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A smile formed on Sage's face when Alessandro mentioned doing this every day. "Might have to take you up on that offer," he admitted with a soft chuckle. It did feel wonderful....and while he knew most of the time if he was just showering it wouldn't really be logical or very easy to do, but if he was taking a bath like this...well, he might have to have him do it then. He listened to Alessandro talk, nearly choking up as he did so. He was quiet for a few moments before he murmured a soft "thank you," to him, just the thought of how much he had to mean to him in order to think of that in the heat of the moment. To hold off with everything happening. He reached for the hand that had found its way to his chest, wrapping his own hand around it gently, thinking. "And is my mind clear enough for you now," he asked, looking back up at him with a cocked head. The fever was still lingering, of course, but his mind was clear. He knew that. "Because if you'll take my word now...I'm giving you permission," he added, offering him a soft smile. "Claim me. I'm yours already....you just need to make it official." |
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Alessandro’s breath caught the instant the words left Sage’s lips—soft, steady, utterly lucid despite the lingering warmth of the water and the faint fever flush on his cheeks. Claim me. I’m yours already. His hand flexed against Sage’s chest, fingers splaying over the rapid thud of his heart, as if to steady them both. The air in the steamy bathroom felt suddenly thicker, charged with something ancient and irreversible. Alessandro had imagined this moment a hundred times since Sage’s heat began—had fought every primal urge to sink his teeth into that elegant neck and mark him while Sage was lost to instinct—but never like this. Not with Sage looking back at him, eyes clear and unguarded, offering it freely. He leaned forward slowly, water shifting around them, until his forehead rested gently against Sage’s temple. His voice came out rough, almost reverent. “You’re sure,” he murmured, not a question but a final check, a vow to himself as much as to Sage. “Completely sure. Because once I do this, tesoro… there’s no undoing it. You’ll carry my mark. My scent. Me. Forever.” Sage’s hand tightened around his, warm and certain, and Alessandro felt the last thread of restraint snap—not in a rush of lust, but in a wave of something deeper, humbling. He shifted, turning Sage carefully in the water so they faced each other fully. One hand cupped the back of Sage’s damp neck, thumb stroking over the spot just below his ear where the gland pulsed, ripe and ready. The other arm locked around Sage’s waist, pulling him flush against his chest until there was no space left between them. “Look at me,” Alessandro whispered, waiting until those dark, trusting eyes met his. “You’re already mine in every way that matters. But this…” He brushed his lips over the tender skin of Sage’s throat, feeling the shiver that ran through him. “This makes it eternal.” He let his fangs extend just enough—sharp, careful—and pressed a slow, open-mouthed kiss to the spot first, savoring the way Sage’s breath hitched, the way his body arched instinctively into the promise. Then, with deliberate tenderness, Alessandro bit down. The moment his teeth broke skin, Sage’s entire body tensed, a soft cry escaping him—half pain, half relief—as Alessandro’s alpha venom flooded the bond. Heat and possession and fierce, unwavering devotion poured through the new mark, sealing them together in a way words never could. Alessandro growled low against his neck, licking gently over the wound to soothe it, tasting copper and salt and the sweet essence that was purely Sage. When he finally pulled back, the mark was already blooming—two perfect crescents, dark and claiming against pale skin. Alessandro pressed his forehead to Sage’s again, both of them breathing hard, hearts hammering in tandem. “Mine,” he whispered against Sage’s lips, voice raw with emotion. “And I’m yours, amore. Always.” He held Sage tighter, letting the water cradle them both as the bond settled deep in his bones—complete, unbreakable, perfect. |
