Work Text:
Shen Yuan’s suppressants were not working.
Tendrils of unwanted warmth crept up his spine. He swallowed, glancing at his flushed face in the mirror.
This was not how he’d meant to welcome the new week. Not with sweat pooling on his forehead and an unwelcome itch beginning to settle in his gut.
His empty, useless bottle of pills rested on the side of the sink, and Shen Yuan resisted the urge to hurl it against the wall. Smashing such flimsy plastic would certainly be satisfying.
Why did pharmaceutical companies even bother to manufacture and market heat suppressants if they couldn’t even reliably suppress heats? That was fraud, you know?
People—Shen Yuan—depended on these things!
He paid a hefty fee for them too when, quite honestly, they should have been free in the first place. But no—medical corporations wanted a steady cash flow. Yet, they couldn’t even guarantee the efficiency of their own products!
Now, Shen Yuan, who hadn’t had a real heat since his last year of high school, was left alone to figure out the best method of coping with the onset of his fever.
He reached back into his memories of that final heat before he’d changed suppressant prescriptions at eighteen, and flashes of need, warmth, and insatiable hunger swept through his mind.
He remembered muddling through a haze of sweat and slick for an entire week until the fever finally lifted. It had been awful, leaving him sticky and shaking for hours.
Luckily, his family had been there to leave meals and drinks at his door during the worst of it, so he’d been able to eat and keep his energy up throughout the ordeal.
This time though…
Shen Yuan was alone, trapped within the walls of his small apartment.
He might really starve. Or die of thirst!
Shen Yuan’s cooking repertoire consisted solely of ramen, rice, and canned soups—he could bust out a decent fancy sandwich on a good day, though, if he tried.
His philosophy was simple—why bother trying to cook when he was so obviously horrible at it? Restaurants benefited from delivery and so did his stomach, so why fix a system that wasn’t broken?
Yet, even delivery presented a problem within the constraints of a heat.
From Shen Yuan’s fragmented recollections of his last heat, he’d been too weak at the peak of the fever to do anything more than fumble out of his bed and limp the three meters to his door to pick up the tray of food that awaited him.
This time, there was no way he could make it all the way to the door of his apartment. He didn’t want to let an unfamiliar person inside either, even if he simply gave them the passcode and they left the food outside his bedroom.
Pheromones were far too volatile. Shen Yuan did not want to leave anything up to chance.
Taking one last look at his reflection in the mirror, he sighed and left the bathroom.
Surely there was a solution?
Shen Yuan sat down on his bed and worried his lip with his teeth. Unlocking his phone, he scoured through his contact list, searching for someone that could give him advice.
He scrolled, and finally, a name caught his eye.
Hm. That person.
Shen Yuan pursed his lips.
He usually made it a rule not to turn to Shang Qinghua of all people for advice, but these were… extenuating circumstances. And—Shang Qinghua was an omega himself.
Desperate times called for desperate measures!
Steeling himself for the nonsense that was inevitably about to occur, Shen Yuan typed out a message.
shen yuan
so… my suppressants stopped working and now my heat will be here in a few days :/
haven’t had one in years and i’m wondering what to do about food
also worried it’s going to be bad since it’s been so long
It physically pained Shen Yuan to type the next sentence, but it was necessary.
any advice??
His phone buzzed with a reply within minutes.
airplane bro
cucumber bro!!!
you’ve come to the right person
i know exactly what you need!
Shen Yuan waited for the next message with bated breath. Knowing Shang Qinghua, his solution would be something ridiculous…
have you ever heard of heat companions?
Shen Yuan promptly closed his eyes, exasperated.
What in the—
shen yuan
airplane bro.
i don’t think you understand.
i don’t need someone to spend my heat with me
i just need someone to make me food DURING my heat
This was quickly becoming frustrating.
Shen Yuan resisted the urge to stand up and shout, “Don’t get too carried away, Shang Qinghua! This fellow omega doesn’t want anything complicated!”
He stared at his phone as a slew of new replies trickled in.
airplane bro
yeahhh but
…what if you could hire someone that could do both…
wouldn’t that be a win-win??
God. Why was Shang Qinghua starting to sound convincing?
shen yuan
…
…maybe
airplane bro
just think about it this way…
picture how tiring it is when it’s just you trying to satisfy yourself alone
it’s honestly such a chore to constantly do all the work, right?
Wow. Shang Qinghua was seriously trying to appeal to Shen Yuan’s inner laziness. And the worst part? It was working.
shen yuan
…it really is a chore
Shen Yuan waited for a beat. He added another message.
proceed.
airplane bro
haha i knew you’d start to come around bro!
so…
i know a place
well… i guess it’s really a service
if you’re interested i can give you their number hehe
shen yuan
hmm
give me more details first
then i’ll decide if i want their contact info
More information was necessary before making any drastic decisions. For all he knew, Shang Qinghua might accidentally link him to an elaborate scam!
No undue suffering for his wallet, thank you very much!
airplane bro
okay fineee
so it’s called Chunshan Companion Services
i used them for my last heat and ended up extremely satisfied…
if you know what i mean
Regrettably, Shen Yuan knew exactly what Shang Qinghua meant.
shen yuan
…please spare me the details
so what could I expect?
if I were to book a session with them
…hypothetically
He hated how his heartbeat quickened as he awaited Shang Qinghua’s response. Perhaps the onset of his heat was affecting him far more than he realized!
airplane bro
well… hypothetically…
they arrive at your living space the day before your heat hits
then they do meal prep and basically pamper you until your heat starts
once it’s finally time they’ll take you to bed and make you see stars hehehe
if you want it they even provide knotting services (with a condom for safety of course) !!
Despite his reservations, the description sent a bolt of heat to Shen Yuan’s lower half. He swallowed.
Honestly, he might really like—wouldn’t it be alright to take advantage of such a service? A week of pampering and care designed to combat the most irritating part of being an omega?
It would be, as Shang Qinghua had suggested, a win-win. Shen Yuan could have a pleasant heat experience and the service could receive their commission for a job well done.
There was really no reason not to try it!
Although nearly decided, Shen Yuan played coy just to mess with Shang Qinghua. It was one of his favorite pastimes. He could hardly help it.
shen yuan
hmm i don’t know…
that sounds nice and all
but how expensive is it??
An indignant response soon followed. Shen Yuan laughed to himself.
airplane bro
cucumber bro!!
you cheapskate!!
i know for a fact your family’s loaded
shen yuan
fine fine
give me their number then
so I can make an appointment
airplane bro
omg have fun bro
i wish you the best of luck
Moments later, the fateful phone number appeared on his screen.
Shen Yuan shot off a quick thank-you text and then sat in silence for five minutes, staring down at the string of digits Shang Qinghua had sent him.
He’d better go ahead and call now, right? Before his heat actually hit and he had no options left…
With conspicuously trembling fingers, Shen Yuan typed the number into his phone. His thumb hovered over the call button as he swallowed several gulps of air.
God, he hoped this was the right decision.
Exhaling one final time, he pressed the call button.
