love songs from another room

by honeyhotteoks

Summary:

yunho’s a respectful alpha, the kind of guy that might notice you, the omega next door, but also notices you have a boyfriend. he smiles politely in the hall, he tries to stay out of your way, and he definitely does not listen through the wall to the way you sound when you’re in heat. but when your alpha is nowhere to be found, yunho does his best to keep you safe, and keep himself from crossing too many lines.

Notes:

i know this one is coming a bit out of left field, but i had about half of this sitting in the drafts and finishing this has really gotten me back in the swing of writing after my break. i hope this one is a fun one!! outside of tnt i don’t really write omegaverse often, but when i do…. it definitely gets a little feral. i hope you all enjoy.

please also note, there's a lot of consent talks in this one given that yunho and reader don't really start interacting until she's already in heat. that means there's a ton of push and pull, a ton of yunho trying to be a good guy, and some worry about line crossing from him after they do have sex. you should consider reader's consent here explicit and on page, however, i added the mildly dubious consent tag just in case to cover how you may personally interpret consent during a heat haze.

Yunho has been wearing earplugs to sleep for eight months. For almost exactly as long as you’ve lived next door to him, your bedrooms sharing a too-thin wall. He likes living in an apartment building with other people, in a big city surrounded by bodies. It’s comforting at night to hear footsteps above or a door swinging shut from the unit across the hall. The walls have never been so thin he can hear much detail from any of his neighbors, but the presence of people around has always made him feel comfortable and a little less alone. 

The woman who lived in your apartment before was older, extremely quiet and kept to herself. He rarely ran into her in the shared hallway let alone heard her through the wall. He never once had to think about filing a noise complaint or trying to find another unit in the same building until you. He never once had his sleep disturbed or his patience tested. Not once. Until you.

He didn’t mind having a noisy neighbor at first, the faint sound of your voice or the music you’d like to play through the drywall didn’t bother him. Most of the time he liked it. For the first couple of weeks he enjoyed the way your sharp laugh would carry, and once he heard you singing k-pop in the shower and he caught himself smiling about it for the rest of the day. He’d bump into you in the hall, a few words exchanged here and there, a pretty blush in your cheeks that he wanted to be responsible for putting there. You quickly became his favorite neighbor even though you really didn’t know each other. 

It changed after May. He remembers it all too clearly, back to his place after a long weekend away with friends. He had collapsed into bed wanting to fall asleep and stay asleep for as long as possible, a hangover still nagging at him, when he heard your whine through the wall. It was desperate, thready and laced with pain, and he felt his alpha responding to the very clear sound of an omega in distress before his mind caught up with itself. He was on his feet in a second, frozen and listening intently. 

When you whined again, voice caught in a pleading sob he took a deep breath. That’s how he knew you were in heat. Even through the wall the smell of you was thick, syrupy and intoxicating. He cataloged it quickly - brown sugar and butter, rich vanilla, and he could practically taste the blueberries bursting on his tongue. The feeling in his body was all encompassing, he wanted. He felt his cock grow hard at your scent, at the sound of your pretty mewling. 

Please, alpha - The sound of you begging ripped him from fantasy and brought him closer to the wall. Were you alone? Thoughts flipped through his mind at lightning speed. Were you in pain? Touching yourself to ease the ache? Were you wet?

The sound of a man’s voice had ruined the illusion, shame dousing him like ice cold water and jolting him back away from the wall. 

Present. 

Yunho’s stomach rolled. He knew you lived with someone, an alpha, he knew you were taken. He’s known it since he saw the two of you walking into the building together carrying heavy boxes labeled bedroom, bathroom, kitchen, but for a moment he forgot. In that moment he heard too much, and he certainly shouldn’t have this kind of a reaction to an omega that simply isn’t his. 

At the first chorus of your loud moans through the wall he grabbed his already packed duffle bag and spent three nights in a hotel. All the while he tried to forget the way his mouth watered at the idea of your sweet cunt. He gets it out of his system with a fast fuck with a beta from the hotel bar and about a dozen cold showers. 

When he gets home he starts sleeping with earplugs all the time. He doesn’t want to hear your voice through the wall anymore, or his, and god forbid he has to hear another man fucking you again. He’s not taking the chance. 

He tries his best to avoid you after that. You bump into each other of course, that’s what living side by side will do, but he keeps it even more brief and polite than before, he gives you distance. He’s sure you must think the worst of him, he caught your sheer embarrassment when you saw each other after that weekend, but he really can’t let himself care. It doesn’t matter how good you smell or how sweet he thinks your face is, you have a boyfriend. 

Your next heat comes like clockwork three months later, and he starts to consider how quickly he could sell his condo. He doesn’t want to, he loves this apartment, but he’s not sure he can take it. In the end though, he stays. The week after your second heat you smile shyly at him in the hallway, caught out in the hall in your slippered feet with a messy haystack of hair, and he thinks he might just have to find ways to run into you more often. He buys a blueberry muffin on the way to work and tells himself it doesn’t mean anything. 

It’s your third heat that drives his instincts into overdrive. 

He realizes you’re due for another while he’s cooking breakfast on a Saturday morning, he can hear you deep cleaning next door and his eyes go a little unfocused while he stares at the wall calendar on his fridge. He does quick math, curses under his breath, and starts to think about making hotel plans. You’re at least a week away though, so he keeps it in the back of his mind like an item on a to-do list. 

That Sunday he hears you and him fighting through the wall. It’s not the first time he’s heard raised voices from that side, but this time is different. It’s loud and angry and full of bitterness, and even though he can only catch every few words when you’re towards his wall of the apartment, he gets the distinct impression that this alpha of yours isn’t taking care of you the way you need to be taken care of at all. 

On Tuesday he notices that your alpha’s car is gone longer than his normal work hours, and come Wednesday morning it’s still nowhere to be seen. It gives him an uneasy feeling, a tense knot in his gut that nags him relentlessly. 

He never does book that hotel. 

________________________________________________________________________________________________________

You’ve made up your mind. If Hyunshik can’t make it back in time for your heat, you’re leaving him. As soon as your head is clear and it’s safe to leave this apartment, you’re done. You were so hopeful about living together, the idea of it being such a clear next step for your relationship, but to watch it crumble around you despite all the effort you put in was really starting to take its toll. 

Your heat had been circled on the calendar for months. You reminded him about it so many times, trying to make sure he had his own leave approved. He brushed it off every single time, he had it covered, it was fine, it would be fine, you were just worrying. None of that made you feel secure, and none of it made you want to spend another heat here with him. Except Hyunshik has always been good at apologies and even better at making you think a problem was all inside your head, so you let it go. Then he told you about the trip, a week long business trip to Japan. Panic had flooded your body, and you begged him to find a way out of it but he refused. It was too important for his career, and the idea of taking heat leave would just make him look bad to his bosses. Besides, he had told you, he would be back on Friday. 

In the moment you had wanted to remind him that your heat was scheduled to start properly on Friday and leaving you alone for your pre-heat and cutting it that close was cruel, but you knew it wasn’t worth it. He was going to do what he was going to do, and you were just going to have to wait. 

On Thursday you wake up in a cold sweat with a distinct throb between your thighs. You don’t even think about what it means, you just think about how badly you need to get off. You roll from your back onto your stomach and stuff a balled up pillow between your thighs, rolling your hips in a needy, rutting rhythm until your skin is slick with sweat and the bed beneath you creaks, coming with a choked moan that you do your best to aim into the mattress to muffle the sound.

Your heat is a day early and very suddenly you want to cry. 

The only thing you can think to do is seek out your alpha, it’s only natural even though in your rational mind you want to curse out Hyunsik for leaving you. You call him again and again, but he doesn’t pick up a single call. Texts go unanswered. You whine into your bedding, the first pulse of a real cramp starting to build in your belly.

Hours pass as you ride out your first real heat spike, fucking yourself over and over again, and while it helps it doesn’t soothe the deep intrinsic ache inside you. Your sheets are tangled and damp, and if you’re being honest you need to figure out how to get out of this bed and into some clean clothes that don’t smell of slick and panic, but it’s so much harder to sit up than it should be. 

After what must be your fifth orgasm, you start to cry. Your messages with Hyunsik lie open next to you, a chain of unanswered pleas for your side and absolute silence from his. Your body is tired already, your muscles shaking and achy, and despite your endless orgasms your body still throbs with need. You’ve always had hard heats, but in the past you’ve always had a partner, and a knot is a knot even with a less than perfect partner. Without one, you’ll never be able to tamp down the spikes. 

A sudden pounding on your door tugs you right out of your doom spiral. A chill runs up your spine. There’s no way you can open the door in your state, dripping with heat pheramones and looking like a fucked out mess. They’ll go away. 

The pounding comes again, and you scramble up to your feet so you can pull on a robe as if that will give you some kind of protection from whoever’s insistently knocking on the other side. 

A third knock comes, but this time the person on the other side speaks, “y/n? It’s, well, it’s Yunho from next door,” 

Your stomach twists, of course he’s here. He probably heard you through the wall and is coming to tell you to quiet down, something to put a cherry on top of this truly terrible day. He’s been so strange with you since you moved in, and you wonder if it’s because he could tell you had been harboring a bit of a crush, despite the boyfriend in your bed. 

“y/n?” He calls again, and you realize you never responded. 

Your brain feels sluggish, “It’s not really a great time,” 

There’s a long beat and then he knocks again, this time much more softly, “I know, but I just wanted to check in on you, make sure you were okay,” 

Your omega preens at that, so desperate for a little comfort after the stress of your week, but your rational brain reminds you that despite your neighbor’s kind face and pleasing scent, you don’t actually know him. You step a little closer to the door, “I’m fine,” you tell him, “thank you for your concern.” 

The next pause is longer, and you wonder if he’s already gone, but then you hear him say, “You don’t sound fine,” 

Your stomach knots, your head throbbing with a desperate ache, “Well, I am, thank you again,” 

He sighs, and there’s a light, non-threatening thump on your door, “Omega, I know your heat is starting. I know you’re alone,” 

You take two wide steps back from the door, your hand finding the edge of the sofa to hold onto, “I think you should leave.” 

“Sorry,” He groans, “I’m sorry, I didn’t mean for that to come out so… wrong,” 

“W-what did you mean?” 

“Just… listen I don’t want to come in or anything, I just noticed that your boyfriend’s car is gone, and I heard you through the wall,” Blush heats your cheeks but he continues, “I can hear that you’re in pain, and I just wanted to see if you need anything.” 

Your hands are on the door handle before you can really think it through, but you can hear him on the other side. You catch his deep scent, and ice passes through you, “I’m opening the door,” you tell him, “can you step back?” 

You hear him move immediately, his footsteps shuffling back, “Okay, I’m away,” 

This is risky, kind of stupid and frankly impulsive, but something about his voice tells you he’s safe. You’re safe. That’s the thought you hang onto when you crack open the door and peer through the narrow slit. He looks stressed, his dark hair a bit of a mess and there’s a purplish shadow under his eyes, but you also think you’ve never seen someone look better. You swallow tightly at the sight of his broad, wide shoulders and the way his t-shirt fits his shoulders and hugs the indentation of his pecs. 

He raises his hands in a non-threatening gesture and his eyes soften when you open the door a little further, “Hey, neighbor,” 

“Hi,” You glance behind him down the hall but there’s no one else. 

“Am I right?” He asks softly, “Is your alpha gone?” 

You can feel the tautness growing in your belly at his tone, the sign that another round of cramps isn’t far. You need this to be quick, “He’s away for work,” you nod, “it’s bad timing,” 

“Your heat’s early?” He asks. 

“A day,” You nod, “he’s supposed to be back sometime tomorrow,” 

Yunho frowns, shifting a little from foot to foot as he thinks, “He can’t come any earlier?” 

Your jaw tightens as you think of the string of unanswered texts and calls, “He’s not answering his phone,” you didn’t mean to sound quite so bitter, but maybe you are. 

The alpha in the hall drops his hands to his sides, and you watch as they tighten into fists before relaxing again, “Okay, so here’s what we’re going to do,” 

“We?” Your breath quickens, and you fight the urge to jump back into your apartment and shut the door. 

“Relax, omega,” He soothes you, “I won’t touch you, I give you my word.” 

Your heart feels fast like a rabbit’s, fluttering in your chest, and you wish your primal brain wasn’t so sensitive and reactive. 

“You’re going to make a list of anything you need and put it right outside your door,” He nods towards your doormat, “I’m going to go get dressed, and in ten minutes I’ll come back and get the list. I’ll get you any things you need, any things you might want, and drop them off for you.” 

“You’d do that?” Your hand slips away from the doorknob so you can step a little further out into the open to see him. 

His eyes flick over you as you do, his throat jumping as he swallows, “Of course, I will,” 

“Why?” You manage. 

His shoulders drop, “You’re hurting,” he says simply, “and I can help, I’m not going to let you struggle alone.” 

You feel tears pooling behind your eyes, and you nod, “Thank you, Yunho-ssi,” 

“Just Yunho,” He smiles and your stomach flip flops pleasantly, “I’m sorry I didn’t introduce myself better sooner, and I’m sure this is scary for you, but I promise, you’re safe with me.” 

Yunho. You like the sound of it, you like the sound of him. 

You push your feral little omega thoughts down though and nod, “I trust you,” 

“Good,” His smile widens, “now go back inside and you write that list. Nothing’s off limits, don’t worry about the cost, anything you need you’ll get.” 

You don’t know how he’s so adept at saying exactly what you need to hear at this moment, but you’re grateful for it. The panic and inconsistent heat spikes feel a little calmer after even just this short conversation with him, and you nod. He gestures for you to go inside and shut the door, and you do. He doesn’t move until he knows your door is shut tight, and then you hear him cross the hall back to his own apartment. 

A list. 

This alpha wants you to make a list of anything you might need to withstand your heat alone. 

You find a pad of paper and a pen on your kitchen table and you start writing it out as quickly as possible, trying to follow his guidance of not worrying about what you write down. The list pours out of you faster than you thought possible.

water bottles

a few ready to serve meals? pasta, soup, instant rice? 

ice cream (strawberry matcha if they have it, cookie dough if they don’t)

energy drinks / electrolyte supplements

three packets of red ginseng

honey lozenges 

raspberry leaf tea

a soft blanket (if you see one)

vibrator

You almost cross the last two off the list or start all over again, but before you can really give it any thought you make it back to the door, leave the note folded under the edge of your doormat, and close yourself back in the safe cocoon of your apartment. 

When your heat is over you’ll never be able to look this alpha in the eyes again, but that was a problem for future you. 

You huddle up on the corner of your couch and wrap a blanket around your shoulders, this one is lovely when you’re not in heat, but when you are you just feel every fiber of the scratchy wool against your skin in a way that makes you want to shed your skin. You hope he gets something really soft, something fleece or velvet, something you can bury your naked body in later and just fall asleep. 

You listen intently and a few minutes later you hear his door open, footsteps, and then quiet. You blush into your hands at the idea of him reading your list and actually going out in public to buy you a sex toy, but there’s nothing you can do about that now. What’s done is done. 

You wait a while, you check your phone again and again, you pace. 

You don’t know how much time passes between Yunho picking up the list outside your door to the knock you’re hearing now, but it feels like it’s been hours. 

