Dan
Dan punched the pillow, his frustration nearly bubbling over into action as he considered bolting out of his room stark naked. He didn't understand what it was with Nick leaving his bed as soon as he woke up.
When Dan woke up Nick wasn't in his room, nor sleeping beside him. The bed was cold, and empty. Dan dream-shared with Nick while they were sleeping, having sex in the dream dimension, knowing his mate couldn't stay away from him now that his body was fully primed.
Nick was completely his. The satisfaction it brought Dan was unimaginable. Yet, the reality was more complicated. Nick didn't understand this bond. And that lack of comprehension frustrated Dan to no end.
He threw on clothes and stormed out of his room, his jaw clenched tightly. It wasn't hard to figure out where Nick had gone. He found him exactly as expected, in Ira's lab, dressed in a pristine white coat over his NEAE uniform, protective goggles perched on his face as he worked. Dan's chest tightened at the sight of his mate. Dan didn't know how this fragile human could act normal when he, a superior species, was falling apart without his mate.
Dan strode into the lab. "Why are you hell-bent on running away from me?" he growled, his voice low but laced with irritation.
Nick barely glanced at him before flicking his eyes toward Ira, who was seated in the adjacent office. "You were sleeping," Nick whispered defensively. "Besides, it's not like I've left NEAE premises."
"I DON'T CARE," Dan snapped, his frustration boiling over. He stepped closer, looming over Nick. "Move your things to my room. You're staying with me from now on."
Nick froze, staring up at him as though he'd lost his mind. "What? Are you crazy? I can't do that."
Dan's lips curled in annoyance. "And why not?"
"Because I could be disposed of for fraternizing! And it's not like we are in a relationship or something." Nick's voice dropped to a whisper as he glanced nervously at the nearby office.
Dan's patience snapped. "You weren't thinking that when you were screaming under me last night," he said, his tone dark and mocking.
Nick's cheeks flushed red as he stood abruptly, pushing Dan away from the door and out of earshot. "That was a one-time thing. Your alien venom is messing with my brain. I am not usually like this," Nick hissed.
Dan's eyes narrowed, his voice soft but firm. "I can assure you, Nick, it was not a one-time thing."
Nick's brows furrowed. "What do you mean?"
Dan raked a hand through his hair, his frustration palpable. "I mean, I can't stay away from you. I'd go mad, and so will you if you keep this up."
Nick folded his arms, trying to maintain his composure. "Desperation doesn't suit you, Dan."
Dan stepped closer, placing his palm on Nick's chest. "Then tell me you don't feel this," he murmured. "Why is your heart beating so hard, Nick?"
Nick slapped Dan's hand away. "Because it's some alien thing you've done to me!" he snapped. "I'm not stupid, Dan. I know something's happening. You've told me bits and pieces, but I can't figure it all out."
Dan sighed heavily. "I didn't want to freak you out."
"Well, congratulations, I'm already freaked out!" Nick's voice rose slightly before he caught himself. "Tell me, Dan. Is your venom turning me into a toad or something?"
Despite the situation, Dan almost smiled. But his fear eclipsed his amusement.
"Something like that," Dan mused.
"I'm not in the mood for jokes," Nick said, his voice tight. "Please, just tell me what's happening to me."
Dan took a deep breath, his voice soft but steady. "You can get pregnant now." He didn't know how else to start explaining. And perhaps this was the wrong way of easing him into it but he was never good with human vocabulary.
Nick stared at Dan as if he'd just grown a second head. And then, to Dan's utter disbelief, Nick burst out laughing.
Dan's patience snapped. He grabbed Nick by the arms and pushed him against the wall, leaning in close. "Does my proximity do something to you, Nick?" he growled, pressing his thigh against Nick's unmistakable arousal. "Besides giving you an erection?"
Nick's laughter died instantly, his breath hitching. He shuddered, his face serious now.
"Don't deny it," Dan said, his voice low and commanding. "You know what I'm talking about. The wetness you feel, the changes inside you. You can feel it, can't you?"
