Delaney sits on the countertop, an audience of one for Eli as he cooks. It's been several weeks of them spending time together, meeting almost daily or having quick, impromptu dates now that he knows where Delaney works. He's really grown to enjoy the omega's company, not that he didn't in the very beginning, but the more time he's spent with Delaney, the more Eli realizes he's becoming comfortable, which is prompting him to question the validity in him keeping so much from the man. He's been having an inner debate with himself for the past week now, often getting so lost in his thoughts that others have to bring him back to the present moment. This bodes true even now, as Delaney has to call his name multiple times to gain his attention.

Eli shakes his head lightly and places the knife on the cutting board as he turns to face Delaney. "Yes, love?" Delaney's cheeks immediately flushes and Eli has to hold back his laughter when the man snaps,

"Don't call me that."

"But your reaction is so very cute. How can I not?" Delaney's blush deepens and Eli is but a weak man as he gives voice to the laughter rumbling in his chest. "Okay, okay. I'll behave. You were saying something?"

Delaney's eyes narrow briefly before he rolls them. "You've said that before and each time it's followed by something that is not exemplary behavior."

"Are you... about to give me a performance review?" Eli teases.

"Depends on what performance we're reviewing." Delaney flashes an innocent smile, one that contradicts the cheekiness of his response. "I was asking where you learned to cook like this?" He gestures towards the opposite countertop. Seasonings, sauces, and broths sit in glass bowls that are adjacent to freshly chopped vegetables on a cutting board. A large pot is simmering, the delicious smell wafting forward to blend with the dish in the oven.

Eli's inner debate sparks up again as he struggles to find a bit of the truth to feed to Delaney. "I studied abroad. Italy, mostly."

Delaney hums softly, bobbing his head as he asks a follow up question. "How long were you abroad?"

"Which time?" Eli mutters under his breath, but he responds, loud enough for Delaney to hear, "I spent two years abroad. I actually started my studies out there, but quickly discovered anything beyond legally required schooling was not for me." He turns back to the task at hand and continues to julienne carrots.

"What exactly were you studying abroad? Culinary arts or..." Delaney trails off, leaving Eli to fill in the blanks.

Eli's answer is short and he hopes it will change the topic of conversation. "Something I no longer have a need for." Delaney falls silent and Eli quietly breathes a sigh of relief.

Until...

"I'm curious..."

Eli inwardly groans. Delaney has been asking more questions lately, pushing a bit in areas Eli is not comfortable with talking about, but he can't say he's uncomfortable because, well, the skeletons in his closet are dying to be acknowledged. So, he's been distracting Delaney by turning the tables and asking questions about him or even using physical touch. He crosses the kitchen to stand between Delaney's legs. He's eye to eye with the omega and smirks as he watches Delaney's throat bob under the pressure of a nervous swallow. "Yes, love?"

Delaney shifts a bit, fidgeting with his hair before tucking a loose strand behind his ear. He clears his throat and with a clear voice that belies the mild scent of nervousness, he asks, "Why do you mask your scent? It's polite to wear scent blockers in public, but at home..." he trails off, lifting Eli's wrist and running his thumb along the flexible black band.

"Ahh. Eli inhales a slow, deep breath. He's definitely nowhere near ready to lose Delaney. And if he answers that question truthfully, he surely will. He doesn't want to lie to Delaney either. Between a rock and a hard place, he asked a question of his own; one that he's had for a while now. "Does it make you uneasy that I use scent blockers?"

"In a way," Delaney replies, but he quickly adds, "but only because you're able to pick up on my scent and I can see the little cogs in your mind turning as you try to figure out how to address a shift in my moods without admitting that you've purposefully been keeping track."

Eli runs his hands up Delaney's thighs, kneading them softly as he contemplates the appropriate answer. "Why would I not want to keep track of your moods?"

"You can ask. Instead of sniffing me like some house dog." Delaney wrinkles his nose. "We've evolved past the point of needing to smell someone's pheromones. We can just ask what's on their mind."

"Then let me ask, what's on your mind?"

Delaney chews at his bottom lip and Eli reaches out to lightly tug it from between his teeth. "Do you...not want people to know that you're seeing someone?"

He's a bit taken aback as Delaney offers him a brief glimpse at a more vulnerable side of himself. "Are you telling me that you like me, Dee?"

"What?!" Delaney pulls back a bit as he slaps at Eli's hands on his thighs. "How did you jump to that conclusion from me asking if you're keeping our rendezvousing a secret?"

"Because." Eli wraps an arm around Delaney's waist and tugs him forward again, using his free hand to spread his knees apart. "You've been asking me a lot of questions that lead me to believe you really want to get to know me outside of a few lunches and dinner dates that turn into breakfast dates." He smiles as he leans in to kiss Delaney, but he's thwarted by a slender hand that comes up to push his face away.

"Conversation includes questions, Eli."

"But all of the questions are about me," Eli whines.

