14. Steve

Half the blankets Leo brought downstairs are soaked in cum and slick. We cuddle close in the remaining blankets, sated and sleepy. He sits on my lap and rests his cheek against my chest. A deep sense of belonging washes over me. This is how we're meant to be. He fits in my arms like a key fits into a lock.

"How are you feeling?" I ask.

"Hungry," he says.

"Food is almost here." Or I hope it is. I ordered it a while ago when he told me he wanted nachos. I've never had an omega request solid food like that during their heat. Usually, I have to hard time getting them to eat anything at all.

Knock, knock, knock.

Thank God. I wait a few moments for the delivery guy to leave it on the doorstep. That's what I requested when I placed the order. Then I extricate myself from Leo and rescue our dinner from the doorstep with nothing but a blanket around my waist.

Leo smiles at me when I return with the two to-go containers. He hasn't been this alert all day. We started fucking at about nine-o'clock, only pausing for thirty or forty minutes at a time to sleep. It's almost seven o'clock now.

He opens his to-go container to reveal a decadent order of nachos, complete with jalapenos, guacamole, two different kinds of meat, and sour cream.

"I know most omegas don't eat much during their heat, but I'm always ravenous," he says, picking up a chip slathered in cheese. "The doctor said it's because of the crazy diets they put me on when I'm filming, but I don't know. I think I'm just weird."

This is the first time Leo's talked about filming.

"What do you mean by crazy diets?" I ask.

He finishes chewing and grabs another chip. "Oh, you know. Low carb diets, broth diets, intermittent fasting. It depends on the director. They usually only make me do it if I have a scene where I take off my shirt, but some directors are assholes, and ask me to drop weight even if I'm going to be fully clothed the whole time."

Leo is a small man. It's concerning that directors think he needs to "drop weight."

"Can you tell them you don't want to?" I ask.

"I could, but then I'd get a reputation for being difficult to work with." He shoves another chip in his mouth.

"Do you have another film like that coming up?" I don't know how I would feel about watching Leo starve himself because some director wants a certain aesthetic.

He stops, a chip half-way to his mouth. "Um, no. I decided to take a break."

"For how long?"

He sets the chip down. "I don't know. I've been working nonstop for years, and I was thinking it would be nice to not take off to another state or country to film something new every few months. Especially now that we're getting to know each other. My other relationships always fell apart because we were long distance, and I'm tired of sacrificing everything for my job." He watches me closely as he speaks, like he's afraid I'll be upset.

That couldn't be further from the truth. It's a relief that he's taking our relationship that seriously.

"I work from home half the time. If you need to travel for work, I could come with you and fly back home when I need to go into the office."

He smiles shyly. "You'd do that for me?"

"Yeah. You don't need to stop working to be with me."

He eats another few chips without saying anything else, but it's clear that he's thinking about something. I open my own dinner, which is chicken tacos, and eat with him.

"I need to tell you something, but I'm worried it will upset you," he says.

"Okay." I remind myself that it's good he's communicating with me about something he thinks will upset me instead of keeping it from me. That's healthy.

But it also makes me nervous as hell.

"My agent wasn't thrilled about me leaving that film crew behind at my house. We're parting ways for the time being."

"What do you mean parting ways?" That can't mean what I think it does.

"He doesn't want to represent me anymore. That's the real reason I'm taking a break. I'm not ready to go searching for another agent. I need some time to regroup and think about what I really want with my life. Part of that is getting to know you better, but it's a lot more complicated than that."

He's right. Learning that his agent dropped him because of something we did together does upset me. I should have considered what leaving that film crew behind would do to his career.

"I'm sorry, Leo," I say.

"I'm not. I've been happier with you during the last twenty-four hours than any time in the last two years. Don't get me wrong. I love acting. But somewhere along the way, I gave up too much of myself for it. I even forgot how good nachos are." He smiles and shoves another one in his mouth.

He seems okay. I'm sure a change of this magnitude isn't easy, but if it's what he wants, I should be supportive.

"Then we'll order lots of nachos," I say. "Or other foods you haven't eaten in a while."

He laughs. "I can't go too crazy or you'll have a very round boyfriend on your hands."

"And? I could get into that."

Leo looks away from me. "Stop being so perfect, or I won't ever be able to let you go."

"That's the idea, isn't it?"

He reaches out and squeezes my hand. "Maybe. With time. But you'll have to be patient with me. I'm not used to all this acceptance and sweetness. It makes me wonder if you're for real."

