Archive of Our Own ^beta

Harry’s eyes are getting blurry with how many numbers he has seen just this morning. After meeting with his boss at ten, his day goes straight to fucking hell. He attended the meeting with an empty stomach and now, with all the work piling on the desk, there’s no way he can take a break.

Risking a peek at other people, Harry notices the staff sitting in front of his table already left for their lunch. Julian sitting beside him is on medical leave today, Penny sitting at the back is still at her desk and currently not on a break if her loud typing on the keyboard is anything to go by, and even while cursing in his heart relentlessly, Harry continues his work and takes out the crackers he bought from home.

It’s just his luck, really.

After graduating with a degree in Human Resource, which he had no idea why he ever enrolled for that in the first place, he worked in a small independent retail company. The salary was subpar at best and there was no way he could support his lifestyle on that salary, regardless of how much fun he had working there.

Nobody looked at him funny when he wore Gucci shirts to work, and when he wore boots that cost more than his monthly salary to their dinner, nobody even batted an eyelash. Harry bet they didn’t even think he wore the real one and that’s fine because by the way people working here look at him now, it makes him feel like a glorified naked mannequin being shown off on Oxford Street.

Although he has long adapted to those skeptical judging eyes, he can’t help missing his old work place on days where he has to eat crackers for his breakfast and lunch.

His phone vibrates and a picture of Niall with his new brunette hair lights up the screen. Accepting the call, Harry slots the phone in between his shoulder and ear, so that he can continue working while talking to his best friend.

Niall’s over enthusiastic voice greets Harry once the line connects. “Hiya, bub.”

After knowing Niall as long as Harry has, since they were eighteen years old, this particular voice only means one thing. “And what may you need now, my friend?”

Niall guffaws. “God, I hate it when you know I need something before I can try to trap you into it.”

“It’s not exactly that hard to figure you out,” Harry mumbles before eating his first food of the day at one twenty in the afternoon.

“Don’t tell me you’re eating crackers now.” Niall’s over enthusiastic voice turns steely, just like it always does when Harry does something he disapproves.

Rolling his eyes, Harry finishes his mouthful before replying. “Yes, I am. Why are you calling me?”

Niall groans. “That fucking place is so fucking stupid. I swear to fucking God, Harry, you need to leave before they skin you alive.”

A boisterous laugh escapes him, but after remembering Penny still in the office, Harry tries to cover it with a loud cough instead. “Shut up. You know I can’t badmouth them in here,” Harry whispers, eyes on the lookout for any passerby. Being in HR for a shitty company bears more cost than it shows on paper. “I have loads of work here, Ni. Mind to tell me what is it you actually need?

Finally relenting, Niall huffs loudly to show his frustration. “Fine. I have a sugar recommendation for you. It’s for me actually, but I’m occupied. So, I suggested my lovely omega friend and he said yes.”

A light pops in his mind. His last long term sugaring arrangement ended a month ago and ever since then, Harry had three ‘meet and greets’ for a new arrangement, a first date where both parties discussed what they expected out of the arrangement. Neither of them was willing for the kind of money he needs though, so those alphas were not suitable. “I need someone rich, Ni.” Very rich if I want to retire by the age of thirty goes unsaid. They made the plan together and Niall knows it well.

“He’s plenty rich.” Before Harry can voice out his reply, Niall speaks to someone softly in the background and a loud kissing noise pollutes Harry’s ear for a whole minute. Harry hears a muted whisper, “Bye bye, darling. Take care, alpha!” coming from Niall and knowing Niall is sending his sugar daddy for a business trip, Harry stays quiet. There’s no need to disturb whatever is happening on the other end of the line.

As Harry waits for Niall to explain more, he eats his crackers while typing the account number in the sheet with one hand.

“Where was I? Oh - the money. He’s plenty rich - comes from old money. And old age, of course.”

Niall’s casual remark should not be as funny as it is. Back when they were still studying, they called sugaring their extra-curricular activities, but after years in the scene, it has moved towards a staple. Especially in Harry’s retirement plans.

This time, with Penny’s presence on his conscious mind, Harry snorts instead. “Text me the details, then.”

After saying goodbye and promising to update Niall back, Harry ends the call, a smile tugging his lips with a promise of a new sugar daddy potential.

Tilting his head, Harry is shocked by the presence of his boss standing at Julian’s table. With legs crossed at the ankle and hands crossed against his chest, his smile is wolfish and his eyes gleaming with mischief. “Good news?”

“Uh - no, Keith. Nothing much. Just catching up with a friend,” Harry stammers out.

Keith inches nearer to Harry, leaning dangerously close to Harry’s personal space. Caught off guard, Harry takes a sharp inhale, fresh amber and spice enveloping his nose and he regrets it instantly.

“Well, you must be really happy to catch up with your friend, then. Your scent is sweeter than normal.” He pats Harry’s shoulder, beaming like whatever he said wasn’t blatantly rude.

Plastering on a fake smile, Harry watches him walk to Penny’s table. Keith, however, knows how to keep his distance when it comes to Penny. He stands on the other side of the table and while the smile is still wolfish, he doesn’t make an attempt to get closer to Penny as he did to Harry. Harry doesn’t need to watch further to know he never gives inappropriate comments to her as well.

Biting his inner cheek, Harry’s anger wells up in his chest while waiting for Keith to go to his office. As his eyes stay glued to the ticking clock on the screen of his PC, Harry doesn’t even pretend to do his work. He just needs his boss to leave.

Once the door to Keith’s office closes and Harry takes a look to ensure his boss is indeed at his table, Harry opens his drawer, taking out a bottle of scent dampeners and spraying his working area. It is usually used to clear out the air in an enclosed room from omega or alpha scents, but ever since he started working here, Harry probably has gone through as much scent dampeners as a hotel does.

Fucking hell. He fucking hates Keith’s scent. It’s strong and it had stopped being pleasing once he knew Keith’s real face. Not to mention, how overpowering it becomes when they are in a meeting room and there’s something Keith disagrees with.

On another thought, it’s not only on the days Harry succumbs to crackers that makes him miss his old working place, but also on the days Keith antagonizes him. He really misses having a sweet seventy year old omega lady as his boss.

✻

Picking out something to wear on a meet and greet is a routine for Harry now. It used to be a chore, but after sugaring for seven years, he’s more than experienced in handling it.

Nothing too outlandish, like a pair of boots that cost more than a month of salary or the type of handbag Evangelista draws on because all of those are gifts from previous sugar daddies. Something in the current season, yet not too expensive, that screams how Harry only needs the alphas for the money. Most alphas don’t like a reminder that they are not the first one and usually, more money comes with more possessiveness.

After years in sugaring, Harry has picked up on a pattern. Whenever he wears something adequate on a meet and greet, the alphas tend to offer more allowances and gifts.

Harry chooses a black blouse from Gucci, the one his French sugar daddy bought him when they visited Paris. The blouse is a year old and Harry pairs it with cream flared pants from the same collection. Harry ties the bow on his neck loosely, the mixture of satin and chiffon fabric creates a soft flow accentuating his milky white skin. Tugging the collar downward to show off his jutting collarbones, Harry takes one last look in the mirror, making sure his bouncy curls are flawless before he leaves.

In the back of an Uber, Harry pulls out his phone from his handbag and texts Niall. Texting each other before a meet and greet is a requirement from back when they started to keep them safe and now it’s just a routine.

When Harry first started, he used Seeking Arrangements and other relevant social platforms to find a sugar daddy. Most of the time though, he met with a fake sugar daddy instead. Being an omega, Harry has learnt how to say no very adamantly and hold his ground. But, there were several alphas that wouldn’t take no for an answer. Those were the ones Harry needed Niall for.

Now though, Harry and Niall only used recommendations coming from other sugar babies or by their ex sugar daddies. It’s safer and more lucrative. Plus, it feels good to not worry whether he’ll make it back home after a night out or not.

The Uber stops in front of Hide Restaurant and Harry fishes out a ten dollar bill from the pocket of his handbag, passing it to the driver while muttering his gratitude. Standing in front of the building, Harry’s mouth gapes open as he takes the restaurant’s opulence. It’s a three-story restaurant in the middle of London and the front is made of floor to ceiling glass.

Harry has gone to plenty of fine dining restaurants in his life, but this, this is something else. Whoever Niall recommended to him is filthy rich. As Niall said though, old money comes with old age and Harry is confident this alpha will be the oldest sugar daddy he could have. Probably the richest one too.

Stepping over the threshold, Harry is greeted by a friendly beta hostess standing right in front of an enormous glass door.

“Hi, welcome to Hide Restaurant.” The hostess beams and she speaks with such enthusiasm her black bob cut hair is bouncing.

Her excitement manages to calm Harry’s nerves. “Hi. I have a reservation under the name of Tommo.”

The beta’s eyes widen for a second and then, as if it’s possible, her smile turns bigger and her eyes gleam with exhilaration. “Lovely! The reservation is for The Shadow Room, I’ll guide you.” Without looking at the iPad she’s been holding, she leaves her stand and Harry has no idea who will cover for her, but she happily strides to the other side of the room, showing Harry a place to keep his Gucci faux fur coat and helping him take it off. “It’s one of our private dining rooms. He just arrived a few minutes ago.”

Harry’s attention focuses on a sweeping curved oak staircase as she babbles on about the special menu for the day. The extravagant staircase is located in the middle of the room and as the hostess leads Harry to go downstairs, he runs his fingers against the soft oak bannister. The details are paramount with the most intricate dark grain in the woods and the matching light case and walls decorations.

There are several patrons in the basement, hanging out at the bar but the tables are empty. The hostess takes a right turn and Harry follows suit, not having much time to appreciate the bold decor at the bar except noting the oak panelling taking the space behind the liquor shelves.

Pushing open the door, she moves to the side to let Harry in and greets the other guest in the room, “Good evening, Mr. Tomlinson. I have your partner here with me.”

Harry’s brows furrow. His heart beats faster in his chest as the name sinks in. The Tomlinson name is awfully familiar and Harry isn’t sure how many rich Tomlinsons are out here in London, but he knew one. Seven years ago. But, that Tomlinson is...

“Harry,” A raspy voice pulls Harry out of his reverie.

Cocking his head, Harry takes in the sight of a person now standing in front of him. The alpha motions something to the hostess and she immediately excuses herself, muttering slowly, “We hope you both will enjoy your evening here.”

Louis smiles. “Please, have a seat.” He gestures to the other side of the table.

Harry takes a seat on the humongous chair. Taking in the extra space, the room looks like it should be used for at least six people and now there’s only two of them with so much unnecessary space in between. Way to create uncomfortable distance.

Harry’s stomach starts to churn thinking how bad the beginning of their meet and greet is and that doesn’t include their history yet. He should have known the Tommo name was too good to be true. No sugar daddy has an amazing name. Ever. Niall will lose his shit once he knows he recommended Louis to Harry, he hates the alpha even more than Harry does. To be fair, Niall deserves to hate Louis. After all, he is the one who helped Harry to get over Louis.

Resting his clenched hand on the table, Louis starts the conversation with a smile never leaving his face. “Well, I must say it’s a nice surprise.”

Harry means to say ‘ is it?’ , but taking the extravagant details of the restaurant, Harry chooses to lie through his teeth. “It is.”

Louis grabs the iPad on the other side of the table. “Shall we order? They only offer a set menu for the rooms. So, do you want the five course or eight?” He asks with a brow raised.

This time though, Harry doesn’t bite his tongue, “Are you seriously asking me?”

Louis laughs, shrugging his shoulders. “I’m just testing the waters here.” Scrolling through the screen of the iPad, he asks again, “What about the wine? White? Red? Full-bodied?”

Seven years is a long time to forget someone but it’s not everyday you fall in love with a certain Louis Tomlinson. Thinking about it now, they barely knew each other back then, the six months of their arrangement was quite short, but just enough to make Harry head over heels for Louis and not enough to make Louis feel the same.

Smiling saccharine sweet, Harry answers with a smile, dimples denting both sides of his cheeks, “Medium-bodied red, please.”

The alpha chuckles, shaking his head slightly like he’s amused Harry is taking him up on his offer. “Eight course menu with medium-bodied red,” he repeats, one eyebrow arching towards Harry.

Harry nods and Louis types something on the screen. While Louis is placing the order, Harry keeps his eyes on him, doing a once-over surreptitiously after seven years.

Louis is one of the best looking alphas Harry has ever laid his eyes on, with his light-brown hair and piercing sky blue eyes. He has the most gorgeous smile, especially when he’s really happy, one that makes his eyes crinkled. Despite his dominant alpha trait, his voice is soft and raspy. His laugh is infectious and warm and if it’s loud, he’ll cover his mouth just because. Louis’ body is as Harry remembers, lean and well-built and the twelve years difference between them only could be seen by the deeper lines around his eyes, accentuated by the slight stubble on his jaw.

Like all fine things in the world, Louis Tomlinson ages exceptionally well.

Placing the iPad on the side, Louis looks at Harry with a deep set between his brows. “Seven years, is it?”

Harry smiles. “It is. I’m surprised that you remember me, Mr. Tomlinson.”

Taking a sip of his water, Louis smiles warmly before answering. “Well, those green eyes aren’t really easy to forget. And please, call me Louis. We know each other, Harry.”

Harry tries really hard to not scowl or say something sarcastic. If hard to forget is conveyed by dumping Harry through text, this alpha needs to have a better grip at reality. All this money couldn’t possibly compensate for that.

Only minutes in Louis’ presence, Harry’s mind is already made up. Whatever twist of fate happens tonight, he’s going to end up bagging Louis. He knows Louis' family money and Harry doesn’t categorize the Tomlinsons’ net worth as rich. He categorizes them as wealthy.

There’s a knock on the door, informing them about the wine and Louis assents to it. A waiter comes in with a wine cart, smiling warmly and greets them. He shows the bottle label to Louis and once Louis nods, he pops open the wine and pours the wine for Harry and Louis. After telling them he’ll come to serve their food in the next ten minutes, he excuses himself.

Louis swirls the glass slowly, taking in the smell of the wine before sipping it. “Can we talk about the arrangement now? Or are you more comfortable doing it while eating?”

“Business before pleasure sounds good,” Harry says before taking a sip of the wine.

Louis smirks hearing the words. “You are truly something else, Harry,” he comments softly, piercing blue eyes gaze into Harry’s green. “I’m looking for a long-term arrangement and I’d like it if you could accompany me on business trips.”

Fuck. The sweet aftertaste of the wine turns sour in Harry’s mouth. He can’t do business trips as often as before, he’s working a full time job in a shitty company now. If he spends his twenty-five days of leave on business trips, he won’t have any left for Christmas and it’s not like he has anyone to celebrate Christmas with, but he’d really like to not celebrate it in the office with Keith.

Instead of explaining his predicament, Harry moves on to something else. “Oh great. I’m looking for a long-term arrangement too.” He smiles, his index finger tapping on the rim of the glass with his chin propped on his palm. “How often do you usually travel?”

“I don’t travel as much as before now that we have a new VP, but probably two to three days in a month.” Louis supplies and as if he knows exactly what is on Harry’s mind, he adds, “Are you working a full-time job currently?”

Before Harry can answer though, Louis tags on more unnecessary information because of course he does. “I’m just assuming since my last sugar baby was too.”

The tapping against the rim of the glass is stilted instinctively and Harry swears there’s a gleam of mirth in Louis’ blue irises. It’s not like he expected Louis to stay single or anything, but the way he voices out the extra information about his ex sugar baby so casually leaves Harry’s stomach hollow.

Schooling his facial expression, Harry ensures he doesn’t let out any snarky comment. “Yes, I do too. Three to four days in a month is doable for me, but maybe I have to skip out every once in a while.”

Nodding, Louis hums in acknowledgement. He stays quiet for a while though and Harry’s body is tense, mind already calculating the risk of quitting his job to be Louis' unemployed sugar baby if that’s what the alpha prefers.

Harry would risk it, but if the past serves any reminder to him, Louis has a tendency of leaving omegas on an impulse. No matter how much allowance Louis offers, it isn’t worth leaving his stable paying job if it’s short lived.

“That’s fine with me. I could work with that.” Louis affirms and the tension leaves Harry’s body in an instant.

There is a knock on the door and after Louis permits them to enter, the same waiter walks in with their food. He helps place the napkin on Harry’s lap before offering to do the same for Louis.

After refilling their glass and wishing for Harry and Louis to enjoy their food, the waiter leaves once again.

Harry barely takes a whiff of the food served in front of him before Louis picks up the topic of their conversation again. If Harry didn’t know any better, he might think Louis is more excited for this arrangement than he is.

Louis levels him with an intense stare. “I don’t know about your other arrangements before this, but I expect you to spend your weekends with me. We can go shopping on the weekends too.” His tone is business-like, colder than before and Harry realises that it’s a deal breaker for Louis. In other words, if Harry can’t give him his weekends, there’s no way this arrangement will happen. “If I’m in town, of course. You are free to do whatever you want if I’m away on a business trip. And I usually give monthly allowances.”

Harry’s heart leaps as he tries to curb his excitement to not shriek. Luckily for him, Keith doesn’t disturb him on weekends and even if Keith does in the future, Harry’s willing to take the plunge.

The gift goes without saying, all sugar daddies spoil their babies with designer outfits, but most of them don’t give monthly allowances. They prefer to do pay-per-meet, which means the sugar babies will only get allowances if they meet. Harry’s been there and it didn’t feel good, especially when his sugar daddy was only available for one date in a month.

Taking a piece of artichoke on his fork, with a smile dimpling his cheeks, Harry mutters softly, “Weekends sound perfect.”

✻

Niall’s sugar daddy might be away on a business trip, but for an unemployed omega, he surely is busy all the time. Harry asked him out for dinner, but Niall already made a plan with his friends and despite him volunteering to bail on them, Harry just couldn’t ask him to do that. He settles with texting Niall about his dinner with Louis and gets a very excited reply with a bunch of typos and excessive exclamation marks.

Before he can type out a reply though, a notification for the department meeting pops up on his PC screen and from his peripheral vision, Harry sees Julian stand and starts clearing out his desk to go to the meeting.

Harry sighs, rolling his shoulders as he chucks his phone in a drawer. He takes out a notebook and a pen, just in case he needs to bore himself with something while listening to Keith’s nagging.

“Want to go together?” Julian asks tentatively. The beta is Harry’s deskmate and after working here for about a year, Harry barely talks to him except for exchanging pleasantries like good morning, bye and have a happy weekend. All of it comes from his work though because he’s a trainer, which means he always travels. Thinking about it, Harry probably has seen him less than five times for the past three months.

“Yeah, sure.” Harry puts his PC in sleep mode before he stands, tugging his slightly crumpled shirt.

✻

Huffing impatiently, Harry punches the call button with more pressure than he usually uses. He’s been waiting for the damn elevator for fifteen minutes and he’s beyond annoyed now. Harry is soaking wet from running from the tube to his building and the concierge looks at him in sympathy when he hands Harry a towel.

Once he finally makes it inside, his phone rings loudly. Harry takes out his phone from his handbag, seeing Niall’s wide smile on the screen.

“Hey.” Throwing his key on the couch, Harry slips the phone in the crook of his neck, striding to his bathroom.

“You fucking dipshit! You didn’t even reply to me!” Niall shrieks hysterically on the other end of the line.

Harry grimaces with how loud Niall’s voice is. He didn’t mean to leave Niall on read, totally forgetting about the text because he went out with Julian and Penny for lunch after the meeting. Harry doesn’t know why he bothers joining them, it’s probably the most stilted conversation he has ever been a part of. Both of them are very uptight and all they talked about was how great their work is. They could’ve fool anyone that working there is fantastic. Harry knows better.

“Well, you know - work.” Harry answers lamely while unbuttoning his wet shirt.

Niall scoffs. “Yeah, figured. That’s why I called you when I know that you’re already home. What’s up with Louis anyway? Tell me every single thing.” He enunciates the last bit of his sentence, threatening Harry to not leave out any detail.

Harry peels off his shirt before working on his pants next. Taking off his briefs, Harry makes a split second decision and ends up sitting on the toilet lid while telling his best friend what happened last night instead of taking a shower.

There’s a reason why Harry and Niall are best friends other than they are both sugar babies, of course. They aren’t wired similar, but they compliment and understand each other enough where it’s concerned.

But then, where Niall is planning to settle down with a rich alpha, Harry is more relevant in that realm.

He’s a twenty six years old omega and he’s not going to be a hot young sugar baby forever. So, he constructed a retirement plan a few years back with one goal in mind. Once he reaches thirty, he’ll leave London to live in a smaller and less expensive city with his childhood friend. They are planning on opening a personal care shop using only organic ingredients and customising their products according to the customers’ preferences and scents. There aren't a lot of brands offering body care products specifically altered for everyone’s different scents and they plan on picking the gap within the markets.

That means he has four more years to get enough money from his sugar daddies.

Standing in front of the coat rack, Harry’s eyes skim over the various coats he has hanging there, running his hand through the cashmere and faux fur. Living in a flat means he has to get rid of most of his out of season clothes and that’s just the perfect excuse for him to sell them off and keep the money for his retirement plan. Harry keeps several he has fond memories of though, like the one he got from his French sugar daddy and the one from Gucci with his name emblazoned on its sleeve.

The chime of a text notification on his phone pulls Harry out of his trance. He should be packing for his weekend at Louis’ tomorrow, but he is drawn to the coat rack instead. Harry grabs his carry-on hand luggage from the drawer and takes out enough clothing to last through one weekend. While zipping his luggage though, Harry debates between whether he should pack some lingerie and panties too. Would it be too much for a first weekend? Or they could skip the introductory part of their arrangement since they know each other?

Normally, Harry wouldn’t do it so early in the arrangement and he likes to make an educated guess first depending on the alphas as some go feral over lingerie, some request it and some are even not into it. Raking his mind to remember what Louis liked several years ago, Harry comes out blank in terms of lingerie. He didn’t wear it while with Louis. Honestly, past Harry would look at future Harry with round eyes and mouth agape. He’d never believe he made it this far in sugaring.

The loud shrill of his phone, this time for a call, makes Harry leave his halfway zipped luggage on the floor, grunting as he stands from his crouching position and reaches for his phone on the drawer nearby. His brows raise as he sees the name on the screen.

“Hi, Louis.” He strides to his bed and perches on the edge.

“Hi, Harry. Are you busy? I’m sorry to bother if you are, I texted you a while ago, but you didn’t reply so - you know, I thought I’d give you a call.” Louis’ voice is low and raspy and it shouldn’t sound that good through the phone, but it does.

Harry’s forehead furrows, heartbeat stilted for a moment. Is Louis cancelling on him on their first weekend together? “Nah, I’m packing for tomorrow actually. Why did you text me? Change of plan?”

“Coincidentally, it’s about that. No change of plans.” Louis chuckles. There is a sound of rustling papers on his end and Harry glances to the clock mounted on his bedroom wall, brows knitted in confusion. Is Louis working at eleven o’clock on a Thursday night? “But, I just wanted to let you know that you can pack light. I will bring you shopping on Saturday and you can leave some of your stuff here too. So, you don’t have to pack every week.”

A sigh of relief escapes him. Harry hasn't gone on a shopping trip since his last sugaring arrangement a month ago and he is really looking forward to revamping his entire wardrobe. Getting extra allowances doesn’t hurt either. “Oh - great!”

Wait, does that mean he could buy new lingerie too? Or is Louis not into that? God, Harry is acting like this is his first rodeo and he hates the uncomfortable tingle under his skin. Harry fists the sheets beside him, trying to think as fast as he can.

Biting his bottom lip in between his teeth, Harry speaks in a low voice, trying to gauge the reaction. If Louis sounds indifferent, he’s going to skip on lingerie. “Um - Lou.”

The rustling sound in the background immediately stops. “Yes? Is there something wrong, Harry?”

Harry rolls his eyes. Of course, Louis Tomlinson is just the type of alpha tentative enough to ask all omegas what’s wrong, even the ones he pays for. Loosening the grip he has on his bed sheets, Harry blurts out, “What do you think about lingerie?”

“Oh - wow.”

The corner of Harry’s lips twitch with how breathless Louis’ sounds. “Are you imagining me in lingerie now?” Harry scoffs, shaking his head slightly at the reaction. Such a classic alpha.

Louis chuckles, “Well, you planted the pictures in my head, baby. It’s not really my fault.”

Harry’s heart skips a beat hearing the familiar nickname. Clearing his throat, Harry busies himself with flattening the wrinkled sheet he fisted just now. “Okay, based on how stunned you were just now, I’m going to pack one for tomorrow night and we can shop for others on Saturday?” Harry enunciates the question just so he could tease Louis with more imagination of him lounging in bed in lingerie.

“Perfect.” Harry could hear the smile in Louis’ voice and he pictures the sweet crinkly-eyed smile on Louis’ face. “See you tomorrow, baby. Good night.”

✻

Julian is not in the office today, like usual. Harry had stopped checking his deskmate’s training schedule after three months of working together, once he realized Julian is the only trainer in the company. It’s ludicrous because it means Julian has to travel to all corners of England and Harry can’t imagine the workload he has, despite all the positive things he said about the company.

Harry wouldn’t consider himself as a whiner when it comes to work. He’s worked his arse off since university and despite going on a non-traditional route, the point stands. He used most of his sugaring allowances to pay his study fees and once he graduated, he sold half of his upscale wardrobe to make enough money for the upfront payment of his comfortable flat in London.

With Keith though, Harry just can’t help it. He whined a lot during the first few months, enough that Niall hates his work more than he does. He’s fuming with how Keith treats him and how his workload is so ridiculous that he has to skip lunch on most days. Add in the fact he doesn't have any colleagues to vent to, and it just frustrates him more.

Making his coffee in the break room and managing to dodge Keith because he came in late this morning, Harry starts his work in a breeze, mind clearing a lot more now he has a new sugar daddy, taking off the worry of contributing to his retirement plan fund.

The text comes after Harry works past lunch time, only eating the egg sandwiches he brought from home this morning.

It’s from Louis. Everytime he sees Louis’ name on the screen, Harry’s heart finds a new way to stop, worrying himself about Louis cancelling even before he swipes open the text. He blames it on the experience of being dumped by text seven years ago.

Hey, babe, sorry I forgot to let you know I’ve a meeting at 4, so I might finish at 5:30. I’ll pick you up after?

Harry exhales in relief and types out a reply, saying he’s okay with it. It’s not the first time a sugar daddy has run late. They are always busy, changing days of business trips because something comes up, changing plans because of a last minute meeting - it’s all part of the routine now. He’s fine being stuck in his office for thirty more minutes, Keith most likely will have left by then.

The office is empty except for Harry and Penny, accompanied by the sound of her acrylic nails typing on the keyboard aggressively. Harry checks the time on his phone screen again, it’s half past five and Louis texted him several minutes ago saying he’s on his way.

Standing, Harry cleans up his desk for the weekend, storing all the loose papers in their designated files and shreds the few he doesn’t need anymore. He grabs the Gucci duffle bag from underneath his desk, having changed his small luggage to a duffle bag after Louis said to pack light last night.

Walking past Penny’s desk, Harry smiles at her. “Bye, Penny. Have a good weekend.”

Penny shifts her focus from the screen of her PC to Harry, her eyes sticking on the Gucci duffle bag Harry’s holding and her lips curl into a smile despite her nails still tapping away on the keyboard. “You too, H. See you Monday.”

Harry scrolls on his phone while striding to the elevator, tapping twice on Niall’s new picture of him and his sugar daddy playing golf. That’s probably why Niall decided on settling down with a rich alpha. Unlike Harry, Niall is totally submerged into the lifestyle of a sugar baby - golfing, shopping every other week, unemployed and with no worry in his mind. Maybe it has something to do with getting thousands quid of allowances too. Or maybe because Niall scored a car and a house from his sugar daddy. His best friend is basically set up for life. If only Harry is fortunate enough to maintain an arrangement that long.

Pressing on the elevator button, Harry continues scrolling on his Instagram feed when a certain smell assaults his nose. Hell, he knows the scent so well and judging by the goosebumps rising on Harry’s skin instinctively, the alpha must be standing close to him, putting Harry’s inner omega on alert.

Whipping his head around, Harry gazes into Keith’s brown eyes. He has such kind eyes, ones that remind Harry of his childhood friend, but the way his lips curl on a constant wolfish smirk, quoting his inappropriate comment on Harry’s scent every other chance he gets, he’s anything but a kind alpha.

“Hi Harry, I thought you left early.” Keith moves closer to Harry now that the omega notices him. His point of view is directed towards Harry’s phone screen.

Noting the instance, Harry locks his phone immediately and fists it in his hand, smiling tightly. By this point, Harry doesn’t care if Keith sees how uncomfortable he is. Away from other staff and almost in an empty building, Harry’s hackles rise.

No longer being able to pry into Harry’s phone, Keith’s wolfish smile is directed towards Harry’s face instead. “I walked by your desk just now and saw everything was cleared up. Thought I missed you.”

“Yeah, I’m about to leave.” The elevator door pings, announcing its arrival and Harry’s fight or flight instinct kicks in, almost jumping into the lift. He busies himself with the handle of his duffle bag, eyes on the motion of his hand and presses the close button casually without asking Keith whether he’s coming in.

The door barely closes when Keith steps in, unbothered by Harry’s nonchalant reply to him. He presses the G button and Harry grimaces inwardly. They have about eight more floors to spend together.

Keith is standing close to Harry, shoulders bumping, and he makes no effort to move away.

Harry bites his inner cheek as he counts the seconds the elevator descends, trying to calm his inner omega from distress for being enclosed in a small space with Keith and his overpowering alpha smell.

Keith, however, stirs up another topic, immune to Harry’s stiff body language, “Your Gucci bag looks amazing by the way. It’s limited edition, right? I haven’t seen this one around much.”

Tightening his grip on the handle of his printed duffle bag, Harry mutters out, “Yeah, limited edition. Bought it a while ago.” He silently curses inside his heart, thinking this will be the last time he brings it to the office. He knew the Mickey Mouse motifs would draw some eyes when he chose it, he just didn’t expect it would draw Keith’s.

“So what’s your plan for the weekend? Going somewhere?” Keith enquires again.

Harry’s eyes watch as the number changes on the elevator panel excruciatingly slow. “Just a sleepover at my friend’s place. We haven’t met for a while,” he drawls out slowly. Trying to stall time so Keith can’t interrogate him any longer.

To his surprise, Keith sniffs the air audibly. On instinct, Harry steps back to put some distance between them as his inner omega feels threatened, heart hammering wildly in his chest.

Whatever goes through Keith’s mind, he doesn’t say anything about Harry backing off so suddenly. Instead, he quips out about Harry’s scent, “I feel like your scent is a bit murky today. Hope this friend treats you well and makes it worth your while.”

Harry’s mouth drops open at the comment, and his eyes widen hearing the double meaning of Keith’s words. Is he implying Harry sleeps with someone for money? Before Harry can protest, the elevator arrives at the ground floor and Keith steps out without turning back to him.

“Fucking knothead,” Harry grits out.

