Archive of Our Own

See, there are many reasons why dating a Spreadsheet Guy (trademark pending) is kind of amazing. But one thing Nicholas has to admit is a particularly great thing about dating a Spreadsheet Guy (trademark pending) is that they’ll dedicate a good chunk of their free time to build a dedicated, custom budget tracker for you.

And all of a sudden, for the first time in years, you are finally able to save some money.

Nicholas can remember when Euijoo first started working on the spreadsheet. He’d hunch over his laptop with his round glasses on and his hair sticking up from when he’d run his hands through it, and Nicholas interrupted him often enough that Euijoo took to working on this while Nicholas was stuck at work.

Nicholas doesn’t think he should be blamed for the time it took for the budget to be done. Realistically, do you expect him not to slide into Euijoo’s lap when he’s looking all serious and a little disheveled, his tie askew, his lips all glossy and inviting? He should be getting more praise, actually, for managing to keep his hands to himself and his dick in his pants most of the time, despite having the cutest-slash-hottest boyfriend in the whole entire world.

Yes, Nicholas is what one would call down extremely bad for his Spreadsheet Guy (trademark pending) boyfriend. But Euijoo not only is attentive, funny, and wickedly smart, not only did he straighten out Nicholas’ terrible spending habits, but he’s also helping him make even more money than ever, to the point that Nicholas could easily drop his job at the launderette if he wanted to.

When they first started dating, Nicholas was ready to accept that his slick production would decrease, if only because he’d be using more of it having, you know, actual sex. But, if anything, being with Euijoo has helped Nicholas exponentially. Now he doesn’t need to be in the right mood, he doesn’t need to watch porn to get himself going. Now he just needs two minutes thinking about Euijoo in some compromising situation usually involving one or both of them naked, and he’s off to the races.

That’s not even counting the times where Euijoo helps out. He very quickly got very skilled at spurring Nicholas on, be it with visual aids or verbal encouragement. Nicholas will never forget the time where Euijoo positioned Nicholas’ equipment to face their bed and took one piece of clothing off every time Nicholas produced another centilitre, ending up sprawled naked across their bedcovers jerking off just out of reach of Nicholas.

Most delicious torture.

All that to say, Nicholas is making more money, and he is saving money on top of that. And what else to do with some extra money than going away? That’s what people with jobs and settled lives do, right?

Which leads to where he is now. Waking up, groggy and mildly irritated, in an airplane, with still 3 hours of flying to do. The plane is humming around him, the cabin mostly dim, apart from the distinct bright light coming from the tablet Nicholas’ Spreadsheet Guy (trademark pending) is hunched over. They’re in economy, pressed together in the seats because the first thing Nicholas did once they were at cruising altitude was to lift the armrest between them, and Euijoo has let Nicholas sleep on his shoulder for a solid four hours. Because he is a very good boyfriend, and Nicholas loves him to distraction.

Nicholas wipes his eyes with a fist, nuzzling into Euijoo’s shoulder at the same time.

“Do you know how to register a trademark?” Nicholas asks over the noise of the plane engine, feeling surprisingly comfortable like this, despite the circumstances of being in a cramped airplane seat with a 3-seat configuration. At least the little old lady that is sitting next to Euijoo conked out even faster than Nicholas did, after telling them that they were very handsome, and patted Euijoo’s cheek in a way that made him laugh nervously, bowing his head in thanks as Nicholas snickered into his hoodie. Little old ladies just love Euijoo, and Nicholas gets it.

“Hm? That the kind of sexy dreams you’re having these days? Trademark registration?”

Euijoo doesn’t look away from his screen when Nicholas elbows him gently, but from his vantage point, Nicholas can see the way Euijoo’s cheeks bunch up in a smile. He wants to bite at them.

“Of course that’d be the kind of thing you’d qualify as ‘sexy’,” Nicholas mutters. But when Euijoo finally shifts to look at him, pressing a grounding hand on Nicholas’ thigh, it’s impossible for him not to melt. He purses his lips towards Euijoo, gratified when he immediately gets a kiss, humming softly.

“Anyway I’m an accountant, not a lawyer,” Euijoo finally says with his lips still mostly pressed to Nicholas’. It makes them both chuckle, Nicholas taking advantage of the closeness to plant kisses all over Euijoo’s cheeks. They’re quiet against the droning hum of the plane, sharing a moment of intimacy in the darkened cabin as they lean into each other, a little sleepy, a little anticipatory.

A whole week to themselves, with no work and a half-made promise to try and leave their phones behind as much as possible. Just the two of them and the postcards they pinky swore they’d send their friends. A remote resort with a private beach and only a few floors of rooms rather than one of the massive hotels that were advertised to them when they were booking. Them, the ocean breeze, a balcony if they’re lucky, and time finally not compressed into little pockets to fit in between the rest of their lives.

And, if Nicholas knows Euijoo at all (and he does), plans.

“You weren’t working, right?” Nicholas asks, chin jerking towards the tablet on Euijoo’s seat table. “Our vacation officially started so if you were working, you’d be breaking the rules.”

His hand slides over the expanse of Euijoo’s back, easily accessible considering how Euijoo is sitting leaning forward. He’s going to give himself a backache like this, and Nicholas will be stuck having to give him a massage if he keeps at it. Oh, the hardship.

Euijoo smirks. “First of all we didn’t establish rules, and second of all no. I wasn’t working,” he replies, brushing Nicholas’ nose with his own. “I was doing some planning.”

Just as Nicholas thought. A soft smile spreads over his face as he rests his cheek against Euijoo’s shoulder, looking at the screen. “Show me.”

If things had been left to Nicholas, there would only be some vague plans, nebulous ideas about what to do and what to see during their trip. But Euijoo isn’t one to leave things to chance like that. He likes to research, and to put things into neat little spreadsheets. He likes to know prices and time frames and availability.

Maybe this should have led them to fighting, or getting aggravated with each other, because Nicholas isn’t a planner like that. He sees something he wants? He gets it. There’s no weeks of looking into reviews and making sure he’s picking the best price. It’s more like instinct. And yet, instead of fighting (well, they bicker, but that’s just foreplay), they leaned into each other’s strengths.

Euijoo, nowadays, is more prone to agree to a spontaneous trip than he would ever have been before they met, according to his friends. Nicholas, well. He sticks to a budget now, preening under the praise he gets whenever they review it together. It’s all very domestic.

Euijoo doesn’t even care that Nicholas is a sex worker. Which, okay, is for the best, because if he was against it they would not be here right now, but if anything Euijoo is always supportive, encouraging, helpful. He thinks this job Nicholas took up when he was in financial dire straits is something commendable, a service to the community at large. Whenever Nicholas asks him if he cares about other alphas jerking it to his boyfriend’s scent, he just shrugs, the tips of his ears pink, and murmurs it’s hot, like he’s Paris Hilton, before adding something about how he gets the best deal anyway.

Free, willingly and so very ethically produced, and straight from the source at that.

Nicholas shakes himself out of the thoughts; now is not the time to get himself turned on, not when they have another couple of hours on this flight. Focus on the task at hand, Wang.

The task at hand being Euijoo shifting the table so Nicholas can see what he’s been working on. Euijoo’s ears are pink right now, too, like he’s embarrassed.

“Have a look. I know you said we shouldn’t overplan, so I didn’t book anything, I just thought I’d look into the possibilities, and then… I guess it kinda snowballed.”

The screen is divided in two, one side open to a Notion tab, and the other on an excel spreadsheet. Colours everywhere. The Notion board has reference images, weather forecasting for the next week, activities divided between beach, mountain, city. The spreadsheet, also colourful, has more detail from what Nicholas can see. There’s distances from their hotel, time to drive, price ranges. There’s also a tab for restaurants, and one labelled ‘things to see’. All in neat little rows and columns, the very essence of how Euijoo can be

Nicholas loves him so much. It doesn’t really explain the way he’s hit with a sudden wave of dizziness, falling back against his own plane seat and pressing a hand to his forehead, but it makes sense. Euijoo just makes Nicholas feel like all of his internal organs are constantly being squeezed with so much fondness and adoration, it’s not surprising he’s going light-headed with it. Euijoo gives him an alarmed look, the back of his fingers touching Nicholas’ cheek.

“Are you okay? You got all red all of a sudden.”

Nicholas reaches out, curling his own hand around Euijoo’s. He brings it to his lips, kissing his knuckles gently. “I’m fine,” he replies, even though he doesn’t completely feel fine. “Just feeling a bit hot.”

Reaching up, Euijoo opens the overhead fan on Nicholas’ side to full blast. Nicholas smiles again, pressing his palms to Euijoo’s round cheeks and squeezing lightly. “You’re so good to me.”

“Or maybe you’re just too easy.”

Nicholas frowns, shaking his head. “Don’t put yourself down. Look at all you’ve done here, just for me… for us. All this research you’ve put in, because you want us to have a good time.”

“You know I’m a nerd. This is fun for me to do.”

“Still,” he counters lamely, hands still squishing Euijoo’s cheeks. And Euijoo, bless his heart, lets him. He's just so… Malleable, and he has no problem letting Nicholas knead at him like he's dough, all soft and warm under Nicholas’ fingertips. It's a privilege and an honour. “It’s still very impressive.”

Nicholas remembers all too well the times where Euijoo was the one to prop Nicholas up, when he was feeling misplaced shame or embarrassment about his job. Euijoo, from the get-go, has been supportive and encouraging, has found multiple qualities in what Nicholas was doing, even things Nicholas never thought of himself. And yet he still likes to downplay his own amazing traits. Nicholas knows it’s partly cultural, but it will just make him boast about Euijoo every day.

“It’s very sexy,” Nicholas tacks on, rolling his shoulders back into his seat. He has no idea why, but he feels hot, worked up hot. And sure, Euijoo is always sexy to him, but he has no reason to be feeling quite this bothered right now. Nothing has happened to warrant this kind of reaction from Nicholas, and yet. The seat of his pants feels uncomfortably damp, his body seemingly reacting to Euijoo’s proximity without Nicholas having any ability to control it.

Euijoo’s nostrils flare when Nicholas’ scent blooms between them, making Nicholas flush with embarrassment. Genuinely, what the fuck, body. They’re in public! He’s usually so good at keeping himself in check, his hormones eased by a cocktail of suppressants and pure self-control, but right now the grip he normally has on himself feels slippery. Like his metaphorical hands are coated in metaphorical slick.

“Nico,” Euijoo says softly, but there’s something worried at the edge of his voice. His hand grabs onto Nicholas’. “Are you sure you’re okay? You just–you suddenly smell so much stronger than usual.”

“Yeah, I don’t know why,” Nicholas replies, hand squeezing Euijoo’s as he tries not to panic. The heat is not going anywhere, and neither is the arousal, apparently. But they’re on a plane and they still have a couple of hours to go, so Nicholas really has to get it together. But when Euijoo starts to pull his hand back, Nicholas holds on tighter, overcome with sudden dread at the idea of Euijoo being anywhere but right here, where Nicholas can see him, touch him, smell him. He whines softly, pulling Euijoo’s hand to his face to press his nose to Euijoo’s scent gland on the inside of his wrist.

With his free hand, Euijoo feels Nicholas’ forehead, the frown on his face deepening. “Baby, you’re burning up.”

Yeah, and boy, does Nicholas feel it. “The fuck is happening to me?” he asks, eyes glassy when he tries to look at Euijoo. The only comforting thing to him right now is Euijoo’s touch, his fingers cool against Nicholas’ suddenly overheating skin. “What the fuck is happening, Juju?”

Euijoo lets out a breath. The way he’s sitting, turned towards Nicholas, he’s blocking him from the rest of the plane. It feels safe, to Nicholas, who wants nothing more than to lean in and nuzzle against Euijoo, but manages to keep that, of all things, under some sort of control.

