Archive of Our Own ^beta

If George had ever been asked if he thought he'd be courted, he probably would have laughed. It was a very well kept secret that he wasn't the beta the world thought he was. An even better kept one was how traditional he was about it, very much at odds with how he felt.

Which is why he thought it would never happen. His first heat was a shock at seventeen, no warning signs, but there had been a plan. Before he'd signed his Mercedes contract, they'd gone over every possibility. Though it had seemed moronic to decide on what would happen on the very rare chance he had a heat, it had worked in his favor. Sedated, and when he came to, he'd been counseled by a gender therapist. Gone over the options, and had been given an idea of the traditional way of doing things. Mostly because when they went to present the new age way of doing things, George had a minor panic attack. The old ways guaranteed that he would never be courted, and therefore never be found out. It was also incredibly intricate and well documented, so he felt he could live within those rules with safety.

It also helped that he didn't really feel anything akin to a sexual urge. When he'd agreed to suppressants and sedation, there was a conversation about how that would affect his sexual needs. However, he hadn't really had them before presenting, lying about it to the other boys, then laying in bed, consumed by his lies. But the approach they were taking, a low level of sexual needs would be good. Touches by friends would be allowed, but he would have to be monitored to make sure he wouldn't go into starvation.

When he hit F2, Lando suddenly got really weird, and Alex would joke about it, how he and George were at least normal about it. Alex assumed he was put away for ruts and not heats, a beta himself, and that was when he told someone.

Well, he called Toto, who got him an appointment with the therapist, and made Alex go with him. Very serious through the whole meeting, it only took Alex three hours to process it all and then proceed to roast him. "No wonder you're so intense, mate, you must be so frustrated."

George had simply shrugged. Sex and intimacy were something he knew he’d get to eventually, but he’d seen the lack of pull as an advantage over competitors, not an issue. If everyone else was obsessed with sexuality, they’d be distracted from the real goal - winning. "Not really something that comes to my mind, mate. Can't miss it if I don't want it."

Alex had made a noise halfway between laughter and frustration, but let it go. A man of his word, too, he never brought it up in front of anyone else, nor did he tell anyone else.

Which is why it was confusing when they came back to racing from COVID. First day back, he meandered into Williams and there was a little package outside of his door. Between the masks and the suppressants, which hindered his sense of smell, he was confused. Naturally, he went to Nicky for help.

"Mate, do you know what's outside of my door?" They couldn't be close, but he knew Nicky was in his room, and probably had an idea of what had happened here.

There was a laugh. "What do you think it is?"

George's stomach dropped. Did Nicky know? Did Nicky leave this? Had he been found out? "A gift?"

Another laugh. "Yeah, and it's not from me." George went to ask but Nicky beat him there. "No, I won't tell you who it's from. But it's safe, just a gift."

Gingerly, George picked it up and took it into his room. When he opened the bag, kind of sadly prepared, the tissue paper thin, it was just a bunch of treats that he hadn't had in a while. Between his sister, Aleix, and his general lack of funds, it had been a while since he'd had so many treats, and it was nice. Whoever it was, most likely Seb, had been very thoughtful. Probably why Nicky was relaxed about it, just a welcome back gift.

Throughout the season, the gifts came, and it was nice that Seb was spoiling them. However, when he mentioned it at Imola, Seb acted like he was clueless. "I am not leaving anyone gifts, George. Flattered you think I would remember to, things have been so crazy."

Needling Nicky did not give him an answer, so on he went, carefully, to Turkey. It was rough out there, nasty even, but it was kind of cool to see Lance take pole. Terribly jealous, as always, when Lance managed something before him, but it brought him hope. One day he'd be out there with the rest of them, going for the front row.

On his way past Lance that night, he gave Lance a pat on the back. "Good job, Lance." Nothing atypical, but it was polite. And first time in F1 after years of working for it, it was nice to celebrate something new and positive.

To his surprise, Lance lit up at the praise. "Thanks, George!" It'd been a while since he'd heard Lance so excited in his direction, but he wouldn't blame Lance for acting out of character.

However, the next day brought frustrating results for the both of them. On his way to Bahrain, he got his phone out.

George: Hey Lance, it's George. Tough luck today, glad you finished in the points at least!
It was actually surprising, how quickly he got a response.

Lance: ty <3 r u ok after hitting the pw?

Lance … knew how his race had gone? Cared enough to ask him if he was okay? Was sending him a heart emoji?

George: Yes, I'll be fine. My seat on this flight to Bahrain will probably be worse than the impact from the pit wall!

Then the phones off light came on and he put airplane mode on.
—
It was all usual things that week until it was confirmed he would be in the Mercedes that weekend.

Lance: u excited abt the Merc???

Weird. Lance did not text him, ever.

George: Yes! Feel horrible for LH though.

Lance: lol me 2. but excited 2 see u in an actually fast car haha

George: Thanks for that! Maybe I'll see you up there!
- -
Lance: P2!!!

George: I know! I dunno if I will be able to sleep tonight I'm so excited.

Lance: i get it lol. hopefully i'll see u up there!

George: I'll keep my elbows out haha!

Lance: lmao
— - -
It was Lance who texted him first, after the race. Way before George had his phone, he had no clue how Lance had managed to get his own phone to send it.
Lance: u ok?

George: Have to be. Good job on the podium!

Lance: thx. but i was right abt u being able to be up there. not ur fault at all.

George: I know.

Lance: atp Merc has no reason to promote u, it was really good 2day.

That was nice to hear, as George headed to the airport.

George: Hope so. Obviously not next year.

Lance: maybe u will be promoted somewhere surprising soon tho!

Lance had clearly had too much champagne, so George didn't respond.

However, when he got to the airport, he'd been upgraded to first class for his flight. It was only an hour, but it was still nice.

Secret Santa was a bust, Lance getting him a golf shirt when he was absolutely horrible at it, but whoever his mysterious gift giver was, they did much better. It was a really nice wool blanket, and George took a quick look at the tag and it was made in England. A bit of an odd look, the cream with soft rainbow colors, but he quite liked it. Almost weighted, which he'd considered buying but the nice ones were over a hundred pounds, and he was still a tad bit in debt. He'd been talking about options with Alex, but it was better to pay down his debt, his rent and gifts for his family than buying something frivolous. Q1 2021, that had been his plan.

Now, he had this thing, and it was quite lovely. Covered himself with it on the flight back to the UK, and even took it to the heat center with him for his sedation. Then to his parents house for Christmas, and when he packed for Bahrain, he found it as his carryon. Which also was new, a gift for his birthday from someone, the tag had been messily written but it had his initials on it and it was easy on his back.

And another random flight upgrade, but perhaps it was a late gift from Toto for his birthday. It also put him and Nicky in the same row, and he got a look for his blanket. "Damn, George, nice blanket."

"Thank you, it was a gift." This had Nicky laugh really hard, tears in his eyes. "What?"

"A very nice gift, bud. But knowing you, you're treating it like gold."

That was quite rude. "Yes, it's all wool. Good to stay warm in England's winters in my shit flat, you know." He'd spent a lot of time not in his flat so that he could avoid kicking on the heat.

"Still not paying for heat?" George shook his head. "Could get sick that way."

George shrugged. "Doubt it with my nice blanket." As he settled in, he could've sworn Nicky took a picture of him with his blanket.

Whatever.
—
18 April 2021

Lance: lol u ok after that?

George: Yes, very disappointed in myself for my behavior.

Lance: it happens. dw, i don't think it'll make toto hate u haha

His heat was scheduled for right after the Spanish GP, and he'd settled into his seat for his late night flight, once again in business class, when a flight attendant pointed at his blanket. "Nice blanket." She was American, or Canadian, maybe. "Didn't think I'd see a Hudson Bay blanket in Spain."

"It was a gift." Should he not be traveling with it?

"New?" He shook his head. "Great shape for a not new blanket. Especially since you're using it, hard to keep it so clean."

A part of him he didn't know existed preened at this, the praise, and he grit his teeth. It had just been … a gift … from a friend or a sponsor. Plenty of people cared about his wellbeing. "Thanks."

They had to keep him under an extra day. Though he'd been fine when he got there, they'd taken his blanket away the second day due to him sneezing on it and he got up, fully sedated, to look for it. He didn't remember any of it, but he woke up woozy, and they kept him for observation.

His therapist showed up again after this. "Who gave you this blanket, George?"

Same person that had given him the socks, and his neck pillow, and a bunch of other small things that he used frequently. "It was a gift."

"From who?" He shrugged at this, an answer he knew he should have. "George, it isn't a courting gift, is it?"

"A courting gift?" That tone was just as he felt, incredulous. "It's much too big for a beginning stages courting gift." This was a pre-mating gift, something to make a nest with, not from some random person who kept leaving him things. It was probably a bunch of people and he just found them without their notes. He needed to figure that out. "Absolutely not."

After that, though nothing had changed, people started acting weird.

By people, he meant Seb, Mick, Esteban and Lance. No matter how far he tried to be, one of them was always hanging around. He hadn't found it weird when it was just Seb, but it was like he was always in sight of one of them. Like he was being observed, like he'd done something important that he had no clue about.

His summer appointment went as the spring had, an extra day, and this time they didn't take the blanket away but he just wouldn't come out of sedation easily. Another weird conversation about courting had him irritated going into Spa.

Then it was the race that wasn't, somehow a trophy in his hand that felt unearned. On his way back to his room, there was a hand on his back and he stopped. Turned, and it was Lance, his hand firm on George's shoulder. "Great job!"

George was glad for the mask, unable to control his face. It was weird, this feeling. He'd touched Lance before, Lance had touched him, but this was different. He couldn't put his finger on why, though. Maybe it was all of these issues with his heat, his different reaction to being touched. He'd have to have Nicky and Alex and maybe even Lando touch him to make sure it was just his body being weird. "Thanks. Feels like I didn't do much."

A hand gripped his shoulder and George's knees went a little loose, which was odd. "A podium is a podium, and it was a great lap yesterday." George nodded, all valid points. "D'you need a ride to Zandvoort?"

He was supposed to be in the caravan with Aleix and the team, but it would be nice to not be stuck in a car. "Er, sure. Thank you." Didn’t get asked to ride with Lando and Daniel.

It was a bit of an odd ride, Lance sitting facing him, his feet close to George's, but none of them made fun of him pulling his blanket out and falling asleep as they took off.

Lance was the one to wake him up, a hand on his cheek, and it was too intimate for the acquaintances they were. George wanted to lean into it and also bite Lance's finger for being so familiar. Lance thought he was a beta, George must have been as drowsy as he had been at the heat center.

"Was I not waking up?"

"Nah, is that normal?"

George nodded. "Is lately. Sorry about that."

"S'okay." Lance's hand went to the blanket, ran a finger against the edge. Probably not thinking about how this was George's nice gifted blanket and how he shouldn't be touching things that weren't his. That applied to both him and his blanket, silly Lance. George had to forgive though, not like Lance knew what he was doing. "You like this thing?"

"Yes, it's become my favorite blanket. Been looking into a nice pillow to go with it, Aleix has been reading about how it may help with the sleeping issues I've been having." Though Aleix had just an inkling it might be because of George's orientation and how he slept, a packet he received after his summer heat, he was careful bringing it up.

It wasn't until he got back from doing his announcement about his promotion that he figured something was up. He came back to his driver's room to find a pillow.

There was only one person besides Aleix he had told about that. Toto had paid the rest of Aleix's salary for the year as a gift, and the signing bonus was going to give him a bit of breathing room. So the logical answer about who put it here was Lance.

Whatever this was, it wasn't happening. Lance wouldn't get him a pillow, it was closer to Lance's birthday than George's and also what would be the bloody point? Lance was … Lance, wealthy and good looking and an alpha, he could have anyone he desired. Had, if George remembered the lower formulas correctly, that year spent hanging around Williams with Lance in the seat. Lance had never shown interest before, why would he be doing so now? And a pillow was much too big for a first courting gift - which Lance was not giving him.

It was pointless to speculate. Maybe it was Claire or someone.

There was a holding pattern of craziness until Jeddah. When he brought up boycotting, the only person as into it as he was happened to be Lance. Which was helpful but it meant the careful space he'd been working on with Lance and his group of friends was eliminated.

On he pushed.

When he got to Abu Dhabi, so close to the end, so close to his scheduled sedation, which felt like a blessing instead of the dread he usually felt about it, he checked his accounts.

And something odd had happened, his rent hadn't been taken out for the past three months, and neither had his credit card payments. Frantically, he checked his rent, afraid he'd be in arrears, and it was - it was paid off.

Then he went to his credit card account, to see what was going on there. He'd planned on aggressively paying them off in December.

But somehow it was paid off in full.

It all came together at once, and he Googled Hudson Bay blanket. It was from Canada, and it was worth over three hundred pounds. His pillow he knew was over a hundred because it had been on his wishlist, and if he started to look at what he'd received, it had a pattern. Canadian or Italian or Swiss or English.

After a frustrating qualifying, his last with Williams, he hovered outside the press pen until Lance was free. "Stroll."

Lance turned, and George could see the confused smile under his mask. "Hey."

George tilted his head and Lance followed. Which was weird, but George started to walk quickly, so Lance couldn't touch him. His mind was all jumbled, because these gifts were - they were large, and how tradition went, were step eight or nine, almost at the end of the process.

George hadn't agreed to be courted.

When they'd made their way to the back of the paddock, behind the catering for the journalists, George stopped. He pointed at a corner. "Go stand there."

"Uh, why?" Lance sounded confused, but George stamped his foot and Lance did it. Odd, usually Lance did things at his own pace. For the first time, he was doing things at George’s face. "You okay?"

"No! No I am - what are you doing, Lance?"

Lance was baffled by this. "Uh, standing here? Confused but yeah. You?"

“Me? I’m -“ confused, angry, frustrated, confused, “you."

Lance nodded. “Me."

“You are - why are you doing things like paying off my rent and my credit card bill?"

Lance gave him a big smile at this, like this was a game they were playing and George was finally volleying back. “Um, cuz we’re, y’know."

“No, clearly I do not know. I - Lance, those are big gifts.” Monumental gifts, really. Step eight gifts, gifts you don’t give anyone until you’re about 90% sure the next step was a ring or a bite.

“Yeah, but I know you’re a little stressed about money still, and I thought you should get to use your bonus from signing for something fun."

“Thank you but still, why?" Why? Why him?

“Cuz, y’know, I mean, it’s not been normal but we’re, um, courting."

George wrestled his mask off so Lance could read his lips. Pointed at them. “Are you out of your MIND? When did I agree to that?” Lance tilted his head, his eyes wide, trying to do something but George would not read into it. “Don’t give me that look, I’m serious. When did I agree to that? I do not remember being asked, and I do not remember you asking. Therefore, your behavior is incredibly inappropriate.” Then it hit him. “According to you, how long has this been going on?"