Stepping out of the elevator, Harry sees Keith talking to the receptionist at the front desk and Harry strides past without acknowledging them. He needs to get out of the building as quickly as possible, probably getting some fresh air from the street to clear out his mind from whatever happened in the elevator.

Harry leans on a wall, away from the busy street of pedestrians coming back from work. Closing his eyes, he takes a deep breath, trying to draw in the fresh air and clear his senses of Keith’s alpha scent. His heart is still beating wildly in his chest and his fingers are trembling slightly. Merely seconds later with Keith’s scent still lingering in his senses, his phone vibrates. Harry peeks one eye open and sees Louis’ name on the screen.

“I’m here. In front of your building.”

Harry exhales shakily before muttering, “Okay, I’ll be there in a minute.”

“Sure, babe. Take your time.” Louis’ voice is like a warm water cascading through Harry’s trembling body. It calms his inner omega knowing that he’ll spend the night with an alpha he knows instead of locked up alone in his flat. He needs the companionship, the soothing presence of an alpha. Something Niall couldn’t provide and not like Harry could get it somewhere else too.

Harry takes another deep breath, counting to ten before exhaling it through his mouth. He runs a hand through his curls, hoping he doesn’t look as shaken as he feels before strolling to the front of the building.

Realizing he has no idea what type of car Louis drives, Harry is about to call him and ask when he spots Louis leaning on the hood of a Range Rover, parked right in front of the building usually reserved for the top management.

Harry points to the big yellow reserve sign, quirking an eyebrow and Louis chuckles, shrugging one shoulder. He opens the door of the passenger side for Harry and takes Harry’s duffle bag to place it at the back of his car.

Being in a confined space, Harry’s nose instantly picks on one prominent scent in the car. A strong alpha scent, smelling like ocean water, wet stone and fresh mint engulfing the air. Frowning, Harry remembers he didn’t smell anything particularly strong from Louis on their meet and greet, a hint of ocean and mints but it was muted. Some alphas don't have such a strong distinct smell unless they’re threatened so Harry swipes it under the rug, thinking Louis is the same. Replaying the vague memory from seven years ago, Harry remembers Louis was on suppressants so he doesn’t smell like anything back then too.

Louis closes his door, turning his head to Harry. “Everything good?” His hand is on the steering wheel, ready to drive.

Harry nods, mind still trying to conjure any possible explanation for the scent.

Louis’ eyes remain intent on Harry for several seconds, there’s a slight dip in between his brows and when Harry is about to open his mouth to question, Louis leans closer to the console. Reaching something at the back of Harry’s ear, he pulls the seat belt across Harry’s torso and clicks it on.

Harry’s heart lurches to his stomach, surprised with the gesture and even more shocked with the whiff of ocean water, wet stone and fresh mint emitting so strongly from Louis’ neck in front of him seconds ago.

For the next several minutes into their drive, Harry doesn’t know what happens. Their usual playfulness from their meet and greet and last night’s phone call dissipates into thin air as neither of them says anything. His mind keeps on flitting to Louis’ scent and its disappearance, but he can’t really find a way to voice it without sounding rude.

Stopping at a red light, Louis turns on the radio and taps the steering wheel softly. Harry usually will have fun singing or teasing his sugar daddy for listening to classic songs, but with Louis, Harry’s mind tunes out the music. Only focusing on the question that matters.

Unable to contain it anymore, Harry decides to tread lightly just like the night before. “Louis, can I ask something? And before you agree, it’s about scent.”

The light turns green and the car moves once again, Louis doesn’t say anything but he frowns and Harry’s skin jitters with anticipation, worried he might be overstepping boundaries.

“I don’t mean to be rude,” Harry chides. His gaze focuses on Louis, trying to gauge his reaction. “I just - need to know?” He adds questioningly, trying to not offend Louis. “Lou? Please?”

Failing to hide his amusement, Louis laughs.

Harry smacks Louis’ forearm softly, affronted at being teased. “Hey!”

Louis’ laugh just gets louder and Harry pouts, crossing his arms against his chest, looking outside the window to stifle his own smile.

Finally calming himself, Louis assures Harry. “I’m sorry, babe. I couldn’t help it, you sound adorable. And you can ask me anything, baby. Nothing’s off limits. We’re going to spend more time with each other anyway.”

Intrigued by the offer, Harry turns his head to Louis. “I couldn’t smell you that night in the restaurant. I mean, there was a hint of smell, but not like - this.” He gestures to the air, hoping he gets his point across.

Louis smirks. “I used a scent neutralizer that night. I don’t want anything to influence the negotiations.”

Harry’s cheek pinkens, he could totally understand where Louis comes from. If Harry met an alpha smelling as delicious as this, all warm and comforting, he’d have said yes on a whim.

Most importantly, it speaks to who Louis is as an alpha. Alphas rarely wear scent neutralizer because it dilutes their smell, making it less prominent and unable to scent mark their mates. Harry couldn’t imagine alphas like Keith using a scent neutralizer, but Louis, he just shows how much different he is from the rest of his gender.

Leaning his head on the headrest, Harry mumbles, “You know, you can ask me anything too. I’m an open book.” Squinting his eyes with his claim because it feels wrong, Harry corrects it, “I mean, quite an open book.”

Louis laughs, shaking his head with Harry’s antics.

Is Harry acting on mere adrenaline after the elevator incident? Because it feels like it when his body trudges along Louis’ in his mansion without saying a word. His inner omega isn’t in distress per se, but his mind feels a little bit woozy and his body craves a place to lay down, preferably with an alpha to scent him.

Louis gives him a tour of his two story house, telling him where everything is and Harry can’t really pay any attention to his words. He lets his eyes roam the house instead. It’s huge enough for a litter of pups playing around with a humongous fenced backyard, equipped with football goal posts, a swing, a swimming pool and an outdoor garden sofa set.

“Harry?” Touching Harry’s wrist gently, Louis caresses Harry’s knuckles with his thumb. His blue eyes are concerned and his forehead furrows. “You’re awfully quiet, love. Are you okay?”

Harry feels a tremor run through his body as he conjures up an answer. “I’m - can I lay down a while?” He waves vaguely in the general direction of what he thinks is Louis’ living room. “I feel a little bit - hazy.” His words are slurred like the rest of his action and without waiting for Louis’ reply, Harry stumbles to the direction he gestured.

“Baby,” Louis whispers. He isn’t close enough to raise goosebump on Harry’s skin, but the mixture of Keith’s scent that’s still lingering in Harry’s mind and the new profound scent of Louis’ alpha is overwhelming his inner omega. He almost falls, tripping his own feet in his haste to find a place to lay down.

Louis places a hand on the small of Harry’s back, guiding him to the living room. “You can lay down in here or if you want, you can lay down in the bedroom too. You don’t have to use mine, I have a spare room you can use.”

Laying in bed sounds wonderful so Harry nods. He doesn’t know how Louis interprets his assent because the next thing he realizes, he’s stepping inside one of the spare rooms. Unlike the rest of the house, the room smells fresh, devoid of any scent and Harry can’t help the relief sigh escaping from his mouth.

Louis doesn’t step inside the room though. His expression is wary as he stares at Harry. “I’ll take your bag. If you want to change or anything. There’s a towel in the bathroom and a new toothbrush is in the cabinet.”

After Louis leaves, Harry runs his hand on the bed, almost moaning with how soft the sheet feels under his hand. All he wants is to lay down, resting his weary body. Taking off his shirt though, he catches a whiff of Keith’s scent on it and he drops it on the floor, cursing softly.

The smell is powerful, almost like Keith himself is standing in front of Harry. The realization clicks then, how Keith’s scent suddenly became stronger in the lift. Keith scented the air in the lift, purposely leaving his scent on Harry.

This is why his inner omega is in turmoil and sending different signals to his body. Because he’s been scented by a stranger. Worse, he’s been scented by another alpha without consent.

Fuck.

He picks up his shirt, chucking it in the laundry basket near the bathroom door and immediately jumps into shower. Without checking the temperature, Harry steps under the spray, closing his eyes and letting the scalding hot water wash away every bit of Keith’s smell.

In the three times of him soaping and rinsing his body, Harry may or may not use half a bottle of the unscented body wash in the bathroom. He only leaves the shower once he’s convinced there’s none of Keith’s scent lingering anymore.

Stepping back into the bedroom, he notices the duffle bag on the bed. Forgoing his sexy lingerie plan for the night, Harry opts for a loose lavender jumper he’s had since university instead. It’s soft and worn and his inner omega craves something familiar right now. Not bothering with joggers or pyjama pants, Harry ruffles his bag to find a pair of briefs, pulling it up his legs. He slips under the duvet, puffing the pillow before laying his head. Harry lays on his stomach like he always does and shuts his eyes to rest.

It’s a futile attempt.

Despite showering and losing Keith’s scent, Harry’s mind is still replaying the incident and his inner omega is still restless. Harry’s body is wrung out from all the somersaults his inner omega is doing, but he’s unable to put it to rest. It’s like his body and his omega are driving him to do two things in opposite directions at once.

Sitting up, Harry arranges all the pillows around his body to create some sort of makeshift nest, trying to give something resembling safety to his inner omega.

It doesn’t.

With the clean crisp air in the room that is devoid of any scent, Harry couldn’t even close his eyes without Keith and his wolfish smile assaulting his memory. Fucking alphas.

Finally relenting to his inner omega’s direction, Harry leaves the comfortable bed and his makeshift nest to find Louis. He never asks to be scented from his alpha sugar daddy, always hates being vulnerable and he only basks in alpha’s scent when his sugar daddy volunteers. This time though, Harry is just about to do anything so he can rest peacefully.

Closing the door behind him, Harry stares at the stairs far longer than people normally would. His inert mind is still trying to keep up with having to make a decision. Louis is definitely downstairs, there’s a faint sound of telly coming from the living room. Harry’s mind is telling him to go down there and seek Louis’ alpha pheromones from the source, but his omega is pushing him to go to the room down the hallway, painting the image of sleeping in the cocoon of comfort in Louis’ bed and enveloped by his alpha smell.

His omega is on the verge of crumbling, too disoriented from being scented without consent and not able to find comfort afterwards. Worried he might drop soon, Harry’s feet move on their own accord and he saunters to the room calling out for him. Pushing down the door handle and opening it slowly, Harry’s nose is welcomed with Louis’ strong alpha scent. It doesn’t make his inner omega stand on high alert, instead he feels his inner omega start calming down, identifying the smell as safety.

Choosing the side where Louis’ scent is the strongest, Harry climbs on the bed and slips under the duvet. He buries his face in the pillow and takes a deep inhale. Soft fluffy clouds invade his mind, removing every bit and piece of Keith and Harry closes his eyes, finally finding his serenity.

Without opening his eyes, Harry scoots closer to the source of heat beside him. The temperature probably dropped overnight, chilling his body slightly more than when he first came to bed. The person beside him practically radiates heat through his thin shirt and Harry tangles their legs together, sighing in content with how soft the material of the jogger feels against his bare legs.

He nuzzles against the person’s body, his inner omega preening when his nose identifies the potent smell coming from the person he's snuggling with. Half expecting a hand carding through his hair by now, Harry frowns. Why isn't there any?

Consciousness slowly seeps in his mind and like a nightmare, what happened with Keith and how he almost dropped afterward plays behind his lids. It jolts him awake and Harry sits up abruptly, pulling the duvet with him to cover his bare bottoms. His hurried action spurs Louis to stir awake and he sits up as well.

“You okay? What’s wrong?” Louis asks, his eyes wild and worried.

“Oh - I’m just surprised,” Harry stutters out with a small smile, trying to convince Louis and himself.

If anything, it only makes Louis' forehead furrow. “I could smell your distress from your room and I waited for you to come downstairs, but you didn’t. So I came to check up on you. You were shivering though. Are you sick?”

Hearing the question, Harry’s body unclenches and he slumps forward, “I’m not sick, but I think I almost dropped.”

Louis’ eyes turn sympathetic. “What’s wrong, darling? I know we aren’t close yet, but you can tell me if you have any problem. You remember I’m a good listener, right?”

Shaking his head, Harry can’t help the chortle escape from him with Louis’ earnest offer. It’s true, Louis is a good listener. He remembers whining about every little problem in his classes to Louis and despite the gap of their age, Louis understood his frustration. Even helped to reduce some of it. “Nothing I couldn’t handle,” Harry answers instead. He hates being vulnerable. Opening up his problem to an alpha who dumped him doesn’t really seem that intriguing.

“Are you hungry? You haven’t eaten your dinner.”

Food is the last thing on Harry’s mind currently. He doesn’t think he can stomach any type of food so he shakes his head.

“How about a cuppa? I make a mean Yorkshire.” Louis volunteers, almost too quickly. Like he already knows Harry will say no to food.

Harry smiles, endeared by how Louis is trying to take care of him. Pushing it to the back of his mind, Harry regards it as a biology reaction. It’s just Louis’ alpha begging him to take care of the vulnerable omega in front of him. “That sounds wonderful. I only take a pinch of milk.”

“Me too, love. Yorkshire tea with a pinch of milk then,” Louis parrots before leaving the bed.

Shutting the door behind him, Harry’s body immediately feels cold with no alpha’s presence. He grabs the pillow Louis used just now and takes a deep inhale, but it doesn’t bring him any comfort. Not anymore when his omega already attuned to having an alpha lying in the bed with him. He doesn’t want an inanimate object when he has an alpha ready to comfort him.

In moments like this, Harry hates being an omega. He usually likes being an omega, being pampered and being taken care of is amazing. But in the moment where he can’t control his inner omega, it’s hell and it’s making him weak.

By the time Louis makes it back to the bedroom, Harry is back to almost hyperventilating. His hands shake so badly he couldn’t fist them to stop from trembling. Louis’ eyes widen with shock when he realizes the state Harry is in and the two mugs he’s holding are left forgotten at the bedside table.

He climbs into bed, carefully moving close to Harry without really touching him. “Can I scent you? Will that help?”

No longer trusting himself to speak, Harry nods vehemently. He tilts his head slightly, baring his neck for Louis to scent. Louis’ firm fingers cradle his jaw and Harry closes his eyes, feeling pliant at the touch of an alpha. Louis’ breath fans over his neck and seconds later, there’s a strong smell of ocean water and fresh mint permeating his senses, putting his omega at rest.

✻

Taking a deep breath of the fresh morning air, Harry is content. A completely different state from last night. His body feels light. It’s like last night’s near drop experience places a reset button in his life and evanesces all the edges he never knew he had.

There are countless clouds dotting the sky today and the sun is shining brightly, cascading over the fluffy whites and casting a fervent shadow over the backyard. Harry loves it. It’s been a while since he last had time to sit under the trees and just take it all in.

He lives in a flat with no park and being a sugar baby often means being stocked away in a hotel suite or a vacant flat unit, but never a house with a backyard. That’s reserved for the alpha’s family - the wifes and the kids - not the sugar babies. He likes it here.

“Here’s your order and your coffee as per requested.” Louis’ lilt pulls Harry out of his reverie.

Louis places a brown kraft container and black coffee in front of Harry before doing the same for himself, taking a seat opposite the omega. They decided to have breakfast in the backyard because Louis said that the fresh air would be better for Harry after the night he had.

Honestly, Harry has no idea about it. The last time he dropped was when Louis dumped him years ago. Mainly relying on Niall and artificial pheromone soothers, he managed to calm down after a day. Coming down from that felt nothing like this though. All he remembered from the last time was misery and darkness.

Or maybe he feels different because he didn’t really drop last night. He didn’t lose consciousness, did he?

Peering at Louis from under his eyelashes, Harry remembers how gentle Louis was with him last night. He scented Harry first and when Harry’s body stopped trembling, he tucked Harry in, pulling the duvet up to his chest. Harry fell asleep to Louis softly patting him on top of the duvet, calming pheromones satiating him all night.

“You are staring at me,” Louis mumbles while opening the flap of his container. He ordered a full english breakfast and Harry chose pancakes with maple syrup.

Harry smiles, showing both indents in his cheeks. “I am. I want to say thank you for last night. It probably wasn’t the first night you had in mind, but I just want to say thank you for not letting me drop and for taking care of me."

“Don’t say the first night like that, you’re making me sound like a creep.” Louis chuckles, shaking his head slightly. “And for the record, I’m happy to help.” Louis dives into his breakfast, taking a bite of the crispy bacon.

Harry opens the flap of his container too, pouring the maple syrup on top of his two stacks before taking a bite. Harry hums in delight when the taste of fluffy pancake and caramel sweetness from the syrup embraces his taste buds. The maple syrup is not too thick or gooey and it’s perfect for his taste. He was a bit skeptical when Louis said he wanted to order in for their breakfast. Being a bit fussy about hearty meals like this, Harry prefers to cook for breakfast. It doesn’t take that long to do breakfast anyway.

After finishing his mouthful, Harry ponders out loud. “You remember I am a good cook, right? And I can totally whip up full brekky in no time?” He makes a vague gesture towards Louis’ breakfast.

Louis tilts his head to him, frowning. “I know you can cook, Harry. I just don’t want you to exert yourself after last night. You can do it tomorrow if you want.”

It’s involuntary and Harry has no idea where it comes from, but he definitely huffs in annoyance. “I could cook our breakfast this morning though. It isn’t exactly a chore.” His tone sounds eerily petulant as he fixes his stare at Louis. “You are acting like I couldn’t do anything after last night.”

“Are you this defiant with your other alphas?” Louis questions coolly. “Or is it just me because we knew each other?”

Harry’s protest dies down in his throat, realizing the truth in Louis’ words. If it was any other alpha, he wouldn’t say a word. In fact, he would be more giddy being pampered so early on in their arrangement. It only promises other good things to come after all.

“We’ll rest today. I’ll take you out shopping tomorrow.” Louis puts a piece of sausage and bacon in Harry’s container. “Eat up, love. It’s really good. You’ll like it.”

Harry couldn’t help the small smile breaking his face. It's such a cliche alpha thing to do, taking care of their omega by sharing things they like. In times like this, the twelve years difference between them has never looked more obvious. An alpha with the same age as Harry would never do that. This kind of treatment towards omegas comes with age and certain tenderness, leaning towards antiquated more than anything else.

Harry takes a sip of his coffee, leftover from breakfast. It’s no longer hot, tepid at most but Harry doesn’t mind that. He’s waiting for Louis to finish showering, so he can take the alpha’s clothes from last night for laundry. He wants to wash his work clothes from yesterday and standing in front of the washer, he realized he couldn’t possibly wash only two items of clothing. It would be a waste of resources so he decides to wait for Louis.

Setting the Vegware cup on the bedside table, Harry makes the bed, puffing up the pillows and arranging it how he deems suitable. He doesn’t really remember how it was when he first stepped in last night, being on the brink of dropping, but after pulling the duvet taut, the bed looks spruced up and cozy.

The sound of the bathroom door opening makes Harry whip his head around, just in time after he yanks the curtain and slides open the window to air out the room.

Louis smells nice, his scent is warm and comforting even from a distance. Harry can’t believe how fast his omega has become accustomed to Louis’ smell. He’s sure that he could pick out Louis’ scent in a room full of people too, differentiating the ocean and fresh mint scent from the rest easily. He usually needs more time than that to refine the smell, knowing so many alphas in his life, he could get confused. Louis’ scent though, it feels like he has known it all along and now is just meeting with it once again.

“That looks - cute.” Louis smiles, gesturing to his bed.

Harry’s eyes follow Louis’ hand gesture, frowning a bit at the six pillows he arranged meticulously. “You have a lot of pillows.” Harry comments, shrugging.

Louis chuckles. “I do not. I took pillows from your room last night when you said you wanted a nest and that’s the best I could come up with.”

Harry’s face tints pink because it’s such an intimate thing to ask. An omega only requests a nest from an alpha when they are already mated and Harry hasn’t nested in a long time outside of heat, let alone asking for someone else to provide it for him. Worse, he doesn’t even remember about it.

“I’m sorry about last night.” With how the day is progressing, Harry gets a feeling he’ll apologize more times than he can count.

Louis approaches him. “Don’t.” He wraps his fingers around Harry’s wrist and all Harry can think of is how sexy the tattoo on Louis’ chest is and how the beads of water from the shower only accentuate the golden expanse of his torso. “I don’t mind, you know. I like taking care of you.”

Louis tugs on his wrist and Harry stops his ogling, focusing on Louis’ face. It’s just as beautiful as the rest of his body. The alpha’s brow raises, clearly having caught on to what Harry is doing.

Instead of shying away, Harry splays his hand open on Louis’ chest, brushing his slightly damp skin. He tilts his head closer to Louis, brushing his lips against Louis’ ear and whispers, “Just appreciating the view.”

Barking out a laugh, Louis releases his grip on Harry’s wrist and steps away, bringing more distance between them. He strides to an archway in his room, which Harry suspects to be his walk-in closet. Rich people always have the most ridiculous closets.

Harry pouts. He was kind of expecting a kiss from his flirting. What is an omega supposed to do to get a kiss from an alpha like Louis? Asking seems - out of sorts. He never had to ask his sugar daddies before this, they were eager to give him a kiss, always the one initiating the action. Remembering Louis’ perfectly sculpted lips and his strong hands, Harry needs Louis to ask him sooner rather than later.

“Lou, I want to do your laundry.” Following Louis to the walk-in closet, Harry spots last night's clothes on the floor. There’s a laundry hamper right beside it and Harry rolls his eyes, chucking the clothes in the basket. “Is there anything else you need washing?”

Louis slips on his white t-shirt, a huge Supreme print-out on the chest and Harry almost pouts seeing his chest covered. He only had seconds touching the skin there. “You don’t have to do laundry. My housekeeper will take care of that on Monday.” Louis takes a pair of black joggers from one of the neatly folded stacks and Harry turns his back, busying himself with the basket to give Louis space to put on his joggers.

“Trust me, this is the only day I will,” he mumbles, picking another t-shirt up off the floor. Roaming his eyes on the floor and making sure there’s no random clothes anywhere else, Harry carries the basket to the laundry room.

Soft steps trail behind him and Harry smiles, feeling oddly domestic.

Louis hops on the countertop, legs dangling against the cabinet door as he slides the detergent and softener from his side to Harry wordlessly.

Harry tugs on the hem of his jumper, suddenly self conscious about his bare legs in front of Louis, before bending down to load the washer. He’s been walking around all morning only in his oversized jumper, the hem grazing his upper thigh, and now if he’s not careful, Louis will probably get a glimpse of his briefs. Not exactly the most sexy underpants he wants Louis to see him in. Especially after the failed attempt of his flirting.

“Add in more,” Louis instructs when Harry is about to screw the cap back on the detergent bottle.

“It says to use half of the cap,” Harry argues, raising his brow with the odd request. The washer is only half full and Harry should use half of the recommended measurement, not more.

“Just add some more.” Louis doesn’t budge from his request, his eyes trained on Harry’s hand as if trying to dare Harry to not pour more.

“Can I say something?” Harry’s fingers firm on the bottle handle. He gets a grasp of where the request is coming from, but he’s too amused to let it go.

“Go on.” Louis flicks his eyes to Harry, forehead slightly wrinkled. He’s taking this detergent stuff too seriously.

“You’re too bossy. I never remembered you being this bossy,” Harry chides as he pours freely, not even using the cap to measure.

Louis stops Harry’s hand. “And you’re a child.” His tone is serious, but there’s no bite in it.

Harry only smiles while screwing the cap and adding some softener next, pouring more than recommended on the bottle for precaution. Pressing the button, Harry waits until the washer starts spinning before turning his attention to Louis once again.

“Did you smell it when I first came to the car?” Harry crosses his arms against his chest while leaning on the sink cabinet. He gets a feeling he won’t get any answers if he doesn’t ask. After all, they’re both still trying to get comfortable with each other, trying to work out the kinks of their new arrangement.

Louis’ face immediately softens, an indication that he knows what Harry is talking about. “Yes.”

Biting his bottom lip, Harry ponders on it. Isn’t Louis’ alpha supposed to be bothered by it? Harry knows his omega would be if there was an omega scent clinging to Louis so strongly. They’re engulfed by silence for a few moments as Harry tries to form an appropriate question while Louis seems to give him space.

“Why didn't you say anything? It must be uncomfortable for you.”

Louis gives Harry a small smile. One meant to say he was fine with it. “You’re not my omega, Harry, and I don’t want to say anything that might make you uncomfortable. I know we used to know each other, but it was so long ago. We both have changed, at least in some way and I want to do this right. Let’s get to know each other first before we delve in, yeah?”

“Is that the reason why you didn't knot me yet? So we could know each other first? Is this how you start with every arrangement?” Harry's eyes widen, realizing he just blurted out the questions, cursing inwardly for the absence of his brain to mouth filter. He could have at least given his query more thought and his brain more time to word it out.

Louis snorts. He levels Harry with an incredulous look and he’s biting his lips, definitely stifling a laugh with Harry’s little outburst. “Has every other alpha you’ve been with knotted you on the first date?”

“No,” Harry answers sullenly. “There are several that are old enough to be my grandfather, so no. They only need companions and there’s that.” Harry shrugs, thinking those aren’t easy to find. “But you aren’t that old and most of your age – well, you know.” Most alphas at Louis’ age are at their peak of career, have more powers than ever in their professional life and it shows in their sex life too. How they almost go feral at the smallest thing and how much they splurge on Harry.

“There’s a first for everyone. I wouldn’t have thought having the same sugar baby twice, but here we are.”

What Louis said almost sets Harry off. Like how in seven years Harry is still offering his companionship and body in exchange of allowances and gifts. Setting his gaze on Louis and seeing how nonchalant the alpha is right now, Harry writes it off. Louis doesn’t mean it and if anything, that makes them equal. Seven years and Louis is still seeking out younger omegas to spoil.

✻

Isn’t it peculiar how fast things change? A month ago, Harry started a new arrangement with Louis and even though it didn’t go typically how it usually did with his other sugaring arrangements, it was easy for Harry to settle into the new routine. Maybe this was what Louis meant when he said he wanted them to know each other first.

Knowing Louis and growing closer to him without the sex and the knot makes everything much easier. Harry doesn’t find himself thinking about what question is appropriate and what isn't anymore, he just blurts out whatever is on his mind with no care that Louis will look at him differently. Because the alpha really doesn’t.

It’s baffling because despite how much money he got from other sugar daddies, how big the knot was and how luxurious the vacation was – looking back now, it all screamed fake. It’s a façade Harry has to keep up on while being with them, pretending to care half an arse about what those alphas were doing with their lives. But with Louis, there’s no alter ego and it’s just so effortless to be himself with Louis.

Even without the sex and the knot, Harry got his monthly allowances which is much more than his salary and Louis brought him shopping every Sunday too. The alpha also gave Harry more cash before he left for work on Monday morning. More gifts because he spent the weekend with Louis.

Harry regarded their weekend as a little getaway after putting up with Keith’s obnoxious behaviour for the whole week. Talking about Keith though, Harry has adapted to a new working routine as well. He’ll pack up his things and get ready to leave ten minutes earlier and whenever the clock strikes five, Harry will be among the first few people leaving the office. Considering he hasn’t accidentally bumped into Keith alone since then, Harry took his effort as a success.

Louis drums his fingers on the countertop. He opens his mouth and closes it, opens it seconds later only to close it again. Harry lets him be because they have already gone through this conversation once. Louis was elated about Harry’s cooking until the omega said he wanted to make pasta from scratch.

“From zero to hundred, how sure are you that your pasta will be perfectly cooked within the next hour?” Louis asks, his fingers still tapping the marble countertop. His forehead is scrunched like it has been since the moment Harry told him about their menu for tonight.

Harry chuckles while rolling the pasta dough. He accidentally saw the pasta machine in the outdoor kitchen when he and Louis had barbecue last night and made a decision promptly because who has pasta machine without ever using it? Louis Tomlinson that is. “Hundred twenty,” Harry answers casually, his fingers expertly dusting the laminated dough with some flour before running it through the machine.

Humming, Louis takes a sip of his red wine. “I should not be concerned, right? Should I order something just in case it doesn’t work out?”

“Hey! What does hundred twenty mean to you!” Harry squawks out, jutting his bottom lip. He’ll always win with that. Like how he got Louis to buy him new gold boots last week even though the alpha clearly hated it. “I’ve done this plenty of times and it’s amazing. Everyone loves it.”

Harry’s everyone is Niall and his childhood friend and maybe Harry shouldn’t use their vote of confidence because they are his best supporters that will say yes to anything, but whatever. He’s trying to make a point here.

“Fine. I’ll give you the benefit of the doubt.” Louis raises both of his hands in surrender and Harry smiles triumphantly. “Although, I’m curious as to where you learned this?”

Harry’s smile turns cunning and judging by Louis’ squint of eyes, he knows Louis sees right through him. “Harold, what are you not telling me?”

Dusting the dough with some more flour, Harry runs it through the machine once again. This time, using the thinner setting. Harry always liked it to be on the thin side with a little bit of al dente taste to it. “I learned this from my ex-sugar daddy?”

The scrunch between Louis’ eyebrows gets deeper. “Are you asking me?”

Harry’s laugh burst through him. “My sugar daddy’s daughter came to visit and doing pasta is one of their activities together. They are both chefs, so they taught me the drill and the rest is history.” He starts working on the second batch of the dough, repeating the same motion he’s done before. “Oh, they are both Italian. Just in case if you’re wondering their level of credibility too,” he continues sweetly, batting his eyelashes for added effect.

Louis rolls his eyes before refilling his glass with another type of red wine. Louis is ridiculous, he opens two different bottles just because he doesn’t know which one is better for their dinner tonight. Judging by how frequent the alpha’s refilling though, it’s probably a good decision. Harry isn’t sure there will be any left by the time he finishes his cooking.

“Is it weird? Spending time with your sugar daddy and his daughter? Is that what most of the arrangement was like?”

Harry huffs out. “Nah, that’s the few good ones. Like the one old enough to be my grandfather and the Italian alpha, they were good. It’s far in between though. I have had a sugar daddy in an open marriage. It was all good until he started asking me if he could bring his mate too. It got downhill pretty fast after that.” Harry snickers and shakes his head, mostly to himself.

It wasn’t all rainbows being a sugar baby. Probably one of the reasons why he chose to work too, he could never be fully dependent on an alpha to pay for his life. Even the few good ones like Louis eventually just got up and left him. Sugaring is lucrative, but it’s a side hustle, alright.

Louis hums. Waiting for his comments, Harry chances a peek at the alpha, but he doesn’t say anything, his face is impassive with his hand clutching the glass stem. His eyes are on the thin slices of rolled out pasta dough on the countertop.

“Now we know about me, let’s talk about you.” Harry runs the last laminated dough in the machine. He makes extra to keep it for their other meal, it’ll be faster to cook later than having to crank up the machine once again and risking Louis getting drunk before the dinner is even served.

Placing his glass on the countertop, Louis mutters, “What about me?”

“Why do you need a sugar baby? You’re clearly a good alpha.”

Louis frowns and his confusion is evident by the way he narrows his eyes.

Thinking about it, he might leave the statement quite vague. “I mean, you don’t knot me on the first week. You pay for my clothes, my spa session. You asked your assistant to book a manicure appointment for me just because. This list is getting long – you get the point.” Harry makes a gesture with his hand still full of flour. “I’m probably the twentieth sugar baby you have had. Why don’t you just get a boyfriend?”