A crackle of noise echoed in his ear as the call connected. Shen Yuan tensed, and then a bored female voice said, “Thank you for calling Chunshan Companion Services. How may we help you today?”
“Um,” Shen Yuan started, eloquently. “I’d like to book your services. For my upcoming heat.”
“Alright. You’re an omega, then, correct?”
“Correct.”
Shen Yuan’s palms were growing sweaty. He swallowed.
“Wonderful. Let me transfer you to our alpha branch, and you can sort out specific details. Please hold for a moment.”
Elevator jazz drilled into Shen Yuan’s skull as he waited. This was—this was really happening.
He was about to request an… alpha to cook for him and, probably, fuck him through the worst of his heat.
Digging a nice little hole in the ground and setting up shop there didn’t sound so bad, honestly. It would certainly provide relief from the intense embarrassment flooding through his body!
There was a rumble through the phone, suddenly. A low, gentle sound.
Shen Yuan shivered.
“Hello,” a soft, male voice said. “Thank you for calling us today. I understand you’re interested in booking an alpha companion for your next heat?”
Shen Yuan closed his eyes. It was far less intense that way.
“I am.”
The man hummed. “I see. I have a few preliminary questions to ask you, then. Is that alright?”
“Ah—yes. That’s fine.” Shen Yuan pressed the phone to his ear. “Go ahead.”
“When did you experience your last heat cycle?” the man asked.
Shen Yuan inhaled. “It was… more than a decade ago. When I was eighteen.”
There was silence for a few moments. Shen Yuan gripped his thigh with his free hand. The slight pressure was soothing.
“Hm,” was all the main said at first. It was not a rude noise, however—simply one of quiet contemplation. “Have you been having trouble with suppressants recently? That must be very frustrating to deal with.”
“Very,” Shen Yuan agreed.
“I’m glad you found your way here then! Heats, even when largely unwanted, can become a pleasant experience. That’s why we’re—I’m—here to help!”
Heat rose to Shen Yuan’s cheeks. “That’s, um, good to hear.”
Clearing his throat, the man continued his questions. “So what exactly are you looking for in your desired companion? If you give me some details, I can help find someone who best suits your needs.”
Shen Yuan paused, taking a few moments to think.
“Well,” he began. “I’m hopeless in the kitchen, so I think I’d prefer someone who enjoys and excels at cooking. I’d be grateful for whatever food they serve! I can’t remember the last time I had a home-cooked meal, and I’m sure whatever they made would be delicious. I’d love to shower someone with praise for a meal well-made!”
That was far more information than Shen Yuan had planned to share.
The man didn’t respond immediately. When he finally spoke once again, his voice had grown softer and shyer, somehow. Shen Yuan, oddly, preferred this new tone.
“You’re searching for someone to keep you well fed? To care for you through the meals they provide to you during your heat?”
“Correct,” Shen Yuan answered.
“Then—” The man stopped mid-sentence. “Then you wish to r-reward this companion with praise? If they perform well?”
“Yes,” Shen Yuan confirmed. Hadn’t he clearly stated this earlier? “Praise is necessary for a job well done.”
“I—I see.”
A moment of silence passed between Shen Yuan and the stranger on the other end of the line.
It felt strangely heavy.
“What are other… wishes… you would like fulfilled during your heat?” the man asked, finally.
Shen Yuan squinted up at his ceiling. “Hm. Maybe receiving a massage for initial heat cramps? Some cuddling too, if that’s alright? Oh, and I’m open to scent marking and low-level biting. Nothing that leaves huge bruises, but small marks are alright.”
In a rush of breath, the man said, “This—this one thinks it would be a privilege to wrap you in warm arms and nip the skin of your throat, if requested to do so.”
How sweet! Shen Yuan had gotten so lucky with the employee helping him. At first the man had seemed a bit formal, but he was quickly warming up and turning shy and lovely.
Shen Yuan continued relaying his list of wishes.
“During the heat—” The next sentence held a long buried secret. One that came with a distinct sense of shame. “I think I’d like to stay filled for as long as possible. If I’m remembering correctly from my teenage years, I used to get, um, tetchy when I didn’t have anything inside myself when the fever was at its worst.”
There was a short, choked-off noise. Perhaps Shen Yuan had been too graphic even for a professional?
“If that’s an unreasonable request, I totally—”
“It’s not. It’s f-far from unreasonable.”
Ah. That was. Good, then.
Thanks for the reassurance, sweet employee!
“Pardon this one’s question, but would you perhaps be interested in our, um, knotting services?Protection is required, of course.”
This employee was really paying attention to Shen Yuan’s wants. How nice!
Knotting was troublesome in its own way, but the benefits—an easy fix to the insistent need that would wrack through Shen Yuan’s body—far outweighed the discomfort.
“Yes, I believe knotting is something I would be interested in,” Shen Yuan said.
Outside of toys, though, Shen Yuan had never been knotted before, so his hands shook as he held the phone to his ear, imagining the overwhelming pressure.
“A-alright.” On the other end of the call, the man’s voice turned small. “We can include that in your package, then. Anything to make you feel more comfortable.”
Shen Yuan’s lips twitched upward. “Thank you.”
It would be quite nice if the alpha chosen for him was as sweet and careful as this employee he was speaking with!
It wouldn’t hurt to compliment this man a little, would it? To show Shen Yuan’s gratitude, of course.
“I’m grateful I ended up speaking to someone as kind as you,” Shen Yuan said, making his voice as gentle as possible. “You’ve lead me through this so well.”
“It’s—no trouble. This one is grateful to help,” was the breathless little reply that came after a few moments.
Shen Yuan’s brows furrowed. Perhaps the man had been on the phone for so long that he was beginning to lose his voice?
“Um. One last question,” the man said. “How soon are you expecting your heat?”
Shen Yuan pursed his lips, thinking. Based on the level of warmth simmering beneath his skin, he estimated a little over a day before his heat would begin in full force.
“I believe I have a bit more than 24 hours before it starts.”
The man let out a tiny exhale—a gasp?
“You’ll be needing someone to care for you as soon as possible then.” Was that worry in the man’s voice? “We can—we can send someone to your address first thing in the morning if you’d like.”
“Yes, that would be perfect,” Shen Yuan said. He rattled off his address to the man. “Oh, you probably need my name, too, don’t you?”
The man laughed—a warm, clear sound. “Yes, if you feel safe sharing it with me.”
How thoughtful, taking Shen Yuan’s comfort into account!
“It’s Shen Yuan.”
“Shen… Yuan,” the man slowly repeated, most likely entering his information into a computer somewhere.
A sudden thought popped into Shen Yuan’s mind.
“May I ask which alpha will be spending my heat with me?”
“Ah, um!” The man paused for several moments, and then his voice softened when he spoke next, the sound sliding into Shen Yuan’s ear in a pleasant rumble. “If it’s alright with you, I think—I think I would be well-suited to provide you with care during this heat.”
Oh. That was—
Shen Yuan bit his lip.