“Uh, like, over a year. But you were really busy and also COVID and you’re like, traditional or whatever so I was letting you set the pace? Figured once you got to Mercedes you’d be more into the, y’know, maybe letting me take you out and stuff. I mean, you let me fly you to Zandvoort, but not anywhere else, and you like avoid me. But again, it’s different for betas."

“I wouldn’t know.” George spat back, and then he realized how incriminating that was.

“But you’re a beta?” Lance asked, and with this, he leaned in a little bit. “Yeah?"

George couldn’t speak, he couldn’t say it, somehow he went from being angry to shaking like a leaf. Scared. Confused. Because -

Because Lance had been doing all of this when he thought George was a beta and wanted him anyway.

Would he even want an omega?

“George?"

“I’m going to go.” He sounded a lot steadier than he felt. “We are not courting because you have never asked and I need to get through this weekend and - I have a medical appointment after the GP.” He met Lance’s eyes at that, and they were wide and curious but they didn’t shy away. “I’m going to leave."

Before he could actually get away, Lance stopped him. Not by touching him, but by speaking. “George?"

“Yes?"

“Can we talk after that?"

George couldn’t handle agreeing to it verbally, but he nodded. This was not happening, and he simply would just not let it happen. He would race and then Lance will have come to his senses and they would move on.

—

George went into his appointment fuming about Max’s win. Five days later, he woke up in an actual hospital, with a mask on and Alex hovering around his feet. “Georgie, you awake for real now?"

“Yeah.”

Before George could ask why Alex was here, there was a hand on his foot. “Not good, mate. Out five days."

“Oh.” That was not good.

“Doctor’s going to come in and explain.” George was glad Alex was his medical POA; he couldn’t imagine explaining this to anyone else.

—

It was explained that his body was changing. When he was asked if he’d been involved in any courting behavior, he couldn’t actually lie about it. “I only figured it out recently. And I haven’t agreed."

Alex groaned at this. “This is what happens when you’re out of a job, your best friend gets accidentally courted."

“I don’t think anyone noticed.” George sounded really small at this. “And he didn’t know I’m … well. He thought I was a beta.” A sound came out, unwelcome, and everyone looked at him. “I - I don’t - I don’ t know if he’ll want me this way. And he confused me, he gave me a big gift before I even said yes, he didn’t follow the rules."

George sounded desperate to his own ears, and he bit his lip, grateful there was a mask on. He would be going into a Mercedes next year, he would not be desperate for an alpha. For a mate in general.

“What are the rules?” Alex asked softly, and George shrugged. “I think we need to know the rules before we tell him he didn’t follow them."

“Agreed.”

Then the therapist stepped in, and they made a plan. George could go home for Christmas, but would be back and they would go over possibilities, work on updating his medication, and then maybe he would work through what he wanted.

Not what he planned, but it wasn’t being asked of him. It was being told, especially if he wanted to drive next year.

—

He lost the whole week between Boxing Day and New Years Day in a haze from the wrong medication. By the 4th of the year, he’d called Aleix to come and help him keep up his physicality. To his credit, he came running, and partnered with the specialist to get the dregs of the medication out.

By the third week of January, things were on straight. He’d been able to spent a full day outside with Alex, and the therapist had gone through several courting structures until he found one that felt correct.

It was after all of this he decided to open his texts.

George: Hello again, it’s George.

He was expecting a text back, probably a few hours later. He was not expecting a phone call ninety seconds later.

Carefully, he answered. “Hello."

A deep breath, then a sigh. “Hey."

“Wasn’t expecting you to call me, I must say.” He scrambled for his script, careful and measured for what he needed to say. Before he could get there, Lance interjected.

“Are you okay? You don’t sound okay. Do you have COVID?"

This was off script completely, and he couldn’t remember the last time Lance had peppered him with questions. “I will be fine, had to change my medication. Had a rough - rough time of it."

Lance let out a groan, like he knew it was partially his fault. “I’m sorry to hear that.”

“Because you don’t want to - with, well, someone who is -"

“No, not that. I do … I like you, George. I like you, no matter what your designation is.” A shaky breath came in and out.

“You want to?"

“Yeah, I do. Do you?"

George felt that answer was obvious but he’d give Lance a break. “We need to have a discussion about it."

“Aren’t we literally doing that right now?"

Lance wasn’t getting it, and George had to prevent himself from doing something stupid like whining. He was prone to doing stupid things on this new medication like whining and, once, he cooed at a baby bird. Luckily no one else had heard him, but it was different. Shameful if you didn’t do it properly.

“George?"

“I’m at a clinic. Things have changed.” Lance took a surprised breath in. “I am fine. I am totally fine. When we spoke last, alone in Abu Dhabi, hearing what you said, it changed a few things.” There was a pause; he realized he was waiting for Lance to nod. “Could we do this on FaceTime?"

“Why?"

“Well, you don’t say all of your words out loud, sometimes it’s easier for me to understand you when I can see your face. Not like I’ve been able to see the bottom of your face in a long time, but I suppose your eyes say a bit too."

“Accept it on your end. Please.”

At least he was trying to be polite about it, and George did so, putting it on the window ledge so he could sit. Lance’s face flickered onto his phone quickly, and he looked a tad overheated as he looked at George. It had been such a long time since he’d seen all of Lance’s face, and he’d grown up a bit. “Why, hello."

“Hey. You really are in a facility, eh?"

“Yes, I am. Mostly because of you.” Lance’s face fell. “It’s - it’s not - I brought my blanket.” Maybe that would be a good explanation. Lance brightened up at the thought, and George tugged it into view. “See?"

“Yeah. You kept it."

“Actually, I get quite agitated if I don’t have it. Since I received it.” Lance did something like a rumble over the phone, and that stupid coo slipped out. “Stop that!"

“You started it!"

“I didn’t start anything. You’re the one who started all of this. I was just minding my business!” That came out whiney, and George allowed nature to tell him what to do and tucked himself up under the blanket. “This is pointless."

“George, c’mon. I’m sorry.”

“Are you actually sorry? And if so, what for?"

Lance looked away, cowed at George’s statement. “I’m sorry I made you mad. I’m sorry you are there and not enjoying your vacation. And I’m sorry you didn’t know I was courting you, cuz I feel really bad you didn’t know. I thought it was obvious, y’know?"

“I didn’t. I - I didn’t expect anyone to ever think of me that way.” Lance did a little laugh like he thought George was being stupid. “I didn’t. Nobody knows, either, Lance.” Nobody knew George was an omega, and nobody knew George was a virgin. Alex had spread a rumor when they were seventeen that George had shagged someone, and it had gotten away from them both but as far as everyone knew, George had been kissed, George had been intimate with someone, George was safe in these lies.

“Alex does, prolly."

“Obviously, but Lando doesn’t. Daniel doesn’t. Lewis doesn’t. Nicky doesn’t. It’s .. and I ..” He was more scared of asking Lance again then he was getting into any car. “Do you understand my secret?"

“Yeah, George, I understand."

“And you’re still interested, even after I told you to stop it? And though I’ve been nasty to you before, and might again on track next year?” And that I’ve been lying to everyone? That I’m strong, but also delicate, like gossamer on the wings of a butterfly?

“Yes.” It was firm, in a way Lance wasn’t with him. Wasn’t at all, as far as George knew.

George felt himself nod, and he was trying to tamper down on what he wanted to do, which was something like a purr. “Good. My therapist, she would like for you to get on a meeting with us. So we can be on the same page."

“When?"

Eager. Lance was eager, and George laughed a little at this, giddy. “Probably the day after tomorrow."

“I’ll be there.” Lance was serious. “Wait, where is there? I’m in Switzerland right now."

“You have to be digital, Lance. You can’t come here, it’s a safe place for those in crisis.” Or that’s how it had been pitched to him. “I’ll send you an invitation via email."

“Okay. “ There was a falling sound on Lance’s end. “Oh shit, I gotta go."

“Alright. I’ll talk to you soon."

A big smile on Lance’s end. “I’ll be there."

—

It was a lot more formal with the therapist. She’d sent the packet to Lance, who had texted him a lot of question marks when he’d received the email.

She led the meeting, the traditional two year courting contract in front of her. “So, I know there’s a bit of a culture difference between the two of you, after reading Lance’s form.”

“I can do whatever though. It probably matters more to George, the way he wants it. That’s how we can do it, I’m good."

George was glad he wasn’t mic’d up, the little happy noise he made was embarrassing.

“Good to hear. What I sent you is the process George feels the most comfortable with. Because of his status and lack of experience in his formative years, trying to be strict with it is important."

“What does that mean, please?” Lance was really lost.

“George, do you want to explain?"

He should, Lance probably did need to hear it from him. “Anything you think you’ve heard about me, Lance, um, well, you know. Like that rumor when we were seventeen, about me and the girl from Portugal?"

Lance laughed. “Yeah, I remember that one. What about it?"

“It was a fabrication by Alex. I’ve never, ever, well, you know. Before, I was too focused on racing. After, I couldn’t fail. I couldn’t not make it to F1. So I just … didn’t.”

“It was a control thing. No one could control him besides himself, if you understand. So to George, all of this, all flirting and touching and all, it’s very new and unexpected. So we’ll start at the beginning. Step one, gifts, small. I think we can agree that has been passed."

“Yes.” George said, mostly to the table. “And because we’ve known each other for so long, proximity is weird as well."

“Alright, so we are on to step three. Permission. We’ve agreed you do not need to talk to his parents because of previous acknowledgment of you as a person."

Lance interrupted her. “I did ask Toto. Well, more like, I called Toto and my dad and they both were so shocked to be on a phone call they listened. My dad doesn’t know, about, yeah, but he does know I intend to, y’know, no matter what designation George is. He’s kinda already known because I’ve been accidentally using the family card to pay for stuff, but Toto was kinda shocked. But everyone knows that needs to, and I agree. His parents will know when we all decide they do. They kinda gave that up when George signed his management contract."

George inhaled deeply at that. Lance wasn’t wrong, and George knew that if they made it over the hump, Toto would be needed to smooth things over. There were hurt feelings on every side from George’s father’s behavior - another reason he was still a bit miffed by Lance’s behavior.

“Alright, good. George said you two agreed to court the other day, but good to know it’s the traditional way.”

“Agreed."

“After that, the next step in traditional courting is a bit bigger gifts. Now George has said you’ve given him a lot of gifts before, and he’s said his blanket is a big gift -"

“It’s not.” Lance was firm with that, a bit of alpha voice. “I can get him whatever he wants."

Normally when alphas said that, it was metaphorical. But George knew Lance had the means to do so, and also the want to do so. “I know that. And he can, too. But I was thinking maybe you could pay for my upgraded flights again. Finally figured that bit out.” Sure, it had been less than twenty four hours ago, but he had. “But no more paying my rent and credit card off. I have a bit of pride, Lance."

“Pardon, you did what?” He had not mentioned that to her, it had slipped his mind to tell anyone else.

“There is only one person that is not my boss that is wealthy enough to do that with no checks by a bank. That’s Lance. How I figured out we’d had a bit of a mix up over the past few years.”

“But if you want -” It sounded like Lance was quite annoyed George wanted to pay for anything now that they were on the same page.

“If I want to, we can talk about it a bit further on.” Lance grumbled at this, and George wanted to laugh at this. For Lance to outwardly express any of this, it was a good thing. Lance wanted to be heard. “We could always go back to step one, and go to the full five year courting guide.” A groan at this. “That’s what I thought. It’s a bit fussy.” A smile came to Lance’s face, his mouth opening. “Do not say you’re a bit fussy. I’m well aware."

“Well, see you’ve been able to manage the flirting bit, George. Glad to know you’re not totally adrift there.” George sputtered at this, he wasn’t flirting, was he?

“I - I - okay.” Lance laughed at this, a small thing.

“Let’s focus, gentlemen.” Both of them snapped to it at this, George’s attention on her, Lance with a yuck face on. “If Lance does buy you a medium gift, maybe two to be certain, we can move on to the touch step."

“I do want to point out that we’ve touched before. We’ve touched quite a bit, actually. But just normal touches, handshakes, podium touching, not anything flirtatious."

“Good. So George, stand up for me.” George did so, and in a fit of pique, leaned to the side. It’d been a while since he’d seen Lance’s face, and he liked seeing all of it again. Had a feeling Lance did too. “What are you doing?"

“If I stand up straight, he can’t see my face. Hasn’t seen all of my face in a while, and I like looking at his.” Reading Lance’s face, trying to practice interpreting his expressions.

“Okay, well, stay still. Lance, can you see him?” A yes had them move forward. “So, appropriate places to touch are the arms, from wrist to shoulder.” A hand went to the shoulder and Lance let out a little hiss, and George laughed at this.

“S’not funny."

“It is! She’s a mated beta and she has gloves on, Lance. Be sensible.” A pout as Lance leaned back in his seat. One good thing, George would always have something comfortable to rest on, with Lance being so lounge oriented.

“Okay, good interaction.” Weird, but nice to have confirmation they were doing this right. “So clearly no kissing -"

“No kissing?” Lance sounded baffled by the idea.

“That’s technically step seven. Since George has never been kissed, we need to make sure that he does not go sideways when it happens.” Truly horrific when it was put plainly like that. There was a chance he’d be so worked up he’d need to be sedated from being kissed, he sounded like an omega in a romance novel. “So, again, no holding hands right off the bat, but any other place on the arm. No touching the neck, but any part of the chest beneath here,” his clavicle, “and above here, “his sternum, “is okay. No nipples. Understood?"

“Yep."

“But you can be alone together, and by April, schedule a date. I know it’ll be difficult, and probably a bit odd, but slow and steady wins the race.” Slow and steady meant George could still compete, meant if this went sideways, he’d be able to look Lance in the eye. “If we are good by the third week in April, we will meet again to discuss the first big courting gift. Usually it’s a something, not an experience.” She sat at this, going over her paperwork, and George sat with her. “Then you have a work engagement on May 8th, and then after that is your first scheduled of the year."

“Scheduled what?"

“Sedation. Heat sedation, it was his choice. However, that’s probably when you should kiss."

George watched as Lance did the math in his head. Four whole months. It was, in fact, absolutely crazy.

“Can I touch his neck, too?"

“By then, yes. If he is comfortable with that, of course. And at that point, that’s when we will need nesting supplies from you, because then we move into the scenting and prolonged physical contact section. That’ll be up to you and George, what you’re comfortable with. Summer sedation, and we’ll regroup and plan for next steps then.”

“Wait, prolonged physical contact, like making out?"

George had only considered that activity in a way he’d considered skydiving - total fantasy. “Let’s not get crazy.” He’d never wanted to make out before in his life, didn’t want to give false hope.

