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An Arrangement of Sorts

Summary:

“There’s no way you’re demanding another date after the way you treated me last week.”

Notes:

Read the tags plssss this is a modern arranged marriage and contains all the warnings that includes

This was a gift fic for evildrem!!!

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Steve was full of an undignified rage.

It wasn’t even unheard of, that was the thing. Not even now, in the age of technology and smartphones and fucking deepfakes. It wasn’t unheard of, so why exactly was he even surprised?

His parents didn’t truly love him. He already knew that. He’d seen proof of it over plenty of years, again and again. They didn’t love him, they only wanted him to be miserable.

“Steve, stop moping.”

Was it considered moping to be overwhelmed with the entire trajectory of your life changing right before your eyes?

“I’m not moping,” He said, arms crossed over his chest as he thoroughly ignored his breakfast. They were in public, so he knew he couldn’t cause a scene. There were probably paps around too. His mother probably fucking called them. Catherine would do that. “Where’s dad, huh? He didn’t want to be here to deliver the news himself? I would have thought he’d be absolutely overjoyed at the loss of life.”

He really hoped the cameras caught his mother rolling her eyes in the most unflattering of ways.

“It’s not the end of the world,” She said with a worn down sigh. He had no clue what she had to feel worn down about. Too many spa visits, perhaps? “We gave you an ultimatum last year. Clean up your act, stop doing drugs, and find a good Alpha to marry. That was it. You’ve failed to do any of those things, so we’re doing them for you.”

The ‘or what?’ went unspoken.

Steve knew where this would lead should he disagree with his parents. Being cut off. In totality. And Steve could have that. He had a lifestyle to maintain. He wasn’t used to any other way of life. He wasn’t even joking, he’d probably die.

“Do you have anybody in mind?” He asked haughtily, hoping against hope that maybe his parents were bluffing. Maybe that hadn’t been searching, maybe this was all a ruse to force Steve to act right.

His mother had a chagrined look about her. As if she didn’t want to say her next words.

“I’ve gone through several candidates,” She said, grimacing. Oh, she was going to look awful in these photos. It was the only solace Steve could find in such a horrible situation. “Unfortunately, your reputation precedes you. I’ve had more cancelled meetings than successful ones.”

Steve tried to bite back a self satisfied smile. He wasn’t sure how successful he was.

“So? I’m not eligible? Is that what you’re saying?”

His mother snuffed whatever hope he had right out. In mere seconds.

“Don’t worry,” She smiled coldly. “I found someone. He has his own reputation but…he’s a better candidate than most. And willing.”

Oh. Steve knew what that meant.

“He threw money at you? For me?” Steve felt a bit sick with the knowledge, even if he’d been aware of it his entire life. What he was, his only use. To be pulled around like cattle.

“He is a very wealthy man, yes.”

Steve wasn’t supposed to grind his teeth together anymore. He knew he wasn’t. It would fuck with them. He had to look perfect and pretty and presentable and-

“Is it someone famous?” Steve had a hunch. If his mom didn’t particularly like this man, he probably had a career that made her turn her nose up. But he was undeniably successful too. Steve knew there was something fishy going on.

“If you want to call it that,” She wrinkled her nose up, not nearly as dignified as her son. It really said something. Normally she was so in check, so aware of her movements and facial expressions. The sinking feeling in Steve’s stomach was only getting worse. “I’ve set up a meeting for the two of you. It’ll be at Harold’s on the third. You’ll need to dress nice but casual. Wear that lovely blue sweater I bought you-“ The sweater she’d had a personal assistant buy him, more like. “No makeup. He’ll probably like you fresh faced. No perfume, no blockers. Are we clear?”

They definitely were not fucking clear.

Steve refused to make this process easy. Absolutely not. Over his dead body.

Steve didn’t think his mom would go through with actually arranging a date for him.

Or for it to be-

“She’s trying to get me lambasted by the press,” Steve hissed as he tried his best to fix his hair. It was pressed back with gel, a look he wasn’t quite fond of. It didn’t matter, he didn’t want to look good. He wanted to look as awful as possible. He wanted to be ass off putting as possible. “That’s what this is. You knew what it would look like-“

“You screw rockstars all the time,” Robin let out a snort, in enthused by Steve’s tantrum as she read a random magazine left in his most spacious closet. Whatever. She was wrong. He’d only done that like twice and anyway, he’d never been attached to those people for very long. “What’s different this time?”

Steve swung around, eyes lit up with rage.

“This time I have the marry the motherfucker,” Steve hissed. “Did you forget that part? And no telling what sort of diseases he’s got on him, oh my god. Probably loads. I’m basically signing myself up for a lifetime of being cheated on. I haven’t met a rockstar that isn’t a cheater, Robin. It’s in their fucking dna.”

Robin rolled her eyes. She was far too used to Steve’s particular brand of dramatics to be too bothered. He was just like this. All the highs and lows a human being could possibly experience. And all before noon on a weekday.

“You’re fine,” She said, setting her magazine to the side. “It’s one date. You look like a toy soldier, there’s no way he’s gonna want to fuck you. Is that better?

Steve sniffed with anger.

“I guess,” He conceded petulantly. “I don’t wanna do this. This is bullshit.”

Robin gave him a look.

“It’s one date. It’ll be over in an hour or two. Probably less, judging by your mood.”

Right. And he was going to lean into that. He had to. No way was this going to work out.

Steve had his worst outfit on. It was actually incredibly brave of him, something that had apparently shocked Robin. Steve wasn’t one to go out looking like a fool, especially when he knew there would be cameras around to capture his unflattering outfit.

He just absolutely refused to do what his parents wanted him to do.

His lips were a bright red, his hair a mess. His button up was too big, uglier than anything he’d worn in ages. He looked like he was trying a new thing. But anyone with a keen eye would realize Steve was just being ironic.

It was a protest.

He was protesting his parents controlling hands. He wasn’t even that badly behaved, no matter what they said. Steve was pretty tame compared to some of his friends. He didn’t party all that often and he wasn’t prone to sleeping around. He was just a little too special to give it up constantly to random Alphas.

Steve held more value than all of that. Hence why he didn’t want to be married off to the highest bitter. He was truly shocked that his mother had picked this one too. I mean, really? A disgusting metal band rockstar with a penchant for sleeping with fans? Steve knew enough about the industry, he wasn’t dumb.

He sat ramrod straight in his seat, having purposely arrived early. He couldn’t help it, the nerves were getting the better of him. It wasn’t even- he wasn’t nervous. What for? He was angry and spiteful and hooked on vengeance. He would prove to his parents that they couldn’t just meddle in his life whenever they pleased.

The restaurant was deliberately bougie, a place Steve had chosen on purpose. No way this guy would fit in here. He’d look like a fish out of water and hey, maybe it would run him off before they even got to say hello.