“There’s something really interesting going on in that head of yours.” Louis snorts. “It’s like we talk all the time and you still have plenty of questions left in there.”

Harry shakes his head. “You.” Pointing his index finger to Louis, he deadpans, “Are not getting out of this without answering me.”

“If I knot you, would you stop?”

Harry whips his head so fast only to glare at Louis. “How do you come to that conclusion from my question?”

Lifting his shoulder in a half shrug, Louis articulates, “That’s literally the first point you talked about?”

“I need an answer or you’re really not eating this in another hour or ever,” Harry threatens while he’s affixing the cutting attachment to the machine.

Louis is looking at the machine intently, almost as if he transfixes with how it cuts the pasta uniformly.

“So?” Getting impatient, Harry prompts again. He’s read several articles about Louis after their first weekend together since he already jumped on the conclusion Louis didn’t want to have sex with him because he’s mated, or something equally committed. But he couldn’t find any. Most of the articles reported Tomlinson’s new venture and their company financial reports, which Harry had no reason to scrutinize, but he did anyway.

There’s no omega scent in the house except Harry’s and unlike other alphas that have exclusive bachelor pads for fucking, Louis doesn’t. This is the house he really lives in. Why does Louis still need a sugar baby?

“I don’t have the time nor effort to make a new acquaintance. I’m lonely and I really like taking care of people. And I’m not really patient in a relationship to wait out before we get into this stage.” Louis gestures to the space between Harry and him.

“Lou, can you take out the zip lock bag, please? My hands are dirty. I want to store the extras.” Harry purses his lips to the box of ziploc bags on another side of the counter. “You mean, you want every relationship to start with the omega spending the weekend with you?”

Standing, Louis reaches the box and he opens the bag for Harry without being asked. It’s like they are moving in complete sync. “Preferably, yeah. Relationships are hard to maintain, Haz. I don’t have time to text or call every night after coming back from work. I just like to know when the weekend comes, I will have someone to spend my time with. In exchange, I can bring him shopping and give him allowances.”

Harry smiles. That actually makes a lot of sense. Having to spend weekends together after the first date sounds terrifying. No one in their right mind will agree to that. Hence, the sugar babies. People like Harry who have done this countless times won’t even bat an eyelash at it. Their mind already runs the dozens of things the alpha will offer. “Is this the same reason as seven years ago? I feel like I never asked.”

Louis grins. “Nah. When I was young, it was just the thrill of finally being able to afford sugar babies. The need has evolved since then.”

The corner of Harry’s lips twitch. He never asked why Louis dumped him seven years ago and hearing this explanation now, he thinks he’s figured it out. Like every other alpha, Louis was probably jumping to the next best omega. “Shut up. You’re talking like you’re seventy right now,” Harry mumbles instead while washing his hands clean. The pasta is ready to cook.

✻

Harry wakes up alone on Monday morning. Louis left earlier because he had a meeting and Harry takes the opportunity to sleep in instead of making breakfast for himself.

Stepping into the kitchen to make his morning coffee, Harry notices Louis’ messy scrawl on a yellow note sticking on the countertop.

Thank you for the weekend, baby. And the homemade pasta too. The best I’ve had. Sorry I couldn’t drop you off this morning at the office. :(

p/s - there’s a gift in the fruit basket

Harry makes his coffee with one hand and the other rummages through the fruit basket without looking. He already knows what it is and the corner of his lips twitch as he touches notes in the basket. It’s notably thicker, probably as compensation for not being able to drop Harry off.

Fishing out his phone from the pocket of his handbag, Harry types out a text with a smile on his lips.

Got your note and your gift. And you really have to stop praising my pasta. My ego is big enough as it is 😩

Louis hasn’t stopped talking about how good Harry’s pasta is since Saturday , even comparing it to the Italian restaurant they went to in Piccadilly on Sunday.

Harry’s heart flutters with how much Louis is raving about it. It’s been a while since he cooked for someone else and he finally gets why Louis likes the routine of having the weekend to share with someone.

Harry’s omega has never been more content, doing something domestic he usually does for himself, but this time he gets spoiled and praised in return. It feels good.

After placing the lid for his coffee to take it on the go, Harry pockets his phone back, not bothering to watch the screen for Louis’ reply because the alpha never replies. Harry gets it. Weekdays are off limits. The only time he’ll be hearing from Louis is on Friday when the alpha is on his way to pick him up.

✻

Harry is brushing his teeth while listening to his Abba playlist when the loud chime of his phone pauses the song. Frowning to himself, Harry peers down to the phone screen and his brows quirk up instantly.

Spitting the toothpaste in the sink and rinsing his mouth, Harry picks up the call while storing the toothbrush in the cabinet.

“Hi Harry,” Louis greets him. “Am I catching you at a bad time?” His tone is cautious, probably thinking Harry is half asleep by now.

Harry presses on the speaker option as he continues with his nightly routine. “Nah, just finished brushing my teeth.”

Louis chuckles. “Let me guess, you are washing your face now?”

Rubbing foamy circles on the apple of his cheeks, Harry smiles hearing the question. Louis’ humongous ensuite has double sinks so they always end up doing their nightly routine together. After several weeks, they are already catching onto the familiarity of their routines and it shouldn’t feel as domestic as it does. “As a matter of fact, I am. What about you?”

“Currently in my home office. I have a meeting in fifteen.”

Harry frowns as he rinses the foam from his face. “Past midnight?”

“Yeah, a meeting with our Singapore branch. Time difference - it’s not a big deal, but thank you for caring, baby,” Louis teases and Harry wants to protest at first, but he thinks better of it because he does care. It doesn’t hurt to let Louis know that, albeit their slightly different arrangement. All people like to be cared for anyway, especially alphas with money.

Patting his face dry with a towel, Harry grabs the face cream he stores in the cabinet and unscrews the cap, scooping a dollop with the back of his manicured nails. “Why are you calling? Missing me?” It’s Wednesday and true to Louis’ fashion, Harry hasn’t heard a thing from him after Monday’s morning text.

“I’m always missing you, baby,” Louis answers easily.

Harry lets out a snort while applying the cream evenly to his face. It’s just like Louis to flirt with him endlessly and yet never make a move on it. Other alphas would have jumped into the first opportunity of having sex with an omega they’re paying for. “Do you actually need to tell me something or are you just bored out of your mind while waiting for your meeting?”

There’s a tapping sound down the line, something like the end of a pen hitting the table’s surface repeatedly. “I have a business trip this weekend and I know it’s an impromptu one, so you don’t have to come with me.”

Harry waits for Louis to continue, but the alpha doesn’t say anything else. “So we won’t meet this weekend?” Harry guesses. It feels like there’s something more to what Louis wants to say though.

“But, I have a dinner party tomorrow and thought that you might want to join me?” Louis phrases it as a question with a lilting ask at the end and Harry’s lips curl in a smile. He finds it adorable that Louis is nervous about asking him to go to the dinner party.

Louis continues hastily, “You know, since we won’t meet each other for the weekend?”

A soft laugh escapes Harry’s lips as he taps on his screen, turning off speaker phone. Stepping out of the bathroom, Harry switches off the light. “You know that’s what sugar babies are used for, right? Mainly for keeping you company?”

Louis huffs out and Harry can imagine the roll of his eyes when Harry teases him. “On weekends, yes. You’re working, Harry, I don’t want to tire you out.”

Climbing into his bed filled with thick fluffy duvets and soft throw blankets, Harry buries himself under it, muttering to Louis softly, “I think I can manage.” Being an omega, his temperature runs a little bit colder than alphas and betas and when he’s not being surrounded by Louis’ scent, he likes to immerse himself in his own scent.

“Are you in bed now?”

Harry stops his fumbling with his throw blankets, frowning. “How do you know?”

“I think I can hear you purring.” Louis huffs a quiet laugh.

“I didn’t!” Harry shrieks, his tone is mock-affronted, groaning into a pillow when he hears Louis’ laugh only gets louder. Louis said that Harry turns more cuddly, more pliant when he’s in bed. Of course, Harry denies it vehemently. What is Louis on? Harry is always cuddly.

Louis continues his question after he gets his laugh under control. His voice is slightly higher through the wheezes. “Can we switch to FaceTime? I want to see you.”

Harry’s mind is working on overdrive, trying to conjure up an excuse because of the clothes he’s wearing to bed tonight. It’s a satin slip dress and despite knowing Louis is okay with it, Harry has never worn one when they’ve spent the night together, too self conscious about Louis not wanting to have sex with him despite that. Other alphas go crazy for it, but Louis always reacts differently to everything.

What if he said okay just because he doesn’t want to make Harry feel uncomfortable? That train of thought is horrifying and Harry chastises himself for thinking he might be losing his sex appeal. If there’s such a thing though, it’s all Louis’ fault. Not Harry’s.

Or maybe he can see how Louis reacts to it and make a contingency plan accordingly. He hasn't got a knot for two months and the longer Louis keeps dragging this out, the longer Harry will be without it.

Making a split second decision, Harry hopes it works out in his favour.

“Baby? You there?” Louis’ voice turns serious when Harry doesn’t answer him for a moment.

Stuttering, Harry answers with a hasty, “Yeah - I’m - here. Wait, let me do it.” Without waiting for a reply, Harry switches the call to FaceTime.

Louis picks up the call instantly and his chiselled jaw comes into full view seconds later. There’s a slight scruff on his jaw and his blue eyes look bedazzling even from the screen. His face would be all serious and business-like if it wasn’t for the crinkling of his eyes and the way he tries to stifle his smile from seeing Harry bundled up under a duvet.

Louis smiles. “Hey, babe. You look - cozy.”

Pushing the duvet slightly, Harry makes sure the thin strap of his slip dress is showing.

If Louis notices it, he doesn’t say anything about it. Instead, he continues with the conversation. “So what do you think about the party? Do you want to come?” Before Harry can reply, Louis continues abruptly, “I won’t mind if you don’t want to.”

Harry rolls his eyes. Louis is too concerned about inconveniencing him, honestly. And seriously how could he not notice the thin strap or the stark difference of black colour on Harry’s shoulder? Harry wears jumpers all day and all night on weekends, for God sake!

“I want to come. What’s the occasion?” Making a move on his plan, Harry drawls, replying with a slow voice and blinking his eyes slowly.

Shrugging one shoulder, Louis answers, “Just a celebration about a new project, nothing big. I have to go, baby. The meeting is about to start.”

Scurrying over a last attempt, Harry places his phone on the duvet. He reaches for the bedside table, stretching himself to take his water bottle even when he’s not thirsty. It’s just a gimmick so he can get out of the duvet and ruck up his slip dress in the process.

Peering at the screen, Harry says in nonchalance, “Let me know when you want to pick me up? And send me the dress code too. I need to be pretty.” He takes a sip from the bottle and almost squeals in triumph when Louis clears his throat, taking more than a few seconds to reply. The alpha is clearly affected with how his eyes are widening, finally catching up to what Harry wears to bed.

“Um - yeah. I - I need to go, baby. I’ll text you later and let you know.” Louis ends the call abruptly without giving Harry a chance to say goodbye.

Well, his plan clearly worked and now he knows for sure. Louis is going on a business trip and he’ll spend the weekend alone, maybe tomorrow night is a good time to finally get a taste of Louis’ knot.

✻

Fleeing his work thirty minutes earlier due to coming in early, Harry has never been more grateful for his company's new flexible working hours. Avoiding rush hour in the tube, Harry heaves a grateful sigh as he doesn’t have to mix in with all the combined scents of everyone going home from work.

Taking a seat beside a pregnant young omega, Harry takes out his phone, firing a quick text to Louis telling the alpha that he’s on his way home. Louis offers to pick him up from the office per usual so he doesn’t have to use the tube, but Harry wants to get ready in the comfort of his own flat.

More like, Harry wants some space to carry out his meticulous plan so he can get what he needs tonight. All he knows is his heart is already hammering faster than normal in his chest, anticipation filling his entire body as he reads Louis’ reply.

See you in a few hours, baby. xx :)

Running a hand through his curls, Harry’s smile gets bigger when he sees Louis in front of his building, waiting for Harry by leaning against the passenger door with his arms crossed against his chest. The alpha looks amazing with his black suit fitted to perfection, paired with a matching tie and his hair done in a quiff, his eyes crinkled with his beaming and he looks incredibly hot. He’s like sex on legs.

What has Harry done to have such a hot sugar daddy, but never his knot?

“Oh my, you look exquisite, my dear.” Louis’ lilting voice greets Harry, teasing him with his over exaggerated accent.

His cheeks blush pink, flustered. “I’ll take it as a compliment,” Harry divulges, bending down slightly to kiss Louis’ scruffy cheeks. His gloss leaves a shine on Louis’ cheek and Harry wipes it down, smiling. “I hope you don’t mind.”

“It is a compliment,” Louis enunciates, his grin is as wide as Harry’s, if not bigger. His hand cradles Harry’s waist gently. “It’s my first time getting your lips on me, I think I’ll manage.”

Harry giggles. “That’s my line.”

“Let’s go, darling. I hope the party won’t bore you too much. I would feel bad for you to look this pretty only to yawn halfway into the event.” Louis breaks them apart and opens the door for Harry, his hand at the small of Harry’s back.

Like every other time he sits in Louis’ car, it’s freezing. The cold is seeping through Harry’s fur jean jacket and making him shiver. He adjusts the temperature on his side, rotating the button control. The air in the car is thick with Louis’ scent and Harry’s omega is content with the familiar smell.

Louis comes in seconds later, closing the door at his side. “God, I’m sorry, I was running a little bit warmer today. Are you cold? You can turn it off if you want.”

“Nah, this is fine.” Harry sniffs the air subtly, trying to capture any sweet scent of omegas beneath Louis’ heavy scent. Finding none, Harry grabs Louis’ hand and places it on his thigh. He’s going all out tonight, unabashed and by the smile curling Louis’ lips, the alpha doesn’t mind it either.

Stepping into level twenty where the party is taking place, Harry slips his hand into the crook of Louis’ elbow. Doing this for as long as he has, Harry is no stranger to polite smiles and small talk, parading his way into the circle on the hand of his sugar daddy. This time though, there’s no mistaking who the guests are waiting for as all eyes are on them when they arrive.

Harry catches a smile from one of the guests, probably an omega by how friendly he looks and he smiles back. Tilting his head, Harry whispers to Louis, “Is it your birthday? Everyone is watching us.”

Louis shakes his head, frowning. “I take it personal that you don’t remember my birthday.”

Before Harry can mutter a smart reply, there’s someone hollering Louis’ name from across the room. A tall and broad shouldered alpha with dark brown hair ruffled messily is closing in on them with a grin splitting his face. Smacking Louis’ shoulder enthusiastically, he pulls Louis into his embrace and Harry pulls back his hand from the crook of Louis’ elbow stiffly.

Louis and the alpha engage in a heated conversation, talking about some building in Manchester, but Harry tunes out most of it. He’s standing at Louis’ side, but neither of them are trying to involve him in the conversation. When Louis said that he didn’t want to bore Harry with this party, Harry didn’t envision something like being ignored.

Almost as if sensing Harry’s mood turning sour, Louis suddenly turns to him, beaming. “Sam, I need to introduce you to my friend, Harry.”

Harry gives the alpha a polite smile, even when he runs his eyes on Harry’s body not so very surreptitiously.

Louis places his hand on the alpha’s shoulder, squeezing in a friendly manner. “Harry, this is one of my oldest friends in the industry, Sam. We went to the same uni and our family are friends.”

Extending a hand to Harry, the alpha’s smile turns into a smirk as he comments in a low voice, “One of those, yeah?” This night is going south rather swiftly, Harry reasons. He’ll just store his plan for later use. His mood is already catastrophic as it is.

Accepting the alpha’s hand, Harry bites back a reply, soothing his fuming heart by reminding himself that it isn't worth it. He’s had a handful of encounters dealing with asshole alphas and the more he provokes them, showing them they have power over him, the longer they will taunt. Whoever this guy thinks he is, he’s dead wrong if he thinks Harry will cause a scene over some petty comments.

“Sam, it’s good to see you. I must admit it’s a nice surprise. We’ll have to get together sometime. Let me know when you’re in town again,” Louis chatters, oblivious to the remark Sam made. “Come, love. Let me introduce you to my VP.”

By the time they’ve spent an hour and twenty-seven minutes in the party and yes, Harry counts the minutes precisely because he doesn’t want to see Sam’s arrogant smirk and feel his truculent eyes on his body any more than he should, Harry excuses himself to get a drink and whispers to Louis that he needs a break. Louis nods in understanding, offering him a small smile and promises they will go back before midnight.

That means Harry has another thirty minutes to keep up with the pretense. Striding towards the makeshift glass bar, he hopes no one will come and join him, asking him about how he met Louis or something. There’s nothing more he hates than being a topic of office gossip even though he probably will never come to this place ever again. He has become enough of a topic at his own office, he doesn’t need more people talking about him behind his back.

Ordering a dirty martini, Harry sits at a corner of the bar, away from the other guests that keep on frequenting the counter to get more refills.

“Harry?”

Whipping his head to the person calling his name, Harry’s disgruntled expression changes in an instant. It’s Anthony, who used to be Harry’s experience daddy . They are a sugar daddy that doesn’t offer money, but instead offers luxury lifestyles like fine dining and lavish vacation stays.

He and Harry weren’t in an arrangement for long, it was more like Harry tagged along when he went on a holiday several times back when Harry didn’t have any long-term arrangements. He’s slightly younger than Louis and going on vacation with him was probably one of the best experiences Harry got, they had a full itinerary everyday for exploring the city they went to. Much more things to do than going on a vacation with older sugar daddies. Most of them just wanted to lounge in the hotel and its pools.

Taking a seat without being invited, he blabbers on, “I thought it was you on Mr. Tomlinson’s hand, but couldn’t be really sure. I never knew he was into sugaring arrangements.”

Harry has to fist his hand to avoid making a scene. Everyone seems intent on pushing his buttons tonight. He bites his inner cheek so harshly he can even taste the hint of copper in his mouth before replying in a sickly sweet tone. “Maybe you shouldn’t assume.”

Anthony frowns, nodding vehemently with his hand rubbing his chin. His expression is serious as if Harry said something very important. Something in the line of political stance or gender biases in their world and not something that’s clearly common sense.

The bartender places Harry’s drink in front of him and Harry thanks him. Much to his dread, Anthony orders his drink as well.

Disguising his indignant sigh against the rim of his glass, Harry takes a sip of his drink and turns his head to Anthony when the alpha calls his name again, continuing their conversation. Clearly Anthony fails to take Harry’s disinterest earlier as a hint.

He’s dealt with much worse of a moron and it’s better to be at the bar talking to someone than risking being disturbed by someone like Sam so Harry indulges Anthony.

They talk about Greece, a place where Anthony went on vacation last and his new workplace, in which Harry has learned the reason why Anthony is also invited. He works for Tomlinson Corporation now. Harry eyes the hour hand on a clock mounted on the wall nearby subtly, it’s past twelve yet Louis hasn’t come to say they’re leaving. His nose finds Louis’ distinct scent from across the room and Harry turns his head to him, seeing him with a group of friends including Sam, talking animatedly with each other.

“How long have you been with him?” Anthony asks, probably realizing that Harry has stopped paying attention to what he said as his eyes follow Harry’s line of sight.

The answer that comes across Harry’s mind is to point out how rude it is to ask, as if they are close friends or some sort. Relaxing the clench of his jaw, Harry takes a moment to answer, “Couple of months. How about you? Any new arrangements?”

Anthony chuckles, his cheeks pinken which Harry used to find it adorable. Not every alpha can blush, especially not the ones he surrounds himself with. Anthony might be a bit clueless, doesn’t take a hint really well and is kind of oblivious about how omegas feel around him, but that’s kind of expected when it comes to alphas with paid companions.

What is easy when it comes to Anthony though, is that the alpha likes to talk about himself. For the past thirty minutes they have been speaking to each other, he never asked what Harry is up to now, which is easier because Harry only has to pretend he’s interested and not actually initiate a topic.

“Nothing new. Just a few regulars for the holidays. That’s all. I’m interested in having a long-term sugaring though, probably after I’ve settled in here.” He gesticulates and Harry nods, understanding.

Touching the alpha’s shoulder, Harry leans slightly to him. “Let me know if you need any, I might have several recommendations. You know how it goes,” he talks in a low voice as there is another guest leaning against the bar counter close to them.

Anthony smiles, his eyes sparkle in excitement. “Are you still friends with Niall Horan? Is he - you know - available?”

Harry chuckles. Anthony always had a soft spot for Niall, ever since Harry introduced them both when Niall picked him up at the airport after their vacation. With that easy demeanour, bright smile and lithe body, it’s not exactly bizarre to leave an alpha mesmerized. “He’s still with his current.”

Shrugging, the alpha giggles. “Seriously, why do I even ask? Of course he’s with someone.”

Harry takes a sip of his drink in lieu of an answer. Doesn’t implore more on the topic, knowing how fast the gossip spreads in the sugaring community. Even alphas like to gossip about omegas. Well, except Louis probably.

Anthony is still looking at him intently, his face serious when he finally blurts out his question, “Have you ever heard of any omega married to their sugar daddy?”

Sputtering his drink, Harry hastily grabs the tissue given by the bartender earlier to wipe his nose. Anthony stands up in an instant, rubbing his back as Harry is still coughing violently. Fucking hell.

His throat burns, his nose feels like he’s submerged in a dry vermouth and his mouth tastes bitter. What the hell is that question? Harry is probably over his head when he thinks he can withstand Anthony’s ridiculous line of thoughts.

“Water,” Harry demands with a hand coming up to his throat where some bile makes its way through. Anthony goes to fetch water and Harry clears his throat several times, trying to soothe his irritated throat.

The alpha comes back seconds later with a bottle of water in hand and he uncaps it for Harry, sliding it on the counter. “Sorry, I didn’t know that would make you - you know.” He gestures toward Harry, his lips curl downward in a frown and his eyes are absent of the earlier mirth, clearly feeling guilty for evoking such an extreme reaction in Harry.

Shaking his head, Harry chugs half of the water from the bottle before replying. “It’s okay, I probably just drank it wrong.” There’s no such thing as drinking a dirty martini wrong, at least not for Harry, but alas.

To his credit, Anthony stays and tries to resume their conversation even after Harry’s little incident, but their chat becomes stilted somehow. Based on the ever so present frown between his eyes, Harry takes it that Anthony still feels guilty for causing Harry to sputter his drink. It wasn’t even that bad, his clothes are as immaculate as when he stepped into the party, but Harry isn’t in the mood to comfort him. In fact, Harry feels slightly relieved when Anthony excuses himself, saying he needs to see someone.

Chugging the rest of his water from the bottle, Harry’s throat starts clearing up, no longer as irritated as before.

A hand on the back of his bar stool, caging him in makes Harry scowl, not really in the mood to fend himself off against another alpha. Before he can snarl though, his nose catches the whiff of ocean and fresh mint.

With a soft sigh, Harry leans into the touch, and his head rests on Louis’ chest, feeling his faint heart beat beneath all the layers between them. “This is not how I planned this night to go. It’s-” Glancing at the clock he’s been watching for quite some time, Harry continues, “Already morning.”

A firm hand rubs the small of his back and if it was anyone else, Harry would have pretended that it’s helping him. Since it’s Louis though, Harry does the exact opposite. “I’m fine, you know. Kind of late for back rubs,” he quips, taking a gulp of water from a new bottle. His second martini is left unattended as he doesn’t have any plan to drink anything even remotely alcoholic for the rest of the night. The leftover burning taste of dry vermouth in his nostrils is enough to last him through the week.

Louis snickers, his hand squeezing the area he rubbed earlier. “Since you’re fine, are you up for my office tour?”

In lieu of an answer, Harry stands, screwing the bottle cap back on once again on automatic.

Louis measures Harry’s eager reaction while shaking his head, smiling. “I think I could hear your cough from across the room,” he teases.

“Shut up. It was not that bad,” Harry replies. Well, he hopes that it wasn’t because if it was, Louis surely would have come and saved him instead of leaving him in another alpha’s care. Honestly, that feels like more credit than what Louis deserves. Pushing the thought to the back of his mind, Harry changes the bottle he’s holding in his right hand to the left before slipping his hand into Louis’.

Louis lips curl in a knowing smile as he walks them to the elevator, pressing the button to go upstairs, giving Harry a gentle squeeze as they wait for the elevator.

With everyone still at the party, there isn’t anyone using the elevator. The door pings announcing its arrival and it opens mere seconds later. Stepping into the box, Louis presses a button with number twenty-eight. “What’s up with you and Anthony anyway?”

Feigning ignorance, Harry raises his brow. “What do you mean?”

Louis shrugs, loosening his hold on Harry’s hand before tucking it into the pocket of his pants. “You guys seem close.”

Is this how Louis acts on his jealousy? Bringing distance between them? So that Harry will grovel his way back? Whatever it is, Harry is up for it.

“He used to be my sugar daddy.”

“Oh.” Understanding sets in as the frown between Louis’ eyebrows slowly disappears. “He didn’t seem like the type.”

Harry scoffs. What’s with all alphas making an assumption of people on whether they use sugar dating or not? “Because?”

The door opens to a dimly lit hallway and Louis steps out first, striding to the end of the hallway. He doesn’t even turn to Harry to ensure the omega follows him and Harry rolls his eyes. He really is giving Louis too much credit tonight.

The fast stride steals Harry’s focus. He doesn’t have the opportunity to appreciate the interior of the floor as he tries to keep up with Louis’ hurried steps. All he gets is a glimpse of a white wall behind the reception area and glass separating one room from another.

A complaint is at the tip of Harry’s tongue, saying that this is no way of giving a tour because he can barely see anything. When he steps into the office though, his eyes widen and no words leave his parted lips. Closing on one side of Louis’ office, Harry touches the floor to ceiling glass, admiring London’s night skyline. The view is spectacular, he can see Tower Bridge right in front of him and to his left, there is Tower of London and Harry swears he could make out the top of the London Eye.

Given the hour of the day, there are no boats drifting the River Thames and slight disappointment creeps up in his heart. Maybe he can convince Louis to bring him here again next time, when it’s earlier and the boats are still operating. The view must be picturesque with the tiny specks of lights from each boat going up and down the river.

“I don’t know. He seems like a proper nice guy, someone that wants to settle and grow old with his mate.” Louis’ voice pulls Harry from his awe and it takes a moment for him to remember what they were talking about.

Still about Anthony.

Tracing a finger over the little image of Tower Bridge, Harry replies nonchalantly. “He probably is. He’s a good alpha. With a nice knot too, of course.” The remarks come out so casually like he’s talking to Niall and he only realizes the gravity of his words when Louis growls.

It’s slow, but enough to rattle his omega. The ocean and fresh mint scent is getting thick in the room and Harry can feel slick trickling out of his hole as Louis’ alpha scent invades his senses.

No longer feeling fascinated with the view, Harry turns his body to Louis. Walking to where Louis leans on the wall, he asks in a small voice, “Can you smell it?”

There’s no use in trying to cover it, instead he might as well get what he wants out of tonight. A knot.

Louis’ nostrils flare as he takes in the meaning of Harry’s words and he nods his head. “Harry,” He calls it like it’s a warning, alpha timbre lacing his tone when Harry stands in front of him, bringing the scent much closer to the alpha’s sensitive nose.

“Since you like planning things so much, I ought to ask.” Pulling Louis closer to him by yanking his tie, Harry smooths his hand on Louis’ chest and whispers softly, close to his ear. Not close enough for his lips to touch the alpha’s ear, but close enough that his warm breath hits it. “When do you plan on knotting me?”

Louis groans. “Harry, I don’t want to fuck you for the first time after seven years in here,” he grits out between his clenched teeth. Always the reasonable one.

Under the dim light of his office, Harry can see the clench of Louis’ jaw and on instinct, Harry’s lips curl upward in a smirk. “I think we both can stop pretending I’m some sort of virgin that never takes a knot up his hole.” Caressing the side of Louis' jaw with his thumb, Harry continues taunting and mocking Louis’ alpha, “And getting fucked in an office is probably one of my routines, who knows?”

The next thing he knows, Harry is being pushed up against the wall, taking Louis’ place just now. A soft gasp falls out of his parted lips when Louis’ hard dick presses against his and Harry flutters his lashes, blinking slowly at Louis’ darkened irises.

“Are you sure?” Louis noses his neck, scenting him. “We can go back to my place and I’ll still knot you.”

The alpha scent surrounding him is stronger than before, clouding his mind and thoughts and Harry closes his eyes momentarily, taking a deep inhale of it all, a dimpled smile on his lips. Slipping his hand in Louis’ hair, Harry tugs slightly. “Let’s do it here. Where’s the fun in doing it missionary?”

The affirmation he gets is Louis peeling Harry’s hand from his hair before crashing his lips against Harry, ferocious and filthy with his tongue slipping in Harry’s mouth, licking into it. With one hand holding the nape of Harry’s neck, holding him still, the other one squeezes his ass. Harry’s whine is muffled against Louis’ tongue and Harry’s body turns pliant when Louis runs his fingers against his clothed hole. The touch is soft and teasing. There are too many layers between them and Harry wants it all off.

“You are so wet, baby. So wet that I could feel it on your pants,” Louis mouths wetly against his ear and Harry moans when Louis wipes his slightly damp hands on his cheek. Louis continues to touch him, caressing his hand on Harry’s pebbled nipple, pinching it gently and chuckles when Harry winces. “These are sensitive,” he comments softly while paying attention to the other side, scratching his blunt nail against Harry’s nipple.

“Knot me, alpha. Please. I need your knot.” Harry mumbles, falling incoherent the more time Louis spends on exploring his body. It’s ridiculous how desperate he’s become, all these touches on his covered body and yet, Harry feels like he’s never been so turned on in his life. It’s like Louis is touching a live wire on his body and Harry’s nerves are ignited, more heightened than ever.

When Louis pulls away to take off his blazer and unbutton his dress shirt, Harry does the same, if not more rushed. They are both breathing harshly and their scents mix in the space, harmonizing together and the smell appeases Harry’s omega.

Louis moves to the couch, throwing his blazer and shirt carelessly on one side and Harry follows suit. His mouth salivating over Louis’ fit body and despite spending weekends together, he’s never had the opportunity to appreciate it. Not like this. After taking off his pants and briefs, Louis beckons Harry to him.

Stepping close to the alpha, Harry caresses Louis’ chest, basking in the feel of Louis’ warm skin underneath his palm and how firm his chest is. Tracing his index finger over tattoos littering Louis' chest, Harry lets Louis undress him, moving at the alpha’s command and steps out of the flared pants pooling at his feet when Louis taps his thigh.

Harry’s gasps loudly when the snapping of his panties against his cheeks pulls him out of his trance of appreciating Louis’ tattoos.

“Should’ve known you had something like this planned. I knew something was up with you when you showed off your night dress the other night,” Louis speaks huskily. He sits on the couch and with a hand on the small of Harry’s back, he guides him to straddle his lap.