You hear his voice through your door in the throes of another spike, only this time you’re writhing on your couch with a hand down your sleep shorts. His voice makes you freeze, “Hey,” he says, “I’m back, I’ve got plenty of provisions for you,” 

Your chest is heaving, your body sticky with sweat and slick, and you don’t know what to do. 

He knocks softly again, “You alright in there?” 

All you feel is panic, the idea that he might find you like this, but then the sudden thought that he might leave. Your brain feels foggy and hot, and you need a knot but no matter how many fingers you stuff inside yourself it’s just not right. A stuttered sob breaks through your lips, and your heart pounds faster and faster, you're frozen solid. 

“Omega?” His voice is warm and rich and too far away, “I have everything you need, can you open the door?” 

Tears fill your eyes, and you shake your head against the couch even though he can’t see you. 

He waits a little longer and then knocks again, “Can you hear me, y/n? Can you come to the door and let me help?” 

Another sob bubbles up out of your chest, this time louder and more desperate. 

“Fuck,” You hear him curse, “fuck, fuck,” 

He’s angry, upset with you and you curl into yourself, tucking your knees up to your chest and pressing your eyes shut tight, he’s so disappointed and it fills you with dread. 

“I’m…” His voice sounds distant, “omega, I’m coming in… please, fuck, please don’t hate me for this,” 

You brace yourself, tears coming hot and fast, and you don’t know what your body is so tensed up for and expecting, but your front door swings open softly and you hear his heavy footfalls. 

“Omega?” He calls into your open apartment, and you hear the moment he sees you in the way his voice changes, “Oh, sweetheart, it’s alright, you’re alright,” 

“Hurts,” You bite through the rippling cramp, “it hurts so much,” 

His voice is closer now, “You didn’t lock the door,” he says, a soft chastisement, “that’s not safe, little omega,” 

“I’m sorry,” Your voice is thready, “I’m so sorry,” 

“Shit,” He curses again, “no, sweetheart, I’m sorry. I took too long getting you what you need, but I’m here now. You’re doing fine, alright? You didn’t do anything wrong,” 

The tight fist of panic around your heart loosens, just a little, and you hiccup and breath in and out. 

“Right,” He soothes, “you’re doing so well, I know it hurts,” 

You nod, your eyes still pressed tightly closed. 

“Okay,” He says, “I’m going to bring everything in, just breathe,” 

Your eyes flash open, “Don’t leave,” 

“Not leaving,” He promises from his position sitting on your coffee table, at least a foot of space between you, “just getting you a present,” 

That makes your inner omega calm in a moment. He’s not disappointed with you, he’s pleased, he has something special for you just like you need. Your body is a trembling mess the minute he steps out of your eye line, and rationally you know that this reaction to him is a problem considering you have a boyfriend, you don’t know this man, and you’re about as vulnerable as a person could be, but you don’t care. 

You watch as he hauls in an armful of bags in various shapes and sizes, and despite your needy spike, it makes you smile. 

He shuts your front door and locks it tight and then he takes back his seat on the coffee table.

  “I got everything you asked for,” He smiles warmly, “and some other things I thought might be helpful,” 

“T-thank you,” 

“I’ll help put everything away and get you settled,” He says, “how bad are you spiking now?” 

“Um,” You try to keep yourself centered enough to answer him. 

“It’s alright,” He murmurs, “there’s nothing to be scared of or embarrassed about,” 

You want to cry again, but instead you just nod, “It’s pretty bad,” 

He nods, “I can leave,” he offers softly, “but if you’re okay with it, I’d like to make you something to eat. Can I touch your forehead for a moment? I just want to see how warm you are,” 

“Okay,” You breathe. 

He gives you a small smile and leans forwards slowly, gently resting the back of his fingers along your sweaty forehead. His mouth downturns as he withdraws his hand, “Okay, change of plans,” 

“Why? What’s wrong?” Your throat feels dry, your skin prickling. 

“You’re burning up,” He tells you honestly, “a little warmer than I’m comfortable with. I won’t come in with you, or do anything you don’t want, but would you let me get a cool shower or bath started? I’ll cook you something while you come down.” 

“You won’t come in?” 

“Not unless you ask me to,” He nods, “I’m not here for that, sweetheart,” 

“Keep calling me sweetheart and I might think you like me,” You sigh, your limbs feeling softer and easier the longer his warm scent passes over you. 

It’s Yunho’s turn to blush now, his ears dark pink, and he clears his throat, “The shower,” he diverts, “it’s back that way?” 

“Yeah,” You nod, “to the right,” 

“Alright,” He says, getting to his feet, “stay put,” 

You nod, and as he disappears from view your eyes settle on the bags. Some of them are clearly grocery bags, but some are from other stores, and you crane your neck to try to catch labels. 

You hear the water click on in the other room and the sound of your neighbor shuffling around, your linen closet door opening and shutting. 

“y/n,” He calls from down the hall, “are these the only towels you have?” 

It’s such an odd question, and your brows draw together, “What?” 

He pads back out into the hallway and smiles, just enough to keep you feeling comfortable, “The ones in your bathroom aren’t very soft,” 

Your stomach flips but you press the natural response down, “They’re fine,” 

“Hmm,” He brushes past that comment and offers you a hand, “just to help you stand,”

Your eyes flick over him, gauging his honesty once again, but within a moment you’re pressing your hand into his and letting him gingerly pull you up to your feet. 

“Ow,” You tighten your first at the pulse of a cramp, doubling over at the sudden sensation, “fuck, this sucks,” 

“I’m sorry,” He offers, still careful to only touch you with his one hand, “I’m sure the shower will help,” 

“Maybe,” 

“Can you walk?” He asks softly after a moment. 

The sharp pain has dulled a little, and you nod, straightening up as best you can and starting to walk. Everything aches, and you’re running so hot and so cold it’s making you dizzy, but something about his steady hand is keeping you moving. 

When you make it to the bathroom, you notice he has one of the smaller shopping bags in his hand, a shock of bright pink that you’re surprised you hadn’t noticed before. 

“What’s that?” You nod towards the bag. 

His cheeks turn a little red again and he clears his throat, “Thought it might help,” he sets the bag on the counter and drops your hand, “I’ll just leave it for you.” 

You wonder what kind of sex toy he bought for you, a stranger in heat. 

You manage a nod. 

He shifts from foot to foot and then sighs, “Just yell if you need me,” he says, “you’ll be alright?” 

“Mhm,”

“Good,” He steps over the threshold and back into the hall, his eyes never leaving you, “well,” 

“Hey,” You catch him as he starts to turn, and he looks back, “thank you for doing this,” 

“Of course,” He answers without a thought, “now you relax and cool off, and I’ll be in the kitchen when you’re ready,” 

He pulls the door shut as you thank him softly again and then you’re alone. Your body still feels like a live wire, but something about having an alpha close is making you feel a thousand times more secure. You look up into the mirror and nearly groan at the sight of yourself, sweaty and matted locks of hair frame your face and your cheeks are flushed, mottled, embarrassed splotches. Your clothes look mussed, and you’re realizing now that you haven’t had a bra on this whole time. Your nipples stand hard at attention through the thin fabric of your shirt and you groan in embarrassment. 

You hadn’t caught him looking, but there’s no way he didn’t notice. 

Your sleep shorts are sticky and stuck to your inner thighs too, a clear dark patch of slick visible from the outside. 

You sigh, dropping your head into your hands, and then you catch the little flash of pink again. 

It takes you a single second to tear into the bag and you clap a hand over your mouth when you see what’s inside. A sizable silicone cock in swirls of pastel pink and blue, complete with a generously sized knot at the base. A pulse runs through you at the sight of it. You can’t believe you put a vibrator on the list and not a knotting dildo considering you’re about to face this heat alone, but somehow he had known. 

In a flash you click the lock on the door, strip out of your sleep wear, and stumble into the shower, cock in hand. 

You hiss sharply at the temperature of the water, a little too cold for how you’re feeling, but a few adjustments leaves it just right to re-regulate your fever and you drop back against the tile wall to recenter. If you weren’t holding this brand new toy, you might have forgotten the alpha outside the door. Inside the little cocoon of your bathroom you aren’t able to hear him, but the toy is a reminder that there’s something different about this heat. 

Yunho. 

You like his name. You like a lot of things about him. His shaggy, dark black hair. His arms, his shoulders, the plush pout of his mouth and the way his brows draw together in concern for you every time you so much as whimper. His scent is something different too, you haven’t been able to figure it out yet, but every now and then you catch a whiff of something earthy and electric. 

Slick pools between your thighs, a pulse in your core and you find your clit with your fingers immediately, rocking circles into your sensitive bud. You can’t fight the moan that bubbles out of your throat, not now and certainly not when you start to push the thick toy inside you. 

You hitch your leg up and open onto the edge of the bathtub and brace yourself against the wall as best you can. It doesn’t take long, you’re an omega in heat who’s been begging for a knot for hours, so the second you feel even the faux sensation of one, you come apart at the seams. 

Pushing the toy in as far as you can, letting your body lock around the knot, you feel suddenly clearer than you have in hours. It’s bizarre the way heat spikes ebb and flow, and you’re suddenly painfully aware of how needy and out of your mind you were behaving on the couch just ten minutes ago. Now you’re really going to have to move, you’ll never be able to look this man in the eyes again once this heat is over. Knowing that he heard you through the wall is one thing, this is most certainly another. 

You finish your shower as quickly as possible, edging the toy out of your channel as soon as you feel sated and calm enough to do so. You wash it clean and leave it on the edge of the bath before making short work of washing your skin and hair soft and scent free. 

When you finally shut the water off and wrap a towel around yourself, you listen at the edge of the door to hear him. You expect him to be gone, or maybe to be at the door, but from the clinking sounds you can tell he’s exactly where he said he would be. Quietly you slip out of the bathroom and across the hall to your bedroom, searching in your closet for the one piece of perfect luxury that you know you have. Your robe is buttery soft, dark black and long, and you quickly dry off with the scratchy towel before slipping into the robe and a pair of house slippers. With your hair secured back in a clip, you take a deep breath and start for the kitchen. 

You can hear something boiling or bubbling on the stove before you even get to the kitchen, and then Yunho curses and you find yourself grinning. 

“So, you are still here,” You observe as you round the corner. 

He starts a little at your sudden presence, setting one of your large wooden spoons aside and turning towards you, “Still here,” he confirms, “feeling better?” 

You watch blush creep up his neck and into his cheeks again, so you’re sure that he heard you, but you clear your through softly and nod, “Yes, thanks,” 

“Absolutely,” He seems to relax a little now that you’re not a whining mess and he smiles, “you should sit down, this will take a little bit longer,” 

You stretch up to look across the kitchen and into the pot, “Curry?” 

“I hope you like that,” He grabs up the spoon again to stir, “it’s easy and it’s comforting,” 

“It’s perfect,” You assure him, “I’m honestly surprised, when you said you were cooking I wasn’t sure, I could have been getting ramen,” 

“No protein,” He notes, “and you need your strength right now,” 

Warmth blooms in your chest, “You’re good at this,” 

He shrugs, “It’s natural,” he says, “I’m just doing what feels right.” 

You smile, biting back a bitter comment about your boyfriend and his absolute lack of caretaking skills. 

“Well,” He steps back to let the sauce thicken, “go sit and relax, I’ll get you some water.” 

You open your mouth to protest but he gives you a little shake of his head. It’s easy to listen to him, part of that is probably your needy, clingy omega, but part of it is clearly that he’s anticipating your needs before you know them yourself. 

You settle back on the couch and find your phone, still void of any contact from your boyfriend, and then your eyes fall back onto the bags. Several of them are gone now, likely the groceries that he’s now whipping into a meal, but the others are still there, taunting you. You’re itching to open them. 

Yunho crosses the room and passes you a cool glass of water before taking a seat in the far chair, ensuring as much space between you as possible without leaving the room. His eyes flick over you and he shifts in his seat. You must smell appealing to him, at least a bit for him to be so careful with proximity, but you’re frankly grateful for it given how unpredictable your spikes have been so far. 

“Do you need anything else?” He checks. 

You shake your head and take a long sip of water, “I’m alright for now,” 

He nods, his knee bouncing slightly with unsettled energy. 

“Are you okay?” You ask. 

He huffs a laugh, nodding, “Yeah, I’m sorry, I’m just trying not to overwhelm you,” 

“Overwhelm me?” 

“Mm,” He murmurs, “I’m not really supposed to be here when I know you have a partner, but my instincts are pushing me to take care of you, and I just don’t want to make you uncomfortable,”

“I wouldn’t mind a little caretaking,” You blurt out. 

His leg stills and he swallows tightly, “I’m not sure that would be appropriate,” 

“Right,” You feel the tense pang of rejection in your chest and you look down. 

You hear him shift, leaning forward in his chair, “Omega,” he says your designation so softly it makes your mind warm and soft, “it’s not for any other reason than him, alright? I would if you were unbonded,” 

Your head snaps up, “I’m not bonded to him,” 

His eyes narrow the smallest amount, “You’re not?” 

“Can’t you tell?” 

He shakes his head, “I don’t see a mark, but your scents are all mixed together here, I just assumed.” 

“Ah,” You shake your head again, “well, no, I’m not bonded.” 

“Why?” One of his eyebrows quirks high. 

A flicker of anger ignites in your gut and you can’t stop the bitter truth this time, “You’d have to ask him.” 

Yunho’s jaw sets hard, and for a moment he looks like he’s fighting off saying something he’ll regret before he settles on a sigh, “I’m starting to think I don’t like this guy,” 

“Yeah,” You laugh sharply, “get in line.” 

“In that case,” He smirks a little, teasing this time, “I won’t feel so bad about buying a beautiful girl a dildo,” 

“Oh my god,” You bury your face in your hands, “I thought we had a silent agreement to never speak of that,” 

“I definitely did not agree to that,” He laughs, “especially now that I know what an idiot your boyfriend is,” 

Your stomach flutters and you smile, looking at him through your fingers. 

“Sorry,” He offers a moment later, “I shouldn’t say that, I don’t know him.” 

“It’s fine, honestly,” You lean back into the cushions and shrug, “it’s been bad for a while, pretty much since we moved in together,”

His expression softens, “I’m sorry,” 

“It’s not your fault,” You say, “but for an alpha, he doesn’t really seem to like omegas very much. Or maybe just me, I don’t know. When he gets home, it’s over.” 

“Leaving your omega in heat is pretty unforgivable,” He agrees. 

“Yeah,” You glance down at your phone, still void of any new messages, “honestly, I’m wondering if he’s with someone else.” 

“Cheating?” He clarifies. 

“Mm,” You nod, “and you’d think I would be jealous, especially now, but I just…” You gesture towards the space in front of you, at a loss for how to phrase it. 

“Don’t feel anything?” He supplies. 

“Exactly,” 

“I’m so sorry,” He says again. 

“Still not your fault,” You correct, taking a long drink of your water. 

“I never like to see anyone going through a tough time,” He says, “and what you’re going through right now is definitely tough.” 

Warmth pricks at your eyes for a moment, the truth of how you’ve been feeling for months being so easily acknowledged by this stranger sinks like a stone in your gut. Your friends, your family, everyone who encouraged you to just give Hyunsik another chance, but this man can see the truth of it with just a look. 

“Thanks,” You manage. 