“I know this is going to sound insane, but hear me out, okay?”

Nicholas manages to focus his eyes just long enough to glare at Euijoo. He does not like where this is going.

“Just. This is all looking like, huh. Heat symptoms.”

Nicholas snorts, tucking Euijoo’s arm close to his belly. He needs them to keep touching or he might go crazy, but that doesn’t mean what Euijoo is saying isn’t completely deranged in itself.

“Euijoo, come on–”

“I’m serious. Your scent suddenly spiked, you got feverishly hot, you’re needing constant contact, and you. You got wet, didn’t you? You can’t control any of it?”

Thankfully, Nicholas is too hot and too red in the cheeks already to be able to flush much more at Euijoo’s assumptions. He nods, eyes cast down towards his lap. Oh, fuck, he’s hard.

“That makes no sense. Heats don’t just happen anymore, Juju!”

He’s hissing the words, trying his best not to raise his voice. No matter how much sense Euijoo’s words might be making, Nicholas’ brain refused to wrap around them. How is he supposed to process anything when his whole body seems to have been devoured by some horny beast all of a sudden? God, they still have two hours of this flight, and then however it will take to get through passport control, get their luggage, and drive to their resort.

If this a heat, Nicholas might actually implode before they get to be alone. Already he clutches at Euijoo’s arm, hugging it to himself like it’s the only thing keeping him anchored to reality. He feels feverish; not completely lucid, but also so incredibly present in his body he can hear every single one of his nerve endings pop and crackle.

“They do happen sometimes,” Euijoo reasons, but it’s obvious he’s worried. It’s in the lines around his mouth and the tone of his voice and the dull in his eyes. Nicholas’ heart thumps loudly in his chest.

“Is my scent bad?”

Euijoo’s eyes widen. “Are you kidding? You smell so fucking good, Nichol. It’s taking everything in me to not lean in, but I’m worried if I do we’ll end up in a very compromising situation. I’m actually surprised we’re not fighting a horde of alphas right now, Train to Busan style.”

Nicholas closes his eyes as he lets his head drop back to his seat, huffing out a tired laugh. He wishes they could get into a compromising situation right now, his cock straining against the fly of his jeans, slick probably forming a damp patch on the seat. It hits in waves, like contractions. Or hot flushes. “More like Snakes on a Plane, right?” He cracks his neck, digging his fingers into Euijoo’s arm. It must be uncomfortable for him, but Euijoo doesn’t complain. “Can you soak a tissue and put it on my neck? It should help dampen the smell a bit.”

“Yeah, of course,” Euijoo replies, sounding both serious, worried, and ready to do anything. Nicholas relinquishes his hold on him to let Euijoo move around the limited amount of space they have to press cold wet tissues to his neck and his forehead. It feels heavenly for a fleeting moment, allowing Nicholas to breathe a little easier.

“Try to get some more sleep if you can. Are you feeling crampy?” Euijoo asks, hovering close like he can’t decide whether to lean in or pull away. God, Nicholas wants him to lean in so bad it’s making him pitiful, and it’s getting harder and harder to hold back the way he wants to whine for his alpha.

The mere thought is bitter in his mouth, because he is not doing that. He is not calling Euijoo alpha like some period drama love interest, all meek and weak-kneed at the mere sight of the big alpha hero. This is not the universe they move in anymore, and heat or no heat, Nicholas is not letting his haywire hormones betray him and his kind like this. He’s a strong, independent omega, okay!

“I’m not cramping, but I’m not not cramping,” Nicholas replies, smiling helplessly when he hears Euijoo snort.

“Of course, that makes sense.”

“It would if you were feeling it. I’m just gonna try and sleep it off. Can you–” he hesitates, opening his eyes a fraction before looking at Euijoo. This whole affair is making him very vulnerable, and yet he keeps on wanting to peel off all of his layers so that Euijoo can inspect them. Both metaphorically and literally. “Can you pet my hair?”

Nicholas doesn’t ask for this. He doesn’t like his hair touched, and made that very clear to Euijoo very early on. It’s always been a little bit of self-preservation because the issue is, he tends to like getting his hair petted a little too much. Especially when it’s someone he likes the touch of, and he loves Euijoo's touch above any other.

Euijoo looks surprised for a second, but he recovers quickly, no hesitation in the way he reaches out and cards his fingers through Nicholas’ hair. Nicholas instantly melts into it, a noise rumbling up his chest as Euijoo touches him carefully.

“Sorry I’m sweaty,” Nico mutters, already half-gone; he swears he can feel his cock twitch in his jeans every time Euijoo scratches at his scalp. It's like he’s a fucking dog wagging his tail.

“You’re fine,” Euijoo replies softly. “You’re beautiful.”

Nicholas half drifts off with his stomach clenched, a hand in his hair, and a smile on his lips.

︶꒦︶꒷︶︶꒷꒦︶︶︶꒷꒦‧ ₊˚・

Nicholas wakes up to Euijoo’s fingers brushing his cheek. “Hey, Nico,” Euijoo murmurs, curled above Nicholas like a protective bubble. Nicholas sits up groggily, grunting to himself a little as he wipes drool off of the corner of his lips. “We’re about to land. You crashed harder than I thought you would. How are you feeling?”

“Like I’ve been steamrolled,” Nicholas replies, screwing one eye shut as he takes stock of his body. He’s still feeling feverish, but the intense horniness from earlier seems to have abated a little. He’s still hard, though, which is so fucking embarrassing, and he’s pretty sure he’s wasted at least a whole bottle of slick to his pants and potentially the airplane seat. He feels clammy, and the only immediate soothing sensation is Euijoo’s fingers against his cheek.

Okay, so he’s still in heat or whatever. It wasn’t a fluke, or some flash in the pan thing, or even a hallucination. He sighs softly, looking out the plane window to see the island coming closer. His eyes burn a little bit as he reaches up, taking Euijoo’s hand in both of his own.

“It’s not even started and I’m ruining our trip,” he whispers, not sure if he wants Euijoo to hear him or not, because he knows the thought isn’t rational. But he’s deeply hormonal in ways he’s never been before, so maybe he’s allowed to be a little doom and gloom for a moment, right? At least for a second he’s not just deeply horny, ready to hump Euijoo’s leg at any given second.

“Hey, no,” Euijoo replies sternly. Guess he did hear then. “You’re not ruining anything. The only thing I care about is that we’re together. That’s what matters, okay? We’ll have a million vacations. I just want you to be safe right now. And really, is it ruining anything if we end up stuck in bed for a few days?”

He chuckles, undoing a tangle of worry in Nicholas’ chest with his words, with his little noises. They may not have been together for years, but they’re getting good at knowing what to say to each other. Nicholas laughs, the sound a little watery, punching Euijoo’s shoulder lightly.

“Now who’s a horndog, huh?”

“Who knows, maybe you’ll trigger a rut in me.”

Nicholas groans, the arousal sparking back to life in his belly. “Stop talking,” he counters to the sound of Euijoo laughing some more. A sound that just makes everything worse for Nicholas, because it’s so nice. Nicholas spends half of his life just wanting to make Euijoo laugh, but right now it just makes him want to eat Euijoo whole. One bite.

They hold hands through the landing, not so much out of fear but just because Nicholas’ instincts have reared their head right back up as soon as he woke up again, and he has to touch Euijoo lest he starts screaming. It’s the only thing that seems to keep him able to think at all.

He tries to remind himself of high school biology classes, when they were told about ruts and heats, and their effects on people. Raised temperature and libido, highest risks of pregnancy as it syncs with the ovulation cycle. Heightened senses and primal instincts taking over basic functions. Complete hormonal and potentially emotional dysregulation. Diminished inhibitions, especially when mated.

Nicholas and Euijoo aren’t mated, but Nicholas’ baser thoughts, right now, do not care. All he wants is to climb on Euijoo’s lap and rub himself against him until all he can smell is the two of them intermingled. Every other smell on the plane is getting to Nicholas, making him wince with every wave that isn’t pure Euijoo. He’s getting a headache.

“I can’t wait to get off this plane,” he murmurs as they’re taxiing, unable to resist pressing his face against Euijoo’s shoulder. He whines softly, lips catching the sleeve of Euijoo’s shirt. “I feel like I’m losing my mind.”

“Hold on just a little longer, baby,” Euijoo replies softly, his hand so warm on Nicholas’ leg. When Nicholas looks up, he sees how Euijoo is sitting stiffly, nostrils flared as he stares right ahead at the little plane on his screen. “We're almost there.”

“You okay?”

“I’m fine,” Euijoo replies, his hand squeezing Nicholas’ thigh. “Sorry, you just. You smell so fucking good right now I can barely think.”

“How do I smell?” Nicholas asks quietly, fingers playing with Euijoo’s lightly.

“Even sweeter than usual. Warmer. Like a bakery in the morning. And I’m sorry for what I’m about to say, but you smell like… like you need an alpha to take care of you.”

Nicholas grumbles, displeased with knowing that this is the kind of scent he’s broadcasting to everyone. It's demeaning, and it makes Nicholas vulnerable. He's never wanted a man, let alone an alpha to take care of him before. He's never needed it. It's making him off-balance to know he smells like this. He doesn’t need an alpha. He just needs Euijoo.

“I don’t need an alpha,” he says out loud, cheek smushed against Euijoo’s shoulder. “I need you.”

Euijoo makes a noise low in his throat, letting out a heavy breath. “Now you’re the one that should stop talking.”

Nicholas chuckles, but it’s weak. He’s fine with that, actually, rubbing his cheek back and forth against Euijoo’s shoulder without thought.

Finally, they come to a stop, and quickly enough people start moving. Nicholas is restless, getting up quickly when passengers start walking down the aisles. He's checking he hasn't forgotten anything on the side of his seat when Euijoo pulls him close with a hand on his hip, earning himself a startled little moan from Nicholas.

“Wha–?”

“Nico, the back of your jeans,” Euijoo says urgently. Nicholas only has to glance at his seat and the dark, damp patch he left on it to know exactly how bad the back of his jeans must look, and embarrassed heat rushes up his chest. He's about to burst out crying, for a multitude of reasons.

“My jacket is in your bag,” his voice breaks on the words, but Euijoo is already moving, pulling his own hoodie off and stepping back enough to wrap it around Nicholas’ waist. It covers his backside, the sleeves hanging perfectly over his crotch. Nicholas lets out a trembling breath, looking over his shoulder as Euijoo keeps on petting his hip, like he can't stop. “Thank you.”

“Don't mention it. Come on, let's get out of here,” Euijoo replies, taking charge and leading Nicholas out of their row of seats, standing tall behind him. The whole way, he stays close, a protective hand curled around Nicholas’ hip as they walk.

There's an urgency to the way they move, both desperate to get out of the crowd, but there's no avoiding queues when you're in an airport. Nicholas sways from foot to foot as they wait, blushing when he feels the slick between his cheeks. God, he has never been more embarrassed and turned on at the same time, while being unable to do anything about either sentiment. It's uncomfortable, on top of everything else, his crotch feeling gross and sticky, itchy. He wants to flay himself alive at this point.

“Wow, someone smells needy,” someone says close to him, from the other side of the snake the waiting line forms. Nicholas snaps his eyes up to see a man leering at him, an oily scent wafting off of him that makes Nicholas want to gag. “I can help you, pretty boy.”

Nicholas opens his mouth to reply. It's not the first time he's having to fend off gross alphas. But before he can say anything that he might be too weak to say right now, Euijoo's hand tightens around him again and pulls him back a step, Nicholas’ back colliding with Euijoo's chest and making his knees buckle. He can feel just as much as he hears the threatening, warning growl that rumbles up Euijoo's throat.

“Sniff him again and I'll make sure you regret it,” he says menacingly, his voice lower than Nicholas has ever heard it.