He sipped on white wine as he waited, not willing to check the time on his phone. He didn’t want to look over eager. Then again, their table was inside. So it wasn’t like the paps could get a direct photo of him.

He was ten minutes late.

Ten minutes.

Steve was too dignified to grind his teeth but by god, he wanted to do nothing more.

It was abundantly obvious when He entered the restaurant. Steve could hear the actual hush that followed him, a bodyguard entering before him.

Eddie fucking Munson.

The complete opposite of Steve in every single way.

He was underdressed for the occasion and place. He wore torn up jeans and an even worse shirt. Steve was pretty sure it had a naked girl on it but he wasn’t about to look too closely. No. Screw Eddie.

He sidled up to Steve’s table like he owned the place and slid into his seat with all the grace of a gazelle with broken legs.

“Pleasure to meet you here,” Eddie rattled off, voice low like he’d just smoked a full pack of cigs. He probably had. Ew. “I’m Eddie.”

Steve sneered openly at him, ignoring the bodyguard who stood just a few feet away. He was used to having them around by now.

“I know who you are,” Steve snapped, picking his wine glass up and taking a long drink. “I ordered fish, by the way. I don’t do chicken.”

Steve totally ate chicken. Eddie didn’t need to know that.

“I love fish. What kind?” Eddie asked, putting on the fakest kindest face Steve had ever seen.

Oh, so it was like that?

“How much is my mom paying you? What’s my dowry?” Steve asked sarcastically, tilting his head at Eddie. It was blatantly sarcastic, something to mirror the childish way Eddie had just spoken to Steve.

“You’re an angry little guy,” Eddie laughed suddenly, looking far too relaxed for Steve’s liking. “It’s not really money she’s offering me.”

Well. That didn’t sound too fucking good, did it?

“More…” Eddie trailed off, as if he was considering his next words. Probably not. He seemed dumb as nails. Was that the saying? “It’s more that I need…good press and…a marriage to an Omega would kind of help that.”

Good press.

Steve was here to be-

“So I’m PR fodder?” Steve asked, feeling kind of violent. Of course, of course. His mother would do this to him. “Did you screw too many groupies or something? Jesus Christ, what year is it? I kind of doubt I could raise your capital that much-“

“You’re well liked,” Eddie sighed, clacking his many ringed knuckles on the table annoyingly. “I’m not. That’s really all there is to it.”

Eddie seemed like he didn’t enjoy arguing. Too bad for him, Steve loved it.

“Oh, that’s all there is to it? What about my free will? What about what I want?”

He stuck his nose in the air and gave into the urge to cross his arms stiffly over his chest.

“Weren’t you just spotted doing coke in that uh- that new club on fifth street? Like they got photos of you? And it was some guy with his pants down around his-“

Okay, Eddie.

“That was circumstantial, okay?” Steve snapped, sneering at Eddie again. His scent was going a little crazy, despite the spray he’d used before they left the house. Maybe Eddie was just that annoying. “I wasn’t even- why? Have you seen the photos? My mom was supposed to- that’s not important. You can just- just sit there and eat your food and leave me alone.”

Eddie looked pleased as punch, his entire demeanor slipping into a cat-like presence. Like the fucking Cheshire Cat, smiling at Steve before it gobbled him up. Whatever. Steve had never been able to sit through that entire movie. He had no clue what the fuck the cat was up to.

“I see this going one of two ways,” Eddie said, spreading his hands out calmly. Steve was totally going to bitch out the chef for taking so long, oh my god. He did not want to listen to this man ramble for an hour. “You’ll either decide that I’m too annoying for you and-“ Steve made a hissing noise that had Eddie rolling his eyes in a very annoying manner indeed. “And you’ll try to run me off, using whatever half baked, asinine plan you think you have up your sleeve. Or- and it’s a big or- you’ll actually go through with this and you’ll realize I’m the least bad option you have. I mean, I could be so much worse. I could be a predatory Alpha who only wants to fuck you. And I definitely do not want to fuck you.”

Impossible. Almost everyone wanted to fuck Steve. That wasn’t even the point. What exactly could Eddie be getting from any of this?

“This is dumb,” Steve complained, feeling the need to kick his feet a little. For the flair. “You can’t be signing yourself up for marriage just- just to save your career. You’re a rockstar. Isn’t it like, good to be a slut? That’s a thing, right?”

It was definitely a thing.

Eddie showed his first slip of the day, his jaw clenching as he looked away from Steve.

“I’m kind of on thin ice with my band,” Eddie admitted. Steve had no clue what that meant. “They don’t like the way I’ve…conducted myself. I would like to mend my image with them and the public. They offered me this solution and I said yes.”

Ah.

Well.

“Do you have a scandal under your belt and you’re being blackmailed by your own band so it doesn’t get out?” Steve asked, feeling quite catty. It was obvious, he could tell by the way Eddie narrowed his eyes at him.

Luckily, their waiter arrived just in time. All these pheromones were making Steve oddly light headed. He wasn’t a fan of it.

He couldn’t even smell the exact notes Eddie possessed, that was the most annoying part. Steve liked knowing, even if he too used a spray that typically covered him pretty well. Though, it didn’t seem to be working today. He had zero clue as to why.

Steve wasn’t very interested in eating.

He was to focused on Eddie now. The careful way he nodded his head and smiled at the waiter as he filled his glass of wine halfway.

Steve wanted the waiter to leave, his beta scent suddenly too much.

“That’s fine,” Steve said as rudely as possible, plastering a fake smile on his face. The waiter jumped in place, setting their bottle back down and backing away from the table with an awkward bow. “Ugh.”

“Are you always rude to staff?” Eddie asked with raised brows.

“No,” Steve snapped, hands shaking a little as he picked up his knife and fork. The fish didn’t even look good. What kind was it again? He couldn’t remember. “No, I’m not. He was just- I didn’t like- is it really any of your business?”

Eddie just looked concerned now.

Why was it so fucking hot?

“They have got to turn the heat down in here,” Steve muttered to himself, tugging at the neck of his stupid shirt. He popped the first button but that certainly wasn’t enough. No, he was burning up. What the hell was going on? “Are you not hot?”

“Uh…no,” Eddie looked at Steve like he knew something Steve didn’t know. Or he was keeping a secret or some shit. “Hey, would you like to maybe reschedule?” What? “Just…you look under the weather.”

All Steve could smell was musk and amber and campfire and-

“Why is your cologne so strong?” Steve sat his utensils back down without thinking, wrinkling his nose. God, was he drunk? He’d only had one glass, his tolerance was way higher than that.

“I’m not…I’m not wearing cologne?” Eddie’s sentence lifted up like a question. It took all of five seconds for his jaw to drop open, making him look like exactly the kind of idiot Steve did not enjoy being around. “Oh. Oh no.”

