Yori came out of his heat as he usually did, feeling groggy and slightly bitter. The suppressants, which coupled as birth control pills, always left him feeling a little light-headed and since the heat would come in waves, he would wake frequently through the night in a state of arousal. It was not painful or unbearable as it might have been were it not for the suppressants, however he always felt irritated by the sense of dissatisfaction he always felt once his heat had ended. The whole thing had only lasted four days, although he had a tendency to take the pills for a whole week prior to the date he was due and a week following, but it always seemed so much longer. As Sierra had promised, he contacted his editor to let him know how far along he was with the current manuscript as if he hadn't broken all contact for nearly three weeks and as Keko had claimed, he sat down at his usual table with a cup of coffee as if he hadn't disappeared at all. Loading up his laptop, he stared at the incoming message on his phone in surprise. Tatsuya was demanding they meet immediately. He sent back a questioning, one word response as a shadow stole what little light lurked in the corner of the cafe. Yori glanced upward, his eyes widening and his face warming as the broad figure of a familiar man loomed over him. "We meet again, Just Yori," Ryota smiled. "Does it entertain you to name me that?" Yori asked, failing to keep his tone light and disinterested. Ryota's smile widened. "I wonder," he said aloud. Yori's phone chimed, indicating another text message and Ryota indicated that Yori should feel free to check it. "What do you mean 'Why?'" The message from Tatsuya stated. "Your hiatus was unexpected and I would like to discuss your reasons for it as well as I have concerns for the manuscript. Please come to the office, Sensei." Yori frowned as he responded. He supposed he had been a bit spoilt with Sierra as his editor, she forgave him his whims and quirks and in turn he tried to turn up for meetings and turn in manuscripts on time. But surely Tatsuya Himura was being a bit overbearing. Besides, he really wasn't in the mood, having just come off of the drugs and having lacked a good cup of coffee for three weeks. "I can't today, I am busy. I'll visit tomorrow, if that's convenient." He sent the text, then switched the phone off, just in case before putting it in his pocket. "So," Ryota began, breaking the silence that followed. "Did you enjoy your visit to my hotel?" "I didn't get to see much, to be honest," Yori admitted, "just the lobby and the rooms where the party was held. It seemed comfortable though." Despite its grandeur, Yori had not felt an unwelcome, until he'd met Himura's guests that was. "And the drink you served me was delicious." He felt the heat rise in his cheeks once more as he admitted this. "I'd be happy to serve it to you again," Ryota told him. Yori adjusted his glasses upon his nose, unsure of whether Ryota was offering him an invitation or simply polite. "Is your hotel popular?" He blurted out, as a thought crossed his mind. "Sorry, I don't really go out much beyond home, here and work, so..." Ryota leaned back in his chair as he considered the question. "Well, we've managed to increase it's rating to a four star hotel in the five years I've worked there as manager and I am personally not satisfied with that. I expect the highest standards from my staff and I have been fortunate that the majority have risen in response to my demands. We hope to offer the guests a completely relaxing experience, with spa, pool and gym facilities as well as offering open halls for parties, wedding receptions or business receptions." He chuckled for a moment. "I'm starting to sound like the brochure." "No," Yori said, honestly, "it's interesting. I've never stayed in a hotel before." "Not even on vacation?" Ryota queried. "I've never been on a vacation," Yori replied. "Uncle suggested we go away once, when I was younger, but I was struggling with a lot of things at the time and refused. Even now, I don't feel comfortable around strangers and crowds, so I usually just stay at home." "You make me want to guide you around my hotel even more," Ryota said. "If I saw to your comfort personally, would you stay?" Yori felt the same uncertainty as earlier, unable to interpret the tone of Ryota's words. "Er, actually, I wasn't thinking so much myself, but my brother," Yori said, the words tumbling quickly from his lips as he covered his confusion. "You see my brother is getting married and he did mention that they were planning on postponing a honeymoon for now, so... I'm not sure how these things work, but Ai-chan once mentioned that she and Keko spent their ceremony night in a hotel..." It had not been a legal ceremony, as while gay marriage was legal, openly female gay couples found themselves the targets of hate crime too often. Yori had been unable to attend, they had unknowingly scheduled it during his heat and he felt it better not to disturb