Work Text:
But if I know you, I know what you’ll do
You’ll love me at once
The way you did once upon a dream
There were few sights more satisfying to the ton than a wedding well-matched, particularly when it came with just the right hint of scandal.
And this one, without question, did.
As the ceremony draws to a close and the guests begin to rise to congratulate the newlyweds, Xinlong’s gaze drifts across the crowd.
Amidst it all stands Anxin, one of his acquaintances from omega finishing school.
As Anxin approaches with a tall alpha by his side, Geonwoo leans down, his lips brushing close to Xinlong’s ear. “That's the eldest son of Viscount Jeong.”
A small, pleased smile touched Xinlong’s lips at his alpha’s thoughtfulness to always keep him informed. Xinlong had never been particularly skilled at socializing and the intricate web of who’s who often slipped through his grasp. The last thing he wanted at his wedding was to appear discourteous to the guests.
Fortunately, his alpha is the complete opposite. Geonwoo handles every conversation with effortless charm, appearing to know everyone and their affairs despite his recent return to society. It’s almost hard to believe he’s been away at all.
“Congratulations, Your Graces.” Anxin dipped into a graceful curtsey, practiced and poised. “What a most splendid match.” Beside him, Sanghyeon inclined his head in a respectful bow at the couple. The newlywed returned their greeting in kind, murmuring their thanks.
After the initial greetings, they fall into polite, if somewhat mundane, conversation. It isn’t until Anxin leans forward, lowering himself just enough to meet Xinlong at eye level, that he finally drops the question everyone in the room must have been wondering about.
His expression remains without malice even if a glint of curiosity lingers beneath the surface.
“Though I must confess,” Anxin begins lightly, “I never expected Xinlong, of all omega, to be married before even making his debut.”
There is no jealousy in his tone, only genuine intrigue. After all, Xinlong had never shown much interest in alphas during their time together sharing a dorm room at school. Still, the question catches Xinlong off guard, a strained smile tugs at the corner of his lips, unsure of how to respond.
The rest of the party appears to be enjoying the banquet, but everyone knows their ears are straining to hear the couple’s response.
Geonwoo’s chuckle cuts off the silence.
“There’s hardly any need to introduce Xinlong to the marriage market at all.”
Though he takes the remark in stride, a thinly veiled disdain laces Geonwoo’s voice. It’s clear that he has little patience for questions that put his omega on the spot.
“We were already matched, after all, through the late Viscount.”
“The only reason he remained undebuted after school was so that I could return to England from my travels,” the alpha elaborates. The crowd seems to deem the answer as understandable enough, resuming their own activity, pretending they weren’t eavesdropping at all.
Xinlong almost let out a soft giggle at his alpha’s answer.
An argument forms at the tip of Anxin’s tongue, but Sanghyeon’s gentle hand on his arm stops the omega from further questions. Understanding that he may intrude on the newlywed couple, he decided to drop off the curiosity, face smoothing into a polite smile once more. “How… curious indeed.”
He decided to leave it at that.
Xinlong could only let out a sigh of relief in his mind as the conversation shifted back to a more pleasant topic.
Once more, the conversation in the banquet draws off boringly. Luckily Geonwoo was there to answer the questions of every curious mamas and their omegas even as Xinlong’s thoughts pleasantly drift off. If his own mother was paying attention she would have chided Xinlong for his daydreaming tendency at events as important as his own wedding.
Xinlong mused that Anxin is right about one thing, there is nothing conventional about this arrangement. He had known Geonwoo for exactly thirty minutes before deciding that he’s the one. A chill creeps beneath his skin as his thoughts drag him back to a month ago.
Laughter rang through the ballroom, bright and piercing as tiny bells, each peal setting Xinlong's head throbbing. Smiles lingered a fraction too long, stretched into practiced expressions that seemed almost painful to maintain. Behind every graceful turn of the dance, watchful eyes tracked every movement, every gesture. From the edge of the ballroom, safely removed from the center of attention, Xinlong remained the lone observer of it all.
A wine glass rested in his hand, though the drink it held was nothing stronger than a sweet, fruit-laced concoction thoughtfully prepared by his brother. If nothing else, it gave him something to occupy himself with as he watched the capital's most powerful and influential figures parade across the polished ballroom of his family's estate.
Propriety dictated that he was not yet to participate in society. He had not debuted in society, and until that moment arrived, he was to remain precisely where he was: outside of it.
Still, at seventeen, he was hardly the youngest in this room. Other omegas had stepped into the spotlight to debut as early as fifteen. His Mama, in a rare concession, had allowed him to mingle at this party, though only at the perimeter. To learn about society and nothing else, she emphasised.