“Oh no?” Steve parroted, glaring harder at Eddie. Really, Eddie should be asking the staff to turn the heat down. This was silly and ridiculous, it hadn’t been this hot when Steve first came in. And Eddie was- he looked very worried now. And that fucking Beta, Steve could actually smell him. Which wasn’t- that was rare. He normally couldn’t smell them unless- “Oh my god. No. No no no no no, this isn’t happening. This is so not-“

“Did you not take your suppressants?” Eddie asked, sounding oddly neutral. It didn’t help at all.

“Of course I took my suppressants,” Steve hissed in defense. He wasn’t an idiot. “I’m not- it’s gotta be- oh god, what kind of hulk hormones do you have?”

Eddie looked aghast at first and then offended a second later.

“I don’t have hulk hormones,” Eddie said, rearing back. “You’re so- look, I’m sorry but I think our date needs to be cut short-“ Oh, you think? Do you really think so, Eddie? “We can get back to this a week from now.”

Unlikely.

But-

Steve groaned again, planting one palm to his hot forehead as Eddie’s bodyguard sent the pair a surreptitious look.

Steve could not go back home like this.

“I can’t- fuck me, I can’t just go home,” He muttered to himself, thinking quickly. “I’ll- I’ll have to get a hotel room. Yeah, hotel room. Gotta- gotta book it or- or have someone-“

“What?” Eddie interrupted, sounding offended again. “You can’t just go to a hotel if you’re staring your-“ Steve hissed quietly, all the noises of the restaurant now too much for his sensitive ears. And Eddie’s smell, dear god. “Steve? That’s a horrible idea. You never know who-“

“I have a security team,” Steve said, the snark washing off of him. He couldn’t keep it up. “I trust them. I’ve got- I’ve gotta-“

Steve passed out.

Eddie was kind enough to not ship a blacked out Steve to his own home. At least that was what Steve thought he’d been implying. The wine had gotten to Steve’s head and clearly triggered his heat.

“You know that’s not what happened.”

Steve glared at Robin’s tiny face on his screen, rubbing tiredly at his eyes as he sat up in bed and stretched. It was past noon and he didn’t have the energy to deal with judgment today.

“Sometimes alcohol can trigger pheromones that mimic-“

“Stop reciting webMD, Steve.”

He chose to ignore her loud sigh, grumbling to himself. Whatever. She wasn’t right. His doctor wasn’t right.

“Eddie Munson does not have superior Alpha hormones that somehow sent me into a random tailspin midday,” Steve said blankly, clutching his blanket and hoping his headache might go away. It had been a horrible week and Steve’s mother was pissed off at him. Less so after she found out about his heat. She just seem pleased then, which annoyed Steve even more. “He’s not- he’s fucking annoying, for one. And I still plan on sabotaging this whole thing.”

“And I support you in that,” Robin said softly, making Steve feel at least a smidge better. “I just want you to be careful.”

Careful. Right.

“I’m plenty careful,” Steve said, knowing that Robin meant well. More than anyone else in his life. “Don’t worry, Rob. I have a whole plan lined out. Notes and everything.”

“That’s what I was worried about.”

Robin grimaced in the face of Steve’s grin.

The concept of an actual PR date wasn’t new to Steve. He’d been on a few before, usually ending in disaster created by his own hands. It wasn’t hard to do, actually. Steve found that he had a special talent for annoying men.

Eddie Munson was just another name on the long list of men who would no longer want to come near Steve once they realized how high maintenance he could be.

It didn’t help that Steve was an otherworldly state of grump, still mildly horny from his heat. It didn’t make him feel good, that was the thing. He felt on edge, skin prickling at the slightest breeze. His scent was out of whack and it felt like he’d emptied half a bottle of expensive spray onto himself before he could even leave his hotel. Because, again. He did not want to be anywhere near his mother at the moment and she was insisting on him staying with her until his untimely marriage.

Steve didn’t love the idea.

He missed his apartment, his nest. He didn’t like sleeping in the cold and sterile guest rooms of his parents home.

So a hotel was the next best place.

Steve was glad to be out, even if he had a horrible date to plan. He couldn’t trust Eddie to plan one. Absolutely not. It’d probably be at a dive bar or something and Steve wasn’t opposed to those but…he wanted Eddie to think he was.

Steve knew exactly the type of date that would drive a man like Eddie crazy. And not in a good way.

Shopping.

It wasn’t even a date, not really. But it was public enough. Steve doubted Eddie knew his way around the same places Steve went to, no matter what his bank account looked like.

And Steve didn’t even have to actively contact Eddie. To be fair, Steve didn’t have his number. He didn’t want it. He wanted this whole thing to be clean and over before the end of the week, thank you very much. No strings attached.

Steve chose to dress normal this time around. It had nothing to do with the fact that every shirt he threw on felt like sandpaper, absolutely not. He was fine. His heat was over and he was definitively fine.

He was more dressed down than he normally might be, sunglasses perched on his eyes as he finally had his driver take him to meet Eddie somewhere. Not just somewhere. An outlet of stores that Steve frequented when he wanted to be seen. He wasn’t really his best looking for the day but hey, maybe that would make it look all the more suspicious. Steve Harrington not trying his best? Steve Harrington running around in boring everyday clothing, looking like he had a killer hangover?

Steve could sacrifice his dignity for the plot.

Eddie was on time this go around, already slipping out of his stupid little black sports car. Steve didn’t know shit about cars and he didn’t really care, as long as he had someone to drive him around.

“Hi there,” Eddie gave Steve the dumbest little salute as Steve’s driver opened the door for him. He was a nice guy. Steve needed to tip him more often. “You look-“

“Bad, I know,” Steve said with delight. Eddie only looked confused, frowning like a disappointed parent. Ugh. Steve could smell him again but he kept it to himself. He just didn’t understand why Eddie couldn’t cover his scent better. “Shall we?”

Eddie didn’t even ask why they were shopping. Which annoyed Steve further.

“Absolutely,” Eddie said, stepping closer to Steve and holding a hand out. Steve sneered at it and side stepped Eddie, walking ahead of him as one of his security guards tailed them. It was shocking that Eddie hadn’t even bothered with a disguise.

“Aren’t you worried you’ll be recognized?” Steve asked as they wandered into a store he frequented. Enough so that they were greeted once they opened the door, the staff eyeing them with barely veiled interest.

“Not at all,” Eddie said boredly, following Steve around like a lost puppy. “It’s part of the job. I have a unique face.”

And stupid hair too. But Steve didn’t say that out loud.

“I want some new jeans,” Steve said haughtily as a sales person approached them. To Eddie, not the worker. Steve wasn’t that big of a dick. “Hello Eileen. It’s been too long.”

Steve could see Eddie practically rolling his eyes behind him. He really did not care.