At this, the therapist laughed. “Yes, think so."

“Cool, I think I’ve got it.” Lance nodded, and George did the same. “See you in Bahrain?"

“See you then."

—

He got to spend the rest of his time at home, or in Monaco. Lance sent him a tea sampler and hot water contraption that made making tea easier, and he got to fiddle as he did endless media obligations.

Both he and Aleix’s flights were upgraded on the way there, and when he got to their hotel room, that had been upgraded as well.

On his bed sat a blue hoodie, and George gulped at this. This was out of order if it was a scenting gift, but when he approached it, it was brand new. Had his number and initial embroidered into it.

He slept in it that night, and wore it to the track the next day.

Waiting in the parking lot was Lance. They nodded at each other, and Lance put a hand on his elbow. “Hey."

“Good morning. Thank you for this.” George squeezed a sleeve in between his fingers.

“Thanks for wearing it."

—

Lance walked him to hospitality, and they would run the first half of the day together in their cars.

It was unspoken, yet obvious Lance wanted to meet in the afternoon, and George slipped out of hospitality with the excuse of needing to talk to Seb about GPDA stuff. No one knew, except Toto, and he was focused on Lewis.

Instead of Seb, he found himself in one of the labyrinth hallways of the paddock, Lance opposite him.

“So, I’ve been thinking. I know it was probably weird that I had to have the therapist explain all of that to you. I’m an adult and I’m not really shy, but I think I would’ve said it wrong. So thanks for doing that.”

“S’no problem.” Lance then took his hand and put it close to George’s shoulder. Even the thought had him twitch, and Lance smiled at this, bit back a laugh. Then he took a fingertip and ran it across George’s collarbone.

It was a full body shudder, at a bloody fingertip across a collarbone. Like he was in a romance novel, one of the ones his mom had on the top shelf that George never managed to get down.

It got him a bigger grin. “Never ever thought I’d know more about something than you do, George.” Then the full hand came down on his shoulder and George slumped into it a little. “That’s it. I gotcha, just take a breath."

Though he did hate being told what to do, he did it anyway. “Good?"

“Yeah, really good. This is gonna be fun."

George hoped it’d be more than fun. He didn’t need fun, he needed forever.

—

By Miami, George was fed up with these bloody rules. Though COVID had torn through the paddock again and it was best to keep safe, he kind of wanted to try kissing. For the first time in his life, he was preoccupied by the action and not just the concept. He’d almost gone for it once or twice but Lance had been so incredibly, infuriatingly, and perfectly careful. Thoughtful. Kind. And slow.

Lance insisted on taking him to his appointment, via plane and then an incredibly beautiful car. Lance’s rut was scheduled between Canada and Silverstone, so by then, they’d be scented a little more. George could give things instead of taking all of the time.

When they showed up at the clinic, they were let into the goodbyes room, a staff member seeing that George’s things made it to the right spot.

Lance had started to put a hand in the crook of George’s elbow, a bit of an old fashioned thing that George quite liked. “You gonna be okay here?"

George nodded, but stepped a little closer. “Before I go, will you, er, well.” Leaned his head down a little bit, asking for a kiss. If they weren’t doing this the right way, he’d have gone for it. But traditionally, he would ask, and Lance would give it to him if it was earned.

“Absolutely.” A hand came to his face, and he leaned into it. Lance had done this once or twice by accident and it was nice, hands cupping his face. It was easy to follow Lance’s lead, close his eyes when Lance was close enough.

The kiss itself was petal soft, really a brushing of lips, but he felt like he’d been lit up inside. Instead of trying to control anything, he just followed Lance as he pulled back and let his instincts fly. However, he tripped a little doing so, and shoved Lance into the wall, touching more than they ever had since this all started. But he wanted another, and there was a really loud laugh as he leaned back in. Lance was laughing at the situation, not at him in particular, so he ignored that and went for it.

It was an easy thing to fall into, and it got him quite warm on the inside, and then the outside when Lance put hands on his shoulders.

However, they were stopped by someone clearing their throat, and it was probably best to not be attempting to move into your possible mate’s mouth before being sedated.

Goodbye wasn’t too difficult, but watching Lance was away was almost impossible. If someone had not been holding onto his arm very tightly, he might have just wandered out with Lance. Who did stop and give him a big smile before he left, like he knew he had to encourage George to stay and not just run after him.

—

This time it was different because he actually got to try and make a real nest. Most of it was his, but there were a few pieces of Lance’s as well, and he nodded off almost immediately, the full sedatives not even in his body.

He woke up exactly three days later, in almost the exact same spot, feeling very good. It was like before, except this time, he was cuddled up to his pillow, his blanket neatly around him, and he had a hoodie of Lance’s between him and the pillow.

Not like anyone here was going to judge him. In fact, he got a lot of positive feedback, and he knew things were going well.

George: Made it out safe and sound! Best once since COVID.

Lance: kewl! very happy <3

Lance: now can we go on a date hahahahhahah????

Lance: please????

—

It wasn’t until the week of the Canadian Grand Prix they ended up being able to do something, and that was only because they flew from Baku to Montreal together.

But money made things happen, so Monday they were able to actually go on a very proper date. George wasn’t quite sure Lance planned about 50% of it, but it was the tradition that mattered. A gift when he was picked up, doors opened, and Lance had mastered the ability to understand what he wanted from a small look and facial expression, so Lance was even ordering.

Before this, George would’ve hated being unable to order for himself. Now, he just sat there and hummed to himself, happy that Lance, who hated talking in public, was ordering the correct food prepared the correct way for him, George, as he fiddled with his napkin.

Lance had also shut down the entire restaurant, so it was nice and quiet. Lance didn’t have to raise his voice, and. they were able to hold hands without the fear of cameras and gossip and things coming out without context.

They even went on a boat, which George found he enjoyed thoroughly. Lance had apparently done this a million times, but it was fun to laze about in the sun and watch Lance as he did stupid tricks, probably to impress George.

Instead, it was nice to fantasize about a life they could have, where George didn’t have to be on all of the time, and Lance could be the center of attention and they could both like it.

When it was time for Lance to drop him off, he didn’t really want it to end. But he knew that the order was there for a reason, so he didn’t embarrass himself or get confused again.

However, this time he had no fear to lean over in the back of their private car and kiss Lance goodbye. They had already argued a little about Lance not being able to come into the hotel, and the fact that people might think they could expose each other to COVID, but he wanted to end it on a positive note.

It brightened up Lance’s scent, one that he knew like the back of his eyelids, and sooner or later George would lower his own blockers dosage and people would smell him on Lance. Or they would end up blending and people would think Lance’s smell matured or that George’s was overpowering. George hoped theirs just blended together.

But not yet. “I’ll see you on Thursday?” It was Lance’s home race, so a lot of press and networking to do.

A sigh. “Yeah. Unless you can come to the dinner Wednesday?"

“Toto said no.” It was with an Aston sponsor, and George was pretty sure Seb had figured it out and not see him as a threat. But it could cause so many complications if even a blurry photo came out. Hopefully this wasn’t driving Lance mad. “Sorry this is taking so long."

“It’s okay. I agreed to it, and as long as we end up making it work, I’m good."

It was moments like this, where things were suspended, that he wanted to do something impulsive. Over the past few months, it would be something ridiculous like cooing or posturing or biting Lance, usually on the shoulder, but he succumbed to none of those instincts. Instead he leaned over and pressed his face into Lance’s shoulder, rubbing his uncovered face into Lance’s neck.

It was a happy medium - nothing dangerous, but Lance gave him a rumble in answer. If George wasn’t in control, he probably would’ve unsnapped his seatbelt and climbed in Lance’s lap, into his mouth, in a way he hadn’t quite managed yet.

George had to do something good for Lance’s rut.

—

Though he was covered in blockers, there were places on the body that emitted some scent no matter what - pits and slits, Lando had once said crudely - and George planned to take advantage of that. He let his room stay warm over the weekend, and then on Sunday, made an excuse to someone at Aston that he had something of Lance’s to return.

It was more like a gift of his sleeping clothes, and he could smell himself there, so he hoped Lance could smell him.

After this, he felt lighter, and then went out and did his job. All the way up in P4, and it was a good thing.

Good until they got to the press conference, and Daniel got close. George had never had an issue with Daniel being close before, a naturally touchy person, but there was a little growl when Dan hung on for a second or two longer than he should have.

It didn’t register for Dan, apparently, but George took a big step back at this, out of Dan’s reach. “You good, mate?"

A nod. “Yes, just, er, well.” You shouldn’t be touching me like that was a weird sentence to say in public. And Daniel was a beta, and kind of useless, but if Lance didn’t want him close, George would understand.

“Ah, overwhelmed from the car. I get it. No worries.”

Good enough, and he went to rotate around the room.

There was a squeeze in the crook of his elbow as he passed Lance, the same arm Danny had touched.

Interesting.

---

Lance: did u leave me some stuff?

George: Yes! Probably not very scent heavy but I tried!!!

Lance: ty baby <333 u did good 2day

George: Thank you! Glad you have a point to your name too.

Lance: then we have our mtg with ur therapist about ~next steps~

George: At this rate she’s our therapist but yes. Do think I am ready to attempt making out.

Lance: lmao only thing stopping u is u

Lance: i know u want to and i know u know how to. u keep stopping urself it’s cute but a little annoying haha

George: I stop myself from biting you on the shoulder as well and that’s definitely not a part of making out. So I think maybe the rulebook is what’s needed.

Lance: can i be me for a sec and not the alpha who is politely courting you?

George: Lance I’ve known you since you were literally the size of a large dog. I accepted this business because I do actually like YOU. This is just the process to get you forever.

Lance: lmao k so it’s really hot that I’m your first everything, and I’m glad u didn’t do the biting thing this week because idk if i could be polite if u did that.

George : Explain?

Lance: u already hot, u biting me is hot, u gifting me ur scent is hot, guy 2 guy i’m hard from the idea of those two things, and it was hot earlier when i accidentally growled and u got away from dan to respect me.

George: Essentially, George’s instincts are good, Lance is happy with my instincts and I should pursue them further.

Lance: haha yeah, maybe i should b the 1 getting sedated lol w how crazy u get me

George: I mean, you get off so I think that would be counterproductive to be sedated.

Lance: WDYM U DON’T get OFF????? G????

George: Again, haven’t really considered it as a reality, just not something I’ve been interested in.

Lance: u never been hard???

George: No???

George: What part of it does not interest me is not making sense?

Lance: remind me 2 ask the therapist when i’m allowed 2 get u hard

George: You may remind YOURSELF because I will not encourage bad behavior on my own end. If you can figure that out, then we can move forward.

Lance: five bucks u get hard first five min of making out.

George: Why would I bet you money? You don’t need money.

Lance: lol i bet u the ability to touch ur neck for five times then after my rut.

George: Do you want to THAT badly?

Lance: lmao yeah. i dream about it lol

George: Fine. But I think I have much more control than that.

Lance: so if i lose?

George: You let me drive one of your family Ferraris.

Lance: that’s rlly what u want?

George: YES!!!!!!

George: And five euro.

Lance: lmfao ok

---

Their meeting, which involved a medium gift and also moving into making out and scenting, which was weird in a good way, derailed when Lance brought it up.

“So, um, George and I were talking before my rut,” George went bright red in the picture in picture, “and like, he’s never, um, gotten hard before?"

A pleasant hum. “It makes sense. Some people do not feel sexual desire unless they are attracted to someone, and George is a very traditional person. Probably a logical need for commitment to get to a level of sexual arousal."

That sounded right, and he nodded.

“Well, if we make out and he does get hard, is that bad?”

She shrugged. “Wouldn’t think so. But I wouldn’t get my hopes up, either. And no fully sexual contact. If it would lead to a bite, it’s not for that night."

George chuckled at the thought. “Quite snappy."

---

Summer itself was fine. Another three day sedation, and Lance had gone home to Canada so George actually went on a vacation of his own. It wasn’t his smartest idea because he was hanging out with Daniel, but then Daniel left to go hang out with Scotty and Chloe and George realized something.

George: Are you annoyed with Daniel because you think he’s trying to break your sister and Scotty up?

Lance: how tf did you come up with that?

George: Wrong?

Lance: no haha

George: Please do not worry about Daniel in relation to me. I’m much ‘too boring’ as he would say.

Lance: mayb 2 someone who has fried all of his braincells and is old

George: That’s not very nice re: Fernando

Lance: LMFAOOOOOOOOO hahahhahhaha

George: :*

Lance: what dat mean

George: Google says it’s a kissy emoji

Lance: aww i will kiss u the next time we are alone haha

George: Will you now?

Lance: yes!!!

George: Where’s your target?

Lance: 4 someone who has never flirted b4, u are v good at this

George: I think you just like me and want your teeth in my neck so you’re perceiving a very normal question as flirting.

Lance: sure lol, bet u read a book on it or an article or something

George: Looking forward to a lifetime of you making fun of me.

Lance: i’m looking forward 2 a lifetime of you & me haha

Lance: maybe a few minis if u want haha

George: Do you want?

Lance: lolol yeah. imagine someone with my hair and your eyes - #2 most beautiful human alive

George: Who is first?

Lance: u!!!

George: Sod off! You will see me in a few weeks and I will be same old George.

Lance: lol u really are. can’t wait 2 cuddle with u and snuggle with u and sleep with u next 2 me forever and ever

George: Don’t say all of this if you intend to be away from me until Spa. I could be attempting to make out with you if you keep saying these things.

Lance: u r the one with work shit.

Worst part is, Lance wasn’t wrong.

---

Spa was next, and that’s where the next step would be. Lance’s mom was from there, and so it was a two step system. First, he and Lance would go out to breakfast and take a walk on a private property someone’s somebody owned. Then, technically, it would be meet the parents.

Luckily he’d already met them about a million times but it was the principle of the thing. He brought a change of clothing to Lance’s car, which got a big laugh out of the younger man. “I’m sorry, the last time I remember seeing your mother I was literally sneering at you. And she’s into fashion, she cares about these things."

“Yeah, I know. She’s my mom. Just like, wild you care this much about me."

George folded himself into the car at this, and then put his hand on Lance’s, squeezed. “Yes, I do. I’d like to eat something and go on a walk and then perhaps try my luck at making out, if we could get moving."

“Aye, aye, captain."

---

Their first attempt at making out ended up badly, with Lance falling down because he came on too strong.

Luckily for him, Lance found it hysterical, propped up against the base of a tree. “C’mere."

“No. No!” Lance pouted at this. “This is step eleven behavior.” A bottom lip poked out. “Don’t look at me like that, I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to send you flying to the ground."

“Help me up at least.” It was easy to pop him off the ground, and then Lance reclined against the tree. “Let’s try this again."