According to his Mama, Xinlong simply was not ready. She still treated him as though he’s still fresh out of her bosom. He, however, suspected there was rather more to it than that.
This season, she had far more pressing matters to attend to than playing matchmaker to her youngest omega son. After all, his elder omega brother, Jiahao, despite being named Diamond of the previous season by Her Majesty the Queen herself, had remained stubbornly and inconveniently unmarried.
Inconvenient, because just before this season began, their alpha father, the Viscount, had passed away. Something about an accident in the sea.
Xinlong remembered he had wept for hours after hearing the news until he could hardly breathe. It was only a few days later, in the quiet of night, that Jiahao came to his room unannounced to be the bearer of another grave news.
He pulled Xinlong into a hug, gently wiping away the tears that stained his cheeks. Before long, the two of them found themselves huddled together on Xinlong's enormous bed, just as they had when they were children and a nightmare had sent a frightened Xinlong seeking comfort in his brother's room.
“Xinlong, there is something you must understand,” Jiahao began, brushing a few errant strands of hair behind his ear. They lay side by side, and for a moment the only sound was the soft cadence of Hao's voice as he spoke into the stillness.
“It pains me to tell you this, but Mother is a dowager with two unmarried omega sons and no alpha heir to secure the succession.”
Jiahao's thumb brushed softly against Xinlong's cheek, gently tracing features that had sharpened over the years, though a hint of baby fat still lingered. Traces of the round-cheeked child he had once known remained, stubborn and familiar. Jiahao's fingers lingered there, he found himself trying to memorize every feature. The thought of parting with his baby brother so soon pained him more than he cared to admit.
“It will not be long before someone seeks to press a claim to the viscountcy. Our alpha cousin is the most likely candidate.”
The thought alone soured Xinlong's mood.
Their cousin was a man devoid of both restraint and mercy. Should the title fall into his hands, he would strip their family of everything it had left.
That outcome was unthinkable.
“Before that can happen, I intend to marry someone into the family this Season.”
Jiahao continued as though the matter had already been decided.
“Someone of middling rank. A count, perhaps… or a baron. Someone pliable enough to accept the Viscount title, yet not so powerful as to take it away from us.”
A greater match would never agree to such terms, and even if they did, time was a luxury they did not possess. Waiting for an heir would also take far too long. Someone had to step into the viscount-shaped void their father left behind. It was, in every sense, survival for them to secure a new alpha for the estate.
“I'm only telling you this so you won't worry yourself, little brother,” Hao said softly. “There's no need to be frightened. I'll make sure to find a suitable alpha, someone who will take good care of both you and Mama.”
Xinlong listened in silence, mouth downturned and tears clinging to his lashes. The fact that Jiahao, the pickiest omega he knew of, who had turned away suitor after suitor without a second glance last season was willing to marry someone beneath his rank.
Xinlong practically leaped forward to hug his brother tightly before letting him go. His bleeding heart could not simply take it. He must devise a plan of his own to help his family.
The dowager had not allowed herself the luxury of grieving her late husband. She took it in stride as acting head of the estate, overseeing the funeral arrangements and restoring order to the estate as best as she could, ensuring that not a single crack in their household was visible to the outside world. Although if you’ve known her for years, you’ll notice how she would flinch whenever the butler announced they had a visitor.
The absence of a head alpha in the estate weighed heavily on the family. Without one to secure their position, their future remained uncertain.
If Xinlong wished to compete on equal terms with the capital's eligible omegas to find an alpha, he would first have to convince his mother to allow his debut.
“But Mama, I'm old enough to debut now,” Xinlong pleaded. “If I never enter society, how am I supposed to find a suitable match?”
“Nonsense,” she replied at once, not even looking up from her embroidery. “You are barely out of the cradle. Your brother is not yet married—what would people say?”
“They would say nothing,” Xinlong insisted, impatience creeping into his voice. “All the omegas of my year are debuting this Season, or already have. Please, Mama.”
“No, Xinlong,” his mother said firmly.
The rejection struck harder than he had expected. Despite his best efforts to maintain his composure, his lower lip trembled. He blinked rapidly, fighting back the desperate tears threatening to spill over.
With each passing moment, his options dwindled, and with them, any hope of securing his family's future.
The silence that followed finally drew the dowager's attention. Looking up from her embroidery, she caught sight of her youngest son's troubled expression. Her own softened at once.
Setting aside her work, she rose from her seat and gathered him into her arms, cradling his head against her chest as she had when he was much younger.
She pressed a kiss to the top of Xinlong's head, breathing in the familiar scent he had carried ever since he had presented a few years ago.