He conversed with Eileen for far too long, allowing her to pull him through the store. He definitely didn’t need new jeans. But Steve was prone to throwing hissy fits and this was exactly that. Just more refined.

He wanted to test Eddie until he gave up.

“These are lovely,” Steve said, holding up the tenth pair. He hadn’t even tried anything on yet. “Do you have them in a darker wash?”

Eileen smiled kindly, very professionally ignoring Eddie, who stood right behind Steve like a guard dog.

“Of course we do!” She said, giving Steve her best sales smile. He didn’t mind. These days, Steve didn’t see many other people if they weren’t Robin. He’d take the fake kindness where he could. “Let me show you to the dressing rooms so you can try all of this on.”

Had Steve chosen a ridiculous amount of clothing? Maybe. He might have. But that was simply to annoy Eddie as much as possible. And it was working. He looked bored out of his mind, following Steve to the back of the store with a loud sigh. Too loud. Eileen eyed Eddie for the first time, looking as if she wanted to ask something but knew better than to. Good.

Steve knew damn well this whole date would get out in less than an hour. He wasn’t dumb.

“I’ll be in here,” Steve said, pointing at the closed door of a dressing room. He spoke slow and simple because he knew it might offend Eddie the most. “You can sit there- oh, wait. I guess you can just stand.”

This place was too nice to have a bench or chairs in the dressing rooms. And Steve had known that in advance.

Eddie crossed his arms and stared at Steve with a bored expression. Oh fucking well, he’d just have to get over it. Or storm out on this date. Steve wouldn’t mind that so much.

Steve was tired.

The worst part was that the store was no longer empty and he wasn’t sure how long he could keep this up. Eddie wasn’t giving in or running away and there were only so many sweaters Steve could try on.

And then a customer came into the dressing room area. It wasn’t abnormal. Steve hadn’t halted the stores hours or anything. They were allowed to, just-

He was kind of a creep.

Eddie hadn’t even noticed yet.

H was probably in his mid forties, receding hairline, khaki pants and an unfortunate button up. Nice glasses. Ugly as fuck with a stare that had Steve clutching his pearls.

And he was an Alpha.

Steve hated when they did this, sniffing up on him in public like they had the right to.

He was lingering around, acting as if he was actually trying clothes on too. Eddie still hadn’t noticed but Steve was trying to be normal about it. The last thing he wanted was to look crazy. Maybe the guy wasn’t even looking at Steve.

He definitely was.

It was confirmed once Steve stepped out in a sweater that looked the same to all the others, a dark red in color.

“That’s such a delightful color on you,” The man said, sidling up to Steve like he had the right to. Steve stepped back toward his dressing room and darted a furtive glance toward Eddie. Still scrolling on his phone, eyes dead bored. The guy was guilt enough that Eddie couldn’t hear him. “My name’s Phil. What’s your name, Angel?”

Steve wasn’t known to be kind to random Alphas, unfortunately.

“None of your business.”

The man reeled back with wide eyes, eyebrows shooting up as he let out a sharp laugh. It was cross between offended and amused.

Finally, Eddie looked up.

“You know, an attitude like that is easily weeded out,” Phil said, his lips twisting sort of cruelly. Steve didn’t even know this man. What the hell was he even talking about? “Most Omegas just need some training to-“

“Oh ew,” Steve sneered, crossing his arms as Eddie blessedly came to his rescue. He didn’t look too happy. “You’re fucking gross.”

“I am?” The guy asked incredulously. “You’re the one who came out smelling like a whorehouse-“

“Okay,” Eddie cut in, pressing himself between the man and Steve before Steve could do something crazy like lunge at him. “There’s no need to be a dick, dude. Let it go.”

Ah. He was trying his best to be a good example. Also ew.

“Oh? What are you gonna do about it? Your jeans are too tight to even-“

Steve was actually shocked into silence as Eddie wrapped a palm around Phil’s throat and walked him like a dog. Seriously. Like. He just lifted him by the throat and walked him a good few feet to the nearest wall, Paul spluttering and choking all the while, as Steve stared on with an open jaw.

“Yeah? You like being a fucking creep? Is that it?” Eddie asked, voice going cold as he held the other Alpha up against the wall, his feet kicking against Eddie’s shins. Steve had no idea what to do. No one had ever- oh my god? “You like picking on strangers? Fucking pussy, I should-“

It was then that one of the workers rushed over, her face bright red as she tried to intervene.

“Hey! No! Let’s- let’s not do that here? You can’t just-“ God, their security probably should have followed them in, huh? But Steve had been naive, as he was prone to be. He was so used to having them wait outside.

“He was trying to grope me,” Steve said, stepping up and spilling out a lie. He let his scent turn acrid and sour, his eyes widening for effect. “You gotta- I’m so sorry, my boyfriend doesn’t like when- you get it, right? I’m so sorry for causing a scene but-“

“I didn’t do shit to him-“ Paul wheezed as Eddie’s hand squeezed tighter around his throat.

The girl breathed deep and panicked.

“You all need to leave,” She said, clearly not used to people causing scenes in their store. “Before I call the cops.”

Fucking hell.

Steve rolled his eyes and turned to Eddie, placing a hand against his shoulder and leaning in.

“Hey,” He said sort of softly, nose curling at the smell pouring off of Eddie. It was smokey and angry and cloying. It wasn’t bad. “It’s okay, I’m fine. We should- we should go.”

Steve wasn’t used to being timid. Was that what this was? Surely not.

Eddie bit his lip and growled low in his throat.

He dropped Paul back onto the ground and sniffed as he backed away.

“Yeah, fuck you!” Paul said, gaining an eyeroll from Steve as he grabbed Eddie’s hand before he could do something dumb like punch the guy. “Nothing but a bunch of-“

“Let’s go,” Steve insisted, pulling Eddie’s hand toward the dressing rooms as he turned to speech to the associate. She looked exhausted and Steve had to wonder why they had zero security in this store. What idiots. “Can I please take my stuff out of the dressing room? I’ll be really quick.”

She rolled her eyes but nodded Steve along, already ushering Paul out of the store.

Eddie pressed Steve to the dressing room wall in an instant, his body covering Steve’s from head to toe.

“What the-“ Steve cursed, just as Eddie clapped a hand over his mouth.

“You smell like sex,” Eddie snapped, nostrils flaring. “That’s why he- well, that’s not why. He’s a fucking weirdo but it doesn’t help that you smell like fucking slick, oh my god. I’ve been trying to avoid you all day and you’re- why are you even out today?”

Steve was about to bite Eddie’s hand if he kept it up.

“I can’t help that,” Steve hissed quietly as he pulled Eddie’s hand away. “I have spray on, okay? It’s not my fault if my heat was kind of rough-“ God, he hadn’t meant to say that. “Or that Alphas are knotheaded idiots. That isn’t my problem.”

Eddie looked more irritated that Steve had ever seen him look.