He’s still across the room, but he holds your gaze and nods, nothing but tenderness radiating from him. At the sound of a timer in the kitchen he breaks his focus and clears his throat, “That’s the rice,” 

“Right,” You watch him jog into your kitchen like he’s done it a hundred times before. 

Heat flushes your cheeks again, and there’s a little bubbling knot of tension in your belly, but it’s still background noise enough that you can shake it off. You swipe away any trace of tears that might have bubbled up, and push yourself up off the couch, “So, you cook, you clean,” you noticed how he had cleared away the mess in your apartment, “you buy gifts for omegas in need… what else do you do, Yunho?” 

He smiles at the stove as he stirs the curry, “Let’s see,” he places the spoon back in the rest and leans against the kitchen counter, “I’m a dancer, a choreographer, that’s what I do for work. I like gaming, I play soccer with a couple of school friends a few times a week,” he trails off and then smiles, “I have a dog, I love dogs,” 

“You do?” Your brow furrows, “I haven’t seen a dog around,” 

“She was with my parents while I was doing military service,” He nods, “but I’d love to bring her here soon now that I’m settled again.” 

“That’s nice,” You smile. 

“Mm,” He turns back to stir the curry, “this is just about done,” 

“It smells delicious,” 

“I can’t take credit, it’s my friend’s recipe,” He shrugs, “if you want to see a man who can cook, well, then I should probably never introduce you to Wooyoung because you’ll definitely like him too much,” 

You laugh sharply at the transparency of his comment, and the clear intention that he does in fact have some kind of interest in you, but he’s doing a fantastic job of giving you space while your relationship disintegrates in your hands. 

“But what about you?” He asks, recentering the conversation, “Tell me something and I’ll fix you a serving.” 

You ease yourself onto one of the kitchen barstools and think, “Well, I’m an omega in a terrible relationship, but you already know that one.” 

He nods, a smile still on his lips.

“I’m a teacher,” You start simply, “first and second grade,” 

“Ah,” He nods, “that explains the fridge, I thought you had kids hiding somewhere with all this artwork,” 

You glance over, taking in the absolute gallery of crayon drawings stuck to your fridge and on the adjacent corkboard, “No,” you laugh, “no kids, just a huge class of very talented seven year olds.” 

“I bet you’re great with them,” He offers while he navigates your cupboards and puts together a plate. 

“Well,” You shrug, “I am an omega,” 

He glances sidelong at you and shakes his head as he ladles out some food, “I didn’t mean that, though I guess that might help. I just meant you seem kind, patient. That’s good for kids,” 

“Oh,” Your stomach flutters, “well, thank you.” 

He slides the dishes in front of you and then steps back, “Feeling alright?” 

“Good so far,” You promise him, “Yunho, this looks so good, you really did too much.” 

“It’s no trouble,” 

Eagerly you spoon up a bite of the curry and rice and sigh when the warm, familiar flavor passes over your tongue, “It’s perfect,” 

“Good,” He smiles, “I’m so glad you like it.” 

You eat in companionable silence for a few minutes while he clears away some of the cooking dishes, but eventually he moves back to the conversation from before, “So, what else about you? You teach, but that’s not everything,” 

“Oh,” You swallow a bite and shrug, “there’s really not that much to tell. I read a lot, I love the beach. I love dogs too, but Hyunsik is allergic, so,” 

“Really no points in his court right now,” Yunho smiles. 

You laugh and shake your head, “You’re not wrong,” 

“I hate to…” He starts and then stops himself, like he’s thinking he might not say what he’s about to say, but he sighs, “why are you dating him?” 

A great question. 

“We met in college,” You explain, “and we didn’t date for a long time but eventually we were the only two in our friend group not coupled up and I guess… I don’t know, it seemed like a good idea at the time.”

He nods, “I get that,” 

“What about you,” You turn the conversation again, “you don’t have an omega?” 

He shakes his head, “No, I really hadn’t connected with anyone before I left for service, and then I was away,” 

“And now?” You prompt him. 

He’s quiet for a moment, but then he shakes it off with a smile, “And now I’m too busy taking care of my lovely neighbor,” 

“Ha, ha,” You roll your eyes at him. 

You shift in the seat as he passes by, reaching for your empty plate and your body clenches just enough to leave you stiff and aching. You exhale low and slow through your nose and gingerly change positions. 

“How’s the pain?” He notices adeptly. 

“Slight,” You brush him off, “I’m alright for a little bit.” 

He looks you over as if he’s trying to gauge your honesty, but then he nods, “Well, there’s at least two more servings of curry in the fridge for you and plenty of rice still warming. I got everything you wanted from your grocery list, so if you have any kind of craving, it’s here.” 

“Thank you,” He’s going to leave soon, and that makes your stomach flip hard. 

“Do you want to see what else I got for you?” He asks. 

You had almost forgotten, but you nod and push yourself up from the chair, ignoring the throb inside you to move back to the couch. 

“Here,” He ferries the bags over to you and then takes a few wide steps back, still giving you as much room as possible. 

The bags are full, nearly overflowing with items. When he said he got a few more things he wasn’t kidding and your mouth drops open as you pull things from the bags one after another. Blankets in the softest, most luxe material. A soft foam body pillow that bends into whatever position you need. Cooling pads for the spikes and a heating pad for the chills. A weighted plush puppy with a tag boasting its ability to lower nesting anxiety, and multiple sets of the most buttery soft pajamas you’ve ever touched in your life. 

There’s not a receipt to be found or a price on a single item. 

“This is far too much,” You tell him, even though a moment ago you were practically grinning at everything. Your fingers knot into one of the blankets. He is not your alpha. He’s not. 

“It’s really not,” He repeats. 

“Yunho,” You sigh, your cheeks warm, “this is more than a couple of provisions…. this is…. I mean, this is something an alpha would do to dote on their own omega,” 

“Well, we already established I don’t have an omega,” He says simply. 

“But I have an alpha,” You imagine Hyunsik coming home early and seeing this scene, a stranger with his omega in heat, courting gifts spread from couch corner to couch corner. 

“I thought you were breaking up with him?” Yunho points out. 

“Well,” You groan, “yes, but you didn’t know that before you bought all this.” 

“I’m confused,” he admits, “you don’t like them?” 

“No!” You drag the blanket up over your knees, tugging it close as if to defend it, “No, I like everything very much, I just don’t know if you should… if we should be…” 

His eyes flick over you, studying your flushed cheeks and your blown pupils and he relaxes his posture, opening his hands to you in a gesture of calm, good faith, “y/n,” he murmurs, “please accept the gifts, they don’t mean a thing. I just wanted you to have a bit of comfort during a difficult time, and I don’t often have people around I can take care of,” 

You feel like you can hear your own heartbeat in your ears, but you nod along with his words. 

“But,” He smiles, “I think it’s time for me to step out and leave you be. Let me help you to your nest, if you want I can even bring some of this to the doorway for you, but I promise I won’t come in.” 

A cramp ripples through your belly and you swallow tightly, “I don’t,” You shake your head to get things clear, “I don’t have a nest,” 

His brows draw tight together in confusion, “You what?” 

“I don’t have a nest,” You repeat, “I’m usually good without one,” 

He blinks slowly, processing your words for a moment, his jaw jumping when he tightens his teeth together. His eyes glance past you and across the rest of your apartment before he centers his focus back on your face, “Who told you you don’t need a nest?”

A cold pang hits your chest, “Nobody,” 

His head falls slightly to the side, “Did he say you don’t need one?” 

You don’t reply, you can’t. Shame twists in your gut. 

“He doesn’t know the first thing about omegas,” Yunho says, his voice a little firmer than before, “and that’s his job.” 

Another cramp pulses in your belly. He needs to leave. 

“A nest is natural,” He says, leaning forwards with his elbows on his knees, “it doesn’t have to be fancy, but it should be someplace warm and soft and safe for you, ideally it would be separate from your actual bed, and,” 

“I know what a nest is.” You cut him off, words sharper than you intend. You need him out, “Look, I appreciate everything you’ve done, and you can get me the receipts for all this stuff and I’ll figure out paying you back later. I think I need to be alone now.” 

His face falls, “I didn’t mean to offend you, I just wanted to,” 

“You wanted to come swoop in and save the poor neglected omega next door,” Tears bubble hot in your eyes, “I get it, it’s only natural.” 

“Sweetheart,” The endearment slips out as he shakes his head. 

“Yunho,” Your hands are trembling where they grip the blankets, “you are not my alpha. I need you to get out,” 

He shrinks back, visibly paleing as your words finally connect with him, and he nods, “I’m so sorry, I overstepped.” 

“Please, just go,” Slick is pooling in your underwear already and if he doesn’t leave you’re going to jump him for a knot, you know it. 

“Alright,” He grabs his phone and his bag and steps out of your sight towards the front door, “if you need anything at all, I’m still here. My number is on the fridge, or you can just bang on the wall, I promise I’ll come if you call.” 

Tears start to track down your cheeks. 

“I have a nest too, it’s never been used. If you need it, it’s yours,” 

“Get out, Yunho!” Your nails dig into your palms. 

An unbonded alpha that offers a random omega a nest? It’s too good to be true, too perfect that he would fall into your lap today of all days. You’ve made so many mistakes in your life when it comes to your designation, your boyfriend the biggest one. Your mind feels dizzy and hot and you can’t conceive of what to do except that you need to be alone or you’re going to throw yourself at him. 

The sound of your door opening hits you like a brick and you hold your breath waiting for the sound of it shutting closed. 

“Lock it after me, alright?” Yunho says quietly, “It’s not safe,” 

The door clicks firmly shut. 

You wait, but you don’t hear anything else. Sniffing back tears you stumble towards the door, hands shaking when you finally reach the deadbolt and flip it into place. You stiffen when you hear the sound of him on the other side of the door, his weight shifting from one foot to the other, and then his door is open, shut, locked, and he’s gone. 

________________________________________________________________________________________________________

In hindsight, it’s definitely the most depressing orgasm you’ve ever had. Wrapped up in blankets that he bought you, sobs wracking your chest, but still an insatiable need to be knotted. When you finally settle down and out of your spike a bit, you feel like the reality of the day is staring you directly in the face. 

Your soon to be ex-boyfriend still hasn’t messaged you, you’ll be in full blown heat by tomorrow morning, and the one person who showed you a bit of genuine kindness you essentially told to fuck off. You’re about to start crying again at the sight of a full tub of strawberry matcha ice cream in your freezer instead of the small pint you always buy yourself every time Hyunsik forgets, when you realize something that sends a chill up your spine. 

On the corkboard to the side of the fridge is a note with his flight information. He’s supposed to be home from Japan tomorrow, while you’re still deep in the throes of your heat. You don’t want him anymore, for so many more reasons than just this, but if he comes home to you in the middle, would you ask for his help? Would you be so dizzy and desperate for an alpha knot that you’d beg for his? Would he touch you even if you didn’t want him to? You know in the back of your mind that he would. 

Your heart starts pounding at the thought, too many unknowns swimming around you and nothing to tether onto. 

Yunho’s name pulses in your mind like a drum, somehow the image of him is steady and sure even in the midst of your anxiety. He never pushed once from the moment he knocked on your door. The way he stepped far back every time he brought you something, every moment of care for you even though you’re a stranger. If had wanted to take advantage of you, he had ample opportunity to. You need someplace safe. You need someone safe. 

You tear through your apartment fast before you can overthink this. He said he would be there if you need him, and you just hope for once in your life you’ve found someone reliable. 

In a flash you’re standing in the hallway in front of his door, and you knock fast and firm. Only silence greets you, and you take a steadying breath before you knock again, a little firmer this time. 

“Come on,” You plead quietly to the door, “please, please, be there,” 

You’re about to knock again when you hear movement, steps getting closer, and then the door swings open. 

“What are you doing out here?” He looks you over fast and glances up the hall. 

“Did you mean what you said?” You press him. 

He blinks, looking back down to you and working through your words, “What’s going on?” 

“Did you mean it,” You repeat, “the part about the nest?” 

“O-of course,” He stumbles over his words, clearly still confused but he nods. 

The sound of a door down the hall opening startles you both, and he takes you by the arms to pull you inside his apartment before shutting the door tight. You make a sharp noise of surprise as he moves you, landing against the wall just inside his door, his arms on either side of you as he cranes his neck to look through the peephole. 

“Yunho,” You manage. 

“Sorry,” He releases you immediately, holding up his hands in an apology, “but you really can’t be wandering around right now, someone could have scented you.” 

“You’re right next door,” You gesture towards your apartment, just one little wall away. 

“You’re going to give me a heart attack,” He sighs.

“I’m alright,” You assure him, and for good measure you check out the peephole yourself, only to see the elderly beta woman from 4D who uses a walker and moves about one mile per hour. You smile at that, “No big bad alpha found me, it’s just Mrs. Kim,” 

“Please, don’t joke about that,” He crosses his arms, “it’s really not funny.” 

You have such an innate urge to soothe him, to touch him and calm the tension that just tied his muscles up tight, but you hold yourself back and cross your own arms in an unconscious mirror. 

After a moment he relaxes just a little, “What do you need?” 

“Can I stay here?” You ask softly. 

He nods immediately, “You can, but what’s changed? Last time we talked you wanted me far away from you.” 

You shift in his entryway, shaking your head, “What you said about the nest hurt,” you tell him, “not so much what you said, but… everything with Hyunsik.” 

He listens intently, nodding for you to continue. 

“Honestly, I genuinely don’t know why you’re being so nice to me,” You admit, “but it’s a bit of a painful reminder that my boyfriend is kind of an asshole,” 

He smiles, wide and genuine, “Oh,”

“Don’t be so happy about that,” 

“I’m not happy your boyfriend is a dick, I’m happy you’re here,” He says, “I really thought I hurt you,” 

“No,” You drop your head back against his wall, “no, you’ve been everything.” 

He warms at your words, unconsciously leaning a little closer to you.  

You wait a beat, and then you clear your throat, “So, can I come in then?” 

Yunho blushes, stepping back from crowding you protectively in the entryway to let you into his space. “Please, come in,” He opens his arm to the apartment, “sorry about that,” 

It’s strange how much more comfortable you feel in his presence, an instant balm to your heightened emotions. You wave off his apology and make it a few steps inside before the heady scent of him washes over you. In his home, it’s hard to miss. His scent is rich, woodsy and masculine. Warm and rich, like cedar and wet earth after a downpour, and something sharper running through it. Under it all you taste a bit of sweetness on your tongue, a tangy bite of white peach that leaves you stumbling into his large kitchen island. 

“Whoa,” He steadies you with his hands on your elbows, “you okay?” 

“Mhm,” You lie, “a little dizzy for a second,” 

His scent feels good around you, and you’d make a joke about it sending you into heat if you weren’t already right there. A rush of slick pulses from your core and you tighten your legs together to try and not embarrass yourself immediately in his kitchen.  

When his fingers tighten on your skin, the warmth of his body drawing a little closer to your back, you know he knows. His breath catches and you feel his head drop against yours as he collects himself, exhaling long and low before stepping far, far, away, “God, I’m sorry,” 

“I-it’s fine,” You lean heavily on the counter, “I clearly understand,” 

He laughs a little. 

“Not embarrassing at all,” You have the sudden urge to wrap yourself up in bed and never look him in the eye again. 