Harry whines high in the back of his throat, protesting when he realizes Louis doesn’t take off his panties. Well, if Louis likes it then he should enjoy peeling it off Harry’s body more.

“Hush. Let me enjoy this, you’ve had your fun teasing me.” He squeezes Harry’s love handles none too gently when Harry squirms on his lap, still disgruntled over the panties.

Soon, his protest dies in his throat and loud moans fill the office as Louis slips his finger in Harry’s wet hole. It’s a single finger and Harry needs more, but if this is what Louis is willing to give now, he’s going to take it. He flutters his eyes shut, trying to focus on the sensation of something filling his hole and the slight scratch of his lace panties on his hard dick so that he can come. After coming once, Harry usually can take more teasing.

The familiar feeling is bubbling up in the pit of his stomach and as Harry tries to ride it out, Louis pulls back his finger and a bite sting against Harry’s nipple startles him out of his concentration, a loud cry on his lips and he opens his eyes wide. Tucking his head downwards, Louis smirks against his chest, lapping over the abused nipple.

Pushing his chest more into Louis’ skillful tongue that is rolling Harry’s nipple in his mouth, Harry whines out. “You’re not playing fair.”

The popping sound of him letting go of Harry's nipple is obscene and Harry has a feeling the alpha is purposely making it louder than it should, not that he can call Louis out for that. At least, not now. “This is a taste of your own medicine from the other night. Did you know I had to go through that meeting with a hard cock? All I could think about was how good your hole would feel once we were together again.”

“It’ll feel good if you fuck - ah,” Harry cries out, holding on to Louis’ shoulder for purchase when Louis slides three fingers in without warning, playing with Harry’s desperate hole once again. It burns slightly and his body shudders, but Harry doesn’t care. He loves the feeling of his hole trying to accommodate Louis and the occasional jab against his prostate makes Harry whimper wantonly. Even when Louis’ fingers are moving languidly at best, his motion is slow and measured, just the perfect amount to drive Harry crazy.

With a hand on Harry’s waist, Louis sits him up, pulling his three fingers out of Harry’s hole. His fingers are glistening under the dim light and Harry blushes red when Louis pushes his hand in front of his face, his eyebrows raised questioningly.

Despite the clear request, Harry knows Louis won’t say anything if Harry declines to do so. He can take Louis’ hand that is wet with his slick and wipe it all over his face for all he cares. In all his crazy experiences dealing with feral alphas, no one has ever asked him to lick his own slick. It’s always the precome from the alpha’s cock. Never anything of his.

Bending down, Harry closes his mouth on Louis’ fingers, sucking eagerly, rolling his tongue on each digit to clean them off. His slick taste is slightly sweet and it’s not unpleasant. Harry can totally do this again next time if Louis is into it. By the harsh breathing and the rapid rise and fall of Louis’ chest underneath him, the alpha is totally into it.

“That’s how wet I made you, baby. Not any other alphas,” Louis grits out, his eyes hungry as he captures the scene in front of him. He pushes deeper, more than half of his fingers lodged in Harry’s mouth and Harry’s eyes water, but he doesn’t stop. Instead, he increases the pressure of his sucking, showing Louis how good he can be. “It’s me who gets to spoil you and see you like this.”

It clicks then. Why Louis’ usual calm demeanour has disappeared, why he’s losing his mind over this. His alpha feels threatened watching Harry be close with another alpha, someone that used to spoil Harry like Louis does now.

Pulling out his fingers from Harry’s mouth, there’s a thin line of spit connecting his fingers and Louis smirks, wiping it all on Harry’s chest. “Take off your panties, baby. I don’t want to ruin them more than they are.”

Harry moves swiftly, standing up and taking off his panties in more practiced movements than he could ever muster at any other time. He’s just grateful he doesn’t trip over his own legs in his haste to settle back on Louis’ lap.

Holding on to Louis’ shoulder, Harry moans when the tip of Louis’ cock pushes against his rim. The alpha’s cock is thicker than Harry is used to, the girth itself knocking the breath out of Harry’s chest.

“Baby, you okay?” Louis thumbs the hair at the back of Harry’s neck, running it back and forth to soothe him.

Harry nods vehemently, panting harshly. “You are - big.” His wall is working relentlessly trying to accommodate Louis’ big cock in his hole, clenching tightly to get used to the size. Seven years clearly a long time to remember a cock this big.

Louis’ arrogant smirk appears as he brushes the hair matted on Harry’s forehead. “You’ll get used to it, darling,” he says meaningfully.

Finally bottoming out, Louis takes a deep inhale. This is the first time Harry has seen him so affected during their escapades. Harry sneaks a kiss to Louis’ lips when the alpha’s eyes are still close. Barely slipping his tongue in, Louis invades his first, tasting his mouth and sucking on his tongue as Harry moves up and down slowly.

Soft moans fall from his lips freely with the slide of Louis’ cock in him. It feels like Louis’ cock is splitting him open, the girth touches on every crevice of his wall and when he angles it slightly to the side, Louis’ cock presses right on his prostate, sending sparks of pleasure through his body.

“Alpha,” Harry begs in between the whimpers, his wall clenching around Louis’ thick cock.

It’s like they are moving in sync when Louis snaps up his hips to meet Harry’s bounce on his cock and when Harry is too tired with his thigh muscles burning from over exertion, dragging his movements slower, Louis guides him with a hand on his hips.

A knot forming at the base of Louis’ cock makes Harry’s eyes roll to the back of his head, feeling his desperate hole stretch further to fit in his alpha’s knot. Harry knows Louis is close when his movement turns more frantic, more forceful, pushing Harry’s hips faster and thrusting into his hole brutally.

Wrapping one hand around Harry’s cock with a thumb pressing on Harry’s slit, it only takes a flick of Louis’ wrist to make Harry come with a shout, squeezing his eyes shut when the bubbles of pleasure he feels tips over. Then, he feels it, the warm spurt inside his hole where Louis’ knot pops and Harry tightens his grasp on Louis' shoulders, moaning obscenely along with Louis’ harsh grunts.

His eyes are drooping and Harry prides himself in needing more than one orgasm to feel this sated usually, but as he burrows himself in Louis’ neck, he finds he doesn’t care. At least not when Louis’ cock is still pulsing come inside his hole.

“You are still coming. I thought old alphas would have less come than this,” Harry reckons, causing Louis to bite down his shoulder as a retaliation.

It hurts, but only slightly. A bruise definitely coming to the surface with that, but not enough to break his skin like some alphas have done in the past. Pushing the memory of spending his time with another alpha to the back of his mind, Harry clenches his wall once again, milking Louis’ cock.

“And your tummy is swelling,” Louis observes, his hand touches the small bulge of Harry’s lower tummy where his come is, rubbing it back and forth using the pad of his thumb. He looks mesmerized by it and Harry rolls his eyes, already knowing how messy he’ll be once Louis’ knot swells down.

Maneuvering his body slowly, Harry tries to find a more comfortable position to be in as they both wait for Louis’ knot to deflate. Louis helps him by holding his hips close to his knot, avoiding any tugging because that shit hurts.

A relieved sigh escapes his lips as he settles, finally finding a position where he doesn’t have to rely on his thigh muscles anymore. Resting his full weight on Louis lodges the knot deeper and Harry’s eyes bulge when he feels it poking his cervix. It’s going to sting like hell tomorrow and he’ll probably limp a bit. He makes a note in his mind to whine about it in his text to Louis tomorrow when the alpha leaves for his business trip. Harry gets a feeling Louis is the type of alpha that appreciates those kinds of updates.

With a hand carding through his curls and fingers massaging his scalp gently, Harry closes his eyes, nuzzling close to where Louis’ scent is the strongest.

✻

As much as Harry has accustomed himself to staying at Louis’ place on the weekends and even looks forward to spending his time with the alpha, Louis’ schedule is a bit hectic after the party. In fact, Harry hasn’t seen him for two weeks and Harry usually would panic or already plan for another meet and greet with a new sugar daddy if it wasn’t for the regular allowances Louis transferred at the end of the month.

And perhaps, he is assured by the daily call after work as well.

The routine came out of practicality, a convenience when they were away from each other after knotting for the first time. Harry’s omega wasn’t that fragile, he’s been left alone after knotting more often than not by his sugar daddies, but when Louis and his attentive alpha nature checked up on him frequently, Harry just basked in it. He couldn’t really say no when an alpha so willingly took care of him.

The back and forth texting comes naturally after the first week and despite being swamped with work, Louis still makes time to talk to him, habitually either while they’re both having dinner or on the nights Louis has dinner meetings, they will talk while getting ready for bed.

That’s the reason why Harry finds himself chopping his romaine salad on the countertop on a Saturday night with a laptop wide open beside him.

With eyebrows scrunched, Louis makes a disapproving noise when he sees Harry grab an avocado.

Snickering, Harry shakes his head. That’s the same reaction he gets every time Louis sees he’s touching an avocado. Although, it never gets old with how much he can tease Louis about it. “You really have to stop being so sensitive towards avocado.” He cuts the avocado in half before twisting the knife in the pit, taking it out expertly.

“Say someone who’s eating salad on a Saturday night.” Louis huffs out, muttering something else under his breath that Harry is sure is more insults towards his salad.

“It’s a salad with protein, I have salmon and eggs too,” Harry protests, defensive. “What are you eating tonight, then? Something equally healthy or?” Harry trails off, arching an eyebrow to Louis. The alpha is sitting at a table with his head propped on his palm. He gets a feeling Louis is waiting for his room service while chatting to him.

“Waiting for room service. I ordered a rib eye. They’ve got a good one here.” There’s a knocking sound from the background and Louis stands and walks to what Harry assumes is his room door.

While slicing his cherry tomatoes in halves, Harry hears the vague sound of people talking and seconds later, Louis is back at his spot with a plate of rib eye and a glass of red wine.

Eyeing a bottle of red wine by Louis’ side, Harry adds, “And a bottle of wine?”

“Yes. A Cabernet. It pairs amazingly with a rib eye.” Louis takes a sip of his drink, closing his eyes to enjoy the taste. Only Louis takes wine that serious. Opening his eyes and with a small smile on his lips, Louis queries, “Should I wait for you to finish preparing your salad or can I delve into my delicious meal first?” He emphasizes the word delicious and Harry rolls his eyes.

Harry can give whatever answer, whether Louis should wait for him or vice versa, but they both know Louis is going to wait for him. It’s always been like that and Harry has no idea why the alpha even bothers to ask.

“I’m finishing.” He gives the vaguest answer and somehow he knows Louis has already made up his mind.

“I’ll wait for you then.”

Harry’s laugh bursts out, Louis’ answer is accurate with his guess. “You realize I didn’t give you an answer, right?” Chopping fresh cilantro and dill finely, Harry puts it aside on the cutting board while getting out his bowl to make salad dressings.

“Well, it’s fine. I can savour my wine while waiting for you.”

Mixing lime juice, olive oil and fresh herbs, Harry finishes his salad dressings by pressing a clove of garlic in before giving the mixture a good stir. He pours the dressings into his bowl of salad with a loud groaning sound from Louis.

Turning his back to the screen, Harry grabs a bottle of apple juice he just bought this morning at the Borough Market. It’s organic and with no sugar. Since Louis is not in town, Harry is back to his pre-Louis routine, meandering around the fresh market in the morning, buying fresh produce and trying all kinds of pastries and new Sri Lankan teas in the cafe.

“Let me settle this on the table and I’ll pick you up later.” Harry winks, gesturing to his bowl of salad and juice.

After settling in at his dining table with his food in front of him and his laptop tucked close, they both start eating dinner, talking about their day. Louis always has more interesting ones, meeting all types of people from pretentious betas thinking alphas are hot headed creatures to a shy omega who wouldn’t meet his eyes while talking. In the beta’s defense, he’s probably correct - most alphas think they own the world anyway. Contrary to him though, Harry is not interested in blurting it out to anyone's face.

They’re all different people, some inclined to their gender stereotypes more than others and maybe it’s just their nature too, where they prefer working with their own gender. Like where Louis is most comfortable dealing with alphas and Harry is most comfortable with omegas.

✻

Blinking his eyes open, Harry feels cold to the bone and his teeth are chattering slightly. What the hell happened? Has snow fallen overnight in London?

Wrapping his duvet tightly around his body, Harry climbs down from the bed and his body shivers when he steps on the tiled floors, the cold seeping in through the socks he wears to bed.

Sitting back on the bed, Harry folds his legs and reaches his bedside table to click on the light, only to find that it doesn’t light up. He tries clicking several more times, but it’s the same. Groaning loudly, Harry takes his phone and squints his groggy eyes through the bright light of his screen to find the concierge number.

Waiting for the line to connect, Harry rubs the sleep from his eyes, trying to not doze off in the midst of waiting. After several ringing sounds, a melodious voice greets Harry. “Hi, sorry to keep you waiting. It’s Paul here. Anything I can help you with?”

“Hi Paul, it’s Harry Styles, from the seventh floor. I think my flat’s power’s out. Is it the same down there? I don’t think I got a notice about this.” Inhaling harshly, Harry half crawls on his bed to yank the throw blankets at the end of his mattress with trembling hands. Cursing himself inwardly for wearing a cami set to bed, he wraps the blankets tightly around his body on top of the thick duvet, tucking the soft ends to his neck.

“Oh, Harry! No, child. Everything is fine. It’s probably got something to do with your flat’s wiring. The same happened last week with another tenant.”

As if on cue, a faint throbbing of an incoming headache starts at the nape of Harry’s neck.

“I can send the technician to check your unit. But, I don’t think he’s in. It’s already half two in the morning.”

“Oh - is it? Sorry, I just woke up. Is it possible for him to come in tomorrow?” Harry’s mind already jumps on the possible prospect. If he doesn’t want to freeze to death tonight, he needs to stay somewhere else. Niall has a warm, big home and a guest room Harry can crash in and if he’s lucky, Niall’s sugar daddy might not even be in the city.

“Yeah, yeah. Should not be a problem. Does tomorrow morning sound good?” There’s a ruffling sound from the other side and Harry knows it’s Paul making a note about it.

After scheduling the time for the technician to come in tomorrow, Harry applies for EL since he needs to be at home for tomorrow morning and emails Keith about it.

Opening his message app, Harry replies to Louis wishing him good night merely an hour ago. He probably had another meeting with the Singapore branch.

Finding his text thread with Niall, Harry types out asking whether he’s home.

The reply he gets isn’t exactly what he planned for in his mind and Harry groans in frustration, smushing his face against the pillow. Curling his body into a ball, Harry pulls the duvet to cover his entire body and types out a reply to Niall, telling him to have fun and buy something sexy for Harry.

Niall has gone to Bali with his sugar daddy, a surprise anniversary trip which won’t happen in another two months, but what does Harry know? His relationships never last to celebrate anniversaries anyway.

The only other friend that he has that wouldn’t mind him crashing in at two in the morning is living in Manchester, so Harry moves on to the next option. Booking a hotel.

In the midst of searching for the nearest hotel, his phone vibrates and Louis’ name is displayed across the screen. Swiping to answer, Harry barely gets a greeting out when Louis bombards him with questions. “Baby? I thought you were asleep. What are you doing? Is everything okay? Can’t sleep?”

His cheeks blush pink with the incessant questions. The usual airy voice is deeper, laced with concern and Harry’s heart is beating wildly in his chest. “I’m fine. I mean - not so fine, but nothing to worry about.”

Louis scoffs loudly as if he doesn’t believe Harry. “What do you mean by not so fine? Are you sick?”

“I’m not sick. My flat’s power is out and I’m cold. The technician will only come in tomorrow. So, I’m searching for a hotel now to stay for the night.” Rambling, Harry tries to remember the name of the hotel he walked past yesterday morning. It’s a recently remodelled hotel and the architecture was stunning enough to make Harry take a second look. If he’s going to stay in one, might as well make it worth it.

“Babe, why would you do that? Just stay at my place,” Louis offers.

Disbelieving what he just heard, Harry asks again. “What?” His voice is higher than normal, mirroring his shock.

“Just stay at my place. You have the key and it’s not that far. I won’t be back until Wednesday anyway,” Louis explains calmly. There isn’t a hint of insincerity in his voice and something indicates that his offer came out of politeness.

Comparing a stale hotel smell with Louis’ place filled with his ocean and fresh mint scent is unfair because the latter will always win. Harry can’t help it when his mind is already concocting the image of sleeping on Louis’ soft bed surrounded by his comforting scent.

“Are you sure?” He asks in a slow voice while climbing down his bed to pack for a one night stay. The cold creeps through his entire flat and Harry shivers when his feet are shuffling on the floor.

“Positive. Just stay at my place, darling.”

While waiting for an Uber, Harry tells himself he deserves a comfortable and familiar place after the night he’s gone through. It’s not like he makes the decision because he misses being there. Or misses Louis’ scent, for instance.

It’s all a convenience and since Louis is kind enough to offer his house, Harry decides to take him up on it.

✻

Since Louis is not in town and won’t be back for another two days, what's a better way to indulge his weekly dose of the alpha other than wearing his clothes?

After stepping out of the shower, instead of grabbing his own shirt, Harry opts for Louis’ grey Umbro jumper. Louis probably wore it before leaving since his alpha scent clings stronger to it compared to his other clothes.

After slipping on his own joggers just because Louis’ are shorter, Harry puts his beanie on, checking the time and the text from the technician saying he’ll be there in an hour. Locking the door behind him, Harry leaves the house for the tube. Louis texted him last night when he arrived at the house, saying Harry can use one of the cars in the garage, but that’s something Harry probably will do later.

For the time being, he’s perfectly fine walking fifteen minutes to get to the tube while exploring the borough that Louis’ house is in. Like other posh neighbourhoods, he barely sees anyone and barely bumps into any cars either while walking there, bringing him a sense of serenity in the morning.

The technician is a male beta called Jack with a heart shaped face, a pair of kind brown eyes and he looked as upset as Harry did when he said there is a short circuit in the flat. After spending over one hour trying to locate the culprit, the beta finally checked on the recessed lights mounted in the ceiling and found the breaker.

Unfortunately for Harry, the original light bulb installed in his flat needs to be ordered and will take several days to arrive. Which means, he needs to stay somewhere else in the meantime. Will it be weird to stay at Louis’ on weekdays? Or until the alpha comes back? Weekends are great for a little escapade, but weekdays feel heavy. Feels like they’re stepping into an unknown territory in their arrangement. Despite all his years in sugaring, he’s never become this close to an alpha, never mind how fast and easy his other arrangements are. Everything with Louis always seems to be an exception these days.

Loud clanking coming from Jack’s toolbox pulls Harry out of his reverie. Immediately he pulls out his wallet from his pocket. Expressing his gratitude towards Jack, Harry gives him a hefty tip because by the time he’s finished, the beta is panting harshly from climbing the portable ladder. It’s very humid today and having a power kick out isn’t the most comfortable. With sweat trickling down his own back, Harry feels bad just from watching how many bulbs Jack checked.

On his way home, Harry drops by at Waitrose to stock up Louis’ empty fridge. It’s the least he can do for Louis after staying at his place. He buys most of the stuff he’s seen in Louis’ kitchen, including almond milk for himself.

Walking fifteen minutes has never felt so long until you have four bags full of groceries in both of your hands and a rucksack on your back, Harry muses. By the time he unloads all the stuff he bought on the counter, it’s already noon and as if on cue, his tummy rumbles loudly. Probably because Harry skipped breakfast today, thinking the thing with his flat wouldn’t take long. Instead of cooking something for lunch, Harry settles with a sandwich and some pastries he bought from the bakery near the store, eating while arranging all items accordingly to their place.

While washing dishes, there’s a strong whiff of Louis’ scent and Harry whips his head around, startled with both hands covered in suds, locking eyes with Louis’ tired blue ones.

“Hey babe,” Louis chuckles, eyeing Harry’s hands and a bubble of sud landing on the floor. “You okay there?” He comes close and Harry closes his eyes, taking a deep inhale of Louis’ scent so close to him after two weeks. He feels a soft kiss pressed against his temple seconds later.

Pulling himself away from Louis, Harry turns back to the sink, resuming his task of doing dishes. “I’m fine. Surprised to see you here, you aren’t supposed to come back till Wednesday, right?”

Leaning against the countertop, Louis crosses his arms against his chest. “I feel bad leaving you alone to deal with your flat.”

Harry frowns. “I texted you all about it, Lou. You don’t have to cut your trip short just because of me.” I’m not your responsibility is at the tip of his tongue, but Harry doesn’t say anything else.

“I know, but I just don’t want you to be upset alone.” Louis shrugs. “Anyway, my jumper looks good on you. Do you like it? It’s a vintage piece.”

Harry blushed furiously, tucking his head into his chest, his unruly curls covering a part of his face and he hopes that Louis doesn’t notice it. Harry always teased Louis about missing him, but the position they are in with Harry wearing Louis’ jumper makes it look like the opposite.

“You know what? I like it. Makes you look all mine.” Louis chuckles as he tucks Harry’s curls behind his ear. When Harry looks up, it’s clear that Louis is trying to stifle a laugh, clearly catching on the blush on Harry’s cheek.

“Shut up,” Harry mumbles, closing off the water tap. His cheeks feel feverish from all the blush and he’s pretty sure they’re beet red by now.

“You like it, don’t you?” Louis wiggles his brows ridiculously and Harry tilts his head back, barking out a laugh while patting his hand dry with a kitchen hand towel.

With their hands linked and Louis running his thumb back and forth on Harry’s knuckles, they stalk off to the bedroom while chatting about Harry’s flat in a slow voice. As he imagined, Louis asks him to stay until his flat’s power is sorted out and Harry really doesn’t want to accept it. It feels wrong and it’s not like anything he’s ever done before with a sugar daddy, but somehow under Louis’ strong hands and soft voice, Harry can’t say no. Even the thought of saying no to Louis leaves a sour taste in his mouth.

Once again, Harry coaxes himself to believe the heavy dread in his stomach is because he doesn’t want to stay in a scentless hotel room alone. There’s nothing to do with Louis. At all.

✻

Unlocking the door, Harry strides to the bedroom, placing his handbag in the closet before hopping into the shower. It’s Friday and somehow the tube is always more packed during Friday, everyone is rushing to get home at the same time, him included and he was squeezed between an alpha and an omega since he stepped into the coach. Unmated and with no suppressant at all, their scents were strong in the crowded space and mixed with his own. Everything just made him feel icky.

After taking a well deserved shower, Harry changes into Louis’ old band t-shirt and pairs it with joggers. Putting his hair in a messy bun while singing some catchy song he can’t get out of his head since he heard it at the grocery store yesterday, he trudges down the stairs.

Stepping into the kitchen, Harry takes out the container of chicken and rice to heat up for his and Louis’ dinner for tonight. While waiting for Louis to come back from work, Harry fixes a quick chicken wrap for himself, adding more vegetables than meat while doing the opposite for Louis. Finishing his task in the kitchen, Harry brings a plate of chicken wrap and his apple juice to the couch. Work was hectic today and per usual, he didn’t have time to go out for his lunch, turning to his crackers and tea instead.

“Hey, baby.” Louis smiles and he kisses Harry’s temple who is munching into his chicken wrap, taking a seat beside him. “Can I have a taste?” He asks, arching his brow to the chicken wrap Harry is holding.

He feeds some to Louis and chuckles when Louis squints his eyes at him, clearly affronted with the filling.

Before Louis can comment on it though, Harry tells him about the other wrap he prepared. “I’ve made some for you, just how you like it,” he enunciates, seeing how Louis’ blue eyes widen and the alpha smiles. He receives an exaggerated loud peck on his cheek before Louis stands up.

“I’m going to take a shower and then we can have our dinner,” Louis says while loosening the black tie on his neck with one hand, carrying his briefcase with the other.

Harry doesn’t know how Louis makes it look good because Harry usually detests alphas bringing briefcases to work. It’s weird, old-fashioned and all it does is add ten more years to the person who uses it. With Louis though, the alpha just looks ten times hotter. Harry still remembers how hard he had to clench his fist to not pounce on the alpha the first time he saw it.

“And stick your arse in there! I’m going to bring the food to you!” Louis yells from the bottom of the stairs and Harry shakes his head, chuckling to himself before biting into his wrap.

They usually have dinner on the couch, while watching the latest gruesome documentary on Netflix. After that, Louis will do the dishes with Harry keeping him company and they talk about their day.

The flat’s power stuff was settled about a month ago. It only took three days for the bulb to arrive and the electrician came to replace it on the same day Harry got the phone call.

It’s too late though, as spending his nights at Louis’ place on weekdays already becomes a routine. If Harry thinks their arrangement works well together on the weekends, then he has no idea how seamless they fit with each other on the weekdays.

Harry is not big on the idea of sharing a house with anyone. One of the main reasons why he lives alone and why he opted for a single room back in uni.

There isn’t anything that Louis does that irks him or something about the alpha he wishes to change, from waking up in the morning to getting ready for bed in the night, Louis is perfect. They even like to watch the same thing for God sake. Who the hell can watch murder documentaries while having dinner except Harry?

He hasn’t gone back to his flat for two weeks, merely using all the stuff Louis bought him on their shopping trips. He might as well prepare himself to clean off his dusty flat once he goes there.

✻

After making sure his phone is in his pants’ pocket and access card is in his handbag, Harry opens the passenger door, turning to Louis to mutter his gratitude for driving him today. When he turns though, he’s greeted with the alpha frowning at him with his lips in a thin line.

“What?” Harry asks, pushing his curls to the back of his shoulder, suddenly feeling unsettled under Louis’ scrutiny.

“Kiss me,” Louis mutters, puckering his lips and Harry does so. Leaning to the alpha and pecks his lips with a smile. There’s a whiff of Louis’ scent enveloping them, subtle, but Harry pushes away before it gets overpowering as if Louis scent marks him. It’s a sign of claiming the omega as his and Harry’s traitorous heart beats faster with the thought of Louis claiming him.

“I will miss you,” Louis mumbles. His tone eerily sounding like a petulant child that has to part way with his favourite toy and somehow, Harry finds that endearing. Right, stupid traitorous heart.

Harry chuckles, shaking his head, amused. “I go to work every day. See you!” He closes the door and waves Louis off, only to be motioned by Louis to enter his work building first.

Stepping into the threshold with a light bounce on his feet because of how elated he is, Harry’s phone vibrates against his thigh and he fishes it out from the pocket. Grinning while reading the notification.

Harry doesn’t know when his heart stopped hammering in his chest every time he saw a text from Louis, because now, all he feels is butterflies in his stomach and the fluttering in his heart everytime he sees Louis’ name on the screen.

You go to work every day, but I don’t send you off every day. It feels harder to say goodbye when I send you :(

Despite Louis offering Harry to use his other car, Harry just can’t bring himself to drive one. There’s none that could be considered as less flashy that he can park on the streets and he doesn’t have a designated parking spot. He can ask for one, but from his last encounter with Keith, the tube seems the least complicated way to commute.

Living with Louis, Harry finally gets a sense of the alpha’s schedule. He usually has a meeting at the start of the day at eight although now, he tries to push all meetings to later since he wants to drop Harry off first. On the evenings where his meeting runs longer, he’ll let Harry know about it or otherwise, Louis will already be waiting out front when Harry finishes work.

The routine is comfortable, way more than Harry has imagined when he thinks of being bonded to an alpha. Not like he ever thinks of that. No.

Shaking his head to himself for humouring his omega thoughts, Harry smiles to a female beta holding the door open for him. Muttering a small thanks to her, Harry turns to someone calling his name. It’s Julian, smiling and waving to him while walking from the direction of their department.

“Hey, Haz. Everyone’s already at the meeting room. You want to go together?”

“Oh.” Harry fish mouths, remembering the meeting invitation he received yesterday. “Isn’t the meeting at ten? Someone changed it?”

Julian smiles wryly, shrugging his shoulders. “Keith probably has something to do later. You know, busy man.”

In lieu of commenting something about Keith, Harry follows Julian to the meeting room, changing the topic to the last guideline amendment issued a week ago. It’s the most boring typical work conversation, but it’s the only thing he can think of in a spur of the moment. As long as Harry doesn’t need to be involved in a civil discussion about Keith, he takes it as a win.

It doesn’t last very long once the meeting ends.

Closing the small complimentary company notebook he took from the drawer at the back of the meeting room, Harry clips his pen at the spiral of the book spine while waiting for Julian to finish speaking with Keith. Everyone else has already left the room except Keith and Penny. In his boredom, he pulls up his conversation with Louis, but before he can type out a reply, Keith clears his throat and Harry raises his head, paying attention to his boss.

“I can’t help but notice your scent is different today,” Keith comments, his lips already curling on his typical wolfish smile. Somehow, this one makes Harry’s skin crawl.

Julian takes his cue to leave, giving a curt nod to Harry and Keith as Harry seethes inwardly, cursing Jualian for leaving him in the lion’s den with Penny’s patronizing eyes and Keith’s predatory smile on him. He shouldn’t wait for Julian, deciding next time he really won’t.

“It smells awfully like alpha,” Penny chides as Keith raps his knuckles on the huge table repeatedly.

The alpha chuckles, arching his brow to Penny and his eyes bulge slightly, expression surprised or he acts like he is, before turning his focus back to Harry. “Now that Penny mentions it, it does smell like alpha. You have an alpha now, Harry? He must be a good one if he gets you. You are a good catch.”

Harry furrows his brows, biting his inner cheek at Keith’s condescending remark. The hand under the table clenches into a fist, perfectly manicured lavender nails stabbing his own palm, trying not to bite the hand that feeds him. Whatever reaction they think they can get out of him today, they won’t.

When their eyes are intently staring at him, still waiting for his reply, Harry mutters slowly, “I’m dating someone now.” He stands up then, yanking his handbag with more force than necessary and pushes the chair close to the table.

Penny and Keith stand too, but their actions are more languid, more relaxed as if they didn't corner him seconds ago.

Striding out of the meeting room to get away from them both as quickly as he can, Harry curses when Penny’s long legs catch up with him. “Your Gucci handbag is very pretty. It’s new, isn’t it? I didn't notice it before this,” Penny speaks, voice loud as if trying to let Keith walking behind them hear it too. Harry knows that it is indeed her intention. “You have a lot of Gucci stuff,” she continues, as if trying to cajole Harry into giving the reaction she wants.

“Thanks,” Harry mumbles, not caring whether it makes sense to whatever she was saying before taking a left turn to the elevator even when he doesn’t have a specific place to go in mind. The door opens instantly and stepping in, Harry figures he can spend several minutes in the coffee shop at the ground floor rather than hearing whatever fake compliments Penny is about to send his way.

Sitting in one of the plastic chairs around a white table minutes later while clutching a cup of very strong coffee, Harry heaves a sigh of relief when no one comes up to him to greet him or anything. The coffee shop is crowded with staff despite the working hour starting not more than two hours ago, but no one pays him any attention whatsoever and Harry is grateful, finally feeling he can breathe freely. He’s not ashamed to admit he spends a little more than twenty minutes just to finish his coffee.

