hellfire.”
“Yes, well.” Xal’atath shrugs. “Be as that may, they look rather appealing.”
Alleria huffs, lying back down and nudging Xal until she continues the scritches. “Okay. You can have one. But if you want another then you have to order me some more. You said you’d be happy with just a salad, you can’t change your mind now. That’s now how it works.”
“Yes, dear,” Xal’atath says again. “I love you, by the way.”
Alleria huffs. “Love you too. Took you long enough.”
<<<>>>
There’s a rhythmic tapping on her door, a rhythm that Alleria recognizes; she considers ignoring it, pretending she’s not there, just to fuck with her mate, but she already misses Xal’atath so much, she knows she can’t. “Door’s open,” she calls happily. “Come on in.”
“Oh, come on,” Xal’atath says, the room filling with her familiar lavender and cinnamon scent as she waltzes inside. She closes the door with her foot; she’s carrying takeout bags, which ‒ oh, goddamnit, it’s lunch, isn’t it? “No fuck you? No leave me alone? No get out of my office?”
Alleria laughs, coming around to kiss her mate ‒ at first, with all intentions of chastity, but if she ends up pressing Xal against the wall and kissing her for the better part of a minute… well, then so what? “I’m sorry,” she says, once she finally pulls back. “I didn’t realize it’d gotten so late. I was looking over the draft that Kyveza submitted ‒ do you know she was working on it from her goddamn hospital bed? Kinda makes me wish I’d done at least a little bit more work these past few days, y’know?”
“I don’t know,” Xal’atath says thoughtfully, setting the bags down on the floor before her hands find Alleria’s hips. “I’m rather satisfied with the way you spent your time, all things considered.”
“You’re such a flirt,” Alleria murmurs, but she can’t help but lean into her Alpha’s embrace, a vibrant purr kicking up in her chest. “A horrible, horrible flirt.”
“I love you,” Xal’atath says softly, pressing a kiss to Alleria’s forehead. “I love you so much, Alleria, and I will flirt with you every day for the rest of our lives, and there’s nothing you can do to stop me.”
Alleria laughs, breathing in deep, letting Xal’atath’s scent wash over her. “I love you too, Xal. Now c’mon, I want to eat out in the courtyard, it’s a much lovelier view, and I… oh, no, come on, please, it’s such low hanging fruit‒”
“The only lovely view I need,” Xal’atath says softly, “is right in front of me. And I’m never letting you out of my sight, Alleria.”
Alleria blushes, because, yeah, maybe it’s low hanging fruit, but does that even matter when the whole orchard is this perfect? She leans back, beaming at her mate. “I wouldn’t dream of it, Xal’atath.”
Xal’atath smiles softly. “Yeah?”
“Yeah,” Alleria replies. “Now, seriously, I’m starving, and I assume you are too.”
“Oh, I’m fine,” Xal’atath says lightly, “I ate my fill last night‒”
“Xal’atath!”