“That sounds lovely,” he said, honest.
Even in a short phone call, this man had already proven his attentiveness—precisely what Shen Yuan had been hoping for.
“Then, please take care of me—” Shen Yuan cut himself off, unsure of the man’s name.
“Binghe,” the man said, in the same breathless tone as earlier. “My name is Luo Binghe.”
Shen Yuan smiled to himself.
“Please take care of me, Binghe,” he corrected. “From what I’ve gathered so far, I’m certain you’ll do a wonderful job.”
When Binghe answered, his voice was timid. “This one will endeavor to live up to the high regard Shen Yuan has placed him in, even though he fears he has not truly earned it.”
Hm. This kind of self-deprecation wouldn’t do…
Have more confidence, Binghe! You just charmed this customer so expertly through a mere consultation!
“I feel very satisfied with my decision,” Shen Yuan said. It wouldn’t hurt to provide a bit of reassurance. “Binghe should believe in himself.”
Binghe let out a small whisper of an exhale. “Alright.”
Shen Yuan readjusted his grip on the phone. “I’ll see you tomorrow morning then, Binghe?”
“Yes. I’ll be there,” Binghe replied, voice firm.
“Good. Until then.”
Taking a grounding gulp of air, Shen Yuan ended the call. He stared down at his hands, mind incongruously blank and busy.
Tomorrow would certainly prove to be an interesting experience.
—
Shen Yuan woke up drenched in sweat—an ominous reminder of his impending heat.
Bleary-eyed, he hobbled out of bed and padded toward the kitchen to brew a pot of tea. As he sat on the sofa sipping the warm liquid a few minutes later, there was a loud knock at his door.
Shen Yuan’s heartbeat stuttered.
Oh, right. His heat companion—Luo Binghe—was coming.
With trembling hands, he stood up and tip-toed over to unlock the door. Bracing himself, Shen Yuan turned the knob with trembling fingers.
Perhaps this was too much.
Maybe he could just greet Binghe and then explain to him that he’d decided not to use the service after all! It would save so much of the inevitable embarrassment he was bound to suffer during his heat—
Cool air struck Shen Yuan’s face as he finally pushed the door open. He lifted his head, and his mind proceeded to go offline.
Luo Binghe was… he was—
Not real.
He couldn’t be! Not with that gentle smirk resting on his lips and those handsome, sharp features! His dark eyes, too, glinted with charm as he stood in the threshold, waiting.
Shen Yuan’s mouth went dry.
Just what kind of trashy romance novel had this man stepped out of? Those muscles, that curly hair that just begged someone to brush their fingers through it…
Unfair. It was unfair!
As Shen Yuan stood there, paralyzed, Binghe shifted side to side, gaze growing noticeably anxious.
God, Shen Yuan had to pull it together!
“Binghe?” he asked, just to be certain.
The ensuing answer came out in a rush. “Yes—I’m Binghe. And you are… Shen Yuan?”
Shen Yuan nodded. “Mm-hm. I’m really happy you were so punctual, Binghe.”
Binghe’s eyes widened, and his face grew a bit flushed. “I-I’m glad you’re pleased with me,” he said, stuttering.
Shen Yuan blinked. An odd warmth swept through the pit of his stomach. Choosing to ignore it, he turned and waved Binghe inside.
Leading Binghe to the kitchen—perhaps the most important room in the apartment!—Shen Yuan said, “It’s a bit small, but I think it’ll work for meal-prep for two.”
He gestured to the cabinets and the refrigerator. “There’re some ingredients in the fridge already, but I don’t know if you’ve brought your own as well…”
Binghe glanced around the room, walking over to the stove and fiddling with the dials. Shen Yuan watched as he nodded to himself and hummed, lips curling into a smile.
“This will do just fine,” he said after a few moments, voice soft. “I’ve prepared some extra ingredients of my own, so I’ll go get them from my car and bring them inside now, if that’s alright?”
“Yes, go ahead.”
Shen Yuan had gotten so lucky! Binghe was going to spoil him with delicious food!
“I have a question, though, before I leave,” Binghe said, gaze resting on Shen Yuan. “What would you like as your first meal?”
What a difficult question. There were far too many options to choose from!
Well—something simple was always a good start. No need to overwhelm Binghe from the beginning…
“How about some congee, then?” Shen Yuan asked.
It was still morning, after all.
—
Thirty minutes later, a snow-white bowl of steaming congee was placed before Shen Yuan.
Based solely on appearance, the dish looked immaculate—the rice was perfectly cooked and bits of lightly-spiced chicken, lotus root, and spring onions served as a garnish.
Shen Yuan’s mouth watered. Scooping out a large portion, he brought his spoon to his lips and took a bite.
Oh no.
This was, perhaps, the best congee he’d ever eaten in his life.
It was fresh, salty, and warm. Every bite exploded with distinct flavor. The meat, the vegetables, the rice—everything blended together in a perfect dance.
Binghe had only been there for a measly two hours, and he had already outdone himself!
Sitting beside him, Binghe refused to look up at Shen Yuan and said, facing the top of the table, “This one hopes his cooking is acceptable. Please inform Binghe if he needs to remake a dish…”
Acceptable? This was far more than acceptable, Binghe!
Such self-deprecation just wouldn’t do.
“Binghe is skilled in the kitchen,” Shen Yuan said, hoping to build Binghe’s confidence. He’d never encountered an alpha so sweet yet so unsure of himself. “I am enjoying his dish very much.”
To emphasize his praise, Shen Yuan took a large bite and let a pleased noise escape from his lips.
There, now Binghe would know he was telling the truth!
Binghe’s head shot up. He fidgeted in his chair as Shen Yuan held his gaze.
“This one will continue to provide you with dishes of equal quality,” he said, voice low. “To ensure you are well-cared for throughout your heat.”
Oh. Right.
Shen Yuan had almost forgotten that Binghe was here not just to cook but to provide a more physical type of care, too. The urge to bury his face in his hands overwhelmed him.
It was only a matter of hours, now, until the fever overtook him. He hoped, for Binghe’s sake, that he wouldn’t turn into an incoherent mess.
A throat cleared, and Shen Yuan refocused.
“How—” Binghe asked, staring at Shen Yuan. “How would you like for me to refer to you this week? ‘Master’ has been a favorite of clients in the past, but—”
Shen Yuan’s brain promptly shorted out.
Woah, woah, woah.
Hold up there, Binghe! Master was a little too far, surely? Shen Yuan didn’t particularly want to dip his toes into that type of play right now. Not in the midst of a heat and certainly not when he was literally paying someone to take care of him…
But the word still sent an odd bolt of heat through his traitorous body! Especially when he imagined Binghe moaning it, buried inside him, growling against his neck and begging for permission to finally knot him…
Shen Yuan shivered.
Wow. His pre-heat brain was turning a bit feral!
“Uh.” He struggled to find the right words. “I’m not—sure if… Maybe let’s revisit that particular, um, title later?”
