68- Lets Start Over

Edwardo was broken from his musings by Essie running past him and out her doggie door to the yard, where she promptly squatted and did her business. He couldn't get her to leave Michael's side at all this morning, not even for breakfast, so if she was up that must mean…

Edwardo spun around to face the living room. Sure enough, there on the stairs was his very small house guest. The clothes he'd been dressed in last night were just as oversized as Edwardo remembered, with the borrowed drawstring shorts going well past Michael's knees and the shirt hanging loosely off one shoulder. Edwardo's heart skipped a beat. Michael was beautiful, even looking a bit hungover.

Michael stood awkwardly at the bottom of the stairs. Sultry music was playing, some kind of love song maybe? It was in Spanish, so he couldn't tell. The place was huge! The ceiling vaulted high above his head, and one of the walls was occupied by a fireplace with a huge television mounted above it. Hardwood floors, plush leather furniture, expensive-looking artwork… and a ton of natural light. The source of that light was an equally impressive glass atrium complete with a pool of all things! And framed in that natural light… was the most gorgeous man he'd ever seen, straddled on a weightlifting machine, in a tank top.

Michael tried to keep a straight face. It was perfect. It was all so perfect. Everything he'd ever dreamed about was right here. And he ruined it. He just knew he did.

Essie came running back inside and beelined straight for Michael, tail wagging happily. It helped break the tension. Edwardo stammered out a "good morning," which Michael responded to timidly. Michael wanted to leave. He hated awkward situations like this. The sooner he got his clothes back, the sooner he could go home, the sooner he could cry into his pillow. Edwardo turned the music off with a remote and made his way over to him. Michael was once again struck by their height difference. And his muscles, well they were every bit as impressive as Michael could have ever hoped.

Michael cut Edwardo off before he could have a chance to speak. "Look, I don't really remember what happened last night, but if you tell me where my clothes are I'll leave and promise not to bother you again."

Leave? Edwardo didn't want him to leave! He needed to apologise for last night… "Why don't we talk over some breakfast? How do you like your eggs?"

Michael allowed himself to be led to the kitchen, which was just as impressive as everything else he'd seen of the house. Granite countertops, marble floors, trendy spot lighting, expensive appliances… and the range was in an island right in the middle of it. Michael found himself sat on a barstool at that island, a steaming cup of fresh coffee in his hands, as his crush was busily preparing breakfast in front of him. Off to the side of the room, Essie was noisily eating her own breakfast from a customized raised food bowl stand. It was a wonderful setting, and Michael very firmly reminded himself how exceedingly temporary it was.

"So about your clothes," Edwardo began as he opened a pack of chorizo while waiting for the pans to heat up, "they won't be ready until this afternoon. They got very messy last night, so I had my valet take them to the dry cleaners. I figured it'd be a shame if they got ruined because of my stupid mistake."

"I don't even remember them getting messed up…" Michael sipped his coffee and rubbed his temples. They were still throbbing a little, and the lighting in here was just the tiniest bit too bright. "What exactly happened last night?"

"We shared about a third of a bottle of tequila and you almost puked on me as soon as we got home. You ended up passing out in the bathroom while I was helping you get cleaned up. I take full responsibility. The whole thing was entirely my fault."

Michael pillowed his head in his arms on the countertop. How embarrassing!

Edwardo went on, "Essie over there wouldn't leave your side the entire time. She pretty much cried and fussed until I got you in bed. I've never seen her act like that with anyone before. It was cute."

Michael peeked over at the dog. She must have finished her food, because after giving her bowl a thorough sniffing she made her way over and sat next to him, pushing his leg with her nose. He scratched her head and rubbed behind her ears. She really was a sweetheart. There was a sizzling noise as the cooking got underway. It smelled really good, and Michael's body decided maybe it was a little hungry after all. Essie laid down with a groan and a yawn at his feet.

"I'm sorry I was such a hassle," Michael apologized. "You can send me any cleaning bills…"

"Don't worry about any cleaning costs. I already said it was my fault. If I hadn't freaked out and grabbed the alcohol, none of it would have happened in the first place."

Michael thought hard, his mental gears squeaking against each other as they tried to move. He vaguely remembered trying to start something sexy last night, but wasn't that expected of all omegas around an alpha?

"Are you… always that forward?" Edwardo asked. "I mean, do you do things… like that… with a lot of people?"