She could not bear the thought of her youngest son leaving the nest so soon—not when her husband's grave was still fresh. After losing her mate, she was not ready to lose another piece of him as well. Xinlong was living proof of the love they had shared, and she wanted him close for just a little while longer.
“Mama knows best,” she murmured gently. “You're not ready for an alpha yet.”
Her fingers brushed against his cheek as she tilted his face upward, wiping away tears he had not even realized were falling.
“Look at you,” she said softly. “Still seeking comfort in your Mama's arms. And yet you would speak of marriage and starting a family?”
Xinlong swallowed hard, his hands curling into tight fists at his sides. He had no answer to give her.
“Marriage and mating are no small matters,” she continued gently. “They are lifelong commitments, and you are not yet ready to make them.”
“But I must marry,” Xinlong said, his voice unwavering despite the tears threatening to betray him.
His mother must have understood the desperation behind those words, for she only drew him closer, holding him as though she could shield him from every hardship the world might place in his path.
“Do not burden yourself with such concerns,” she whispered. “Your brother and I will take care of everything.”
Xinlong closed his eyes.
His mother meant well. So did Jiahao.
That was precisely the problem.
If he could not debut this Season and secure an alpha through the proper channels, then he would find another way.
The ton, after all, was remarkably accommodating when confronted with a marriage it could not afford to question.
Even a scandalous one.
With the contents of his glass long since depleted, Xinlong decided it would be perfectly reasonable to venture closer to the dance floor.
He told himself he was not joining the dance.
He was merely refilling his drink.
The fact that the refreshments happened to be situated near the dance floor was entirely incidental.
Across the ballroom, Xinlong spotted Jiahao deep in conversation with an alpha he did not recognize from previous Seasons. Meanwhile, his mother was occupied with a cluster of ladies, their laughter carrying across the room despite their best efforts to remain dignified.
With both of them distracted, Xinlong decided it was safe enough to venture into the crowd.
He made his way toward the gathering guests at a measured pace, awfully conscious of himself.
But after a few minutes, he decided he was not noticeable enough. In a room overflowing with people, not a single person approached him.
His gaze dropped to his bare wrist.
Of course.
Every eligible omega wore a dance card, a silent invitation for introductions and future dances. Without one, he may as well have been invisible.
A dance card would solve that problem.
Surely there had to be a servant somewhere gullible enough to provide him with one.
Without meaning to, Xinlong caught Jiahao's eye just as his conversation with the unfamiliar alpha began to wind down. His brother's eyes widened ever so slightly in recognition. Taking it as a sign to leave immediately, Xinlong turned away at once before his brother could intercept him. The last thing he wanted was to be caught wandering the ballroom unsupervised and subsequently barred from attending future balls.
Keeping to the edges of the crowd and carefully avoiding Jiahao’s line of sight, he slipped through clusters of guests while his thoughts spiraled toward the consequences of his mother discovering this particular misdemeanor.
His steps was halted when he noticed someone familiar in the ball.
Anxin.
They had attended the same omega finishing school, and Xinlong recognized him immediately despite the flush spreading vividly across the omega's cheeks as an alpha bent close, murmuring something meant for his ears alone. The alpha stood close enough that their shoulders almost touched as his knuckles brushed lightly along Anxin's arm before settling at his waist, guiding him toward the center of the ballroom as the next dance began.
A sharp pang of envy twisted in Xinlong's chest.
Xinlong couldn’t wait for it to be him. For now, however, he averted his gaze and continued on his way. With any luck, Jiahao would assume he was merely heading for the exit.
Xinlong quickened his pace but he rounded a corner too sharply and walked straight into something solid.
Or rather, someone.
The impact sent him stumbling backward. Xinlong immediately lost his balance as the ballroom dissolved into a blur of gold and candlelight. The empty wine glass slipped from his grasp and shattered against the polished floor.
A firm hand caught him before he could fall.
With his vision still swimming, Xinlong found himself steadied and gently guided away from the flow of guests. Only when they had stepped into the relative quiet beyond the ballroom did he dare lift his gaze to his savior.
An alpha.
One he did not recognize.
Certainly older than himself, yet strikingly handsome, perhaps the most handsome man Xinlong had ever laid eyes upon.
Heat flooded his face the moment he realized he had been staring quite inappropriately.
“I-I'm terribly sorry, sir,” Xinlong stammered, hastily lowering his gaze. “I wasn't watching where I was going—”
“That is quite all right, sweet thing.”
The stranger's voice was warm, touched with amusement rather than annoyance.
The man's voice was smooth and pleasant, carrying a subtle accent that Xinlong could not quite place.
He froze at the endearment, suddenly hyperaware of the hand resting lightly at his waist.