Binghe did not appear bothered by Shen Yuan’s mini-freakout. “Please let me know what you decide, then. Shen Yuan’s kindness is worthy of such a title, and it would please this one greatly to refer to him as such, if he is so inclined.”
“O-okay,” Shen Yuan said, frazzled.
“For now, is ‘Yuan-ge’ acceptable?”
That was much safer. Good thinking, Binghe!
“Yes, that’s—fine,” he said.
Binghe’s lips twitched, and his stare grew piercing.
What the—? Shen Yuan felt pinned, suddenly.
“Then, please allow this humble Binghe to serve you, Yuan-ge,” he said, voice a low growl that sent shivers through Shen Yuan.
Perhaps—perhaps Binghe knew exactly what he was doing after all.
—
Hours passed as Binghe occupied the kitchen, preparing a few days worth of meals in advance. Shen Yuan sprawled out on the couch, absently watching a film while stuffing his face full of popcorn Binghe had kindly made for him earlier.
As he reached for the remote to lower the volume, a sharp pain in his lower back knocked the breath from him. He cried out involuntarily.
The noise from the kitchen abruptly stopped, and Binghe rushed into the room, crowding close to him, eyes full of concern.
“It—shouldn’t be long until my heat is here,” Shen Yuan gritted out in explanation. “Just got a bad cramp in my back.”
“May I?” Binghe asked, gesturing to the affected area on Shen Yuan’s body.
How courteous! Already eager to help even though Shen Yuan’s heat hadn’t even truly begun…
Shen Yuan nodded. “Please,” he said, rucking up his shirt so Binghe had better access.
Binghe lowered himself onto the couch behind Shen Yuan, hands hovering over Shen Yuan’s skin. Was he… waiting for further permission?
“Go ahead, Binghe,” Shen Yuan said, encouraging him.
Binghe’s fingers finally closed around the curve of his hips. His thumbs pressed into the divots in Shen Yuan’s lower spine and kneaded, sending a zap of electricity through Shen Yuan’s entire body.
A tiny moan slipped past his lips. Binghe hummed, mouth hovering close to Shen Yuan’s ear. The light vibrations of sound made Shen Yuan tremble.
It had been a long time since he’d been touched like this. Since he’d been touched at all.
Pleasant heat radiated out from the place where Binghe’s hands rested, and Shen Yuan resisted the urge to shift back into the gentle pressure.
Binghe’s voice drifted into his ear, low and teasing. “Does it feel good, Yuan-ge?”
Shen Yuan shook, caught in Binghe’s gentle grip.
“Please tell this one. Otherwise, how can he know what pleases you?”
What was with this sudden change? Binghe was—a wolf in sheep’s clothing!
Head spinning, Shen Yuan muttered a string of incoherent words under his breath as heat seared through him.
“Hm? Yuan-ge will have to be louder if he wants Binghe to hear him…”
Binghe licked the shell of Shen Yuan’s ear, forcing a whimper from his throat.
“There. That’s loud enough.”
How utterly shameless!
Shen Yuan relented. “It feels—feels good, Binghe,” he said, voice catching. “You’re pleasing me so w-well.”
Binghe let out a little gasp of his own—a sweet, high sound. Shen Yuan swallowed. He’d caused that. He wanted—he wanted to pull more of those noises from Binghe’s mouth.
With renewed pressure, Binghe continued massaging the flesh of Shen Yuan’s lower back. Under his practiced touch, the pain floated away. A simmering warmth bubbled up to replace it.
Soon, Shen Yuan grew boneless. He leaned back against Binghe’s chest, eyes drifting closed.
“Would Yuan-ge like to rest?” Binghe asked. “This one can carry him to bed.”
Shen Yuan tried to concentrate even though exhaustion was creeping up on him. “That sounds nice, Binghe,” he said, softly.
Immediately, Binghe gathered him into his arms, rising from the sofa. Holding Shen Yuan to his chest, he padded down the hallway toward the bedroom, nudging the door open and gently lowering Shen Yuan down onto the mattress.
With efficient movements, Binghe tucked soft blankets around Shen Yuan, surrounding him in pleasant warmth.
Smoothing a hand through Shen Yuan’s hair, he shifted to move away.
No.
That was not right. Shen Yuan didn’t want—he needed him there. Needed him to—
“Stay.” The command slipped out, unbidden.
Binghe froze a few feet away from the bed. He turned, glancing at Shen Yuan with eyes full of… anxiousness?
Shen Yuan furrowed his brow. Binghe shouldn’t be afraid. He was taking such perfect care of Shen Yuan.
“Don’t go, Binghe,” he repeated, trying not to slur his words together.
An instinct, long suppressed, welled up within him. He swallowed, tongue heavy in his mouth.
“I think I need—” he began. “Can you—can you scent me?”
Binghe’s lips parted. His hands shook, visible in the low light of the room.
“Of course,” he said.
A high, pleased noise left Shen Yuan’s throat. Binghe crawled onto the bed and joined him under the covers, arms bracketing Shen Yuan in place underneath him.
Binghe’s pupils were blown wide.
Shen Yuan’s heart pounded, looking up at him. Unable to help himself, he reached up and stroked a hand across Binghe’s cheek. It was flushed a perfect shade of red and utterly soft.
Binghe trembled, leaning into the light pressure of Shen Yuan’s fingertips.
“Yuan-ge,” he said, breathless.
“Binghe,” Shen Yuan echoed, watching as Binghe’s eyes darkened further.
It was thrilling, honestly, to see what kind of reaction he could provoke from this alpha.
Letting his hand drift into Binghe’s hair, Shen Yuan combed through the strands for a moment and then tugged, guiding Binghe down to his neck.
He was growing impatient.
“Scent me. Please.”
Binghe gasped, hot breath ghosting across Shen Yuan’s skin. Finally, he nuzzled into the hollow of Shen Yuan’s throat, sating the itch that had been there since he had arrived at the apartment.
Binghe’s scent flooded Shen Yuan’s senses. The smell of pine and wildflowers clouded around him, and he breathed it in, greedy.
“Good,” he said, mind growing fuzzy. “You smell so good, Binghe…”
“Yuan-ge’s scent is pleasing as well,” Binghe said. His teeth nipped at the pocket of Shen Yuan’s neck, sending tiny shocks fluttering through his body.
Shen Yuan bared his throat further, eager for more.
His heat hadn’t even arrived, yet he was already becoming a mess. What sort of monster would awaken within him in the next few hours as the fever drew closer?
Binghe’s tongue traced a wet path down the side of Shen Yuan’s throat. He growled—a quiet rumble—and then closed his lips around the nape of Shen Yuan’s neck and sucked.
Warmth punched through Shen Yuan. He ached, suddenly, but he was too tired to do anything more than push a weak whimper past his lips.
Panting, Shen Yuan laid there against the sheets, Binghe a pleasant weight above him. Eventually, the allure of sleep became too strong, and his eyes slipped shut.
Before darkness overtook him, he managed to stutter out, “S-stay, Binghe.”
Arms curled around him, and he knew nothing more.