"And who else would they be about? Your parents? Your brother? The only two people who would not agree with me when I say that you're an asshole?"

"I would love to discuss the latter."

"You're inexplicably frustrating," Delaney huffs.

"And you're incredibly endearing." Eli leans in again, this time dodging Delaney's hand to place a kiss to his neck. Like a gentle tide, any tension that was in Delaney body ebbs away as Eli parts his lips against cool skin and drags the tip of his tongue in languid circles.

"You're not playing fair," Delaney accusses, his voice trembling slightly as Eli nips at the same spot.

"Why would I do that when I'm playing to win?" He kisses along Delaney's neck, coming to a rest just beneath his ear.

"What's the prize?"

The corner of Eli's lip curls into a half smile as he lightly breathes against the shell of Delaney's ear, "You, of course."

Delaney's legs tighten around his waist, pulling Eli forward as he locks his ankles together, keeping him caged. Eli's heart skips a beat when Delaney pulls back far enough to make eye contact. He stares into the most beautiful eyes he's ever seen—eyes he can get lost in—and questions if he is already lost and just how far gone he is, when Delaney replies, before leaning in to kiss him,

"You're damn right I'm a prize."

Delaney's mouth is always so soft, so gentle when he kisses Eli. He moves timidly at first, almost as if he's unsure of himself. However, his confidence builds quickly and he's stealing Eli's breath away and leaving a fire burning in his gut. It's addictive in so many ways, but mostly because Delaney always sighs into the kiss and that drives Eli crazy.

Even now, once that small rush of breath dies between them and Eli can feel Delaney's body relax even more, he's scrambling to undress the omega, breaking the kiss to pull the oversized sweater up and over his head.

"Wait—," Delaney starts, pushing lightly at Eli's chest. "Dinner—,"

"Can burn," Eli interrupts, shrugging a shoulder. He tangles his hands in Delaney's curls and pulls firmly, groaning lightly as golden eyes roll closed and full lips part on a heavy sigh. He's moving in close enough to smell the sweet, subtle fragrance of building arousal. He's so close he can taste Delaney on his tongue and he actually growls in anticipation, when the phone rings.

Delaney's eyes snap open, slightly out of focus, his eyebrows knitting together as he looks around the room bewildered. "Is that...a landline?"

Eli's mood shifts instantly, becoming cloudy with dark and a simmering rage. "Yeah, give me a minute." He rushes from the kitchen and into his office, where he picks up the receiver. "What?"

"Is that any way to greet your only and eldest brother?" Jackson drawls, already sounding as if this conversation is beneath him.

"Forgive me," Eli starts, cutting off his brother as he preens by quickly adding, "I meant to say, what the fuck do you want?"

"Such crass language. I can't understand how you are the pride of the family."

"I'm pretty sure our parents would be more than happy to explain it to you. Again. And again I would say—,"

Jackson loudly interrupts, "You're such a bother. How hard it must have been for you to be cared for and doted on. Spare me your need for validation of the erroneous belief that your childhood was anything but carefree and easy. I'm simply calling because you are being asked to attend dinner this weekend. And no, you cannot get out of it."

Eli swears under his breath as he hangs up the phone. The last thing he wants is to be at a family dinner. Usually, he's able to get out of them, but given his brother's tone, he knows that's not going to be the case this time. He tries to put the conversation out of his mind as he returns to the kitchen, but Delaney is able to pick up on the littlest things.

"You're upset."

"Trying not to be."

Delaney hops off the counter as he offers, "If you want to be alone, I can leave. You can call me when you're feeling better."

Eli's eyes soften as he looks at Delaney. The soft yellow sweater is back on, hanging slightly lopsided and exposing a bare shoulder, the soft lighting in the kitchen giving his skin a soft glow. His hair is now pulled up and away from his face in a large, messy bun. His eyes are a shade of ochre, concern darkening them. Eli is suddenly awestruck. "You're beautiful," he softly states.

A flush creeps across the apples of Eli's cheeks and he waves a hand dismissively. "Stop that. You're changing the—," he pauses, eyes narrowing imperceptibly as he meets Eli's gaze. "You know, that might be the smartest thing you've said since we met."

"Oh yeah?" Eli laughs as he enters the kitchen again, checking on the pots on the stove.

"Mhm," Delaney hums as he hops up on the counter again. "Aside from you telling me, each time we finish, that I'm the best lover you've ever had. Even if it's bullshit, it's a testament to your intelligence."

Eli clicks off the burners on the stove and removes the dish from the oven. Without saying a word, he scoops up Delaney, throwing him over a shoulder.

"Hey! Put me down!" Fists pummel his back as Eli walks Delaney through the house and into the bedroom.

He gently sits Delaney down, pushing him back on the mattress. "I gave you a glowing performance review. It's only fair that I'm extended the same courtesy." He hovers over Delaney, smirking down at him.

"I judge harshly," Delaney teases.