For one mortifying moment, his mind drifted to Anxin and the alpha from earlier. The memory only made his heart race harder.
“You look rather shaken,” the man continued when Xinlong failed to respond. “Are you quite well?”
“I—yes, sir.” Xinlong lowered his gaze. “Only a little tired.”
A thoughtful hum escaped the alpha.
“That is understandable. Gatherings like these can be quite draining for an omega such as yourself.” His tone softened further. “Would you permit me to escort you to a drawing room? Somewhere quieter, where you may collect yourself.”
Xinlong hesitated.
To leave with an unfamiliar alpha, unchaperoned and before his debut, was nothing short of scandalous. Truthfully, he was not even supposed to be speaking to the man.
Yet his thoughts inevitably returned to his plan.
Opportunities like this did not simply fall into one's lap.
An alpha—handsome, well-spoken, and likely of considerable standing—had singled him out and was offering exactly the sort of private acquaintance Xinlong had been hoping to secure.
His hesitation vanished almost as quickly as it had appeared.
“I... I think I would like that,” Xinlong admitted softly.
The man's smile deepened, as though pleased by the answer.
With a subtle gesture, he dismissed the attendant lingering a respectful distance away.
“Come,” he said, offering his arm. “Let us find somewhere more comfortable.”
And so, without another word, Xinlong allowed himself to be led away.
As they walked, the alpha plucked a glass filled with an unfamiliar amber liquid from a passing servant's tray and placed it neatly into Xinlong's hand.
“For the one you lost earlier.”
“Th-thank you,” Xinlong murmured.
He did not have the heart to admit that his previous glass had already been empty. Besides, his throat felt unexpectedly dry.
A short distance away, Geonwoo paused beside a servant stationed at the edge of the hall. He spoke quietly, too softly for Xinlong to hear. The servant hesitated, casting a brief glance in Xinlong's direction, but whatever reservations he possessed vanished when Geonwoo discreetly pressed a small pouch into his palm.
The servant dipped his head and gestured toward a nearby corridor.
Together, they followed him until they arrived at a drawing room reserved for guests.
“This way,” Geonwoo said, stepping aside and motioning for Xinlong to enter first.
Xinlong lingered where he stood.
A faint unease prickled at the back of his neck.
He glanced toward the servant, seeking some measure of reassurance, but the man carefully avoided his gaze.
For a moment, Xinlong considered turning back.
Then Geonwoo smiled.
The expression was warm, patient, and perfectly pleasant.
And somehow that made refusing even more difficult.
With no one to turn to, Xinlong hesitantly stepped inside the room. He feels like walking into the maw of some unseen beast of his own accord. And yet, the easy curve of Geonwoo’s smile makes refusal feel strangely difficult.
Just a few moments, Xinlong told himself as he stepped across the threshold. A brief conversation. Enough to secure Geonwoo's interest. Then he would excuse himself and return to the ballroom before his mother had any reason to come looking for him.
Geonwoo held the door open behind him before following him inside.
The door clicked softly shut. Xinlong doesn’t register the sound of the latch, too preoccupied with scanning the room for somewhere to sit, preferably as far from Geonwoo as courtesy allowed.
His hopes were swiftly dashed.
No sooner had he settled onto the sofa than Geonwoo took the seat beside him.
The quiet of the drawing room settled around them, dim and intimate, insulated from the music and laughter beyond the walls.
Xinlong took a cautious sip of the drink.
He barely suppressed a wince as the liquid burned its way down his throat. It was far stronger than the sweet beverage Jiahao had given him earlier.
A soft laugh came from Geonwoo.
“A bit strong?”
“N-No, it's lovely. Thank you.”
Xinlong was eager to please. He wanted—no, needed—the alpha's attention to remain fixed on him.
Geonwoo regarded him with open amusement, as though Xinlong were the most endearing creature he had ever encountered.
“And what might your name be, darling?”
“Xinlong.”
“Xinlong,” Geonwoo repeated, the name rolling effortlessly from his tongue. A faint shiver ran down Xinlong's spine. “Ah. You must be the youngest son of the late viscount.”
Xinlong hesitated.
“You know my family, sir?”
A sliver of doubt crept into his thoughts.
What if this had been a mistake? What if Geonwoo mentioned this meeting to his mother?
“Your late father and I were acquainted,” Geonwoo answered easily.
“Oh.”
Xinlong paused.
“But you don't look…”
The words died in his throat. It would be terribly impolite to make a remark on someone’s appearance upon first impression. He lifted his glass, hoping to hide the warmth rising to his face.
“Old?” Geonwoo supplied, one brow arching in amusement.
Xinlong's blush deepened.