—
Hours later, awareness crashed back into Shen Yuan in a violent burst of fire.
Blinking awake, he immediately knew—his heat had finally arrived. It had been a decade since he’d felt the intensity of heat-fever, but there was no mistaking the insatiable craving that had settled underneath his skin.
His entire body burned, and sweat dripped from his forehead. His throat was parched, and he wrestled with the sheets, fumbling for the cup of water he usually kept on his nightstand. After gulping down a few sips, he tore off his clothes, desperate for any bit of relief.
Dawn was just beginning to break, bathing the bedroom in pale pinks and blues. Yet, the beauty of such a sight was the last thing on Shen Yuan’s mind.
He needed—oh, he needed.
His thoughts ran slow as he trembled, overcome.
Someone was in the bed with him. Someone who could help? Who could satiate the fire searing through his lungs and sending wetness between his legs?
Who was the person lying there? He needed them to wake up and—
“Binghe,” he cried out, finally coming to his senses.
A high, pitiful noise that he’d never heard himself make before left his throat, beckoning, imploring Binghe to wake and take care of him as he’d promised.
Almost immediately, an answering growl pierced through the darkness of the room, and Shen Yuan felt cool fingers latch onto his waist.
Binghe’s hands were on him. Finally.
He ached.
Warm breath puffed against Shen Yuan’s ear, and he whined, poised to cry out once again for Binghe. Before any noise left his throat, though, Shen Yuan found himself flat on his back, Binghe straddling his hips in a blur of movement.
“Yuan-ge.”
Binghe stared down at him, eyes glittering. Shen Yuan shivered, pinned.
“It’s here, isn’t it?”
Binghe leaned down and licked a thin stripe across Shen Yuan’s bare chest. The touch both soothed and ignited the fire burning beneath his skin. He clutched uselessly at the bedsheets damp with sweat.
“Yuan-ge’s heat?”
Shen Yuan forced his eyes shut.
No need to ask when it was already so painfully obvious, Binghe! Spare this thin-faced omega the embarrassment, please…
Mercifully, Binghe said nothing more. Instead, he simply tilted his head to the right as a slow smile spread across his lips.
Shen Yuan willed away another moan by biting the inside of his cheek.
Binghe’s eyes never left his face—not even as one of his hands slipped between Shen Yuan’s thighs.
Oh. That place was…
“So slick,” Binghe whispered, tracing his fingertips across the wetness coating Shen Yuan’s feverish skin.
Shen Yuan wanted to raise his arms to his face and hide. This was far too much! No one had ever seen him like this, and surely Binghe would soon grow tired of catering to his insistent need—
A wet tongue swiped across his inner thigh, sending a bolt of electricity shooting through him. Was Binghe… tasting him?
“Yuan-ge’s scent is so strong here,” Binghe said, pausing in—whatever he was doing. “This one wishes to taste more. If that will please his Yuan-ge.”
Just where exactly was Binghe pulling these lines from? They sounded straight out of some trashy heat-erotica—the likes of which Shen Yuan had definitely not purchased.
Feverish with need, Shen Yuan could not lie, so he admitted, “More. Give me more, Binghe.”
As if waiting for that command, Binghe lapped at the slick that clung to Shen Yuan’s skin. Nipping gently, he made pleased hums low in his throat, and Shen Yuan squirmed as the vibrations sent small shocks through him. The bed shook against the wall.
He sincerely hoped his neighbors were not awake.
Binghe had barely done anything; yet, Shen Yuan was trembling into the sheets, trying so desperately to control his whimpers.
In an attempt to either slow Binghe down or urge him faster—he wasn’t sure which—Shen Yuan ran a hand down between his legs.
He itched to wrap a hand around himself. His cock was hard, red and leaking against his stomach.
Surely, Binghe would soon notice. Shen Yuan needed his touch, needed the pressure of his fingers.
Several moments passed, and Binghe still continued to trace his tongue everywhere except the place where Shen Yuan yearned for it most.
“Binghe,” he cried out, frustrated. “I’m hard. I need—”
Shen Yuan lifted his hips, desperate.
Luckily, Binghe received the message loud and clear. His cool fingertips wrapped Shen Yuan’s cock in a tight grip, and Shen Yuan whimpered as his thumb swiped across the drooling tip.
Binghe leaned forward and whispered into Shen Yuan’s ear, “Thrust into my hand, Yuan-ge. It will feel even better.”
Mindless, Shen Yuan followed the instruction, his hips rising and falling in a frantic rhythm.
Pleasure flooded through him, feeding the flames of the fever.
Binghe slid his hand up and down Shen Yuan’s cock, meeting his frenzied thrusts with practiced ease.
Sweat beaded on Shen Yuan’s forehead. Everything was warm, so utterly hot.
Shen Yuan squirmed against the pillows, panting, and then Binghe twisted his fingers in some devilish way that stole the breath from his lungs.
Eyes blurry, Shen Yuan watched as his cock twitched pathetically in Binghe’s grip, flushed and greedy.
Every part of him was hungry for Binghe’s touch.
Lying there, moaning into the blankets, a delirious thought crossed his mind—the moments where Binghe was not touching him in some way were worthless. Absolutely useless.
“Good,” he said, breathless. “You’re so good, Binghe.”
Binghe’s hand stuttered. His movements screeched to a halt.
“I’m—” he said in a shuddering exhale. Like he couldn’t quite believe what he’d heard. “I’m good?”
“Yes,” Shen Yuan gasped, eager for more. “You are.”
Binghe blinked.
Once.
Twice.
Then, he proceeded to ruin Shen Yuan, once again wrapping his fingers in a tight circle around his cock and tugging.
Each rough pull drew whines from Shen Yuan’s throat, and his body helplessly followed the aching press of Binghe’s skilled hand.
“J-just like that,” he said, shuddering. “Perfect.”
As if spurred on by the compliment, Binghe cruelly teased the head of Shen Yuan’s cock.
“This one is grateful to receive such praise. He hopes he can continue to perform well for Yuan-ge.”
Binghe was perhaps performing too well. Shen Yuan rutted helplessly into his grip, warmth building inside him with each stroke.
He trembled, lips parting in a wet gasp as he drew closer and closer to the edge.
Desire swelled within him, threatening to overflow. He wanted—no, he needed to—
“Come. I need to come, Binghe.”
Shen Yuan’s hips jerked upward one final time, and Binghe lowered his head to whisper against his skin, breath hot, “Please. Come for me, Yuan-ge.”
With a high whimper, Shen Yuan came, spilling over onto Binghe’s fingers. For a brief, wonderful moment, the ache inside him was sated.
Spent, he relaxed into the sheets, knowing his reprieve would be short-lived. With eyes threatening to close, Shen Yuan watched as Binghe… lifted slick fingers to his mouth.
Was he about to—?
Binghe’s tongue peeked out from between his lips—a sudden flash of pink. Distantly, Shen Yuan wondered what it would feel like sliding into his mouth.
Soft, probably. Binghe’s tongue would feel soft.
Shen Yuan wanted, suddenly.