George nodded, bracing himself for something to happen as he leaned in. The tree was quite nice, though, easy to brace himself on, and then he leaned in, ran a nose across the side of Lance’s face to get a hint of scent.

“Yeah, you missed me, huh?"

For someone who didn’t talk as much in public, Lance sure loved to run his mouth. However, George had indeed read several guides to making out and he was intent on getting there. Dragged his nose across a cheek, until Lance got with the program and put two hands on the planes of George’s back and nudged their lips together.

It was a mix of one of those incredibly embarrassing coos and a sigh, but it apparently got Lance going, because he pressed George into him easily. Now that he had encouragement, it was easy to tuck in deeper, go over the instructions in his head and kiss more, lick a little at Lance’s lips until they opened, and then Lance took a hold of what they were doing. Coaxed their tongues together, rubbed at George’s back and it felt like heaven.

He got so light headed he had to pull back.

“Ha, knew it."

“Knew what?” George sounded like someone else, his voice high and light in his throat, exactly how he didn’t want to be.

“You’re hard."

“I’m what?” Unfortunately, Lance was right, which explained the lightheadedness. “Oh, damn.”

“It’s hot, how easily you open up, just for me.” If there was a way George could physically leave his body for a moment, half out of guilt, half out of being so incredibly into this, he would have. “But it’s too much, so let’s go on a little bit more of a walk and it’ll calm down. I know you wanna follow the rules, right?"

He was slowly regretting this. “Right."

As they went to walk, Lance leaned over and squeezed the base of his neck. This had him tumble down himself, and now he knew why Lance wanted to touch his neck.

Because Lance had him all figured out, George realized as he pressed his palms into the ground. All of this was easy for him, the give and take, the physical stuff. He’d not only done this before but he thought about it, dreamt about it, probably helped him through his rut. Which one day George would do.

“George, you okay?"

“Kind of regretting the rules right now."

---

Dinner went fine, then work came. It was unrelenting, for some reason, the back half of the season. Easier than before, though, flying with Lance, occasionally getting to go a little bit further.

For Lance’s birthday, they all went to a restaurant, and it was the first time George was in the actual place he’d inhabit in their lives. Back straight under Lance’s right hand, Lance’s favorite shirt on and white slacks he’d been gifted but quite liked. It involved a lot of deep breathing, but he took pictures just fine, eventually finding Lance’s knee under the table and gently resting a hand there.

They hadn’t gotten to hips and knees quite yet but it felt right, and when he looked back at the pictures. it looked - normal.

A courting couple, casual and happy. Normally in pictures he looked posed, but it was more like himself then he’d ever really considered. It was nice.

---

Every race was the possibility of winning one. He just wasn’t expecting Brazil to be his first win.

He wasn’t expecting to win before Lance.

He wasn’t expecting to win before being mated.

It was all very overwhelming, and he let himself cry in shock as he sat there, a race winner.

When he made it back to his driver’s room, there was a Lance sprawled on his bed. They’d been very good at not being caught together, but George didn’t care at this point. He shut the door, put a chair in front of it to prevent anyone from bothering them, and then climbed into Lance’s lap, into his arms, and pushed him down on the bed. “Hi, winner."

George had better control of himself now that he’d experienced being hard more than once, and could essentially will it away. However, his hindbrain or whatever it was had taken charge, and he leaned in, started to kiss at Lance’s mouth, and then reached down and put one of Lance’s hands to his neck.

At this, Lance pulled back. “Whoa, there, maybe not.” But he whined, not too loud but enough for Lance to feel it, to push up a little bit. “You want that?” It was a loud whimper, and Lance let him go, guided him so his face was in the curve of Lance’s neck. He knew better than to bite, but he could lick. He won a race, and now he was winning over Lance, doing things right, covering him. “George, baby, s’okay, s’okay. You won today, I’m yours too, it’s okay.”

Before he could really get into it, there was what sounded like popping of champagne close to the wall, and it knocked his brain back into place. He sat up on his heels. “Oh, er, well."

“S’hot, can’t wait for you to do it again but we’ll be mated and I don’t have to keep you on a leash. Or myself, either. So close to not having to follow all these stupid rules."

George nodded. “Before you go, will you kiss me again?" Since he was still undercover as a beta, he could go and party, but it wouldn’t be the same.

A lovely kiss on the forehead, then on the lips, hands firmly gripping his face. “I love you, George. I know per the rules it’s too early to say it but I do."

“I love you too.” Another kiss. “Eight months.” They’d agreed to a shorter schedule over fall break.

“Eight months. Well, six until the small thing.” The formal engagement because they still had to deal with George’s parents. Their group meeting would be the week after his birthday, to be twenty five and technically old enough to be firm in his own decisions, but also to give Lawrence a little bit of time to get in with his family. He’d already connected them under the guise of buying some seeds, but it’d be fine.

Everything would be fine.
—

His sedation and Lance’s winter rut ate up most of December, and in January George got COVID. Which was quite miserable, and he wished he could be with Lance. There had been about seven thousand offers a day for Lance to come by, but to infect him would be a mistake.

But by the end of January he was patched up, and then ended up having to do a bunch of press that had been put off for COVID. Then the car launch was on his birthday, and Lance had gone for some additional training in Spain. They both knew it was to burn off some of the anxiety, especially since things were going well between Lawrence and his parents.

Then he got a call from Henry and it was all over, truly. He didn’t really remember getting on the plane, or the flight itself, or anything except ending up in the hospital. He looked so small, like he was a teenager again, exhausted. Henry said something to him, and he nodded, and then they were alone together in the room and George - well -

Headloss wasn’t a totally new thing to him, but this form of headloss was. All of the rules, all of the order, and he had the good sense to not climb in with Lance, but instead wrapped himself around Lance and sobbed carelessly into the blanket, hands scrambling to find - something. He had to be careful, he knew that, but it wasn’t until Lance said something that he was effectively able to calm down and listen to a steady heartbeat. “George?”

“Yes.” He pushed up on his palms, until he could get a good look at Lance, who seemed out of it. “What do you need?” Let me help you, please let me help you. He wasn’t quite up to par with the kissing and sexual stuff, but he knew how to take care of people. He knew Lance, in ways that were probably trivial, but good for aid. Like, no ice in the water unless it was above 25 C, and even then, not a lot because it hurt his teeth. George’s too but Lance was much more sensitive. Lance preferred to not have grape flavored medicine, but would rather it have a taste than it be medication flavored.

“Don’t - I don’t want.” George realized he was pressing into the bed and pulled back.

“Sorry.”

“No, what? I don’t - I don’t want you to be here.” What? George let out a noise that sounded like a computer turning on, because that was confusing. If things were supposed to go the right way, wasn’t it sickness and health. “I don’t -”

Once was enough, and he stood up. “Yes, I heard you, alpha.” First time he called Lance that, and probably the last. “I’m leaving, like you said.”

Lance made another sound, that sounds distressed, but if George didn’t get out of there at that very moment, he might need to be committed.

Which was horrendous considering everything.

George: Made it to Spain, leaving Spain. Lance is alive and asked me to leave. Best to cancel the dinner with parents. Sorry about the whole thing, looks like it’s for the bin.

Maybe one of the most dramatic texts he’d ever sent, but Lawrence would read what happened and come to help Lance.

George just had to make it to … to somewhere.

—

Two days back at the factory, both with Toto eyeballing him like he was a time bomb that had no time set to it. But then he flew to Bahrain with Lando and Dan and hunkered down. Stayed off of his phone, the calls from his mum alone were in the three digits by the time he put his head down on the 22nd.

—

It took everything in him to not follow Lance’s every move, once Fernando told him Lance was arriving. Instead he committed to biting down on the inner part of his cheek when he wanted to go looking, kept his head down and focused on work.
They had to see each other, and no one knew besides Alex so Daniel showed him the little video for Instagram. Lance seemed fine without him, a little sullen but that could also be the pain medication.
However, Lance was acting a bit odd. Yes, he was allowed slides instead of the normal boots, but he was incredibly grouchy, and growly, and it looked like about a million think pieces would be written about Lance unless he calmed down. Which was apparently not George’s problem as a mate but it was as a coworker, as the head of their union.

So he stepped down on the platform, leaned over Lance, spoke softly into his ear. “Whatever it is you’re on about, you need to relax. People are noticing how agitated you are and if you’re not careful, you’re going to develop a reputation that will be hard to get rid of and not accurate. Understood?”

“George, I’m sorry.”

“You should be!” He tilted his head back and Lance had sunnies on but did look repentant. “This is about more than just you, you know. All of us have our own questions in press to answer, whether or not you’re going to become the deranged alpha of the paddock.”

“S’not what I mean.” Lance’s scent elevated as well, and George felt someone take a half step back. Probably Logan, such a shy fellow.

“I don’t care. It would be best if you behaved.”

George went to go back to his place after his eyes caught the photographer. However, Lance stopped him, a hand in his elbow socket. “George.”

“Yes?”

“Why haven’t you been answering my texts?” He pulled a face, Lance laughed at it. “What?”

“What do you mean, what? You know perfectly well what you asked and I am doing it, Lance. Dunno what else there is to talk about.” A failed meeting with his parents, years of both of their lives wasted on each other, the only chance he had, really.

Stiff upper lip and all of that, he turned on his heel and went back to his slot. Deep breath and focused on the camera.

—

There was a card in his hotel room that night. The handwriting was horrible, truly the handwriting of someone who had broken both wrists, but he knew it. Almost tossed it but he knew it, as well as a hint of salt on the paper.

G -

I’m so sorry. I didn’t mean what I said at the hospital, apparently I was repeating it when Henry re-appeared with the doctor to tell you what was up. I’m really, really sorry. I miss you so much. Please talk to me again, I think I’m losing it without you.

I love you.
Lance

ps I made that dinner with your parents, they think I’m an idiot still

George fumbled with his phone at this, hit Lance’s contact card and the phone rung out. If Lance had made the dinner, and George hadn’t, that would look so odd to his mother. His father would probably write it off as another of George’s follies, but his mum was probably beside herself. Her youngest, her baby, her only omega, her champion. Hooking himself possibly one of the most eligible people in the world, nevertheless an alpha, and then not showing up to his own courtship meeting.

Maybe he could blame the stress of the season, but the fact he’d always been reasonable smacked him in the fact. What was so different about this?

“George?”

Lance sounded weak, and out of it, and George did what any person would do. Especially because he was still so bloody upset. He burst into tears. “I’m sorry. I was foolish and distraught and I ran away and I’m sorry.” Hopefully that made sense.

“It’s okay, I’m sorry too. I know you, George, you just wanted to take care of me. And I was like, so embarrassed about all of it. I didn’t want you to see me flop so hard before we did the deal, y’know?”

“I didn’t care about that -”

“Yeah you did, you told me not to bike.”

That was a fair point. “In that moment, I didn’t. I just wanted to take care of you. S’my job, or it is supposed to be. You wouldn’t let me take care of you.” He’d never sounded like a hysterical, stereotypical omega who fainted from frustration, but he was close right now and it was debilitating. How did anyone go about their day this worked up? “You told me to leave you alone.”

“I meant for like five minutes until Henry could clean me up to not look so pathetic. It was worse when you were gone, too. They told me all of my healing plan and then I was so worked up, I can’t remember any of it to tell you. Henry said he emailed it to you but you haven’t responded.”

It was a miscommunication, and he took a deep breath at that. “I can’t. I won’t. Tell me you’ll never make me leave again.”

“George, of course I won’t. It was a mistake. You don’t have to leave unless you want to.”

“Tell me you love me.”

Lance laughed. “I love you a lot, baby. I love you so much, the doctor said it’d be easier on me if you were around and kinda roasted me for telling you to leave so I could get together.”

“Obviously, that’s part of this. Part of my job is to take care of you, come good or bad. I’ve been beside myself trying to not look up how to fix broken wrists.”

“You can come over tomorrow morning to the hospitality suite and Henry can show you how. Will you come learn?”

“Yes, you horrid man. Of course I will.” His tears were slowing down, and he couldn’t bring himself to be angry. “How was everything with my parents?”

Lance groaned. “Turn your FaceTime on.” George did so, and then he was faced with Lance’s eyeball being primarily in frame. “Sorry, had to hit it with my nose.”

“It’s alright. I do like looking at your eyes or any available part of your face, even if you’re being bloody stupid.”

Lance rolled his eyes, and then leaned back. “So, I’m being nice in my injured state and telling you about how I flew to England for eight whole hours to have dinner with your parents and you’re being mean to me?”

A sad little whine came out of him without permission, and before he could distract Lance, there was a little rumble.

“S’okay, baby. So worked up, aren’t you?”

“Only for you, lately, it seems.”

“Well, I was given one singular afternoon and evening to convince your parents that I was not a totally spoiled dipshit and was doin’ everything right. Did I pass? I dunno, but Toto was there and they’ve at least accepted that it’s gonna happen.”

“They have? Even without me there?”

“I think that worked out, actually. Your mom thought you weren’t there because you were protesting me getting injured, and your dad thought you weren’t there because the whole system was antiquated and are your own person. He thought the only reason we were there was that my dad was an old fashioned stick in the mud. But they were both really happy I even showed, they thought it was going to be just like ‘Dad go get me George’ or whatever. They were pleased by my plans and how well I knew you, and I think they kinda respect me for hauling ass.”

“They should.” Somehow, George had become more worried about Lance having a good time with his parents than the impression he made. Which meant he was as invested in Lance as he had been in getting his seat, in a fraction of the time. Lance yawned. “You should get to bed, I’m sure you’re even more worn out than I am.”

“‘Kay. I’ll be at the track at like 10 tomorrow.” Which meant 10:10, so George could make his way over to Aston at about 10:45 on the idea that he was just talking to Lance about his injuries.

—-

He got stopped by Fernando, who followed him to ‘show him where Lance’s room was’ and then went to talk to Lance.

“Nando, I love you dude but I need to talk to George alone please.” A big blink of two droopy brown eyes and Fernando was gone.

“Does he know?”

Lance sighed, his wrists in ice. “No, just that I’ve been dying to talk to you.”

“You did in fact speak to me yesterday. Twice.” But after checking the door, he leaned over and kissed Lance hello. George struggled with languages that weren’t English, but this one was getting easier by the day. Lance let out a bit of a happy scent, and George took the initiative and rubbed his head on a shoulder. “But hello.”

“Hey. Thanks for comin’, y’know? Not very fun.”

But Henry came in and showed George how to wrap things just so, the process, and George nodded. “And so tomorrow you can wrap him up, George.”

Lance went to protest but George hummed. “Happy to do so.”

After this, the rest of the day went swimmingly.

—-

It was easy to slip into Lance’s hotel and then his room the next morning. It was a mess, and Lance was dozing on the couch, clearly already having had his shower for the morning. Ready.