“I didn't mean to imply—”
“It is quite all right,” Geonwoo assured him. “I am considerably younger than your father. I inherited my title rather early and had much to learn about managing my affairs. Your father was kind enough to offer guidance.”
“I see. I'm sorry.”
Xinlong lifted his glass again, only to discover it was empty.
Had he really finished it already?
Perhaps he ought to slow down.
Geonwoo, however, refilled it without hesitation.
“Oh, I really shouldn't—”
He stopped himself. The truth was that he had never drunk anything this strong before. He had no idea how much he could tolerate. But Geonwoo is having none of it, his lips curved into a small, knowing smile.
“Our little secret.”
The dimples that appeared in his cheeks softened his features, making him seem almost harmless.
Almost.
Xinlong’s fingers tightened around the glass, conscious of the warmth that began to spread through him. He continues to sip the drink, slower this time.
They spoke at length after that.
As the haze of alcohol settled over him, the nervousness that had plagued him earlier gradually faded. He hopes nobody’s looking for him, because he’s clearly inebriated now and his Mama would kill him for it. Geonwoo's questions were easy enough to answer—questions about his family, his studies, his interests. Xinlong found himself responding perhaps a little too eagerly.
The attention pleased him more than he cared to admit. It could be the beginning of a courtship.
The thought sent a thrill through him.
In return, Xinlong learned a few things about Geonwoo. He was a duke with a fondness for travel and an estate tucked away in Yorkshire.
Xinlong took another sip.
The drink went down more easily now. The burn had softened into a pleasant warmth that loosened his inhibitions little by little. Only then did he notice how close Geonwoo had settled beside him.
Their thighs were nearly touching.
If anyone saw them together like this, undebuted omega alone with an older alpha of Geonwoo's rank, it would be enough to set the entire Season talking.
“So,” Geonwoo said at last, “why is someone as sweet as you all alone?”
“Oh.” Xinlong lowered his gaze. “I have not yet debuted, so I am not meant to participate. My brother thought it might be useful for me to observe.”
He gave a small laugh.
“Though I cannot say I understand much.”
At some point, Geonwoo's arm had come to rest along the back of the sofa.
Xinlong had not noticed when it happened.
But he noticed now.
The alpha's hand brushed lightly against his back in an absent, familiar gesture.
The warmth of the alcohol vanished at once.
Xinlong stiffened.
Too close.
They were far too close.
“Are you of age yet, sweetheart?”
Geonwoo says something else, but Xinlong barely hears it. His tongue gets heavier even as his brain was grasping for a polite excuse to leave. Geonwoo’s scent in the room grows even thicker and more cloying, making Xinlong feel more and more disoriented.
Xinlong feels his focus begin to fray. The warmth of the liquor spreads through his body, dulling his thoughts, slowing them until they feel just out of reach. He parts his lips, drawing in a shaky breath, but the air feels too thin.
"Xinlong, sweetheart?" Geonwoo doesn’t let up, gently tilting Xinlong’s chin with his fingers to meet his eyes.
A quiet swell of satisfaction builds in Geonwoo’s chest as Xinlong blinks up at him slowly, gaze soft and unfocused, mouth panting, seemingly dazed and drunk. His mochi-like cheeks, still rounded with traces of baby fat, were tinged with a soft flush from the strong liquor he’d been coaxing the omega to drink.
Geonwoo can’t stop himself from brushing his thumb over Xinlong’s lips, lingering just enough to feel their soft fullness and plush.
Xinlong swallows thickly, furrowing his eyebrows, what was the question again?
Right, his age.
“Yeah, I’m seventeen,”
Geonwoo hums a pleased sound at the answer.
A warm hand is placed on his thigh, making Xinlong squirms under the touch. Then Geonwoo reaches for his own glass and brings it to Xinlong’s lips.
“Drink a little more for me.”
Xinlong doesn’t think he should drink anymore. He isn’t supposed to be here. But the hand tightens on his thigh, and he parts his lips anyway, letting the amber liquid slip down his throat. It goes down smoothly this time, without the burn.
He thinks of Jiahao and Anxin—how they always seem to be okay with alphas getting a little too touchy with them. Maybe this is something he should get used to if he wants to get married. He’s never been this close to an alpha before, and he doesn’t quite know what to make of the way Geonwoo takes these small liberties with him so casually.
“Mnnn… I don’t feel so good,” Xinlong slurred, his tongue feeling thick and clumsy in his mouth.
“Mm? What is it?” Geonwoo asks, his hand drifting higher along Xinlong’s thigh. Xinlong raises a hand to his pounding head, trying to ease the throbbing.
“...hurts.”
“Oh, darling,” Geonwoo cooed.