Above him, Binghe smiled and slid his fingers past his lips. Gaze never leaving Shen Yuan, he closed his mouth around the slick digits and sucked.
“It’s a waste not to cherish what Yuan-ge worked so hard to give me,” he explained, punching the air from Shen Yuan’s lungs.
Shen Yuan laid beneath him, frozen.
In his heat-addled mind, a possessive, long-buried instinct inside him woke up and took notice.
An alpha was before him. An alpha that was willingly indulging in the most intimate form of scent-marking. Shen Yuan couldn’t let this opportunity slip away. He had to spread his scent even further—had to claim this alpha as his own.
As if possessed, he said, “Lick me clean, Binghe,” and then grasped at Binghe’s head to guide him down to his spent cock, to his slick.
Binghe’s hair was so soft. It deserved gentle fingers running through it, and—if Binghe was extra good—it might receive a nice pull, too.
As this particular thought ran through Shen Yuan’s mind, his fingers instinctively tightened in Binghe’s curls. Almost on cue, Binghe whined. It was a low, needy noise.
Well. Perhaps Binghe did like a bit of rough treatment, then.
Hovering between Shen Yuan’s legs as his tongue swiped across sticky skin, Binghe glanced up, eyes wide and pupils blown black. Shen Yuan felt faint tremors against his palm. Was Binghe… shaking?
Oh, this wolfishly sweet alpha…
Gentle heat pulsed inside Shen Yuan’s heart. Suddenly, he understood.
“You just want to please me, don’t you, Binghe?” he murmured, stroking Binghe’s cheek.
Binghe nodded—a tiny jerk of a motion. His eyes shined with something small and vulnerable, and Shen Yuan, half-delirious from heat-fever, wanted to wrap him up in his arms and cuddle him to his chest, breathing in each other’s scents until the anxiousness faded away forever.
For now, gentle words spilled from his lips. He did not know where they came from; he had never had such an impulse to instruct—to direct—someone like this.
Binghe stared up at him with utter devotion, and something tugged and unspooled within Shen Yuan’s chest.
“Y-you’re a sweet little alpha, aren’t you?” he asked, not expecting a real answer. Still, Binghe whimpered, soft and hopeful.
“Hungry for reassurance and guidance, hm? So eager to provide care for me…”
“Yes,” came a soft whisper. “I—this one wants to be good. Good for Yuan-ge.”
Shen Yuan hummed. The heat inside him was building once again.
“You are,” he said, voice firm. “You are good, Binghe. You’ve already done so well.”
Binghe blinked, slow. With a quiet whine, tears fell from his eyes.
Oh dear.
It might have been Shen Yuan’s heat-brain taking over, but to him, Binghe looked utterly beautiful with salty tears running down his face and a red flush to his skin.
Shen Yuan swiped a stray tear away, and Binghe’s gaze grew a bit glazed.
Hm, not quite the time to drift away, Binghe. This impatient omega was still in the middle of his heat, after all!
“Binghe,” Shen Yuan said, and Binghe snapped to attention.
“If you want to please me further, then I have three instructions for you.” He patted the top of Binghe’s head, rewarding him for his attentiveness with a tender touch.
“First, I’d like a kiss. Then—” Shen Yuan inhaled a gulp of air. “I’d like you inside me.”
Binghe’s eyes gleamed. Within the space of a single breath, he sat up and crawled close, tongue flickering out to wet his lips.
“And the third command?” he asked. His nose brushed the skin at Shen Yuan’s throat. “What is Yuan-ge’s last direction for me?”
Shen Yuan swallowed. This particular instruction was… difficult to say out loud. Yet, it was wholly necessary.
Banishing shame from his mind, Shen Yuan said, “Knot me. Please, Binghe.”
Binghe went still. His lips parted, and Shen Yuan desperately wanted to take them between his teeth and bite.
Binghe probably tasted so sweet. That sweetness would surely soothe the burn, wouldn’t it?
Need rushing through him like a siren song, Shen Yuan leaned close, guiding himself to Binghe’s lips. A hand crept up to grasp the back of his neck—a balm on his fiery skin.
With a small intake of breath, Shen Yuan fitted their mouths together. The first touch was electric, but Shen Yuan wanted more. Wanted as much as Binghe would let him have.
“Need to… taste you,” he said, feverish.
Wild with hunger, he sucked and nipped at the seam of Binghe’s lips. Binghe responded with equal enthusiasm, licking into Shen Yuan’s mouth.
Their tongues slid together, and an overwhelming sense of rightness surged up within Shen Yuan. Everything was hot and slick, and a blanket of fog drifted over the world.
This was where he needed to always be—kissing and licking into Binghe’s sweet mouth. A quiet moan fell from his throat, and Binghe swallowed the sound with the insistent press of his lips.
Drawing back for a breathless moment, Binghe nuzzled into the crook of Shen Yuan’s neck. As if he couldn’t help himself, he swiped his tongue across the bare skin.
Shen Yuan arched into the soft caress, grasping weakly at the sheets. Fresh wetness pooled between his legs.
God, he wondered if Binghe could smell—
“Yuan-ge’s scent just got stronger. Are you preparing yourself for me?” whispered Binghe, pressing a bruising kiss to Shen Yuan’s lips.
Well, that certainly confirmed it.
Binghe knew.
Shen Yuan squeezed his eyes shut in an attempt to avoid Binghe’s gaze. Biology was far too humiliating, sometimes!
“It’s alright,” Binghe said, soothing him. “Yuan-ge smells so nice. This one is privileged to be able to sense his arousal.”
After hearing that explicit (and embarrassing) statement, Shen Yuan choked out a garbled mess of syllables.
Far too eager to please, weak to praise, and a bit devilish upon occasion… Binghe was dangerous!
Yet, undeniable lust pooled deep in the pit of Shen Yuan’s stomach as Binghe removed his shirt to reveal a chiseled expanse of skin. It wouldn’t be so bad, would it, to reach out and touch—
Shen Yuan stroked a hand across Binghe’s chest. The mad pulse of a beating heart greeted him. Hunger pressed down against his skin.
Binghe desired him. That was evident.
Shen Yuan, too, ached for him. A ravenous beast crawled inside his chest, clamoring for more, threatening to corrupt everything in its path. Driven mindless with need, he wanted to let it demand—let it take.
Binghe would welcome such depravity. Shen Yuan was certain.
“I want to see all of Binghe,” he breathed. “Please, show me.”
Above him, Binghe sucked in a sharp breath. Beautifully obedient, he tore off the rest of his clothes in one fell swoop, leaving his skin entirely bare.
Shen Yuan swallowed. His gaze traveled down Binghe’s body, stopping at—
Oh.
Binghe was… extremely well-endowed.
Absently, Shen Yuan licked his lips and his half-feral heat-brain hummed with an insistent chant of need, claim, yours. He wanted Binghe inside him. He’d surely fill Shen Yuan up so well—
“Binghe,” said Shen Yuan, voice wavering.
