Naru sighed as he made the final preparations. His stomach was throbbing almost constantly. It was worse since his heat was so late this time. He'd smelled John earlier, too. It seemed their heats were synchronising from all the time they were spending around each other. John had spent more time in the office, and his scent lingered around the house, too. It was bound to happen eventually. The same thing happened with Takigawa, too. Naru folded out the sofa and checked the waterproof sheet was in place.

He opened the door to the small bathroom. His body felt warmer as the heat approached. He took a quick shower. It wasn't like he was needed for anything. He'd pretty much handed the office over to Mai and Lin already. His phone would only accept internal calls, and it could only make internal calls. He was a little worried about what his delirious omega mind would do under the strain of his heat. The last thing he needed was a random stranger turning up to do God knows what to his vulnerable body.

He walked to the safe with a sigh, popping in the code so that he could grab the box of assorted relief tools. He hated needing to degrade himself like this, but at least he was the only one who knew. He wouldn't even let Lin know about this. There was an array of butt plugs, dildos, and vibrators. Some of them were hands free and could stick to various flat surfaces. There was also a bottle of lube, which was still half full. It would be enough for a few more heats. His slick did most of the lubricating anyway. The bottle of gel was really only there in case he started a little early or finish a little late. I should probably start placing them. He looked around, wondering what the best places would be.

He stuck one on his desk, one of the longer ones since he'd likely be on his knees. One went on the bathroom tiles. He bent over and pressed his towel covered ass against the wall, setting the attachment at the right height to pleasure himself. He wasn't sure he'd use it, but he put one on his leather chair too, locking the catches on the wheels to stop it from rolling. The rest of the bag he emptied onto the bed, knowing he'd need some close at hand if his heat started while he was sleeping.

He tugged the towel off and remained naked. There were no cameras, and no one could walk in with the door locked. He was so close to his heat that any material on his skin would be too hot and irritating. Leaving the towel on the floor, he looked inside the fridge to check for the tenth time that he had everything. There was a stack of bottled water, sports drinks, dried fruits, and some energy bars. He also had more dried snacks scattered throughout the office. He grabbed a sports drink and started drinking, deciding to force down an energy bar with it. I'll need all the energy I can get...

He was sitting on the edge of his bed, just finishing the sticky bar of biscuit and nuts, when the phone rang. His stomach dropped slightly when he realised who it would be. Since Lin had left earlier, it could only be one person. He put on his best cold front as he picked up the receiver. He greeted the caller in his usual gruff tone; the voice replying in an equally business-like tone. He was surprised how much that hurt, though he wouldn't show it.

"Naru, I'm heading home for the day. I'll check in again tomorrow." The hurt was still plain in her tone despite the front she was trying to put on. Naru swallowed, his omega side pining for affection. He really wanted to apologise. He'd been about to go into heat when he'd snapped at her, but what he'd said was no less true now than it had been then. He just hadn't sugar coated it. He still remembered the look on her face when he'd said it. What kind of idiot are you? Stop wasting your affection on a male omega when you know we're not compatible! He'd shouted the words in a heated moment of frustration, and she hadn't even really done anything to deserve it. She'd been standing close to him with her usual gentle smile, her hand brushing through his hair in a rare show of affection.

"Right. Thank you for your hard work," he said politely, as many bosses did. He never usually spoke to her like that. It felt wrong to talk to her like that. "Mai...Be careful going home," he added, against his better judgement. He heard Mai brighten a little as she replied with a little more warmth than she normally would. It was as close to an apology as he would get. The line went dead, and he was mortified to feel tears in his eyes. Damnit! I hate this. It wasn't the first time he'd thought it in his omega lifetime. He hated the emotional vulnerability that accompanied his heats, making him weak, needy, and pliant.

He dropped the receiver with a clatter and returned to the bed, throwing himself down on his back with a sigh. He rested an arm across his eyes, glad that he hadn't turned the lights on. His eyes were sensitive with his heat so close. He liked things to be quiet and dark during his heats. The cotton sheets beneath him felt too hot. His skin was getting sticky. He opened his mouth and panted, running his free hand down his chest and pelvis. His skin was tingling with chills and prickles. His shaft was already hard as his hand reached for it.