Nick's silence spoke volumes, his conflicted expression revealing the battle raging inside him. Dan cupped Nick's face, his thumb brushing over his bottom lip before he leaned in, capturing it lightly with his teeth. Nick groaned, melting into the kiss despite himself. Even in anger, Nick couldn't resist him. That was the magic of being Primed.
"You're not pregnant yet," Dan murmured against his lips. "You won't be until I give you a baby. But trust me, Nick, as my omega, you'll beg me to breed you soon. And by now, you've guessed what an omega is." His lips curled into a small, knowing smile. "An omega is the female equivalent of a mate in Grosh partnerships. You're mine to hold, to cherish, to breed. Do you understand?"
Nick's breath came in shallow pants, his lips parted, his body taut with tension. Dan could see it, the push and pull between Nick's mind and body. His human logic fought against the primal instincts awakening within him, but it was only a matter of time.
"And, Nick," Dan added, his voice soft but resolute, "last night? That was just the beginning. A trailer for what's to come."
Ira's voice cut through the tension like a blade, her calm authority making both men pause. "Let my intern go, Dan."
Dan didn't even glance at her, his gaze fixed on Nick, who looked like a cornered rabbit. "Your intern needs another fucking, doctor," Dan said smoothly, his voice dripping with insolence.
Nick's face turned crimson, his horror at Dan's blunt statement almost comical. Dan couldn't resist smirking at the reaction.
Ira sighed, her patience clearly wearing thin. "Dan, can I talk to you for a second?" Her tone was even, but there was an edge to it that demanded compliance.
Dan released Nick reluctantly, his touch lingering for a moment longer than necessary. He followed Ira into the adjoining room, the air between them heavy with unspoken tension.
Once they were out of earshot, Ira turned to him, arms crossed. "Did you really have sex with him?" she asked, her voice sharp with disbelief.
Dan shrugged as if it was the most natural thing in the world. "I did."
"Like... like in a Grosh way?" Ira's voice wavered slightly, the weight of her question evident.
Dan's eyes narrowed. "What do you know about the Grosh way?"
"Apparently nothing. But I know he can get pregnant." She rolled her eyes at his guarded response. "So did you use a condom?"
Dan scoffed, his expression turning incredulous. "You haven't seen my junk, Ira, a human condom wouldn't work?"
Ira's jaw clenched, and she threw her hands up in frustration. "You're an asshole, you know that, right? You can't just get him pregnant, Dan. Do you even realize what that would mean?"
Dan's expression darkened, his smirk fading. "His body is primed. It's inevitable. The moment our paths crossed, his future was sealed. I'm just trying to make it easier for him to accept his fate."
"That's a load of crap, and you know it," Ira snapped, pacing the small room. "This is borderline cruel, Dan. We don't know anything about hybrid progeny. What if he faces complications during the pregnancy? Have you even considered that?"
Dan's jaw tightened. Of course, he had thought about it. The risks, the potential dangers, it all kept him up at night. A part of him was terrified for Nick, for what could happen. But another, deeper part of him yearned to see Nick carrying his child, growing with the life they created together. It was primal, irrational, and undeniably tied to the hormones surging through him.
"If and when he gets pregnant," Dan said carefully, "I'll take him to Grosh. Your medical technology isn't advanced enough to care for him."
Ira stopped pacing, her eyes narrowing in disbelief. "You can't be serious. Your people will never accept him. You and I both know how deep rooted your prejudices are. They don't just dislike outsiders, they despise humans. I've seen it firsthand."
Dan's expression remained unfazed. "You've met us as an outsider. Nick wouldn't be an outsider. He'd go there as my mate. And as the mate of a high-grade officer and royalty, he'd be treated with respect."
"Respect?" Ira snorted. "You're delusional if you think that'll protect him. Your people's traditions, your entire society is built on exclusivity. He won't be safe."
Dan stepped closer, his voice steady and unyielding. "He'll be safe because I'll make sure of it. He's mine, Ira. They'll treat him accordingly."