“You have to-“ Eddie breathed through his teeth and rubbed a hand over his own neck, dragging it to Steve’s chest and- oh, what the actual fuck? “Calm down, Princess.” Steve was very calm, fuckface. But Eddie had no right to- “Yeah, I know it’s not exactly kosher but you smell like a single Omega, wandering around with no mark. Guys like that are just gonna trail after you and yeah, it isn’t your fault. But if you don’t want to go home and hide in your room for the next five days, it’s probably best if you at least smell like an Alpha too.”

He had this tone to his voice that Steve couldn’t ignore, even though every fiber of his being wanted to.

He was annoyed. He was upset.

He was not turned on.

“Fine,” Steve spat, lips curling. “But I want you to buy this sweater for me when we leave. Since you rubbed your scent all over it.”

The worst part was Eddie didn’t even look mad at the prospect.

The rest of their date felt like a haze.

Steve should have known it would go badly. And it did. Didn’t it? It went badly. Steve had a sweater that obnoxiously smelled of Alpha now. He hadn’t washed it yet. For….reasons.

“So he got all over protective of you and that’s a problem?” Robin asked, squinting her eyes like she had secret thoughts that Steve couldn’t access. But that wasn’t true; they were a hive mind for fucks sake. “Just….doesn’t seem like you.”

What did that mean?

Steve didn’t have to ask.

“You love an over protective Alpha,” Robin raised her brows meaningfully. “As much as you hate them, I know you’re into that whole…thing. It did nothing for you?”

“Are you giving me the silent treatment?” Robin asked incredulously over the phone, peering at the camera as Steve ducked out of the way. It was hard to ignore someone on FaceTime. “Steve. You little bastard. Stop that-“

“I think my signals getting weird again-“

“You’re at home-“ Robin said indignantly, just as Steve ended the call. It was fine, she’d forgive him. In like, three days. Probably. Robin loved him.

She was wrong anyway.

He did not like when Eddie got all up in his business and claimed Steve smelled of slick and kind of sort of shamed him in a way that wasn’t as demeaning as it should have been.

He did not like it. End of.

Steve wasn’t sure why it was taking Eddie so long to get in contact with him. Not that- that was a good thing, actually. Wasn’t it? That was the whole point of all of this.

Steve was supposed to drive Eddie away.

Just. Steve’s mom was not so happy with him and that was kind of a huge problem. She was holding his credit cards hostage in the meantime, citing that Steve had to actually try and make this whole thing with Eddie work if he wanted to keep hold of his finances. And his inheritance too.

The problem was that Steve had no clue how to text Eddie. He had his number now. It hadn’t taken much begging to get it off of someone but that wasn’t the point. Steve never went this far to get ahold of anyone, let alone an Alpha with a track record. It didn’t help that the tabloids now had a hold on what was going on. Steve knew it would happen sooner or later and he was partially responsible for it but…that didn’t mean he couldn’t be annoyed by the stories they enjoyed spinning.

Steve was losing it, desperately searching for a mate as he realized he was getting far too old for real companionship. It wasn’t far off.

Only…Steve was much more bothered by all the rumors surrounding the two of them. Eddie was bound to cheat on Steve soon. That was the biggest one. Some people speculated he already had. Steve was irritated and not on Eddie’s behalf.

How dare they insinuate that Steve was someone you could cheat on?

He was too pretty for that.

He had too much of a backbone to allow some random hotshot Alpha to walk all over him and embarrass him in the public eye.

So, naturally-

Steve didn’t want to text Eddie. But he was at his wits end and it had already been a week. A whole week. Who did he think he was, ignoring Steve for an entire week?

Steve: I know where you live n if u don’t ask me out soon, im gna burn it down

Okay, maybe he was being a little rash.

Steve: ha ha

The reply was more immediate than Steve assumed it would be, interrupting his not at all rage induced treadmill session.

Ugh.

Dumb Alpha: how did you even get my number?????

Rude. That wasn’t the proper way to greet Steve at all. Eddie should be happy Steve wasn’t just…giving up. Though that had kind of been the original plan. Sometimes things just change.

Steve: none of your business
Steve: I want a date
Steve: why haven’t you asked me

He was being…what did Robin call it? Ah. A brat. It didn’t matter, he could find someone just as willing as Eddie had previously been. Maybe.

Steve was just about to go into a tailspin of melancholy when his phone began to abruptly ring.

His eyes went wide at the name on his screen, fingers answering before he could even reconsider what he’d just done.

“There’s no way you’re demanding another date after the way you treated me last week.”

Steve furrowed his brow as he stepped off the treadmill, reaching for the towel he kept nearby. He was barely sweaty but oh well. That was all Eddie’s fault, interrupting Steve’s workout session like a jackass.

“Treated you how?” Steve feigned innocence. “I was plenty nice to you. We had a great time. You rubbed your scent all over me like a dirty mutt and-“

“And you loved it.”

Unlikely.

God, Steve was getting annoyed now.

“I did not say that,” Steve snapped. “I need to get things moving, okay? Are you in or not? I can buy you whatever you want but I need a mating mark by the end of the year.”

Steve was hoping he could have been more subtle about all of this but…well, he was more than irritated with the world at the moment.

“Oh? It’s like that?” Eddie asked, all amused and fucking obnoxious. Steve wanted to stamp his foot. “So because you’re about to be cut off, I have to give in and sign my life away? I’m not sure what you think you can buy that will-“

“I’ll- I’ll make you look better. For your band.”

It was the only thing Steve could think of. Clearly it was important to Eddie. Clearly he’d done something bad enough that he needed to win back their good graces.

“Yeah, not seeing how that’s gonna happen if you can’t stand to be in the same room as me,” Eddie sighed loudly into the receiver and Steve boiled with rage. And maybe a little bit of desperation. “Maybe we should cut our losses and-“
“Please?” Steve asked, verging on begging. He’d already had three phonecalls with his mom this week. He didn’t want another. “Please, I’m- I’m kind of at my wits end here. I don’t- I’m sorry for-“

“If you want to apologize, I’d rather you did it in person.”

It was an automatic relief mixed with a deeper irritation.

“What? Why?” Steve asked, dropping the sweet act too quick.

“So you have to look me in the eye,” Eddie said simply. “That’s kind of the only way you’re gonna convince me to go through with this. Behave yourself and we’ll see. And I want to plan the date.”

Oh god.

Steve nearly hung up the phone.

“You can’t possibly think-“

“You either want this or you don’t,” Eddie said tiredly. “Stop tugging my pigtails, Harrington. I’m not gonna let you bully me forever. If you want to mate, you need to be…nice. Some version of nice. Whatever that looks like to you.”

Steve kept his thoughts to himself. They mostly involved insults anyway.