“I-I think… I should go… I…” Xinlong pushes himself up, unsteady, but Geonwoo is faster. His hand, so much bigger than Xinlong’s it closes around Xinlong’s entire forearm, tugging him back until Xinlong falls against him.
“Shh… it’s alright. I’ll take care of it, baby. Come here.”
Xinlong stumbled, his vision blurring at the edges as the room spun around him. Xinlong whined, the sudden movement made him even more nauseous, clutching at the alpha's crisp suit with trembling fists. The man—Geonwoo, his mind sluggishly supplied—wrapped a strong arm around his waist.
"It's alright, just lay down right here," Geonwoo murmured, his voice a low rumble that vibrated through Xinlong's chest. He eased the omega down onto the cushions, then dropped to his knees between Xinlong's spread thighs. The alpha's hands were firm, sliding up the smooth skin of Xinlong's legs, pushing the hem of his dress higher until it bunched around his hips.
If anyone were to see them like this, Geonwoo would lose his standing—and Xinlong would face something far worse. Fear gripped Xinlong’s chest, but he forced himself to remain calm. After all, a union with an alpha as exceptional as Geonwoo would bring his family far more than it could ever cost him.
And it doesn’t hurt that the alpha is easy on the eyes, some distant voice whispered in his head. The intoxication also dulled everything to a pleasant fog. Xinlong's head lolled back against the soft fabric, a hazy warmth spreading through his limbs.
Geonwoo's palms roamed higher, stroking the sensitive flesh of his inner thighs, igniting sparks that made Xinlong shiver.
"You’re the prettiest thing I’ve ever seen, sweetheart," the alpha breathed. He started spreading Xinlong's legs and slotting himself between them. Geonwoo’s slides his hands beneath his dress, his sharp gaze fixed on Xinlong's face before gently peeling his underwear off.
Geonwoo leaned in and presses open-mouthed kisses on one thigh and then the other. He sucks a bruise on the insides of Xinlong’s thighs as his finger brushes against the delicate folds of Xinlong's labia.
He started small by pressing a long finger in, delighting in finding there was little to no resistance.
The hard liquor really worked its magic.
Geonwoo’s mouth went lower and lower, until he come face to face with Xinlong’s hot core.
He pried the opening gently with his fingers, inhaling the sweet, musky scent deeply. His hot breath ghosted over the slick entrance, teasing the already glistening pussy.
Xinlong arched his back with a soft gasp as something warm and wet—Geonwoo's tongue—flicked out to trace his slit. The alpha's hands gripped his thighs tighter, spreading them impossibly wider to give himself full access.
"You taste even sweeter than I thought," Geonwoo growled against the sensitive skin before sealing his lips around Xinlong's pussy. He sucked greedily, lapping up the gushing ambrossia that coated his tongue. His mouth worked relentlessly, delving deep to tongue fuck into the clenching hole, swirling around the inner walls while his lips tugged at the swollen clit.
Xinlong sobs and whines loudly, his hips bucking instinctively as he ground down onto the alpha's face. He rode the probing tongue, gyrating back and forth, chasing the building pressure in his core. Geonwoo's strong hands held him in place, fingers digging into the soft flesh to control the rhythm, forcing Xinlong to take every lick and suck, coaxing an orgasm out of him, until he felt the omega’s body tensed.
“G-geonwoo!”
Pleasure crashed over Xinlong in waves, slick flooding out of his red, throbbing pussy as he came hard. Xinlong collapsed back onto the sofa, boneless and pliant, his chest heaving with ragged breaths.
But Geonwoo wasn't done.
The alpha rose slightly, wiping his wet mouth with the back of his hand, his eyes dark with hunger as he took in the sight of the wrecked omega.
Only an hour ago Xinlong was an untouched flower in his Mama’s garden. But now, Geonwoo has plucked the beautiful omega for himself and deflowered Xinlong right in his family’s estate where he was probably conceived seventeen years ago.
Truthfully Geonwoo had not planned for any of this to happen.
When he accepted the invitations, it had been out of obligation more than anything else. If anything, he had been bracing himself for mundane conversations, desperate omegas and their ever-watchful mamas. He did need a spouse, an heir eventually, but there was no urgency. He was still young and time was on his side.
But then Geonwoo saw him for the first time. It had been at a ball the previous Season.
A terrible storm raged outside, rain lashing against the tall windows while thunder rolled overhead. Every so often, a flash of lightning illuminated the estate in stark white.
Inside, society carried on as though nothing were amiss, guests mingling beneath crystal chandeliers and exchanging pleasantries over glasses of wine.
Geonwoo, however, had drifted away from the crowd.
Then he saw the omega.