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Sage had known alessandro would heasitate. Make one hundred percent sure he was in his right mind, that he knew what he was asking for. It made somethunloom in his chest, something warm and all together quite lovely. He gave him a small nod, a soft smile. "I know," he noted softly. "I think....I think I've been yours from the second I met you," he added with a soft chuckle. Even at the bar, his presence had intrigued him, more than he'd admitted to himself. When alessandro finally agreed, tugging him towards him, he felt his face flush, heart hammering in anticipation. The thumb stroke only made his breath hitch, body knowing exactly what was coming. He met Alessandros gaze openly, eyes glistening with fondness and something more. Something deeper. He closed his eyes when the kisses were placed along his neck though, tilting his head to the side when he felt alessandros lips press against his gland, a shudder running through his body. The initial bite did hurt a little bit....he'd broken skin after all....but that was quickly overcome by a different feeling. He wasn't quite sure how to describe it, but it was good. Very good. Faint tremors still ran though his body as alessandro pulled back, licking the blood off the new wound, his body absorbing Alessandros venom and taking it into his very being. When they finally slowed, and then stopped, he opened his eyes again, a wide grin on his face. A soft chuckle escaping his lips. He'd held alessandro tightly, pressing a soft kiss to his shoulder where he'd been pulled right against him. "Always," he repeated. It was more than just a simple word....it was a vow. A promise. Something he'd carry with him for the rest of his life. He did pull back slightly after a moment or so to peer back up at alessandro though, smile still lingering on his face. "Let's get me back to bed, yeah," he suggested. "I don't know how much longer we have until the next wave hits," he added gently, letting alessandro help him up and out of the tub once he'd agreed, soon enough settled down in the bed again, clean and content, wrapped up in a warm blanket with alessandro beside him. He didn't think it got any better than this. |
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Alessandro’s chest tightened with a fierce, quiet pride as he watched Sage’s eyes flutter open, that wide, radiant grin lighting up his flushed face like he’d just been handed the world. The fresh claiming mark on his neck—raw and glistening faintly with Alessandro’s saliva—stood out against his pale skin, a permanent brand that screamed mine to any alpha who dared look. Sage’s soft “Always” still echoed in his ears, a vow that settled deep in his bones, binding them tighter than any knot ever could. He’d carried Sage from the tub without a word, drying him with slow, reverent strokes of the towel, stealing kisses every time their eyes met. Now, tucked back into bed, Sage was wrapped in a thick blanket and curled against his side—warm, sated, and smelling unmistakably of Alessandro. Perfect. Utterly perfect. Alessandro traced lazy circles over the new mark with his thumb, feeling the faint thrum of his own venom beneath the skin, and let a low, satisfied hum rumble in his chest. Sage’s heat would surge again soon; he could already taste the faint shift in his scent, but for now there was this quiet, precious lull. He tilted Sage’s chin up gently, dark eyes searching that fond, sleepy gaze before brushing a soft kiss to his lips. “Next week,” he murmured, voice low and velvet, “there’s a charity auction downtown. Black-tie, old money, all the families pretending to be civilized for one night.” A faint smirk tugged at the corner of his mouth. “I want you on my arm, amore. Want every bastard in that room to see how breathtaking you look. You can even choose the design, preferably collar high enough to hide this pretty new mark from their greedy eyes, but low enough that they’ll know exactly what it means.” His thumb stroked along Sage’s jaw, possessive and tender all at once. “I want to show you off—my beautiful omega, clever and charming, making them all wonder how the hell I convinced someone so perfect to stay with me. And at the same time…” His voice dropped, rough with raw want. “I want to keep you hidden just enough that no one else gets to see how cute you are when you blush, or how your eyes light up when you laugh at something only I understand. That’s mine. All of it.” He leaned in, lips brushing the shell of Sage’s ear. “Come with me, amore. Let me parade you around like the treasure you are, then bring you home and peel that suit off you piece by piece while you’re still buzzing from how many people wished they were me.” Alessandro pulled back just enough to meet his eyes again, the question hanging warm and expectant between them, his hand never leaving Sage’s skin. “Say yes, Sage. Be mine in front of the whole damn city.” |