He closed his eyes as he ran his hand downwards, petting the solid length. Even just touching it was sending chills through his overly sensitive body. He continued to take slow breaths as he stroked himself, enjoying the glide of silken skin against his palm. He still remembered the sheer bliss and wonder the first time he'd felt it. Surely something so base shouldn't feel so wonderful. His first heat had been a mixture of terror, wonder, and lust as he'd experienced his omega nature for the first time. He hated it, but he craved it.

He tightened his grip and moaned through his teeth as he squeezed the solid muscle. He worked the length this way and that, twisting his wrist with each pump. He worked slowly. This was just a warmup for what was to come over the next few days. He knew he wouldn't remember it all by the end. He generally faded after the first two days and unleashed his omega. It had been strange at first, sharing a second presence in his head. His base instincts almost took on their own personality, especially around his heats. He always imagined it as an animal. Something dark and sleek, like a panther. It certainly made him purr sometimes.

He lowered his free hand to his chest to tease his hardened nubs. He moved back and forth across his pecs, teasing and rolling the small buds. It felt good. His spine arched a little as he raised his knees to plant his feet on the thin mattress. He worked his hips slowly, rocking up into his hand as he twisted his wrist. He moaned again as he closed his eyes. He was hesitant to slip into any fantasies right now. Doing that would probably lead to thoughts about Mai. Thoughts he'd sworn he wouldn't allow himself. It wasn't right. A male omega and a female beta were too poorly matched. Almost as poorly matched as two omegas or two alphas. The fertility rate was too low.

It would have been better if things had been the other way around. Male betas had a good chance of having children with female omegas. He moaned at the thought of it. Mai was so kind and sweet. She would have been the perfect omega. Had he and his brother been born the right way round, he could have made her his mate in an instant. He gripped himself harder at the thought of having her bent over his desk, submissive and wanton. Her cheeks would have flushed as he leaned down and pulled her shirt loose, exposing the bonding site to his lengthening teeth. He bit his lip as he imagined sinking his teeth into that tender flesh and marking it. Claiming her as his mate.

It was frustrating that it was a path forever closed to him. As an omega, he was the one who would be mated. An alpha would claim him. He couldn't even imagine what it would be like. He couldn't picture any face besides Mai. He quickened his pace, pumping and rocking himself as he moaned and silently pined for her. He could almost smell her citrus scent as he tilted his head back. He could imagine it so clearly, wrapping his arms around her as he rocked into her warmth. He imagined her hands clinging to him, tugging his hair and scratching his back. Her breath would be warm in his ear as she moaned and whined his name. Her warm hazel eyes would be hazy and unfocused as he bounced her in his arms, her lips parted and ready to accept kisses.

He moaned loudly as he came, blinking his eyes open as he felt the release hit his chest. He cursed quietly as he sat up and looked down at the sticky streams on his skin. He hadn't even started properly, and he was already making a mess. He couldn't help the small amount of disgust he felt as he searched for the wipes he kept by the bed. He knew well enough to be prepared. He had years of experience and unpleasant learning curves. Keeping towels and wipes close by had been among the first lessons he'd learned. A T-shirt would do in a pinch, but wipes were infinitely better. They could go straight into the trash without wafting his shameful scent around the room.

Cleaning up after a heat could also be dangerous with alphas around. They were easily tempted, and so close to the end of one's heat, an omega was still extremely fertile. An alpha was just as likely to lay claim to an omega in the last days of its heat as it was the first. The scent of slick would drive them crazy. He was lucky that Lin had so much control, and that Gene was his brother. For family members, alphas automatically became overly protective. They never experienced the desire to mate their own blood, though the scent could still send them into a rut if they were exposed for long periods.

Naru sighed miserably as he wiped himself clean and flopped on his side. He always thought about Gene more around his heats. He was more emotional. More prone to sadness. He closed his eyes tightly. It had been a year. He should be stronger than this. His throat ached as he silently called out for his brother. A call that would forever go unanswered. The familiar brush of his brother's mind was gone. There was a black space where it used to be. The warmth and security no longer wrapped around him. The lingering comfort was gone. He was alone. Truly alone. Now more than ever. Gene...