He closed his eyes, let all propriety leave him, and blurted out, “Fuck me. Fill me up like you’ve promised.”
Binghe growled, a sound that echoed the wild song of hunger pulsing through Shen Yuan’s veins. He and Binghe were alike—two beasts driven savage with need.
“As Yuan-ge wishes,” came the rough whisper against his throat before two fingers slipped inside of him.
It was not enough.
It was all he’d ever wanted.
Shen Yuan clenched around the intrusion, not to force the digits out, but to instead keep them inside. He wanted them, craved them, ached for more of them—
A string of high whimpers left his throat as Binghe thrusted his fingers inside in short gasps of movement. Shen Yuan’s traitorous hips lifted and stuttered forward, greedy for touch and pressure.
“Yuan-ge is swallowing my fingers so nicely,” Binghe said, shameless.
Shen Yuan shoved his face into the pillow.
No need to narrate something so indecent, Binghe! Let this omega save some face, please…
Adding to Shen Yuan’s embarrassment, more slick began to drip down his thighs. Binghe slipped another finger inside him. Shen Yuan gratefully accepted it.
Heat licked across his skin. He was close—so close—to what he needed.
Shen Yuan cried out with a particularly well-placed twist of Binghe’s fingers. Trembling, he writhed against the sheets, mouth open and panting.
This was good—perfect, even. Shen Yuan could happily spend an eternity with the slow, rough slide of three fingers inside him. Yet, the hunger inside Shen Yuan demanded to be satisfied, and Binghe’s fingers alone would simply not do.
So, he gave Binghe an instruction he could not ignore. Well, a command, really:
“Get inside me. Now.”
Binghe shuddered. Shen Yuan could hear the frantic pulse of his heartbeat, the low rumble of satisfaction in his throat.
One last order to entice him, then.
“Be a good alpha for your Yuan-ge, Binghe.”
As soon as the words left Shen Yuan’s mouth, Binghe gripped the underside of his thighs and spread his legs open, hoisting them onto his shoulders. Producing a condom from some magical place, he rolled it onto himself.
“This one will be good,” he confirmed, words a dark promise. “Will be the best.”
Shen Yuan whined, clutching the bedsheets in a tight grip. With this sort of enthusiasm, Binghe would certainly live up to such a promise.
Licking his lips, he coaxed Binghe forward, wrapping his arms around his neck.
With carefulness, Binghe finally, finally guided his cock to Shen Yuan’s hole and pressed inside. The tight ring of muscle relaxed, and Shen Yuan whimpered at the overwhelming pressure. Binghe was so big.
His body craved the fullness.
Once fully inside, Binghe stilled. Shen Yuan shuddered. He didn’t want to resort to begging, but…
“Please. Be a good boy.”
Binghe drove his hips forward in a sudden rush, punching the breath from Shen Yuan. He pulled out until just the tip of his cock was left, leaving Shen Yuan gasping, and then thrusted inside once more.
A whine ripped itself from Shen Yuan’s throat. Drool leaked from his mouth, but he paid it no mind. All he could focus on was the hot slide of Binghe inside him.
“You’re f-filling me up so well, Binghe,” he said. He couldn’t help himself. It was true, so Binghe deserved to hear it.
Binghe growled in response—a low, vibrating sound. Shen Yuan trembled.
Binghe rocked inside and out in a steady rhythm. High pants and the wet squelch of slick echoed through the room. Shen Yuan twisted into the sheets.
With a series of well-delivered thrusts, Binghe drew gasps from Shen Yuan’s throat. Heat rushed up, threatening to overwhelm him.
“Does Yuan-ge like this?” Binghe asked, stroking a free hand up Shen Yuan’s forgotten cock.
“Yes,” Shen Yuan said. He could not lie. He arched upward into Binghe’s grip.
“Does Yuan-ge want more?”
Such a silly alpha! Could he not clearly see just how much Shen Yuan wanted more? Was he taunting him?
Still, Shen Yuan played along. “Yes. Give me more, Binghe.”
With that, Binghe’s rhythm grew rougher, more frantic. Bolts of pleasure swept through Shen Yuan’s body with every rise and fall of his hips.
Feral with need, he wanted to stay there forever—Binghe above him, eager to please, filling him up just as he’d asked.
Instinctively, Shen Yuan bared his throat, and Binghe lowered his head to suck at the skin. It felt like a claim. It felt like Binghe wanted to be his.
Shen Yuan needed to keep Binghe inside him for an eternity. That was the only way they’d both be satisfied.
Luckily, there was a way to keep Binghe inside him—at least, for a little while.
“Need—” he cried out, driven half-mindless with pleasure. “Need Binghe to knot me. Now.”
With a choked-off gasp, Binghe thrust inside one final time and stayed there, body pressed almost completely against Shen Yuan. A slow pressure built, almost unnoticeable, until Shen Yuan could feel Binghe swelling inside him.
He whimpered, clenching around Binghe’s cock. Pleasant warmth settled against his skin, chanting an insistent chorus of right, right, right.
Above him, Binghe trembled. Weak whines spilled from his throat mixed with small, needy murmurs of “Yuan-ge, Yuan-ge…”
Helpless around Binghe’s knot, Shen Yuan, too, felt like he’d been cracked and spilled open. His hips listed forward uselessly, and his hands grasped at anything he could get a hold of—Binghe’s hair, his bicep, his waist.
“S-so good,” Shen Yuan said. “Needed this. Needed you, Binghe.”
Binghe rolled his hips in tiny, stuttered thrusts—pressing his knot ever so faintly against Shen Yuan’s prostate. Electricity shot up Shen Yuan’s spine, and he writhed against the sheets.
“Do—do you like this one’s knot?” Binghe asked.
Although it was surely impossible, Binghe’s knot seemed to grow slightly larger, punctuating his question. Shen Yuan’s body shook.
“Yes,” he said, voice wavering. He felt mindless, like a kite cut loose from its string. “Binghe is filling me up so well.”
He and Binghe were pressed so close together. It made Shen Yuan feel whole, soothed his need until it was manageable again.
“Yuan-ge, I—” Binghe gasped. “May this one come inside you?”
Oh dear. That sounded perfect. Binghe might currently be wearing protection, but just the thought of—
“Yes, Binghe may come.”
As if a string had held him tight and Shen Yuan’s command had finally unspooled it, Binghe shuddered apart above him. His mouth fell open with a loud moan. Shen Yuan watched, captivated.
Warmth filled him as he felt Binghe begin to tremble inside him, spilling into the condom. Breathing heavy, Shen Yuan’s cock twitched, and with a whimper of his own, he too fell apart, releasing onto his stomach.
He felt ruined. He felt alive.
Binghe collapsed on top of him, curling strong arms around his waist and murmuring soft sounds into his ears.
Wholly sated, Shen Yuan never wanted to escape the safe weight of Binghe above him. After several moments filled only with the sound of their breathing, Shen Yuan pressed a kiss to the top of Binghe's head. Binghe made a weak noise of acknowledgement and burrowed into the hollow of Shen Yuan's shoulder.