This was technically the next step before formalities, long term privacy. Being alone together in private, getting to know each other, but if it could lead to a bite, it was still not for their night.

But a knock came at the door, and the cart of ice and supplies materialized and he got to work. There was also food on the plate and George was going to enjoy this, prepping Lance’s toast and then his own. He hadn’t noticed the noises he was making until Lance commented. “Happy?”

“Yes. Eat this.” George held up half of a slice of peanut butter toast with strawberries, and Lance opened his mouth. His expression told George he’d gotten it right, so he waited for the bite to be done and pulled it back. “Now please don’t do anything too barbarian and inhale the toast.” He put it down and went for the orange juice. “This next.”

By the time George got to the wrists, he was back to his cadence, and that apparently was humming to himself as he checked Lance’s wrist. Not really a song, but as he did things, a kind of rhythm to it. He hadn’t thought of himself as the humming type, but it warmed his chest. Carefully, he kissed Lance’s palm before he wrapped it as Henry had, and then examined it.

“You really are enjoying this, eh?” George nodded. “Thanks, babe, for taking care of me.”

“Told you I was excited about this bit.” The total trust in George, the faith he’d do it right. Technically before the dinner with his parents they were supposed to look at a few houses in England as a combined home, but that had fallen through. A debate, they’d decided on England to start because that’s where they were based for work and it was much more private than Monaco, which had been George’s choice, and warmer that Switzerland, which had been Lance’s choice.

But that would happen, and it should before they were done. It was more than nesting, it was making a home. If they weren’t stuck in George’s structure, they’d probably already be living in one apartment or another, together, figuring it out. Every other bloke on the grid had someone or something, though it kind of seemed like Oscar had done something similar to what they were doing with his Lily. But that probably had to do with Mark setting that example, on top of being away from home at such a young age.

Instead, they were going to have to figure out their argument style now, before they ended up with rings and bites. They’d had a few rows before, but it was good to think that they were able to apologize and move on.

Once the other wrist was done, he went back for the toast. “Bite.”

Lance mimed biting the air, and he rolled his eyes. Lance would be fine, they would be fine.

“The toast.” Lance pushed his teeth together at this. “Now I definitely better keep myself away from you. Minimal self control.” He said, but he had a tease to his voice, and once Lance got the rest of toast in his mouth, he smiled, getting rid of the residual peanut butter.

Lance chewed quickly and swallowed. “You’re doing it again.”

“Doing what?”

“The humming thing. I’ve never heard you do it before.”

“You don’t like it?”

Lance snorted. “Didn’t say that, I actually really like it. It makes me feel very comfy.”

“We both know how important that is.” George was snarky, but it was true. Maybe he’d need to bring it up at his next appointment.

“We do.” Lance pouted and George leaned down and gave him a kiss anyway. He knew Lance, wasn’t about to get bit when he had the upper hand. “Thank you.”

“Of course. Now let’s finish your juice.” Lance snickered, and a dirty joke popped into George’s head. “Do not get started about it not being the only juice you have.”

This set Lance off, and he practically howled as George tried to force the juice into his mouth. “No! Don’t force your juice into my mouth!” Tears rolling down a loved face, and George had to laugh at this.

This was actually what he had signed up for, in courting this ridiculous man. A life where he was subjected to dirty jokes and having to anticipate where someone’s mind was. But the look that settled on Lance’s face, adoring, that he’d keep.

—

April’s sedation was fine. What wasn’t fine was the fact that they had to adjust everything. Again.

But it also made him nervous because it was adjusting to add, not adjusting to adjust. Birth control, and slowly weaning him of both the suppressants and the blockers. Adjusting it so he’d move to two heats a year instead of three sedations, a big jump.

“Your heart rate is quite high, George.” The nurse was quite lovely, and he nodded. “Nervous?”

He’d done his due diligence on what they were putting him on, but it was at least fair to say out loud. “What if the meds change me?” What if they change my driving, he thought, or make me go into an early heat and I embarrass myself before telling anyone?

“George, I’m going to be straightforward with you. You’ve already been changing.” Which was true. “I also think you’ll put on some weight, and I know that’s different for your line of work but it will be okay. You’re going into full bloom, and it’s a good thing.”

“But what if …” What if he got horny by himself, a real threat now that things were looser? What if he scared Lance away, when they were so close?

“There are a lot of what if’s in this world. I’ve seen a lot of what ifs in this line of work, too. The only what if have about you is what if you end up on the cover of a fashion magazine.”

Maybe he would, one day.

—

After the check up, there was Lance, George’s stuff already packed away in the black car that they were taking to see houses. In the week apart, Lance looked better, though he was still using his good foot to prop himself up against the car.

Lance opened his arms wide for a hug, but George insisted on inspecting the wrists first. Testing each finger for dexterity, then rotating each wrist gently, and by the second one, Lance was humming.

“What are you singing today?” George really knew nothing about music, whereas Lance lived with it in his head every day. Sometimes it was elevator music, but it was kind of endearing, how connected Lance could be when it wasn’t.

“Nothing, trying to hum with you but I don’t know what you’re humming. Guess you’re back to doing the humming for me.”

“Did get a step down on the suppressants and the blockers.” Once the second one was properly examined, then he leaned in and gave Lance a peck. “Let’s hope one of these is the one.”

“Yeah, rather get to chill with you all day tomorrow instead of run around before your parents get here.” The dreaded family dinner, where there’d be formal acceptance and big gift. Before he’d made it, he always thought on the off chance he did it he would get a nice watch. Now he had a sponsor to consider and so it would probably be a necklace or a bracelet, to correspond to the ones Lance already wore. “I did them in reverse order of the ones I think you’ll like.”

“So worst first?” Lance laughed at the whine George gave. “But fair, don’t want to choose the best one first and then have remorse. I would if we didn't do our due diligence.’

“Sure.” If Lance had it his way, they’d be using an already purchased Stroll property. But that didn’t feel like it was theirs, their first home.

—

Third was it for sure, a garden home equidistant from both factories and close to the airport, and George was so bloody tired, he fell asleep leaning on Lance waiting for dessert.

When they got to George’s, he had to ask. “I know you’re hurting, but you can you help me by taking something up?” Lance had never come up, and George had never seen past Lance’s lounge area.

Lance moved faster than should have been possible.

—

The kiss in his entryway was different, and George showered once Lance was gone and then spent two hours looking up how to get rid of being aroused.

None of it helped, and he was a bit grouchy for their brunch next day with Lance’s family. And Fernando.

Which made him even grouchier because he’d forgotten to tell Lewis. They’d agreed teammates were okay and Lance, the forgetful one, had remembered before he had.

Though he got some looks, no one really said anything to him, and when it was over, Lance stated that the two of them were going to go back to Lance’s to hang out.

George assumed that was code for making out, but instead Lance slumped on the couch and opened his arms. “C’mere.”

Dutifully he went, though he was cautious with how he placed himself. Then he was caught off guard when Lance started to rumble low, soft, intentionally, but it connected with some part of him that he wasn’t quite as familiar with as he’d like. Letting being grouchy go, he found himself nose deep in soft brown hair.

“There we go. S’okay.” It would be, and George ran his nose up and down Lance’s neck. “Different. You okay?”

It was bad behavior, scenting behavior, but he was getting a home with this man, a life with him, and it made him feel better to do this. “Yes. Makes me feel better.”

“Okay.” Lance tilted his neck a little, closed his eyes. “Almost there.”

Over three months, nine races and one rut between then and now. “But we have to do so much.” And Lance wasn’t fully himself yet.

“Not as much as we already have. I’m not worried about that. I am worried you’re gonna be grouchy during our dinner tonight like you were this morning and your parents are going to think I’m torturing you into mating with me.”

His parents did not think that. He’d cried on the phone four separate times with his mum because of how bleeding happy he was, and then a separate time from frustration. “They won’t. They know how I feel about this. Think anyone strong enough to wait almost four years for me to be ready is worthy.” He had also texted his mum and siblings pictures of the house on their drive back yesterday. They knew their little brother, the precious jewel, was being given what he deserved. “You are worthy of me.”

Lance twitched a little at this, and it was different now. With less blockers, and how close he was, he could pinpoint the smell of arousal.

“Does it arouse you?” Lance snorted at this and George sat up at this. “Now you’re making this hard.”

“No, you are making this hard.” It was said with a laugh on his lips, and George crossed his arms. “I mean, maybe not right now but you do make this hard, eh?”

“What if I strangle you before this dinner?”

“Then you’ll have to do it alone, babe. Don’t think you want that.”

A valid point, and he was now pretty irritated again, nose free of Lance’s scent. Instead of arguing, he slumped back down and put his nose in Lance’s hair. “Fine. I get to do this for at least another half hour though, and no more jokes about it. And we are not going to watch Cars again.” Lance liked it as background noise.

“Lame.”

—

Dinner went well, and it was tradition to get his gift at the end of the meal, in front of everyone. He had to keep his breath even as he was presented with a lovely black box, and upon opening it, it was a set. A gold chain and a gold bracelet, made of the same material. He had a feeling if he pulled down Lance’s collar right now, they’d match. “Thank you, alpha.” This time, it felt right as it rolled off his tongue, not out of spite but out of love. “I’ll cherish this and your time.”

As Lance put it on him, he was very glad Lance had touched his neck and collarbone before because he was on edge from all of the attention and the touching. Long, intentional touches, and Lance fumbled with the clasp but he sat with his neck bared anyway, his eyes on the lump on the side of Lance’s face. He kept it tilted as Lance put on the bracelet, just to watch Lance struggle with not getting aroused in front of a group, and then it was time for dessert.

—

George: (big eyes emoji) May I ask a question?

Lance: lol yeah?

George: (big eyes emoji) Were you aroused tonight?

Lance: omfg are u trying 2 sext me?

George: NO!!!!

—

He procrastinated, and it wasn’t until Monaco that he had a minute to tell Lewis. Got through a whole Stroll family function with no photos taken of him, but a few strange looks from Daniel about his presence, before he got to tell his own bloody teammate.

It also happened to be the same weekend that the Aston Martin admin was going to start filming him for the announcement to go across both teams. Why it was the Aston admin, he was unsure, but he had to reassure Lewis he wasn’t leaving.

However, it was quite tight in his racing room. “So, thanks for coming.”

“No worries. Why are we talking softly?” Lewis said from where he was sitting on George’s bed.

“I need to tell you something. Something you may not know.”

“Why I can smell you all of the sudden?” Lewis gestured at George’s neck, the chain hidden under his black Mercedes team shirt. “Cool?”

“Yes, very excited about getting mated. Been a long time coming actually, over three years at this point. If I wasn’t so bloody old fashioned, probably would already, would’ve helped earlier this year but -”

“Wait, who have you been courting for three years?” And that was part of it, for sure, and he knew he made a face. Having to explain. “Or, who has been courting you?” Lewis sounded curious but not mean about it.

George got close, so it wouldn’t be said too loudly if someone had bugged their room or an engineer was listening in. “Lance?”

“Lance?” It was practically a boom and George stumbled back. He’d never experienced Lewis angry before towards him like this, and a hand went to his chain, to fiddle a bit. Grounding. “Really?”

George nodded frantically. “Yes. He’s good, you know? Maybe a bit of a pain but a good man. A good alpha.”

“And you .. want an alpha?” George nodded even more frantically. “Okay, don’t lose your head. Just surprised about a lot is all.”

“They’re going to be filming me to do a video message explaining when everyone comes back from the factory after summer break. For both factories.” Realizing that sounded like he was leaving, he took a step closer, fingers locked into his necklace. “But I’m not leaving for Aston. I’m staying.”

“Yeah. Mates on the same team would be interesting.” Like Lewis hadn’t almost had that, George’s hindbrain spat out, but his mouth knew better. “But thanks for telling me yourself, George. As long as you’re happy.”

“I am. Will be more when this whole process is over and we can be together. It’s been so long, I hate that I accidentally talked us being into more traditional.”

“Wait, like .. how traditional?” George’s expression apparently gave him away. “Damn.”

“Yes, it’s been a challenge. But one we have endured! We aren’t doing what his sister and Scotty did, we’re just doing a small mating ceremony and then sometime next year doing a party. Of course, assuming we don’t murder each other in the interim.” George let out a little chuckle and it sounded weird to his own ears.

Then Toto thumped on his door and it was time to get to work. Something he was good at.

—

It was a whatever race, minus Lance’s crash. It was all he could think about until he got into the press pen and Lance was wrapping up. He wound through the crowd and waited patiently for Lance to be done, and then he stopped Lance with a hand on the inside of his elbow. As he thought of what to say, his body let out a little humming sound, curious. Hopefully no one else heard that -

“No, I’m good. I’m good.” George let go of the elbow. “Thanks for asking.”

“I - did I?”

“In your own way.” Lance smiled at him, the real one the cameras didn’t usually get. “See you later?”

George nodded, realizing how much work he had left for the day.

—

This time, it was George that dropped Lance off for his rut. However, he was not allowed to go inside the apartment. “Last time alone.”

George was not naive, and Lance had admitted to sleeping with people during his rut before. That he hated being alone during it, admitted that it got worse the longer they waited. But he had George’s sleep clothes, a lot heavier on the scent, tucked into his backpack, and hopefully that would be enough. “Yeah.”

“If you need me, you can call me.”

Lance grinned at him, a thought in his head. “What could you do for me over the phone?”

George had been reading how to manuals and a lot of help books, he could actually help. “I dunno, heard sometimes you can talk someone through something over the phone.”

“I do not want our first time to be on the phone. Cuz that counts as sex, phone sex.” Maybe George had wanted to hear Lance first so he could have a better idea of what to expect. “Ha, you knew that and were trying to pretend like you didn’t know that counted.”

“Maybe.”

“I wait three years and you can’t even wait another six weeks.” His words were teasing, but Lance leaned in and gave him a kiss, then ran his head up and down the juncture of George’s neck. “See you next week?”

“See you then. Don’t forget to go and get your shots, either. I put it as an appointment in your phone.” George wouldn’t be the only one on these things.

“Yeah, I know. Maybe it’ll give me beautiful hair like yours.” His hair had started to grow in heavier and wavier since the birth control, he’d give it that.

“I don’t think you need to be worried about hair.” Lance could probably do a trim, if George were to give his opinion. “So close.”

“So close.”

—

While Lance did his thing, George started to do the house. It was strange because he wanted to do it himself, though he’d had offers for help. He just didn’t want anyone else in there who didn’t belong, and the big pieces he’d picked out, the couches and chairs and tables and appliances, all on his very shiny American Express that had Lance’s trust fund on it, were already there.

But George did involve Alex when he went and bought as many pillows as possible. Listened to and then ignored Alex’s opinion on sheets. Lance ran hot and found everything besides cotton scratchy, so it would be supple cotton that came home with him. Plates and bowls and things Lance really couldn’t have cared less about were chosen, and when George whipped out his new card, Alex whistled.

