The procedure began that very next morning. Rayan was allowed breakfast, and was once again forced to use the bedpan. Then he was wheeled out of the room bed and all, separated from both Scott and his teddy bear, to get prepped for the omega ward. He'd see Scott again once things got underway, but he was bummed about having to leave the stuffed animal behind. He'd grown rather fond of it the past few days.
The ward itself had three consecutive areas for patient security. The first set of doors had the bright pink "Omega Safe" logo on the windows, and had a key
The day was cold and overcast. Winter had decided it was here, and everyone in the city was sporting warm coats and cold weather accessories.Michael rang up two girls at the register after handing over the cookies they'd picked out. He and Scott's folks had hit it off pretty well from their time spent in the hospital supporting Rayan, and one thing led to another, which led to Michael being hired as a seasonal cashier at their bakery.
I’m not gay. I’m not gay. I know I’m not gay. The thoughts raced through Edwardo’s mind. He was not, and has never been gay."I see you've met our seasonal hire, eh Eddie?" Howard delivered Edwardo's usual muffin and jam on a plate. "Michael, why don't you pick yourself something from the case. Safe to say I'm exchanging the usual one coffee for two? I have a feeling you two kids may want to get to know each other a little bit."
Trapped. That was the best way to describe it. He couldn't wash himself or brush his own teeth, he could barely feed himself, he had to be carried to the bathroom... Everything set to a schedule of taking pain medicine and assisted stretching...Even with the pills, he was still sore and uncomfortable. He wasn't going to ask for more though, Scott was already doing so much for him as it was. He hated that he was putting Scott through this. Maybe it would have been better if the accident had killed him. His life had been rough enough already, and when there was finally a light at the end of the tunnel, this happened.His freedom was gone.His independence was gone.Everything he'd worked for, all gone.He tried to tell himself this was just temporary. The casts would come off after New Year. It wouldn't be so bad. Then, he'd just have to get strong enough to walk again. He could d
"It's not fair..." Rayan sobbed. His ribs stabbed at him, not appreciating the sudden violent use.Scott immediately set the bowl aside to start comforting him. "Rayan, I know it's not fair. I know this is hard on you."Scott grabbed a tissue to wipe Rayan's face, re
Friday. Michael totally wasn't peeking through the curtains at his parent's house waiting for a car to pull up. He wouldn't do that. He didn't have his phone's notification sound turned to max. That would be a silly thing to do. He totally wasn't dressed in the most "normal," upscale, yet still completely colorful, clothing in his closet. There was no reason for him to do that. He wasn't monitoring the time by the second, either. Nope. Not him.Edwardo was supposed to pick him up at seven. That's what they agreed to in their texts. It was ten 'till. It's not like Michael had been ready to go for an
Michael leaned into Edwardo as an unexpectedly strong gust of wind came through. He wrapped his arms around himself and couldn't help the shivering and chattering of his teeth. This was rapidly becoming not fun anymore. How much dignity would he loose if he just went back to the car?Edwardo reacted quickly once he realized the situation his date was in. He pulled off his coat and wrapped it around Michael's shoulders, pulling Michael in close to his side. Once the guys around them had determined Michael didn't speak Spanish, they'd been bombarding him with questions about his colorful companion. One of them got out a teasing remark, which he ignored."Are you cold?" Edwardo asked Michael in English. "It's kind of chilly tonight."Michael nodded in response, blushing as he gratefully leaned into Edwardo’s embrace. The jacket was warm, hugely oversized, and having Edwardo's smell surrounding him was a very comfortin
You know that feeling when you wake up with a headache and a rocky stomach and a nasty taste in your mouth in an unfamiliar bed in an unfamiliar room and you really can’t remember what happened the night before for a few minutes? Yeah. That’s what Michael was going through right now. The room was graciously dark. He was propped over on his side with a towel under his face, and his back was against something big and warm. Wasn’t he on a date last night? He totally was. He went on a date with Edwardo, his crush, hottest guy in the city, with the most sexy eyebrows and beautiful voice. He tried to initiate sex in the limo, going off something he’d seen in a porno…
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 occupi
Michael kept his voice low so the guests outside the tent couldn’t hear him over the music. “Okay, the kids just started walking. Are you really sure you don’t need to use these?” Michael held one of Rayan’s forearm crutches to him, which had been a vast improvement to the walker in Rayan’s opinion. Rayan shook his head, picking up his bouquet. “The weather’s been good the past few days, and I made sure to take a little extra pain reliever this morning. I’ve been practicing in secret, and Scott doesn’t know I’m okay for short distances. Besides, I’ve got your shoulder I can lean on.” “Look, I just don’t want you falling on your wedding day. If you go down, you know I’m not strong enough to catch you.” They shared a look, and Michael threw his hands up, admitting defeat. Michael helped Rayan out of the chair he’d been sitting in, and resigned himself to be a living crutch for a little while. R
Scott sighed contentedly in his dream. He was surrounded by mountains of soft, fluffy pillows. Or were they clouds? It was hard to tell. Rayan was in his dream too. He loved dreaming about Rayan.Dream Rayan was being particularly and delightfully naughty. Dream Rayan kept rubbing against his leg, a positively lewd expression on his face. Sometimes he and Dream Rayan had clothes on, sometimes they didn’t. Scott could tell Dream Rayan was trying to say something, but he couldn’t quite make out what it was. Dream Rayan seemed truly desperate, practically humping his thigh.Scott loved dreams like this. He reached out, wanting to touch all the sensitive areas he knew would drive Rayan, and by extension Dream Rayan, absolutely crazy. But he couldn’t move? Dream Rayan started kissing his face, and running his fingers through his chest hair. He wanted to tell Dream Rayan to do whatever he wanted with his body, but he couldn&rsquo