“You shouldn't let your omega stink up the place then,” the guy retorts, jerking his chin up in defiance. Nicholas grabs Euijoo's hand when Euijoo shifts his stance, pulling him forward and away from the other alpha.

“Juju, don't. Please, c'mon,” he begs. It's not that he's scared Euijoo is about to start a brawl, not really, but if he's involved in some shouting match in the passport queue, they might never make it out of the airport and Nicholas isn't sure what he'd do with that.

Euijoo deflates, following Nicholas and moving a few steps ahead, putting distance between them and the other alpha. He rests his forehead against the crown of Nicholas’ head. “Sorry, it was just… Instinct. I felt like I could have ripped his throat out if he dared speak to you again.”

Nicholas breathes in sharply at the words, all sorts of truly inconvenient images popping up in his head. No one has ever stood up for him like this before, and Nicholas starts fanning himself with his passport. “Don't apologise. I just want to keep moving before I just go down on my knees for you in this queue,” he says, cranking his neck to speak close to Euijoo's ear. “You have no idea how much I want to do that right now.”

“Fuck, Nichol,” Euijoo replies, breathless. “Okay. Okay. No public indecency. None of these people deserve to see that anyway.”

“True.” Still, Nicholas presses his ass back against Euijoo's crotch, just to hear that growl again, right into his ear. A delicious shiver runs down his spine as he forces himself to move away, just a step between them so they don't entirely lose their minds on their own pheromones. “Let's just get this over with.”

︶꒦︶꒷︶︶꒷꒦︶︶︶꒷꒦‧ ₊˚・

“Euijoo,” Nicholas says plaintively, forehead pressed to the window. Euijoo has set the A/C to blast cold air straight onto Nicholas, but it’s not making a dent. It might be the first time Nicholas has ever witnessed Euijoo speeding. “Euijoo, I can’t take it anymore. Pull over.”

The thing is, since they landed, the way Euijoo had deftly taken charge might be triggering a whole new level of heat for Nicholas. Euijoo had turned protective, assertive, and no-nonsense as they navigated the airport, all the while almost constantly keeping contact between the two of them, guiding a dazed Nicholas through it all with a firm but gentle hand.

By the time they were getting their rented car, Nicholas was swaying on his feet, the fever spiking badly enough that he struggled to keep his eyes open. Euijoo folded him into his side as he filled out papers, explaining Nicholas’ heat away to the staff by saying he wasn't feeling well.

And now he’s driving, forearm muscles tensing when he curls his hand around the steering wheel, sunglasses on and his hair all over the place from a long flight and this sudden crisis he’s faced with poise. Looking at him is almost enough for Nicholas to mewl pathetically.

He’s reaching boss level heat, the kind where there is nothing that will stop him from riding his boyfriend in their rented car, not even the fact that his boyfriend is driving.

“Huh? We’re almost there, just hold on–”

“Juju if you don’t pull over right now I will get us arrested for giving you road head. Do you want to spend our vacation in a foreign country prison cell? Pull. Over.”

The tone he uses then is strange in his mouth, commanding and whiny at the same time, a feat he didn’t even know was possible. But he can’t spend another meeting without putting his mouth on Euijoo, and he’s deadly serious about this. If this is a heat, he is going to indulge in it, and he’s going to get what he wants.

And there’s nothing he wants more than Euijoo.

“You know we'll get arrested if we get caught even if I pull over, right?” Euijoo asks, but he still indicates and slows the car down when he sees a little outcropping surrounded by trees, like a viewing point. Hopefully it's not a busy one.

“Do you know how hot it was when you squared up to the guy who leered at me earlier? I could have climbed you right there in the passport queue. I can't stop thinking about it.”

The car rolls to a halt on the deserted vantage point, the view of the mountains unfolding in front of them, but Nicholas barely sees it. He knows Hawaii has to be gorgeous, he's always wanted to visit, and yet now that he's finally here, he can't even enjoy it. His eyesight feels blurry, his brain caring for nothing but getting Euijoo to touch him.

“I thought you didn't need an alpha,” Euijoo says, a low rumble as the words crash down Nicholas’ chest. He's closer already, like he can't take not touching Nicholas anymore either.

“I don't,” Nicholas replies, spreading his legs as he grabs one of Euijoo's hands, bringing it to his crotch. The sensation makes him gasp immediately, hips kicking up into the sensation. “I need you,” he repeats what he said earlier on the plane, rolling his hips against Euijoo's hand.

The fabric of his underwear is uncomfortably damp, dragging against his cock as he moves sluggishly, hand closed tight around Euijoo's wrist to keep him in place.

“It's not about getting some relief from a random alpha, babe,” Nicholas continues, words slurring together. “It's you. It's always you. Please,” he ends up murmuring, looking at Euijoo with his best puppy eyes.

Euijoo growls gently before he surges forward, burying his face in Nicholas’ neck and inhaling lungfuls of his scent like it's oxygen and he's been holding his breath for a while. He shakes off Nicholas’ hand off of his so he can pop open the button of his jeans, sliding his hand past Nicholas’ waistband with easy, practiced moves.

The sound he makes when he pushes past Nicholas’ soiled boxers is barely human, but then he has his hand wrapped around Nicholas and the relief is so intense that he only strokes once, twice, the movements eased by how much Nicholas has been leaking, before Nicholas comes.

It's incredibly messy and extremely embarrassing, but he's in heat so he'll forgive himself. He arches his back against the car seat, a hand curling around the back of Euijoo's neck as Euijoo pants all wet against Nicholas’ skin. His knee knocks against the door, a jab of pain grounding him in the moment.

He's been on edge for hours and the orgasm washes over him like wonderful relief, even if he knows it will only be very temporary. For now, he allows his chest to expand again, the band that was constricting his lungs letting go for a moment.

“Oh, fuck. Fuck, thank you,” he says into Euijoo's hair, his hips still lazily kicking as Euijoo doesn't let go of him. The most harrowing thing to Nicholas is that he's not even gone soft. He's still sort of half-hard, arousal still thrumming through his veins. He kisses the top of Euijoo's head, his hand reaching for his leg. “Do you–should I?”

Euijoo pulls back all of a sudden, his eyes dark as he shakes himself like a dog, like he's trying to get his head back in order. He gently removes his hand from Nicholas’ jeans, making him whine helplessly. The second it's gone, he misses the touch, his chest tightening immediately. Euijoo kisses his temple, like an apology.

“You've managed to make it for hours without me touching you, I can make it through the next 20 minutes while I drive us to our resort. I'm not trying to be a hero or anything. I'm worried if I let you touch me right now we will never make it there, and I really, really want you somewhere we can be alone.”

Euijoo wipes his hand over his own jeans, and really, it should be so fucking gross, but it can’t be worse than the mess in Nicholas’ boxers right now. They have bigger fish to fry right this second, like the fact that Nicholas is pretty sure he is going to die in the next hour if he doesn’t get Euijoo’s cock inside of him.

Nicholas blows out a breath, already sweating. At least he’s pretty sure they’re on the same page. “Okay, okay. Let's go, Juju.”

︶꒦︶꒷︶︶꒷꒦︶︶︶꒷꒦‧ ₊˚・

The hotel door slams closed behind them as they fly through it, Nicholas’ legs wrapped around Euijoo’s waist, hands tugging at buttons, teeth biting at each other as they blindly make their way to the bed. It’s a miracle they even managed to get in when Nicholas pressed himself against Euijoo in the hallway, licking at his scent gland like he could suck the taste right out of it. The ten minutes it had taken for Euijoo to check them in while Nicholas waited in the car had already felt like much too long, and by the time Euijoo was fumbling with the key card, Nicholas could barely take it anymore.

They go tumbling onto the bed together, Euijoo chuckling when Nicholas refuses to unlatch his legs from around his waist. “Gonna have to let go if you want to get naked, baby,” he says in between kisses, making Nicholas whine.

He doesn’t want to let go. But he also needs to feel Euijoo’s skin against his own, and he needs to get out of his soiled bottoms before he really, truly loses his mind. Honestly, he wishes he had the brainpower for a shower right now, but all his synapses are fried, his heat turning him into a dick-seeking missile. He pulls at Euijoo’s jeans, groaning when his hands feel heavy, uncoordinated, but it’s kind of rewarding to see just how hard Euijoo is when Nicholas does manage to push his trousers down, underwear following right along.

They kick and fling their clothes off all over the suite, Nicholas not caring for a second about taking in how nice it is; that’ll be for later, when he’s not some kind of cock hungry zombie that can think about absolutely nothing else. He wraps his hand around Euijoo, a pleased shiver running down his spine at the strangled noise Euijoo makes in answer.

“I don’t need prep,” Nicholas says, his voice cracking on the words. It might not be true, but really at this point he just can’t take it anymore, the pressure inside him, the cramping and the heat; he just knows that nothing will make him feel relief apart from Euijoo’s cock.

But Euijoo is kind and gentle and he worries, so despite how blown wide his eyes are, despite how obviously affected he is by the pheromones Nicholas is leaking into the air, he pauses, a hand pressed into Nicholas’ hip. “Are you–are you sure?”

Nicholas wraps his fingers around Euijoo’s cock, a pleased little whine escaping him when it jumps against his palm. He plants his feet on the mattress and spreads his legs wider still, tilting his hips up in invitation. He’s sweating all over, radiating heat like he never has before, and his patience has entirely worn off. It’s like his bones grinding against each other.

“I need it,” he replies as firmly as he can. “Please.”

Nicholas is fairly sure that if Euijoo hesitates any longer, he will start crying, but thankfully the only thing that makes tears spring to his eyes is Euijoo pushing in, guiding himself into Nicholas with his jaw clenched. The stretch is intense, bordering on painful, no matter how prepared, how needy for it Nicholas’ body is. Yet Nicholas welcomes it, takes in the burn and lets it consume him with abandon, his legs instinctively wrapping around Euijoo’s waist again. Despite the lack of preparation, Euijoo slides in easily, Nicholas’ body working overtime for hours now for this exact moment, and when Euijoo bottoms out, they groan in unison, relief evident in their voices. Euijoo sags forward, pressing his whole face in Nicholas’ neck just as Nicholas grabs a handful of Euijoo’s hair, grounding himself as he starts rolling his hips under a mostly inert Euijoo. Nicholas shifts, turning his face to be able to drag kisses along Euijoo’s face, pitiful little noises escaping his throat.

Euijoo is inside him. The way it twists Nicholas’ world upside down, you’d think it was the first time.

“Holy shit,” he whispers, the relief immediate and overwhelming. Nicholas’s body relishes in the intrusion, relaxing and tensing all at once as he rolls his shoulders into the mattress. Skin to skin, sweat mingling along with their scents. Nicholas bites Euijoo’s earlobe to hear him yip, but neither of them move for a moment longer. Nicholas is drunk on the sensation of Euijoo’s cock splitting him open, muscles clenching around him as the thirst builds up again. “Euijoo,” Nicholas says, and it rings in the room like a warning.

“I got you,” Euijoo murmurs, and the words are all slurred, but full of feeling. He straightens up, fisting the sheet by the side of Nicholas’ head as he angles his hips and starts moving, finally, finally. Nicholas’ mouth opens on a silent cry as Euijoo starts fucking him in earnest, with deep, hard thrusts that send the bed rocking under them and make Nicholas feel like he’s burning alive, but in the good way now. With one hand he grips Euijoo’s arm, feeling the muscles bunch under his fingers, while his free hand grabs the sheets, pulling at them as he rolls his hips into Euijoo’s thrusts, meeting them halfway.