“Can’t believe we’re almost there.”

“I can. God, it’s actually so nice Max is winning so much. It means that I can just stay under the radar.” His video was done, his pre-mating contract had fresh ink on it at the lawyer’s, all that was left was the actual thing. “You still coming to the meal?”

They’d be mated in the early afternoon on a Wednesday after forty eight hours apart. Then came an early dinner with George’s family, Lance’s family and two friends each. He’d only barely managed to tell Lando, and was in hot water for doing so, and so he’d have both Alex and Lily and Lance would have Mick and Esteban.

“Yes, of course I’m coming. I need to be the one to shove Lance as far in the woods as possible.” They were doing that dumb tradition too, where they would take the alpha, blindfold him and put him a far distance away and have him try and get back. Those who did so would wait and make sure Lance made it home alive, but it was apparently quite a bit of fun.

“Well, don’t boot him off to Wales, please. I’d rather like to get it all done as soon as possible.”

“Oh, are you randy?” Alex didn’t move quick enough to evade his foot being stomped on. “Ow! I’ll have James bill Toto for foot repair.”

“Go ahead and bill Lawrence if it’s going to bother you that much.”

—

After this, time got quick.

Austria. Silverstone. Hungary.

And then Spa. The team didn’t make it a big deal, but his parents and siblings were very obvious in the paddock. Mostly because they kept ending up at Aston, and he knew the gossip was high. But he kept his head down and his work smile on and every night, they all ate together. Every night, he’d go to bed a little more excited about the next step, as they got less and less time alone. But so went the tradition, to make sure the alpha kept his word and the omega wasn’t … seduced.

Honestly, he had kind of hoped to be seduced months ago, but Lance was a man of his word and so George bounced onto the plane after double checking his message to the team.

Bounced as he sat next to Lance on the flight there, packed to the brim with friends and family and he just wanted to be alone with Lance.

But that wouldn’t be possible for another three days.

At least Lance stayed in the towncar that took them to their home, George’s clothes already all the way moved in. They would spend the next two days unable to contact each other, as was tradition. George would set up the nest, and then once it was all done, it would be theirs.

But he wanted it to be theirs now, he wanted Lance to follow him in, he didn’t want to bounce out of his skin as he waited.

Lance could tell he was ready to just … stay in the car, say bugger it all, ask Lance to take him back to Lance’s flat. And stopped him. “I know what you’re thinking, and I get it. I - I never like leaving you, you know that?”

It was nice to hear. “I know.”

“And it’s going to be hard as hell for me to be away from you for two whole days. Even when we’re apart, I can still like, text you. Two days without you is gonna suck, no talking, no texting, but then we don’t have to do anything but be with each other. Okay?” A hand on his cheek, and he leaned into it, hoped his eyes reflected against the moonlight enough to look alluring. “Stop looking at me like that.”

“Like what?” Lance ran a hand on the bottom lip, and George kissed at it badly.

“Now you’re just screwing with me.” The second hand came up and they were face to face. “I love you.”

His chest ached with the thought of Lance leaving. “I love you.” Please show up, please choose me, it wasn’t over until it was over.

“Please don’t make this harder on me. All I wanna do is come see our nest, you’ve been making it perfect, I know. But everything I’ve done in the past like three years was so we could get to Wednesday. Please, take the bag back inside and I will see you Wednesday.” George whined and got a kiss for his trouble. “Wednesday.”

“Wednesday.”

—

He didn’t sleep a wink that night, and he had a secondary gender therapist appointment at noon. Luckily it was virtual. “You okay, George?”

“Miss Lance.” It was muscle memory to text Lance, but he knew better. “I just - I want him.” Wanted him in their nice, clean home. In their well structured nest, to George’s mind. He was sleeping in the guest until tomorrow night. He’d tried last night but it was pointless because Lance’s clothes he’d sent in were in there, it just made him antsy.

“I know, George. You’ve done such a good job waiting for him.” It was nice to hear from someone that didn’t know them outside of this. “You choose your shirt for the ceremony?”

“Shirts. Two.” One in private, for him and Lance only. When he bled, he wanted it to be for them. And then a fresh button up that he could put on, along with some slacks. He would wear briefs during the mating ceremony. And then a special third one that he’d bought, light and gauzy and from all the well to do sites, a perfect shirt for the second part. Seductive and tempting, which he was a little worried he wasn’t anymore to Lance.

“And are you going to wear regular underwear or do you think you’ll need something to trap scent?” George made a noise, what did that mean? He hadn’t read anything about that. “Have you done anything besides getting hard?”

He bit his lip, he hadn’t actually managed to get wet yet. He was slightly worried he wouldn’t and had stockpiled lube. “No.”

“Well, if you do when you receive the bite, do you want everyone to know?” He shook his head so hard he could hear his brain rolling around in there. “Okay, then go tomorrow and buy speciality underwear. From Harrods, they should have it.” He must’ve done something. “You can always just do it as a pickup. They do make them look quite smart, you won’t look strange purchasing them.” George knew her advice was the best, so he nodded. “And George?”

“Yes?”

“It’s supposed to be fun. I know you’re anxious about all of this, but it will be good and fun.” George bit his lip. “I know you’re thinking you don’t know what to do, but you do. Your instincts are wonderful, and your alpha loves you. Wants you. You could probably do a jig instead of sex and he’d be happy with it.”

“Do I need to learn how to dance a jig?” He tried to be mischievous about it, but if he couldn’t perform sexually maybe Lance would like that.

“No. You just need to be yourself.” Which was fair. “Now let’s review the steps.” To make sure he was solid in it.

—

He made Alex come with him to pick up his purchase as his best friend, and also to warn off Esteban and Lance and whatever they were doing. “Not like Lance would be coming to Harrod’s the day before, he’s winding down his things at his apartment. Or probably playing games with Esteban and claiming he’s doing the apartment stuff.” What would Lance need at Harrod’s?

“I dunno, maybe he’s just as worried about you flaking as you are worried about him flaking?” George sighed, went to argue. “Don’t tell me you’re not worried. You shouldn’t be, but you are. You’ve got the wealthiest, most chill guy we know out here worried that you’re going to like, mate him and then change all of his socks.”

“I wouldn’t do that. Besides, he prefers a certain brand, so if I did do that, I would just buy new sets and then make sure they stayed paired in the drawer.” Lance really was particular. “Do you think everyone will understand?” George’s plan was to text the group chat tomorrow with the news, though he knew a quarter of the grid were aware.

“I think everyone will understand when you stop standing as far away from him as possible and they see you making moon eyes at him every time he’s not laser focused on you.” Alex stuck out his lower lip and blinked, a poor imitation of what George must be like in private when staring at Lance. “The longer this goes on, the less it becomes I love you, love me back and the more I realize it’s please come fuck me eyes.”

“Alex!”

“What! You know I’m right. I know you, George, and you’ve never been this agitated in your life. You’re doing well in the standings, you’re literally getting mated tomorrow, you’re just desperately horny and it is okay.” Alex leaned in, suddenly serious. “If you want to talk about it, we can.”

Alex was a beta, and would never really understand. Matings were for alphas and omegas primarily, mating whichever they pleased. Marriages were for betas, a substitute for the high that they’d never feel. “No, thank you.”

“Will you tell me after?”

George elbowed Alex as they walked by a mannequin, sending him flying into it. “George!” When George checked back, Alex had what looked like a champagne bucket. “I think you should buy this.”

—

Wednesday, he got up early and cleaned himself toe to tippy top of his head, then styled his hair, got his pants pressed and tried on the new underwear. A very sleek navy, it just felt like regular underwear he’d buy. But if it kept him from being embarrassed, he’d wear them gratefully.

When he got out of the house, there was a very shiny blue Aston Martin sitting in the driveway, and George let himself cry a little. Happy tears. A DBS 770 Ultimate with a custom paint job was a gift he didn’t even want to consider the number on.

There was an envelope on the windshield, but he could smell that it was Lance that had delivered it.

G -

It’s not that Ferrari I promised you, but I think we’ll get in less trouble if you get this first. I promise when we go to Canada next week you can drive whichever one you want.

See you soon. Love you

Lance

And now he had to drive it into town with wet eyes.

—

When he got to the facility, he went straight into the changing area. Hung his button down up, his pressed slacks. Took off his joggers, and after using the bathroom, there was Lance.

He was in a pretty basic white t and joggers, but there was a change of clothing hanging up next to his. George blew out a big sigh of relief.

Then the therapist showed up and they were directed into the ceremony room. Their chosen representatives - Alex and Lance’s dad - were waiting in the room for them, to witness their bite but also to sign the paperwork that they did witness. George started to sweat a little.

“They won’t actually watch, baby, if you don’t want them to.” George didn’t want anyone watching them but it was actually necessary. “Technically only the therapist and doctor have to watch. They just have to sign.”

George hummed, and apparently this had Lance make a decision. George went to the therapist as Lance went to his dad, and with a roll of his eyes, Alex turned around before the question could get out of Lance’s mouth.

“Alright, George, now please kneel down here.” There was a little pillow thing on the ground, and George kneeled. “Alpha Stroll.”

There were two sets of feet that turned, but he heard Lawrence rotate around a third time. It was probably strange to hear your son be called that in front of you, but it would do.

“Alright, well. We are all here to witness the claim of Alpha Stroll on Omega Russell. To cleave them together, as the past three -”

“Three?” Maybe he hadn’t been all the way honest with Alex about when this had started.

“Three years have proven his steadfastness, his intent and his maturity.” Alex laughed a little at this, and if it wasn’t George in this situation, he probably would’ve laughed as well. Would definitely laugh if Lando ended up in this scenario one day, though he knew Lando was a ‘modern man’. “George, are you willing to take this man’s claim?”

A big breath and a nod. “Yes.”

Before she could prompt Lance, he went ahead and did it. Impatient when he knew he could be, he put a hand up to George’s face, and George tilted his chin up. A kiss, atypical but it made George settle into his knees. It also made his skin itch a little, and maybe the separation had its perks. He hadn’t been this ready to go since Brazil, and this time he was allowed to be restless. A little laugh and Lance broke away, kissed the side of his face, then hands came to the base of his throat. “You look very pretty today, George. Good choice for this.”

“For you.” He really didn’t want anyone else hearing that.

“I know.” A big, aggressive scenting rub, and there was a secondary scent that joined the room. That must be him, he supposed, but he kept up on his knees firmly. “All mine now.” The shirt, which was more like something Lance would wear, light and sheer, slid down his shoulder with ease, exposing well kept and unblemished skin. A mating gland ready for a bite. Lance was the one breathing heavily now, and it was funny, the fact he was going to have to help. Pushed all the way up as Lance carefully came down, and a little bit of a hum came out and Lance bit down hard.

George pressed up into it, and his eyes slid shut, and that’s what the therapist was talking about. He was not worried about getting wet, and he could tell that Lance knew something had changed. There was a deep inhale, and then a quick, final pinch and Lance pulled out.

However, this meant George lost all composure. This was worse than the first time he got hard because now he was woozy and sort of kind of wanted to get down on this pillow and beg.

“George?” Lance’s voice was watery, but then there was someone in front of him, pulling him in, and a head went to a shoulder and it was Lance. Inhaling deeply helped him center himself, he put his own head on Lance’s shoulder. “You good?”

He was hard and wet in a room with his best friend and his father in law. They’d agreed to his stupid rules and now he had to go sit through a stupid dinner and then Lance would get put out in the woods and then -

“George.”

“Not going away?” As long as Lance was staying, he could get himself together.

“No. No, besides the whole forest thing, I’m staying. I gotcha.” George looped his arms around Lance at this, pushed as much of his weight into Lance as possible. They’d already agreed George’s bite would be totally private, and it wouldn’t be as urgent as this, no blood drawn. “Do you wanna get up?” George shook his head. “Can I clean you up here then?” George hummed a yes. “You know, people are going to think you’re the shy one if you keep it up.” At this, George opened his eyes and wiggled his brows. “You’re not making me talk for you.” That would be entertaining, and last about three hours, but he’d like to see it. George stuck out a lip and Lance gave him a kiss. “Okay, well now we’re getting up.” George groaned. “They’ve brought you a chair.”

He looked and Alex had, in fact, brought him a chair. Lawrence was crying, a big smile on his face, and he was glad it was him and not Esteban who got to witness his little meltdown. Lance stood up, helped George into the chair, and then he watched as Lance and his dad hugged. A big kiss on Lance’s cheek, and then Lawrence turned to him. “Okay?”

“Er, sure?” He looked at Lance, who nodded. Then George got a big kiss on the cheek, which effectively killed his arousal.

“Welcome, George.” Now George was getting a little misty, and he reached out and Lance’s hand was reaching back for his. Then Lance held up a cotton swab and George relaxed into the chair, knowing Lance had read the several articles he’d sent about how to clean a bite carefully.

—

By the time everything was signed, he was feeling well enough to stand, but still a little fuzzy. He fell in line behind Lance, arms over his shoulders, head tucked in.

“We don’t have to do the dinner if you don’t want to.”

“Lucky last, so we do.” Also, he wanted to have pictures of today, and he couldn’t well do that if they didn’t go get them made. Though luckily the only person allowed to touch him without permission was Lance now, and he had shied away from Alex. “Then home.”

“Then home.”

Once they were in the changing room, Lance fully enjoying his view as he watched George change, he turned around. “Lance, is there anything going on back there?”

“Uh, you’ve got a bit of an ass but no?” Okay, so very smart, getting these shorts. A good call. “Why?”

“I was just a bit aroused after the bite but I wanted to make sure all is good.” Lance smirked. “No, I am not interested in making out after your dad gave me a cheek kiss. I also want to go eat so we can get being outside over with, and I assume you want me to help you dress.”

“I can dress myself good!” Lance said, standing up and stretching. There was a little bit of blood on his chin.

“Sure. But come here.” Lance shuffled over, and George leaned down, and impulse took him and he licked the blood away.

“Wow, my quick little study.” Lance laughed at his own joke, but his voice as high and reedy. He liked it, but now wasn’t the time, so George went back to dressing. “What, no ravishing me?”

“I think that’s supposed to be the other way ‘round, and you’re the one delaying it.” This got Lance moving.

—

It was quite a nice dinner, if a bit early for people. He ended up getting to do the traditional thing of serving Lance and then serving himself, but the portions were the same size, and George was polite with his bites but incredibly hungry all of the sudden. They were at the end of a king’s table, and he tried to participate in the conversation, but he found himself scooting over to Lance bite by bite.

By the time he was effectively in Lance’s lap, there was a camera out, and he sat up straight at this, the first time the logical part of him came back on line. Tilted his head and gave it his work smile, his bite peeking out over the shirt collar.