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Sage had been content to let alessandro dry him off, help him get dressed. The other man was enjoying caring for him, and he had to admit he did like the idea of being coddled like this every time he went into heat. It was new to him, but ... alessandro made a time he'd always dreamed somehow seem enjoyable. For the most part anyway. He still hated how vulnerable it made him, how easily he could lose control. But he trusted alessandro. So even that wasn't so bad as long as he was in his arms. When alessandro spoke up, mentioning the auction, his eyes light up with curiousity. He listened to the other man talk, an amused smile appearing on his lips. "Show me off, huh," he mused softly, teasing him just slightly. "I think it would be fun," he chirped, nodding in agreement. "I do believe you're required to buy me something nice though," he added with a grin. He did feel his face flush when he mentioned what he wanted to do after the event, shivering slightly as he imagined it. He was probably overly excited about it now, the heat bringing on more sensitivity to that sort of thing, but he didn't especially mind. "We'll show everyone who's boss, yeah," he chuckled, a grin lingering on his lips. Besides, he'd never been to an auction like that....he was admittedly excited for it. It was maybe fifteen minutes or so later that he felt his fever starting to rise again, steadily gaining little by little. The next wave hit just as hard as before, and when it did, he sort of just groaned, flopping an arm over his eyes, somewhat wishing it could come without making him feel somewhat sick. "Ale," he sort of huffed, blindly reaching out to pat him. "It's doing it again," he added with a grumble, shifting almost absentmindedly as his body responded to the man next to him. Nothing had even happened yet, but it was already taking over completely. |
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Alessandro felt the soft huff of laughter against his chest, Sage’s mumbled “You talk too much” warm with affection rather than complaint. He smiled into damp hair, pressing one last kiss to the crown of Sage’s head as those slender arms looped loosely around him. The knot still throbbed gently where they were joined, a steady, living tether that kept them locked together, and Alessandro let the quiet satisfaction of it settle deep in his bones. Sage’s breathing evened out quickly—deep, trusting, utterly spent—and Alessandro followed more slowly. He stayed awake just long enough to feel the bond hum with contentment, to register the faint, lingering sweetness of Sage’s scent wrapped around his own darker notes. Mine. Safe. Home. Eventually exhaustion dragged him under, the knot finally easing enough for his body to relax fully. Sleep came heavy and dreamless at first. Then the nightmare returned—the same one that had haunted him for years. He was back in the narrow alley behind the old Palermo warehouse, the air thick with cordite and rain. Luca’s voice, sharp and laughing, calling him piccolo as they moved in tandem through the shadows. Gunfire cracked like thunder. Luca shoved him down behind a crate, took the burst meant for them both. Blood bloomed dark across his brother’s chest, soaking through the white shirt Alessandro had teased him about wearing on a job. Luca’s eyes—same dark hazel as his own—met his one last time, wide with shock, then empty. Alessandro screamed his name, crawling through the mud and blood, pressing useless hands to the wounds as Luca’s body went slack. Hands grabbed him from behind—enemy or ally, he couldn’t tell—dragging him away while Luca lay still in the rain. In the dream he fought them, always fought them, knife flashing as he tried to get back to his brother. He jolted awake with a choked gasp, heart hammering against his ribs, the metallic taste of panic flooding his mouth. The room was dark, the weight on his chest familiar but wrong—someone pinning him, threatening Luca—no. His body moved before thought could catch up. The knife he always kept under the pillow was in his hand in an instant, muscle memory overriding everything. Cold steel pressed to warm skin, right at the vulnerable curve of a throat. Sage. The realization slammed into him like a physical blow. Sage’s throat. Sage’s pulse fluttering wildly beneath the blade. Sage’s sharp inhale of shock. Horror flooded him, icy and absolute. “Merda—Sage—” The knife clattered to the floor as Alessandro jerked away, hands raised, shaking. He scrambled back on the bed, putting space between them even as every instinct screamed to pull Sage close and protect him—from himself. “Tesoro, I’m sorry—I’m so sorry—” His voice cracked, raw and ragged. He couldn’t breathe past the guilt choking him. “I thought—dream—Luca—” The words tumbled out brokenly, barely coherent. He pressed the heels of his palms to his eyes, trying to stop the images still flashing behind his lids. He’d almost—Christ, he’d almost hurt the one person he’d sworn to keep safe. The one person who trusted him completely. Alessandro’s chest heaved, panic and self-loathing twisting tight. “Are you hurt? Did I—?” He couldn’t even finish the question, terrified of the answer. He forced his eyes open, searching Sage’s face in the dim light, hands hovering uselessly, afraid to touch. “Please, amore, tell me you’re all right. I swear I’d never—Sage, forgive me.” |