Euijoo trembles above Nicholas, sweat dripping from his hair and his nose and splashing on Nicholas’ own overheated skin, but he doesn’t let up, his pace brutal, his moans music to Nicholas’ ears. This is what he needs, what he’s been craving for hours as arousal pressed against his skin and threatened to tear him apart. This is it, Euijoo’s cock inside him, impossibly warm as he fucks Nicholas, relentless and hard and yet still so tender with it. Euijoo’s free hand reaches for Nicholas’, lacing their fingers together as he leans down, kissing Nicholas with a fierceness that leaves Nicholas dizzy.

Nicholas clings to Euijoo desperately, gasping moans against his lips as they move together, pressed close because nothing else will do right now. Nicholas’ nails rake down Euijoo’s back, leaving red grooves in their wake before he digs his fingers into the plumpness of Euijoo’s ass, guiding his thrusts deeper, harder, having entirely lost the fight against the demands of his own body. His forearm scar throbs, and he knows it has to be flushed with blood, redder than normal, more obvious. He wants Euijoo’s teeth on it.

It’s surprisingly quiet; aside from the bed creaking under them, they keep on sharing soft groans and Nicholas is moaning a little higher-pitched with every thrust, but he buries the noises against Euijoo’s lips, against the curve of his cheek, keening with every thrust, Euijoo’s stomach dragging against Nicholas’ aching cock, the friction making Nicholas delirious. It’s like he can taste and hear colours, feverish and unsteady, using Euijoo’s body as his only anchor against the current that threatens to take him under. And Euijoo holds him through it, fucks him through it, their scents mingling in a way Nicholas is glad he’ll never be able to bottle.

This is them. It’s too intimate, and it belongs just to the two of them. He grips the back of Euijoo’s neck as he arches into a deep thrust, taut like a bow as he comes between the two of them, ass clenching around Euijoo’s cock, refusing to let him go. He’s not sure of how much time has passed; it could have been hours but he’s pretty sure it’s only been minutes, the two of them frenzied and completely out of time as they devoured each other. Nicholas can tell he’s already left bruises and gouges on Euijoo, marking him up, but he’s pretty sure he’s not faring any better, feeling sweat and saliva dry on his neck as he pants, Euijoo moving like a man possessed now.

He’s not long to follow suit, coming hard inside Nicholas, who feels it in a primal way, subgender instincts flaring up, his body opening up for Euijoo like he’s begging to be bred. He’ll have to sit with this one at a later point when he can think about it, but right now he just takes what Euijoo gives him, locking his ankles at the small of Euijoo’s back to keep him inside as long as possible. His blood still thrums with arousal and need, and he knows they are far from being done, but for now, it has abated, gentle waves rather than a roiling ocean.

Euijoo nuzzles Nicholas’ temple, kissing him softly along his hairline, humming under his breath. “Do you feel any better?”

“Marginally,” Nicholas replies, before turning his head to kiss Euijoo. “Thank you. Damn, thank god for you,” he says, bringing a hand up and pushing Euijoo’s hair off of his forehead. Euijoo gives him a boyish smile, and rolls his hips in a move that makes Nicholas’ eyes roll to the back of his head.

“I can’t quite say it’s a hardship, Nichol. How do you feel about a shower?”

“Are you saying I stink?” Nicholas asks with a grin, buoyant now compared to just a couple of hours ago.

“Absolutely atrocious.”

Nicholas snorts, headbutting Euijoo’s shoulder lightly. “For that one, you gotta carry me.”

︶꒦︶꒷︶︶꒷꒦︶︶︶꒷꒦‧ ₊˚・

Heat is a funny thing, because hours into it, Nicholas is just as fucking horny as he started it, all the while being able to feel bone tired and sore. The first time was intense, but it didn't stop there. In the shower, bent over the bathroom sink. Afterwards, back in bed, Nicholas rode Euijoo like his life depended on it. And he genuinely believes it might have. Nicholas is actually really impressed at how well Euijoo has been keeping up, but it's no wonder he's spent now.

And yet he lets Nicholas do whatever he wants, whatever he needs.

Nicholas’ muscles are screaming at him and yet he still grinds against Euijoo’s thigh like a depraved man, face flushed so red it hurts. He’s so embarrassed and yet he can’t stop humping his boyfriend, who deserves such a goddamn break. They’re on vacation and yet Euijoo probably could do with being away from Nicholas right now, just to be able to breathe something that isn’t air completely saturated with pheromones. Nicholas doesn't want Euijoo's dick to fall off or to chafe or something. He likes that dick. A whole lot.

Nicholas comes with a hoarse cry, hiding his face against Euijoo’s arm and hoping that Euijoo will think that’s just sweat he’s smearing around, and not tears. But of course he’s not that lucky, because Euijoo cares about him and they’re pretty in tune with each other at this point. Euijoo gently lifts Nicholas’ chin with two fingers, shifting so they can curl into each other like parentheses, foreheads and toes touching.

“Nico, it’s okay,” Euijoo murmurs as he swipes his thumb under one of Nicholas’ eyes, gathering moisture.

“I hate this,” Nicholas replies, a shiver wracking his body. “I hate being so out of control.”

“I’m sorry,” Euijoo replies, sincerely. “If that helps, you know there’s nowhere else I’d rather be than with you, right? We weather this together.”

“I feel like I’m using you,” Nicholas replies, dropping his gaze to the space between them. Euijoo growls, grabbing Nicholas’ around the waist and pulling him closer.

“No,” he counters without hesitation, his voice brokering no argument. He’s not using an alpha voice or anything, but it’s just… authoritative. Sexy, Nicholas’ lizard brain unhelpfully supplies. “You’re not doing anything I’m not 1000% on board with. It's hot, to watch you get off. To know you want me here.”

Nicholas swallows around the lump in his throat, wishing that Euijoo’s words were enough to fully reassure him. They ease the ache a little bit, the worries, but he’s not going to stop thinking he’s ruining their first vacation together any time soon.

“If you need to go for a walk or something, just get out for a few hours, that’s okay,” Nicholas says softly, but he means it. He knows it’d be hard for him to take it, his body and his brain craving Euijoo’s touch at all times, but he can be reasonable. He can fight his brain until it understands that he’s not being abandoned.

“You’d feel horrible the whole time I’m away, wouldn’t you?”

Nicholas looks up into Euijoo’s eyes, only finding patience and devotion there. He always thought he deserved someone good, but he never imagined he’d ever find someone like Euijoo. It makes Nicholas honest, even if he wishes he could lie to make it easier for Euijoo.

“Probably, yeah,” he admits softly, reaching up to press the back of his knuckles to Euijoo’s round little cheek. “But I’d handle it. I know you’d come back.”

“Hm,” Euijoo muses, a smile on his face as he nuzzles closer, brushing their noses together as he grips Nicholas’ hand. “I don’t think I want you to have to handle it.”

“Juju…”

“Why are you so sure I’m mad about this turn of events? Do you even realise how insane it is that somehow my presence, or something I did, triggered a heat for you? You think I’d want to be away and not enjoy every second?”

Nicholas flushes, flustered by the words. “But you made a whole spreadsheet with plans,” he retorts, because Euijoo did, and Nicholas is pretty sure it was the fondness and the overwhelming love that rushed through him when he saw the care and time Euijoo put into it that triggered his heat. “We wanted to do all these things, and now we can’t.”

“Oh no, and now we are naked in bed together for a few days, while we have no other responsibilities! The hardship, I can’t handle it. I must immediately peel myself off of you and walk into the ocean,” Euijoo replies sarcastically, doing anything but. If anything he shifts even closer, slipping a knee in between Nicholas’.

He drags a hand through Nicholas’ hair, forcing their eyes to meet again. “Hear me when I say this, Nichol. I don’t want to be away from you. We will still get to do some of these things when your heat breaks. I want to take care of you, whatever that looks like right now. You’re obviously going through a lot, and I’m not going to leave you hanging when you need me, okay? I want you to rely on me, and trust me.”

“I trust you,” Nicholas breathes, choked up. Fuck his hormones, this is ridiculous, but Euijoo is saying all the right things, and Nicholas’ heart soars. “I love you.”

Euijoo inhales sharply. They have only said these words once, fairly recently, and they still feel new and fresh and liberating and giddying. It takes Nicholas by surprise just as much as Euijoo, how easily they slipped out. Still, he smiles, eyes fluttering shut as he lets Euijoo pet his hair.

“I love you too,” Euijoo replies, an obvious grin to his tone. For the first time in 12 hours, Nicholas relaxes.

︶꒦︶꒷︶︶꒷꒦︶︶︶꒷꒦‧ ₊˚・

There’s a knock at the door. Nicholas startles, immediately pulled from his drowsy state as alarm bells ring in his head. Beside him, Euijoo is already flinging his impossibly long legs over the side of the bed, grabbing a robe on his way to the door.

“Did you order room service?” Nicholas asks, only for Euijoo to shake his head.

“No. No idea who this could be. I put the do not disturb sign on the door, too.”

Watching Euijoo hide himself in an oversized, fluffy robe is the most heartbreaking visual Nicholas has ever had to witness. The fact that they’re also being interrupted during a short, blissful respite from Nicholas’ unrelenting hormones makes it even worse. He glances at the clock on the bedside table, reading 2am. Who the fuck shows up at a hotel door at 2am?

Euijoo takes a look through the peephole before humming to himself. Nicholas, reluctantly, moves as well, draping the other robe around himself so he can edge a little closer without flashing anyone when Euijoo opens the door.

“Hello?” Euijoo asks as he does, looking down at the blushing hotel employee standing in front of him. She’s looking all prim and proper, and she maintains composure, lifting her eyes to Euijoo’s with a polite smile on her face.

“Good evening sir,” she starts, and Nicholas’ heart immediately sinks. Shit, he needs to take point for this if the conversation is going to be in English. Euijoo understands the language well enough, but he still relies on Nicholas for conversations. It'd be unfair to ask this of Euijoo on top of everything else. Nicholas moves closer, popping his face out next to Euijoo’s shoulder. “I’m so sorry to disturb you, but we have received… complaints. About the smell. And the noise. But mostly about the smell.”

Nicholas hard-swallows around the mortification that lodges itself in his throat. “Oh,” he croaks out, and Euijoo immediately reaches out, grabbing one of Nicholas’ hands in a reassuring move, rubbing his thumb across Nicholas’ knuckles. Nicholas wishes for the ground to swallow him up. He wishes to be back home, where they have excellent insulation and ventilation and he's not stinking up the place all the time with his crazed I-must-be-bred hormones.

It's degrading to think everyone that walks past their room can smell how needy he is. It makes him feel like it's a shameful thing, even though he knows better, rationally. His hormones don't care about being rational.

“My partner. Hot,” Euijoo tries to explain in broken English, fanning his face to help with the words, forcing Nicholas to dig his nails into his own palm because it’s so fucking cute it brings tears to his eyes. It’s this kind of illuminating moment; Euijoo would do absolutely anything for Nicholas and to ensure his comfort and safety. Now and anytime.

But Nicholas would do the same for Euijoo, for the two of them, and so he pushes past the shame. “I’m in heat. I’m sorry, it was not… on purpose. Not planned. Are you asking us to leave?”

The employee looks stricken with guilt at the question, and shakes her head quickly. “No, no! We obviously needed to speak to you but we understand that unforeseen circumstances happen. We’re not asking you to leave, but this floor is pretty booked up, so we’d like to upgrade you to our upstairs suite. It should resolve all issues, and provide you with the privacy you need as well.”

Euijoo’s lips form a little ‘o’ as he looks down at Nicholas. It feels like placating them, because he knows the hotel is in a bit of a pickle; heats and ruts are still respected in society and in legal terms. There are allowances made for them in work contracts and in public facilities, an array of things Nicholas has never thought about before because he’s never had to. But now he has to be grateful for the fact that the hotel can’t really kick them out without facing a lawsuit Nicholas would never file, but the fear is enough. But they also have their other guests to think about.

Nicholas isn’t stupid, he knows his scent must be permeating the walls right now. If it were them stuck smelling another omega for days on end while trying to have a romantic vacation, he might complain too.

