Page 44 of Sweet Omega
Ludiin’s cheeks flushed.
“It’s the Lumina,” he mumbled. “I use it to sculpt stuff. It’s a little messy.”
Tarymn’s eyes narrowed playfully. “Do I even want to know what you’re sculpting?”
“No,” Ludiin said quickly, leaping to his feet. “Please go back to sleep.”
Tarymn chuckled, standing and stretching. “No. I’ll leave you to your mysterious mess.”
He walked down the stairs feeling oddly lighter. Hym leaving for a mission usually set him on edge, but this time… it didn’t seem so bad. Maybe Hym was right, having people around the house might not be the worst thing. The thought made him smile, a quiet warmth spreading through his chest. He carried it back to his office, already thinking he wouldn’t mind finding more of it later.
The next day, he found himself back in the den, stretching out on the couch while Ludiin worked. The omega mumbled all sortsof random things under his breath. Half of it made no sense, but somehow it was still nice to listen to. The space felt calm, peaceful.
The more Tarymn listened, the more he noticed little things about him—how innocent he sounded, how his words carried a sort of quirky charm he found endearing. Before he knew it, that hole Hym usually left behind didn’t feel quite so big. So, of course, he went back the next day too.
And the next. And the next.
A month in, and Tarymn could barely go a single day without finding an excuse to climb up to the third floor.
Now, Tarymn lay sprawled on the couch, eyes fixed on the ceiling, frustration gnawing at his temples until it flared into the familiar pounding behind his eyes. The headache was back. Again.
It wasn’t going to go away until he dealt with Deltta’s issue. And he wasn’t sure he could.
He dragged a hand down his face, breathing in the space around him. Ludiin was moving quietly across the room, and his scent lingered in the air—warm, clean, and a little sweet. Tarymn inhaled without meaning to. He was doing that a lot lately. Catching traces of the omega’s scent and letting it calm something in him he didn’t know needed calming.
It was weird. He knew that. But he didn’t have the energy to question it anymore. What was the point? He’d end up back here regardless.
They were bonding. Becoming something close to a family.
His eyes drifted shut, and at some point, sleep must have pulled him under.
When he opened them again, Ludiin was crouched beside the couch, his fingers lightly stroking across his brow in soft, absent circles. Tarymn lay still for a few seconds, letting the touch sooth him before opening his eyes.
Ludiin startled. His hand froze mid-air, like he’d been caught doing something wrong.
Before either of them could think too hard about it, Tarymn caught his hand and gently placed it back against his forehead.
Ludiin gasped again, but he didn’t pull away.
“Don’t stop.”
“I…” Ludiin stammered, rocking back on his heels. They stayed like that for a while before Ludiin spoke again. “You looked stressed. So, I…”
“I’m your stepbrother, Ludiin. You can touch me,” Tarymn said.
“Is it work again?”
“Yes,” Tarymn muttered, nudging Ludiin’s hand down to the couch beside him. “I took your advice, but all the parts are perfect, there’s nothing out of place.”
Ludiin bit the inside of his mouth, looking thoughtful. “Maybe if you tell me, we can figure it out together. What is it?”
Tarymn sat up, exhaling hard. “Uhh... I don’t think…”
“I won’t tell anyone,” Ludiin cut in quickly. “I barely go outside, and I don’t have any friends.”
Tarymn’s mouth curved in a faint smile as he reached out to give Ludiin’s nose a gentle tap. “That’s not a good thing, Ludiin. You should go outside and make friends. Have fun.”
“I have fun here,” Ludiin said, leaning forward slightly. “Now, tell me.”