“Fine,” He tried to sound as polite as possible but he wasn’t sure how well it was working. “I’ll be a good boy. Is that what you wanted to hear? You don’t have to act like my dad-“

Whoa.

“I’m pretty sure you’re the one who brought that up,” Eddie laughed loudly into the phone, as if Steve had just said something particularly hilarious. “But that’s good to know, Steve. Thank you for being a good boy.”

Steve’s face was burning with shame, goosebumps rising on his arms of their own accord. Ugh. Ugh? Why did Alphas always have to be so-

No. He wasn’t into it.

Fuck off, Eddie.

“Just tell me where I’m supposed to meet you and when.”

“Oh, I’ll be picking you up,” Eddie assured Steve, something strange about his tone. “Don’t you worry your pretty little head about the details.”

Eddie’s idea of planning a date was to text Steve a day in advance and tell him to wear something casual. Steve couldn’t dissect the tone of the text but it felt a lot like Eddie was implying that Steve didn’t know how to dress casual.

Robin thought Steve was being reactionary.

He wasn’t.

Jeans and a tight tshirt would have to do and if Eddie had any complaints, he’d- he’d just have to get over it. He wouldn’t tell Steve what they were doing or where they were going.

Which was also incredibly rude of him. Steve hated not knowing where he was spending his time, how awkward he might feel, etc.

It was probably something horribly boring or- or god, a metal show. Which Steve wouldn’t be caught dead at.

Still. At least Eddie was compromising with him. Steve liked that part.

It was a fucking-

“A local theatre?” Steve asked in a hiss as Eddie completely ignored him in favor of tugging him through a full parking lot. It was the artsy part of town. Steve normally has no issue with this but- well, he was usually at a gala or something similar.

“Yep,” Eddie said, frustratingly not even looking at Steve. “It’ll be good for your soul. My friends in the production and-“

“You haven’t even told me what it is yet-“

“It’s Rocky Horror,” Eddie said with a heavy roll of his eyes as they finally walked to the front of a small local theatre. The windows were blacked out, only emblazoning the name in big golden font. “Surely you know what that is.”

Steve gave Eddie the driest, blankest look imaginable.

“Of course I don’t.”

Eddie sighed loudly and tugged Steve inside without another word.

Steve hadn’t been sure what to expect.

He loved it.

Was he going to be a little bitch about how much he enjoyed the show? Yeah, probably. But he did really enjoy it. It was…more fun than he thought it would be, with everyone yelling in the audience and cheering and blowing bubbles, for some reason.

He wasn’t really willing to admit that he had such a good time once the lights came back up though.

Even if Eddie could probably smell how pleased he was.

All of that came to a skittering halt once they went backstage.

Because yeah, Eddie had mentioned they were at this show to see a friend of his. He just hadn’t mentioned that the friend was a pretty, petite little Omega.

And the thing about Steve was that he was….kind of not the best with competition. Not that- there was none. He wasn’t- it wasn’t even like that. He’d gone on one failure of a date with Eddie and been ignored for a week after that.

It was not a competition.

Only, his hormones must have still been jumbled up, because his inner Omega didn’t seem to realize this wasn’t a competition.

He didn’t like Chrissy very much.

She was perky as hell, bounding up to Eddie for a hug that lasted just a few seconds too long for Steve’s liking. How did they know each other? When had they met? Why the hell did they seem so close?

Steve was desperate to put a stopper on his emotional reaction, unsure why he was becoming so irritated so fast.

She was out of her costume, makeup still plastered to her face. Steve remembered that she was Burgundy? Or…was it Magenta? He wasn’t sure. She seemed more suited to the main female character but-

“This is my best friend,” Eddie said, pulling back but keeping an arm around her waist. Steve pushed back a small growl, eyes zeroing in on the contact. Why would Eddie even- what exactly was going on here? What kind of date was this? “Chrissy. But I call her Chris. She wanted to meet you-“

“Perfectly normal to want to meet the man you’re planning on marrying,” Chrissy said with a giggle, slipping out from under Eddie’s arm and- and rushing to hug Steve. He froze in her embrace, unsure what to do with his hands for a moment. “You’re so cute, oh my god. Just as small and angry as Eddie mentioned.”

Small? Angry?

Neither of those things were even-

“We’re the same height,” Steve said to Eddie as Chrissy finally pulled away. She smelled good but he couldn’t detect a hint of mated Omega on her, so. It didn’t do anything to settle Steve’s sudden annoyance. “Why are you telling people I’m angry?”

Not just people. This random girl.

“Because you are,” Eddie said, smile turning oddly gentle. “We were thinking about going to eat somewhere if you-“

“I think I need to get home,” Steve interrupted before Eddie could truly cement a plan into place. He coughed delicately, not caring how fake he sounded. “I’m feeling sick. Wouldn’t want to get you sick during a show, it seems important.”

Chrissy didn’t look as insulted as Steve wanted her to be.

Eddie did though.

“That’s perfectly fine,” She assured Steve. “We can totally meet up some other time.”

Steve could practically smell the suspicion rising off of Eddie. Oh well. It was his fault for planning such a stupid date.

The car ride was silent.

Not on Steve’s watch.

His arms were twisted tight over his chest, his lips pulled into a bratty frown.

“I just don’t really understand why you thought it would be okay to bring me a stage show of a random Omega-“

Eddie let out a loud laugh.

“Oh my god,” He breathed, paying attention to the road. Steve knew he couldn’t look at him but that didn’t matter, it only pissed him off more. “Is that why you’re acting like this? She’s my friend. Also, you and I aren’t even together. Why are you acting like a jealous-“

“Finish that sentence and see what happens,” Steve hissed, his canine teeth prickling for the first time. He felt like a cat that had just gotten in trouble. This wasn’t his fault, it was Eddie’s. “I can smell, Eddie. I’m not dumb. Is she your ex?”

“No,” Eddie said simply. “No, she isn’t. Jesus Christ. You really have an attitude problem, don’t you? I’ve been nice to you all night. Chrissy was in foster care with me, Steve. I was planning on having you meet her so that she could discern whether or not this entire idea was completely batshit but clearly you just gave me my answer.”

Oh.

Steve felt his heart kick up a notch and somehow stop at the same time.

Foster care?

The silence was palpable and thick. Steve had never- he felt fucking terrible now, didn’t he?

“I didn’t…” He trailed off, voice going off as he reached up to rub his flaming cheeks. Oh my god. Oh my god? He really was as big of a dick as people said, wasn’t he? “I’m sorry, I didn’t know. I wouldn’t have- you just- I didn’t know who she was and- and you smell like each other and- and I didn’t- I’m sorry-“

Steve felt like an idiot.

And a little like he might cry, which was stupid. He didn’t deserve to cry over something that had nothing to do with him.

“Steve,” Eddie sighed suddenly, pulling his car to the side of the road. The area was empty, just outside the city. It was dark out. “You’re stinking up the car with distress.”