Instead of mocking him for his work smile, Lance rubbed his arm. “S’okay, not gonna getcha. It’ll be fine, relax.”

His body, without his permission, did so. Relaxed into the curve of Lance’s arm, into the chair, his smile dropping into something wider, more natural.

“Good boy.”

George twitched at that, and he caught a laugh. “I’ll tell Alex to drop you as far as he can in the woods.”

“No, you won’t.”

“No, I won’t.” Realistically, he didn’t want Lance to go into the woods at all. This pageantry really was for other people.

Lance leaned in a bit. “Because you love me.”

“Yes, of course I do.” George tried for eye contact, but apparently the look he gave was enough.

“Perfect!” The photographer said, and it snapped George out of it. He didn’t know this man, and there was plenty of space behind Lance -

Who stood up. “Everybody, I think it’s a good idea if we wrap this up early. Or at least, let G leave. I still have to get the drinks and dumped in the forest, but it’s been a lot for George.” There was quite a bit left for the both of them.

“I get to drive him.” Lily interjected, which was the logical thing here. Not a family member who could still break him free if he was so inclined, not anyone who could be a threat, someone calm and neutral and would get him from place to place. “It’s the best decision.”

George nodded, and for the first time in his life he didn’t want to talk, stepping behind Lance. “Well, thanks everybody for coming. We really appreciate it. I’m gonna get George to the car now.”

—

A nice, big, farewell kiss that Lily didn’t fake gag at, and then he zoned out as the GPS directed them back to the new house. Lily was a good companion, let him doze, taking up just the amount of space her body did. Lance would drive the new car back to the house.

There was a note on the door, along with a suitcase full of Lance’s clothes.

Special delivery at 7 PM <3

- L

And it was 6:15 now so he had very little time to get ready. Now that he was home, he felt like everything was wrong about the nest, and how he laid everything out. Especially with new clothes from Lance - and one pillow buried in the bottom - he had to reset everything.

A flurry of activity over the forty five minutes he had, and hopefully there’d be the additional half hour of waiting. He was expecting someone to take Lance for a drink, so probably closer to eight.

It would be fine.

Clothes off, and because they’d been mingling, he didn’t want them to cross over. Into the laundry, and it would be best to wait to rinse off until the delivery was made. Probably a knock and run away, but to rinse the day off was smart.

But he still washed his hands and put on new socks. Took the gifts of blanket and pillow and placed them in the living room just so. He didn’t want them to get nasty in the nest, but he wanted Lance to see them, kind of like a ‘see what you’ve given me, very important’ thing. Then he got distracted because he’d forgotten to send a text to the group.

George: Hello all. Hope we are all enjoying our summer vacation! The following text is to remain as private as possible, but I wanted you to hear it from us and not from the media or your teams. As most of you do not know, Lance and I have mated today. This has been a long time coming and we appreciate you all keeping this quiet if not your support.

When he was done, confident enough to hit send, he stashed his phone in the utensil drawer. To distract him as he stared at it amongst the forks and spoons, there was a knock on the door. He waited a few minutes for the person to go, then stuck his head out.

There was a little package there, with a bottle of champagne sticking out. Perfect for his bucket, along with some treats that were, in all reality, all for Lance. But George got them into the fridge and then took the ice from Lance’s fancy choice in the fridge. Lucky that Alex forced him into buying this bucket.

Once it was set up just so, he realized he maybe had half an hour to get actually prepared. A bit of a cold sweat happened, because now his nerves reappeared.

But so did the therapist’s words, about how it was supposed to be fun. So he got in the shower, did a quick rinse, got the nervous sweat off. Didn’t want Lance to think he was nervous.Then he did a quick dry of his hair, and took a look at himself in the mirror. He did appear to be quite flushed, his normally even skin different. Instead of how it looked when he was teary, it looked like he was pink in the places he was normally pale besides his eyes.

A breath and he relaxed into it. He was allowed to be flushed, allowed to feel worked up. This was the last bit he had to perform for, and even then, it was a fun performance. He’d won, won the affections of someone who liked him, nasty bits and all. So he eased his way into his sheer cotton robe, a hard look at himself in the mirror. The bite had healed relatively well, though it still looked like a true bite, deep red around the teeth marks. Lance’s mouth was a lot larger than he realized, and he ran a finger across the outline, tangled it in the end of his chain. He’d put the chain back on because it looked good, but the bracelet lived on his watch tree. Who knew where his hands would go, he thought as his fingers went back to the bite. Lance had more experience than him, more knowledge and this got him a bit worked up. Not only because he would be fully trusting in Lance, but the realization they wouldn’t have to wait again, and he would learn what he liked but also how to please Lance, and was it odd to be aroused by that? Without the underwear to prevent embarrassment, he felt very aware of himself. The wetness between his thighs, the head of his prick attempting to meet his bellybutton for the umpteenth time. But he didn’t have time to evaluate that, it was probably about time for Lance to show up.

The nest was exactly how he left it, and now that he was feeling a bit hazy, it looked good. He’d left the lights on, so he went around and cut on the lamps, the tower air conditioner that Lance had asked for onto a high setting. It was nice, he was quite hot, even though he didn’t even have underwear on, and his shirt was more for decoration than a robe’s intended purposes.

Their wall clock - which Lance would probably never, ever notice - said it was 7:30, so probably sooner rather than later. He wondered if they’d blindfolded Lance since it was still light outside, or if they’d been kind and just let him wander around after being dropped wherever.

With this, George sat on the edge of the bed, rubbing at the sweat that had appeared on his face. At least it wasn’t that disgusting cold sweat from nerves, just sweat. It was quite hot here in London, he was not going to let nerves get the better of him.

Lance loved him. Lance wanted him. He’d done everything perfectly to get an alpha, he’d done everything to make their home and their nest perfect. He let the idea of a job well done flow through him, and then the door opened.

How was he supposed to position himself, he wondered. It wasn’t something he’d thought of, as Lance called for him, and he stood up. But no, the point was for Lance to find him, and how? George wanted to see Lance take him in, so on hands and knees was pointless. He didn’t want to be standing though, that wouldn’t set the tone. This wasn’t like a meeting in a driver’s room or a living room, this was the fruit of their patience. The last bit of mating, the messy, private part.

In the end, he sat on his knees, like he had at the ceremony site, and then when Lance came in, he sat all the way up. “Oh, hi there.”

“Hi. You made it home.” Home to him, and he seemed really happy and at ease in the home George had made up.

A slow, pleased smile on Lance’s face. “I did. Look at you, waiting for me. Beautiful.”

George felt himself grin hard, gesturing back at the nest. “I did well?”

“I meant you, so beautiful, but yes the nest is good. You look better in that thing.” Lance got a little closer, squinted. “Just a robe? A virgin in a thin white robe, probably took forever buying because he wanted it to be just right, eh?”

“I just - I want -”

“I know what you want. I want it too, but we’re gonna ease into it. Why I got the champagne, thought we could have a drink beforehand. But you want what you want, and we’ve both waited a long time to get there. You longer than me, but three years is like, a long time.” Lance was in his space now, and George used his toes to get closer. “Yeah, that’s it, let’s start with what you’ve learned from me, make sure you’re confident before we move on.” A hand came and swept down his neck, fingers on the bite and he whined at this, the room going just a tad warmer. “C’mere.”

George caught Lance’s mouth hungrily, the taste of some sort of lemon alcohol on the tip of Lance’s tongue, but it was easy to suck at it, make it go away. Trace the ridges and valleys inside Lance’s mouth, places he knew well, until Lance pressed a thumb into his neck. This had him reel back, away from Lance and then fold onto the bed, feeling light as a feather. His robe was caught in Lance’s hand; for some reason, Lance had thought holding on to that and not him would keep him upright. “George?”

With this, he tilted his head and looked at Lance, and he kept his neck exposed. This time it was the clean side, but if he tilted his jaw out, maybe he’d look alluring. “Yes?”

“You really wanna keep going this fast?”

“I’ve been ready since you bit me earlier, and that was with Alex and your dad in the room.” He wanted to sound petulant but he just sounded needy. Wanting.

That’s how Lance took it, and pulled at the robe until it was in one hand. A whistle. “I should be annoyed but god, you’re beautiful. So hot that you’ve wanted me all day, want me so badly you’re out here undressed and waiting. What if I’d been a stranger?”

“It’s a double lock and there are cameras on the drive, no one would’ve made it inside.” A bit extra, but George liked feeling safe, and he had a feeling there was more to Lance’s insane need for security.

“True. Have to keep my baby safe.” Though this was shit dirty talk, George shuddered all the same, let his legs spread on the comforter. “Oh, babe, are you showing me that I forgot you learned this from me too? Forgot that I taught you how to get hard.” Lance’s hand hovered over his prick, and George’s hips went up towards the hand without telling them to. “Oh, you want me to touch you?” George groaned, big and loud and teetered into a whine as Lance lowered his hand. “You like when you’re touched?”

“Only you touching it so yes, but I want more.”

Carefully, teasingly, Lance took a finger and ran it up the backside of George’s prick, which caused him to shake and moan. “You really haven’t touched yourself since you learned, George?”

“No, not mine to touch.” Which was such an outdated way of thinking, he’d reflected on this during several sessions with the therapist, but it still felt incredibly shameful to consider. After his win in Brazil, when he’d gone back to his hotel room after the party, he’d gotten into the hot shower and crept a hand down. But he’d only made it as far as his pubic hair before he’d given up and switched the water to cold. The therapist had told him historically it was a way for the alpha to ensnare the omega, make them feel good, conditioning the mind. But George was already conditioned to seek so many things from Lance, the pleasure would just be an addition to that list.

“You really haven’t touched yourself at all since you learned how to get hard from me?” George felt the minimal fat on his face shake with his head, he was shaking it so hard. “My little untouched thing, waiting for me to take what’s mine.”

“Yes.” A heady whimper, it reminded him of the first time he’d been hard, the headloss. Lance took it in stride and wrapped a hand around his prick, a little chuckle as George bucked into his grip.

“This is new though, getting to touch my baby. Already leaking a little from having to wait so long.” A flick of the wrist and George thrashed against the bed.

Before he could respond, he realized the robe would get caught if they kept at it. “Wait, robe off.” Slowly, he got onto his elbows, though he was acting crazed doing so, and yanked at it until it was up near the pillows. Turning back to Lance, he realized Lance was fully dressed, but another tug on his prick had him flop back down onto the bed, push himself bodily towards Lance. “So good.”

“You’re so good, my baby and his nice, hard cock. Can’t believe you left it alone for twenty five whole years, waiting for your alpha to claim you so I could touch it. Get you hard, get you off, get you needy. Would you follow me around if I let you go and went to do something else?” Lance did let go at that and George actually cried a tear or two, a gasp and a long whine until the hand came back. “Oh, you’re so worked up, huh?”

“Yes. In a new way today, too, don’t go.”

“What new way?”

With this, it was best to show and not tell if he wanted to get anywhere. Especially as he rounded the corner of desperate and was now heading towards despair. So he spread his legs, tilted his hips up. “That way. S’why I asked you if you could see anything, therapist told me to get the underwear that helps.”

“Helps what?” But Lance was courteous and went to his knees, and hopefully he was able to see in the lamp light. “Oh, helps hide the fact that you’re wet for me?”

“Yes.” He sounded like he was being interrogated to his own ear, interrogated after running about 5k, winded and frantic. “First time today, but I didn’t want it to be in front of anyone else. Just for you.”

This got a groan out of Lance, which felt apt, and then a bite on his inner thigh and George melted into the bed. Fun, fun, this was supposed to be fun, he thought to himself as his snap judgment against himself is that he was acting a little whorish. A tiny bit slutty, as it were, but it was okay. It was natural, and this was kind of fun.

“You’ve never touched down here at all? For real, George?” Lance sounded genuinely curious at this, and George went up on his elbows to see Lance effectively staring down his hole. “Truly new?”

“Yes. Honestly, I was worried I wouldn’t get, well,” he didn’t want to use the word wet out loud, so unseemly, “so there’s a drawer full of lube if you think you’ll need it.”

Lance scrunched up his face, shook his head in a way that made it feel like an everyday conversation and not an explanation of how virginal George was. George was very relieved that Lance thought he could go from producing nothing to enough to have sex with in under twenty four hours. “Nah, think I’ll do what I did earlier.” Lance pushed at his thighs and George spread them a bit. “You’ve never even looked at this?”

“No.” It was weird, how the body changed, and the longer he could not think about it, the better it was for him. Maybe it had been a mental block, not allowing himself to feel pleasure, and that was kind of embarrassing. But if he was going to be honest, all the way so. “Not mine to look at.”

“Well, it’s mine to look at. And I think I want to taste as well as see. Can I?”

“Sure?” It wasn’t really what George thought Lance would be into, but maybe it was a claim thing, marking unclaimed territory.

“Well, since you've been so good, I’m gonna start up here and then work my way down.” And then the head of his prick was in Lance’s mouth and it took everything in him to not shove his way in further. He knew that much was rude and he was understanding the obsession now. Instead of pushing, he dug his fingers into the duvet, clinging on for dear life. Panting like a heathen, but trying to keep his lower body at peace so he wouldn’t hurt Lance.

Then Lance bobbed his head up and down and George did actively start crying. It was such a long day, very overwhelming, and this was too much information. He had not ever considered Lance sucking him off to be his first sexual experience, and there was something inside of him that didn’t want that.

“George,” Lance’s voice was shot, “baby, are you crying?” He couldn’t manage words but he did groan, and Lance took that as a yes. “You really have run out of patience, eh? Or did you not like that?”

“Did like it but it’s not what I want.” This was his instincts talking, not him, and he hoped Lance knew that. One day he really would love to be sucked off, maybe if Lance grew his hair out more and George could pull at it. Control him for a change, instead of being the puppet bobbing around.

A laugh somewhere around his balls, which felt good, the vibrations, and then Lance was licking at his hole. If he’d been dry, it probably would’ve sounded less graphic, but the sound of slick on saliva was deeply sexual, and personal, and it was probably George’s fourth favorite sound in the world, following Lance saying his name, the sound of F1 cars turning on, and then Lance calling him baby. Might beat the third place finisher sooner rather than later, especially with the little noises Lance was making now, aggressive and deep in his chest. Like George wasn’t the only one with new feelings being unlocked tonight.

Outside of this room, they were equals, two men in two different cars, doing the same job, living the dream. In this room, he’d been working at a disadvantage, and it crossed his mind that Lance was good at this because he’d done it before, and there was a spike of jealousy. He had to make it better than anyone else, and he started to whine.

“Don’t tell me you don’t like that either?”

