Page 34 of Abel's Omega
Bax was on his knees, tucking some piece of clothing into the bottom drawer of the dresser. He looked up and held out his arms for Fan, who dropped Abel like a hot potato and leaped into his bearer’s arms. Bax hugged him. “You guys are fast workers!”
“We had a good helper,” Abel said.
“Doesn’t surprise me.” Bax gave Fan a big kiss on the cheek, making Fan squirm and yell, “Dabi!” Bax released him with a grin, and Fan ran out of the room. A few moments later, they heard him yelling and bouncing on his bed.
“He’s going to fall off,” Bax said in amused frustration and hurried off into the other room.
Abel followed him, for no particular reason except he liked to watch Bax with his pups. The four of them took after their bearer, black curls and fair skin. Fan’s eyes were dark, but the other three had Bax’s green. And it was obvious that, whatever there’d been between Bax and Patrick, none of the strain in their relationship had been allowed to spill over into the one he had with his pups.
“We should let them get settled,” Jason said behind him in a low voice.
Abel started and turned to find Jason still holding Macy and Noah. He looked tired, and like this whole twenty-four hours needed to end. “Yeah, okay.”
Bax looked up from wrestling with Fan on the bed. “I’m sorry, I’m keeping you from…” His voice trailed off.
“It’s fine, Bax. Really.” Jason walked over and handed Noah back to his bearer. “But I need to nurse Macy and get her to bed.”
“And you’re not even two weeks past birth.” Bax’s eyes carried a wealth of understanding that Abel had no way of understanding. It was an omega thing, it seemed.
Jason smiled at him. “That too. Come tomorrow for dinner, around one?”
Bax smiled and his eyes danced with amusement. “You sure Mac is up for it?”
“I’m fine,” Mac said, peering over Jason’s shoulder. He pointed at Fan. “You and me, tomorrow. Back yard.”
Fan giggled and squealed, then tried to hide in Bax’s arms, ramming his head so hard against Bax’s chest that the omega gave off an “Oof!” and nearly fell off the bed. He righted himself before anyone could move and never even woke the baby on his shoulder. “Easy, Fan.” He glanced up at the crowd surrounding him. “He’s tired. Normally, he’s a lot more careful.” Bax hugged Fan briefly. “Let’s show our guests out, then it’s bath and bedtime.” They climbed off the bed, and everyone trooped to the door.
Abel was the last one out. He paused in the corridor, his hand on the frame of the door. “I’m just up the hall, next door around the corner. If there’s anything you need…” He let his voice trail off, unsure of what Bax might feel safe enough accepting, but knowing he wanted to be of service. Knowing something had changed between them back at Mac’s, but not sure what it was.
“Thank you,” Bax said. His voice was soft, reaching out as if in a caress. His eyes flicked down to Fan, who yawned widely and leaned happily against his leg. “I should get him in the bath.”
“I’ll let you go.” And yet, Abel couldn’t bring himself to leave.
They lingered awkwardly in the door, neither saying anything, but neither of them seemingly willing to make the first move to end the visit. Abel knew he should leave. Bax looked tired—not worn out like yesterday, but today had been long and he likely hadn’t gotten much rest.
A child’s wail broke the stasis, making them both jump. Fan craned his neck to see what was going on. “Teca’s got Beatrice’s bun-bun.”
“I have to go.” Bax chewed the corner of his lip. “I’ll see you on Monday?”
As dismissals went, it was fairly gentle. Abel nodded, ignoring the slight hollow under his heart. Well, he’d get more work done on Alpha Hunt. And there was Laine to deal with as well. Not like he really had the time to hang around mooning over a beautiful omega like an adolescent, as much fun as it was. So he nodded agreement with as much grace as he could and stepped away from the door. “Sleep well,” he said.
Bax smiled that beautiful smile, the one without strain or any subtly submissive message. “I will. Thank you.” And he closed the door, though not without a final glance in Abel’s direction.
Abel stayed there a moment, not really thinking, just enjoying the sense of peace Bax brought to him. Then he shook his head, and started back toward his apartment.
Duke was leaning against the wall by his door, casually paging through something on his phone. He looked up as Abel came around the corner and grinned. “Greedy Alphas are the worst.”
“I’m not greedy.” Abel opened his door and stood aside to let Duke enter. “You want a beer.”
“Local or import?”
“Funny.” Abel got them two of the pack-brewed bottles and brought them out to the couch. “How’s the arm?”
“Itchy. Got anything I could scratch with?”
Abel went back to the kitchen and came back with a plastic ladle with a thin handle. “This do?”
“Yes.” Duke practically snatched it from him, and shoved the handle end down inside the cast. “Fuck, that feels good.”