Ira exhaled sharply, shaking her head. "Fine. But when are you planning to tell him all of this? Because, newsflash, he has no idea what's happening to him."
Dan leaned against the wall, arms crossed. "He knows most of it already. I'll tell him the rest when the time is right. Right now, I need to convince him to move in with me."
Ira gave him an incredulous look. "He'd never agree to that. He probably hates your guts after everything you've done."
Dan smirked, a flash of arrogance returning to his expression. "He can hate me all he wants. He won't be able to stay away. His body will punish him if he tries."
Ira's face twisted in exasperation. "God," she muttered, pinching the bridge of her nose. "I'll talk to him, make sure he doesn't torture himself trying to resist you."
Dan's smirk softened into something resembling gratitude. "Thanks, Ira. I appreciate you looking out for him."
Ira muttered something under her breath, likely a colorful insult directed at Dan before storming back to the lab. Dan stayed behind for a moment, his thoughts clouded with worry and desire. No matter what it took, he'd make sure Nick accepted their bond.
Nick did move in with Dan later that day, though it wasn't entirely his own decision. Ira had worked tirelessly to convince him, laying out reasons and assurances with a persistence that only she could muster. It wasn't easy; Nick's stubbornness rivaled Dan's. In the end, Ira even resorted to bribing the staff at the Alien Residency to keep their living arrangement under wraps from the NEAE higher-ups. It was a risky maneuver, but Ira had always been resourceful, especially when it came doing Dan's bidding.
Did Dan feel bad about forcing the arrangement? Not in the slightest. He'd done what he had to do, not just for himself but for Nick as well. They were bonded now, whether Nick liked it or not, and the bond demanded proximity. For both their sanity, Dan needed his mate by his side.
For the first time in a long time, Dan felt alive. There was an electric thrill in having Nick under the same roof, in breaking down his mate's stubborn resolve bit by bit. He didn't care about the whispers among the NEAE staff. Let them talk. Dan's focus was solely on Nick. He knew that beneath Nick's worries about biology and alien mating, the real fear was losing his job. Dan had done his research. He understood the harsh reality of life outside the NEAE's secure cities, how people scraped by in the poverty-stricken fringes of New Earth. Nick's fear of being cast out was valid, but it didn't matter. Once Dan took him to Grosh, Nick would have the kind of life most humans couldn't even dream of.
Still, Dan exercised restraint. As much as his instincts screamed at him to claim Nick, he held back. Having Nick in his apartment was both heaven and hell. His mate's scent was everywhere, intoxicating him. The primal part of him, his Grosh nature roared for action, demanding he mount Nick. Dominate him. Breed him. He was constantly hard, his body on the verge of losing control. But Dan knew better. He couldn't let his instincts take over, not yet.
Nick wasn't immune to the pull, either. Even though he was so stubborn that he didn't even ask further questions, show anger or demand answers, Dan could see it in his every move, the tension in his body, the way his arousal betrayed him. Nights were the worst. Nick would crawl into bed beside Dan, clearly trying to pretend he wasn't affected, but his squirming told another story. The sheets couldn't hide the damp patches where Nick's arousal soaked through his underwear. The scent of it filled the room, making it nearly impossible for Dan to keep his hands to himself.
Dan knew he could give Nick relief with his venom. A single sting, and Nick would experience a release so powerful it would ease his pain, but it wasn't a solution. The venom would only amplify Nick's need, driving him into an insatiable frenzy. No, Dan had to be patient. Nick needed time to come to terms with being his omega.
Night after night, Dan lay in bed, tense and aching. Nick's presence was a cruel tease, his soft, restless movements brushing against Dan's skin. Dan's primal instincts clawed at him, demanding he act, but he refused. This wasn't just about sex; it was about Nick's acceptance. Nick had to be the one to come to him, to acknowledge their bond and demand what his body craved.
Until then, Dan would endure. It was a torment he gladly accepted, knowing that when Nick finally gave in, it wouldn't just be about physical desire, it would be about surrendering to the truth of what they were. And that moment would make every agonizing second worth it.
***
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