their private party with his pheromones. "That's true, it was my hotel, in fact," Ryota mentioned. He leant forward and murmured quietly, "I upgraded their room, secretly and at no extra cost. Don't tell them though, Keko is a proud woman who hates taking handouts, even gifts." Yori felt the whispers awaken his skin and he swallowed hoping Ryota failed to notice just how conscious Yori felt about him right now. Ryota reached inside his pocket for his card and placed it on the table, before writing something on the back. "Call me later, I will check our books against the dates you think appropriate for their stay and we will arrange something together. That's the hotel's number and my extension. Oh and my mobile phone number is on the back, in case you want to join me for that drink." Yori blushed as he took the card. ***** The hotel was busy, but the work remained smooth with no problems nor complaints, with the exception of a highly demanding woman, who this time had questioned the thickness of the snow white towels provided by the hotel. It was the woman's third complaint this week and as usual, she demanded that Ryota, as the hotel's most senior manager, settle it. He provided the woman with a set of new towels, though the thickness was unlikely to be much different and a complementary set of bath oils, the fragrances of which were exclusive to the hotel. Though she seemed satisfied, this time, he had doubts whether this would be her last complaint. Of course that was just part and parcel of what working in this industry meant. Each customer had different demands and expectations of him, his staff and their facilities. If he was as unbending as the previous management had been, his hotel most certainly would have become bankrupt and abandoned by now. His arrival had ruffled a few feathers, he had been considered too young and too naive to be the manager of the hotel. However, he had been scouted by a senior director from a small motel that he had brought back from the brink of bankruptcy and turned into a three star motel within the space of just two years. The hotel had not been in such dire straits, but it certainly had been stuck in a slight time warp, existing only for its few, loyal, though wealthy regular clients. Once the day was done, he returned to his room, the penthouse on the top floor, that had been his condition for becoming manager here. There had been protests, after all a penthouse suite asked for a substantial fee from it's customers. But he had argued that not only was it very rarely booked, living at the top of the hotel meant he could always be there for emergencies. The board of directors had given in after he proved himself during his probationary period. He'd redecorated the old style to a modern, simplistic one, allowing him to relax with in the large space. On an ordinary day, his thoughts would reflect over work within the hotel; what had gone right, what needed improving, what (and on occasion, who) really needed to go. But now those thoughts had been overwritten by just one; Yori. In the past, he had occasionally dated women and even a man, who had expressed attraction to him. In high school, college and university, they had confessed to him and he had accepted their feelings and dated them, but they had demanded more than he felt he could offer and in the end they had broken off the relationship. And when he had realised that he had not felt moved by their tears or betrayals, he had stopped dating altogether, instead focusing on his studies and later his work. That had not stopped the confessions nor the interest that he felt he could honestly not return. So why was this young man, with his large black eyes and gentle face so embedded within his mind? It was true that he was an Alpha and Yori was an Omega and he was deeply attracted by the light scent that emanated from the younger man. But if that was all it was, a sexual attraction brought on by their respective genders, why could he not stop thinking about him? I've been watching him a while, he admitted to himself. I had thought him strange hiding in that dark corner when I first saw him. And I noticed him again, in the same seat several times, until I began actively looking for him. So serious and completely oblivious to the outside word when he is working on his laptop. So open and joyful when bantering with Aisha and Keko. So shy and self-conscious when speaking with me. He groaned as he stretched out upon his sofa. I want him, he found his body in swift agreement with his mind. How would it feel to run his hands through that long black hair or slide his finger tips over his pale skin? Would he redden with embarrassment as he had several times during their conversations? Would he glance at him with those shy looks as he touched him? What expression would he have when brought to climax? Ryota shuddered, suddenly spent, yet feeling unsated. Have I ever wanted something this badly since my parents died? He wondered before heading for the shower.