Steve shrink back against his window, tempted to draw his legs up to his chest now.

“I’m sorry,” He squeaked, rubbing his scent gland to maybe try to dampen the smell. It wasn’t working and he was being a little too rough, desperate to calm himself down. Why was he freaking out so badly? He was the one who was rude to Chrissy for no reason. He was the one who had ruined all of this. “I wasn’t- I didn’t mean to-“

“Hey,” Eddie unclipped his seatbelt and turned then, reaching for Steve. He slipped one hand around the wrist rubbing at Steve’s neck and pulled it away. Steve only tried to get his free hand on his neck and Eddie took that one too. “Stop that, you’re gonna hurt yourself. Your neck’s all red now. I don’t care that you smell like distress-“ Oh. Eddie winced. “I mean, I do care. But I’m not grossed out or anything. I just want you to calm down. I didn’t mean to snap at you.”

No no no no.

“You didn’t,” Steve said, feeling like a big baby. “I’m just- god, I’m such a little bitch. I’m so mean and I can’t even- I haven’t even apologized for- I understand if you want to take me home and never talk to me again.”

He felt lower than lower, more pathetic than he’d ever been.

Eddie rubbed his thumbs over the tendons in Steve’s wrists and projected his scent into the car, something calming. No one had ever stuck around long enough to try to calm Steve down once he started freaking out. Not even his own parents.

“You’re not mean,” Eddie said, shaking his head with a laugh. “You’re in a bad position with your parents and I can’t really blame you for being….wary. I’m sorry I didn’t tell you what we were doing. I was nervous. You already don’t seem to like me much and I don’t have a good track record with dating, real or fake.”

That’s what this felt so-

But what if it wasn’t?

“What if it wasn’t fake?” Steve asked quietly. He looked down, watching Eddie’a hands hold his own. “Like. What if we started over and- and tried? Would that be so bad?”

Because Eddie was dealing with Steve. That was big, wasn’t it? No one but Robin could stand to be around Steve for very long. And even then, Steve worried he was on thin ice at times. He was abrasive and bitchy. He’d ruined countless dates in the past with his attitude. His mom had been right too. He didn’t have many suitors.

Eddie hummed, loudly enough that Steve had to look back up to discern what he was thinking.

“See,” Eddie shook his head. “Can’t do that. I mean, we can. Just not the way you want. I already know you’re kind of a brat, Steve. And you owe me an apology for that first date. Am I gonna get one?”

There was something about his tone, something that sent goosebumps over Steve’s skin so suddenly, he started shivering.

“What- what would you like?” Steve asked, licking his lips. “I’ll do anything.”

Steve could see the hint of sharpness beyond Eddie’s lips. This was different. This was- Steve felt it go through him like some kind of primal shiver. This was different.

“What can you offer me?”

Just like that, Steve was slick. It was embarrassing, really. Just how horned up one could get in a matter of seconds. Simply by the smooth sound of an Alphas voice.

“You could- I could apologize,” Steve breathed in and out, shifting in his seat. Wishing his seatbelt was undone. “On my knees for you or-“

“Not good enough.”

Oh god.

“You could…” Was he really gonna say it? “Make me feel sorry. You could teach me a lesson, so I know that I can’t act up during our marriage without- without repercussions.”

Eddie smiled then, broad and wide.

“Wow,” His eyebrows went up and Steve only felt marginally judged. “Who knew you’d be into that. Kind of makes sense, you did call me Dad over the phone.”

“That was a joke-“ Steve insisted, despite how slippery wet he was in his stupid jeans.

“Sure it was,” Eddie tightened his grip on Steve’s wrists and his eyelids fluttered. “Would you like Daddy better? Is that it?”

Steve let out a whine, unbidden and deeply embarrassing as it was pulled from his chest. Somewhere he’d never pulled a sound from before.

“I just want to apologize.”

“Hm,” Eddie hummed, licking his teeth. “I could spank you-“ A bolt of heat went through Steve. “But you smell like you’d enjoy that too much.”

Steve felt so humiliated, a feeling he never thought he’d actually enjoy.

“You could-“ He was flaying for a way to get what he wanted. Something he’d never had before. “You could spank me-“

He pulled one of Eddie’s hands around and guided it down, pressing his fingers to the crotch of Steve’s jeans.

Eddie laughed quietly, putting pressure to his clit through all the layers. Steve felt his eyes roll back, unsure how they’d gotten here so fucking fast.

“Back seat?” Steve asked. More like begged.

Eddie cruelly pulled his hand away and let go of Steve’s other wrist, in favor of taking the steering wheel.

“I’m not fucking you in the back of my car, baby.”

Steve pouted, full of adrenaline and a need he had never felt so strongly before.

“I have a perfectly good bed.”

They didn’t make it to the bed.

They barely made it past the front door before Steve tried to climb Eddie like a tree, sucking on his tongue like maybe he could pull all of Eddie’s secrets out of his mouth.

Eddie had to actively calm Steve down.

It didn’t work.

He managed to to wrestle Steve onto the couch, shoes thrown around the room. Steve didn’t care what Eddie’s place looked like, not right now. He wanted what he’d came here for.

His pants pulled down to one ankle, panties ripped in the process. Hanging off the same ankle. Stained and soaked with slick as Eddie kissed his neck and pressed Steve back onto his ridiculously big couch.

Eddie wanted no time, his big hands spanning over Steve’s hips and spreading his legs apart. How big of a slut was he now? All displayed for an Alpha he barely knew, waiting as Eddie finally-

“Ah,” Steve moaned as Eddie pressed slick fingers over his clit and rubbed in circles. “Ah, oh my god- that- fuck, Eddie.”

“Uh-uh,” Eddie corrected, watching his own hand as he pushed one finger into Steve. “Daddy. You know that’s what you want to call me.”

Fucking hell. Steve was so dizzy, he could barely comprehend what was happening. And Eddie felt so good inside of him too, finger curling slowly in and out of his cunt. Steve’s clit was even bigger and more swollen than usual, a fact that made him only slightly self conscious.

Eddie didn’t seem to mind, as he leaned down and-

Steve squealed then, his thighs clamping over Eddie’s ears as he sucked on Steve’s clit harder than necessary.

“Oh oh oh,” Steve whimpered, not used to feeling like this. No one ever- they didn’t want to go down on him, not normally. He wasn’t prepared to- “Daddy, I can’t- I can’t- you’re supposed to-“

Eddie popped off with a smack, chin wet as he grinned up at Steve.

“Right,” He said, regrettably pulling his fingers from Steve. “I’m supposed to spank your cunt, yeah?”

Steve was going to pass out from Eddie’s filthy mouth alone, wasn’t he?

