19 19 - Tag

"Did you meet someone special???"

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Ten minutes, a whirlwind of paperwork and a lot of tail wags later, Maximillian found himself holding the leash of the giant dog. A hint of defeat played on his features, but it was quickly eclipsed by the sight of his date, who had hooked an arm around his in a warm, intimate gesture.

Julian was an enchanting beauty by nature, but when he smiled, the entire world was painted in a more vibrant hue.

Even icebergs could not help but melt upon his sight.

Half an hour later, the couple arrived in front of Julian's house.

After unloading the dog from the hover car, Julian leaned his upper half against the window frame of the driver's seat and asked his date, "Don't you want to come over and sit for a while?"

It was a tempting offer, but it might not be a good idea right now, Maximillian thought to himself. He did not want to take a cold shower in Julian's house.

In response, he stretched out his hand, his fingers brushing against Julian's cheek. The unexpected softness against his palm stole his breath away.

"Thank you, but I should go back to the bureau. There are some reports I need to write for Monday."

"I see."

Disappointment veiled Julian's eyes, his full lips pouting in a way that sent a jolt through Maximillian. Unbridled lust, a potent wave, crashed against his gut, urging him to bridge the space between them and claim those tempting lips for himself. But sense of duty and self-restraint, two cold hands gripping his heart, held him back and planted his feet firmly on the ground.

"Promise to call me if you cannot handle the dog," Maximillian said with a stern voice. "I will come as soon as possible."

The younger man chuckled. He took Maximilian's hand and pressed a soft kiss against the palm.

"Do you think that I will abandon him by the road if I can't handle him?" He whispered, mischief twinkling in his eyes. "Relax, Agent Grant. I am not that kind of person."

Maximillian ran his hand down Julian's slender neck and grabbed the back of his head, forcing the omega to look at him.

"Shouldn't you stop referring to me as 'Agent Grant'?"

Julian's lips curled up into a smile.

"But I like calling you 'Agent Grant'," he argued.

"I don't," Maximillian said. "It does not make me feel good hearing it from your lips."

"Well, then..."

Julian leaned closer to Maximillian and pressed a kiss on the alpha's sculpted jawline.

"Thank you for the date, 'Max'."

The kiss was similar to a dragonfly's wing brushing the water's surface; a fleeting touch that left no ripples, only the fading memory of a gentle caress.

With a meaningful smile on his lips, he pulled at the leash and urged his new dog to move.

"Come, boy. Come with me."

"Woof!"

An exasperated smile hung from Maximillian's lips as he watched Julian disappear into the house with his new dog, seemingly eager to convince Maximillian of his dog-handling skills.

Right now, Maximillian had a more pressing matter to deal with. A single glance at his nether area told him that he needed a cold shower desperately. If not in Julian's house, then in his own house.

The cold shower ended up taking more time than he initially thought. With droplets of water still clinging to his hair, he draped a towel around his waist and exited the bathroom.

Inside his bedroom, his phone was ringing incessantly.

Glancing at the screen, Maximillian saw his younger sister's name flashing persistently. 

"Angelique," he spoke as soon as he took the call. "What's wrong?"

"What's wrong???" Angelique's shrill voice threatened to burst Maximillian's eardrum. "If anything is wrong, it's you, Big Brother!"

Maximillian reached for a smaller towel hanging limp on the towel rack. With a sigh, he began drying his damp hair.

"What is it now?"

"I mean, how could you be so mean to Sasha! He liked you, you know! You totally broke his heart!"

A silent groan escaped Maximillian's lips as he tilted his head back, the space between his brows creasing into a deep furrow. The last person he wanted to discuss right now was Sasha Leibnitz.

"Angelique, thank you for caring for your big brother. Unfortunately, your good friend is not a great fit for me. Please relay my deepest apologies to him. I hope that he finds someone whom he deserves."

Maximillian was about to end the call when Angelique frantically called out for him.

"Big Brother! Wait! Don't hang up! Geez, I am just worried about you! I mean, you are twenty-seven years old this year! All other alphas your age already got married with at least one child! Big Brother, if I have to wait until you get married, I might end up as a spinster!"

Maximillian groaned into his towel.

"Angelique, if you want to get married, be my guest. All I need is his full name and social identification number. I will perform a thorough background check on him."

"But I don't want that!" Angelique wailed as if she had never asked her big brother for the exact favor before. "See? See??? You are becoming a bitter person. You no longer believe in true love! This is so bad! We need to set up another blind date for you, ASAP!"

"It's not necessary," Maximillian decided.

"Eh? Why not? Wait, Big Brother, you never rejected me directly before. Did you meet someone special???" 

Angelique's instincts regarding romance were as sharp as an executioner's blade, but Maximillian was not ready to speak about Julian.

It was simply too early to put a tag on their relationship.

Over at the aforementioned omega's house, hours had slipped by unnoticed. The suburban neighborhood was now bathed in the gentle glow of a starry night sky. A soft melody hummed from the kitchen as Julian prepared dinner for his new furry companion.

He carefully measured out a portion of dry food, a dollop of wet food, and a spoonful of dog vitamin into the bowl.

Lastly, he grabbed a kitchen knife and pricked at his finger. A crimson droplet welled up and dripped into the bowl.

With a self-sufficient smile on his lips, Julian turned around and placed the bowl on the floor.

"Your dinner is ready, Rex."