Such a sweet, silly boy...
Shen Yuan smiled, sliding his fingers through Binghe's curls.
Something possessive wound its way inside his heart as he laid underneath the sheets, Binghe wrapped around him like he belonged there.
Eventually, Binghe would have to leave him, but Shen Yuan—
He was wholly unprepared for what he sort of mess he would become in the wake of Binghe. Now that he'd had such a perfect taste.
—
The next few days passed in a blur of hunger, warmth, and comfort.
Although he still almost shuddered apart each time he pressed inside Shen Yuan, Binghe knotted him as many times as he asked. Such dedication was utterly charming. The itch underneath Shen Yuan’s skin appreciated it, too.
As the hours slipped by, realization built inside Shen Yuan’s mind—Binghe truly was a perfect alpha.
Surely, Shen Yuan wasn’t the only one who’d had such a thought? Binghe probably had hundreds of customers lined up, begging for his services each month.
Shen Yuan was simply one of many. An unremarkable omega desperate to be cared for. Binghe, sweet alpha that he was, was only doing his job. Nothing more.
During gaps in the worst of the heat, Binghe fed Shen Yuan an array of dishes that could easily appear on the covers of culinary magazines. Perfectly-spiced curries, fresh stews, flavorful grilled meats—Shen Yuan felt utterly spoiled.
He devoured each morsel with enthusiasm and made sure to compliment Binghe on his excellent efforts. Binghe always flushed such a pretty shade of red—even when all Shen Yuan said was a simple “good boy.”
Wouldn’t it be nice if he could keep Binghe for himself?
He’d give him as many head-pats as he liked. As many praises as he whined for. They could fall asleep together in Shen Yuan’s soft bed and wake up in the morning together, snug and warm. Binghe could prepare all the special cuisines he wanted, too, and Shen Yuan would gladly eat them…
Shen Yuan yearned. It was far too much to presume, though, that Binghe could—possibly—feel the same. They’d only spent a few days together, after all.
So why did being with Binghe feel so right?
As the last stirrings of heat faded, Shen Yuan’s mind grew clearer. Yet, the longing for Binghe did not disappear.
He laid in bed, Binghe curled beside him. Shame welled up in the pit of his stomach. Who was he to try and insert himself in Binghe’s private life after hiring him as a heat-companion? Binghe did not deserve such impropriety.
The best thing to do—obviously—was to ignore the heaviness that had settled in his heart, inform Binghe that his heat was over, and then let Binghe pack up his things and leave his life for good.
Yes. That was appropriate.
“Binghe,” he whispered, tamping down the ache inside himself. “My heat is over now.”
Binghe lifted his head from the pillow. He let out a soft, questioning sound.
“Yuan-ge’s heat… is finished?”
Shen Yuan nodded. “Yes,” he said. “Thank you for all your help, Binghe. You’ve done so well.”
Binghe stared at him with gentle eyes. “Yuan-ge deserved to feel comfortable during his heat. This one was happy to be of service.”
His gaze was so tender that Shen Yuan forced himself to look away.
There was no reason to stare so sweetly at this pitiful omega, Binghe! You were going to be off the clock soon, anyway. No need to pretend…
Warring with himself, Shen Yuan crawled out of the sheets and stood up. His legs wobbled, and Binghe, shifting to the edge of the bed, reached out to steady him on reflex. His hands grasped Shen Yuan’s hips tightly.
Oh god. Binghe’s touch reignited the fire underneath Shen Yuan’s skin. This time, though, it was not an uncontrollable blaze. It was a simmer.
A simmer that he must smother, regardless.
He gripped Binghe’s fingers, removing them from their resting place on his hips. It was too much to feel the warmth from Binghe’s skin.
Stiffly, Shen Yuan said, “You should go home now, Binghe. You’ve done enough.”
Binghe snatched his hands back, curling them into the hollow of his chest as if he’d been burned. His eyes shuttered, face falling. He stared at his lap, refusing to look up at Shen Yuan.
Oh dear. Perhaps Shen Yuan should’ve eased him into it a little more.
Didn’t Binghe understand this was for his own good, though?
Several tense moments passed before Binghe spoke.
“Yuan-ge wants me to leave?” he asked, voice small.
Why was this a thousand times more painful that Shen Yuan had envisioned? Still, he had to finish what he’d started.
“Yes, I—I think it’s best for you to return home. I’ll walk you to the door after you gather your things.”
Like a dark cloud was resting over his head, Binghe raised himself from the bed, still staring resolutely at anywhere but Shen Yuan. He dressed mechanically. Shen Yuan stood there in the soft light of the room, watching him.
His chest hurt terribly.
Eventually, Binghe drifted into the kitchen and gathered up his pots and pans. Stuffing them into a large bag, he murmured dejectedly, “I’ve left several meals in the fridge for Yuan-ge as he recovers. However, Yuan-ge is free to dispose of the food if he wishes…”
Shen Yuan frowned. He would never throw out such delicious food! How could Binghe assume…
“I’ll eat it,” he reassured Binghe. “Binghe made it for me, after all.”
Binghe’s head lifted, suddenly. His eyes grew wide as he finally glanced up at Shen Yuan. His mouth opened as if was about to speak—
Overwhelmed, Shen Yuan turned away and began ushering Binghe to the door.
It was time to send Binghe back to those he truly wished to see. Shen Yuan couldn’t hoard him all to himself! No matter how much he secretly wished to.
Opening the door halfway, he nudged Binghe outside. Stubborn, Binghe took tiny steps forward.
When Binghe was almost across the threshold, Shen Yuan glanced at his face, and his breath caught in his throat.
His features were scrunched up in… despair? Tears leaked from his eyes, forming huge droplets of liquid that streaked down his cheeks.
Oh.
Oh no.
Perhaps Shen Yuan had interpreted this all wrong.
Did Binghe… truly want to—
“Stay.”
The word slipped out, instinctive.
Shen Yuan grasped the fabric of Binghe’s shirt, stopping him. His heart beat a frenetic rhythm in his chest.
“I—I don’t really want you to go, Binghe. Not at all. I’d like to k-keep you here, in fact. If only it was fair to everyone else who needs you.”
Binghe turned around, slow. His eyes were wholly vulnerable. Shen Yuan wanted to wrap him in a tight hug.
“You—want to keep me?” he asked. His lower lip wobbled. “This job is just part-time. I can—I can quit whenever, and Yuan-ge can have me as long as he wishes.”
Well, that certainly solved all of Shen Yuan’s concerns. Binghe was far too sweet.
Shen Yuan inched forward and stroked a careful hand across Binghe’s cheek.
“Stay, Binghe,” he repeated, smiling with relief. “For as long as you like. Forever’s okay, too, if that’s alright?”
Like a dam breaking, fresh tears welled up in Binghe’s eyes.
In a sweet, gentle whisper, he said, “Yes. I’d like that. Very much.”
To the delight of both of them, Shen Yuan tugged Binghe back inside and into his arms.
It was warm.
The best kind of warm.