But even if the hotel is placating, they are also upgrading them, and gift horse? Nicholas’ not going to look it in the mouth.

“Well, um. Thank you,” he replies, the words sticking to his throat. “You want us to move now?”

She nods, holding out a set of electronic keys in a little cardboard holder. “Whenever you are able. There is a private lift to the suites, on the right side of the lobby. Just drop the keys for this room with us when you’re ready.”

Euijoo takes the keys, still looking a little dumbfounded, but they don’t even get to ask anything else before the employee is shuffling off, tugging at the starched collar of her shirt.

“Um,” Euijoo starts. Nicholas is genuinely proud of himself for being able to keep himself in check during this interaction, and he flings himself back against the wall as they step away from the door, breathing heavily.

“It’s a good thing we didn’t really have the mind to unpack, I guess,” he says, closing his eyes as sweat beads at his temple. Euijoo chuckles.

“But now we have to put on some actual clothes again.”

Nicholas groans, then laughs. “Better get to it while I’m still lucid, then.”

︶꒦︶꒷︶︶꒷꒦︶︶︶꒷꒦‧ ₊˚・

The suite is, in one word, decadent. It’s absurd, actually, to think people look for this amount of luxury even though they’re on vacation, but Nicholas guesses it must have its uses, considering it’s here and pristine and all for them for the rest of their stay, even though he really, really hopes his heat breaks in a few days.

Not daring to touch the glass of the French doors leading to the expansive balcony, Nicholas leans forward, the light of the moon and of other hotels in the distance twinkling softly against the backdrop of the ocean. It’s so romantic.

“Do you think if I ride you on the couch outside, anyone can see us?”

Euijoo cackles, which gives Nicholas hope that they will revisit this thought later down the line. He grins, opening one of the doors to let the fresh ocean breeze in. He can feel the fever kicking up again, making his hands tremble as he listens to the sounds of Euijoo exploring the suite, shuffling steps, little knocks when he bumps into something. Little yelps that make Nicholas smile to himself. Even with whatever his body is going through right now, Euijoo is a calming presence. Reassuring.

That is, until Nicholas smells Euijoo’s scent spike into that sweet, almost candied citrus smell. Nicholas grips the gauzy curtain in front of him as an abrupt wave of arousal crashes over him at the warm scent of his boyfriend’s own desire, making him dizzy. Symptoms that abated for an hour or so return full force, Nicholas’ stomach churning with inescapable need and his own scent exploding out of him.

“Euijoo?” On unsteady feet, he follows Euijoo’s smell, nostrils flared and guiding him. He’s pretty sure his heat has made him a lot more sensitive to smells, but it’s nothing on how much he seeks out Euijoo’s scent at all times. Pressing his nose to one of Euijoo’s scent glands has been the only way so far for Nicholas to clear the brain fog he’s been walking with since this heat started. Euijoo is the light at the end of the tunnel when Nicholas is wandering around, disoriented and aching.

Nicholas finds Euijoo in the bedroom, and he stops dead in his tracks as he takes in what Euijoo is staring at. Making up most of the wall opposite the bed is a huge mirror, the night sky reflected in it from this angle. The decor of the room is understated, making the mirror the statement, bold and obvious in its function, and the tips of Euijoo’s ears are red when Nicholas looks over at him. He chuckles, closing the distance between them and wrapping his arms around Euijoo’s middle, nose tucked into the curve of his shoulder.

“What’s got your scent all sweet like that all of a sudden, hm?”

The breath Euijoo releases is shaky, loud in the quiet of the space. He gestures to the bed, the mirror, the huge windows ahead of them, and Nicholas is sure he can feel crackling inside Euijoo’s chest when he presses his hands against it. “This is, um,” Euijoo starts, stutters when Nicholas drags his hands down, resting them over Euijoo’s stomach, pinkies curving under the hem of the shirt Euijoo hastily threw on earlier. For a moment, Nicholas feels like he’s dropped into a completely different headspace; he’s not fighting against the fire raging inside his body, instead using it to drive Euijoo to distraction instead. With an end goal, his mind and his body reconcile for a moment.

“What?” Nicholas asks, rising on his tiptoes to brush the word against the shell of Euijoo’s ear. “What are you thinking of?”

“You,” Euijoo replies in a whoosh of breath.

A drop of sweat runs down Nicholas’ spine. He might have a semblance of control right now, but it’s flimsy and weak, especially with Euijoo like this, obviously eager and turned on by whatever imagery his brain is conjuring up. Nicholas fists his hands in Euijoo’s shirt to ground himself for a second before he lets go, moving to kneel on the bed instead, movements as measured and intent as possible. He spreads his knees wide, looking at himself in the mirror, and runs his palm up his stomach, taking the oversized shirt he’s got on with him as he moves.

“Like this?” he asks softly, relaxing his eyes and looking over at Euijoo, trying for bashfulness. Euijoo swallows visibly, and nods. Flicking the shirt off of him, Nicholas grins. Underneath, he only has on the flimsiest pair of striped swimming trunks–the first thing he could find to wear while they moved rooms. They do nothing to conceal how hard he is, and he can only guess that the back of them is already fully translucent. When he looks over, he can see Euijoo is not faring any better, his thick cock obviously tenting his sweatpants.

“Fuck, Nichol,” Euijoo grits out, looking like he’s hesitating to approach. Nicholas licks his lips, feeling how chapped they are from kisses and maybe level of dehydration, and he drops forward on his hands, arching his back and digging his fingers into the high thread count sheets.

“C’mere, Juju,” Nicholas asks, entirely wanton. “Isn’t this exactly how you want me? You want to look at us while you fuck me, right? So come on. Come fuck me.”

The noise Euijoo makes is barely human. Ripped out of his chest, something Nicholas has never heard from him before. Low, growly, completely wrecked, it makes Nicholas whine in his throat in answer, dropping forward on his elbows, the arch of his back even more pronounced. Like he’s presenting himself to Euijoo, giving himself up entirely. Reduced to acting like an animal to get exactly what he wants. What he needs.

Euijoo all but tears his shirt off, kicking his sweatpants with a lack of grace that betrays his impatience as he moves towards the bed, climbing on behind Nicholas and immediately wrapping a possessive hand around Nicholas’ waist. Nicholas looks up with a groan, pushing his hips back already to grind against Euijoo, wanting him to witness the mess of precum smearing over Nicholas’ already soiled shorts. The picture they paint in the mirror is one of pure depravity: following the arch of Nicholas’ back, he can see Euijoo’s cock resting on top of his ass, shifting down to slide between his cheeks, pressing in a little like he wants to fuck Nicholas through his shorts, like he can’t wait. Euijoo is red all over, in blotchy little patches that Nicholas wants to put his mouth to, and his pupils are blown wide as he watches the two of them in the mirror too.

“Fuck,” he murmurs with feeling, pressing his thumb over the head of his cock as he thrusts back up, making Nicholas’ eyes roll to the back of his head for a second before he makes himself keep watching. “We look fucking good.”

They do. In an obscene, yet intimate way, they look incredible. Still, Nicholas bites his lip, a shiver running down his spine as Euijoo slows the rhythm of his hips, not nearly enough now. “We’ll look better when your dick’s inside me,” he replies, trying not to sound as petulant as he feels.

Thankfully, Euijoo doesn’t tease. With practiced hands, he pulls Nicholas’ shorts down, keeping them around his thighs and preventing him from spreading them as much as he’d like. His cock hangs heavy between them, already dripping down to the sheets pathetically. Euijoo makes a noise. “So I can’t eat you out?”

Nicholas’ next breath explodes out of him as he trembles, and he watches as Euijoo looks down, hooking his thumb against the rim of Nicholas’ fluttery hole. With a pitiful little noise, Nicholas feels slick run down the back of his thighs. Sad, how quickly the tables turned here.

“After,” Nicholas begs, because his body is demanding a cock. Right now.

Euijoo sinks inside Nicholas in one smooth thrust, a hand gripping Nicholas’ hip as their eyes meet briefly in the mirror. What a sight they make, overwhelmed and sweaty, but together, moving in unison immediately, Nicholas clawing at the sheets as each of Euijoo's thrusts rock him forward. He pushes back every time, mouth biting on a litany of Euijoo and God's names as his eyes never leave the spectacle he makes of himself.

Fuck, it feels good. Euijoo feels good. And he looks good, too, eyes wide and dark as he looks at them too, hair sticking to his temples with sweat. He looks like sin personified, like everything Nicholas has ever wanted in his life, and never even dreamed of having.

“Fuck,” Nicholas groans, wishing he could open his legs wider by constrained by his own shorts around his thighs. It makes the grind even filthier, his walls clamped tighter around Euijoo's dick whenever he moves. “Do you think you could pop a knot?”

Under any other circumstances, the question would be incongruous. Just like omega don't get heats these days, alphas don't pop knots anymore. They might still have the equipment to do it, but evolutionary speaking, they've moved on from that. And yet. And yet Nicholas wants nothing more than to see just how far past their own limits they can push their bodies. He wants to feel Euijoo swell inside and lock in and be unable to pull out for 45 minutes. He wants it.

“I–I don't know,” Euijoo replies through gritted teeth, fucking into Nicholas deep and hard, leaning over him. Drops of sweat keep on falling from his chin onto the small of Nicholas’ back, the skin hot enough that Nicholas is sure he hears sizzling. Maybe they could cook an egg on his stomach at this point. Euijoo could do with the protein. “But if it's ever going to happen, it'd be now. You look so gorgeous, fuck.”

“Makes you want to breed me?”

In answer, Euijoo leans even further down, wrapping his arms around Nicholas’ chest, and pulling him up to rest his back against Euijoo's torso. He sits back on his heels to still be able to fuck into Nicholas, but the rhythm and angle is completely different now, deeper, more intimate. Nicholas watches the stretch of his body in the mirror, noticing things he's never noticed before. How small his nipples are, dusky and dark and impossibly perked up. The veins that protrude next to his hipbones. How pale he is currently, made even more stark with Euijoo's tan hands on him, and the redness of his scar over his forearm, looking puffy with exertion. Nicholas is achingly hard, but Euijoo's hands don't reach for it.

Euijoo seems to be too busy watching the two of them with shockingly dark eyes roaming. For a moment, he looks like a man possessed. His plump lips against Nicholas’ neck, small hands splayed over Nicholas’ belly like he is, indeed, thinking of having it curved with pregnancy.

Happens only rarely for male omega these days, but not completely unheard of, after all. And when the two of them look like this, really, it'd be a shame not to mix their DNA and create the best looking baby ever born.

Nicholas’ head lolls back a little, pressing his temple to Euijoo's as he keeps looking at the two of them in the mirror and curls an arm up to grab the back of Euijoo's neck. It's lewd, just like the noises they're making, and Nicholas has never felt so cherished in his life at the same time. Every touch, every kiss, every caress, feels like reverence against his skin. He isn't sure he has ever looked quite as glorious as he thinks he does now, held together by Euijoo, glowing with pleasure when he pushes his hair off of his forehead, his eyes bright with feverish need as the music of Euijoo's moans fill his ears.

“We could be pornstars,” Nicholas says without thought, raking his fingers through Euijoo's sweaty hair. He's surprised by the growl that rumbles up Euijoo's chest in answer, but in a way that makes him chuckle, all warm.

“No,” Euijoo replies, biting down into the meat of Nicholas’ shoulder. “All mine.”

Nicholas laughs again, but it's breathy, affected. Euijoo doesn't get possessive often, but it's exactly what the roaring beast inside Nicholas wants right now.

“Mmm,” he scratches at Euijoo's scalp, rewarded with a deep thrust that makes his toes curl. “All yours.”