✻

Harry is a proud omega. Always is, but especially this year. He puts up with so much working for this company, the blatant disrespect and inappropriate comments from his boss plus his unaccommodating colleagues. Oh, and add in the fact that his sugaring arrangement is back to the first alpha he ever was involved with on top of it all.

He tries to take it all without a hitch and so far, judging by the slight flush on his cheeks from Louis’ praise on how pretty he looks today, he’s doing just fine.

As he applies the roll-on scent neutralizer at his wrist and dabs it on his neck in the restroom of his office, he tells himself that it will pay off. It’s probably the most he has said that to himself in a year, but that’s okay. It will definitely pay off. He gets a feeling he will have to reiterate the end part of the sentence more often than ever now.

Being in sugaring for so long, Harry doesn’t normally cover his scent. All his life he aims to make himself smell more sultry, sweeter to lure the sugar daddies, but working here is really testing whatever patience he has left of alphas and after kissing Louis goodbye in the car, he has to sneak into the restroom to apply his scent neutralizer, avoiding meeting anyone before then.

To avoid unwanted questions, Harry washes his scent neutralizer off minutes before Louis picks him up. Fluffing his curls in front of the mirror for the last time, Harry grimaces with the double life he’s living now.

It better be worth it, he decides.

Finally having a little bit more time in hand with Keith’s full week leave, Harry goes to one of the popular cafes near his office for lunch. He’s alone and that’s what makes him happier. He doesn’t have to fake interest, fawning over work when all Keith ever did was annoy him.

Harry prides himself in being the bigger person in any kind of altercation. Hence, why it’s so easy for him to pick up where he left off with Louis even after seven years. The money aside, of course.

Although the meeting incident is kind of the last straw for him. If before this he avoided being alone with Keith like a plague, now he treats Penny like she is nonexistent. He walks in front of her table every time before going to his place, but instead of greeting and making small talk with the omega like before, Harry ignores her.

That way, they both can stay clear of each other's personal life. And so far, there aren't any more jabs about his new Gucci handbag or boots. Harry never thought the day would come where he despises a person of his own secondary gender, but now seems like a great time. This company is dragging out so many sides of him he never knew existed.

The cafe is packed with people since it’s the peak of lunch break, but being alone, Harry secures a spot for himself easily enough. The fish and chips he ordered is as perfect as Harry remembers from his last visit and he takes his sweet time savouring the food, knowing nobody in the office can chastise him for being late. He even spends several minutes scrolling through his Instagram feed after eating. Finally deciding he’s late enough and the initial wave of customer frenzy subsides, Harry finishes his apple juice before slipping a ten note under the glass for the tip.

Taking out his purse from his handbag to pay at the counter, Harry smiles to himself when his eyes land on the black card in the card slot. Louis was the one who slipped it in after Harry went grocery shopping twice in a row for them. It’s the least he could do when he clearly lives off the alpha, but Louis insisted on giving him the credit card. That’s absolutely more than fine for him. He’s not someone to shy away from getting a card, much less a black one. It’s a pity he hasn’t had the opportunity to use it yet. It will all be rectified soon enough, hopefully.

The queue isn’t as long, there are only two more people in front of him and Harry is the third person in line. His hand is clutching his phone to check on the time when someone calls out for his name. Tilting his head to the direction of the voice, Harry sighs when he spots Sam waving to him animatedly as if they are old friends. Please don’t come here, Harry wishes wistfully and he has to suppress a groan when the alpha strides to him with a smile on his face.

Before Sam can say anything, it’s Harry’s turn to pay at the counter and he does so hurriedly, making a show to Sam so he can use the excuse.

Turning around to excuse himself saying he’s in a rush to get back to his office, Harry bumps into someone and he grunts loudly when his phone falls to the floor.

The person bends down to pick up Harry’s phone and Harry babbles on, “I’m sorry I’m just rushing-” The word gets lodged in his throat when he notices the person he bumps into. Bright blue eyes meet his and Harry’s shoulders immediately tense when he notices Louis’ frowns, nose twitching slightly. Shit. Standing so close to each other, it would be impossible for Louis to not notice Harry’s lack of scent.

Snatching the phone in Louis’ hold, Harry says in fake cheerfulness, “Thanks. I’m very very late - see ya!” He waves off frantically before either of the alphas can say anything else, almost running on his feet to get out of the establishment.

Fuck, did Harry kill someone in his past life or something? On the only day he decided to have lunch in a cafe, he actually managed to bump into Louis? Harry rolls his eyes to himself, thinking this just might be the consequence of slacking off work too much lately.

Harry is clinging to Louis like a koala bear. He is in Louis’ lap, hands wrapping around Louis’ neck, burying his face in it, taking a deep inhale of Louis’ comforting scent while the alpha is scrolling through his phone, reading and replying to his emails.

Louis tries to move him twice and Harry whines loudly, not ready to let go just yet. Louis doesn’t try to budge him for the third time.

The alpha had a meeting until six so Harry came back from work using the tube. While Louis told him about the meeting two days prior, Harry can’t help but feel guilty. Uneasiness gnawing at his heart just at the thought that Louis might be mad at him for wearing scent neutraliser. He spent two hours making pasta, kneading the dough by himself because he remembers how much Louis likes it in an attempt to ease whatever possible tension might come out of this.

When Louis came back though, there was nothing out of sorts. It was normal. There wasn’t any change to his scent and Louis wasn’t even mad. He pressed a kiss to Harry’s forehead, promising to come downstairs to help Harry set the table right after he showered.

After doing dishes and cleaning up the kitchen and Harry finally showered, they ended up cuddling on the bed.

“You okay?” Louis asks as his fingers card through Harry’s hair, meaning he has finished replying to his emails.

“I’m fine. My omega needs this.” Harry’s answer is muffled against Louis’ neck and he peppers Louis’ neck with kisses, smiling with how strong the scent is, nuzzling into it.

Louis hums. He scratches Harry’s scalp lightly and Harry purrs, body feeling pliant under the attention of his alpha. “You know you can tell me whatever problem you have at work, right? I probably can help you.”

Harry’s body tenses with the mention of work and he groans loudly, showing his frustration with Louis’ topic of conversation. Pulling himself from Louis’ neck, Harry tumbles to the side with less grace than he’d like, but he and Louis have moved past that. There’s nothing making him think twice now before doing something, or attempt to appease Louis by acting more elegant, like he usually did with other alphas. It’s just so easy being who he is with Louis.

And with the way Louis still chuckles every time Harry as much as trips over his own legs while walking down the stairs, it’s all good.

“I can offer you a job,” Louis adds nonchalantly, as if offering his sugar baby a paying job at his company is a thing he does everyday.

He presses himself close to Louis, head resting on Louis’ shoulder and a leg thrown over the alpha’s. “I know you can help, I just don’t want to take you up on it.”

Louis rubs his hand back and forth over Harry’s arm. The gesture is meant to be soothing and it does its job. “Well, I’d be happy to have one more HR person talking my ear off about how to treat my employee. Just saying.”

Tracing a pattern on the alpha’s chest, following the massive it is what it is tattoo, Harry doesn’t say anything else. Louis is willing to offer him a job just because he has a suspicion that Harry has work problems. He doesn’t need to know why, all he knows is Harry is not happy and he’s willing to quench it all.

The omega’s heart feels full, probably overflowing with how doting Louis is towards him. Although, Louis has done enough for him. He gives more allowances to Harry than others, more expensive gifts and by how much time he has spent at Louis’ place, Harry doesn’t even have to pay the power in his flat. Not to mention, all the messy things that will follow if he decides to take Louis’ job offer when the alpha suddenly decides he has had enough of Harry.

It’s not like Louis hasn’t done it once before.

✻

A soft whimper escapes his parted lips and Harry reaches out for Louis instinctually with his eyes still shut. His fingers find the firm chest he’s looking for and Harry sighs in contentment, smiling slightly when a strong scent of alpha pheromones rolls off Louis. A warm hand slips under his slip dress to rub his lower back gently, exposing his panty clad cheeks and Harry would have complained about being cold if Louis’ warm body wasn’t covering half of his.

“Is this why?”

Harry only hums in response. He doesn’t know what Louis is on about even though he’s pretty certain he hasn’t fallen asleep. Yet.

“There’s an omega glued to my side all night. Which is incredibly ridiculous. She really couldn’t take a hint. It’s like she’s badgering me on purpose, trying to make me uncomfortable.”

Catching on the omega part of the sentence, Harry opens his eyes blearily. Hackles rising slightly with how bothered Louis sounds. Before Harry can ask, Louis already tacks on more about it.

“It’s like she couldn’t smell that I have an omega, like seriously? How thick could you be that you couldn’t smell another omega scent on an alpha? Ridiculous,” Louis growls and Harry turns around to lay on his back. His heart flutters with Louis’ admittance at having an omega. It’s not literal, but figuratively, you could say that. They are with each other exclusively and almost live together. Harry is Louis’ omega. The sentence sounds so good echoing in his mind.

Face to face with Louis furrowed brows and his clenched chiselled jaw, all sleep disappears from Harry’s eyes. A couple of months into their arrangement and with how close they are, Harry could count the number of times he heard Louis’ growl on the fingers of one hand. “What happened, darling?” Harry asks softly, his voice deep from sleep and Louis shifts his eyes to him. The blue of his eyes look more grey than anything under the dim of the night lamp on the bedside table, but Harry can see how they soften when Harry pulls him closer, baring his neck for Louis to scent him.

With an elbow supporting his weight, Louis noses into Harry’s neck, scenting the omega. “There was an omega at the party. She was my friends’ daughter, just moved back home – I think. So she’s there and planned the entire evening for her father. Which is whatever – I don’t fucking care.” Louis waves off with his hand, his eyebrows are still furrowed and Harry smooths it out with his thumb. “It’s just since the moment her father introduced her to me, she was at every fucking corner I turned. Asking me all about the entrees and what I think of whatever she did with the party. God, that was absurd. I’m not looking for an omega, why does she feel like she has to promote all the omega things she can do? And really who the hell does that kind of stuff these days? I couldn’t even talk to my friends without her calling for me.”

If Harry’s hackles were rising before, it’s all gone past the maximum now. He can feel his inner omega already clawing at his heart for not going to the party. “How old is she? Your age?”

Louis scoffs. “I wish. Then I could tell her right then to fuck off.” He rolls his eyes before wrapping a hand around Harry’s waist, caressing the omega’s waist through the satin dress.

Clenching hard on his arse cheeks, Harry tries to not let any slick leak from his hole. He can’t help it. His cock is not even hard, yet his hole is already working slick in an attempt to entice the alpha to knot him. It’s the stupid omega in his body, trying to compensate for not being enough for his alpha. Not good enough that another omega tried to take his alpha’s attention.

“How old is she then? My age?” Harry presses further. His voice wobbly because of how hard he’s clenching his cheeks. Fuck. Why does it even bother him if someone tries to seduce Louis? He’s been there, done that with countless other alphas before. He doesn’t care. He’ll just jump on the next wealthy alphas who want him.

Louis’ nose twitches and for a moment, Harry thinks that Louis catches on to what’s happening to him. Thankfully, Louis doesn’t comment on it. His omega just needs an assurance that he still gets Louis’ attention and hopefully it will pass as quickly as it comes. “No. I think she’s probably younger. She’s pretty, she just really needs to work on that attitude. It’s like she’s throwing herself to me.”

That is certainly not helping because despite how hard Harry tries, biting into his inner cheek to stop himself from whining at the prospect of someone taking his alpha, his omega just can’t take it anymore. Harry curses softly when he feels a gush of slick leaking from his hole.

The alpha’s blue eyes darken and under the dim light, Harry can see how Louis’ pupils widen with how thick the smell of Harry’s arousal is in the room. “Baby?” Louis asks, unsure. To his credit, he tries to soothe Harry’s omega by licking the omega’s neck without Harry prompting him to do so. “Hey, I’m not interested in her. I only got my eyes on you, baby. Don’t you worry, darling.” Bending down, he kisses Harry’s lips, all warm and secure and alpha.

Louis’ kiss meddles with Harry’s guard that he has up and without consciously meaning to, a soft whine falls out his plush lips when Louis breaks the kiss, begging Louis to not let him go. It’s just not enough, his omega can’t stop playing the image of another omega in Louis’ bed.

“Can you – just – fuck me?” Harry’s stutters, shutting his eyes close when another gush of slick trails from his hole. He can feel it soaking his panties and slip dress, probably the sheet too by now.

Louis looks conflicted as he flicks his eyes to Harry’s hips. “Baby, you know I would love to. It’s just – you are not even hard. It’s just your omega reacting,” he reasons softly.

Harry’s cheeks tint pink from embarrassment both from how his inner omega is driving his actions and Louis’ observation. Harry spends his days and nights with Louis, yet his omega is so bothered by a faceless omega spending merely three hours with Louis. “Fucking hell. I don’t care.” Taking the matter into his own hands, Harry sits up and takes off his panties, throwing them carelessly on the floor.

He pulls Louis’ jogger down to his thighs, smiling when there’s already an evident swell of a knot at the base of his alpha’s hard cock. Straddling the alpha, Harry takes off his slip dress in a swift motion while Louis’ fingers gripping his thighs hard. It probably will bruise tomorrow and Harry already loves it, the feeling of being owned and how Louis only left the mark on him and not on some other younger omega.

Holding Louis’ dick with one hand, Harry pulls his cheek apart before lowering himself slowly. His eyes roll to the back of his head with a delicious stretch of Louis’ alpha cock, burning slightly since Louis knotted him last this morning. Whining high in his throat, Harry puts his hand on Louis’ tummy, panting with how Louis’ girth is filling his hole. Louis grunts when Harry settles against his hips, the grip on Harry’s thigh getting stronger.

Their breaths are heavy and judging by the clench of Louis’ jaw, he wants Harry to move. Instead of asking though, he just lets Harry take it on his pace, murmuring soothing words while thumbing the mark left from his fingers on Harry’s thigh. “I only get my eyes on you, omega. Such a good and perfect omega. You are mine, omega. Only you.”

Harry moves a little, rolling his hips to let the burn pass. The stretch feels so good, making him throw his head back in pleasure and moans loudly. With how drenched Louis’ thigh is with his slick, there isn’t any doubt which omega is his. Louis can have hundreds of omegas throwing themselves to him, but he only wants Harry.

Bracing himself on Louis’ chest, Harry bounces on the alpha’s hard cock, raising himself so that only the head is in his hole before lowering himself to take everything in once again, jabbing straight to his prostate. It doesn’t take long when he feels Louis’ knot tug on his rim and he moves faster, clenches harder.

On a particular deep thrust that leaves Harry breathless, Louis yanks Harry by his arm and he yelps a little with the sudden movement, falling on the alpha’s chest with a thud. Louis doesn’t care about that though as his lips assault Harry’s harshly, opening Harry’s lips with his tongue. Moving Harry’s hips with his strong hand, Louis’ knot grows and Harry’s whimper is muffled by Louis’ vicious tongue. He almost sobs with how wide his rim feels, tugging on Louis’ growing knot before Louis stills his hips. Tugging Harry’s tongue between his teeth, Harry can feel Louis’ knot pops inside him and the strong pulse of come filling him.

“Baby, open your mouth.” Louis’ voice is rougher than Harry has ever heard, clearly laced with an alpha tone and Harry opens his mouth obediently. Louis shoves three fingers unceremoniously into Harry’s mouth with a demand, “Suck.”

Only when his tongue flits around the digits, does he realize that it’s his come. In the haste to stop his inner omega going into overdrive, he forgot about himself. Only focusing to get a knot, to appease the primal need of being able to satisfy his alpha, proving he is the better omega and worth to be kept. After sucking Louis’ fingers clean, Harry’s eyes shut on their own accord and he falls asleep on Louis’ chest to the alpha praising him for being such a perfect omega. His inner omega serene with the compliments, preening when his alpha is still spurting come in his hole.

The first time it happens, Harry doesn’t think much about it. In fact, he doesn’t even remember how he reacted last night when he wakes up the next morning to a cold bed. Louis left a note on the bedside table, messy scrawl stating he has an early appointment, but will make it in time to pick up Harry from work.

Everything is fine until Louis suddenly texts him during lunch hour, asking how he’s doing. It’s so out of the norm that Harry ponders about it for a while before replying.

Then, the realization dawns on him. The memory of how he reacted when Louis told him about another omega and how Harry let his inner omega take control of his action afterwards plays slowly in front of his eyes. It’s appalling. To lose control is one thing, to entertain himself that he is Louis’ omega is another thing.

Harry has to time his breath before exhaling it through his mouth, closing his eyes while doing so to calm his racing heart. He can’t help but feel like the grasp he has on his life is slipping. He’s always in control, trying to take everything at his own pace. He doesn’t even allow himself to drop for God sake.

It’s fine. That will be the first and the last time he ever loses control with an alpha. The mantra replays over and over again in his mind as Harry types out a short reply saying he’s fine before discarding his phone in the drawer, slamming the handle louder than he intends to.

✻

Harry’s eyes are droopy and red from waking up in the middle of the night to read an essay worth of email regarding one of the staff at his workplace. He’s pretty sure the email Penny composed is more than two thousand words. What makes it worse is she sent it at eleven at night, flagging the email as urgent. It’s Saturday tomorrow and Harry already made plans with Louis to go to the farmer’s market first thing in the morning.

Begrudgingly, he tries his best to comprehend the details of the complaint. After cross-checking the email he received from Keith yesterday, Harry replies to Penny’s email with a detailed recommendation. For how much of a recommendation Harry wrote and his opinion being taken as a course of action, he sure as hell never receives any token of appreciation. An email saying thanks will suffice, but Harry has learned to not be hopeful when it comes to his workplace.

“Hey, baby. I didn’t know you were up.” Louis’ soft voice is accompanied by his smooth fingers caressing Harry’s bare shoulder.

Harry yawns, covering his mouth with his phone. They just had a very mindblowing fuck mere hours ago and Harry remembers falling asleep with Louis’ knot still tugged in his hole. “Just reading work emails. You didn’t sleep?” His voice is rough and deep from sleep.

A kiss pressed against his shoulder and Louis’ soft lips linger longer than they should. Not that Harry minds. “No. I have to do some work too.” The alpha’s answer is breathy against his skin.

With Louis’ warm body pressed against his and the alpha’s fingers caressing the litters of hickeys left close at his ears to the juncture of his neck, Harry sighs in content, feeling his body unclenching from the stress of reading the tiny words of Penny’s email. Although, it feels impossible to sleep. There’s something different and it takes a while for him to catch what it is because it’s so unfamiliar and it combines with their mixed scents from knotting. When he does pinpoint it though, his stomach feels queasy.

“Lou, you okay? You smell - different.” The usual scent Harry’s omega is so attuned to has changed. There’s a bitterness clouding the fresh mint smell and Harry thinks he can smell the salt of ocean water more than anything else.

It’s the first time Harry smells it, Louis’ alpha distress. Louis is so good at maintaining his composure that Harry never smells anything remotely different than the first time Louis picked him up. Whatever happened must be serious to worry Louis this much.

Turning his body around to face Louis, Harry is met with furrowed brows and lips in a thin line. Cradling the alpha’s face in his hand, Harry thumbs his chiselled jaw, kissing it softly. The action makes Louis’ scent clear slightly, a tinge of a crisp scent of the fresh mint permeating in the air, but his face seems to be in a permanent scowl.

“Lou? You can tell me anything. I’m here for you,” Harry whispers with his thumb rubbing Louis’ jaw gently.

“My rut will be next week. I usually spend it with an omega. Not necessarily my sugar baby. Just someone who’s willing to help.” His voice is strained, like he’s withholding himself from blurting something else.

Harry’s throat lurches to his stomach. The thought of Louis sharing his rut with someone else does something to his omega and as anxiety climbs higher and pushes his omega into havoc, Harry offers, “I can help.”

Louis smiles albeit small. It doesn’t even reach his eyes and Harry hates it. The small curve of Louis’ lips only serves to aggravate his omega more, reprimanding himself for not being able to help his alpha. “Baby, I can’t ask you to do that. You didn’t sign up for dealing with me in a rut. I can ask my assistant to find someone.”

Harry feels like his omega is snarling just from hearing Louis’ suggestion. By the darkness consuming Louis’ eyes, Harry bets his scent changes too. Becoming possessive and sweeter, trying to fend off any omega planning to come close to his alpha.

Fuck, Louis is not his alpha.

He needs to think straight and he already promised himself that he won’t let his inner omega take control once again. If he’s really doing this, Harry should have a reason why. Instead of raking his mind for a definite answer, Harry implores, “No, you’re not asking. I’m offering and I’m deciding too. I can take care of you during your rut. Don’t worry.”

“Thank you, baby. Just so you know, you can change your mind anytime.” Louis’ scent is clearing, the smell of ocean on a sunny day and fresh mint gradually filling the air.

What’s most important though, is Louis smiles. A big one that shows the slight dimple on his cheeks. Bending his head, Louis kisses Harry on his lips. Warm and wet, his tongue exploring Harry’s mouth ever so slowly like he’s savouring the moment. For how long their kiss lasts, it should feel filthy yet it’s anything but. Instead, it feels comforting, like an assurance that everything will turn out fine.

Breaking the kiss, Louis wipes the spit left on the corner of Harry’s mouth. Kissing Harry’s temple next, Harry can feel the smile remaining on Louis’ lips.

And Harry finds his answer. Louis is the kind of alpha that omegas will do anything for. Himself included.

Ironically, the other reason why he should help Louis through his rut comes from Niall’s unsolicited advice two days later when they meet at the gym.

After locking the car by using the key fob, Harry turns his head around to Niall who is whistling from behind him. He rolls his eyes when Niall wiggles his brow, gesturing towards the two seater Mercedes Harry parked. Louis has a dinner meeting, one that doesn’t require Harry’s presence and because there’s no one to eat with at home, he decided to go to the pilates class instead, planning to get dinner with Niall afterwards.

“He bought you that?” Niall asks while blowing at his fresh french manicured nails, walking past Harry after he tags on the membership card on the card reader.

Harry shakes his head. Unlike Niall, Harry hasn't met a sugar daddy who is benevolent enough to buy him a car. Not like he needs one, but the gesture would be greatly appreciated. “You wish. He offered because I don’t have a car and it’s honestly quite far to walk to the tube.”

Niall scoffs in disbelief, his eyebrows raised once again. “You still live with him?” He waves to the receptionist greeting them cheerfully, taking the complimentary energy drink placed on the counter for him and Harry before striding straight to the locker room.

Grimacing, Harry lets out a heavy sigh before setting his bag on the bench. “I mean, it feels weird to suddenly say I want to go back to my flat. It’s already been a month.” He sounds eerily like he’s defending himself with his decision to stay, but Niall doesn’t call him out for that. In fact, if anyone understands the predicament he’s in, it’s going to be Niall.

Niall hums. “It is,” he agrees softly as he unzips his windbreaker. “I know he's more generous than your other alphas, but just make sure you don’t feel like you have to repay him or something. It’s what they signed up for.” After putting his bag in the locker, Niall fetches them eucalyptus oil soaked towels in the fridge, throwing one to Harry while he uses one for himself, wrapping it around his neck.

While doing the warm up for pilates, Harry can’t help the slight tug upward of his lips. It feels better to have a solid reason on why he should help Louis through his rut instead of following his inner omega blindly. Harry is never the type of person who wants to feel indebted and he knows beyond the allowances and gifts, much of what Louis did is generosity - letting Harry stay at his place even when he’s not in town, offering Harry to use his car, dropping and picking Harry up from work, never needing Harry to be his arm candy. It feels right to give back to Louis. At least, this way they are equal, both getting a fair share out of their arrangement.

Closing the front door, Harry almost sprints into the kitchen when his nose picks out where Louis’ scent is the strongest. Judging by the parked Range Rover in the driveway and the alpha’s haphazardly toed off shoes in front of the cabinet, Louis is back from his dinner meeting.

Harry is in a better mood compared to when he left the house. Pilates always helps in loosening the tense muscles in his body and meeting Niall when they haven’t caught up for so long is always welcomed. Getting his advice is easily icing on the cake.

“Lou? I’m home,” Harry announces as he steps into the kitchen, voice loud and cheery. He spots Louis hunched over the kitchen bar, face serious while skimming the paper in front of him with his right hand holding a half filled wine glass.

He only hums as a reply.

Harry has years of experience under his belt when it comes to dealing with alphas, but when one is nearing rut, admittedly, he’s quite rusty. The last alpha he helped through rut was years ago, probably the second sugar daddy he had and his memory is fuzzy at best.

Nearing the date of his rut, Louis just gets more busy, saying he has to settle several urgent tasks before taking a week of rut leave. And with that, his temper also starts to get the better part of him. Harry is not really sure whether it’s because of work or because of the increasing testosterone. Either way, Louis looks like he’s about to explode the longer he stays in the kitchen.

Standing behind Louis, Harry rubs the alpha’s back gently, trying to gauge his reaction first. Louis turns to him, his face worn out like he hasn’t got a good sleep in a week and his bright blue eyes are tired. “Hey, baby,” Louis mumbles, his smile small. “Had a good night out?”

His face immediately splits in a grin as an answer. “Yes. I bought something for myself. I mean - it’s your money, so technically you bought it for me?” Harry poised his sentence as a question, furrowing his forehead in uncertainty.

After grabbing dinner at the restaurant two doors down from the gym, Harry and Niall headed to Gucci. The beta sales assistant who usually helped Harry everytime he went there was working and he showed Harry the latest G necklace collection with a yellow banana pendant. It’s quirky and it’s so like Harry. He didn’t have to think twice to take out the black card Louis gave him and buy it for himself.

The first purchase he ever made using the card and it’s for a dick disguised banana necklace. How fitting.

Louis chuckles, shaking his head. “It doesn’t matter. What did you buy, baby?”

Harry moves his curls to the back of his shoulder, showing off his neck and his new necklace. He’s still grinning, exhilarated to see Louis’ reaction.

Noticing the new necklace on Harry’s neck, Louis looks closely, squinting his eyes before he reaches out a hand to examine the pendant clearly. “Is this a dick?”

“What? No! Lou, you’re filthy! It's a banana,” Harry squeaks, scandalized, swatting Louis’ shoulders when the alpha barks out a laugh.

It’s probably the longest laugh he ever hears from Louis and by the end of it, Louis wipes a tear from his eyes, still slightly hysterical with the necklace. “Babe, you are the only person who would ever buy that.”

“It’s literally Gucci.”

Louis' eyes are still on Harry’s neck, staring at the delicate yellow pendant resting between Harry’s collarbones. “It’s a bit naughty for work, don’t you think?” Louis asks, amused.

“I’ll just wear it everywhere except at work,” Harry quips easily, as if he’d been thinking about it when he bought the necklace. He didn’t. “I want to take a bath, you coming?”

“I need to finish this,” Louis gesticulates towards the paper he’s been reading. The same one he’s been ignoring ever since Harry got his attention with the omega’s recent purchase. “Give me ten?”

Tracing his index finger on Louis’ forearms softly, Harry whispers close to the alpha’s ear, “Okay. See you. I can give you a massage and some other naughty stuff tonight.” Before Louis can react, Harry is already skipping out of the kitchen, winking and laughing at Louis when the alpha glares at him.

It’s always a mutually beneficial arrangement. When Louis takes care of him, he does the same for Louis.

✻

“I think the delivery guy judged me,” Louis claims, walking from the front door with an incredulous frown on his face caused by a stranger. He sets two pizza boxes on the coffee table, checking the summary of their order on a small white paper stuck on top of the box before handing one to Harry.

Harry chuckles, already understanding the topic. “The same guy from this morning?” He asks while tearing off two slices of his pizza and placing it in Louis’ box. Louis does the same for him. By now, they have ordered in too many pizzas to not have a routine of their own. Ordering different flavours based on their preferences, but still sharing a few slices with each other.

“Yes. The guy is gonna think I’m lazy. Munching on takeaway all damn day,” Louis mumbles. He rolls his eyes, resting his feet on the coffee table before delving into his food.

Louis is not in a good mood. He doesn’t snap, but he turns so quiet sometimes that Harry has to ask questions twice to get an answer. The smallest thing ticks him off too, like how the same guy delivering his food for breakfast and dinner might think he’s lazy is apparently a big deal.

They have been locked up in the house for two days since Louis’ rut is supposed to hit this week. Usually with the presence of an omega to satisfy the alpha’s needs, it will only take three days.

Unlike omegas, alphas usually don't mind going anywhere during their early rut. They have a stronger scent and the edge of the alpha tone is more prominent in their voice. Harry has come across too many alphas in his office to know they don’t mind people smelling the early rut on them.

Louis is the complete opposite. He prefers to take the whole week off to avoid being in an early rut at anywhere else other than his house. Harry knows that Louis is different from other alphas, but somehow his decision still manages to catch Harry off guard.

“You know I can take the food too, right? At least he won’t think you are the only lazy one,” Harry suggests, glancing at Louis who is watching the new episode of the murder documentary on Netflix with his mouth munching the pizza slowly.

Louis whips his head to Harry so fast that Harry thinks he might break his neck. With the same permanent frown etched on his face since the start of the week, he mutters slowly, “Not with those skimpy clothes, you’re not.”

Harry looks down at himself, shrugging at his choice of clothes. A black cami with lace detailing on its hem and a matching short that rides up high on his thigh. “In my defence, I’m trying to kickstart your rut.” He really is.

It’s been two long days with Louis’ heightened scent and husky alpha voice. He buried his nose in Louis’ neck all night without having the satisfaction of being knotted. Louis wants Harry to rest up for the rut and Harry just wants it to start already. He’s been looking forward to some crazy rut sex all week after sending in his application for rut/heat leave, only for it to be delayed for several more days. Everything is starting to frustrate him. Even the pizza he wanted an hour ago doesn’t taste the same.

“It’ll come,” Louis reassures him, way too attuned with what Harry is indicating.

“Do you feel anything yet? Probably tonight?” Harry asks hopefully. Probably too hopeful for an omega who chastised himself for offering in the first place.

“Probably tomorrow.”

Harry scoffs hearing the same answer he got two days ago. It’s always tomorrow for Louis and Harry waits patiently, only to fall asleep without anything happening. He has no idea how a rut starting feels for an alpha, but surely Louis shouldn’t look so calm for an alpha that is so close to rut? Will it take two more days? Will Harry have to email Keith to extend his leave? Shit. That would be mortifying, especially if he bumps into Keith the next time.

As if knowing exactly what Harry is thinking of, Louis talks around his mouthful of pizza, “I need to discuss something with you.”

Setting the pizza box down in an instant in the space between them on the couch, Harry turns his body to Louis, solely focusing on the alpha. “What is it?”

“Some thing about my rut.” Louis reaches for a packet of chili flake on the table, tearing it open with his teeth before sprinkling some on the last two slices. “Eat first, baby.”

Settling on the bed, Harry turns to the side, smothering his face in the pillow Louis’ used and taking a deep inhale of the alpha’s scent. He swears the scent gets stronger after their dinner. Maybe it’s true. Maybe by this time tomorrow, Louis will already be deep in rut. Or with how desperate Harry is becoming, maybe he will be in heat tomorrow. Maybe that will kickstart Louis’ rut.