Perched upon a windowsill at the very edge of the ballroom, Xinlong sat with his attention fixed entirely on the storm raging beyond the glass.
He was not supposed to be there.
As Geonwoo would later learn, Xinlong had begged his mother for permission to attend the ball for one reason and one reason only: the ballroom's towering windows offered an unparalleled view of lightning during a storm.
His mother had relented under strict conditions. He was to remain seated by the window and, most importantly, he was not to draw attention to himself. Xinlong had obeyed every instruction faithfully. Which was perhaps why no one else seemed to notice him.
While the rest of society danced, flirted, and traded gossip beneath the chandeliers, Xinlong sat entranced by the storm.
A flash of lightning illuminated the sky.
His eyes widened.
Another crack of thunder followed, and he gasped, a smile tugged at the corners of his mouth before he quickly schooled his expression into something more proper.
The effort was entirely unsuccessful.
Geonwoo still remembered the sight with embarrassing clarity.
Sharp, elegant features contrasted with the lingering softness of youth. A face that ought to have appeared severe somehow remained impossibly sweet.
And every time lightning flashed beyond the glass, wonder lit Xinlong's expression so completely that the ballroom itself seemed dim in comparison.
Everything else had faded into insignificance.
There was only Xinlong, gazing out into the storm as though it were the most beautiful thing he had ever seen.
Geonwoo had spent the rest of the night finding excuses to glance in Xinlong's direction.
By the end of the evening, he had sought out a particularly well-connected lady and discreetly inquired after the omega's identity.
The answer had been both gratifying and deeply unfortunate.
Xinlong was the youngest son of the Viscount and he had not yet debuted.
Geonwoo had resigned himself to waiting. Xinlong deserved a proper courtship, after all. He deserved flowers and dances and stolen glances across crowded ballrooms.
But opportunity arrived in the most unexpected form.
News of the Viscount's passing spread through society, followed shortly thereafter by invitations to the family's ball. Geonwoo attended out of obligation.
At least, that was the excuse he gave everyone else.
The truth was considerably less dignified. He had hoped to catch a glimpse of Xinlong. Instead, he found himself unable to look anywhere else.
There he was, standing at the edge of the ballroom with a wine glass in hand.
A beautiful wallflower. His gaze moved from alpha to alpha with unmistakable purpose. Most people would have found it improper.
Geonwoo found it adorable.
There was something unexpectedly charming about an omega who clearly believed himself to be scheming.
Even from across the room, Geonwoo could practically see the thoughts turning behind those expressive eyes.
The little minx, who should have known better than to step onto the dance floor to mingle, chose instead to test the waters.
Didn’t he know that still water ran the deepest. And in waters like these, predators like Geonwoo thrived. Once he had Xinlong exactly where he wants him, it did not take long for the alcohol to throw out whatever self-preservation Xinlong might have had.
This night proved to be productive, as by the end of it, Geonwoo would’ve secured himself the cutest little wife and, if fate is on his side, an heir too.
He would do right by Xinlong. He would care for him, provide for him. And, in time, Xinlong would come to love him too.
Geonwoo's cock twitches at the thought of burying himself inside the omega's velvety insides. He shed his pants quickly, freeing his thick cock—veined and throbbing, already leaking precum.
Xinlong's hazy gaze drifted down unintentionally, a flicker of unease cutting through the fog of drunkenness at the sight of Geonwoo’s sex, but his body betrayed him, slick still dripping from his spent pussy.
When Geonwoo positioned himself, the blunt head of his cock nudging against Xinlong's tight ring.
The omega whimpered, his hole clenching instinctively as the alpha pushed forward.
Sensing the younger’s hesitation, Geonwoo murmured against him, voice roughened.
“That’s it… good boy. So pretty.”
The cock stretched his pussy wide, the fat rod forcing its way past the resistant ring of muscle, inch by burning inch.
“You’re a tight little thing, taking my cock so well.”
Xinlong felt the breath punch out of him. His pussy felt strained and raw, struggling to close around the invading girth. It strangled the cock with involuntary spasms, drawing deep groans from Geonwoo's throat. The alpha adjusted his knees for better leverage, gripping Xinlong's hips to hold him steady.
“Just what you needed to feel better right, sweetheart? A good. hard. Fucking.” With a brutal thrust, Geonwoo plunged forward, burying himself to the hilt and slamming into Xinlong's depths. The omega sobbed at being pierced, his body jolting from the impact as the alpha's cock punched straight to his gut. Geonwoo immediately set a punishing pace, shaking Xinlong's entire frame and pinning him to the sofa.
“Keep your voice down,” Geonwoo murmured, as footsteps passed just beyond the drawing room doors.