Knock, knock, knock.

I roll my eyes. It's probably a salesperson or something. I certainly won't be answering the door. Leo and I both have blankets wrapped around us, but we're not wearing any clothes.

"Are you expecting someone?" Leo whispers. We're only a few feet from the front door. I'm sure whoever is knocking heard our voices.

"No. It's just a salesperson. They'll go away," I whisper back.

The knock comes again.

"Lower the drawbridge, Sir Lance Shiningsword!" Henry's voice booms from outside the door.

Oh no. I told everyone at work I'd be gone, but I forgot to tell the guys I wouldn't be able to do DD tonight. Once a month I host because Henry likes to order takeout from a sushi place by my house.

"Sir Lance Shiningsword?" Leo whispers, clearly amused.

"My friends have done a lot of medieval Dungeons and Dragons campaigns, okay? I ran out of name ideas."

He laughs silently.

"Steve's probably in the bathroom or something," James says. "I have the key he gave me to look after his cat a few weeks ago."

Fuck, fuck, fuck. I forgot about that key. A tell-tale sound of metal scratching against metal comes far too soon, and then the door is opening while Leo and I are still on the couch, wrapped in nothing but blankets.

Henry barges in first and stops abruptly when he sees us. "Oh. Is this… um, hello."

James walks in behind him and does a double-take.

"Sorry everyone. Leo, these are my friends Henry and James. They're here because I forgot I was hosting our game night." I turn to Henry and James. "Leo is my match through that agency, and we met yesterday. One thing led to another, and…"

Henry's eyes widen. "Oh."

James stares at Leo for a full beat. "You're Leo Sanders."

Leo pulls the blanket tighter around his body. "I am. And you're Henry Sanchez." He nods to Henry, who is still in a state of shock.

More footsteps echo from the porch. Cooper and Griff step inside. Griff's eyes go wide, exactly like Henry's, but Cooper masks his surprise a little better.

"Steve forgot we were coming," James explains.

Cooper smirks. "I'm sure he did. I'm Cooper Smith." He holds out a hand to Leo.

"Leo Sanders." His hand emerges from the blankets to shake Cooper's.

"He's my match through that agency," I say again, like that somehow justifies the awkwardness of the situation.

"He could play DD with us," Henry suggests.

"No, I think we should let them enjoy their evening together," Cooper says. "It's good to meet you, Leo. Please forgive our intrusion."

To my immense relief, Cooper literally pushes Henry out the front door. Griff follows behind them, leaving only James.

"Perhaps you could bring him next week. We want to meet him properly. We can forgo the games for a nice dinner. What do you think?" James asks.

"Sure," I agree. "I mean, if Leo's free."

"That should be fine. Thank you," Leo says.

James gives us a smug smile. "Very good. I've seen all your films, Leo. You are an excellent actor. We could watch one at dinner. Unless you don't like watching your own films, of course. We could do one without a sex scene, if that would make you more comfortable."

Oh my God. How can this man be so good at business negotiations and this socially awkward with omegas at the same time?

Cooper pops his head back in and grabs James's sleeve. "It's time to go."

He literally pulls James out the door by his shirt and shuts it behind them.

I sigh in relief. "I'm so sorry."

Leo laughs. "It's okay. They seem nice."

"They really are. Once Henry gets to know you, he'll be a lot more talkative, and maybe Cooper can bring his husband to dinner. He's great. I think you'd like him."

Leo sets his food down on the coffee table and climbs into my lap. "That sounds like fun. Your friends remind me of the guys I hung out with in high school."

"Is that a good thing or a bad thing?" I ask.

He straddles my thighs. "High school was the last time I had real friends. Most of the friends I've made as an adult only spend time with me to network."

Leo is twenty-seven years old. That's a long time to go without friends.

He really has given up too much for his job.

"I'm sorry," I say. "That sounds lonely."

He nods. "But I'm not lonely right now. I need you again, Steve. Will you make love to me?"

That's the first time he's called sex "make love." I like hearing those words out of his mouth.

"Of course. I'll fill you up and make you feel better, baby." I utter the endearment casually, at the end, hoping it isn't too much. The thing the agency didn't mention was how our high pheromone compatibility would impact the experience of sharing a heat together. After sharing this level of connection with Leo, it's impossible to imagine being with anyone else.

That's a lot to sort through in twenty-four hours. Hopefully not too much.

At this point, I don't think I could bear to lose him.