Scott had something extra special booked for them after lunch. It was a special massage and treatment package the resort only offered around the holiday. So, as they had been getting accustomed to, they changed into their underwear and the plush robes provided for them and made their way to the designated room for their appointment.The room already smelled heavenly, with the scent of warm chocolate filling the air. Scott and Rayan were made to sit in special chairs with foot baths attached as the full team of professionals got to work.Fresh rose petals were added to the pleasantly warm water, and while their feet soaked, Scott and Rayan were reclined in their chairs. They each got a manicurist to start on their hands, while a masseuse started their facials. Both treatments started with a scrub said to be made of coffee ground s and cocoa nibs, which was supposed to help exfoliate the skin. In Rayan’s opinion, the gritty feeling tickl
Rayan lazed in the bed with Scott’s head pillowed on his chest. Here lately, there’s been some mornings where they’d wake up like this with their typical cuddling roles reversed. It was nice. Rayan liked getting the chance to play with Scott’s hair, and look down at Scott’s peacefully sleeping face. It gave him a very addictive warm and fuzzy feeling.Scott stirred a little, wrapping himself more securely around his fiance’s torso. “Happy birthday,” he murmured into Rayan’s nightclothes.Rayan continued gently raking his fingers through his fiance’s hair. “Happy Valentine’s Day,” he responded quietly.“I love you so much…”“I love you so much too!” Rayan chuckled, amused by Scott’s half-asleep voice.Scott started humming the happy birthday song as he shimmied up to
“This feels like a really long trip just to go to a spa. I really don’t get any more hints than that?”Rayan fiddled with some ankle weights so he could keep up with a modified version of his seated exercise regimen. He and Scott had packed up last night, four days’ worth, and left the city early this morning. Rayan knew this was his much hinted at birthday trip considering Valentine’s Day, also his birthday, was the day after tomorrow. Frustratingly, “going to the spa” was the only hint Scott had given him for over a week. And they’d already been in the car for almost two hours now.“We are going to a spa,” Scott said good naturedly. “We’re just not going to one in the city. Don’t worry, we’re maybe half an hour out right now.”Outside the car window the scenery sped by, and there was still a touch of snow left on the ground under
Michael ended up cheekily turning down Edwardo’s proposal that day. Not completely, he just insisted on getting something a little more public and romantic. The next few weeks went by in a flash. In the wake of the historical verdict, omegas all over the country were suing their workplaces for discrimination and harassment. Reporters were swarming for interviews now more than ever, going so far as to stakeout Rayan’s physical therapy clinic, Scott’s parent’s bakery, and even Edwardo’s home. Irritating was an understatement, and while the public’s opinion was mixed most media was at least putting the events that happened in a positive light. Michael, for his part, had completely devoted himself to the city’s PR campaign after quitting Howard’s bakery with an apology. With Edwardo’s help he was finally able to start some psychotherapy, even if he wasn’t sure it was helping yet. He and Edwardo had finally finished getting the rest of Michae
“Michael, you don’t have to force yourself.”Edwardo said it out of concern. Michael had barely gotten the tip in, and it was clear how uncomfortable he was. The fact that he’d lost his own erection was a dead giveaway.“I’m not giving up,” Michael grit his teeth, sliding down a little further. “You’re just bigger… than the toys I’m used to…”Edwardo wracked his brain trying to think of a way to help. It’s not like he could magically make himself smaller, but his Dulcito was obviously not enjoying himself anymore. Edwardo slid one of his hands up, letting his thumb slip under Michael’s bikini top to find the nipple hiding there. The surprised gasp was encouragement enough to continue with the teasing, so he slid his other hand up to make sure he was providing a proper distraction.Michael had both hands braced
And that little conversation is how Michael found himself alone in Edwardo’s expansive walk-in closet. He’d lamented that he had nothing here to wear to make their first time special, but apparently Edwardo had a dirty little secret that offered the perfect solution. So, while Edwardo was busy filling one of Essie’s chew toys with peanut butter, Michael got to have his own lingerie themed Christmas.Now, Edwardo’s closet was bigger than Michael’s bedroom at home, and Edwardo himself used very little of it. Michael couldn’t help feeling a little envious his first time seeing it, with all its racks and drawers and cubbies, and especially it’s makeup vanity and floor length mirror. Michael could move in everything he had, and there’d still be at least half the place empty. But today, Michael found out that the closet’s cabinetry wasn’t as empty as expected.Edwardo probably had twenty
Guilty… Guilty… Guilty on all charges. The jury’s verdict seemed to hang in the air. The judge banged his gavel, quieting the whispers of the spectators.“In the case of Rayan Neel vs. the shipping company, the defendant is hereby found guilty of all charges, and is hereby required to pay all medical and rehabilitation costs, plus pain and suffering.”The judge’s decree rang out clearly, followed by a very final sounding bang of the gavel. The bailiff gave the order for everyone to stand, and the judge left the courtroom. It was over. The big important trial was over. Some might have expected a cheer, but it was more a collective sigh of relief. An omega had sued a large company for discrimination, and won. Rayan won.The room emptied in relative quiet, the few that had been allowed to spectate barely whispering amongst themselves as they left. Soon enough, it was only Scott, Rayan,