Nicholas’ free hand plays with his own nipples, almost too oversensitive. His cock stands red and neglected, leaking down the shaft and onto the sheets as every thrust of Euijoo's hips, more languid now, hits his prostate dead-on with his usual precision. It feels so absurdly good it makes tears spring to Nicholas’ eyes as he turns his head further, kissing along the softness of Euijoo's cheek.

“Touch me,” he begs against Euijoo's ear, shivering. “I'm so close baby please–”

Euijoo immediately wraps a hand around Nicholas’ cock, thrusting up hard enough to jostle Nicholas on his lap, making him cry out. His other hand curls under Nicholas’ chin, fingers turning his face to look at them in the mirror again.

“Watch yourself come on my cock, Nico,” Euijoo says, a hint of authority in his voice. He's so fucking hot, in ways he absolutely has no rights to be. “Watch me fill you up and breed you like you want.”

If he wasn't so far gone, hazy with heat and arousal, Nicholas would quip back, but all he can do right now is speed up the rhythm, fucking up into Euijoo's hand and back down onto his cock, mouth open slack on harsh breaths as he races to his orgasm.

It hits him moments before Euijoo follows, the two of them choking on too-short breaths, Euijoo's eyes shining in the dimly lit room, Nicholas’ hips undulating helplessly as he milks Euijoo dry and spills over his own thighs at the same time. He's a mess, and it's exhilarating.

“Didn't get you to knot,” Nicholas pouts, even as his eyes roll to the back of his head when Euijoo presses his hand firmly against Nicholas’ lower stomach, keeping him exactly where he is.

“I'll stay inside as long as you want,” Euijoo promises, sweet as ever.

“Even if I fall asleep?”

“Even then.”

︶꒦︶꒷︶︶꒷꒦︶︶︶꒷꒦‧ ₊˚・

In the movies, they portray heats as these three-day full-on sprints, where there are no breaks and no moment where the omega can even think beyond the need to be filled. In reality, it’s different for Nicholas, more like a marathon. They get to pace themselves a little, to talk in between, to take naps curled around each other. They take showers.

But the sprints hit unpredictably, forcefully, and last for hours. In those moments, he is completely insatiable. And through it all, Euijoo is there, patient, kind, giving Nicholas anything he wants, even when it's taking a toll on his own body.

It pisses Nicholas off.

“Do you want me to order some food?” Euijoo asks, still panting, as he rolls to his back on the wide bed. There's sweat glistening on his skin and bruises where Nicholas has bitten him a little too hard littered over his upper body. Nicholas is still immensely horny, but Euijoo being so nice when Nicholas has done nothing but abuse his body for the better part of a day and a half now just makes him angry.

It's like he has no control over his own emotions anymore. Everything keeps on leaking out, just like his slick. Nicholas grinds his teeth together, pushing away from Euijoo to calm himself down, because he knows it's not Euijoo's fault, and he shouldn't have to deal with this.

Unfortunately, Euijoo makes a concerned little noise when Nicholas turns his back to him, and he touches Nicholas, just two fingers against his spine, but it's enough.

“Stop it,” Nicholas grits out, pressing the heels of his palms into his eyes. God, he hates this. He hates this uncontrollable wave that crests over him and sweeps him away. He barely feels like himself.

“What's wrong? Did I do something?” Euijoo asks, sounding both worried and confused.

Nicholas grunts, before he whirls around, pointing an accusatory finger at Euijoo. “That's exactly the problem, Euijoo! You haven't done anything wrong, you've been perfect this whole time, and it pisses me off! Can't you be a little annoyed that I'm ruining our vacation, or tell me no every now and then instead of letting me just use your body even though you're exhausted? Can you be less nice for a minute?”

Euijoo blinks, looking taken aback by Nicholas’ sudden outburst. They stare at each other as Nicholas pants heavily, his hands curled into fists by his sides. It takes a while, but Euijoo's eyes narrow finally, his lips in a thin line.

“You're angry at me because I'm too nice to you, Nichol? Are you fucking kidding me?”

“No, I'm not! You make me feel like I'm a horrible person taking advantage of your kindness because you never say no to anything!”

Euijoo sits up, running an agitated hand through his hair. Even like this, with anger toiling in his gut, Nicholas can't help but find Euijoo so beautiful. He can't help but want him.

They don't fight very often, but when they do, it's always quick and explosive and patched over with carefully considered apologies. They are working every day at their communication, and yet here Nicholas is, poking where it hurts.

“Are you itching for a fight? Your hormones getting the best of you?”

Nicholas’ nostrils flare as Euijoo crosses his arms over his chest.

“You–”

“You want me to be less nice? You really want me to leave you hanging when you're delirious with need because of your heat? What kind of boyfriend would that make me? Fuck you, I've been doing everything I can for you to be comfortable and for this heat not to be a horrible experience, and this is what I get?”

“I just hate that you're focusing on me so much and you're not taking care of yourself! You're so considerate and it's making me feel like shit that I can't do anything in return, I'm just here taking taking taking!”

“What about you stop being so self-absorbed for a second, huh? You think you're selfish? Let me tell you what's selfish,” Euijoo says, his voice rising a little. He looks annoyed, if not overly angry, and Nicholas tastes bile in his throat.

This is so fucking stupid, and it's all his fault. Both of them naked and gesticulating at each other, pressing buttons just because Nicholas felt the need to vibrate with something else than pure horny energy. Not that he's still not feeling that, either. He's fucked up.

“What's selfish is that you keep on trying to deny me this, Nichol,” Euijoo continues, his tone more measured now. “You keep on talking about how this isn't fair on me and you're taking advantage of me and how do you think that makes me feel, huh? You tell me that this is a chore for me, making these assumptions about how I feel! Why won't you understand that I want to be here with you!”

“There's a difference between wanting to be here and being entirely sucked dry of all your energy. What if we're too tired after all this to even do anything during the rest of our vacation! I don't want you to resent me!”

Nicholas is about to cry, and that might be the most mortifying part of all this. He doesn't want to fight with Euijoo, not like this, not when it could sour the mood they've maintained until now. His mood deflates, anger syphoned out of him and replaced by fear that Euijoo will end up leaving.

Fuck these hormones, seriously.

“Nicholas, shit, what are you talking about? If we need to recover for the rest of the vacation, then we do that. And on our next vacation we'll run around and do activities. It's not like it'll be our last, is it? Right now, all I want is to continue taking care of you. You think I'm not having the time of my life, really? You think it's not the fucking best to wake up to you rutting against me, your smell soaking the sheets around? It's enough to get me hard as a rock just thinking about it! Do you really think I'm not loving this? I told you the other day already, and I haven't changed my mind. Can you please calm the fuck down now and stop thinking this heat is going to ruin us?”

Nicholas’ bottom lip trembles as he pouts, arms crossed his chest. “You can't tell me what to do,” he says weakly, all the fight gone from him just as quick as it rose up.

Euijoo huffs out a laugh, shaking the annoyance out of his limbs before he lunges forward, tackling Nicholas to the bed. He goes down with a yelp, only barely fighting back as Euijoo hovers above him, keeping Nicholas’ hands pressed against the bedspread.

“You wanna do something for me, Nico?” Euijoo asks, shifting to straddle Nicholas. “You want me to tell you what I want?”

Nicholas arches against Euijoo, immediately hard, immediately craving more. A minute ago they were arguing, and now here he is, absolutely yearning for more of Euijoo in every way he can.

“Yeah,” he pants, letting his tongue rest on the plush of his bottom lip. “Your turn.”

Euijoo rolls his hips, dragging their cocks together. So there really is something to say about bickering as foreplay, he guesses, because they both look a little out of it already, Nicholas breathing hard as he tries his best to entice Euijoo into kissing him.

It works, Euijoo closing the distance between them before he speaks again, kissing Nicholas with a little bite to it, like he's still trying to teach him a lesson. Nicholas groans into it, pushing against Euijoo's hold on his wrists as he kisses back enthusiastically. It quickly turns sloppy, Nicholas watching hazily as Euijoo drips saliva onto Nicholas’ tongue when they pull apart for a moment, the kind of filthy that'd usually make Nicholas wrinkle his nose. He welcomes it now, whining for more kisses as his thoughts slip further and further away from the fact that Euijoo hasn't told him what he wants yet, too content to be handled.

Until Euijoo pulls back sharply, licking at Nicholas’ top lip. “I want you to fuck me,” he says, his voice low, wrecked.

“Bzuh?” Nicholas responds as his brain kicks back into gear. Euijoo rolls his hips again, making Nicholas’ eyes flutter open.

“You asked me to tell you what I want. I want you to fuck me.”

It's nothing new for them; they've been switching since the beginnings of their relationship. Euijoo has always been confident in his own sexuality, second gender, and preferences to be the one to bring it up, and Nicholas had been all too willing to rise up to the occasion. Because why not, after all? Why should your subgender decide for you whether or not you like to take it up the ass? It's so reductive.

But Nicholas has not thought about topping once since his heat started. He's been so focused on being filled at all times that it didn't even occur to him, but now he looks up at Euijoo straddling him, his tiny little waist and his perky nipples, his shiny lips and his big doe eyes, it does. Nicholas groans, thrusting his hips up like a dry run of what's to come.

“Fuck, yeah. Yeah,” Nicholas replies, grinning. The fight is all but entirely gone from his memory. “Like this?”

“No,” Euijoo scoffs, but he's smiling too as he kisses Nicholas again, quick and light. “That'd make me do all the work again.”

Nicholas laughs, all the weight lifting off of his shoulders. Damn, but Euijoo really makes him stupidly happy. Incandescently so. Sometimes, Nicholas looks into Euijoo’s big boba eyes and he can see their future, the whole world that they have ahead of them, and he looks forward to it like he never has anything before in his life. Not even the incredible Chrome Hearts jacket he saw in the second-hand shop that one time.

Euijoo is just overall better than any old jacket. More comforting when he wraps himself around Nicholas. Warmer, because he runs like an absolute furnace, which is amazing for Nicholas and how cold his toes get. More patient, funnier, a better conversationalist. More infuriating than anyone else in the world, but in the most positive way. And now Nicholas is comparing his wonderful Spreadsheet Guy (trademark pending) with clothes, because apparently a heat makes you lose all your coherent brain cells.

Also, why is he losing time right now, when Euijoo just asked him to fuck him? This is not a time to get lost in his own thoughts!

Pushing back a little against Euijoo’s hands still holding him, Nicholas grins. “Okay then, Princess. Let me go and lie back so I can do all the work instead.”

It’s not like Nicholas doesn’t have the energy to spare anyway.

Euijoo huffs at the nickname but goes willingly enough, gracefully rolling to his back on the large bed. It's a disaster zone at this point, the sheets barely hanging on, the duvet thrown halfway across the room, suspicious stains littering the bedding that Nicholas does not want to look at with a black light, even if it only comes from the two of them.

He's quick to nudge his way between Euijoo's legs, opening them with his knees easily, shuffling forward until he's sitting snug, Euijoo's thighs draped over his own. Nicholas hums happily, running his hands up Euijoo's long legs, going against the grain of his soft hairs just to feel them. He bends close to kiss the inside of Euijoo's knee, then moving up, up, up, taking his time with it as Euijoo melts into the mattress.

“Gorgeous,” Nicholas murmurs against Euijoo's skin, his heat dragging him forward at a languid pace, wanting to make the most of being in charge. His body isn't screaming for him to be filled up right now; it's instead gently begging to feel Euijoo inside and out, to be the giver.

“You're going to tease me?” Euijoo asks, and their eyes meet over his knobbly, wonderful knee. Nicholas detaches his mouth from Euijoo's skin reluctantly.

“Do you want me to?”

Euijoo shakes his head. Hands over his stomach, he takes a deep breath and spreads himself open wider, muscles twitching under Nicholas’ hands.

“I want you inside me,” Euijoo says then, his voice steady despite the wild look in his eyes. “It's been too long, and I deserve it.”