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Needless to say, being awoken to alessandro slamming him over, holding a knife to his throat had scared Sage at first. One moment he'd been sleeping happily, the next his mate was pinning him down, sharp blade hovering over his pulse point. He'd let out a yelp of surprise, but as quickly as he'd registered the odd light in Alessandro's eyes....one that he recognized from his own nightmares ... alessandro had come to. Recognized him. Scrambled backwards, face twisting in all kinds of terrible emotions. He'd sat up then, slowly since his body was still tired and sore, reaching out to take his hands gently. "I'm alright," he noted softly. "It's alright, ale," he added, gently tugging the other man closer to him, so he could move to cup his face gently. He was still guilty, still hurting. Sage didn't want that. "Alessandro. Look at me," he'd noted then, voice sharper as he waited for the other man to meet his gaze, thumb brushing along his cheek gently. "Take a deep breath," he noted. "You had a nightmare. That's not something you need to apologize about," he noted simply. "You reacted to it, but you knew enough not to hurt me," he added, voice softening. "I know it wasn't your choice." When he noticed the faint release of tension along Alessandros shoulders, he let his face go, but moved to keep a hold of his hands. "Want to talk about it," he asked gently, knowing that might help. Besides....he didn't even now who this Luca was, but it was clearly someone who was important to Alessandro, and he wanted to know about them. Even if what he was dreaming about wasn't good. He'd been startled, yes, terror freezing him for a moment. But only for a moment. They'd gotten over it. Now he just wanted to help his lover. To make sure this didn't keep happening to him. |
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Alessandro’s heart was still hammering against his ribs, a violent, traitorous rhythm that refused to slow even as Sage’s gentle hands cupped his face. The knife—Christ, the knife—was on the floor now, flung across the room the second clarity had slammed into him and he’d seen the flash of fear in those wide, trusting eyes. His omega’s eyes. Sage’s throat had been bare under the blade, pulse fluttering like a trapped bird, and Alessandro had almost— He couldn’t finish the thought. Bile rose in his throat, hot and bitter. Sage’s voice cut through the roar in his head, soft but firm, pulling him back like it always did. I’m alright. It’s alright, Ale. Lies, maybe, but the kindest ones Alessandro had ever been told. He forced himself to meet Sage’s gaze when commanded, those steady eyes anchoring him even as shame clawed at his insides. The breath he dragged in tasted like copper and regret. You knew enough not to hurt me. Alessandro’s jaw clenched so hard it ached. He hadn’t known anything in that moment—only the echo of gunshots, the weight of a dying boy in his arms, Luca’s blood soaking through his shirt while he screamed for help that never came. Fifteen years old. His little brother. Gone because Alessandro had been too slow, too weak, too fucking late. He let Sage tug him closer, let those smaller hands hold his own trembling ones, but he couldn’t stop the self-loathing from bleeding into his voice when he finally spoke. “I could have killed you,” he rasped, the words raw and jagged. “One second more and I—” He broke off, throat working. “You shouldn’t have to wake up to that. To me.” Sage’s thumb kept stroking his cheek, patient, infuriatingly gentle, and Alessandro hated how much he needed it. He exhaled shakily, eyes dropping to their joined hands. “Luca was my brother,” he said at last, voice low, like speaking it too loudly might summon the ghosts again. “My elder brother. The one who was meant to inherit the throne of the gang” A humorless huff escaped him. “One time when we were out, we got into a scuffle with another gang...and they shot him” His grip tightened on Sage’s hands—not enough to hurt, just enough to ground himself. “I held him while he bled out in an alley. Told him help was coming. Lied to him.” Alessandro’s eyes closed, the memory sharp as the blade he’d just held. “He died asking if I was proud of him.” Silence stretched, thick and heavy, until Alessandro forced his gaze back up. Sage was still there—warm, alive, unharmed—and the gratitude that crashed through him was almost