There is a sound of the bathroom door opening and closing and seconds later, Harry feels the mattress dip down beside him. Flicking his eyes open, he sees Louis take another pillow, replacing the one Harry took. He rests the pillow against the headboard before propping himself on it and scrolling through his phone.

Turning on his back with Louis’ pillow cradled close to his chest, Harry groans loudly, disgruntled with how his week is going. “Maybe if you stop responding to work emails, your rut will come faster?”

Louis doesn’t respond. One of the new rut things, Louis doesn’t give any reaction if he doesn’t want to.

“You said you wanted to talk about your rut?” Harry quips again after what feels like an hour of staring at the white walls in the distance.

Louis hums noncommittally.

“Wake me up if you want to talk,” Harry turns to the side, his back to Louis and closes his eyes to sleep. It’s been another somber day of early rut. Maybe he can convince Louis to go shopping tomorrow.

After not doing anything for two days, Harry’s body is hyper. He has so much pent-up energy and sleep doesn’t come easily. After tossing around in bed trying to find the most comfortable position to sleep in and almost suffocating himself with Louis’ pillow in the process, Harry sits up on the bed, shoving the cover to his hips.

Louis is still on his phone if the little tapping sound is anything to go by, ignoring Harry as he puts his hair in a high bun.

Only when he slides on his kimono does Louis croak out, “Where are you going?”

“Downstairs. I can’t sleep.”

“But-”

Frowning, Harry turns around to Louis. “You need something?”

Louis lets out a heavy sigh. “We need to talk about my rut.”

Weighing his options, Harry trudges back to the bed, sitting in front of Louis and muttering sullenly, “Fine, but you are making me a cuppa to help me sleep.”

Setting his phone on the bedside table, Louis pinches the bridge of his nose. “There’s no way to go around this. So I’m just going to say it.” Louis’ tone is cautious as he measures Harry’s expression.

Harry keeps his poker face on despite his heart beating faster, alarmed. Louis wouldn’t ask him to leave suddenly, right?

“Can you not ride me during my rut?”

The first reaction is Harry narrowing his eyes, puzzled with the sudden turn of request. He should have said okay, brushing it off as new rut things like he did to Louis’ other changes except what comes out of his mouth is completely something else. “I thought you liked it?” Harry’s shoulders hunch inwards, trying to make himself smaller as insecurity creeps in when he realises how often they have sex in that position. Was it just Harry enjoying it? Was he imagining things? Maybe -

Louis’ strong grip on his wrist stops Harry from his spiralling train of thoughts. “Come here.” He pulls Harry by his arm and Harry follows, closing in the distance between them, curling against Louis’ side. His heart beat stifling, heavier somehow.

“I can smell your anxiety, baby.” Louis chuckles, but when he sees the frown on Harry’s face, the smile disappears from his face. With his thumb on Harry’s chin, he talks softly to the omega with his eyes boring into Harry’s, “Hey, there’s nothing wrong with you riding me. I like it. It’s just - I don’t think my alpha will like it if you do it when I’m in rut. This is just a heads up. I don’t want anything bad to happen, okay baby?”

“Is there anything else you don’t like about how we have sex?”

A deep frown sets in between Louis’ brows and his voice turns firm when he clarifies, “I like everything about how we have sex and for your information, I think you riding me is fucking hot. I just don’t want you to take control when I’m in rut. There’s a difference.”

Feeling affronted, Harry tries to distance himself from Louis by scooting to the side, but the alpha pulls his hand, shaking his head.

Being so close with Louis, it’s getting hard to control himself from burying his face in Louis’ scent gland. Especially when the scent practically emanates right beside his nose. As an attempt to stop himself, he hugs Louis’ pillow close to his chest, trying to find the best inanimate replacement. “Anything else?”

“Uh - I usually like certain positions when I’m in rut.”

Harry cocks his head to the side, arching his perfectly shaped brows, asking Louis to elaborate. This is the first time he’s heard such things and Harry has had his fair share of weird demands over the years.

Louis looks like he’s in pain by how his face contorts. “I like when the omega presents for me.” Louis always talks faster than Harry, but somehow he said the sentence in one breath, accent thicker than usual and the only reason Harry could understand him is because he has grown accustomed to the alpha’s lilt. He’s wary as he stares at Harry’s face intently.

“Oh. You mean a particular position,” Harry corrects as his heart beat returns back to normal. Relief washes over him when he finally figures out the grounds of Louis acting differently. “How old are you again? You are so old-school,” he teases and Louis rolls his eyes, pushing Harry to the side making him yelp loudly.

“Lou!” Harry shrieks, swatting Louis’ shoulder hard enough that his palm starts smarting.

The presenting position is - normal for Harry. It’s hard to be picky when you get paid to be a companion to older wealthy alphas. Most of them are drunk on power enough that they would just manhandle Harry to his front without saying anything. It’s up to him to understand that some alphas like the old-fashion position where the omega submits to them. None of them are as up front about it as Louis and none of them think it’s wrong either, unlike Louis.

It’s probably a good thing that Harry never volunteers to help them through rut, especially the ones rough enough during other times. It sends a chill down his spine just from thinking about it.

“Why do you like being on top so much anyway?” Louis asks without a judgement in his tone and with that, the tension for the last two days basically dissipates into thin air.

“Well, some alphas are - old,” Harry emphasises the end of his sentence and Louis’ face turns unimpressed.

“Really? They are old enough that they don’t even have the energy to fuck you?”

“Some of them, yes.” Sitting up, Harry fixes the sleeve of his kimono, pulling it up to his shoulder since it has fallen to his arm when he jostled around. “What’s up with you anyway? You could just tell me that. It’s literally nothing.” And we can skip the part where I feel incompetent. Harry doesn’t voice out the end of his sentence, certain it’s not about him this time.

“Is it?” Louis puts his hand on Harry’s bare thigh, rubbing circles on the skin there softly. It’s like he’s trying to calm Harry down and Harry stops himself from blurting out that he’s fine. He lets it be because he knows how much Louis likes to take care of him and this is probably how he soothes his alpha too.

Harry hums, linking their hands together even when Louis' warm fingers are still tracing his skin. “Yes. I probably took it the wrong way initially, but..” Harry draws out the word, pulling their linked hands to his lips and kissing Louis’ knuckles. “I eventually come to my senses, right? And I assure you I have had more bizarre requests. Stop trying to make a big deal out of nothing. I’m cool cool, okay?”

Louis chuckles, eyes crinkling on the side slightly as if he doesn’t really believe Harry is cool. Or maybe he does, but it’s Harry’s poor choice of words that is making him amused.

The omega on the other hand, finds himself mesmerized with Louis’ features. Louis is absolutely breathtaking with his brighter than sky blue eyes, probably one of the things that drew Harry to him back then. It was like Harry could drown in the depth of his eyes and for some reason, he wasn’t sure he wanted to be rescued.

He did eventually. Or, Niall did. And that’s the reason why he’s still here doing this.

“Hey.” Louis tugs their hands into his lap and Harry would have done something inappropriate if he wasn’t so caught off guard about where his thoughts went seconds ago. Shit. “You are day-dreaming.” When Harry doesn’t reply and just shakes his head to clear his thoughts and shift his focus on the alpha in front of him, Louis continues, “Again.”

“Correction – I’m night dreaming.” He gestures towards the vague direction of the windows, showing the dark sky outside. He’s being ridiculous, rambling about things that aren't even funny.

Louis smiles even though what Harry said doesn’t make any sense. Instead of thinking that Louis is smitten with him, Harry categorises it as Louis is just that nice. “Just so you know, I’m nervous about telling you things like that because I’m serious with you. I don’t want anything between us to change or make you uncomfortable.”

Taking a huge inhale, Harry is about to repeat what he said earlier. Before he can though, his throat makes a garbled noise when Louis covers his mouth with his palm. His eyes widen and Louis holds up one finger, telling Harry to let him finish first before cutting in.

“I know you have had requests,” Louis presses the word, face scrunched in distaste at what that indicates, “From your previous sugar daddies, but I want us to be more and I don’t want you to feel like you have to do it because you’re obligated to.”

Harry can’t really think straight. It’s so easy to please an alpha, especially an amazing sugar daddy like Louis. It basically has become second nature to him and he actually quips an answer before he has time to think about it. Because relationships don’t exist in sugaring, arrangements do. And it’s not like he hasn’t been here before. Louis has left him once, what’s not to make him leave Harry twice? Which is why he replies with, “I know. We are already more, Lou. I’m spending your rut with you, right? You are the only one I do this for anyway.”

It’s true, in a sense.

When Louis beams, his smile so wide that it creates slight craters on his cheeks, Harry tries not to capture the image and store it in his mind.

Louis’ reaction is not because of his answer. It’s really not.

✻

Turns out, Louis’ rut comes in the middle of that night. He doesn’t know what ticks it off, whether he finally opened up to Harry about his rut preferences or he could sense how Harry was planning to convince him to go shopping tomorrow.

Either way, it’s a pleasant surprise to be roused to when Louis noses on his neck, his breath harsh on Harry’s scent gland as he scents Harry before he starts biting and sucking the area. It stings, not enough pressure to actually pierce into the skin and Harry doesn’t even have to remind him that he shouldn’t bite because Louis stops when he’s satisfied with the tiny marks littering Harry’s skin.

Scrutinizing the side of Harry’s neck, he thumbs the marks he left, smearing spit from his sucking all over Harry’s neck. It should feel gross, but when Louis noses his neck again, the alpha makes a low rumble at the back of his throat, pleased that Harry smells strongly like him.

“Mine.” Louis’ voice is deeper, much huskier than when he was in an early rut and Harry has to exhale through his mouth to control his breathing when he realises Louis’ usual bright blue eyes turn dark, almost all pupils with thin rings of blue irises.

Harry rolls over to his front, pressing his chest to the mattress and arching his arse in the air without Louis asking him to. The alpha once again rumbles happily when he sees Harry presenting himself.

Rut sex is incredible. As amazing as how articles in lifestyle magazine Harry read mentioned it is and as Louis pounds into him brutally, jabbing his prostate on every thrust, Harry’s moan only gets louder, whimpering and thighs shaking from the exertion of holding himself upright.

Louis doesn’t even touch Harry’s cock, focusing on Harry’s warm hole producing slick for him. His omega identifies the alpha in a rut and Harry has never felt so much slick in his hole that he can feel it trickling down his legs even when Louis pushes his swelling cock into him.

Harry’s cock is hard and red and angry, slapping against Harry’s tummy everytime Louis moves, filling his hole at a frantic pace. Throwing his head back and fisting the sheets until his knuckles turn white, Harry lets out an inhumane mewl when thick white ribbons shoot from his cock, hitting him in the chest. The swell of Louis’ knot feels bigger than what he is accustomed to and there are tears in his eyes when it finally pops, a snug fit in his hole as it spurts hot come into Harry. Harry’s burst of energy leaves his body when Louis finds his release and Harry shakes like a leaf, overwhelmed with the first hit of Louis’ rut.

“Good omega. My perfect omega,” Louis whispers close to his ear, praising Harry as he maneuvers Harry around, shifting the omega to his side gently as the knot still connects them both.

Hours later when Louis’ knot has deflated, Harry vaguely remembers fingers poking at his hole, pushing back the come trickling from inside him. With Louis’ hand petting his tummy, slurring something about being full with come and pups, Harry doesn’t try to correct him. Reminding him about the IUD inside is pointless when he knows it’s just the rut talking.

Harry falls asleep once again as his body needs to recuperate for two more days.

✻

Harry wakes up with a jolt, immediately sitting up. The hand wrapped around his waist falls to the side and Louis grumbles something in his sleep, lips barely moving as he turns to lay on his back.

It’s the first time in days Harry isn’t woken up by a hard cock with a swelling base in his hole or between his thighs. Exhaling a heavy breath, he realises the reason why he woke up as his eyes adjust to the light in the room.

The goddamn curtain is wide open, letting the bright sun into the room. The thing is on a timer at seven in the morning and usually, Louis was the one who woke up first and dealt with it when they decided to stay in bed longer. This time around though, Louis is sound asleep beside him, duvet pooling at his waist and honestly, he looks dead to the world. His rut must really tire him out.

Harry stretches his body to Louis’ side, propping his hand on the mattress and reaches the remote on the bedside table, pressing a button to close the curtain. He leaves a tiny gap, a small slip that won’t bother Louis, but still pouring in some light into the room. Just enough that he can make out Louis’ features. Laying back on his pillow, he strokes Louis’ soft feathery hair that falls onto his forehead, smiling when the alpha’s skin under his hand doesn’t feel feverish anymore. His rut must have ended sometime last night between the last time they knotted at three and this morning. To think about it, the last knot did feel a little bit languid compared to others and Louis spent more time petting Harry’s slightly pudgy tummy before they fell asleep.

They are both dirty, with dry come crusted all over their bodies and the last time Harry managed to coax Louis to let them take a bath was yesterday morning, but as he measures Louis’ long lashes resting on his cheeks, sleeping serenely after his rut, a shower is the last thing on Harry’s mind.

Harry has to remind himself to let Louis rest and he pulls back his hand that is hanging mid-air from further tracing Louis’ cheekbones. He smiles to himself, promising to do that later. Preferably when Louis is not as knackered.

Although, when he realizes that it’s too late and his hand probably lingered too long on Louis’ face, the alpha’s lashes flutter. Harry resumes his intentions of stroking Louis’ cheekbones. It’s just too good to be true and Harry can’t believe it took him this long to appreciate Louis’ sharp cheekbones.

Vivid blue eyes stare straight at Harry and it’s for the first time in days that his irises are not as dark.

“Morning, alpha,” Harry chirps happily before bending down to peck Louis’ cheek. After screaming the name repeatedly for the past few days, the title rolls off his tongue effortlessly. It shouldn’t sound as good as it does.

Louis smiles faintly, but he doesn’t say anything else. He pats Harry’s pillow, wordlessly asking the omega to lie down.

He tilts Harry’s head side to side, thumb on Harry’s neck checking the marks he left and when he’s satisfied enough that there isn’t an accidental bond mark, he kisses Harry’s forehead. Harry’s heart drums in his chest as he takes in the meaning of the action. Intimate and usually reserved between bonded couples, conveying the alpha’s protectiveness towards their mate.

“Did I hurt you?” Louis’ voice is deep from sleep, but not as hoarse as when he was in rut and on reflex, a smile curls on Harry’s lips. His omega is preening for being able to take care of an alpha during his rut and for some reason, Harry lets his nature take control, if just for a while.

He’s probably still high from all the rut sex he had.

“No – I’m – oh!” Harry yelps in surprise when Louis spreads his legs and props his hips on a pillow. Lowering his head, Harry’s cheeks blush furiously when he sees Louis bending down to check his hole.

Harry whines high in his throat, embarrassed as he feels Louis’ finger close to his puckered rim. After days of rut sex and how hard Louis railed into him from behind, Harry doesn’t want to think about what his hole looks like right now. The touch is tentative, almost like Louis is afraid of hurting him and when the pad of Louis’ finger grazes his rim, Harry pulls his legs from Louis awkwardly, deciding it’s enough.

“I’m fine. Let’s take a bath. We are filthy.” It’s probably the fastest Harry has ever talked in his life and before Louis can protest, Harry leaps to his feet, tugging Louis by his arm.

Soaking in the free standing bath tub with half a bottle of luxurious bath salt poured in because Louis can afford it - that’s what he said anyway - Harry’s sore limbs are rejuvenated. Not to mention Louis pulling Harry’s feet into his laps and kneading up to his shins. He’s never been more thankful for keeping up with his pilates classes.

After that, Louis bundles Harry up in a thick and fluffy robe before going into the kitchen. He heats up the last of Harry’s precooked meals and they eat on the couch in front of the telly with Louis feeding him. He’s not going to pretend that Louis doting on him doesn’t make his heart flutter, so he drapes his legs over Louis’ thighs before pulling the alpha in for a long and sweet kiss, murmuring his gratitude against Louis’ lips.

“Yeah, okay. I’ll see you in a few days. Bye.” Ending the call, Harry doesn’t even have to seek Louis out in the walk-in closet as the alpha strides to him with his eyebrows raised, already asking.

“I’m going to my friend’s place for the weekend. And since we have that bank holiday, I will be back on Monday. Noon-ish.” Harry flops back to bed, pulling his laptop close to his face to resume his work.

The bed dips down beside him and he can feel Louis’ knees poking his shoulder. They are both catching up with their work, but instead of doing it in Louis’ home office that only has a stiff couch from being unused, they decided to curl up on the bed with each other. Still basking in each other’s presence ever since Louis’ rut.

Louis frowns even though it clears rather quickly. “Okay. Can I come?”

To say that Harry is surprised is an understatement. He doesn’t even believe his ears so he asks again, “It’s in Manchester. Are you sure you want to come?”

“Yeah, I haven’t been to Manchester in a while and I’d love to meet your friend.” Louis answers nonchalantly like meeting his sugar baby’s friend is not a big deal. He’s already back to typing on his iPad and listening to someone’s voice note.

Maybe it isn’t a big deal and Harry is overthinking like he always does. Maybe Louis met all his omega’s friends. Who knows? It has never come up in their conversation and knowing Louis, he probably did.

The ping sound from his email makes Harry gather his thoughts, pushing back the replay of their last conversation before Louis’ rut to the back of his mind.

There is no alpha that pays for companions and wants a relationship. That’s why they pay, so the omega will keep their secret. Harry has done this for too many years to think his situation will be any different. He knows plenty of omegas in the same predicament as his too. Even the few who manage to score a good one still have to be kept away in the dark because of the alpha’s family, the alpha’s mate. People like Niall.

It’s always about someone else, never them.

Harry isn’t going to settle down with a wealthy alpha, securing him for life only to be kept away. He’s not naive enough to think someone like Louis, who can have any omega he wants, will settle down with an omega like him.

As long as Louis wants him and contributes to his retirement fund, they will be fine.

“Okay. I’ll be busy, so I probably won’t have time to show you around,” Harry reasons again.

Louis shrugs his shoulders. “I know my way around. I have friends there too. Don’t worry.”

Guess that’s settled then. They will go to Manchester together.

✻

Packing at Louis’ place for their two nights stay in Manchester, Harry realizes how much stuff he has laying around in Louis’ house. Half of the space in Louis’ closet is replaced with his clothes, all of which Louis bought and plenty of lingerie too because the alpha won’t stop buying them for him every time they go shopping. His skincare on the bathroom countertop, extras in the drawer, lotions and body butter on the bedside table. Candles he liked on the dressing table, his shoes arranged side by side with Louis’ and he even has three different handbags there for God sake.

Seeing Harry lugging the luggage downstairs, Louis comes to his side. “Let me help you with that.” He hands Harry a cup of coffee he made before pecking Harry’s lips. “Breakfast on the road?”

Harry nods, taking Louis’ Prada track jacket slung over the back of the couch before following Louis’ footsteps outside.

Louis stops in his tracks and turns to Harry, grinning. “Is it just me or do you look extra cuddly today?” Ever since he told Louis he could come to Manchester with him, the alpha has seemed giddy. Happier. It’s not like he’s the one who’s going to meet his friend, so Harry thinks it might be because he just finished his rut.

Harry chuckles. “It’s gotta be because of my fur.” He shimmies his body ridiculously, showing off the Yves Saint Laurent faux fur coat he’s wearing and Louis laughs, shaking his head.

His fur coat is fresh from the box that got delivered yesterday and it’s so very soft. Harry usually prefers something darker, brown is much easier to take care of than beige, but Louis liked the beige one, saying it looked stunning and since he was paying, Harry added it into the cart without another thought.

“This car is too warm for my fur,” Harry mumbles in a slow voice, sliding his coat off his shoulders before laying it on the backseat carefully. It’s not his first fur coat, but he still loves each and every one he gets. Sitting back in his seat, he casts a glance at Louis who’s driving. The alpha looks like he’s in his element with his shades and track jacket on, the vein on his hands more pronounced when he’s turning the leather steering wheel, tapping against it when the song comes to a chorus part, his thin lips mimicking the lyrics. He’s just drop dead gorgeous.

How can Louis’ skin look so golden after being holed up in his house for a week?

Harry was in the same house, in fact they are in the same part of the house together. His skin isn’t tan. It’s unfair.

Stretching a hand over the console, Louis places his hand on Harry’s thigh, squeezing gently. “Baby, brekkie?”

“Full English?”

Louis smiles with his eyes still on the road. “Sounds good to me.” He doesn’t remove his hand from Harry’s thigh for the rest of their drive to the cafe and Harry is flustered with the subtle hint of possessiveness the alpha shows. If it was anyone else, he’d have cursed them to death, but it’s Louis.

Everything’s an exception when it comes to him.

✻

Knocking on the door a tad too loud, Harry keeps on banging the door until his best friend opens it, ignoring Louis who tugs on his sleeve asking him to stop.

A faint voice comes from inside, but Harry is still knocking, leaning on the wall beside the door frame. “Baby, stop. He’s coming already.”

“I know. Let me be. I told him we’re going to be here in ten and he read my text. But, he doesn’t even unlock the door for us!” Harry’s voice is loud, emphasizing his point by gesturing frantically using his phone. Texting his best friend while he and Louis were in the basement trying to find a parking spot was apparently a failed effort considering they have been waiting for Liam by the front door for more than five minutes already.

The door opens to a handsome buff alpha, ready to snap. “Shut up. My neighbour probably already called the police saying there’s a crazy guy banging on my door,” he says in a snarky tone, giving Louis a very conspicuous once-over, not even bothering to conceal it.

Pushing Liam into his narrow hallway, Harry steps into the house without being invited, tugging Louis behind him. “Don’t be daft. The right unit is empty.”

“I forget how small this hallway is,” Harry mutters under his breath, smirking at Liam when he rolls his eyes, crossing his arms against his chest.

“Yeah? London life treating you good? The last time I went to your flat, you didn't even have a hallway.”

Harry slaps Liam’s arm, hard, but the alpha doesn’t seem fazed at all. Since when did Liam become so buffy anyway?

Motioning to Louis, Harry starts introducing them. “This is Louis. And Louis, this is my childhood friend, Liam.”

Louis extends a hand. “Louis. Nice to meet you.”

Like expected, Liam looks like he’s got something to say based on his furrowed brows, but he accepts Louis’ hand, shaking it firmly. “Liam. Likewise.”

Walking past Harry and Louis, Liam strides to the living room. “Your room is ready. We have a two pm appointment with the kiosk people and we can grab lunch in the area.” He arches his brow to Louis’ direction, wordlessly asking whether Louis is coming with them.

Harry nods, patting Liam’s shoulder in an attempt to put the alpha in a better mood before walking to his room with Louis in tow.

Pushing the door open, Harry moves aside to let Louis in the room. The smell greeting him is comforting despite knowing it’s coming from artificial oil. Louis puts their luggage on the bed and Harry giggles looking at his wary expression.

Louis is clearly feeling out of sorts with how crowded the room is. There are tons of open boxes taking up space on one side of the wall, all containing different scented oils and several types of waxes used for Liam and Harry’s personal care business. There are several taped boxes on another end and judging by the company logo printed on the side, Harry knows they contain the recyclable jars for the packaging.

“Alpha, put it in the cupboard. I’ll sort it out later.”

He hears a vague scoff from the living room and he cocks his head to tell Liam off, but the alpha is already strolling to his room. If Louis notices Liam’s hostility, he doesn’t mention anything about it.

Harry hangs his coat on the hanging rack before helping Louis take off his jacket and hang it beside his.

“Thanks.” Conveying his gratitude, Louis pecks a kiss on Harry’s cheek. “I didn’t know your friend was an alpha,” he notes in a low voice.

“Well, now you know,” Harry retorts easily, hands unpacking their luggage and hanging his blouses for the next two days to avoid creasing. He does the same for Louis’ clothes even though they are only shirts and hoodies. It’s easier to find everything that way.

“We are staying in this room?”

“Yeah.” Turning to Louis who is sitting on the bed, rather awkwardly with his legs hanging on the side and his hands in his lap, Harry raises his brows, “Why?”

Louis frowns. “It’s a single bed.”

Harry gets what Louis is implying, he doesn’t want to sleep in a single bed, but it’s fun to tease him. Especially when Harry is sure Louis has never shared a single bed in his life before. “I know. It was my bed back in my uni days.”

“Uh – okay.” He sounds uncertain, but he doesn’t say anything else, probably doesn’t want to offend Harry. His lips are in a thin line, brows furrowed while he stares at the wall and the many boxes scattered in the room.

After a moment, Harry just can’t control the laughter in his voice anymore seeing Louis’ mortified face and he guffaws. His laugh gets harder seeing Louis’ hardened expression. “Lou, get a hotel. There’s one good enough for you around the corner, I think. I can call them up for you?” Harry offers kindly.

Louis shakes his head. “I’m not staying in a hotel when you’re staying here.”

“Or I can sleep on the couch?” Harry tries again. It’s a stupid offer, one that he knows Louis won’t take him up on. No one is sleeping anywhere else except on the bed.

Harry knows about the frail bond after sharing rut or heat, and that’s probably what makes them so dependent on each other’s presence, existing in the same room together back in Louis’ place.

Whenever Harry went to the kitchen to cook, Louis brought his laptop or iPad or whatever thing he was working on and whenever Louis had Zoom meetings in his home office, Harry lugged his laptop and blankets to Louis’ office, doing work while waiting for Louis to finish. Once, Louis had to do his meeting in the kitchen since Harry hadn’t finished making spring rolls.

It’s probably the reason why he’s not reluctant to let Louis tag along. He’s not ready to part yet.

Pushing Louis so the alpha lays on his back, Harry climbs over after taking off his pants. It’s not hot, but Harry is just so used to not wearing anything constricting in bed. Plus, Louis has amazing body heat that he can snuggle into. “Let me show you how comfortable sharing a single bed is. It’s romantic.” Harry lays his head on Louis’ chest, wrapping his arm around Louis’ torso and reflexively, Louis rests his hand on Harry’s hips.

Tilting his head, Harry nuzzles his nose into Louis’ neck, sighing when he feels Louis slip his hand under his shirt, index finger tracing the lace of his panties. “I didn’t

notice you wore this today.”

“Don’t squeeze my bum or I’ll get wet.”

As if trying to coax a response out of Harry, Louis squeezes his bum twice and Harry groans, biting into the neck he’s nuzzling into. His cock is starting to fill up against Louis’ thigh and before long, he knows his hole will produce slick.

Louis laughs, pushing Harry away from his neck and Harry pouts, fluttering his eyelashes sadly.

“Don’t bite,” Louis warns before pulling Harry back into his chest.

Harry rolls his eyes. Louis literally did the one thing Harry said no to and managed to make it all about himself. “Set an alarm. Liam will be mad if we’re late,” Harry mumbles sleepily. He usually dozes off on a long drive, too worked up from having to hear all about the alpha’s work and pretending to be interested, but with Louis, they talked about other things too. Things that are easy to talk about and not at all boring. Like how the last time Louis went camping was more than a decade ago and how Harry prefers trying as much local food as he can whenever he goes somewhere.

Louis’ heady scent invades his nostrils seconds later and Harry hums in contentment, realizing Louis is scenting him.

While Harry and Liam discuss the kiosk for their business, Louis stays out for most of it. Standing in the distance, he’s on his phone either typing something or talking to someone. It feels good to know Louis is there for him, but not trying to step on anyone’s toe. The roles are reversed, where Harry usually has to find something to occupy himself while Louis mingles around with his partners, to this. The flutter in his tummy is too prominent to be passed off.

Liam is still talking about the refurbishment with the mall owner while Harry walks into the kiosk, perches his bum on the counter, and takes in the inside of the lot slowly. He’s not really sure about expanding their business into a physical shop even if it’s just a small one, considering they don’t have a facility to process the products yet. Liam is the one who makes all the products, compounding the materials they formulated, packaging the finished products and labelling them all.

Their online business is taking off and although it’s barely been a year, Liam is eager to expand their operations. This place takes a chunk out of his savings, but this is what his retirement is all about.

He’s just not really sure about moving so fast into physical retail, it’s always too many stocks, too many expenses, too many location variables and probably not enough customers. His plan was to wait out for a couple years before moving into a kiosk, but Liam nudged him along. After talking about it for several weeks, they decided to employ two more people to lend Liam a hand in handing both the online business and the kiosk, hoping they can manage the expansion well.

A loud chime from the glass door pulls Harry out of his thoughts and he doesn’t have to turn his head to know who it is. The ocean and fresh mint smell he’s so attuned to greets his nose and soon enough, there’s a strong hand wrapping around his shoulders and he sags into Louis’ hold, molding his body into the alpha’s. Louis’ fingers card through his hair and Harry smiles faintly. In times like this, he can’t believe how well they fit into each other. They are not supposed to.

Louis doesn’t ask, ever since they arrived in Manchester and he had to be in a room that’s half storage space and half bedroom and with Liam talking their ears off about the new scent he’s developing for alphas while on the way to the mall. He’s giving Harry space, free reign of sharing the extent of his life.

“H, I’m done-” Liam’s word trails off when he notices Harry and Louis’ positions. He clears his throat, announcing his presence in the kiosk and Harry detangles himself from Louis reluctantly, locking eyes with Liam’s blazing ones behind Louis’ shoulder.

“You finished? Let’s go, then.”

After grabbing dinner on their way back to Liam’s flat, Harry practically melts like putty. He’s bone tired from waking up early to pack and travelling from London. Dragging his feet to the bathroom, he sighs heavily looking at the small shower stall. He could ask Louis to wash him if the bathroom was any bigger, but it’s not. They barely could fit two people in here, let alone showering together.

Opening the bathroom door, he sees Louis is typing away on his phone on the bed and he cocks his head to Harry, smiling fondly. “Baby, here’s your clothes.” He pats Harry’s lavender satin pyjamas beside him, brushing his lips over Harry’s temple before going to the bathroom.

Instead of wearing the pyjamas Louis pulled from their luggage, Harry dries his body with the towel tucked around his waist before taking it off and sleeping naked on the bed. Managing less than an hour cuddle, the bed smells faintly of them, but it’s enough to make Harry doze off.

Harry peaks an eye open when he hears the sound of the bathroom door opening. He reaches blindly to Louis, patting the empty space beside him asking Louis to come to bed.

A warm heat envelopes his body and Harry smiles, nuzzling his face into the soft fleece blanket. Louis comes to bed seconds later and Harry latches on to him, burrowing his face in the juncture of Louis’ neck and shoulder, hand resting on Louis’ waist, tangling his legs with Louis’.

He feels Louis press a kiss against his hair and Harry does the same to the nearest part he can reach, Louis’ jaw. The fact that Louis has such a godly jaw is a bonus point. “You didn’t lock the door and yet, you sleep naked.”

“Liam won’t come in. He’s too afraid he’s going to catch us having sex.” Pressing several more kisses against Louis’ jaw, Harry closes his eyes, ready to doze off once again.

Except Louis seems intent on teasing him tonight. “Does that mean we can have sex now?” Louis’ hand trails down towards Harry’s bum and Harry grabs his wrist, halting its movement.

“We are in a single bed. It’s going to be uncomfortable.”