“I do but I want - I want -” he wanted to be fucked, was that such a heinous crime that he had to bed for it? “Alpha.” He maintained it, the long, drawn out whine, and the word had a new meaning as Lance pulled away, stood up. George could see his face was shiny from where he’d been licking at George, and his face probably smelled incredible. The perfect blend of Lance scent, which was now very prominent in the room, and the private scent that had only ever come out to play today from George, marking his mate as his own. “Please please please. Please.”

“Thought you were my virgin, eh? Didn’t know what was going on.”

This was fun, it was playful, but George had been on the edge for at least five hours at this point and he wanted to be whole in the way that was only possible when Lance was knotted inside of him. It was starting to make him crazy, and so he just let himself whine, a long and low thing with no words attached, as Lance stepped out of his jeans.

“George? George, what are you saying?”

“Off. Shirt off.” Lance did so, and on instinct, George took his hands and spread his legs further. Luckily he did a lot of core activation so this wasn’t as uncomfortable as it could be. “More, please more.” He needed to stop this charade, he needed to be wanted, to be whole, to be fully claimed and then mark Lance as his own. Better than anyone before, and he started to make a funny little noise at that.

Lance knew it, though, that noise, and pressed George’s chest into the mattress. “No. Stop thinking that.” George let himself stop, but made a curious noise in response. “You were upsetting yourself, and this is gonna be fun. Are you having fun, baby?”

“Yes.” He parted his legs just a hair more, bit his bottom lip. “More, please?”

“One minute.” Lance went back to his jeans for something and George tried to angle himself so Lance could see what he was allegedly missing as he faffed about. “One minute, George, Jesus. Be calm for just ten more seconds.”

His mind and his mouth were in two different stratospheres at this point. His mind told his body to relax, but his mouth just started whining in a way that was distressing even to him, reedy and thin and the despair that was in his mind was in this whine.

There was some sound and then there was a finger pressed against his hole and he stopped. “I should’ve just finished the job back at that place, huh? Know you wanted it to be special but you’re gone, baby. Been so needy since I put my teeth in you, dying for a knot, eh? Never had one but you want it so bad. ”

“Yes. Please, please, please.” One finger found its way to his entrance and he started to press his hips into it. After two quick circles around it, the finger pressed in, and this relieved a little bit of his stress. “Yes.”

“Yeah, you like that? You like that your alpha is listening to you, taking care of you?” Lance crooked a finger and George attempted to press Lance further in. “Yeah, I know, baby, but I gotta make sure you’re ready.”

“Good?” Was he being good? Was Lance enjoying this, watching him twitch away on the new bedclothes, out of his mind and willing to risk whatever as long as they were connected sooner rather than later.

Also, good enough to have waited for? Good enough to have mated? He wanted to feel the full claim, but stake his own on Lance as well. Wanted to know, and he was kind of hoping they did get some of that feeling and mind sharing capabilities. All of the literature said that with a prolonged courting, the body would offer different elements to a successful mating.

Another finger joined the first, and clearly he’d missed something. “Went away for a second, think I’m losing you.”

“No, thinking about -” Negative things, and George rocked up into the fingers, a clumsy interpretation of what they were supposed to be doing. He was struggling but he would get what he wanted. With Lance, he usually did.

“That’s it, you shouldn’t be thinking about anything except this. Clearly I’m the one trying to pump the brakes and you are actually ready. So warm inside, so welcoming.” Lance pulled them both out and his body went up into a crunch, hand reaching out to push Lance back. “No, baby, I’m gonna actually give it to you this time. So lay down for me, be as good as you have been. Let me teach you what comes next.”

Easy enough, and he let the random tension in his muscles go, melted into the bedsheets. It’s what he’d been waiting for, what his body had been preparing for, adjusting and being ready to take it.

It wasn’t actually what he thought it’d be at all, a little impersonal, but the pressure was divine. A quick glance down and he realized Lance had put a condom on.

Which was odd, because they were mated, George had his shots and he could’ve sworn he had seen a birth control shot on Lance’s calendar for after his rut. Why a condom? Maybe it was a mess thing, but Lance was never one to care too much about a mess.

But Lance was going deeper than the fingers, and his mind let him drift into feeling it, the little ‘ah’ that came out of his mouth unintentional but it was nice. Felt better than fingers or tongue, closer to what he wanted.

There was a hand near his head, and he turned to it, kissed the visible scar. This time, it was Lance’s fingers that hooked in the chain, tugged a little bit, and George bore down on the cock inside of him, tilting his neck so fingers could press into his bite.

Unlike his own fingers, Lance’s were firm when he pressed down on the outline, as if he wished the bite would open again, show Lance where he’d marked earlier. This time he had marked significantly more territory, if not in the way George thought.

“Look at you, so beautiful. Outta my league, brains and beautiful and I thought I had it all when you were just a beta that I wanted to follow into the nearest room and see if you liked what I gave you. Carried my blanket, my pillow, took the flights I got you, made sure you were comfortable. Then you told me you’re an omega, afraid I wouldn't want you like this.”

Lance was perceptive, though he liked to think he wasn’t. “Yes.”

“I’d want you even if you were another alpha. I’d give you anything you wanted just to look at me like this, I knew that in 2020. But you’ve got pride, you work so hard,” and now Lance’s hips were moving, his other hand doing something but George was focused on the face, “and you always gotta prove yourself. But you have, baby, so good. Waited for me, wanted me, loved me.”

“Love you.” It was current, not the past tense.

“I love you too, my beautiful omega. My baby, never letting anyone besides me touch him.” A brush of a hand to his chin and he bore his neck so Lance could slot in closer. “Learning this so quick, shoulda known you’d be able to take whatever I give you, learn so fast.”

“For you.” For Lance’s love, his affection, George would do anything. Stop wearing team gear. Stop posting the shirtless selfies he knew Lance hated. Drive that beautiful Aston to the factory every day and deal with the backlash. Keep their home impeccably done, neat and tailored to Lance’s whims. Learn to ski. Give them a baby sooner or later. “Anything.” Another attempt at kissing Lance’s wrist.

At this, Lance pulled back a bit, stopped thrusting, instead a slow grind as his eyes went to where they were together, and George felt a pressure begin to build inside. His brain slowed at this, what he wanted but also not totally, but when Lance leaned down and kissed him, he followed that throughline. This he knew, he wasn’t confused about kissing.

When a hand made it to his prick, he was the one that pulled away, and Lance leaned down, lips to ear. “Now, here’s your next big lesson, a twofer. One is you coming for me, the other is me knotting you. Now, I’m going to be a good mate and let you finish first. God I wish you would’ve let me before knotting you, wanna remember your face so badly when you cum like a good -”

George’s body and a bit of his soul interrupted that line of thinking, twenty five years of waiting done as he came into Lance’s fist, but he couldn’t even make it to biting Lance, he just started to give the little ‘ah ah ah’ sound over and over again until Lance joined him, a growl deep down in his chest, echoing back in George’s, and that had taken a lot out of him.

But he didn’t feel quite done yet, he told his body as it slipped into sleep. It’s not done yet, but he didn’t know exactly how to explain that. And he was tired.

—

He woke up some time later, empty and alone and now that his mind was awake, he was too. And Lance being gone, and George hadn’t bitten him, and it felt just so unfinished besides that too. They weren’t done.

But he couldn’t leave their nest, it was his safe space, so he had to get Lance to come back and finish the job. Eyes looked at the clock but nothing was sitting right. He’d gone from clear minded to frantic in a split second - how to fix this?

So his mind went to the next thing it could - how omegas enticed alphas in books. On hands and knees, he used long arms to spread himself and then started whining as loud as he possibly could. His headloss had returned at an alarming rate, but he had to finish. Though he didn’t understand what his body was asking for, his mind was in agreement.

There was some stumbling, but Lance was at the doorway, door banging open, relatively quickly. But not quickly enough.

“George? Uh, baby, what are you doing?”

He gave an answer in tones, the whine intensifying, and Lance came over next to the bed, got down on his knees so they were eye to eye.

“Never thought I’d want you to speak in full sentences, but what’s wrong? You’re acting a little crazy, we already did that part. I didn’t leave, I just needed some water and I thought we could pop the champagne since you didn’t have any at dinner.”

“Not done.” He took one hand and shook Lance’s shoulder. They weren’t done, and it was more urgent than before because he couldn’t explain why. A thumb brushed against Lance’s mating gland and something clicked.

“Oh, I see. I getcha, you were pretty shocked earlier. I’ll let you.”

Not what he wanted but good enough, and he went onto his knees, then pulled at Lance til he laid on the bed. “Alright, how do you want this?”

His way is how he wanted it, but he wasn’t quite sure what that was. Since his body was the one in charge, he let his instincts lead, and straddled Lance. Lance opened his mouth to say something and George simply did not want to hear it. So he pressed lips and tongues together, and once the pattern appeared, he took a hand and found Lance’s prick. Free of a condom, getting hard in his hand, and he worked at it roughly. Not his finest job, and one day he’d take his time, maybe put his mouth on Lance.

For now, he wanted Lance in, and he wanted to feel it. His body complied, and he clumsily guided Lance towards his hole.

Lance pulled back, sputtered. “Uh, thought I was gonna get a bite. I think I’ll make you sore if I go again.”

“No, go again.” Through his lashes, he saw Lance debate him. “Please?”

“I need to get somethin’.”

“No.” Lance wasn’t going anywhere, he was going to put his cock into George and knot him. Fill him up and that would be better than anyone else he’d slept with. Then George would bite him and Lance would feel it. But he had to with no barrier, to feel George, to mate him at the base level. “Need inside. Need you to knot me, fill me up.”

“George-”

This time he had the upper hand, or he wanted to. Lance had the perfect first time he had clearly wanted them to have, and before this, it’s what George had wanted. But not feeling the knot, feeling the cum claim his hole, a full body claim, it was what he wanted now. “No, had my bloody shots, I need this. Need you to knot me, be inside me, need to feel it. Need to be the best you ever had, best you’ll ever have.”

“You are.” So tender, and Lance stroked a flank, a branch added to the circuit of energy between them. “You already are, George.”

“No. But will be.” With this, another kiss, and he pressed Lance in with his hands, skin on skin, and this is what he wanted. Worked at the outside parts of Lance, rocked back and forth on what had made it inside. “Will you?”

“Yeah.” A croaked out yes, but a yes nonetheless.

Onwards he went, using a bit of the wetness he’d created to work at Lance, felt a knot start to form under his hand and pushed himself down and Lance up, and then worked at Lance with the force of his walls. “Don’t you want to? Isn’t this what you wanted, to mate me? Mark me up with you, knot my virgin hole, claim me? Mate me like this so you’ll know, know I’ll take it any day, any time, want you to knot me so much you’ll -” his brain fuzzed up at this thought, Lance’s hands squeezing his hips, and he kept at it. “Better?”

“Yeah.”

“First?” First time Lance had fucked without a condom, and the pulse inside of him answered that. He still liked the choked out yeah he got.

“Best?” Best hole he’d ever had?

“God yeah. God, you want me to cum in you so bad, eh?”

“Want you to mate me. Want you to need me, one day want you to breed me.” This time it was Lance sputtering, unable to get words out, and George’s hand worked at the minute space left between Lance’s knot and his body, and then he tilted his head and bit down on Lance’s mating gland. Lance’s hips bucked at this, a rumble of pleasure and that’s what he wanted. When George pulled back, there was no blood, but there were little red indents saying ‘George was here’. It drove him mad. “Yes, splendid, wonderful, so good inside me.”

A hand found his prick and pulled at it, and he rocked back and forth between pressure points. Took a bit longer this time as he licked at Lance’s bite instead of his mouth, and when he felt himself getting close, he squeezed at the tiny space of Lance’s cock left.

“You too. More inside, mark me up, fill me up.”

This comment had Lance flip them, using George’s surprise to his advantage, and the hips were as rough as he had been, the knot pulsing and then a hand came to his throat, not pushing, and George shook apart, milking Lance’s knot as he went. This time he could see the look of rapture that went across Lance’s face as his second wave hit him, and that was what he wanted. To prove he was good, he was worthy, and this time he could debrief about his weird proclivities.

“Still good?”

Lance came down to meet him again, kissed him, then went back to his ear. “You’re going to be so much trouble, aren’t you?”

“Haven’t I always been to you?” Surprised he was that coherent, but it got him a laugh. “But good?”

“Yes, George, great. Amazing. Didn’t expect you to want to get so messy, because that’s what this is gonna be in the morning.”

So what? He’d clean it up, remake the nest, and then get to living their lives. “Wanted.”

“If this is what you’re like second time out of the gate, I’m fucked.” In all reality, George was the one fucked. “Maybe one day you’ll fuck me.”

At this thought, George pulled Lance in a bit more, a human duvet. “You’ll have to teach me.”

“S’okay. I’ll do whatever for you, you know that.”

George thought maybe it was what Lance wanted too.

—-

George woke up warm and toasty, wrapped around Lance. Sometime in the night they’d moved around, and Lance was on his back, closer to the door, his human pillow.

God I have to pee.

He’s so good at cuddling, knew he would be. Fits so good, so comfy, so beautiful cuddled up next to me. If I go pee he’ll probably flip and then I’ll be cold.

So lucky he said yes. God his back is sexy, I’m toast if I think somebody’s back is sexy.

Shouldn’t have had that water, I gotta pee like a damn horse right now.

And I’m kinda hungry.

That was not his voice in his head, and when that connected, he hummed to himself happily. Lance was his, and with this element, he’d always know what’s going on in that head of his.

But Lance was hungry and had to use the loo, and George kind of wanted water himself. The champagne would be nice, maybe something to eat. He could do that easily, and he rubbed his head in the crook of Lance’s neck, then stood up. At some point he’d been cleaned up, and he felt very at ease in his body.

“Uh, hey? Where are you going?”

“You have to pee and you’re hungry.” George was actually kind of cold now, so he was going to get some sweats on and then get some water for himself.

“Uh, yeah? But how did you know that?”

George tapped at his head. “There are several benefits to mating the traditional way. On top of that, I do think the ice has melted so we probably need to salvage the champagne.” Clock read that it was half past three in the morning. “Well, if the house being so cool has helped it, maybe not.”

Lance rolled from lounging to sitting up on the bed, wide smile and playful eyes. “You’re you again.”

“One could argue I’ve always been me, but yes, I’ve returned to form.” He used the height he naturally had to lean down and kiss Lance, who kept a grin on. “Now go use the loo and I’ll get your treats out.” Lance pinched his bum at this. “I think you are hungry for food, and I did not agree to cannibalism.”

Lance groaned at this. “Yep, definitely you again.”

“If you make haste, maybe we could cuddle on the couch with our champagne. Enjoy a bit of free time.”

This has Lance roll off the bed. “On it.”

Compromise. As he stepped into his sweatpants, he realized this was what came from all of their patience. Joy and passion and it really had been an odd sort of fun.