At First Blush

Chapter 19

CW: Offensive language towards Omegas that can be considered homophobic

"Julian!"

Julian squinted into the pulsing club lights, searching for the owner of the voice. Finally, his gaze was pulled by the crazed waving, and he had to grin. Les may look like a bad boy model now, but he was still the same over exuberant puppy of an Alpha he'd been years ago.

Julian worked his way through the crowd to the table where Les was practically on the tabletop trying to get his attention. A slim, bookish man watched him with amusement, sipping his drink. His pale gold/silver hair was a beacon in the club lights, and he lounged on the crush velvet booth seat with studied grace.

He was almost the complete opposite of the tiny, lithe waif who was tugging uselessly on Les's sleeve, his face flaming red, almost as red as his hair. Everything about that cherry was wound tighter than a Swiss watch, and Julian almost felt bad for him.

He reached the table and was engulfed in Les's arms, picked up clear off his feet. He buried his face in Les's neck, and inhaled. God, Alphas smelled so good.

But, strangely, the tingling warmth of Alpha scent didn't go straight to his cock. It stopped around his stomach and didn't budge. That was both concerning and a relief. He took pride in his slutty behavior, but for God's sake, he probably still had drops of Ollie's Slick on his jeans.

When Les pulled away, Julian suddenly panicked that perhaps the two and a half showers hadn't been enough to wash off the insanely potent scent of Omega sex. Les's gaze swept over his face, brows creasing in concern. "Julian, where's Adam?" He asked, his tone far too measured.

Julian relaxed a little. Good. Okay. This is good. Well, not really. He cleared his throat. "Um, some doctor's conference. He's out of state until next week. He sprung it on me this morning."

Les's brows snapped together in a frown, and Julian knew that Adam wasn't fooling anyone. He could still remember the conversation that had happened after Julian had come home from his Temptations appointment.

He and Les had talked for hours, just watching movies and eating way too much junk food. It'd been about one in the morning before he had staggered back into the apartment. Adam had still been awake, nursing a coffee, reading a book on the couch.

Julian had gone over to drape all over him, just to be obnoxious, but Adam had instantly sat bolt upright, his eyes widening, his skin icy pale under his tan.

"Julian, why do you smell like Les?" He'd demanded sharply.

Julian had been shocked that A) Adam apparently still knew Les's scent so intimately he recognized it immediately, even after all these years, and B) that he was so upset.

He held his hands up. "He was the companion apparently. Angel."

At that, Adam's entire body had deflated, and he had sunk so solidly into the couch they'd probably need a crowbar to peel him back off. "I see. I don't know why I thought..." he cleared his throat. "Anyway, how was he? How is he?"

"Sexy as hell, and still has horrible taste in horror movies. I couldn't sleep with him," Julian admitted, leaning against the chair that was adjacent to the sofa. Adam's head had whipped up at that. Julian smiled ruefully. "This thing with Ollie has fucked my head up too much."

Adam had nodded slowly, and the resulting silence was so oppressing that Julian almost couldn't breathe. He saw a lot less of Adam after that. And now this morning, with the sudden conference, after Julian had told him that he was meeting Les for drinks.

He reached out, grasping Les's shoulder tightly. "I don't know what happened, but I do know that if anyone can figure it out, it's you two. Now, who are your friends?" He smiled encouragingly.