He runs a hand through his messy hair and clears his throat hard. Out of the corner of your eye you can see him adjusting his pants to conceal the clear start of an erection, “You’re sure you want to stay here? You’re comfortable with that?” 

“I think so,” You nod, looking down at your hands to give him a moment to collect himself. “I’d be more comfortable here than at home, Hyunsik gets back tomorrow and I… I really don’t think I want to be near him right now.” 

Yunho swallows tightly, “Definitely not.” 

“I don’t mean to make trouble for you,” You look back up at him.

He smirks, “Sweetheart, I’ve seen your boyfriend, I think I can take him.” 

Tension rolls off your shoulders at his casual confidence and you nod, “Thank you,” 

“Let’s get you set up in the nest,” He says, “and then I’ll run back to your place and get everything you need from there.”

“You’re sure I can use it?” A space like this is so private for omegas, and you can hardly imagine his future partner wanting it if it’s clearly been used by someone else before. 

“Absolutely,” He says, “come on, I’ll show you,” 

The last bit of hesitation starts to melt away, and you nod, “Lead the way,” 

You follow him through the back of his apartment to a long hallway. You ache to reach out and take his hand, but this time you both keep a comfortable distance until you turn the corner, an open door waiting at the end of the hall.  

“Go ahead,” He gestures for you to continue forward without him, “take a look,” 

You step forward, glancing back at him, “You’ve really never had an omega in here before?” 

He shakes his head, “You’re the first,” 

With nervous knots, you cross the threshold. It’s a small room, just how a nest should be, cozy and dim with warm ambient lights that create a lovely glow. The entryway floor is wood with two steps up onto a raised platform. Here, the surface is a thick, mattress-like cushion that reaches from wall to wall of the room. Everything is a lovely soft purple and blue, with what feels like dozens of pillows at your disposal. There’s a humidifier running that spins a cloud of unscented vapor into the air, and a nook in the corner for any supplies you might need. 

Your mind is going out of control, it’s like he plucked the room from your mind’s eye. 

“Is it alright?” He calls to you from the hall, “I had a friend help put it together, but I’ve never made a nest before.” 

“Yunho,” You turn, finding his eyes, “why do you have this if you don’t have an omega?” 

He shrugs softly, a little red in the cheeks when he answers, “I wanted it ready when I found her,” 

Your insides melt, but you have to remember, this isn’t for you.

He looks down, away from your eyes and nods, “I’ll get your things,” 

He’s gone before you can protest at all.

With a moment of quiet, you take stock of your body. Your insides are starting to ache again, not badly but just enough that you want to take a seat, so you ease yourself down onto the plush cushion to wait. There’s no way you’re far from another heat spike, and you know from experience that periods of lucidity are going to start decreasing with every one. By tomorrow you’ll be in almost constant need of a knot. 

You wait quietly, letting the coolness of the room soothe you until he returns. 

You hear him before you see him, the sound of things bumping against each other with every step, and when he turns the corner you see his arms are full, bags lining each forearm and a laundry basket in his hands piled high. 

“What’s all this?” Your eyes widen 

“Some more stuff from your place,” He says, lifting the laundry basket as proof, “I got you some clothes, toiletries, and I took a wild guess on what other stuff you might normally want for your nest so…. you can pick through it.” 

You watch as he sets everything down about a foot from the doorway to the nest before taking two sizable steps backward down the hallway. 

You smile, “You can come in,” 

He shakes his head, “I really shouldn’t,” 

“It’s not really my nest,” You shrug a little and make your way towards the bags and basket. 

“It is now,” He replies, “and I wouldn’t presume an invite. I’ll let you get settled, get you some water while you get acclimated.” 

He disappears again, leaving you alone with bags upon bags of provisions. Your palms start to itch. You haven’t had a nest in ages, you can hardly remember what you used to like and what used to bring you comfort. Hyunsik had whittled you down over the years until a smaller nest became no nest at all. All the things you craved, the blankets and pillows and the warm safety of it all became luxuries you didn’t need, burdens on him he didn’t want to carry. 

Slowly, you reach back into the bags and find the blanket that you had clung to only an hour ago. 

Without the pressure of doing things someone else’s way, nesting comes back to you in a whirlwind. Once you move your first set of pillows it feels like your hindbrain takes the reins and before you know it you’re in the center of dozens of blankets and pillows. Your chest warms as you move things from spot to spot, creating a cocoon of safety for yourself in the middle of the soft platform floor. When it’s nearly done, you feel a sharp pang. The room feels right, it even looks right, but there’s something deeply essential missing that claws at your throat. 

“Yunho?” You call down the hall, anxiety lacing your voice as you stay fixated on changing the position of the pillows on the left from flat to stacked and then down to flat again. 

“Here,” he says, appearing once again a few feet from the door, “what’s wrong?” 

“Something's missing,” You feel like you could cry. 

He steps a little closer, still mindful of the threshold, and leans against the hallway wall. He nods, crossing his arms, regarding you almost a little warily as he tries to figure you out, “Not enough pillows? I can get more,” 

You shake your head immediately, “No, no, everything's perfect, it’s more than perfect, I don’t know what it is, there’s just something missing,” 

He sighs, rubbing a broad hand across his mouth and jaw, “I didn’t think you’d want his scent here,” he explains, “I didn’t grab any of his things.” 

“I don’t,” You agree, your stomach dropping at the thought of Hyunsik here, in this space, “I don’t want him.” 

“That’s alright,” Yunho soothes you, his voice dropping to a smooth warm place naturally, “but I think that’s what your omega is missing. Just try to get comfortable and,” 

“You’re an alpha,” You cut him off, pushing up off the floor and stepping towards him, the need for his scent overtaking your ability to filter your thoughts.

For once, he falls completely silent. His throat bobs with a tight swallow, his eyes flicking over you and over the nest you’ve made. The warm smile that was on his face a moment ago is missing now, and your nails dig into your palms unconsciously at the thought that you’ve displeased him. 

“That’s,” He starts but trails back off, “omega, you’re testing my ability to be a gentleman here.” 

You feel hot blush flush up your chest, “I’m sorry,”

He shakes his head, “I’m the one that’s sorry, I’m doing my best to keep my distance; you’re in heat, you’re stressed, and you have a boyfriend,” he says, “even if he’s a total bastard,” 

You smile at that. 

“But you have to understand,” He explains, tense control radiating from him, “inviting me in your nest, asking for my scent, it’s too much,”

“I’m not trying to make you uncomfortable,” 

“That’s not the word I’d use,” He sighs, “I’m just trying to hold out until your heat is over and your boyfriend is out of the picture,”

Fluttering nerves light up in your belly, “Hold out for what?” 

“I’d like to ask you out,” He says it plainly, “but I’d prefer it if we were just neighbors when I do that, completely clear-headed, unattached neighbors.” 

Your body feels like it’s alight, singing at the idea that he wants you, that it wasn’t all guesswork and assumptions. You can’t stop the smile that breaks over your face, “You want to ask me out?” 

“When you’re ready for more than a rebound,” He answers, “I’m there.” 

It makes sense now why you’ve been drawn to him, why he’s been such an instant source of safety for your heat instead of what a stranger should feel like. He could be yours — you could so easily belong to each other if you just let it happen, and part of it is surely your heat-brain, but part of it is an absolute need to start living the life you have for you. 

“Why can’t that be now?” 

He exhales slowly, collecting himself and taking a step further back from the door, “This morning I had a silly crush on my neighbor that I was trying to ignore because I thought she was already bonded,” he says, “and now we’re here? We need to slow things down, sweetheart.” 

“There you go again with the sweethearts,” You catch him, “we’re both giving each other mixed signals.” 

“You’re right,” He drags a hand through his mop of dark hair, “I’m not helping,” 

“I’d say you’re helping, I feel much more steady when you’re with me.” 

“That’s not what I meant,” He sighs again. 

“Okay,” You wave your hands, stopping things where they are so you can regroup, moving back to the center of your new nest, “let’s think about this logically for a minute.”

He waits for you to continue, just a slight nod of his head. 

“You were interested in me before my heat?” You ask him. 

He nods again, no hesitation. 

“And I‘ve had a crush on you since I moved in,” You confess. 

His eyes widen. 

“I thought it would go away,” You explain, “I wasn’t about to break it off with my boyfriend just because I thought you were cute, but… I’ve definitely thought about you, I… I don’t know, I’m just saying it’s not a one sided attraction here.” 

“Right,” His arms unfold from their tightly crossed position. 

“So we like each other,” You put two and two together for him, “that’s a good sign,” 

“Yes, but,” He starts but you cut him off. 

“I guess there’s the problem of Hyunsik,” You chew the inside of your lip, trying to think about how to assure this man that your boyfriend is truly an afterthought, that you haven’t wanted him in a long time and this is just the final straw. When the idea clicks, you look up, “Do you see my phone anywhere?” 

His brow furrows and he leans forward to look around, “Um,” 

You start checking under pillows, blankets, searching the floor. 

“There,” He says, pointing across the room at one of the shelves. 

You dart over, snapping it up and opening up your texts with Hyunsik, still painfully void of any messages back even though you can see that he’s read them. That stings, you won’t lie, but it does make your decision far easier when you start to tap out a message. 

We’re finished. If you come home at all, it won’t be to me. Please don’t contact me, I don’t have anything to say to you and don’t want to hear any excuses. I’m done. I hope you learn to treat your next relationship with the respect it deserves. 

It’s surprisingly easy to press send. The relief is instantaneous, like a weight has fallen off your shoulders and you reread your words just to make sure they’re real, that they’ve sent. 

After a moment you nod and walk towards the door. Yunho waits there with his arms crossed again, tension back in his body, “y/n?” 

“Here,” You hand over the phone to him unlocked with your messages still up on the screen, “read it. Scroll up and read more if you want, but believe me when I say I’ve been done with him for a long, long time.” 

You watch his eyes skim over the message at least twice, and you can practically feel the indecision in him. 

“Yunho,” You push him, “I’m not asking you to fuck me, I’m asking for your shirt.” 

His jaw tenses and releases, but on his exhale he reaches one arm back over his shoulder to grip the back of his t-shirt and pull it free over his head. He reaches it out to you, but you can’t stop staring. Now that’s taken off the oversized t-shirt, leaving only a fitted ribbed white tank top underneath, you can see how muscular he really is. 

Your mouth is dry, your heart starting to pick up the pace. 

He smiles, “You wanted my shirt, sweetheart?” 

“Fuck,” You shake your head to stop staring and collect yourself, reaching out for the garment, “sorry,” 

“I’ll take it as a compliment,” He tosses the shirt to you. 

The fabric is still warm, and the minute his scent is properly in your nest, you feel your body melt. 

“Better?” He murmurs. 

“Much,”

“How are you feeling?” He checks, coming back towards the door a little. 

“Single,” You tease him. 

“You’re trouble,” He laughs. 

“Maybe,” You relax back into the cushions around you, his shirt still clutched in your hand, “have I scared you off yet?” 

He shakes his head without hesitation, “Not at all,” 

“Good,” You realize in the back of your mind that if this works out, if he really does want to ask you out on a date after your heat, if that’s not just lip service, someday this could just be your nest. 

Your stomach cramps tightly and you breathe through it as subtly as you can. You can feel yourself starting to sweat again, and you need to communicate what you want clearly to him before your mind gets foggier.

“Thank you for letting me come here,” You tell him honestly, “really,” 

“You don’t have to thank me,” 

“Can I tell you something?” 

He nods. 

“I like you,” You confess, “and if you do ask me on a date someday, it’ll be a yes.” 

“When I ask you,” he interjects. 

“When,” You smile, “but until then, while I’m here… I just want you to know that you’re invited in my nest,” 

He shifts a little closer, still mindful of the threshold. 

“You don’t have to if you don’t want to,” You say, “but I’m going to be in this room for a couple of days, and there’s almost no way I don’t beg you for a knot at some point,” 

He listens, his body language nearly unreadable now. 

“I just want you to know that whatever happens, I’m okay with it. More than okay with it,” 

He’s quiet for a moment, his eyes searching yours, “I appreciate that,” he says, “but I’m not going to take advantage of you like that. I wouldn’t do that.” 

“I already know that,” You grip his shirt a little tighter, “I wouldn’t have opened my door this morning if I thought you were that type of man. I’m trying to tell you that it wouldn’t be taking advantage,”

“I disagree,” He starts, but you keep going. 

“It’s not wrong if I’m telling you I want it,” You need him to understand, “you feel more right to me than anyone I’ve met in a long time. That’s not my heat, that’s just how it is. If you’re not as interested in me, or if it doesn’t feel like that to you, then thank you so much for the safe place to stay… but if you want me, I’m telling you now while I’m still in my right mind, you have me.” 

He’s still for a long moment, holding your gaze like maybe there’s something more that you need to say. Finally he nods and turns away from the door, “You should get some sleep, sweetheart,” 

You watch him walk down the hall and round the corner and then you fall back into the cushions. He’s as stubborn as you used to be before Hyunsik, and even though you’re lying alone in a strange place for your heat, you just can’t stop smiling. 

________________________________________________________________________________________________________

There’s only so long an alpha can listen to an omega in pain before they have to do something about it, but all things being equal, Yunho is really stretching the bounds of his control. 

His options are simple, leave or stay. 

Within those two options though lie endless branches, but even so, he knows that every decision he could make would lead him right back to the same place, sitting outside your nest’s door and trying to fight every instinct bubbling inside him. 

If he leaves, giving you his apartment for the duration of your heat while he stays in a hotel, there’s still the problem of Hyunshik. Yunho got as far as packing up a duffle bag while he tried not to listen to you moaning two doors down before he realized that if Hyunshik returned and heard you, scented you, figured out somehow that you were just next door, that meant he might be able to get to you. You came to Yunho for help, for a safe place to ride this out, and he won’t leave you defenseless in that even if it’s painful. 

If he stays, it’s a matter of his own will. Over the course of a few hours he’s made himself busy. He’s deep cleaned his kitchen, reorganized his bookshelf, and tried (unsuccessfully) to lose himself in a video game. Around hour five, he starts going back and forth between your apartment and his, telling himself that all the things he’s packing up and bringing back are items you might need or call out for, and he wants to be sure they’re accessible. It takes twelve trips and a living room full of boxes to realize he’s doing his own kind of nesting, moving you out of your apartment without even asking you. 

He can’t explain it right, but the thought of you leaving after this makes his throat thick and his chest tight. 

He keeps himself away from the hallway that leads to your nest for a long time, ignoring the sounds of your climaxes, your whimpers, and even your tears. He’s relegated himself to the guest bathroom twice to jerk off painfully into his own hand, and he’s bitten down on a towel each time just to keep his own sounds from echoing out and blending with yours. It’s an exercise in diligent control, but at least for now he tells himself that you only sort of smell compatible, that biology is just biology, and it has nothing to do with the months he’s spent thinking about you. 

And it has absolutely nothing to do with the way he started buying nesting supplies for his empty second bedroom only a week after you moved into the building. He told himself then that it was just coincidence, that this nest would be for his future omega once he got his shit together and got back onto the matching apps to find the one, ignoring how the color of the sheets reminds him of your eyes. 

It’s the middle of the night, many hours into the thick throes of your heat that he finally goes up the hallway, and only in a snap instinctual response to the sound of pure, genuine distress coming from inside. 