“We’ve had sex in smaller spaces,” Louis answers easily, yanking his hand from Harry.

“What? No!” Harry screeches, octaves lower than usual, trying to be quiet. “Your office couch is bigger than this bed and I’m not gonna crick my back because you are horny.” He tries to move, getting away from Louis but the alpha manages to pin him down by using his legs, smirking when Harry’s flailing limbs fail him.

He squeezes Harry’s bum, hard and long enough that it leaves marks. Just like the way Harry likes it and Harry has to stifle his moan by biting into his bottom lip. He has a thing when his bum gets extra attention and it’s so unfair that Louis decided to manipulate the knowledge tonight. He can’t risk it.

Louis rubs the spot he groped, soothing the sting and Harry slaps his hand away before Louis can slide his finger to his hole, knowing if he doesn’t they will absolutely have sex with a paper thin wall separating them from Liam’s room. “How come you have never been this horny ever since I’ve known you?”

Louis hums noncommittally. “Maybe I’m an exhibitionist?”

Harry bursts out laughing. “You aren’t. You almost freak out when I ask you to fuck me at your office.”

Louis pouts. “Fine. I’m not. I’m just trying my luck.” He manoeuvres Harry so that Harry’s body is on top of his, wrapping his hands around Harry’s waist. “Comfy?”

This way they both can see each other’s face and Harry smiles while tracing Louis’ lips with his index finger. “Very. You have a very sturdy body, and it’s warm. Can’t complain.”

Louis chuckles, pressing a kiss on Harry’s forehead and he shuts his eyes, ready to sleep. His hand is tangled in Harry’s hair, brushing the curls softly, but after being awakened by Louis, sleep doesn’t come easily. Being in a single bed and on top of Louis makes it impossible to turn around too.

“Alpha,” Harry starts, smiling in victory when vivid blue eyes open, staring at him.

“Yes, darling?”

“You are a business person. So enlighten me. Do you think it’s a good decision to move into a physical kiosk so soon?”

Louis’ quirks his brows, like he’s shocked Harry is asking him about this and Harry gnaws on his bottom lip, worrying about Louis’ response. Maybe he shouldn’t ask Louis, what if Louis says it’s a bad decision and now he has to live knowing he made a mistake?

Eventually, Louis smiles and as if knowing Harry already thinks the worst, he cups Harry’s jaw gently so that the omega will focus on him. “For me, the vital thing is the industry you are operating in. Some industries are better off doing solely online and some, well you can do physical too. Businesses like yours however, from what I understand from listening to Liam here and there, can capitalize off doing some of your product in the store. I think people would really like to see that. It’s going to be interesting and it’s good enough to build local customer loyalty. You need those frequent visitors to keep your store afloat.”

“Do you -“ Harry’s words are cut off by a knock on the door accompanied by Liam’s voice.

“Haz, are you still awake? I need to discuss something.”

Scrambling off Louis because they are both very indecent and the door is not locked, Harry yanks the first thing he sees hanging on the box nearest to the bed, Louis’ hoodie.

“Yeah, wait. Gimme a few,” he answers hastily as he slips on Louis’ hoodie and joggers.

Hearing Liam’s heavy footsteps fade away, Harry exhales in relief. “I’m going to see what Liam wants. Wait for me?” He turns to Louis, seeing the alpha’s face split into a wide grin, amused with Harry’s panic.

Louis nods, giving Harry’s clothes a once over and an arrogant smirk tilting his lips upward.

“I look adorable. I know. And thank you for the idea. You are going to hear a lot more of my venture.” Bending down, he peppers kisses all over Louis’ face, his eyelids, the slope of his nose, his temple, his jaw.

“Got your point,” Louis mumbles, pushing Harry’s jutting lips away. He laughs while wiping a wet kiss Harry left on his jaw. “Go. The faster you go, the faster you come back to me.”

Harry sprints to the door, giving a flying kiss to Louis and waits for the alpha to give it back to him before closing the door.

Hearing Louis’ opinion convinces him that opening a kiosk might not be entirely a bad idea and it takes a weight off Harry’s shoulder. It feels good to have the validation of someone who has more experience than he and Liam combined, someone that could give a fresh insight on how to do things right.

Although, what Harry sees on the other side of the door is not something he expected and the light bounce in his steps immediately stops seeing Liam’s scowl with his brows drawn tight.

“Do you want to take a walk?” Liam asks. His voice is monotone even though his facial expression conveys all his feelings.

Harry doesn’t really feel like talking a walk, but whatever Liam wants to talk to him about must be important if he wants to do it outside of the flat. Out of Louis’ hearing, more like. “Sure, but the second I’m cold, we are coming back here. I don’t want to freeze to death outside and before you say tonight is not that cold, I’m an omega.”

Liam’s serious expression cracks as his lips twitch when Harry pulls out his omega card. It always does. “You have been using the same excuse since you presented as an omega. It’s been eleven years, H,” Liam mumbles from behind, following Harry to the hallway.

Harry acts affronted and he walks faster to the elevator, leaving Liam who is still mulling over his shoes’ choice.

They enter the elevator wordlessly and Liam presses the button for the fifth floor, where the pools and gym are located. With the double heated pools and fully equipped gym, the flat was basically a steal and the main reason why Liam bought the flat too. Harry would have bought one if he didn’t have to buy a flat in London, paying a much more hefty price with less accommodations.

Breaking the silence, Liam asks, “So, how’s your London life?”

Harry chuckles. “You know all about it, Li. I tell you everything every week.”

Liam hums, exiting the elevator with Harry. They sit at one of the wooden tables, far enough from other tenants who are swimming in the bigger pool. Liam seems deep in thought, staring at the direction of the gym so Harry nudges his elbow on the table. “You know you can just tell me whatever’s on your mind, right?”

Liam’ scowls return. Looking at Harry intently, he narrows his eyes. If he intends to intimidate Harry, it doesn’t work.

After a while, Liam relents and sighs obnoxiously loud. “Fine. You know I couldn’t care less about whoever you’re fucking in London. But, really? Louis Tomlinson? I thought we had gone through this - during - well, you know - the first time.” He gesticulates in frustration. Harry couldn’t blame him, not really. When Niall freaked out about Harry dropping, Liam was the one who had to come and take care of him. They had a long discussion about boundaries and putting up defences, trying to guard himself from falling in love with another sugar daddy.

Harry was young back then, he didn’t know any better. He does now. “He’s just another alpha, Li. I’m just fooling around with him. It’s easy, you know? He isn’t married, he doesn’t have kids, it’s just us.”

He drums his fingers on the table, lips pursed as if he’s thinking about what to point out next. “I have known you forever and you have never brought any alpha to see me.

“I wouldn’t say I brought him here to see you. It’s just convenient. I stayed at his place and he wanted to come. He drove me here, that’s better than taking the tube.” Harry lifts his shoulder in a half shrug, brushing off Liam’s concern. There’s nothing to worry about, he and Louis’ arrangement is just like any other, purely transactional. Liam worries because he’s never seen Harry with anyone, but it’s mostly the same.

“You reek of him,” Liam retorts. “And you called him alpha. You never call anyone that. Did you also tell him about your plan to move here? Opening up a part of you only me and Niall know?”

Harry winces realizing the truth in it. He was so close to talking about his dreams, his retirement plan, with Louis just now. Since when does Louis need to assuage him? That’s not what Louis paid him for, it’s the other way around. Unloading his problems to Louis is not part of the arrangement and in what world would he bring his sugar daddy to Manchester? The place he wanted to settle down? Fuck, Louis has never stepped foot in Harry’s flat in London, but Harry is oblivious enough to bring him here.

Anxiety is bubbling over in his chest. Harry did something wrong. Really wrong. “I - fuck - I helped him through his rut, okay? That’s why the name stuck,” Harry sputters. Panic overtakes his features and Liam’ brown eyes turn sympathetic. “I - shit - my omega just got so anxious when he told me he could spend it with someone else. That’s why I volunteered.” Harry’s voice raises an octave as dread settles in, thinking everything just went horribly wrong. He’s losing control over his life. Because of Louis. Again.

Liam presses his palms against his eyes, heaving a breath. “Now you get what I mean. Deep down, you know it’s far more serious than what you’re making it to be. I know you, H and I’m all for you to be happy, but I don’t want history to repeat itself. Just think about it, yeah?”

Harry sighs and slouches in his seat. Throwing his head to the back, he stares at the dark sky sprinkled with stars. There’s no clear pattern and none of them are aligned with one another. That’s what his life feels like. Spinning out of control.

✻

On their way back to London, Harry is significantly more quiet than before. He’s still pondering what he’s going to do. Staying with Louis is an option, but the more time they spend with each other, the easier he lets his guard down. It felt liberating for a while. Until Liam shook him out of the illusion. There isn’t going to be a relationship between him and Louis.

He needs to keep his eyes on the goal. Make the most money he can while staying in London before moving to Manchester permanently. He’s not going to let those wealthy alphas fuck him for luxury items with depreciating value. The least he can get out of years of sugaring is money that is going to set him up for life.

Clasping Louis’ hand on his thigh, Harry caresses the alpha’s knuckles before leaning back in his seat, closing his eyes, ready to take a nap with a new profound determination.

He’s not going to lose himself.

Harry is roused awake by the gentle nudge of Louis’ hand on his shoulder. It’s warm, a comforting weight and Harry feels dejected that it isn’t placed higher, like his neck or his cheeks. The raspy voice registers in his mind a moment later, “We’re home, baby.”

“I really slept the whole way,” Harry mumbles while waiting for Louis to take out their luggage from the trunk.

Pressing the button to close the trunk, Louis wraps his arm around Harry’s waist, pulling him close. “You really did. You were too tired, babe.”

Harry rests his head on Louis’ shoulder, covering his mouth with his hand when he yawns. He’s still half asleep and if it wasn’t for Louis’ hand guiding him, he probably would have stumbled through the front steps. He couldn’t really sleep after his talk with Liam and the effect bled through his days. “Thanks,” Harry mutters when Louis opens the door for him. Words slightly muffled behind his hands, but Louis understands it all the same as the alpha pecks the corner of his lips.

“You are adorable.” Louis helps Harry to take off his fur coat and hangs it on the coat rack. He shrugs off his jacket too, but instead of hanging it on the coat rack, he puts it over the luggage. Harry knows it means that Louis wants to put it away for laundry. It’s crazy how synchronised their routines are. Louis can do one thing different and Harry knows what he’ll do next. It’s worrisome and familiar all at once. It also feels domestic and Harry pushes that the furthest away from his mind.

Turning to Harry, Louis smiles apologetically. “And now I feel bad for doing this.”

His brows furrowed. “What?” Did Louis plan something that Harry could possibly have forgotten? He waits for several seconds for his mind to catch up or Louis to explain, but neither happens.

Louis tugs his hand, leading him to the dining space that has never been used before and Harry makes a disgruntled noise at the back of his throat. “Did I forget something? Just tell me and I’ll arrange it for the week-” A loud gasp leaves his parted lips and Harry turns to Louis, eyes already watering, whispering softly, “Alpha.”

Rose petals are scattered in the doorway entrance, leading meticulously into the dining room before blooming bigger and filling through the entire floor space. There are two candles lit on the dining table and Harry notices his favourite smell is wafting through the air. More rose petals are arranged on their table, in a perfect line from one end to the other end. It’s beguiling.

“This is for you,” Louis mumbles close to Harry, warm breath brushing the shell of Harry’s ear. He places a black square box in Harry’s hand and Harry clutches it close to his chest.

He’s received many square boxes like this in the past from his sugar daddies, knowing the contents all too well. Although, this time, there’s no emblazoned name of Cartier or any other jewellery store he knows. It’s emblazoned with Assael, a name he’s not familiar with, but the velvet texture on the pads of his fingers shows how much the content’s worth.

Looking at Louis one last time, the alpha nods with a small smile on his lips, urging Harry to open the box. Harry pops the lid, revealing a white pearl necklace and his eyes light up, taking in the look of the diamond clasp. The brilliant cut is scintillating even from under the dim light of the dining room and it must be worth carats, probably the most expensive jewellery he’s been given by an alpha.

“Do you like it? I’m not sure whether you like the gold chains or this kind of necklace, but when I was looking for a gift for you, I just knew it would suit you beautifully.” Louis rubs the small of Harry’s back before pressing a kiss to his forehead.

The moment feels so intimate and Harry’s heart clenches on how wrong this is. He’s not supposed to be so taken by this act, or by how Louis managed to plan this while in Manchester.

“Let me put it on you, yeah?”

Harry nods, turning his back to Louis, pushing his curls to one side. Louis’ warm fingers linger on his skin and then once the necklace is secured, he feels Louis’ soft lips against the back of his neck. Louis pulls him around, smiling when he sees the white pearls hanging from Harry’s neck.

“You look absolutely stunning.” There’s a shine of adoration in his blue eyes, his lips curling on a half-smile and the corner of his eyes slightly crinkled.

Harry fingers the necklace on his neck, the weight is more pronounced than his other necklaces and he likes how it reminds him of Louis. How different it feels compared to others.

“Are you saying that my dick necklace doesn’t make me look stunning?” Harry wonders, trying to keep the frown on his face to make a more appealing case, but Louis’ loud chortle makes him laugh too.

“Honestly, you look stunning in everything. But especially in the things I’ve bought you.” Louis pulls the chair at one end of the table and Harry sits after pressing a kiss to Louis’ cheek, thanking him.

Louis pours some wine into their glasses, placing one in front of Harry and the other for him. “What’s this for, anyway? Did I forget something? Should I be looking for some gifts too?” Harry asks, index finger petting one of the rose petals on the table back and forth, happy with how smooth it feels. The other hand is still touching the pearls on his neck. He can’t get over how secure it feels. Like something is grounding him.

The alpha shakes his head. “Nah, there’s no need. It’s for helping me through my rut. I haven’t had the chance to spoil you yet and figured tonight is the perfect time to do this before we both go back to work tomorrow. Plus, I know how cranky you can be when you’re tired, so I decided to have it at home.”

The smile that was seemingly permanent on Harry’s face since they stepped into the dining area immediately falls off. It’s a gift for helping Louis through his rut, which means he has done all this before.

It’s just what he does for his omegas and Harry is just one of them.

The realisation hits hard, yanking Harry back to the conversation he had with Liam and Harry’s throat closes up, his finger that hasn’t stopped touching the pearls drops to his side. Lowering his head into his chest, Harry nibbles on his bottom lip, trying to contain his emotions and when he looks up, Louis is taking a seat at the other end of the table. Oblivious to Harry’s inner turmoil.

Their conversation takes on its natural course. This time, Harry is more inclined to listen to what Louis says than sharing his own story, having enough of Liam’s reprimand that he’s oversharing his plans and dreams.

Harry lands on the bed with a thud, shocked gasps following as Louis crawls over him, possessive hands grasping his thighs. Spreading his legs open, Louis bends down to kiss Harry’s inner thigh, switching from one side to another.

Harry whines as he feels Louis’ lips inch closer to his crotch, grasping Louis to urge him faster, higher where Harry’s cock is blurting precome, but the alpha takes his time in savouring his skin. He’s intentionally neglecting Harry’s leaking cock and when Harry’s whimper gets louder and his hand tries to pull Louis’ face to his cock, Louis pins Harry’s hand down, shaking his head in warning.

“Let me take my time, baby,” he speaks against Harry’s supple skin.

The kisses turn hungry and before long, Harry is thrashing his head on the pillow while Louis sucks marks on his thigh, alternating from the left to the right. He sucks hard enough that it leaves the mark throbbing and Harry doesn’t have to look to know how dark it is. It’s going to last on his skin for several days and no doubt during those days, he’ll feel Louis' hands caressing those marks before falling asleep. He’s already looking forward to that.

While still nuzzling against Harry’s thigh, Louis slips his hand in between Harry’s cheek, brushing his finger against the leaking entrance. Feeling unrestrained, Harry bucks against Louis’ touch, startled when the alpha pushes a finger in his hole. It’s been too long since the last time they had sex and although rut sex is hot, Harry misses seeing the blue eyes penetrating into his while fucking him. How Louis’ lips curl a little bit mischievous when Harry is desperate for more, but he wants to take it slow. It feels like one of those times now.

“Alpha, fuck,” Harry moans loudly when Louis wraps his mouth around the head of Harry’s cock, exactly where he needs it, and gives a light suckle. The warm heat is encompassing and it’s all Harry can think of.

Until Louis pushes the second and third finger together up to the knuckles. He spreads them, stretching Harry’s hole to prepare for the alpha’s knot and it sends pleasure and burning pain up to Harry’s cock. Blurts of precome are coming from the slit and instead of giving Harry a tight and hard sucking, Louis circles his tongue on Harry’s slit and his mouth never inches further. Only focusing on the tip as if he’s only interested in where Harry is producing precome.

Being an omega means producing more slick than precome, but tonight, it seems like both parts are intent on getting Louis’ attention. It’s like Harry can’t get enough.

Loud squelching noises come from his hole, seeing Louis sucking him so casually makes him wet, slick already running to his thighs. He doesn’t even know how it could make him so turned on, but the sound of broken moans leaving his throat as Louis scissors him is obscene.

Harry curses, shouting for Louis’ name and arching his back off the mattress when he finally comes. He can feel it shooting from his cock, but Louis only gives his cock a light suckle, milking him without interest as he feels the kitten licks across the tip.

“Alpha, please,” Harry begs. His voice is hoarse from crying for Louis and instead of sucking harder, Louis lets Harry’s cock out of his mouth with a pop. Harry cries out with the heat loss and the sight of his cock head glistening with Louis’ saliva isn’t enough. He needs more.

Pulling out his fingers, Louis licks the slick coating them, smirking with the taste. “I like how you taste, baby. You smell wonderful too.”

The alpha seems to be taking his time in cleaning his fingers and Harry mewls, hating the emptiness of his hole. He wants something to fill it in. Finger. Cock. Come. Anything.

“Sshh, omega, I got you,” Louis whispers softly, pressing a kiss against Harry’s thigh before spreading Harry’s legs wider, propping one on his shoulder, and lining himself up with Harry’s fluttering hole. The head is at Harry’s rim and if it was up to the omega, he would have rocked himself against it. He agreed to let Louis take the lead this time though, so he doesn’t.

“You okay?” Louis asks again and Harry nods vehemently, desperate to feel Louis’ cock in his hole.

Seeing Harry’s reaction, Louis chuckles, leaning down to kiss Harry’s lips while pushing his cock in. The position almost splits Harry in two and he’s never been more thankful for his religious pilates class because otherwise, they couldn’t have done this.

Harry’s gasps are muffled into Louis’ mouth as the alpha’s cock touches his prostate on the first thrust. Louis barely lets Harry get comfortable before thrusting into him, his pace hard and deep, hips flush against Harry’s each time. Each pounding makes Harry’s breath stutter and he pants heavily as his prostate gets nudged over and over again. It doesn’t take long for him to come again, spurting weaker than the first one and Louis wraps his hand around his cock, pushing up and down the length.

“Fuck. Alpha, I’m-” Harry stutters, words lodged in his throat as Louis milks him to the last drop. The sensitivity makes him clench his hole harder and Louis pushes faster, rhythm changing to rapid and short strokes before he thrusts his whole girth in. His knot pops then, shooting warm come into Harry and they both moan loudly, both feeling the pleasure.

Harry winces when Louis lowers his legs to the mattress, feeling the ache from being split. Louis massages Harry’s shin as well as he can with his knot still connecting them both and Harry smiles with the effort, making grabby hands to Louis.

“I’m fine. Let it be.” Harry lets Louis manoeuvre them around, settling Harry on top of his body while waiting for the alpha’s knot to go down.

He falls asleep to Louis’ warm hands rubbing his lower back, kneading the knots away from two days of sleeping cramped on a single bed.

✻

Harry sprints towards the open door, huffing a relieved breath when he spots the empty seat in the tube. He flicks his eyes to his phone screen and groans when the clock shows it’s five past nine. He’s late to work today and it’s all because Louis had an early meeting and he left way too early, rousing Harry from sleep to peck a kiss to Harry’s lips and promise to pick him up from work today. The cold bed and the combination of their scent from last night’s sex were still heady in the room, enfolding over Harry’s senses to sleep soundly.

He’s rushing to work, barely having time to clean himself of Louis’ traces in between his legs. He only noticed he grabbed the wrong handbag when he already left the house and it was too late to go back. He doesn’t have a scent neutralizer in this one, always opting to carry it on the go so he can add more when he needs it at work. Traveling to Manchester with Louis, he didn’t think twice to chuck in his scent neutralizer, sure he didn’t need any, but now, he only can hope that Penny and Keith are too occupied to take a jab. He’s not in the mood for fake pleasantries today.

When he strides to his place though, he can hear how Penny’s typing immediately halts and she raises her head curiously, not even bothering to hide that she’s hawking over Harry. What’s worse though is Keith.

Seeing his boss perching on Julian’s desk, Harry’s lips immediately in a thin line as uneasiness poured in. Keith seems deep in thought while typing furiously on his phone.

“Hi, Keith,” Harry greets in a low voice. He tries to think of the best way to put a distance between them so Keith won’t comment on his scent, but it’s futile. His boss is sitting right there, merely a few inches away from his desk.

Keith looks up, typical wolfish smile absent. Instead, his brows furrow and his nose scrunches up, giving Harry a once over. “I take it your alpha’s rut went well,” he notes drily.

Harry almost chokes, startled with the start of their conversation. Keith is many things, but he usually likes to do sarcastic remarks, starting off slow and faking enthusiasm over Harry’s life before prodding about more personal things.

Placing his handbag on the desk, he’s in the midst of shrugging off his coat when loud coughs come from Penny’s desk. Without turning his head, he hears her honeyed voice, loud and clear.

“What a lovely fur. It always feels like nobody is paying us enough for work, but there goes Harry splurging on his handbags, his coats, his jewelleries. Must be nice to have a rich alpha.”

The tips of Harry’s ears turn red at the remark. All the noise and chatter from other staff dies down and Harry notices their eyes on him. They are all quiet, casting judgemental looks to him and Harry’s fingers that are still holding the fur coat tremble. It was the only coat hanging on the coat rack this morning and Harry grabbed it in a hurry, never giving it a second thought. He worried himself about forgetting his scent neutralizer, but for some reason, there’s always something else at fault in their eyes.

“What are you indicating, Penny?” Harry asks as calm as he can, clenching his hand into a fist, covering it under his fur coat. His heart is thumping hard in his chest, a year of patience from dealing with his colleagues’ rude remarks is boiling to a new high.

The next few minutes are engulfed with heavy silence and Harry takes a deep inhale as he pulls his chair to sit down, thinking that it’s all over. The attacks are getting more aggressive and maybe he should really find a new job.

The usual clicking sound of keyboard typing from Penny’s desk resumes and Harry shifts his focus to Keith. Another nuisance he needs to get rid of.

“Anything I can help you with?”

Keith shakes his head, his brows knitted and his eyes are back to his phone screen.

“I’m just hoping you didn’t sell yourself to get all those things, Harry. It’s not like nobody hasn’t seen who picks you up nowadays.”

If words could kill, those would be the reason why Harry is dead. His ears are buzzing with his own heart beating rapidly and he’s not too stupid to think no one pays attention to Keith and Penny. The whole floor is probably still waiting for the continuation, hungry for more, but Harry has had enough.

Standing up from his seat, Harry slings his handbag over his shoulder, folding the fur coat over his arm and leaves his desk without saying another word to anyone. His motion is almost robotic, as if he’s planned on leaving. Stepping out of the building, it’s like an invisible load disappears from weighing him down.

Harry is fidgeting. His legs haven't stopped rocking since he stepped into the tube. Almost as if his body is sending signals to his mind that whatever he’s doing is wrong. A major part of his future plan is changing drastically and there’s an impending kiosk renovation that is about to start next week, but he doesn’t let that deter him.

There will be another day to fight through. One way or another, he’ll figure this out.

Once he gets to Louis’ house, he sets his laptop on the desk of the home office and settles himself on Louis’ chair. With legs tucked underneath his bum, he writes his resignation letter. Sending it as soon as he finishes typing without reading it twice. He is avoiding cold feet at all costs.

He yanks a paper from the desk drawer and jots down all his monthly expenses, his flat mortgage payments and bills. He and Liam had agreed on renovating the kiosk before opening it, buying stocks for the establishment and amping up their marketing for the opening day. They also have two other staff members starting work next week.

It’s all costing money and with no work, Harry’s savings will only last him four months tops. Louis had stopped giving him monthly allowances since he gave Harry the black card and it wasn’t a big deal until now. Harry was fine living with Louis and everything being taken care of by the alpha, but with being unemployed he’s getting desperate. Raking a hand through his hair, messing his hair up more than it already is, Harry’s lips are pressed together in a grimace, trying to think of the best way to stay afloat if he doesn’t get a new job within the next three months.

Deciding he needs to do something, Harry snatches his handbag and the coat he tossed on the floor before walking out of the house with one destination in mind.

“Oh, H! Come in, mate. Haven’t seen you here in a while!” Sarah half-shouts, waving enthusiastically behind the glass counter. Another customer looks at her with wide eyes, shocked, but she barely bats an eyelash and Harry doubts it that she sees it out of her line of view set on Harry.

“I’ve been busy,” Harry smiles sheepishly, shrugging his shoulders.

Sarah is an alpha working at a pre-owned jewellery shop and as long as he dabbles in the sugaring world, Sarah is the one he always comes to. It’s one of the activities Niall has never partook in, content on keeping whatever he gets, but Harry always has different things in mind.

He takes out a pouch from his handbag, sliding it on the counter and Sarah’s lips twitch, curling in a way Harry has known her to do every time she spots the familiar pink pouch.

Wordlessly, she takes a velvet board from behind and unzips the pouch, taking out all the contents and placing everything meticulously on the board.

Weighing one of the gold rings, Sarah scribbles down some numbers on the paper. “The payment like usual?”

“Yeah. Transfer would be fine,” Harry answers. Already familiar with the process and fully trusting Sarah, Harry fishes out his phone when she takes out her computerized device to appraise the diamonds. She is sorting through the certificates and Harry knows it’s going to take a while.

He types out a text, saying that he plans on meeting Niall after work, merely an excuse so Louis won’t pick him up. Immediately, he sees the three dots on screen. Louis is typing.

Okay, baby. See you at home :) Take care xxx

Finishing up with the valuation, Sarah slips the small white paper to Harry, showing him the numbers and he takes a glance, agreeing with it. “Great! I’ll just issue the receipt real quick. Or do you have anything else?” The alpha quirks up an eyebrow, looking effortlessly cool and Harry rolls his eyes. When it comes to jewelleries, for some reason, their minds always seem interconnected.

Sighing, Harry takes out the familiar black box he got last night. “I just - I want to know the range price. I’m not planning on selling - not planning to sell yet,” Harry stutters over his words when Sarah’s eyes twinkle with excitement over seeing the contents. Would he really sell it once Louis leaves? Louis isn’t bored with him yet, so that’s a worry for another day.

“Ah - love. The clasp is a little bit over two carats. But, the pearls...” Sarah settles down her device on the glass surface, running her fingers over the pearls before closing her hand around it, bouncing it gently as if trying to guess the weight of the necklace from what expertise she gathers from years of working here. “I can’t really say how much - we don’t take pearls here. I know a nearby place which does though, you want to leave it here so I can ring them up to get appraised?”

Horror fills his heart and Harry shoves his hands in his pockets to avoid snatching it from Sarah’s hand. He shakes his head vehemently. “Nah - that’s fine. Probably not selling in the near future.”

Sarah does a double take, presumably sensing something off about Harry today, but after biting her bottom lip until it turns white, she tucks the necklace back into the box. “I’ll get your receipt.”

Going back to his flat, Harry packs up most of his designer clothing, segregating them according to their collection as the shop usually pays extra for limited edition collaborations. He always does a little bit of cleaning up of his wardrobe every time he ends an arrangement with a sugar daddy, and parting with them isn't even difficult. He’s not a hoarder which makes it all too easy to pack whichever pieces of clothing cost the most and he’s not too fond of.

Instead of arranging the boxes against the wall like he usually does, Harry lets them be in the middle of the room, making one last check of his wardrobe. He still has plenty left at Louis’ place and honestly the five blouses hanging there are more than enough. It’s not like Harry needs work clothes now anyway.

Wrapping up everything, Harry leaves his flat, locking the door behind him. He waves to the concierge who beams up at him and after getting a whiff of chicken roast from one of the tenants passing him to the elevator, his tummy grumbles, reminding him that he hasn't eaten anything today.

The day passes in a blur after what happened at the office this morning and because it’ll be weird to be at home now considering he told Louis he has plans with Niall, Harry takes his time to stroll around the area of his building, opting to try one of the newer cafes he hasn’t been to. It’s been a while since he had some time to to be by himself and now he’s taking his time to appreciate the taste of fancy tea in the cafe, indulging the new cake recipes the server recommended as dessert even when he’s full.

Eating a slice of carrot cake and a muffin is okay. What’s worse is he munching on the two free cookies he got after paying for his meal, courtesy of the same beta server who recommended the cake in the first place, while walking to the tube.

The fuzziness in his mind must be coming from how full he feels and after a long day of navigating the roller coaster of his life, Harry’s body is tired and weary. All he can see behind his closed eyelids is Louis’ cozy bed. It’d be nice to lie in it with the alpha’s warm body wrapped around him too.

Entering the house, he knows Louis just finished his dinner based on the heady scent of the alpha in the living room. He must have eaten while watching telly.

He finds Louis in the bedroom, still clothed in his suit although he has unfastened the buttons and loosened the tie. In his hand are some documents he’s skimming through and hearing Harry, he cocks his head to the omega.

He beckons Harry to him and pecks Harry’s lips softly. His eyebrows in a deep furrow and his voice strained. “Hey, baby. How did it go? Everything okay?”

Harry nods, not bothering to elaborate further considering he just spent it all alone in the cafe eating. Louis’ jaw clenches and Harry takes it as his cue to go take a shower. Louis probably has a lot of work to do after his rut leave.

Jerking his thumb towards the bathroom, Harry pats Louis’ shoulder softly. “I’m gonna take a shower.”

Louis takes Harry’s hand on his shoulder. Circling Harry’s wrist with his fingers, his lips are set in a thin line and his expression is serious. “You sure everything’s okay? You smell different and you don't look so good.”

Hearing Louis’ question, Harry schools his shocked expression as fast as it comes, stammering out an answer, “Yeah - I’m fine. It’s just - it’s been a long day.”

Louis looks like he has a hard time letting go of Harry’s wrist, but he lowers it down and eventually loosens his hold. “Okay, come back fast.”

Stepping out of his clothes, Harry chucks them all to the laundry basket before stepping under the scorching hot water, sighing when his achy limbs are soothed by the water. While scrubbing his body with a loofah, Harry hears the bathroom door being yanked open and before he can peek out his head to see why, Louis steps into the glass stall, crowding the space. His expression is still somber and Harry starts thinking that the scowl might be permanent now.