Nicholas groans and leans forward, Euijoo's leg curling around his waist as they crash into a kiss, filthy and loud in how quiet the room is around them, only disturbed by the hum of the A/C, and the sudden worried noise Nicholas makes when he remembers the lube is in one of their suitcases.

That's just a second before his brain, surprisingly helpfully, reminds him he can just use his own natural lube. With a grin pressed against Euijoo's lips, Nicholas reaches back to easily gather slick on his fingers, lets it pool into his palm. His heat sure is still doing its thing, because he's ridiculously wet, ridiculously turned on by Euijoo. More than usual, even, which is saying a lot about Nicholas’ whole state. Nicholas drips slick down Euijoo's cock to the sound of Euijoo's little whimpers. Nicholas swallows them greedily as he skates his fingers along Euijoo's erection and further down, cradling his balls for a moment before moving on. His goal in reach.

Euijoo makes those noises the whole time. While they kiss, and after too, little panted breaths that sound like they're hard to drag out of his lungs. He times them with the steady pulse of Nicholas’ finger when he pushes in, taking his time. Not to tease, but because Euijoo is right, it's been a while, and Nicholas might not be as big as Euijoo is, but that doesn't mean Nicholas is not going to be thorough.

And he'd die for these noises. For the way Euijoo clutches at his arm, relaxes into the intrusion, rolls his hips into it. He looks made for it, despite being an alpha. Like it matters. Nicholas would top the hell of that alpha any day of the week if he was asked. Just look at him, opening up so beautifully, begging so sweetly, his eyes pleading and his lips bitten red. Euijoo is blushing, because he always gets embarrassed when he starts to beg, but Nicholas loves it. He kisses the redness of Euijoo's cheeks, his chest, and gives him exactly what he's whimpering for.

One finger, two, then three; he knows that's enough. Nicholas’ fingers are thick and rough compared to Euijoo's delicate ones, but he's careful, takes his time to make sure every single noise is one of pleasure and impatience and not discomfort. He loves how tight Euijoo is around him, how he keeps on clenching his muscles, baring his throat for Nicholas in a way that makes him growl gently, a rumble through his chest.

“Fuck, your fingers are so huge,” Euijoo breathes out, eyes fluttering shut. “Feels so good.”

“Should I keep them in when I fuck you?” Nicholas asks, because his mind is ruled by his heat and his hormones at this point. Twin groans ring through the room as the mental image hits them both, Euijoo tilting his hips up as Nicholas fingers him deeper, harder, curling his fingers to hit his prostate.

“Nichol, oh my god, I'm good, I'm good, please fuck,” Euijoo babbles, biting on the meat of his own hand like he's trying to stop himself. Nicholas gives him a look as he bares his teeth for a second, possessive. Wanting to claim.

“Let me hear you,” he growls lowly as he pulls his fingers away from Euijoo, reaching behind himself again for more slick, using it on his own cock. His nostrils flare at the sudden sensation, swaying forward over Euijoo. “They moved us here so we could be as stinky and as loud as we want, so don't hold back.”

Euijoo unlatches, eyes flashing in challenge as he smirks. “Make me,” he replies, and so Nicholas does.

In one fluid, but more aggressive move than he would usually be, Nicholas pushes inside Euijoo, explosive breaths escaping them in unison when he does. They can be rough, sometimes, when the mood strikes, but since his heat started it's been surprisingly gentle, even when urgent because Nicholas can't help himself. Euijoo is just attentive and gives him exactly what he needs, and even when he's a little less sweet about it, it's always safe.

Nicholas has no idea if he feels safe right now. Inside, he's gone a little wild, his instincts roaring in triumph as he starts fucking Euijoo, looking down at the pleasure written all over his face. He wonders if it's odd that he loves this so much when heat is supposed to just make him a breedable shell of himself, but he's not going to think about it too long. Euijoo feels too good, hot and tight around him, his smell warm and a little spicy, curling around Nicholas and trapping him close. He wonders how he smells himself right now, if it melds with Euijoo's scent well, if the combination of the two of them smells as good as the sex feels.

Nicholas has to believe they do, considering how his sales skyrocketed since he started seeing Euijoo. He keeps on getting comments about how his scent has deepened, taken on even more layers than before, and how it's even more intoxicating. Nicholas even offered Euijoo a cut of the profits, but Euijoo obviously refused, asking Nicholas to put it in a savings account instead.

Sweet, sweet Euijoo. His little mean streak only comes out when they're bickering, pointed and sometimes cruel, but they've learned how to smooth each other's ruffled feathers over time. Mostly Euijoo teases these days, riles Nicholas up because he knows exactly how to. It's endearing.

But right now, he's not sweet. Right now, he's blazing, eyes flashing and tongue poking out of his lips as he meets Nicholas’ thrusts. Nicholas is smudging bruises into his hips, holding him too tight to drive his cock in and out of Euijoo almost punishingly, mostly just out of control. It's hard to keep a hold of himself when his body is screaming at him to claim, claim, claim him, and Nicholas wants nothing more. He wants to sink his teeth into Euijoo's neck and taste blood on his tongue, and he wants Euijoo to do the same. Archaic, primal, base.

He doesn't. Of course he doesn't. Instead he holds Euijoo too tight and he fucks him hard and with feeling, looming above him and blocking the light from casting shadows over Euijoo's gorgeous face.

His to kiss. Celestial bodies can fight him for the right.

Nicholas flicks at the corner of Euijoo's mouth as he slows his thrusts, earning himself a soft moan, Euijoo's fingers tangling in Nicholas’ hair. Nicholas would flinch away under most other circumstances, but not with Euijoo. With Euijoo he purrs, smiling as Euijoo lifts his hips from the mattress, chasing Nicholas’ thrusts.

“We should do this more often,” Euijoo breathes with a grin as he falls back to the mattress, hair sticking to his forehead with sweat. They laugh together for a second before Nicholas shifts, not wanting Euijoo to get too used to the current position and depth of his movement.

He circles Euijoo's leg around the thigh again and drives forward long and deep, kissing Euijoo's calf. He gets a rhythm going again, looking down at this gorgeous, gorgeous man splayed out for him, just for him. Crying out Nicholas’ name, fingers pulling at the sheets by his sides, his cock hard and bouncing with every roll of Nicholas’ hips.

“Mine,” he growls, and it's not really meant for Euijoo to understand, but he does anyway, eyes flashing again when he looks back at Nicholas.

“Mine,” he replies with the same intent. He doesn't offer himself, but instead he takes what's offered, and it blooms in Nicholas’ heart, making him grin as he grinds down, one hand sliding down Euijoo's chest to wrap around his cock.

“Do you want a knot, baby? Do you want to know what that feels like? I have a dildo at home, if you wanted to experience it. I'm sure it's nothing like the real thing, but I like it.”

“One day I'll give you a real one,” Euijoo says, and Nicholas nods, shivering. It makes him squeeze his fingers around Euijoo's cock, the two of them inhaling loudly in the space between their bodies.

“I know. I'll wait.”

They fall into a rhythm together. Easy and urgent, Nicholas putting everything behind the drive of his hips, Euijoo taking it all beautifully, his face open on a disbelieving smile, his fingers digging into Nicholas’ shoulders. In that moment, there is no alpha and omega, no subgender, no hormones governing one’s body into being unconscionably horny. It’s just the two of them. Nicholas has entirely forgotten the argument that led them here, how his brain rebelled against everything Euijoo was saying and doing just because he was itching for a fight all of a sudden. He’s in a fight now, a different kind, one with himself. Don’t come too quickly, make it last. Make it good for Euijoo. No matter how good it feels for you, Euijoo is the one that matters.

Is that what goes through Euijoo’s head when he’s the one fucking Nicholas? Is that why he’s been so patient, so willing since this heat started? Nicholas gets it now. As he thrusts into Euijoo and feels the way he clenches, feels the muscles of Euijoo’s thighs clamping around his waist, he gets it.

“Nico, Nico I'm–”

Nicholas just grunts, speeding his thrusts and his hand on Euijoo's cock until Euijoo's back bows, choking on a moan as he comes. Nicholas goes still then, buried deep inside and watching with rapt attention the way Euijoo shakes apart, streaking his own chest with cum, his pupils blown and his lips parted open on harsh breaths. He looks glorious, and he feels incredible, clenched around Nicholas and keeping him from moving, ankles locked at the small of Nicholas’ back.

“Baby,” Nicholas whines, his throat dry. He kicks his hips lightly, making Euijoo's eyes roll to the back of his head.

“Come inside,” he pleads softly, nails surely adding to the mess of bruises that already garland Nicholas’ back.

It's that easy. It just takes Euijoo asking for him to do it and Nicholas gives him one more tiny thrust before he's gone, spilling inside Euijoo. He shivers, goosebumps all over his body as he falls down on top of Euijoo, kissing anywhere he can reach as his hips keep moving weakly, pleasure coursing through his veins as Euijoo pets his hair softly. They come back to themselves slowly, riding the high for as long as possible until Nicholas moves, hissing when he pulls out.

“I think I learned my lesson,” Euijoo says after a moment of just breathing side by side, Nicholas staring unseeingly at the ceiling while aftershocks make him twitch at regular intervals.

“Hm?”

“Ask for things I want from time to time,” Euijoo adds around a grin, turning his head to look at Nicholas. He reaches out to tilt Nicholas’ face towards his own, eyes gleaming with contentment. “Let you take care of me too.”

Nicholas smiles, all teeth and love sticking to the roof of his mouth. He grabs Euijoo's hand with his own to guide to his lips, kissing Euijoo's palm.

“You know I always will.”

It's a promise, cupped right into Euijoo's hand for him to hold.

︶꒦︶꒷︶︶꒷꒦︶︶︶꒷꒦‧ ₊˚・

“So, once your heat has broken, what do you want to do most?”

In front of them, a decadent room service spread has been laid out. Everything from yoghurt, granola and cereal to deli meats and little rolls, all the way to bacon and eggs and rice and even some egg drop soup. Not to mention the pancakes, fluffy and stacked high on a plate to the side. They're glistening with syrup in a way that's catching the sunlight and making Nicholas’ mind wander. No. Syrup is too sticky. It'd be a mess to deal with, and not the good kind.

“Do we have whipped cream?” he asks instead of replying to Euijoo, because his mind is a one-track wonder and now he's thinking about licking it off of Euijoo's skin, no matter the lactose intolerance.

Euijoo clicks his tongue, raising an eyebrow at Nicholas. “Are you even listening to me? And no, we don't have whipped cream.”

“Ah. Okay. And yes, I was, I just got distracted for a second imagining you with a whipped cream bra on,” he replies as he eats a piece of crispy bacon right off the plate. Heat has made him ravenous, all that energy he's spending on being horny is probably already affecting his muscle mass.

Euijoo scoffs. “With cherries over the nipples?”

“What a glorious idea, Juju,” Nicholas grins, eyes flicking down to Euijoo's chest, sadly covered with a cum-stained shirt he threw on to go grab their room service. “Yes.”

“You’d get so sick.”

“Worth it,” Nicholas responds, licking his fingers clean. “It would go some way towards fulfilling my fantasy of eating you up.”

“Vore? In front of my salad?” Euijoo gasps, a hand clutching the collar of his shirt. There is no salad anywhere around, because Euijoo loves Nicholas and respects his aversion to green foods. His reaction just triggers Nicholas’ cuteness aggression, which he has to choke down with an exceedingly large mouthful of rice. Otherwise they would be at risk of the food being splattered everywhere as Nicholas tackles Euijoo to the bed.

They might be in a lull in between the waves of his heat right now, but that doesn’t mean Nicholas is dead inside.

“I’m surprised you know what vore is,” he ends up managing to say, raising an eyebrow at Euijoo. Euijoo just smiles in answer, shrugging.