“Please,” He hears your hoarse voice as you whine, “please, please, I just want it to stop,” 

He braces himself with a hand on either side of the closed door, his heart hammering so loudly he can hear his own pulse thrumming in his ears. 

“I can’t, I can’t,” You’re crying, he can hear that too.

  He listens to the rustle of sheets, the slap of your palm against the wall, and he imagines you bracing yourself, tears raking down your cheeks. 

Yunho’s hard in an instant, the assault of your rich scent flooding his senses the second he settled outside the door, but his mind is razor sharp on the sound underneath it all; discomfort, grief, and pain. 

A sharp cry pulls from your lips and he hears you choke out words that stop his heart, “H-hurts so much,” you sob, “alpha, please, please, I can’t,” 

His fingers dig into the wood of the door frame, sweat dripping down his back. 

I just want you to know you’re invited to my nest. 

He all but throws himself back against the wall, trying to put a foot of space between himself and the door.

“Need your knot,” You whine, and he hears the sudden wet sound of you pumping a toy in and out of your slick heat. 

Whatever happens, I’m okay with it. 

He squeezes his eyes shut, willing himself to stop hearing your words. You were clear headed when you said it, but something still twists in his gut at the idea of taking you for the first time in the middle of your heat. There’s no time an omega is more vulnerable, more open and pliant, and to insert himself into that just to sate his own alpha, his own needs, is not something he’d ever do to anyone, least of all you. 

It wouldn’t be taking advantage. 

Yunho’s chest tightens, the scent of your syrupy slick hitting him full force, and he switches to deliberately breathing through his mouth to fight the urge to open the door, to ignore his primal brain that chants endlessly — mate, claim, breed. 

“Yunho,” You cry, a desperate edge to your voice, “please knot me, please knot me,” 

The sound of his name on your lips almost drops him to his knees. From your words alone, he can’t tell if you’re fantasizing about him or begging for him, but it doesn’t matter, intrinsically he knows. You need him. 

It’s not wrong if I’m telling you I want it. 

“No,” Yunho shakes his head, his throat thick with your scent as tries to push past the memory of your words, “no,” 

You whimper on your side of the door, and he feels every ounce of your disappointment and your desperation in the sound. 

He’s a second away from turning back from your nest and walking down the hallway when the sound of your body hitting the floor steals the breath from his lungs. At the pained sound that leaves your lips, he’s moving, twisting the handle and shoving his way into the nest before he can even second guess himself. 

The heady scent of you and your arousal slams into him as he stumbles into the nest, but the sight of you naked, twisted in blankets and sprawled on the wood floor focuses every instinct in his body. 

“Omega,” He drops to his knees, pushing your hair back where it falls over your face, “sweetheart, are you hurt?” 

You launch yourself into his arms, or try to, but with your legs still tangled you collide into his lap, face pressed against the smooth plane of his stomach. 

“Hey, hey, shh,” He gathers you up into his arms properly, “I’ve got you,” 

“Yunho,” You whine into his shoulder. 

His cock throbs, but he stays focused, freeing your legs from the tangled blankets and lifting you back up onto the mattress, holding you close as he slides into the sheets alongside you, “I’ve got you,” he murmurs again, “you’re safe,” 

You take a long, deep inhale of his scent and he shivers at the aching whine that leaves your lips. 

Yunho shifts you back, brushing the damp hair away from your face and trying to see your eyes, “Omega,” he says gently, trying to maintain a soothing tone, “hey, hey, omega, listen to me,” 

Your hands are too busy tugging at the tie on his sweatpants. 

“Omega,” He sharpens his tone, a command laced in each syllable, “look at me,” 

Your head snaps up. 

“Good girl,” He finds the words easily, resisting the urge to pin you down when he sees the way you soften in compliance. Trusting instinct, he lets his next words come naturally before he’s even really thought it through, “I’m here, I’m going to help you,” 

Your eyes widen. 

“I need you to be good,” He cups your face, thumb running tenderly over your cheekbone, “so can you tell me, when you fell, did it hurt?” 

You shake your head fast. 

“Did you hit your head?” He softens, studying your expression. 

“No, alpha,” You breathe, and the feeling of relief that floods him is indescribable. 

“Alright, sweetheart,” Yunho lets his forehead drop to yours, taking a moment to breathe you in. 

He lets his eyes close, sinking into the feeling of your body in his hands, on his lap. Your skin is hot, fiery and slick with sweat, distress is laced in your scent this close, and he knows crossing the threshold into this room made his choice. He’s staying. He’s seeing you through this heat, he has to. 

“Alpha,” Your voice is soft, cracking a little as you shift in his hold, “Y-Yunho?” 

“What is it, little omega?” 

“Please stay,” Your hand grips his shirt, tugging just once as the weight of your hand drops, your body too exhausted and spread thin to do anything more, “please don’t leave me again,” 

If you want me... 

He hears your words from before clear as day in his mind as he shakes his head, “Omega,” he shakes his head against yours, “I’m not going anywhere,” 

He feels your shoulders drop with relief, your fingers going slack, and you let out a soft sob, hot tears tracking down your cheeks, “Thank you,” 

“I’ve got you,” Yunho shifts and presses a kiss to your forehead, gathering you closer in his arms, needing more of your body against his, “I promise, I’ve got you.”

“Thank you,” You whisper again, shuddering, “thank you,” 

Yunho cups your head, drawing you in closer to his throat, “Just breathe,” he rocks you unconsciously, just a little sway of his body back and forth, “I’m here, I’m right here,” 

Your arms loop around his shoulders, and with a soft sound he feels you bury your face in his neck, the sound of your inhale, your whimper of need, the way your body melts in his hands. Nothing in the world could make him turn around and walk back out that door, not now.

You have me. 

It echo in his mind as he holds you close, his own alpha finally settling as he feels his skin on yours. 

You have me. 

You have me. 

You have me. 

He knows deep down, there’s no way he’s letting you go. 

________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Yunho rocks you for a long time, and despite the haze of need you were in before he burst through that door, it’s not a knot you needed to settle you, it was him. 

His body feels right around yours, his hands rubbing a soothing rhythm over your skin, his murmured words keeping your mind relaxed and soft. After a while, you end up laying on top of him, your legs tangled together and your cheek pressed to his chest, feeling the steady throb of his heart through the thin fabric of his t-shirt. 

Your body still needs, it still wants, but for a moment you feel your omega relaxing at the comforting weight of his arms around you and the steady scent of rain that floods your nose. 

“Breathe with me,” He murmurs, his voice deep and soft against your hair, “just like that,” 

He takes an exaggerated inhale, one hand on your back that guides you into mimicking the rhythm. When you both exhale in sync, he hums warmly, a satisfied sound in his chest at the knowledge that just his presence is settling you. 

“Yun,” You murmur, nuzzling his chest unconsciously. 

“Mhm,” He soothes you, “I’m right here,” 

Your hand slides off his chest, searching for his hand so you can interlace your fingers. 

“You’re so hot,” He says quietly, concern evident in his voice, “how’s your head?” 

“A little fuzzy,” You confess honestly. 

“Fuzzy?” He brushes your hair away from your face again, cupping your warm cheek. 

“Mm,” You nod, “it’s like… I know I’m me, and you’re you, but everything’s hazy, like the room is foggy,” 

His hand tightens around yours. 

“I t-think,” You lift your head, fighting the heaviness of your body just to look up at him, “I need a knot soon,” 

“You’re hurting?” His brows draw together in concern, eyes flicking over your face. 

“A little,” You admit, “but you’re helping,” 

You can’t articulate the way that your body felt on fire, like your womb was an open wound of need, the way nothing you did, not one single orgasm properly sated you. You can’t explain how the moment his arms were around you that hunger dulled, just a background ache between your thighs, but for the past few minutes you’ve felt the thrumming need returning. 

Yunho nods, and then sighs, his eyes hitting the ceiling as he lets his head fall back to the pillows, “Omega,” he says gently, “I know you said you want this, you want me,” 

Your stomach flips, “I do,” 

He nods to himself at your words, and then looks back at you, “I want to help you, I don’t want you to be in pain, but I am terrified of doing something you don’t want, of pushing you in a way that you’ll regret when your heat breaks.” 

A nervous tremor builds in your belly, “You won’t help me?” 

He cups your cheeks, shaking his head, “I will, sweetheart, I promise I will,” 

“But,” 

“I’m trying to figure out how,” He admits, “I want you more than anything, I’ve wanted you for longer than I should admit, but it would kill me to hurt you.” 

“You want me?” 

“Yes,” He says unequivocally, knowing how much you need clear words with your head this deep in heat. 

“Then please,” You slide further up his body, until you’re nearly nose to nose, “don’t make me beg,” 

His eyes close, the muscles in his jaw tensing and relaxing, and then he lets out a long exhale, “Let me try something, first?” 

“Try what?” Your core throbs. 

“Let me take care of you without a knot,” He says as he opens his eyes, “you’re this settled with just me in the room, maybe an alpha this close is enough,” 

A small, aching sound bubbles from your lips, “Alpha,” 

“I promise,” He presses a kiss to your forehead, “if it doesn’t work, then I will, I’ll knot you. But god, please let me try,” 

You nod, your body trembling. 

“Alright,” He sighs in relief, and rolls you both, gently depositing you on your back as he sits up and takes stock of the state of things. 

The sheets are damp from your sweat and slick, and a couple of toys are scattered through the nest. When his eyes come back to you, it’s the first moment he really allows himself to take you in, stripped bare in the center of the nest. 

“What?” You look up at him, anxiety fluttering in your chest at the way his eyes rake over you. 

“You,” He murmurs, but more words don’t come. 

Shame pricks in your eyes, and you start to close your legs, but Yunho’s eyes flick up to yours as his hand snaps to your knee. 

“Don’t,” He shakes his head, “you’re beautiful, little omega.” 

A hot pulse throbs inside you and you whimper at the petname, your legs going soft as he pushes them open wider, “Please,” 

Any resolve he had left crumbles, you can see it, and he tugs his t-shirt over his head in one smooth motion before handing it to you, “Here, baby,” he says, “I’ve got you now,” 

You bring the shirt to your face, your omega greedy for his scent saturating the nest, but your eyes are glued to his bare chest. He’s lean, a dancer’s body, a runner’s body, but you can see the defined line of every muscle as he lowers himself down between your open legs. 

You whimper, your mind overwhelmed already. 

“Jesus,” He breathes as he slides closer, “you’re soaked,” 

Your hips twitch, an involuntary jerk as you feel his cool breath drift over your aching slit. 

He glances up at you as he gets closer, “Can I touch you, sweetheart?” 

“Please,” You open your legs wider to accommodate his broad shoulders, “yes,” 

A flicker of a smile passes over his lips, and then he tilts your hips up to open you further, guiding your legs over his shoulders until your heels are resting against his back. With one warm hum, Yunho turns his attention to your needy cunt. 

“Yunho,” Your voice is breathless, one hand tightening on his shirt. 

He presses a kiss to your inner thigh, “Forgive me,” he murmurs softly, and then his mouth is on you. 

The first touch of his tongue is molten, the firm press of it from your fluttering hole to your hard, aching clit has you arching in the sheets, “Alpha!”

He groans, his arms wrapping around your hips to get you closer, “Fuck,” he pants, his tongue burying inside you as he explores your tender folds. 

“Oh, oh,” Your hips twitch again, but he holds you firmly in place this time, “god,” 

His tongue circles your clit, little searching flicks as he gauges your responses. It’s not clumsy, that’s not the word you’d use, but it is imprecise. You don’t realize what he’s doing until you feel him double back with his tongue after you make a sharp sound and buck your hips. He doesn’t have a routine, he doesn’t run through a series of choreographed moves with his mouth that he’s sure will make you come like some partners would. Instead, he searches you, he seeks you out, and when he finds the little ways that make you tick, he catalogues them and leans in. 

It’s intoxicating. 

“There?” You can hear the grin in his voice as he figures you out, before he returns his steady sucks to your hardened nub. 

“Oh my fucking,” Your words die with a moan when his hands tighten on your thighs, sucks and flicks just the way you need, “Yunho!” 

He groans hard, the vibrations running through your cunt, “Yeah,” he pants, “moan, sweetheart,” 

It tears from your throat on command, and you spread your thighs wider, hips rocking against him. 

“Mm,” Yunho hums, burying his face deeper against your wet core, his tongue pushing deep into your wet hole as his nose nudges up against your clit. 

“Ah!” Your hand flies down and laces into his thick hair, “Yes, there, oh, oh, alpha!”

Your body rolls, his tongue pushing in and out as you rub yourself against him, his breath hot and needy against your folds, but he never lets up. He’s drowning in your slick, his face shining in your wetness, and he looks like a man possessed between your thighs. His hips grind down into the mattress, and you imagine him doing that to you, pushing inside you, knotting you, caging you in with his body until you come over and over. 

You’re close, pressure building in your belly, and then he shifts. You whine at the sudden loss of contact when he pulls back to suck in a sharp breath, but when he dives back in he’s shifted the pace to something that makes your entire body melt. Yunho pushes two fingers deep inside, finding that soft spongy place his knot would lock behind, and crooks his fingers hard to add delicious pressure there. 

Your hand tightens in his hair, and he winces, but a smile pulls at his lips, “Yeah,” he nods, “come on, pretty girl,” 

Your back bows, an incoherent moan and babble of words as you lose yourself. His fingers pump, in and out, pressure steadily working your sweet spot, and colors burst behind your eyes. 

  “Oh, you’re so close,” He praises, his voice rough with his own need, “fuck– yes, fuck yes,” 

His mouth closes around your clit, and all at once your thighs clench tight around his ears, your body twisting in the sheets. Your orgasm slams into you, a blissful release that you’ve been chasing for hours, and you bite down on the rumpled fabric of his balled up t-shirt, muffling your pleasured scream.

  Slick pulses from your core, his fingers never relenting, your pussy clenching around them again and again as you fall apart into ecstatic shakes. 

Your hearing pops, ringing in your ears as your release crescendos, and then his fingers slow and his lips lift, and it all starts to turn to a latent buzzing. 

“Shh, shh,” He kisses over your thighs, gently against your mound, “I know, I know baby,” 

You’re sucking in heaving breaths through the damp fabric of his t-shirt, the electric taste of peach and petrichor on your tongue.

Yunho eases your hand out of his hair before he gently pries your locked thighs back open, “Baby,” he croons gently, his hands smoothing over your skin. His body shifts above you, and your eyes flutter back open as you feel his gentle hands along your jaw, “hey, hey, easy, omega,” 

His pulls his shirt from your mouth, his eyes tender as he meets your gaze, and you take in a sharp breath, “Yunho,” 

“Here, sweetheart,” 

Without a thought, you lean up and press your lips to his. He’s still for a moment, and then he sinks into the feeling of your kiss, the heat of your mouth, the taste of you. He melts into you, you feel his muscles relax under your hands, and you whimper against him. 

“Baby,” He breathes, his eyes shining with something rough and raw, gazing down at you softly before he kisses you again. 

But despite your orgasm, pain lances through your belly and you break the kiss with a hiss, your hindbrain driving your words, “Knot,” you pant, “knot, alpha, please,” 

His heart hammers against you, “y/n?” 

“Hurts,” You whine, the sudden insistent need for a knot spurned by his scent, his proximity, and the orgasm that only promised more and more. 

