When June kissed December (Completed)

Chapter 8

"May I come in?"

"Sure, come in, Pete."

Fragile smiles at breakfast — they reflect the intimate moment of that evening. Then, everyone starts their routine: Vegas — his work, and Pete — his online classes. An hour before lunch, the omega finds himself standing in front of the slightly open door of a study that looks more like a home library. Seeing him, the alpha closes the folder with documents and invites to sit down.

"If you're busy, I won't bother you," Pete is still holding on to the edge of the door.

"I've already finished."

Pete nods and walks over to the table and sits down opposite Vegas. Actually, he had only glimpsed this room on a house-tour. And now he has the opportunity to look at it better.

High, almost up to the ceiling, bookshelves — one of them even has a ladder nearby. Vegas' table in an intricate retro style. The presence of modern gadgets on it creates an amazing contrast. Pete notices how Vegas, who has been following his curiosity for a long time, suddenly looks away abruptly as soon as the omega turns his gaze to him.

What's wrong again?.. Everything was fine... or was that evening over and the charms gradually faded?

Pete gathers up the courage and asks:

"Excuse me... But what happened to you?"

Vegas looks timidly at him:

"Eh?"

"Well... I'm talking about the face. And the hands... was there a horrible fire?"

Vegas exhales noisily. Pete even thinks that he hears not the rustle of breathing, but a hoarse sob.

"So to say..." the alpha adjusts the cuffs on the long sleeve of a marsh—colored satin shirt, "in fact, these are well-deserved scars, Pete."

"How can it be?"

Vegas circles his lower lip with the tip of his tongue, then smiles indulgently:

"Not all at once, Pete... try to understand me."

Pete shrugs:

"Uh, good. I won't insist on... If you don't like my questions, I won't ask them. I told you that I like to get to the truth, but I know the boundaries... and I won't do something that upsets you."

"It's not that, Pete, it's just," Vegas stands up from his seat and walks over to the window, "like one part of me wants you to know more about me... But another part of me wants to protect you from the first one. And I can't tell you anything else... yet."

Pete isn't sure how he should react. But doesn't he realize that by saying that, he's only fueling my curiosity? And yet the omega decides not to eat his words:

"You don't have to do things that make you feel insecure. The way I've seen you over the past weeks is enough for me."

Vegas turns around. And again, as then in the restaurant, Pete reads in his eyes a tender gratitude, but with a touch of longing. And Pete would really like to dispel it.

The day goes according to the usual scenario. Later, they cross paths a couple of times for lunch and dinner. Pete is just about to go up to his room when he hears:

"May we take a walk around the estate?"

"Why not," the omega nods eagerly.

Vegas opens the door for him and gently lets him first, but Macau rushes past his legs on four paws, deftly climbing up Vegas' hip and back onto the alpha's shoulder.