Ethan didn't answer, he just tilted his head, baring the line of his throat in a gesture that was both surrender and challenge. The faint, sweet scent of his omega pheromones deepened, blooming in the small kitchen and tangling with the rich scent of Sirius, a heady mix of rain-soaked cedar and something darker like ozone left after thunder.
Sirius's eyes darkened, the calm assessment giving way to raw hunger. "The steak," he murmured, his voice a low rumble against Ethan's lips.
"Will burn," Ethan breathed, tugging at Sirius's shirt. "Let it."
That was all the permission Sirius needed. In one fluid motion, he hooked an arm under Ethan's knees and lifted him, carrying him out of the kitchen as if he weighed nothing.
Ethan let out a surprised yelp, his arms wrapping around Sirius's neck, his face burying in the crook of his shoulder. He could feel the steady, powerful beat of Sirius's heart against his cheek, a rhythm that matched the frantic thrumming of his own blood.