“Okay,” He exhales, nodding, “just relax, I’m here,” 

You expect him to push down his sweatpants and take you right there, you can feel the outline of his hard cock against your thigh, but instead he adjusts his position so that he’s at your side. Yunho gathers you close with an arm under your back, and then takes the nearby knotted dildo from the tangled sheets with his opposite hand. 

“No,” You shake your head, your voice hoarse, “I want you, alpha, please, please,” 

“God, I know,” He drops his forehead against your temple as he spreads your thighs open wide again, “but I’ve got you,” He nudges your entrance with the head of the dildo, your body slick and dripping enough that the head slides in with ease. 

“Oh, god,” You grip his hip and bury your face in his throat, “deeper,” 

He pumps it in and out, letting your body stretch around it a little more with each stroke inside, “Breathe,” 

You sputter on air, you didn’t even know you were holding your breath, and you whine against him, painful heat thrumming between your thighs, not from the toy but from the aching emptiness inside you. 

“I’m right here,” He kisses your face, a soft nuzzle as he pushes the toy deeper until the bulge of the silicone knot kisses your entrance. 

“Knot,” You sob, clutching his t-shirt as you cling to his bare chest. 

“Hold onto me, little omega,” He braces your body against his and then slowly eases the knotted toy into your cunt. 

Your hand tightens on him, and your hips buck as the toy sinks into you with a slick pop, the pressure of the fake knot just enough to push you right over the edge into an aftershock, a second heady orgasm washing through you. 

It takes a minute for your vision to clear and for feeling to come back, but when it does you feel Yunho soothing you with soft touches and gentle murmurs against your skin. 

“So good,” he kisses your hair, “did so good for me,” 

Your tense hands relax. 

He looks down at your face, studying your expression, “You with me?” 

“Yeah,” You manage, blinking hard and taking stock of your body. It’s not a real knot, your body knows that, but it’s just convincing enough that your vision feels sharper and your body feels more yours. 

“Floating?” He checks. 

You shake your head, “Clearer,” you reply, shifting your hips and wincing at the feeling of the firm silicone still buried inside you, “why didn’t you knot me?” 

“The toy worked, I think,” He eases you down to your back, “you feel better?” 

“A little,” You admit. 

He nods, eyes flicking over you, “You were in it when I came in before,” he explains, “I just… I was afraid you were more out of it than I could tell,” 

“I get that,” You concede, “you’re a good alpha, Yunho.” 

He smiles, ducking his head to avoid the compliment. 

Your body pulses weakly around the fake knot, and you wince again, “Yunho,” You murmur, “can you help me get this out?” 

“You don’t want to leave it in?” His brows draw together, “Wouldn’t that help keep your heat tamped down?” 

“Maybe,” You shrug a little, reaching down between your thighs to find the flared base of the toy, “but it mostly hurts,” 

His jaw ticks, “Do toys like this always hurt, or did I do something wrong?” He reaches down and covers your small hand with his, brushing his thumb over your knuckles. 

“Always,” You assure him, “it feels great until you come down, and then it just feels wrong,” 

He nods, “Let me help you, then,” 

Your hand slips away, and you watch him as he sits up at your side, easing your legs open a little wider again. When his hand takes the base of the toy, your hand flies down to his thigh, “Gently,” 

He meets your eyes, “We’ll go slow,” 

You nod, fighting the urge to close your eyes and just let him get this over with regardless of how it feels. 

Yunho’s finger softly slides down your slit, feeling the way you’re stretched around the toy, and he hums, before rolling to the side and grabbing a bottle off of the little shelf of supplies. 

“Let’s try this,” He says, uncapping the bottle of lubricant and squeezing some out onto the place where you and the toy are pressed together. 

The sensation of cold lube makes you twitch, a soft hiss from your lips as it slides over your sensitive flesh. He looks up at you with concern, but you just shake your head, “Cold,” 

“Sorry,” He gives you an empathetic look. 

“It’s okay, I’m okay,” 

Yunho nods again, before sliding his fingers through the mess to be sure every inch of your sex is slicked up with additional lubrication. “Okay,” he nods, “just breathe, tell me to stop if it hurts,” 

“Yeah,”

Gently, he starts to pull, and the knotted toy tugs at your soft spot. If he had been inside you, he would have waited until his knot had softened entirely, pulling out with ease and not an ounce of this strange mix of pleasure pain, but with a toy like this it always feels better going in than going out. 

Your body starts to stretch to accommodate the bulb, and you make a soft, tight sound. 

“Almost,” He soothes you, swallowing hard as he tries to gently uncouple you from the toy. 

Your fingers tighten once again on his thigh, his sweatpants balled in your fist. 

“Almost,” He says again, and you feel the widest part of the toy at your entrance.

You whimper. 

“Omega,” He slides his thumb over your clit and circles softly, “relax, push out a little, I’ve almost–,” 

Your walls clench and release, responding instinctively, and the toy finally releases from your channel with a slick sound. 

“Good girl,” He murmurs, tossing the toy aside and soothing you with gentle touches, “I’m so sorry that hurt,” 

“I-It’s okay,” You breathe, your legs trembling from the strange feeling of the tug at your insides and the warm relief of his thumb on your clit. 

He gathers you close, shaking his head “Fuck that toy,” he says roughly, “I’m sorry, I won’t make you feel that again,” 

You sigh. 

“I didn’t realize,” He admits, “I… if you still want me, my knot, I’m here.” 

You wrap yourself around him, pressing up until you’re looking into his eyes, “Yes,” 

He swallows tightly. 

“I’m okay,” You assure him, “the toy works wonders when I’m alone, but it’s not you, and Yunho, my body wants you, not just your scent.” 

He sinks forwards, connecting his lips to yours in a tender kiss, “You have me,” 

You live in his words for a moment, breathing the same breath and tangling together in the sheets. He cradles you close, like you’re something precious, and stays cuddled flush against you until the telltale ache in your belly starts to hum again. 

You kiss him again, harder this time, and you’re sure he can taste the need on your tongue when he groans against you. Your hand slips down his bare chest, skating over his stomach until you reach the top of his gray sweats, “Did you wear these to torture me?” 

He huffs a soft laugh, “Not intentionally,” 

“Well you are,” You slip your fingers under the waistband, biting your lip when you feel that he’s not wearing anything underneath them. 

His hips jerk and he takes in breath, “Baby,” 

“I used to see you wearing these in the hall,” You admit, your fingers slowly creeping lower, “it made me so crazy,” 

He looks down at you, his expression caught between arousal and amusement, “Yeah?” 

“Mhm,” Your nails gently skate over his pubic bone, “gray sweatpants are easily the sluttiest thing I guy can wear,” 

This time, he laughs sharply, “Oh yeah?” 

“Oh, please,” You smile, “like you don’t know that,” 

“I mean, I–,” 

Your hand slides further, finding the hot hard length of his cock, and you close your hand around it. Yunho’s words cut off with a moan, and his eyes rolling back, his mouth dropping open in pleasure. 

“God,” You stroke your hand up and down, learning the shape of him, “you’re so fucking thick,” 

“Oh, Jesus,” He breathes. 

Your omega swells with pride at the sound of his pleasure from just a few touches, and your body aches for him. With needy hands, you shove his sweatpants down and properly free his cock, slick rushing between your thighs at the mere sight of him. He’s thick and long, a picture perfect dick that you’ve really only seen in porn, the velvet head dark with arousal, precum beading at the tip already. 

“Oh,” You grasp him again, sliding your hand up and down, catching the wetness at his tip and guiding it down his throbbing shaft, “you’re… I… I…,” 

Yunho groans and grabs your wrist, stilling your hand, “You okay?” His voice is thready, his eyes blown wide with his own hazy need, but he slows things down at the way you stumble over your words. 

A cramp ripples up your belly and you groan, “Yunho,” you release his cock, doubling over a little, “I want to make you feel good, but I – ah, fuck,” 

He wets his lips and reaches for you, guiding you back down to lay beside him, “There’s time enough for that,” he says as he kicks off his sweats entirely, “I’m not going anywhere anymore,” 

“Yeah,” You feel your cheeks heat, fever spiking again, the fake knot not enough to give you any real long term relief, “yeah, okay,” 

You fall onto your front on the bed, pain rippling up your abdomen. 

Yunho sildles closer, stroking his hand up and down the centerline of your back, and you can feel the way he’s finally allowing himself to be present for you in this heat in the way he touches you now, his hands firm and hot, an alpha to his omega. “God,” he sighs, “you’re so beautiful, omega,” 

The rich tone of his voice sends a line of pleasure straight to your core, a cramp tightening in your belly and you curl into yourself against the mattress, “Oh, fuck,” 

“Perfect,” He sighs, his hand heavy as it coasts down further, cupping the plush swell of your ass and giving you a squeeze. 

A stammered moan flutters from you and you nod into the sheets, “Please,” 

“Please, what, baby?” 

“T-touch me again,” You widen your legs to try and prompt him. 

“Touch you or knot you, pretty thing?” His lips trail down your spine, teeth nipping at your soft curves. Finally, finally he’ll give you what you’ve needed for hours.

The idea of his knot is suddenly so singular and your hips start to angle upwards on their own, “Knot,” you pant, “please, alpha,” 

“Good girl,” He says, his voice rougher, huskier at the promise of what’s to come. 

You shift in the covers, moving to roll over and face him, but he catches your shoulder in his hand and pushes you back down flat. Nerves light up through you at his firmer touch, but you wait. 

“Present.” He gives the command like an alpha, his voice no longer laced with tenderness, and you feel your omega brain respond to him so naturally. 

You move into position, propping up on your knees and tilting your hips up to open yourself up to him. You drop low, your chest still making contact with the bed below you, and your hands flat on either side of your head. Your eyes slip closed. You can hear him shifting, moving into position behind you but he hasn’t properly touched you yet and suddenly you’re trembling. 

You’ve never liked it like this. 

Presenting has always felt cold, biological and impassive. You’re supposed to want this position, something about it hardwired into your primal little brain, but you’ve never taken to it. You hate that you can’t see him right now, and you’re sure that even with the way your body is dripping and ready to accept him, this might hurt. It has before. 

Your eyes press together more tightly when you feel his hands land on your hips, sliding over your skin appreciatively. It should feel good, but your mind is making little panicked flash connections, and you can’t stop the whimper that leaves your lips. Your hands curl into the sheets and you wish he would just get it over with already. 

Yunho squeezes your hips, “Sweetheart?”

He sounds softer, like himself, and you cling to it. 

“Can you hear me?” He says. 

You nod, turning your head to the side a little as you do. 

He shifts off the bed, no longer touching you, no longer directly behind you and you feel your muscles release their taut fear. 

“Come here,” He directs you softly, his hands slipping under your arms to draw you up off the bed and out of presentation. 

Your eyes open at that, and you meet his concerned gaze. 

“There you are,” He brushes your hair back from your face, cupping your cheek as he moves onto the bed next to you. 

“Y-Yunho,” You manage, your voice still sounding a little tight. 

“I changed my mind,” He soothes you and eases down to lie on his back, “can you come up here, baby?” 

You wet your lips, eyes flicking over him to see the way he’s stretched out long on the bed with his legs relaxed and his cock standing straight up at attention. “On top?” You ask him. 

“Mhm,” He reaches for you but doesn’t quite touch you, he waits for you, “I want to see your face,” 

Slowly, you maneuver your body over his, using his chest for leverage when you settle yourself over his hips. 

“Gorgeous,” He rests his hands on your thighs, drawing his touch up and down in a smooth, comforting motion. 

Tension bleeds out of you and you relax into him, his hard cock brushing the soft skin of your stomach as you let your muscles release. A final, nervous thought bubbles up, “I’m not too,” 

“Don’t even finish that sentence,” He takes the words right out of your mouth, “you feel fucking perfect up there and I’m not even inside you yet,” 

You groan, finding his cock with your hand. 

“Fuck,” He curses softly. 

You like how easy it is to get a reaction from him. All you have to do is touch him, even just softly, and he reacts like he’s feeling the sweetest pleasure he’s ever known. He’s genuine, open in a way you’ve never experienced, and you suddenly need to know what his face will look like when you sink down onto him. 

“Alpha,” Your muscles flutter, slick dripping from your core, “I need you,” 

He nods, his hands dropping to the side, “You have me,” 

Lifting your hips high, you angle forwards and push his cock with your hand until you feel the velvet head of him connect with your entrance. Slowly, you sink down inch by inch, watching his face carefully. 

His brow creases, plush lips parting, “Oh, fuck,” 

“Do I feel good to you?” You manage, a little breathless, the sensation of his thick cock stretching you open from this position making you dizzy already. 

“Incredible,” His hips jerk a little as you finally connect your bodies flush together, taking him inside you down to the base. 

“Oh, god,” You shudder, pops of pleasure rolling through you. 

His hands return to the plush curve of your hips with a tender squeeze, and his eyes coast over your thighs, the soft curve of your belly, studying your body like he’s desperate to remember it. A flicker of embarrassment passes through you, but it’s gone as soon as it comes when you hear him groan, his cock twitching inside you as he takes in the heavy fullness of your breasts. 

“You have no idea what you’re doing to me,” He says, hands sliding up your body until they cup them, his thumbs gently passing over each hardened nipple. 

Your hips jolt a little, “I’m not doing anything,” 

“You could not be more wrong about that, omega,” He hums, a warm pleasured sound from deep in his chest, “you look like sin itself, gorgeous and full of my cock,” 

You shudder at his words, fingers tightening on the smooth plane of his chest. 

“You belong right here,” His hands drift down again, dragging along your body until he finds your hips, fingers curling around to grip your backside, “don’t you?” 

“Mhm,” You nod a little, heat pooling low in your core. 

He exhales low, biting his lip as he squeezes your hips, eyes sliding over your body again, “I could get addicted to this,” he murmurs. 

A cramp pulses inside you, your walls tightening deliciously around his hot length and you clench a little, nails digging into his skin. 

His eyes flick up to yours and he reads your expression easily, his hands coaxing your hips to move with perfect pressure so that you slowly start to drag your slick clit back and forth against him. Pleasure blooms through you and the last bit of tension from earlier falls away, your head dropping back as you let out a moan. He continues guiding your hips, “That’s it,” he murmurs, “there we go,” 

You start to move on your own, widening your legs so you can grind down on him the way you need. Eyes falling closed, you focus solely on the sensation of his cock, the way it feels with each shift of your hips bumping gently against the perfect spot inside you. 

“Yes,” Yunho groans, “oh, baby, that’s so good,” 

You moan, letting it all go as heat starts to coarse through you. 

His hands leave your hips and your head comes back up, a low whine leaving your throat at the loss of contact. 

“Shh,” He soothes, this time gliding his hands over your arms until he reaches your hands where they are planted on his chest. He maneuvers you easily, interlocking your fingers together until you’re pressed palm to palm and you sit up a little higher. 

“Yunho,” Your voice a soft whine, hips rocking again, “please,” 

“I know,” He kisses the back of your knuckles tenderly and then shifts to brace your weight with your entwined hands, “I’m right here,” 

“I need you,” Your hips roll again, desperate for him to do something. 

“Take what you need, pretty girl,” He squeezes your hands, “I’m all yours, you take it,” 

Any hesitation you would have had dissipates at the way he’s looking at you, his expression so readable and so genuine that all you can feel is wanted. Needed. This alpha so attuned to you and your body already that he felt it the minute you had to be back in control. 

