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How hadI managed to go without him? How had I done it? It was too good—hewas toogood.

He leaned downand kissed me. I moaned against his lips. "I love you. I loveyou."

Iwas going to come.I could feel the tidal wave of climax rushing towards me, about to eclipse me and drown me in an ocean of pleasure. Arthur fucked me harder, gritting his teeth as his muscles tensed and rippled with every thrust. Beads of sweat glistened against his chest, and I could see he was going to come too. I let myself go. I moaned into the sheets as the orgasm hit me, and my cock throbbed and came. Arthur's gasp sounded almost like one of shock. He gripped my ass cheek with one strong hand and thrust in deep, all the way to the hilt, and I could feel his cock swelling and pulsing inside of me with hisfinish.

Icrumpled into the bedsheets,and Arthur fell next to me, both of us gasping for breath. I looked at him, and he smiled at me between breaths, sweat matting his hair. I reached over and pushed a lock of dark hair from his forehead and kissedhim.

"Ilove you too,"he said, his smile turning into agrin.

After cleaningup the mess we’d made on the bed, Arthur and I took a shower together and then cuddled up under the covers. I nuzzled into his chest and nibbled on his collarbone, just like I used to do. I was amazed at how easy it was to fall back into old habits, even after all of this time. It was like picking up right where we leftoff.

"Doyou remember the first time we had sex?" I askedhim.

"Ido,"he said. "It wasn't nearly as comfortable as this. It was on top of that announcer's building. Our knees got all bangedup."

Ilaughed."It was the only place we could meet. Every time we did it, we hurt ourselves even more. It looked like we'd fallen off a motorcycle, orsomething."

"That wasthe most intense month of my entire life," he said. I caught a hint of wistfulness in hisvoice.

"Yeah,"I said, recalling the memories. "I remember being so angry at first, when you first admitted you were in love with me. I remember thinking, 'why couldn't he have said something earlier?' We'd been friends for years. Why wait until a month before I was going to bemarried?"

"Iwas afraid,"he said. "I was worried I'd ruin the friendship. It took me that long to realize how dumb of an excuse thatwas."

Ilaughed."But I understand, completely. I was afraid, too. That's why I never said anything. I was afraid that if we got together, I'd have to live with losing you for the rest of mylife."

"Iguesswe had to deal with that anyway," he said,sadly.

"Idon't regretthat time together at all," I told him. "Not one bit. No matter how hard it wasafterwards."

"Mm."

Ilooked at him. "Do you?"

"No,"he said. "But it was hard. And now that you're here, and I'm next to you, I'm remembering just how hard it was. It changedme."

"How?"

"Irealizedtoday that I'd lost the ability to fall in love with anyone. Anyone butyou."

Ifelta bittersweet pang grip my heart. I hugged him close. "Surely you must've foundothers."

"Itried.I've met lots of women, some of them more special than others. But many of them I had just because I could. And I could never bring myself to be with another omega afteryou."

"Isee,"I said, uncertain how to feel. It hurt to hear how he'd been suffering. I'd hoped that at least he would've found happiness even if Icouldn't.

"Iknow,"he said. "I'm broken in thatway."

"It's an empty feeling,living a life without love," I said. "I dealt with that for ten years, until I had my daughter. She savedme."

"And now,you're trying to saveher."

"Before it's too late,"I said. "Yes. But I think I may have gotten my hopes up." I shivered, feeling a dark cloud of hopelessness pulling over me. "I don't think anything can bedone."

Arthur huggedme close to him. I could hear the beating of his heart through his chest, my face rising and falling with everybreath.

"Iwon't lethim take you and Jupiter back," heannounced.

Ismiled."I appreciate you wanting to comfort me. But you and I both know that it's not that simple. I'm an omega, he's an alpha. I belong tohim."