Michael blushed bright red. Did that mean what he did was wrong? "I haven't done stuff like that with anyone before…" he mumbled. "If you can believe it, I've never had a partner that didn't come with batteries... or a suction cup. I guess I was trying to prove my worth, or something? Like… maybe you'd like me more if I was easy…? So… I tried something I saw in a porn video…"

He wanted to hide. Michael wanted to hide so bad! What the hell was he thinking? Why the hell did he try to have sex on the first date when Edwardo very clearly wasn't being receptive to it? Was he that desperate with all the shit going on for something good to happen that he was willing to ruin the start of something potentially very good? He ruined this. He totally ruined this before it even had a chance to be anything.

Edwardo minded the food as he absorbed what Michael said. It was hard to believe someone so attractive was still a virgin, especially as an omega. Michael's behavior last night, before the alcohol, screamed in every way that he knew exactly what he was doing. And then there was the way his own body was reacting to Michael's actions... He'd dreamt about Michael before, but his dreams last night swung to the erotic very quickly indeed, this time showing Michael with the correct anatomical accessories and well... He'd needed a clean pair of underwear this morning. He still had to wash the sheets.

"Can I make an honest confession to you?" Edwardo finally asked.

Michael looked over at him, raising an eyebrow in curiosity.

Edwardo took that as an assent. "I've never had sex with a man. I've never once thought about having sex with a man. And then I found out you were a man. And now all of a sudden I'm questioning what I thought I knew about myself. It's confusing, but exciting. I guess what I really need to know is, are you willing to wait for me to be ready?"

Was Michael hearing what he really thought he was hearing? "You mean, you want to keep dating me…?"

Edwardo plated up some food and passed it over. "Well, I have a feeling my dear Princessa Bonita Esperanza would go all mopey on me if she never got to see you again. I probably would too." He winked.

Michael's lower lip quivered and he wiped at his eyes. He was so sure he'd somehow messed everything up. But here was this wonderful, gorgeous hunk of man serving him homecooked breakfast in a super nice house. Edwardo was still interested in him, even after last night's disaster ending.

"Wait, did I say something wrong? Please don't cry!"

Michael sniffed and tucked into his food. It was delicious. "I'm sorry, it's just been a rough few weeks… What you said just made me really happy…"

Edwardo smiled tenderly and plated up his own portion before moving to sit next to Michael on the island. He rubbed Michael's back. "I may not be ready for sexual intimacy, but I've got a working pair of ears? I don't mind listening if you need to talk. Let's start this out on a different foot. My friends call me 'Eddie'."

"My friends call me 'Mick'."

Through breakfast Michael had a chance to tell him all about how his friend had gotten hurt at work, and all the hassle and stress that was coming with it. Edwardo listened intently. He didn't let on to it, but he was familiar with the story. The news studio he worked for had been trying to get an interview with the victim of that particular incident, considering it was sparking a social movement. He never thought Michael would be so closely involved with it.

He worried a little as to how he should handle the information. He basically just got an interview from an eyewitness. The studio would kill for that information. At the same time, he couldn't betray Michael's trust. No, he'd have to keep this confidential.

After eating, Edwardo brought out some imported spiced hot chocolate he saved for special occasions. They moved to the living room to continue their conversation on the couch. A press of a button on a remote, and Edwardo had the fireplace lit. Michael was planning to behave himself and sit quietly next to Edwardo, but Essie had other plans. She hopped up on the couch with them after retrieving a very chewed stuffed animal, and flopped up against Michael, pushing him over onto Edwardo's lap. Thankfully, their drinks were on the coffee table in front of them. Michael yelped in surprise, before stammering out an apology.

Edwardo chuckled, helping Michael sit back up. He kept an arm around Michael's shoulders, slyly using petting the dog as an excuse. He could get used to this.

"You know, it took her forever to trust me," Edwardo confessed. "I'm surprised she warmed up to you so quickly. She's normally terrified of strangers."

"Maybe she just has good taste in people? Or maybe, since she's almost as big as I am I'm not as scary to her?"

"I'm leaning more towards the first one."

Edwardo was still trying to sort out his feelings. Even now, his chest felt funny being so close to Michael. It was a good kind of funny, almost an addictive sensation. It was almost as addictive as Michael's smell. It made him want to scoop Michael up and never let him go. He already clearly had Essie's seal of approval, who was currently grinning her dopey canine grin with her toy in her mouth as Michael rubbed her belly, what more was there to ask for? He hadn't been around many omegas before, but this sensation was a first for him. What did it matter that they were both guys? Everything inside him right now was telling him how natural this was. Fated pairs were things of fairy tales, everyone knew that, but… If that wasn't what this was, what else could it be?