Using his hands as leverage, you shift into the position you need and start to grind, circling your hips down onto the taut muscle of his abdomen to get that delicious friction. He holds you steady while you find a rhythm, rolling your hips deep until you feel the head of his cock kissing your cervix and hot waves of pleasure buzzing through your body. 

“Fuck,” He pants, “look at you,” 

You’re desperate for it, your arms trembling as you grip him hard, bubbled whines from your throat as you chase your own release. 

“Oh, god,” He groans, his muscles tightening under you, “are you close? Is my pretty omega going to come?” 

“Yunho!” His words send you into a tailspin, the mere thought that you really could be his, wholly and completely, brings your orgasm rocketing closer and all you have to do is reach out and touch it, “Alpha!” 

“Mm,” He hums, talking you through, “don’t stop, omega. Grind that perfect fucking pussy on me,”

Pleasure rocks through you, and you collapse forwards, pushing his hands back down onto the mattress on either side of his head. You’re so startlingly close to the edge you just need him to stay right here, stay right with you as you work yourself. 

“Oh, fuck,” He groans, your bodies now slick with sweat and chest to chest as you jerk hungrily against him, hands still gripped together like a lifeline. 

“I-I’m so,” You whine, shuddering above him, “I’m g-gonna come,” 

“Yes, baby,” He encourages you, his lips at your ear, “fuck your alpha, come on his cock,” 

Your body locks tight at his words, but you need more and you need it immediately. Shifting back up a bit you start to bounce, a frantic and stuttered pulse of your hips up and down as you grind to drag his thick cock in and out of your channel just enough. 

He chokes a little beneath you, his hips jutting upwards into yours in a jerky reflex before he settles himself and lets you work. 

“Yun,” You whine, your thighs burning already from the pace, “oh, God, please, please,” 

“Don’t stop,” He urges you, “you’re so close, baby, I know you are,” 

The sounds leaving you are tight, heady moans with little gasping breaths interlaced as you ride him, your body starting to tremble as pulsing, almost orgasms wash through you. 

He shifts below you suddenly though, lunging upwards to capture a nipple with his teeth, latching onto you with fevered sucks and flicks of his tongue. The sharp, almost painful shock of it goes straight from your nipple down your spine and to the swollen bud of your clit. 

You cry out, dropping your hips again to grind against him, needy and nearly out of your mind with desperation. 

“Come, baby, come for me,” He pants against your skin, his tongue once again circling your pebbled nipple. 

His command pushes you over the edge, your orgasm rushing up in a crash, your body breaking apart above him in ecstatic shakes and staccatoed sounds, blood rushing in your ears and your body locking up tight to ride it out. You’re a mess, a whining, moaning, dizzy mess, and he barely gives you a moment before he disconnects your bound hands and finally reaches for you. 

“Good girl,” He murmurs, his voice set deep in his chest, “good fucking girl,” 

Your eyes are pressed tight, still riding the sensations, but he gathers you close and in one smooth motion he rolls you. With you flat on your back now, knees splayed wide and his body still pressed into you, he crowds you even closer. One hand winds into your hair, the other braced on your waist for perfect leverage. 

He kisses your mouth hard, just once, and then dips his head again to find your breast, groaning as takes your other nipple. 

Sharp warmth spikes in you again, keeping you suspended and you grip down on his back, “Ah, fuck!”

With a sharp pulse of hips he drags himself out and back in, his hips connecting with yours hard, his cock deeper than you’ve ever felt him. 

A startled cry leaves you, one hand flying to grip his head, fingers tight in his hair. 

Muffled against your breast he moans, “Fuck, you’re still coming,” 

“I-I can’t stop,” You whine, nodding even though his face is still buried in your chest. 

Your walls flutter and pulse around him, tightening with every thrust and the drawn out peak of what feels like a haze of never ending pleasure. 

He’s lost all sense now, consumed by the heat of you, and in his own fog of desperation he fucks you like he wants you to come forever. He thrusts hard and deep, his cock driving into you again and again, his forehead pressed against your chest so all you feel is his hot breath panting against you with every stroke. 

“Baby,” He whines, “oh, fuck, y/n,” 

You feel the base of his cock swelling, a knot forming just for you. 

“Please!” You beg him for it, and he knows exactly what you need, your bodies more in tune now more than ever. 

“Omega,” He shifts his thrusts and draws your hips upwards with his hand, “baby, hold onto me,” 

You wrap your arms around his shoulders, ready for whatever he can give. 

His thrusts start up again, hard and deep strokes, and every time his hips connect firmly with yours, you see stars. 

“Alpha!” You grip him tight, your voice almost a sob now, “Come, please, knot me, please!”

He groans, position slipping a little until his lips are on your neck, hot pants against your ear, “Beg for my knot,” 

Your orgasm starts to build again, a firm bubble inside you, “I need it, please, please, Alpha, give me your knot,” 

He moans, twisting his face into the mattress, “Fuck, I’m going to fill you up,” 

Your eyes slam shut, head rocking back against the bed, “Please!” 

“So perfect,” He babbles, his knot swelling and his hands hard where they grip you, “fuck you so full of my cum,” 

“Alpha!” Your nails dig into his skin, his words sending your omega brain into overdrive. 

He shudders against you, scrambling against you to push your legs open into a deeper press and then you feel it, his knot pushing home and locking tightly into your wet heat. In the twisted position he drags his mouth down again, finding your nipple and locking his mouth around it again, sucking as you feel the pulse of his cock, hot ropes of cum pulsing into you as he ruts his hips just enough to rock his knot and push his cock in deeper. 

You choke, your back arching as another wave of pleasure takes you, but he holds you in position to keep his knot pumping steadily into you. 

He’s dizzy too, pressing frantic kisses against your chest, murmuring tender praises so low you only half hear him through the ringing in your own ears. 

“So full,” His hips start to slow, now just lazily rolling to push you through your own orgasm and the last throes of his, “so pretty with my cum inside,” 

His words have you in a fog, and you bite down on your lip to keep yourself from begging for more. 

“So good,” He pants between kisses as he tries to catch his breath, “so good for me,” 

Your body arches, a natural bend of submission and need, “Yunho–,” 

He groans, “Say that again,” 

Your head is back in the sheets, but you reach for him, threading your fingers through his hair, “Yunho,”

“Yeah,” He nods, his forehead pressed hard to your breastbone, “just like that, sound so fucking pretty,” 

“Yunho,” The sound is stretched, aching, your cunt fluttering and tightening around his thick knot.

“Ah,” He chokes out, his hands hard on your waist and thigh, “ah, fuck, I’m g-gonna,” 

You blink, looking down at the alpha clinging to you between your thighs as he ruts his hips in needy circles to grind himself deeper, to squeeze his knot against your sweet spot once more. 

“Oh, oh, god,” He shudders, his already pink ears growing darker with a blush that spreads down his neck and chest, and you feel his cock kick inside you again, a second wave of hot cum pumping deep against the soft entrance of your womb. 

You gasp at the sudden sensation, clinging to his sweat slick skin as he shudders. His hips pump once more, and then he slides up, pressing frantic kisses up your throat, finding your mouth and pouring every ounce of his needy energy into the connection of your lips.  

“Perfect, you’re perfect,” He pants, and then with a tight sound he starts to move again, artless little humps that rock his knot inside you. 

“Oh my god,” You jerk against him, nails digging into his shoulder as the warm pool of pleasure starts to build again. 

“I’m still hard,” He whispers against your lips, kissing you again, “gonna fill you up again,” 

”Oh, fuck,” The groan that leaves you is desperate, aching, “are you serious?” 

All he can do is nod, his forehead pressed hard to yours as he pumps into you, making rhythmic little sounds that match each stroke, “Uh, uh, uh,” he pants, “baby,” 

“Are you,” Your voice is breathless, your hand catching his cheek as you press your head into the bed to get an inch of space to look at him, “are you in a rut?” 

He shakes his head, his hips never stopping, “N-no, no, I just,” He moans, his hands tight on your skin, “I can come a lot,” 

“All the time?” Your words drown in a moan as he pushes deeper, your hands sliding to his biceps. 

“When I’m really turned on,” he hisses, “it’s f-fucking embarrassing, actually,” The sound that leaves him can only be described as a whine, “sweetheart, say my name again, I’m close, say it, please,” 

Heat floods you, and maybe it’s the fact that he’s almost a stranger, or maybe it’s the fact that it’s him, but you find a piece of yourself you’ve never tapped into when you hook your heels on his hips to hold him to you, “Yunho,” you say his name in a moan, “fill me up again,” 

His eyes darken, his mouth falling open as he moves. 

“Yunho,” You pant, “pump my pussy full, it’s all yours, baby, I’m all yours,” 

“Ah, fuck,” He collapses over you, his hips slamming forwards hard once more, his face buried in your neck as he crushes you to his chest and unloads again, a third thick wave of his release shooting deep inside you. 

Pleasure snaps in your gut at the sensation, you’ve never in your life felt so utterly filled, utterly sated, like your body was waiting exactly for his knot and you cling to him as another orgasm rocks through you. Your walls spasm and clench, milking him for every drop, and he curses softly against your throat at the overstimulation, his cock spurting another, weaker pulse of cum in response to your pleasure. 

Black spots dance over your vision, your legs trembling even as you cling to him, all you can focus on is his weight over you and the feeling of his hot, wet breath with every heaving pant against your pulse point. 

Something in you shifts, and your hand slides back to his hair, carding through it gently as you hold him, “That was so good,” you murmur, the soft assurance coming to your lips naturally, “that was so perfect, alpha, giving me just what I need,” 

His lips break into a smile, you can feel it against your throat, and he shudders an exhale, “Don’t, I’ll get hard again,” 

“You’re already still hard,” Your pussy pulses weakly around his length. 

He shakes his head, “I’m locked,” he manages, referring to his knot, “but I need a second before I can come again,” 

“A second?” You laugh a little, grinning as you look up at the ceiling, fingers still working softly against his scalp, “You just came in me three times in like two minutes,” 

He nods, “I know, but trust me, I can go again in a minute, if you need—,” Yunho cuts himself off, lifting his head and finding your eyes, like he’s remembering all at once you’re in heat and this is the first time you’re having sex, “Are you alright? Did I hurt you?” 

You give him a lazy smile, “Mm-mm,” you shake your head, “I feel amazing,” 

In fact, you feel clearer than you ever have during heat, the thorough knotting tamping down your frantic need better than any toy or any partner you’ve ever had before. 

He sighs in relief, his head dropping against your shoulder, “Thank fuck,” 

You wait for him to say something else, but he just stays pleasantly locked inside you. After a moment you run your hand up and down his bare back, “So,” you can’t help but tease him a bit, “are you always like that? Or are you more into me than I thought?” 

Yunho huffs a laugh through his nose and pushes himself up to look down at you, “Very into you,” he swallows, his Adam’s apple bobbing in his throat, “I’ve been trying to play it cool, but I think I blew that,” 

You smirk at his choice of words. 

He rolls his eyes, but he grins, “Oh my god,” 

“You said it, not me,” You smile back up at him. 

The feeling with him is easy, infinitely easy, and somewhere in the back of your mind you know this is just the beginning with him. 

Yunho makes a soft noise above you, and you meet his eyes, realizing his knot is starting to soften as the pressure inside you starts to release. He winces as he shifts his hips, “I’m gonna pull out,” he says gently, “you ready?” 

“Yeah,” You hold onto his biceps as he shifts above you, his muscles flexing under your fingers as he holds your hips in place and drags himself back. 

The feeling of him pulling out is hot and a little sore, the size of him without his knot would be a lot to take, and even in heat you’re feeling every inch of his thickness now that your heat is momentarily sated. You hiss a little as he disconnects your bodies, the muscles in your abdomen tightening and releasing, and he looks up at you. 

“What hurts?” He asks, still on his knees between your spread thighs, his hands hovering over you like he doesn’t want to make anything worse. 

“I’m just a little sore,” You assure him, “and my hips are stiff from that position, but it’s no big–,” 

“Hang on,” Yunho cuts you off softly, sliding off the edge of the mattress and reaching into a basket of towels. He wraps one around his waist and then returns to you with another, and a pack of wet wipes. 

Heat blooms in your cheeks and you start to sit up, “You don’t have to–,” 

He cuts you off again, “Relax, little omega,” he pushes you back down with a gentle hand pressing on your shoulder, “no need to be shy after that,”

“Mm,” You throw an arm over your eyes, “yes, but twenty minutes ago I was so horny I could cry, now I’m back to my normal level of shame and embarrassment.” 

“If you’re embarrassed, I’m embarrassed,” He laughs, before adding, “this will be a little cold,” 

You glance down, before promptly looking away as he takes one of the cooling wipes and starts to clean your sticky inner thighs. 

“I mean,” He sounds a little sheepish, and you bet if you looked his ears would be red again, “I just completely lost my head and came like a teenager,” 

You snort softly, and then jump a little when he slides the cool cloth over your tender sex. 

“Sorry,” He soothes you with a sweep of his hand over your hip. 

“It’s okay,” You sigh, letting your legs fall open a little more, “and I mean… the sex was good, the… you were… I mean that was,” you groan as he gives your thigh a teasing pinch, “it was hot, you fucking me like that. I liked it.” 

“Yeah?” His eyebrows raise. 

You let your arm fall away, and push yourself up just a bit on your elbows, “Yeah,” you confess, “I mean, honestly, it,” you gasp though, your words cutting off, as you feel a rush of his warm release flooding out of you at the position change. 

His eyes flick down, and you watch every little thought flick over his open expression. His zeroes in on the sight of his cum pulsing out of you, his throat tightens with a thick swallow, and his lips part open before he shakes himself out of it. He clears his throat and glances up at you before bringing a fresh wipe between your thighs to get you cleaned up properly. 

“You were saying?” He brushes by the obvious start of an erection under his towel and discards the wipes in a bin to the side of the bed before picking up another towel and shaking it out. 

“I’m not really sure where I was going,” You confess, “but I liked it, my omega liked it too, it felt like you knotted me more than once, my head cleared up immediately,” 

His lips pull with a smile, a swell of pride in his chest at that, but he simply nods. When he steps closer, he slides a hand between your shoulderblades and presses you up, “Sit up for one second for me,” he murmurs and you follow the guidance of his hands as he wraps the towel around you. 

The first thing you notice is how luxuriously soft it is, more like a blanket than a towel. The cotton is so smooth and fluffy against your skin, and you hum pleasantly. 

Yunho only smiles wider, before guiding you to lift your hips so he can tuck it around you properly and get you covered up. You tuck the free edge of the towel into the top where it crosses over your breasts, and then let him guide you into a reclined position against a mountain of pillows. 

“Water,” He says next, grabbing two bottles from the side table and sliding back over to you. He leaves his closed and to the side for a moment, cracking the seal on yours, and then he lifts it to your lips, “small sips,” 

Your omega melts, and maybe you do too, at the gentle way he cares for you. 

“You’ve had an omega before?” You ask, taking the bottle to have a few more sips. 

He shakes his head, “Not in the way you’re thinking,” 

“And what way is that?” You smile. 

“A relationship,” He says, “my two previous girlfriends were betas, and I’ve had sex with omegas, but it was a little different, those were pretty strictly hookups.” 