Eli slides his hands up Delaney's sides, easing them underneath the sweater. Delaney shivers at the contact. A light sigh escapes barely parted lips, the soft sound going straight to Eli's cock. "Well, I guess I have my work cut out for me."

Soft moans and breathless gasps replace banter as he slowly takes Delaney apart, thankful for being given the space to change the conversation.

Eli feels incredibly uncomfortable as he sits at his parents dining room table. Dinner with his family is always a small event, so he has no choice but to dress up. He doesn't necessarily mind having to wear slacks and a dress shirt, but it's the type he has to wear. He's never cared for expensive labels, but if he shows up in anything less than the best, his mother sees fit to berate him for the better part of an hour and question "what we did to deserve this ungrateful attitude". He sighs softly, tuning out the different conversations at the dinner table until his mother drags him into the discussion.

"Our Elias has decided it's time he takes a mate."

His head snaps up, his attention rapt and wholly focused on his mother. "I have?"

"Well, your father and I have decided it's time. We aren't getting any younger and would like to enjoy grandchildren." She smiles broadly at Eli before glancing at the male omega sitting next to her.

It finally dawns on Eli. The knot in his stomach is swallowed by a growing pit. "I thought you guys were joking about this."His voice is barely above whisper, shock and awe having robbed his voice of volume. "Arranged marriage is—,"

His mother cuts him off, trilling loudly, "He doesn't believe that you're a dominant, dear." She flashes a fake smile and Eli can feel the pit in his stomach growing as she demands, "Remove that god awful bracelet and necklace."

Eli blanches, the color draining from his face and casting a sickly, gray tint to his otherwise warm complexion. "I don't...the staff?" He stumbles over his words, his worry for the maids and butlers taking center stage. He looks around the room nervously as the staff stare back at him.

"Do it," his father hisses. "Don't embarrass your mother in front of our guest."

"But last time, one of the staff..." he trails off, unable to complete the sentence due to the fear of triggering memories he's been diligently working to forget. Eli starts again, his voice clipped as his nerves begin to fray.

"Elias," his brother cuts in, "Do as you're told. Don't humiliate our parents." Underneath his breath, he adds, "You like being the center of attention after all. Don't you?"

He doesn't want to do this.

The last time he did a few of the staff dropped so quickly, they nearly became feral. It took multiple staff, only after they donned scent neutralizing masks, to tear the omega and alpha away from Eli. After the chaos died down, they realized he was injured. However, instead of taking him to the doctor for his broken hand, his mother insisted he meet with the endocrinologist first who explained the phenomenon is most common for dominant alpha's. There was already some speculation about his genetics, given how early he presented and how strong his scent was, but this was new. He hadn't even been aware he was scenting. It was something he didn't have control over yet. But that day, his father wouldn't rest until Eli was able to control it. He was repeatedly told, for hours on end, that in order to grow to be the man he was destined to become, he had to learn to "handle others". It was "the way things were".

He went on and on expressing that as an alpha, it was his "god given right" to dominate—either by brute force or biological means. It was more than likely out of sheer frustration and exhaustion, but Eli emitted a wave of pheromones so strong that it carried further than they realized. Heavy footsteps were followed by the door to the study being thrown open. An omega staff purred loudly, their canines elongating into fangs as they slowly stalked forward. His pupils were blown wide and his scent overwhelmingly strong. It soured once he caught wind of the female alpha that was lunging towards Eli. After the staff were sedated and he returned home from the hospital, he wore scent blocker patches constantly. Only removing them when he was alone.

So, as he unlatches the bracelet around his wrist, his heart grows heavy as he looks around the room, watching as the staff place the scent neutralizer masks on. He offers a small apology to the omega as he pulls the bracelet away from his arm. His pheromones permeate the air instantaneously, the scent thick and heavy. He grimaces, the pit in his stomach growing to cavernous proportions as the omega's pupils widen, black eating up the flint gray of his irises. He emits a loud purr, one that vibrates the entire table. Eli doesn't wait for the inevitable to happen. He latches the bracelet again as he pushes back from the table, lowering his head in an apology and excusing himself from the room.

As he makes his way out of the dining room and down the hallway, he can hear his mother proudly boast,

"I told you we have a dominant alpha for a son. God really blessed us when they gave us Eli."

How can any human that can cause another to lose their sense of self be considered a blessing?

That's the one question Eli has been struggling with for as long as he can remember. The weight of his guilt and shame, one that he can easily shirk off when he's away from the pressures of his family, settles heavily around his shoulders. Every once in a while, he forgets why he hates coming to see them, but as he was commanded to prove himself tonight, he's reminded as to how the pain he feels from his upbringing is so overwhelmingly suffocating.

Despite growing up incredibly wealthy and never having to want for anything, there is one thing he's always desired—true affection not born from his rare biology.

At 25, he's finally realizing if his family has never given it to him, he'll never be deserving of it from anyone else.