Although there was no escape from Geonwoo’s relentless pounding, his hips never stopped moving even as the voices outside receded and grew distant. Xinlong's cries still muffled against his own palms as he tried to keep his voice down.
His pussy clenched around the pistoning cock, milking it despite the overwhelming burn. Geonwoo's balls slapped against Xinlong's slick pussy with every drive, the alpha's growls filling the air as he chased his release.
"I’ll pump you full of seed, breed you full, make you my little wife,” Geonwoo snarled, tightening his grip around Xinlong’s waist, making him arch his back further.
Yes, yes, yes. Xinlong nearly broke at the words, relief rushing through him in a dizzying wave. That’s all he wanted, to be Geonwoo’s wife. He looped his arms around Geonwoo’s neck, pulling him closer, seeking his lips in a breathless kiss.
“A-alpha please… breed me,”
Geonwoo rutted deeper at the encouragement , the knot at the base of his cock swelling, locking them together as he flooded Xinlong's pussy with hot cum. Rope after rope painting deep inside the omega, marking Xinlong as his.
Xinlong trembled, overstimulated and filled, a broken cry slipping from his lips. But Geonwoo only held him close, ensuring every drop stayed buried within.
The room was silent except for both their heavy breathing. Geonwoo slowly pushes his hips back, slipping his cock out of Xinlong’s body, eliciting a whimper out of the omega who suddenly feels an empty ache in his pussy.
For a second Xinlong was terrified that now Geonwoo had achieved his goal in bedding him and he would change his mind. He scrambled his sluggish brain for an excuse to make the alpha stay with him. But an omega, let alone undebuted like him, had little to offer. He trusted his Mama would pay for his dowry, but he didn’t know if the amount would satisfy a duke like Geonwoo.
But then, unexpectedly, Geonwoo reached for his hand, as if sensing the turmoil in his head.
Geonwo pressed a gentle kiss to Xinlong’s knuckles, the gesture so at odds with the lewdness of his actions before that it froze Xinlong completely.
“What flowers would you like for the wedding?”
Xinlong let out a soft, breathless laugh at the question, relief blooming warm in his chest as he pulled Geonwoo closer in a hug.
The wedding preparations unfolded in a flurry of activity.
His mama and brother had been utterly flabbergasted by his choice. They didn’t bother to hide their disapproval of an alpha almost a decade older stealing their youngest. But the disapproval did not last. Not after it was revealed that Xinlong’s virtue had already been taken. To preserve both their dignity and reputation, the wedding was hastily arranged to take place within the month.
The Queen's approval came easily. Being her favored nephew had its advantages. Though she seemed faintly puzzled by Geonwoo's choice of bride, she raised no objections—particularly after he promised her a spectacle worthy of the Season.
And Geonwoo delivered.
Xinlong was given a wedding grander than anything he had ever imagined. The cathedral overflowed with flowers. The guest list included half the kingdom's nobility. For weeks afterward, society spoke of little else.
Not long after, Jiahao married Count Kim. Their courtship had been proper by every standard, and over the course of a month they had discovered a genuine fondness for one another's company.
Everything had fallen into place.
The viscountcy was secure. His mother no longer worried herself sick over the future. Jiahao had found a husband who treated him with kindness and respect.
By all accounts, Xinlong should have been satisfied.
The gifts that arrived without occasion.
The journeys Geonwoo postponed because Xinlong had casually mentioned wanting him home.
The way his husband remembered every preference, every passing remark, every insignificant detail.
The way Geonwoo still looked at him as though he were the most fascinating person in any room.
For the longest time, Xinlong had assumed it was merely in his nature to be so giving.
And yet.
It was only months into his own marriage that he finally understood Geonwoo.
One evening, while Geonwoo sat beside him in the fading light of their drawing room, reading correspondence with one hand while absently holding Xinlong's with the other, the realization struck him with startling clarity.
Geonwoo had fallen in love first. Perhaps from the moment a flustered omega had stumbled into him at a crowded ball. Or even earlier.
Xinlong would never know.
“You're staring again,” Geonwoo said without looking up.
Xinlong smiled.
“Am I?”
“You are.”
The duke finally lifted his gaze, amusement dancing in his eyes.
The same look.
The one that had followed him from the ballroom to the altar and beyond.
The one Xinlong had been too young, too nervous, and too determined to save his family to recognize for what it was.
“You know,” Xinlong said slowly, “I think I’ve seen you before that ball.”
Geonwoo laughed.
“My darling, by the time you noticed, it was already far too late.”
For Geonwoo had loved him at once—at a lightning-struck ball, from across a crowded room. Perhaps it was only fitting that Xinlong should lose his heart to a storm. After all, he had never stood a chance against Geonwoo.