“And this is…” You trail off.

“Hopefully not a hookup,” He takes a sip of his own water, “plus, with other omegas,” 

A flare of jealousy curls in your belly and you shake your head, “On second thought, let’s not talk about you and other omegas right now,” 

His eyes flick over you, the way your fingers are tensely knotted in the sheets at the mere idea of him and another omega, and he nods, “Got it,” he says, “moving on.” 

You exhale, and then you add with a pointed look, “I think you knotted me so good I forgot I was still in heat for a second,” 

He smirks, “Careful,” he says, “you’ll give me a big head,” 

“Please,” You roll your eyes, “you know you’re good,” 

His hand smooths up and down your thigh, “So are you,” he murmurs, “I haven’t come like that in a long time,” 

“Me either,” You suddenly feel a little shy again, and when you pay attention to your body, a little achy too. 

“Have you been with other alphas, or just,” Yunho asks, but you shake your head again and he falls silent. 

“Let’s not,” You look back up, a feeling starting to build behind your ribs again, “I… I really just want it to be me and you right now,” 

“Of course,” He soothes, “I’m sorry,” 

Your belly twists, something hot bubbling under your skin again, and you take a dry swallow, “It’s okay,” you breathe. 

Yunho studies you for a moment, and then ever so gently says your name. 

You answer him with a small sound, something primal rising to the surface, and you slide across the mattress towards him. He reaches out, wrapping his arms around you and pulling you into his chest. 

You both just stay like that for a moment, both of you sitting up in the center of the bed, Yunho’s legs bent and facing the top of the bed while you stay half kneeling and facing the bottom. You let your head sink, let yourself open, and you drink in the comfort of his scent. Warm rain, damp earth, the metallic taste of lightning on your tongue. You’ve never scented anyone like him, but the smell takes you back to some place else, some other time. The woods behind your childhood home, the mountain air in Mudeungsan, the Han River in June. 

“Shh,” Yunho murmurs softly, his hand cupping the back of your head, “I’ve got you, you’re safe.” 

You drag in another breath, sinking into his touch, “I know,” 

“You’re trembling,” Yunho points out. 

Your fingers tighten on his bare back. 

“Where are you, sweetheart?” He pulls you closer to him until your hips touch, “Tell me what you need,” 

“You remind me of home,” You confess into his neck, “is that crazy?” 

He swallows, his lips pressing against the side of your head, “Not crazy,” 

“Can you hold me?” Your voice comes out small, the next wave of your heat building in your veins. 

“Closer?” He murmurs. 

You nod into his shoulder. 

He shifts, his hands anchored on your hips as he lifts and maneuvers your body, drawing one leg over his thighs until you’re properly straddling him, your towel bunching up higher on your thighs as he guides you into a proper embrace. 

“There you go,” Yunho croons, his voice every bit of the comforting alpha that told you it was safe to open your door to him, “breathe, baby.”   

“I’m breathing,” You mumble into his skin. 

“Hmm,” He murmurs, “your warming up again already," 

“Yeah,” 

Yunho dips his head and presses a warm kiss to your shoulder, and instinct guides your head back to expose your throat to him. He kisses there too, a press of his lips on your pulsepoint, and he takes a deep inhale. 

You shiver in his arms, need pooling low in your belly again. 

“Mm, pretty omega,” He nuzzles your throat, his hand tightening on your backside, “did you know your slick tastes just like you smell?” 

You gasp, nipples tightening into pebbled peaks under the plush towel. 

“I never knew someone could taste that good,” He licks a stripe up your neck and plants a kiss just under your ear, “dripping sweet sugar, right on my tongue,” 

Your legs widen, sliding you closer to him, your hips pressed over his with only his towel between you now. 

“I could live between your thighs,” He whispers as his hand travels up your soft skin. 

Your hips rock, you can’t help it, need guiding you into the reflexive roll, your clit catching on the fabric of the towel where you’re pressed against him. You make a small sound, not a whimper but close, and rock your hips again. 

Under you, the firm press of his cock starts to nudge you more firmly as his cock thickens to its full hardness, and he makes a choked groan against your throat when you rock your hips down to press your cunt to his covered cock. 

“Y-Yunho,” You manage, voice a little breathless. 

“Hmm?” His hands flex hard on your ass, and you feel him fighting the urge to drag you against him harder. 

“C-can you come again, yet?” 

“Oh, yeah,” His lips migrate from your neck to your chest as he kisses. 

“Fuck,” You groan, rocking again and letting your head fall back as your hands slide up his back, one slipping higher and sinking into his dark hair, “how is that even possible?” 

He huffs a laugh, “I’m an alpha with an omega in heat in my lap,” his voice roughens as he breathes you in again, “a very pretty omega who smells like sin and who’s grinding, ah, fuck, like that,” 

You whine at the praise, “Need you back inside,” 

He doesn’t ask if you’re sure, not this time, instead he lifts you with one arm banded around your back while he shoves the towel around his hips open and out of the way. 

“Come here,” He murmurs, his voice low, as he notches the head of his cock on your slick entrance. 

You nod, your nails digging into his shoulder as he positions you. 

“That’s it,” He watches the place where your bodies are joined, the slow swallowing of his cock as you sink down slowly, “good little omega, take me in,” 

You choke at his words, a moan on your lips. 

When he’s fully sheathed, you wrap your legs around his waist and he draws his legs crossed underneath you. It occurs to you here, you’ve never been so close to another person. It’s not just the way he’s buried deep inside you, it’s every inch of your skin that touches his. From thighs to hips, stomach and chest, your arms wrapped around his shoulders and his banded around your back. 

Your eyes connect, and you smile softly, “Hi,” 

He softens, “Hi,” 

One of his hands slides down your back to cup your ass, shifting you so that he’s buried just a little bit deeper, and then his lips find yours. 

There’s no way of knowing how long you’re locked together like this, glued to each other even without his knot pinning you together, but for what feels like blissful hours, you rock your body against him and he guides every slide with sure hands. You lose track of how many times you come, of how much of his release spills inside you, both of you unwilling to take more than a moment to catch your breath. 

Your jaw aches from kisses, both of you a slippery mess between your interlocked hips. 

This time, you barely talk, just hushed praises as you pump your bodies slowly together, the intimacy forming between you more than just nature and heat. 

You never knew it could be like this. 

Eventually you tangle together in the bedding, bodies in near constant undulation as your heat pulls you into its hardest peaks and valleys. Time stretches, yawns, moves on outside this room without you, and you stay right here in the hazy heat of his body and yours learning each other. 

You fall in and out of sleep, in and out of knottings as the days pass, but eventually, curled together nose to nose in the nest, your heat fizzles out. You can feel it, palpable in your body like someone flicked a light switch, heat one moment and none the next. 

You let out a slow breath and squeeze his hand, “Heat’s done,” 

He nods, pressing a gentle kiss to your forehead, “Thought we were close,” he murmurs, “what do you need, sweetheart?” 

A flicker of your last heat flashes in your mind, your boyfriend, ex-boyfriend, rolling off you. He had smacked your ass, told you that it was fun, but he didn’t so much as offer you a blanket let alone ask you what you need. 

You blink up at Yunho, your naked bodies still tangled together under the fluffy blanket, “I like cuddles after,” 

“Done,” He smiles, one broad hand sliding down your back and over your thigh to adjust your position, an inch closer together, “what else?” 

“I’m pretty low maintenance,” You manage. 

Yunho shakes his head, “You’re an omega, you have needs, I’m an alpha, I’m here to fulfill those needs,” he reminds you, “lay it on me.” 

Your teeth sink into your lip for a moment, a knot of hesitation still lodged in your belly, but he doesn’t look away. 

He waits. 

Letting out a breath you let your body relax back against the pillows, “A hot bath,” You start off, “spicy food, lots of water, lots of touch.” 

“This is good,” He’s grinning, nodding, “keep going,” 

Your omega calms inside you, and your tense fingers release from their tight grip on the blanket, “I like the space cleaned after, I get a little overwhelmed if all the heat scents lingers. Maybe something sweet to eat, something comforting,” 

He catalogs it all, you can see it in his eyes. 

“I just…” You admit, “all I really want is to get clean, to curl up on your lap, and come down,” 

“Yeah,” He softens, “I’ve got you,” 

Yunho tucks you close, bringing your head the hollow of his chest, and you nuzzle closer to him, this stranger turned lover with one simple act of his kindness. 

“Yun,” You murmur, your fingers trailing down the line of his spine absently. 

“Hmm?” 

“Did…” You barely want to say his name, “did Hyunshik come back?” 

Yunho stiffens, and you wish you had never said anything, you didn’t want to break this moment between you. Yunho just sighs, “Yesterday,” 

You perk up at that, pulling back to meet his gaze, “Did something happen when I was asleep?” 

“No, no,” Yunho soothes you, his palm sliding from your arm to the warm center of your chest, “I just heard him through the wall. He was… upset you weren’t home.” 

Your eyebrows raise in alarm. 

“Listen,” Yunho says, “you’re not going back there. I won’t keep you here if you want to go, but you can’t go back there.” 

You shake your head, “Hyunshik is an ass, but he wouldn’t hurt me,” 

“He already has,” Yunho’s voice cuts a little firmly and he shakes his head, “maybe he hasn’t been violent, maybe he never would be, but I’ve heard him shout at you. Last night he broke something against the wall when you weren’t there, that’s enough for me.” 

Your lips part, and you take note of all the tension in him. He’s angry, he’s furious, somewhere bubbling under the surface is an alpha’s rage at your ex, but not an ounce of it is for you. 

“He doesn’t know the first thing about caring for an omega, about caring for you,” Yunho corrects, “everything you’ve told me showed me that, but during your heat, I asked you to present and you were scared.” 

“Yunho,” 

“Not nervous, not excited,” He holds your gaze, “you were terrified.” 

“I just don’t like the position,” You feel the urge to slide away from him in the bed, but you stay put. 

“But he does,” Yunho doesn’t have to say anything else, every implication is crystal clear in his words. 

“Yeah,” 

He sighs again, exasperation laced in the way he breathes, the way he drops his forehead to yours, “Baby,” his voice is tender as the endearment slips out, “I won’t push you, but I’m telling you, for your safety, and fuck, for my sanity, you’re not going back into that apartment.” 

Your eyes drift closed and you nod. 

“Also,” His voice is suddenly hoarse, pained, “you don’t have to stay with me, we barely know each other, and if I were a better man I would have figured out a way to get through your heat without knotting you myself, but,” 

Something hot and angry sparks in your gut and you push him back, “Stop it,” 

“I’m just saying, I should have,” 

“Don’t make my heat about you,” You punctuate your words with a push at his shoulder, and his eyes widen, “I’m not some helpless little thing, and you’re not about to mope around like some tortured Victorian because you think you violated my delicate sensibilities,” 

“Tortured Victorian?” His eyebrows raise, the smallest of amused smiles tugging at his lips. 

“Yunho,” You bowl forwards, “I chose you, I wanted you. I was vulnerable and in pain, yes, but this heat was mine and you’re not ruining that by thinking I didn’t beg for every second of what we did together.” 

His smile falls away, your words sinking in. 

“So,” Your stomach flips as your next words come, “alpha,” 

His eyes sharpen. 

“You’re right,” You continue, “I don’t want to go back to my old place, I don’t want to see my ex. I said what I needed to in that text, and I’m done. If you don’t mind me staying here for a few days while I figure things out, that would mean a lot to me,” 

“Stay as long as you want,” Yunho cuts in gently. 

“Thank you,” You find his hand, squeezing it a little, “I’m not sure where you and I end up in all this, that heat was…,” 

He smiles gently, “Yeah,” he nods, “for me too,” 

You slide a little closer, reaching out to touch his cheek before you say it, “Right now can we just be friends?” You ask, “Just for a little while so I can figure things out?” 

“I–,” He catches himself, whatever he was going to say dying on his tongue, “yes, of course,” 

“You can ask me out then, if you still want to,” 

“I still want to,” He assures you, his eyes warm and steady. 

You nod, leaning in and pressing a kiss to his lips, “You’re not a rebound,” you murmur softly in the tender space between you, “and I won’t treat you like one.” 

Yunho’s still for a moment, his heartbeat thumping under your hand, and then he sinks forward to catch your mouth in a heady kiss, dipping you back into the bedsheets, his body warm and heavy above you. His hands slide up your body, cupping you close as the kiss deepens, his tongue flicking against yours. 

You melt into it, but just when you’re sinking, thinking about throwing everything you just said right out the window, he stops and pulls himself back. 

Cupping your cheek, he nods, his voice breathless, lips swollen from the kiss, “Friends,” he says, “for now. When you’re ready, say the word, but that’s how I feel about you, heat or no heat.” 

Your breath catches in your throat. 

“Okay?” 

“Okay,” You manage. 

“And sweetheart,” He brushes your cheek tenderly with the side of his thumb, “this is your nest until you tell me it’s not, for however long. Don’t talk to me about another omega in here again, alright?” 

Your heart stutters and stumbles in your chest, and all you can do is nod. 

“Good,” He murmurs, his voice warm, “now, let’s get you cleaned up.” 

“Yeah,” 

“For today, while you come down, can I still hold you?” He checks, his fingertips skating over the soft skin of your hip under the covers. 

“Please,” You melt. 

He grins, rolling out of the nest and reaching back in to tug you up into his arms, the blanket still haphazardly wrapped around you as he lifts you and carries you towards the bathroom. 

“Yunho!” You grip his bare shoulder. 

A self-satisfied smile plays at the corner of his mouth and he glances down at you, “I’m not going to drop you,” 

Your hand relaxes a fraction, but you still don’t let go. 

 “So, a hot bath first,” He says as he slides you onto the bathroom counter, turning to the tub to get the water flowing, “I’ll order us something spicy for lunch, and then we’ll go back to being friends tomorrow.”

“And today?” You smile. 

“Today?” He checks the temperature of the water and adjusts the knobs to get it just right, “Today, we’re pretending I’m your alpha.”

Your stomach flutters with butterflies. 

He smiles as he turns to you, resting a hand on either side of your thighs as he leans in, “Just let me get all the doting out of my system, okay? Then we can go back to the acquaintance phase of our relationship,” 

You heart flutters, but you laugh gently, just a puff of air through your lips as you shake your head, “Yunho, I think we’re way past the acquaintance phase,” 

He shrugs, “Wherever you want me, sweetheart.” 

He steals another quick kiss, and then turns his attention back to getting the bath perfect, your heart beating double and triple time as you watch him. 

You’re in trouble, you feel that down to the tips of your toes. 

Yunho moves through caring for you with a tenderness that makes him feel like he’s been yours for years, not just for two days. He settles you into the bath, takes his time washing your hair, and then brushes it free of tangles. When he’s done, he leaves you to relax in the cocoon of the warm water, and he makes himself busy. 

By the time you’re done, the nest is straightened up and the sheets and blankets are tumbling in the dryer. He’s ordered enough take out to keep you fed for a week, and he slides you into his lap without a second thought the moment you’re dressed and back to being a person. 

He’s easy to laugh with, to relax with, to fall asleep with and to share a meal with. 

He’s the kind of man that’s going to be easy to love. 

Today blends into tomorrow, and the next day after that. 

You never do make it back to being just friends.