pretty please (with sugar on top) - larry stylinson

15

This time, Louis' commute to work was much more peaceful. Yesterday's drive was wrought with panic over his own awkwardness, but today was calm and almost a return to normal.

He still felt weird about leaving the omega alone in the house with nothing to do. It felt like leaving his family at home while he was supposed to be entertaining them. But work was important, of course, and he was sure Harry would survive the few hours until Louis' meetings were finished.

The morning had been nice. Despite Louis' protests, Harry woke up early with him and made breakfast. It was the best omelette Louis had ever eaten, probably because someone else cooked it for him. Food always tasted better when someone else made it. Not that Harry wasn't a good cook, because he totally had the talent and he was a million times more skilled in the kitchen than Louis was.

Harry was still the intimidatingly attractive omega Louis picked up from the airport two days ago, but now he had a certain depth to him that Louis just couldn't ignore. Their dinner conversations had proved Harry to be the most interesting person he'd ever met. It wasn't just his occupation—though Louis had never hosted a sugar baby before—but the mysteriousness and intrigue in how he chose to answer some questions about his life and glossed over others as if he expected Louis not to notice, that made him so captivating. He was skilled at the conversational diversions, too, and Louis only picked up on it because he was paying so much attention to him.

Obviously, it helped that Harry laughed at his jokes and seemed genuinely interested in getting to know Louis, for better or for worse. The alpha had to keep reminding himself that it was all for show. This was Harry's job, and he was damn good at making people feel like he cared about what they had to say. He'd set his elbow on the table, rest his chin on his palm, and give Louis that irresistible look with his big green eyes that said I'm listening. I care. Please, tell me more.

He would bite his plush bottom lip and play with his carefully arranged curls and stare at Louis from across the dinner table like he was the only alpha in the world. Louis felt it, he really did, and he applauded Harry for his skills. He was clearly good at his job. No doubt about it.

Whoever Harry's future mate was, was a lucky bastard. It wasn't even about physical qualities, although he was certainly easy on the eyes. It was that Harry was the most interesting person in the world, and he had all of these little thoughts he let slip out whenever Louis wasn't paying attention. He didn't look at reality the way other people did. He was so kind and thoughtful and had a new perspective to share on everything. He was intelligent and worldly without the accompanying pretentiousness so often found with educated and well-traveled people. He knew when to be serious, but more than that, he was silly and fun.

Somehow, despite all of the sexiness and seduction, he wasn't afraid to make a fool of himself. Which was the sexiest part about him. And that was saying something, considering Harry's long legs and also the fact that he could make even a conversation about the stock market sound interesting.

Louis wasn't used to living with someone who kept him so on edge all of the time. In fact, he wasn't used to living with anyone at all. His evenings off work usually consisted of a sad meal in front of the TV and an early bedtime because he had nothing better to do. The past two days were full of conversation and laughter. Louis obviously didn't know Harry very well yet, but he was learning.

Not to mention Louis' own inner alpha wolf was suddenly spastic after lying dormant for so long. It'd been months since he'd experienced more than a passing biological reaction to an omega stranger, and never had he felt these strange primal urges so strongly. Since Harry had arrived, his inner wolf was eager to jump in and take over, desperate to do something weird like scent mark Harry, or gather him up in his arms to make sure he was safe and sound. It was the desire to protect, to care for the sweet omega his inner wolf was sure "depended" on him. It was stupid, a heedless drive that was out of place in modern society.

Harry obviously didn't depend on him. Sure, Louis was offering him a place to stay, but that didn't mean he was without other options. It was just that the innate, wolflike part of Louis saw the prettiest omega and immediately thought I need to take care of you. I need to keep you warm and safe. I need to, like, kiss you and make you happy and play with your hair.

Louis' fingers itched with the urge to play with Harry's hair. It was so pretty and soft-looking, his curls resting just above his shoulders. Even this morning, when it was sleep-messy and tangled, and he tucked it behind his ear while he helped Louis with his sudoku puzzle. They were sitting close enough that Louis could smell his shampoo, and it smelled like apples. Louis usually hated scented products because they bothered his hypersensitive nose, and yet this didn't bother him at all.

And god, Harry's scent. His natural scent, mixed in with the fancy products he used and the sea salt in the air. It was everywhere. Louis could only pretend not to notice it for so long. Wrapped up in his bed, clinging to his clothes, wafting down the hall... It caressed Louis' skin, tickled his nose, and invited him to come closer at any waking moment. To take a deeper breath, to really inhale. His inner wolf was begging him to press his face into the crook of the omega's neck and breathe him in until they weren't strangers anymore.

Smelling someone without their permission was rude, though, and Louis was a polite alpha if anything. He settled for catching a whiff every so often and trying not to actually salivate like a dog.

It made him smile to think that Harry was at home, falling back asleep in Louis' bed. It made him feel warm and satisfied inside to know the omega was enjoying himself and relaxed enough to take advantage of a morning off. They'd made plans for the afternoon and Louis was still trying to decide what he wanted to show Harry.

During the downtime in his meetings, he researched a few places on his laptop and created a mental list of possible activities he thought the omega might enjoy. There were a lot of options, but he was worried they would choose something that wasn't up to the standards of luxury Harry was used to. If anything, he was determined to give him a really good week in Florida.