“Wouldn’t it be boring if I stopped surprising you?”

Nicholas frowns, a pout on his lips. “No, it wouldn’t,” he replies, half a whine. “I want to know everything about you.”

The way Euijoo softens is immediate and visible, his whole body swaying towards Nicholas who now eyes the food like it’s betraying him by being in the way. He’s still hungry, but there is no denying the hunger for Euijoo, sitting at the pit of his stomach and always threatening to take over every conscious thought.

“Ah, Nichol,” Euijoo says, all gentle, and Nicholas holds up a shaky hand to stop him.

“Don’t. Don’t, there’s too much food to eat still and I don’t want to waste it all because I have to jump you right now,” he pleads, completely serious about it. Euijoo chuckles but nods, going back to eating his eggs.

“Okay, then tell me what you want to do once your heat breaks.”

“I want to go to the beach,” Nicholas says finally, forcing himself to settle back into a normal conversation and not one that will trigger his next wave too quickly. Something safe. “Fresh start to the vacation, you know?”

Euijoo hums in agreement. “I really wanted to try skydiving, but I don’t know if we’ll make it work.”

“Juju, if you want it, we’ll do it. My heat will break soon, and we’ll have another 4 days to go. We’ll get you to jump off a plane.”

“But you’ll hate it, though,” Euijoo retorts.

“I want to try it. I want to do it with you. Sure, I’m scared about it, but I think it’ll still be fun. And you want to do it so bad! I’m not here to cut off your wings, baby. I’m here to help you spread them wider. So if you want to do it, we’ll do it. Who knows, maybe I’ll love it!”

Euijoo grunts into his eggs, putting his plate down after a moment. “Now you have to stop talking before I jump you. God, I love you,” he says with feeling. Nicholas can’t help the way heat rises up in his chest, up into his cheeks. The fever comes up without warning, making him suddenly light-headed, arousal roaring to life and clawing at the insides of his chest. It takes seconds for his underwear to get soaked through with slick.

“Fuck,” he murmurs, pressing a hand to his forehead. Euijoo leans forward, immediately alert as he sniffs the air.

“Another wave? Because I said I love you and I want you?”

Nicholas moans, a gush of slick rushing out of him. Heat truly is insane.

“Shut up and come over here,” Nicholas tries to demand, even though it sounds more like a whine to his own ears.

“Let me get the food out of the way…”

They shouldn’t have spread out their food on the bed, especially since they’re in a suite and have a perfectly serviceable coffee table in the other room. It felt convenient, but now Nicholas resents it immensely since it is depriving him of immediate access to Euijoo. Even in this state, he can’t put everything to the back of his mind. They can’t fuck on the bacon. There are just some things you don’t do.

However, it does mean the couch is clean and free.

“Let’s go fuck on the couch,” Nicholas then declares, already swinging his legs over to the side of the bed and getting up, thighs shaking. Slick runs down the back of his legs, past the hem of his shorts, and he’s sure Euijoo can see it. The pained noise that Euijoo makes confirms it. Nicholas looks over his shoulder, his smile a little manic. “If I ride you reverse cowboy we can look at the ocean together.”

“Jesus fuck, Nico,” Euijoo replies, the food forgotten as he gets up from the bed and closes the distances between them, plastering himself to Nicholas’ back. He mouths at his neck immediately, walking them forward.

“I love you too,” Nicholas finally says, the curve of Euijoo’s mouth curling into a smile against his skin.

︶꒦︶꒷︶︶꒷꒦︶︶︶꒷꒦‧ ₊˚・

The faucet drips, a counter rhythm to the way Nicholas and Euijoo move in the filled bathtub. Nicholas gasps, his shoulders digging into Euijoo's chest as he arches, hips rolling and sending water sloshing over the edge of the tub. Lolling his head to the side to drag heavy-lipped kisses along Euijoo's jawline, Nicholas breathes in between each little plink of water hitting the surface of the bath on the other side of the oversized tub. Euijoo trails his fingertips up along Nicholas’ cock under the water, wrapping them around the head and twisting his wrist on the down stroke, slow enough that Nicholas could cry.

He loves it. He's reached a stage of his heat where everything feels hazy and syrupy, the water enveloping them is hot, and he's horny and comfortable, caged in by Euijoo's thighs on either side of him. Euijoo's skin slides against his own as he jerks him off without urgency, rutting his own hips against the dip of Nicholas’ lower back in an unhurried rhythm. It's intimate in all the small ways they are looking after each other, the pleasure building ever so slowly, and Nicholas doesn't want to rush it, for the first time since his heat started.

He hopes that means it'll be over soon. Maybe–

“Do you think if you fuck me right now it'll end my heat faster?”

Euijoo chuckles, but cuts it off with a gasp when Nicholas pushes up on his tiptoes a little, to let Euijoo's dick slip between his cheeks.

“I don't think heat works on quotas, baby.”

“It's okay if you're too tired to do it. I'm so loose right now, you could shove a Bad Dragon up my ass and I'd barely flinch, Euijoo.”

He laughs as he says it, unable to make it a challenge or whatever it could have been. If anything he thinks Euijoo would be into it because he'd find it hot.

“Wow, keeping the romance alive,” Euijoo replies, but a giggle escapes him immediately afterwards, the sound that Nicholas would lay down his life for. After a moment, his hand reaches up, fingers pressed against Nicholas’ chin so they can look at each other. His eyes are so impossibly fond. “Do you want me to?”

Nicholas sighs contently as he relaxes in the heat of the water and Euijoo's hold before he shakes his head, tugging lightly on Euijoo's forearm to pull him into a soft, but lingering kiss. “No, actually, it's okay. This is so nice.”

There's a dreamlike quality to the moment, the sun burning a few straggling clouds in the sky right in front of them, dead center in the arched window of the bathroom facing the bathtub. Nicholas has had no idea of what time means since they arrived, barely conscious of a day and night cycle.

He's about to ask what time it is when Euijoo strokes his dick again and the thought flies out of his brain, the last thing he cares about as he luxuriates in his boyfriend's loving hands, in the cradle of the sunlight streaming through the window.

“Damn. You look beautiful.”

Nicholas feels beautiful. He feels glorious, reaching back to hold onto the back of Euijoo's neck, rolling his hips and moaning gently into the underside of Euijoo's jaw. Each breath is a declaration in itself, trust and love and devotion and adoration all rolled into one as they move against each other. It's almost normal, if not for the low frequency hum in Nicholas’ chest that keeps him running hotter than he usually does and keeps craving a little more, never fully satisfied unless he's full and filled by his alpha's cum.

He does rise up on his toes again when he feels Euijoo start to move faster, a telltale sign that he's close. Nicholas reaches behind him to guide Euijoo's cock inside, sinking down and staying there, his instincts singing in satisfaction as his muscles clench and relax around Euijoo.

Euijoo's fingers grip Nicholas’ waist but don't make him move, instead keeping him right where he is, Euijoo deep inside him. Fitting together in ways Nicholas has never fit with anyone else. He breathes out Euijoo's name like a prayer as their fingers interlock over Euijoo's knee, and they come like this, one after the other, Nicholas dirtying the water and Euijoo staying inside Nicholas. It's quiet, and it's everything. Comforting and precious, a moment like blown glass. A rainbow after a torrential downpour.

For a moment, Nicholas thinks Euijoo has fallen asleep. His breathing deep and even, his whole body relaxed in the hot water, his cock softening inside Nicholas. But suddenly, he lifts up their joined hands, water dripping down their fingers as Euijoo uses his smaller fingers to play with Nicholas' thicker ones. He pulls them up to the light and then compares their sizes, palm to palm.

“You know I think if we'd met like, in a bar or something, I'd have thought you were an alpha,” Euijoo finally says, pressing his cheek to Nicholas’ temple as he keeps playing with their hands. Nicholas enjoys the sensation; Euijoo's hands are so soft.

“Because of my big strong hands?” Nicholas asks, teasing. Euijoo chuckles into his hair.

“It's your whole vibe. Honestly, it'd be so easy for our subgenders to be switched. I don't think it would make much difference.”

“You wouldn't sell your slick online, though.”

“You don't know that,” Euijoo retorts, but yeah, Nicholas kinda does. Euijoo would have found a way that uses his brain to make money, not his body. Not that Nicholas is ashamed, and he'd have stopped by now if he didn't find the work rewarding, but he can't imagine Euijoo talking himself into it.

He turns his head to kiss Euijoo's cheek, patting the other side of his face with his free hand. “You would have found a million other jobs before even thinking of this one,” he replies, because it's true. Euijoo smiles, rolling his eyes.

“To be fair I didn't even realise it was a thing people did before we met.”

“My point exactly.”

“But maybe I'd have known if I was an omega!” By now he's dragging his fingers along Nicholas’ forearm, up to his scar, tracing it with pruny fingertips.

“And instead here you are, my big tall strong alpha. Amazing, wonderful, lovely just as you are. I agree with you, I don't think it'd make much of a difference. I think in any universe you'd still be the Spreadsheet Guy I fall for.”

“Spreadsheet Guy, huh?” Euijoo repeats, amusement in his voice. Nicholas grins, then pokes his tongue out the way he always does.

“It's so sexy when you talk spreadsheets, Juju.”

Euijoo slaps Nicholas’ forearm, grumbling as his free hand drapes around Nicholas’ waist hauling him up a little so he's more comfortably sat, with Euijoo's cock still inside him. Hard again. Warm, so warm. Nicholas shivers, and pulls Euijoo into a kiss, hoping it shows his intent. When they break apart, Nicholas rolls his hips experimentally, glad to see Euijoo's eyes flutter shut.

“Let me tell you about the way I fixed my latest client's accounts.”

︶꒦︶꒷︶︶꒷꒦︶︶︶꒷꒦‧ ₊˚・

Nicholas’ heat breaks the next morning. For one blissful, incredulous moment, he lies in bed as the wind blows gently into the room, making the curtains billows. They look like they're shimmering in the light, and for the first time in days Nicholas doesn't think that because he's delirious. His head is clear, his body feels like his own, and incredibly enough, he's not horny. Not right this second. Even as he watches Euijoo stretch by the side of the bed, his whole entire being doesn't demand for him to reach out and whine to be taken already. He's calm. He's stillness.

He's so fucking giddy he suddenly starts laughing, kicking his feet against the mattress. “I am free! I'm free!”

He shouts loud enough that people having breakfast down at the pool restaurant can probably hear him, but he doesn't care. He doesn't care because he has survived this whole ordeal, and most importantly his relationship survived this whole ordeal. And now he's free, and Euijoo is grinning at him, all amused and deeply endeared.

“You feel okay? Don't you need to recover a little?”

Nicholas grumbles, rolling to his feet. “We have wasted enough time! We have to go to the beach! I want to eat Loco Moco! And malasadas! While on the beach! And we have to book the skydiving!”

The grin on Euijoo's face looks like it hurts, it's so wide, but Nicholas is too busy diving into his suitcase for an outfit to even comment on the fact that he's being laughed at.

“Okay slow down, tiger. Let's start with the beginning, and go for breakfast. Loco Moco,” he says decisively, and Nicholas nods as he straightens up with an outfit in hand. He almost deposits it onto the bed before eyeing the sheets critically before throwing his hands up in the air dramatically.

“Can you believe the amount of slick we've wasted here? We could have made a fortune! Next time you go into heat!”

Euijoo properly laughs this time, full and round and filling up the space between them and in between Nicholas’ ribs. For a second he's not even hungry anymore, satisfied to just devour Euijoo's sounds.

“I wouldn't exactly call it wasted. And we made a fortune. Of memories.”

Nicholas rolls his eyes. It should be impossible to be this in love with such a dork. However, he'd choose to be in every single universe, every single time. “Let's go make some more of them, then.”