as painful as the guilt. “It's a reoccuring dream,” he admitted quietly. He swallowed hard. “You pulled me out of it. ” He leaned forward slowly, resting his forehead against Sage’s, breathing him in—heat-scent faded to something softer now, something that smelled like safety and home. “I don’t deserve you waking up gentle for me after that,” he murmured. “But I’m too selfish to send you away. Stay. Just… stay close tonight. I need—” His voice cracked. “I need to feel you breathing. Need to know you’re real.” He pressed a careful kiss to Sage’s lips—trembling, reverent—then shifted to lie back down, tugging Sage with him until the omega was tucked securely against his chest, one arm locked around his waist like he could shield him from Alessandro’s own demons. A pause, then quieter: “Thank you for not being afraid of me.” |
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Sage had shook his head when alessandro argued, not stopping him but giving him a somewhat stern look. "No, you wouldn't have," he noted simply. He would have been able to slip out of his grasp if he'd needed to....he'd escaped plenty of other people before. But he wouldn't need to. Not this time. Not with him. He listened as alessandro spoke, a soft sigh escaping his lips as he explained the dream, something small and hard building in his chest. "I'm sorry, love," he murmured, tugging alessandro into his chest, just holding him there until he felt ready to pull back again, a little steadier. "You deserve everything good in this world, Ale," he noted gently, moving to meet his gaze again. "Don't ever say you don't deserve me. You do. You've done so much for me already. And you'll keep doing it. I know that." Sage had nodded with a soft sigh, letting Alessandro tug him down. "I'm not going anywhere," he promised. "Not tonight, not tomorrow, not ever." He'd be here for him, just like Alessandro had been there for him. He'd started to drift off in his arms again, but the quiet thanks puled him back, and he tilted his head to peer up at him. "There's nothing for me to be afraid of," he noted firmly, pressing a kiss to his jaw. "No go back to sleep. Get some rest. I'll be here when you wake." |
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Alessandro lay still in the dark, Sage’s smaller body tucked perfectly against his chest, the omega’s heartbeat a steady, soothing rhythm under his palm. Every word Sage had spoken still echoed in his head—soft, stubborn, unwavering—and it carved something raw and aching open inside him. You wouldn’t have. You deserve everything good. I’m not going anywhere. He didn’t believe them, not fully. The guilt was a living thing coiled around his ribs, squeezing every time he remembered the cold press of steel against Sage’s throat. But Sage’s voice, Sage’s warmth, Sage’s absolute refusal to fear him… it dulled the edges just enough that he could breathe. His fingers moved without conscious thought, tracing slow, reverent circles over the fresh claiming mark on Sage’s neck. The skin was still slightly raised, warm from his earlier bite, and the faint thrum of his venom beneath it grounded him more than any words could. Proof that Sage had chosen him—chosen to let him in deep enough to leave a permanent scar. Proof that, somehow, this beautiful, fierce omega trusted him with his life even after seeing the violence Alessandro carried inside. He pressed his lips to Sage’s temple, inhaling the soft, lingering scent of heat and home that clung to his skin. “You’re too good for me, piccolo,” he whispered into the dark, so low he wasn’t sure Sage even heard it in his half-dozing state. “Too good, and I’m too selfish to let you go.” Sage shifted closer in his sleep, one leg sliding between Alessandro’s, arm tightening around his waist like he was anchoring them both. Alessandro’s throat tightened. He tucked Sage’s head beneath his chin, one hand splayed protectively over the small of his back, the other threaded through soft hair. Sleep didn’t come easily. Every time he closed his eyes he saw Luca’s face, felt phantom blood on his hands. But Sage’s steady breathing kept pulling him back—real, alive, here. His omega had faced down the monster in Alessandro’s nightmare and hadn’t flinched. Had held him instead of running. Eventually, exhaustion won. Alessandro let his eyes drift shut, lips brushing Sage’s forehead in a silent vow. I’ll fix this. I’ll burn the world down before I let my demons touch you again. And with Sage’s promise—I’ll be here when you wake—ringing soft and certain in his ears, he finally let himself sink into sleep, arms locked tight around the one person who made the darkness bearable. |
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Afternoon Storms, then Clearing