“Yeah,” Steve agreed, attempting to spread his legs any further. As if he even could now. Eddie had him absolutely trapped, kneeling between Steve’s thighs on the couch. He pulled out and spewed his palm hot over the surface of Steve’s pussy, pulling back to slap it right back down. “Hmph-“

Steve couldn’t take it, he was practically gushing as Eddie slapped him again. Two times in a row, leaning down to kiss Steve on the clit in between.

“Is that good? Does that make you want to be a good boy? A good Omega?”

Steve felt tears prick his eyes as Eddie slapped him again, the soft pain branching out over Steve’s cunt. It was intense and not enough. Not nearly enough.

“More, yeah. Good, I’ll be good-“ Steve gasped, backs arching like he could entice Eddie into doing more. They’d been fighting only thirty minutes ago and now- “Fuck, like that.”

Eddie laughed then, voice going husky as he leaned down to lick over Steve. The next slap was somehow worse, harshened by how wet he was now. Steve squirmed in place, his body ablaze as he tried his best to stay still and not boldly push Eddie’s face right into his cunt.

“Are you ready to apologize now?”

Steve had never been more ready for anything. And Eddie didn’t stop either. Steve wasn’t sure how many slaps it had been, how long of a break he even got between them. He just knew it was hard to get word out between each one, his voice teetering on a sob.

“I’m- I’m- I’m so sorry, oh my god, daddy- I’m so fucking sorry-“ Steve let the tears fall, his pussy absolutely throbbing as Eddie pushed his thighs open with his own and- “Fuck me, fuck me, fuck me-“ Steve chanted like a zombie, drooling as Eddie rushed to open his belt and pull it off and throw it into the distance and- “Cum inside me, oh- daddy, I’m on suppressants, you can cum inside me.”

Eddie clapped a hand over Steve’s mouth, his cock already in hand. The head rubbing sticky over Steve’s clit, in hot circles as he tried to buck his hips up beneath Eddie. More more more, he needed it so bad now.

“You’re gonna make me cum before I get inside you if-“ Eddie slipped into Steve then, the head of his cock girthy and thick as he pushed forward with little to no resistance. Steve was so wet like this, all spread out just for Eddie. And Eddie still had his jeans on, pushed down his hips in a hasty attempt to get things going. Steve didn’t care, he just wanted more. Eddie paused halfway in and let out a huff through his teeth, his restraint chipping at the edges. It was good to see. Steve had never made someone look like that before. “If you keep running your mouth.”

Steve deliberately squeezed his walls around Eddie, huffing out the smallest laugh when Eddie groaned and pushed further inside his cunt.

“I think you like it when I run my mouth,” Steve said, attempting to suck one of Eddie’s fingers into his mouth now. Eddie allowed it, pressing two inside in seconds as he bottomed out. “Mmmhm.”

Steve couldn’t talk now but it didn’t matter. Eddie could.

“You’re so bitchy,” Eddie said with a dreamy sigh, leaning over Steve and pressing him further into the couch. “I love it. I didn’t say that though-“ Steve felt more tears spring up as Eddie spread him apart. “It’ll just go to your head.”

Steve couldn’t help it.

“Stop talking shit,” He rasped, hands rising to dig feral nails into Eddie’s still clothed shoulders. “This is my first time.”

Eddie stalled then, mouth hanging slack.

And then he pulled out, just the top remaining, hips angling just so as he pushed back in.

Steve let out a shout of pleasure, body tensing as Eddie actually began to fuck him. It wasn’t at all what he expected, not nearly the same as all of his toys. It felt better than them. Warmer on the inside, exposed without a condom. And that was probably bad, Steve knew it was. But he couldn’t find it in him to truly care as Eddie fucked him into his expensive couch.

“Oh my god,” Eddie gasped, hips flexing as Steve clawed down his back and pushed up beneath his shirt to get some skin to skin action. “Why wouldn’t you tell me? I would have- I would have made it more romantic-“

“Don’t want that,” Steve moaned, feeling just how wet he was. Hearing it too, as Eddie’s balls smacked against him and amplified the full feeling. “I prefer the version where you- right there, where you slap my cunt and tell me to call you daddy.”

Eddie laughed as he fell over Steve, pushing so deep that it had Steve’s eyes rolling back. He buried his face in Steve’s neck and went incoherent for a good few minutes, rolling his cock in and out of Steve at a slower pace. Really feeling him, letting the moment stretch on and on as Steve only grew more desperate beneath him.

“God, you feel perfect inside,” Eddie groaned, lips trailing over hot skin. Resting against Steve’s unblemished mating spot and sending his instincts wild. “Better than I ever imagined. Makes me wanna propose to you right here.”

That was the best and worst thing Eddie could have said. His words had Steve winding his long legs around Eddie’s waist, spare clothing be damned. He didn’t care right now, not as he drew blood against Eddie’s back and pressed a hand solidly to the back of Eddie’s head so that he could feel those lips against his unmarked neck even better.

“Yeah, yeah please,” Steve begged, squeezing around Eddie as he got closer and closer to his breaking point. This was it, this was everything people talked about. Everything Steve had ever wanted, wrapped into a curly haired Alpha package. “Let’s- let’s just fucking elope. We could do it- we could just-“

Eddie gasped harder against him, tongue dragging over damp skin.

“Fuck yeah,” He growled suddenly, fucking Steve harder than before. It almost hurt, the absolute intensity of it as Eddie tried to squeeze a hand between them to rub mindlessly at Steve’s clit. “Yeah, let’s get married in, I don’t care- in fucking Bali or Vegas or-“

Steve came like that, his cunt spasming as his orgasm was torn deep from inside of him. It eclipsed anything he’d felt before or maybe that was just his mind building it up but- no, he was sure he’d never felt so elated. Eddie gasped against his neck and barely managed to bite beneath the designated mark area, something that Steve would appreciate later. Despite what he’d said before, Steve wanted it to be special.

Right now, he was focused on not squeezing Eddie to death as his knot grew and grew and popped into Steve, bullied into his cunt like he wanted to make a home there. Steve was chanting something, maybe an agreement of some sort. He wasn’t even sure. He was dizzy with want and need and the smell of Eddie, covering him and crowding him and kissing Steve through his orgasm.

He spilled deep into Steve until he was stuck there. It should have been awkward. It should have made Steve want to hide and run away, despite the fact that he really couldn’t.

But it didn’t at all.

He felt…softer than ever before. Relaxed as Eddie’s kisses turned gentle, as he began to turn the two of them on the couch. Steve settled onto Eddie’s chest, legs spread out as his body twitched around the throbbing knot inside of him. It was hard not to be intrigued by it.

“So? An elopement?” Eddie asked, a tired and satisfied grin stretching over his lips. “Should I buy some plan tickets?”

Steve sat up a little, glancing at the smile lines on Eddie’s lovely face.

“I’m a first class kind of guy,” Steve replied easily. “For the record.”

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