“Lou?” Harry asks as Louis snatches the loofah in his hand, resuming the task of scrubbing the omega’s body. His action is gentle, contrary to how he got the loofah in the first place and normally Harry would have asked what's bothering Louis, but not tonight.

After picking up after himself today, Harry deserves to be pampered and he closes his eyes, purring softly when Louis’ strong fingers rub his spine. His mind feels floaty, relaxed as the tension melts away and he turns to putty under the alpha’s hands.

“Thank you for taking care of me,” he slurs out. He reaches blindly to Louis behind him, needing to see the alpha and Harry smiles to himself when Louis turns Harry around to face him.

Resting his chin on Louis’ shoulder, Harry slumps his weight on Louis, nuzzling into the alpha’s neck.

Louis’ hands wrap around his waist and his raspy voice whispers close to Harry’s ear, “You can let go, baby. I’ll take care of you.”

And Harry does.

Coming into consciousness, Harry’s eyes flutter behind his closed eyelids and the soft kisses against his forehead paired with a warm hand wrapping around the nape of his neck makes him open his eyes. The room is dim with thick curtains covering the floor to ceiling glass windows and the only light switched on is the one on Louis’ bedside table.

“You awake?” Louis’ voice is quiet in the still room and Harry can hear the attentiveness from his tone.

Harry hums, curling close to Louis’ side. His omega is basking in the alpha’s presence - heady scent in the air, warm body beside him and the possessive hand behind his neck. He feels serene. Something he hasn’t felt for so long. He longs to be cared for, to have someone to rely instead of doing it all by himself and somehow, he finds that person in Louis.

Louis untangles their hands and Harry whines, making a distressed sound from the back of his throat. He shakes his head, not allowing Louis to leave.

“I’m just going to get your breakfast, darling. I’ve had it ready on the table. You should eat something.” Louis squeezes his hand, assuring Harry that he’s not going anywhere and Harry reluctantly lets go.

He sits up and shivers a bit as the duvet pools on his thighs and exposes his bare bottom. Tugging the duvet to cover his bum, Harry frowns when he realizes he’s lying in a nest.

One that Louis made for him.

It’s not an appropriate one that takes hours to build, filled with the omega’s favourite scents on random pieces of clothing or fluffy blankets. This one is more like a makeshift nest, presumably only taking minutes to build by scenting the soft pillows and arranging them all on the bed on Harry’s side.

Nests give a sense of security, a cocoon of tranquillity to an omega and Harry’s heart swells. Louis did it for him, knowing how much it’d help.

“If you want to make me a nest, I’ll have to teach you how to make a proper one,” Harry teases as Louis sets the tray on the bed. Louis is old-fashioned with most of the alpha traits, more traditional than other alphas Harry’s been with, but there’s no escaping the fact that Louis has never had an omega. At least, not one that he’s had to build a nest for. He knows he shouldn’t, he has no right to, but he can’t help the feeling of triumph knowing that he’s the first omega Louis has built a nest for.

Louis snorts out a laugh. “If you don’t want to end up in something that looks like this, you should.”

Harry smiles. He spears into the pieces of bacon on his plate, feeding some to Louis even when the alpha declines, saying he’s already had his breakfast.

“I charged your phone there.” Louis gestures toward Harry’s bedside table. “You can tell your boss you’re not going in today. I’m just going to clean this up and I’ll be right back. We can cuddle.” Louis bends down to kiss Harry’s lips, laughing softly when Harry pushes his face away as he blots the bacon grease on his lips. He ends up kissing Harry’s temple before taking the breakfast tray.

The next time they wake up is to a loud shrill of Louis’ phone coming from somewhere in Harry’s nest. Harry grunts as his eyes fly open, glaring when Louis pushes his body that is clinging to the alpha’s.

Louis takes his phone that is nestled between two pillows and Harry snuggles back to Louis, wrapping his arms around Louis’ torso. Louis took the day off to take care of Harry after he dropped and Harry was more than happy to agree to his suggestion. He’ll take having anyone with him right now.

With his face burrowed in Louis’ neck, Harry closes his eyes, ready to doze off once again. Although this time, bits of the conversation pique his interest.

“Yeah, yeah. I know.” Louis takes a deep inhale as if whoever is talking to him is making him angry. “I can’t go today, Isaac. I have some important stuff to take care of. Bring Oli with you and just deliver your best. We have talked to them before and they’ve understood our terms.”

He waits for the person on the end of the line to reply and this time, Louis huffs out loudly, clearly exasperated. His usual warm ocean scent smells burnt and Harry distances himself from Louis’ neck, frowning. Whoever is talking to the alpha right now is just driving Louis crazy. “Fuck. I just can’t go to that meeting, okay? Fucking deal with it. I pay you to do this.” He ends the call abruptly and slams his phone on the bedside table unnecessarily loud.

“I’m sorry. It’s work. Come here, darling.” Louis beckons Harry to him, opening his arms for Harry to cuddle into, but guilt is gnawing at Harry’s heart. They have just spent an entire week together and now, Louis has to take a day off to take care of him when he should be back to work. There must be hundreds of different things Louis has to do and yet here he is, doting on Harry.

“You know,” Harry starts in a slow voice, tracing his index finger on Louis’ palm while eyes focus on Louis. “I’m fine today. You can go to work if you need to. I’m just going to rest for the rest of the day. Probably staying in bed. You shouldn’t have to be here for that. I’m fine.”

Louis frowns. He opens his mouth and closes it. A few seconds later, he stammers out something incoherent, but decides against it as he clamps his mouth shut once again. Louis is tempted to take Harry’s offer, he’s just not sure whether he should.

“I’m fine. You can go to work and I’ll be here waiting for you.” Harry reassures him and Louis sighs, holding Harry’s hand still.

Louis sits up, taking both of Harry’s hands into his, bringing them to his lips to kiss. “Are you sure you’ll be okay? You dropped last night and I don’t even know why. I’m worried.”

Harry smiles. “I will be fine. I’m just staying here anyway, doing nothing. You don’t have to be worried about me. I’m totally capable of taking care of myself and last night was just me tired from everything. Your rut, going to Manchester, going to work – it’s overwhelming.”

Louis looks conflicted and he stares into Harry’s eyes as if trying to find the truth in them. Opening his mouth, Louis’ words become stilted on his tongue as his phone rings again. Letting go of Harry’s hand, he grabs his phone. “Order your lunch, darling. I won’t leave unless your lunch is here,” he instructs before picking up the call.

Harry rolls his eyes half-heartedly and takes his phone in hand to order his food. While waiting for the app to synchronize his location, Harry fixes his gaze on Louis who is standing beside the bed, tapping his foot on the floor impatiently as he talks to the phone. Louis’ presence always feels bigger than life and even as he stands there in his joggers, hair ruffled from sleep and eyes tired from not enough rest, it still feels like so.

Harry’s heart thuds dully in his chest, knowing one day when Louis decides he has had enough of Harry, it’ll be a repeat of history. He can deny it all he wants, but Louis is the enigma Harry can’t say no to.

Staying in bed after dropping is nice. Until Louis’ scent slowly dissipates from the air, alerting his inner omega that there’s no alpha who can take care of him right now. Then, his mind starts concocting peculiar ideas on how to get extra money. There’s always Niall, of course. He would be more than willing to lend Harry money if he needs it, but that isn’t a viable long-term solution.

So he ends up on the couch, nursing a tall glass of apple juice and a bowl of salad to avoid thinking about it. Tossing around, his unruly curls fall into his eyes, obstructing his view of the telly and Harry blows it away loudly. His mind is working on overdrive and if he doesn’t have anything to distract him, it’ll just push him to do something drastic.

Today is for recharge and for that, he’s tucking all the problems away.

✻

This is stupid, Harry muses to himself as his eyes land on the couple sitting behind his table. When Harry was seated twenty minutes ago, the beta was already at his table waiting for his omega and not more than five minutes later, the partner came. They have been holding hands across the table ever since. It’s rude to stare, but the couple never notices him. They are too drunk in love with each other, too smitten to recognize Harry’s bitter gaze.

Of course, he is. Especially when he’s been waiting twenty minutes for an alpha to come for a lunch he proposed. This guy better compensate whatever time Harry wasted waiting for him. It’s not a good impression, this is their first meeting and this guy doesn’t even respect his time. Harry can already picture the future if they ever agree on an arrangement. A disaster.

“I have to take this.” The alpha motions to his vibrating phone and Harry nods. They just finished talking about Oscar’s work while eating their lunch. “See you next week.”

No is on the tip of his tongue, but then the alpha just up and leaves the table. Harry rolls his eyes to the alpha’s retreating figure as he sips on his very strong coffee, realizing Oscar is telling instead of asking. And yes, that’s not happening. How could Harry even think of leaving Louis when no one is even half decent compared to the alpha he is?

Maybe that’s a sign he shouldn’t. But as he pockets the several hundred quid he got for just getting a meal with Oscar, it’s honestly not that bad to have a backup plan. He can’t ever be too cautious when it comes to Louis. If anything, he should have learned his lesson from their history. Louis is capable of discarding him in a second.

He needs to get the reigns of his life back and it’s starting with this, getting a rich alpha waiting for him on one side. Ready to take Harry in when Louis decides he’s had enough.

✻

“Everything okay at work?” Louis asks one day while they curl up on the couch. His fingers are in Harry’s hair, stroking the curls lovingly and his voice is no louder than the telly, chest rumbling slowly under Harry’s ear.

Harry is almost asleep on Louis’ chest and he hums noncommittally. It’s been a month since he resigned, not that Louis knows about it. It’s also been a month since he magically decided to drive to work, not that Louis ever questions it. The kiosk in Manchester is halfway through with the renovation and hopefully they will open by next month. The establishment is bleeding money more than anything else and it’s getting hard to keep his snappy comments to himself whenever Liam talks about expenses.

Niall is trying to coax Harry into accepting a job at his alpha’s company and it doesn’t matter how desperate Harry has become, he’s not getting involved with Niall’s alpha. He’s had about enough of everyone pulling strings for him and making rash decisions, only for it to come back and bite him in the ass in the future.

“How’s the store?” Louis asks again. Cupping his hand under Harry’s chin, he tilts Harry’s head to his, levelling their eyes and Harry whines. He’s not in the mood for interrogation, much less about his work or his store.

“It’s fine. The renovation is almost done,” Harry answers. He purses his lips and Louis smiles faintly before kissing him. The kiss is soft, but Louis’ warm lips linger. A ghost brush of their lips pulling a small smile out of Harry’s pouting face.

Thumbing Harry’s plush bottom lip, Louis seems deep in thoughts as his forehead furrows slightly. “Yeah? Stores usually need heavy investment. Let me know if you need anything. Advice or money or a little pick me up, I’m here for you.” He pecks another kiss before lowering his hand from Harry’s chin, shifting his focus back on the telly.

Harry snorts, muttering unintelligibly under his breath. “Who knows how long that would be.”

Louis cocks his head to Harry. “You said something?”

Harry shakes his head, fixing his position in between Louis’ sprawled legs to get more comfortable to continue cuddling. “Nothing important,” he mumbles as he lays his head back on Louis’ chest, purring when the alpha resumes petting his hair and closing his eyes to the sound of Louis’ heartbeat under his ear.

✻

Harry spits the water harshly straight to Niall’s face. It would have been comical if it wasn’t for Niall’s furious shriek and his stinging slap on Harry’s arm. Harry hisses, rubbing the spot as it throbs and Niall ignores him, pushing past him to go to the sink. Niall huffs loudly the entire time as he turns on the faucet and rinses his face.

He turns to Harry, his face still red from the exertion of their pilates class and water dripping from it. “Really?”

“I should be the one who’s asking you that!” Harry’s voice is high, disbelief of what he just heard. Niall is going to bond. With his alpha. He needs a few seconds to let the information sink in.

“You should be happy for me!” Niall’s voice is equally loud if not higher than Harry. He rips the tissue paper and blots his face with it, throwing it away in the bin before turning to Harry with arms crossed against his chest, leaning on the sink.

Harry rolls his eyes with Niall’s defensive gesture. If he didn’t know Niall like he knows the back of his hand, he would be worried. But he does. “Of course I’m happy for you,” Harry says softly, opening his arms and Niall yips, barrelling into Harry’s arm for a hug.

“But, he’s like sixty,” Harry amends, knowing Niall won’t be offended by it.

Niall chortles at his ear. “Fifty-eight,” he corrects casually. “You know, his mate is the one who wants to get a divorce. I mean, they stopped loving each other ten years ago. I guess it just makes sense to do it now. I heard he’s moving away to Paris.” Niall shrugs, talking like it’s not a big deal. As if he hasn’t waited four years for his alpha to bond him.

Harry takes out his fresh set of clothes from the locker, grabbing his phone from the pocket of his gym bag and tapping the screen of his phone to see if there are any texts from Louis. There’s one from the alpha, telling Harry he’s out with his friends.

“H,” Niall calls out.

“Hmm?” Harry asks distractedly as he types a reply to Louis, saying he’ll be back after getting dinner with Niall.

“You ever think of asking Louis whether he wants to bond with you?”

Harry whips his head to Niall sitting behind him on the bench. The motion is so fast that he feels a crick in his neck. Subconsciously slamming close the locker door, he answers simply, “We’re not you guys.”

“Don’t be daft. Ask him hypothetically. Make it as if you’re thinking about bonding in the future and see how he takes it.” Niall gesticulates, his eyebrows arched as he makes a suggestion. “It won’t hurt, you know? Maybe he’s changed? At least you will know the definite answer. Rather than meeting stranger alphas every week.” The last part of his sentence is uttered in a slow voice, tentative and Harry has a feeling about the direction their conversation is taking.

Harry is going to get the same nagging from Niall about his life choice if the omega’s fleeting stare is anything to go by. His friend doesn’t hide his disagreement with what Harry is doing and he makes it his life mission to talk Harry’s ear off about that every time they meet.

So Harry interjects him before he starts, “What about his kids? They’re fine?”

Niall snorts. “Of course they’re fine.” He takes his gym bag in his right hand, stuffing in the water bottle he brought before zipping it. “They are grown ups. They don’t give a fuck their parents get a divorce. I told you that family is something else,” Niall exclaims, chattering excitedly about his next plans with his alpha.

His life mission on chastising Harry seems put off for the moment.

✻

Harry clamps his mouth shut, pulling his inner cheek in between his teeth when Franco rattles off Harry’s order without asking him first.

It is rather rude considering this is their only first meeting.

“Do you want to add anything?” Franco asks once the omega waitress has finished tapping their order on her iPad.

Harry shakes his head, lying through his teeth, “Nah, that should be fine.”

Franco dismisses the waitress, asking her to tell the kitchen to hurry without even looking at her and Harry tucks his head into his chest, faint pink rising to his cheeks ashamed of Franco’s request and condescending behaviour.

“So how’s work? I remember you telling me about your upcoming big project last week,” Harry asks, voice saccharine sweet as he leans into his sultry side.

The alpha starts then, talking about his work with his hands gesturing wildly in the air. Harry doesn’t even have to feign interest by asking him anything, he’s too absorbed in his own story.

Their conversation is halted when the waitress comes minutes later, serving them their drinks and Harry mutters a slow thanks. Franco flags her down when she’s about to leave, talking about something in a hushed voice and Harry sips his bubbly drink, trying to zone out whatever requests he might be making. When his eyes roam the space though, his eyes glued to someone he knows sitting at the corner of the room and he ducks his head down, turning his body to the left surreptitiously.

After finishing their food, Harry stands in an instant, trying to rush off out of the restaurant and hoping Franco does the same since he was the one who seemed to be in a hurry.

“Good to see…” Harry’s word trails off when Franco waves his hand to someone behind him. He is beaming, which he never did when he was having lunch with Harry.

Without any explanation, Franco tugs Harry’s hand to the direction of their table and Harry’s stomach twists uncomfortably as the guests at the table turn to them. A pair of brown eyes settle on him solely.

“Hey, mate. Good to see you here. I knew you’d like this place after the first time I brought you here. It’s amazing,” Franco gushes, patting his friend’s shoulder in an affectionate manner.

The alpha with the blonde hair stands, smiling widely. “Hey, Franco. Good to see you too. Let me introduce you to my business partner. This amazing guy is in the construction business in Europe.” He gestures toward the guy sitting in front of him. “Sam. This is Franco. We usually play golf together.”

Franco extends a hand at the same time Sam does and his amused eyes flick to Harry. Shaking Franco’s hands, he asks casually, “And who might this gorgeous omega be?” He chuckles, turning his head to Harry and Franco, being deliriously excited, hurried to answer, “Oh, this is my friend, Harry. We just finished our lunch here and saw you guys. We are actually-”

Before Franco tacks on more, Harry touches the alpha’s elbow. “I have to go. My lunch time is almost over.”

Franco nods vehemently although there’s a slight furrow in between his eyebrows. Harry can see he’s trying to remember whether Harry mentioned his work or not, but this type of alpha never does. It’s always them and their problems in the arrangement. Luckily for Harry, Franco doesn’t ask anything about it and just kisses his cheek, way too close to his lips for Harry’s liking.

Excusing himself to the other two alphas, Harry leaves the restaurant with wide steps, exhaling a relieved breath once he spots his parked car. Like what Niall tried to convince him, maybe this isn’t such a good idea.

The next time, he might even meet Louis.

Coming back home, Harry paces back and forth in the bedroom like a caged animal as the realization hits him. What if Sam told Louis that he met Harry today? With an alpha? Which clearly looks like a potential sugar daddy?

Harry can always say it’s one of his colleagues or his boss. It’s not like Louis has met them before, but is that how Harry wants to take this? Wouldn’t it be better to just be honest and leave here once and for all? If he’s waiting to leave Louis until an equally amazing sugar daddy comes along, how long is that going to take? And frankly, any other sugar daddy would pale in comparison when he puts them beside Louis in his mind. Everyone is blind when it comes to love and Harry is no different.

Franco isn’t such a bad choice, he even texted Harry back to ensure Harry got back to the office safely. Whatever he got from their lunch today, he’s interested in pursuing a long-term arrangement with Harry. He doesn’t explicitly say that he will cover Harry’s monthly mortgage payments like Oscar did, but with the money Harry got from their lunch, the alpha can cover half of it easily. Harry is a good judge of character during the meet and greet phase and a majority of the time, he makes the right choice and he knows Franco will be a decent one. Hell, Harry can even see the alpha’s financial standing from the first meeting.

The thing is, Harry has no idea how long it is going to take for Louis to feel bored with him. How long is it going to take before Louis decides to call it off? What if Louis decides to call it off in time for Harry to get another job? Or worse, what if Louis decides to call it off when Harry is unemployed and has no way of supporting himself?

Their arrangement is like a ticking time bomb and it feels like they’re approaching the expiration date soon. When everything in his life becomes so uncertain, hanging by a thread, Harry needs a stable and constant presence. Someone he can rely on. Someone like Franco who Harry can fascinate still. Someone who will take at least a couple of months before becoming bored with him.

Or maybe Harry just needs a fresh start. An old fling dies hard, but this time it weighs more than it used to.

“Fuck,” Harry curses to himself, raking a hand through his hair before plopping down on the tiled floor. Accidentally entangling his curls with his rings, Harry tugs on it impatiently with a string of curses accompanying it. How could he leave Louis for someone else when just the thought of it makes his heart drop to his stomach, creating an uncomfortable dead weight?

Fed up with his train of thought, Harry decides to take a long bath. Maybe that can push him to make the right choice.

Harry wakes up to someone peppering kisses all over his face and he smiles, pushing away the alpha’s face half-heartedly. It’s been a long day without seeing Louis and Harry cups his chin in between his hand, turning his head to see Louis’ face. “I’ve missed you,” Harry murmurs before kissing Louis’ lips. There’s a slight scruff all over Louis’ face and Harry loves it. He loves how it rubs against his cupid’s bow, especially the tingling feeling left after they’ve snogged each other.

“Missed you too. Can I come in?” Louis wraps a strand of Harry’s loose hair from his bun around his finger, tugging slightly when Harry doesn’t give him an answer.

It pulls a chortle out of Harry. Louis always likes to ask even when it’s clear he wants to do it and when Harry teases him by saying no, he’ll protest and make sure Harry knows about it.

“Just come in. It’s yours. I can’t help you in, Your Majesty,” Harry replies, laughing when Louis stands abruptly and starts unbuttoning his dress shirt.

He whistles when Louis pulls down his shirt’s sleeve, appreciating Louis’ naked torso on display. Louis smirks, making a show of pulling the zipper of his pants slower.

“At the rate you’re going, this water will be dead cold when you come in,” Harry articulates nonchalantly as he scoops some of the bubbles around his body with his fingers, blowing it from the palm of his hand to Louis.

Louis rolls his eyes. “It’s so hard to keep you content, eh?”

Maybe Louis doesn’t mean anything by his words but Harry’s mind immediately lands on one of the scenarios he’s been thinking of. What if Sam told Louis about meeting him? Harry hasn’t decided which answer he’s going to use yet. The bubble bath sounds stupid now. Instead of thinking about the answer, he fell asleep in the warm water.

If Louis notices Harry’s mind going over a hundred miles an hour, interconnecting all different kinds of circumstances that could happen, he doesn’t say anything as he sinks into the tub. It’s big enough that they could lean on the ends of it with their legs entangling in the middle.

With his mind focusing on another thing, Harry startles and almost yelps when Louis’ clever fingers find his legs under the water and he puts them on his lap, massaging his shins and feet.

The calm composure and Louis’ comforting scent tells something different than whatever Harry is thinking of and his shoulders unclench, certain everything is fine. Sam is probably too busy to rat him out to Louis today.

They stay in silence as Louis finishes his massage, now rubbing his hand up and down Harry’s shins. Harry leans his head back on the thick rim of the tub, totally relaxed and comfortable, his eyes drooping under the gentle ministrations of Louis’ hands. A moan escapes his throat when Louis traces a finger on his thigh, so close to his cock, but not touching it. Louis chuckles softly and his hands are back on Harry’ shins.

And of course, as if on cue with Harry’s guard being down, Louis asks him about it.

“Sam told me he saw you today.”

Harry’s ears are buzzing with the sound of his own heartbeat and only when Louis prompts him again does he acknowledge the alpha, “Yeah, during lunch.”

Louis quirks his eyebrows, motioning for Harry to elaborate further, but Harry feigns ignorance. “What?”

“With whom?”

“Uh - with-” Harry stutters as he thinks of an answer. “With a friend. We were just talking about work.” Feeling guilty, Harry corrects his words, “I mean, his work.” That part is true. They were really talking about Franco’s work.

Louis hums. He doesn’t look like he bought the story if the slight dip on his forehead is anything to go by, but he doesn’t say anything else. At least for a while.

“Would you let me know if there was anything wrong with us?”

“What do you mean?” Louis is still rubbing his hands on Harry’s shin and frankly, it’s getting harder to deviate from the truth. Under Louis’ hand, he usually just melts and turns to putty and everything coming out of his mouth is from his heart and not his mind.

A muscle of his jaw twitches and Louis sighs. He sounds so worn out as his shoulders sag against the rim of the tub, mimicking Harry’s position and relaxing his stance. Before long, he takes back his hand and Harry almost whines at the loss of Louis’ warm hands on him. He doesn’t say anything though, it feels like he doesn’t deserve any of Louis’ attentiveness now, especially seeing how knackered Louis is.

“Sam made it seem like you were meeting some rich alpha and I just - I don’t know - I guess I’m worried that you might be looking for another sugar daddy?” He rubs his temple as he speaks, his eyes on Harry, but the blue in his eyes is dimmed and lack their usual warmth.

Harry jolts upright, sloshing the water around and he draws in a deep breath, hugging his knees to his chest. Making a split decision in his mind, Harry lets out what he’s been sitting on, “I am. He’s one. I resigned a month ago and it made me think that I need a backup plan just in case you don't want me anymore. I know we haven’t talked about it, but it just unnerves me thinking that you could end our arrangement so easily and I have nothing else to fall back on. And I still have that unopened store that God knows how much more money I need for. I just feel like it’s the right next step for me.”

Louis visibly flinches, shocked by the revelation. He drums his fingers on the rim of the tub as he shakes his head to himself. When he speaks, his voice grows quiet and small, like he’s exhausted from everything. “I thought we were serious with each other? I told you that, right?”

Harry gives a mirthless laugh. “Do you know how many alphas said the same thing to me? At the end, they just chose someone else. Spare me whatever you’ve done with your other omegas, you don’t have to promise the same for me. I can take care of myself.”

Puzzled by Harry’s words, Louis sits upright and his posture goes rigid. His expression hardens as he glances at Harry’s slumped form. “Are you even listening to what gibberish you are spewing now?”

“I don’t say I’m serious with every omega I’ve been with. I’m in love with you, Harry. Why do you think I said we are more than my other relationships? I don’t want to freak you out, but this - this is too much.” Exhaling a heavy breath, Louis continues, “I know I fucked up seven years ago. I was too young to see what we had and I tried so hard to make things right this time. Maybe it’s just not enough.” His voice sounds defeated and he smiles faintly. “It’s fine if you want to leave, I’m probably the one who misunderstands everything.” Louis stands, walking to the shower while Harry is still trying to piece together what the alpha just said.

Clutching his chest, his heart feels like it’s burning, throbbing painfully against his rib and before long tears flood his eyes and run down his cheeks. He doesn’t even know why he’s so upset and when Louis wraps his arms around Harry, cradling Harry’s head to his chest while stroking his back up and down, Harry’s crying intensifies and his body shakes with uncontrollable sobs.

“Sshh, darling. What’s upsetting you? I’m here for you.”

Harry shakes his head, trying to smile conveying that he’s fine, but the best he can manage is a trembling smile that ends up more like a grimace than anything else.

“It’s okay, baby. It’s okay. I know what you mean. I’m here for you.” Louis kisses the top of his head, squeezing his arm in a comforting manner.

“I was so afraid that you might get bored with me and leave me. I’m sorry,” Harry rasps out once his sobs subside, his throat hoarse with how much he’s cried. “I swear I had moved on from you. That’s why I said yes when we met, I was thinking that this time it’ll be no catch. I won’t love you again, because I’ve learned my lesson.” Harry chuckles wetly, remembering how he freaked out once Liam pointed it out for him. How far gone he was for Louis that he didn’t even notice it. “That was plain stupid. I don’t think I stand a chance when it comes to you.”

Louis smiles dopily. His eyes crinkle and the vividness of his blue eyes returns, sparkling under the white light in the bathroom. “I’m so sorry for leaving you. I won’t make the same mistake again.” Wiping Harry’s tears stained cheeks with his fingers, Louis mutters, “Marry me and we’ll bond. Or whichever you want first. Let’s do that. As soon as possible.”

Harry snorts, slapping Louis’ chest softly when the alpha takes his hand in his, trying to measure his finger’s size. “No. You have to give me the courting I deserve before we get married.”

Glancing to Harry, Louis places the omega’s hand on his heart. “I’ll give you everything you deserve, baby.”

EPILOGUE

Regina stands abruptly from her desk when she sees Harry approaching. “Mr. Tomlinson has a conference call. I’m not sure whether he has finished.” Her smile is apologetic like every other time Louis was late to their lunch and Harry had to drag his arse out of the office. Apparently there’s a reason why they didn’t have lunch together back then.

Pushing his sunglasses to the top of his head, nestling them in his voluminous curls, Harry smiles. “That’s fine, Gina. We were just planning to eat lunch here.” Harry raises the bright pink bag he’s holding, containing Louis’ favourite food. “I think you can go out and have your lunch now. I’ll take care of him.” He winks and Regina laughs while nodding, thanking him before he strides to Louis’ office.

A faint blush raises to his cheeks as he pushes the glass door of Louis’ office open. He can’t help but remember the first time they had sex in here. When Harry was so horny that he had to seduce Louis for his knot. It’s crazy how much things have changed since then. He can easily nudge Louis and spreads his legs to get a knot now. Louis would never deny Harry his favourite thing in the world.

“Hi, alpha,” Harry greets cheerfully as he walks in, feet walking towards Louis’ desk and both dimples denting his cheeks.

Louis raises a hand, asking him to wait and Harry rolls his eyes. He places their lunch bag on the chair in front of Louis’ desk before perching his bum on the desk, crossing his arms against his chest while waiting for Louis to finish his conference call. Doing all this with his bottom lips jutted out in a pout.

Louis flicks his eyes to Harry, smiling knowingly at Harry’s grumpy face.

“Yeah, okay. Email that to Gina and I’ll get back to you guys soon after talking to Liam.”

Hearing Liam’s name, Harry’s ears perk up and he waits impatiently for Louis to wrap up his call.

“What’s about Liam?” Harry asks right after Louis bids his goodbye.

Louis stands, pink lips grazing against Harry’s as he kisses Harry softly. His lips curl on a smile when his fingers trace over the bonding mark on Harry’s neck. Louis was picky in choosing the area he wanted to bite, saying he didn’t want his mark to be covered by Harry’s pearl necklace. It ended up being slightly higher than other people’s, impossible to hide unless Harry wore a turtleneck. Not like Harry would ever hide it. He is proud to show off Louis’ mark on him.

“Liam?” Harry enquires again when Louis walks to the front of his desk, taking the lunch bag and setting it on the coffee table.

“Oh, nothing much, baby. He just wanted my help for a patent. For the alpha scent diffuser.” Louis beckons Harry to him and the omega follows, plopping his bum right beside Louis.

His plan on moving to Manchester fell through. Because of course it did. Louis is here and despite everything, Harry has spent the last ten years of his life living in London. It’s hard to say goodbye when someone comes along and makes everything feel right. Not to mention, Niall was being a groomzilla for his wedding for the past six months. He freaked out everytime Harry so much as mentioned needing to go to Manchester.

They have opened their second shop in London, a little bit further from the city centre. Considering the cost for a place in the city, it was the only way to secure a shop as lavish as he and Liam wanted within their budget.

Louis’ bonding gift was an investment for Harry’s company. Initially, he and Liam were planning to have Louis as a silent partner, but now he’s much more involved in everything. He’s like a mentor for them and Harry loves it. His favourite two people in the world work together.

Liam has also opened up more to Louis and in exchange, they have become the best of mates now. Watching footie and talking about business more than Harry can stand. And every other weekend, Louis is the one who plans to go to Manchester. Not even to see their shop, but to meet Liam.

“And here I thought you bought this somewhere.” Louis mumbles as he takes out the containers from the bag, placing one in front of Harry before taking another one in his hand. He always prioritizes Harry and Harry’s heart blooms every time he notices it. Peeking through the lid, Louis lifts his brows. “Did you cook this after I left? I thought you went to your shop today?”

Harry bits back a grin. “Well, that’s the beauty of being the owner of your own company.”

Louis’ blue eyes glimmer with mirth and he shakes his head. “Yeah. And then I’ll pull back my money faster than you can blink.”

“You can try, but I’ll just get more next time.” Harry blinks languidly, a dopey smile on his face and he flutters his lashes seductively, whispering to Louis, “After all, it’s our money.”

His laughs get devoured by Louis when the alpha pounces on him, one hand still holding the food container and the other hand cupping Harry’s jaw in hand and kissing him hard.

“Indeed it is.”

THE END