CHAPTER 348: IT WAS ALL A PLOY, A DIVERSION

Andrew was eventually able to put the giggling duo to bed after he had fed and entertained them. They had entertained him in the process, both continuing to drink after Andrew had made sure that they had full stomachs.

They didn’t push themselves to the extreme, and Richard was also letting his pheromones fly free during the process as well. Andrew said nothing, Maxwell said nothing, but the two shared a look every once in a while when Richard got a little louder, a little more relaxed, and that was when Andrew realised this was a completely calculated thing on Maxwell’s part.

He just also happened to be enjoying himself.

So, Andrew got Richard up to bed first, the man sloppy as he tried to get up the stairs by himself but eventually relented to the help that Andrew offered before making sure he was okay in his room, didn’t need any extra help, all of the fun things. Richard brushed him off, sending him out of the room before Andrew returned downstairs to the pouty, drunk Maxwell.

Maxwell held open his arms, indicating that he wanted to be carried. Andrew just smiled, shaking his head as he bent, picking up the other man. Maxwell gracefully wrapped his arms around Andrew’s neck, and Andrew couldn’t shake the smile from his lips as the man let out a delicate sigh.

He was swinging his legs, kicking them softly as Andrew carried him out into the hallways and up the stairs.

"You’re a sneaky man." Andrew told him as they climbed the stairs and watched as Maxwell’s eyes curled up and pride filled his expression.

"Am I? That’s one of the sweetest things you’ve ever said to me." Maxwell told him with glee and Andrew snorted.

"It better not be. I’ve said some pretty sweet things to you." Andrew told him and Maxwell giggled, resting his head against Andrew’s shoulder as Andrew carefully walked up the stairs. He was carrying his whole world in his arms right now, it was imperative that he be careful.

"Alright. I lied. It’s in the top 20." Maxwell relented and Andrew shook his head in exasperation. The man was a riot when he was this drunk.

"Okay. I’ll take that. Do you need help changing for bed?" Andrew asked and Maxwell gave him a soft look that only spelled trouble.

"Oh, I can’t feel my arms and legs. They’re so heavy. Can you help? You are so big and strong." Maxwell told him, looking all innocent and sweet.

Andrew didn’t buy it for a damn second.

He was the one who told him that Richard wanted them to hold themselves back. He wasn’t allowed to pull this. Especially while he was intoxicated.

"You’re a menace." Andrew muttered quietly as they passed Richard’s door and headed further down the hall to their bedroom. Maxwell giggled.

"I’ll take that as a compliment as well." Maxwell told him. "So? Are you going to help me, you big, buff, handsome man?" Maxwell asked softly, sweetly, and made Andrew’s cock a damn pulsing rod in his pants. He was barely able to think with the brain between his ears as he felt Maxwell’s soft breath against his neck.

"A damn incubus." Andrew muttered and Maxwell giggled. Andrew felt the man lick his neck and nearly came to a screeching halt. That was a dangerous move on his part. Andrew had been holding himself together for four days after Maxwell had discussed folding him in half on the dining room table.

The same dining room table that was partially taken over by a damn puzzle now. Andrew had kind of wanted to make a damn mess, but knew that Richard would have been pissed if he had done that. Maxwell probably would have been too.

Andrew let out a soft sigh.

He was going to ruin the man once Richard was gone. Or, better yet, they could book a hotel room and Andrew could just...mess the man up.

"We should rent a hotel room." Andrew said and Maxwell pulled back, looking up at Andrew.

"Right now?" Maxwell asked, and Andrew bit his lip, hiding the smile that wanted to break across his face. He loved the man.

"Not right now. We can’t leave Richard alone. That’s the whole reason he’s living with us right now, Maxy." Andrew told the smaller man and Maxwell grumbled.

"Well then, don’t get my damn hopes up. My body aches for you. I’m fucking wet right now I want you so bad. I want your cock in my ass. I’m lonely, Andy." Maxwell told him and Andrew had to let out a shaky breath.

That was freaking hot to hear from the other man. Andrew could feel his rationality slipping. His willpower wasn’t as strong as he wanted it to be. Andrew stepped into their bedroom, pushing the door open with a few fingers before he closed the door with his foot. He didn’t lock the door, as he hadn’t been doing just in case Richard needed something in the middle of the night.

Andrew was desperately grasping for something that he could hold onto to forget how sexy the man in his arms was. He didn’t want to disrespect Richard’s fairly reasonable ask. Given what was going on, it was reasonable.

Andrew just felt like his damn balls were going to burst.

Andrew scanned the room, looking for something, anything to distract him.

That was when he noticed that there was a trail of clothing leading out of his closet to Maxwell’s, and he felt his brows furrow.

"Maxy, what’s with the trail of clothing?" Andrew asked and Maxwell tensed in his arms.

"Nothing." Maxwell said quickly, too quickly, and Andrew blinked.

"Nothing?" Andrew asked and Maxwell nodded aggressively.

"Yeah. Nothing. I just made a mess, that’s all." Andrew didn’t believe the man’s words. Especially since he’d gone from a sex demon to a drunk hiding something from his partner. Andrew knew it wasn’t anything serious. The man wouldn’t hide something like that from him.

Only something that made him embarrassed.

Andrew, for the second time today, sniffed something out.

Andrew didn’t let go of Maxwell as he moved towards Maxwell’s closet and he began to protest. Andrew didn’t stop as Maxwell tried to defend himself before Andrew even saw what was going on. What he saw had him halting in the doorway of the closet, his heart in his throat as Maxwell tried to play it off as nothing, and then panicked, thinking Andrew was mad when he didn’t move an inch.

"There’s nothing to see here, alright? Okay, so maybe I made a mess, it’s not a big deal, right? Maybe it’s just the separation anxiety speaking, you know? I’ll clean it up. It’s no big deal. Andy? Are you alright? I’m sorry, okay? It’s really just a mess. I didn’t ruin anything, alright? It’s not like I don’t want you to wear your own clothes." Maxwell was rambling, which was a rare thing to witness, but Andrew just felt a rush of alpha pheromones going straight to both heads.

Andrew’s grip tightened on Maxwell as he took in what he was seeing, really taking it in beyond the mound of clothes in the closet.

Maxwell had made a nest. A real, fuck off nest. With Andrew’s clothes, and he wasn’t even anywhere near a heat right now. Andrew felt like he couldn’t breathe.

"You made that for me?" Andrew asked softly, his voice getting caught in his throat. "When did you make this?" Andrew glanced down at the now silent man. He’d grown silent as soon as Andrew had spoken, his lips clamping shut. He looked embarrassed and flustered. His ears and face were slightly pink, his face a little pale. He looked a bit like a corpse, if Andrew was honest.

He had to be feeling a flood of emotions for his body to react like that.

"I...made it mid afternoon. I brought out the liquor shortly after that." Maxwell admitted and suddenly everything made sense. Maxwell had gotten embarrassed at his actions and had roped Richard into it. That made a lot more sense.

"The puzzle?" Andrew asked and Maxwell sighed.

"Richard had it. May packed it for him." Andrew nodded. The pieces were falling into place.

"Are you embarrassed?" Andrew asked, and before Maxwell could answer, he continued. "Because this is normal omega behaviour. Very normal. I’m actually very flattered that you’ve done this." Andrew told him, and watched as the man flushed more. He ducked his head.

"You do?" Maxwell asked so quietly that Andrew knew he was very confused about it. Andrew felt like he could fall to his knees with how much emotion those two words sent through him.

"Angel, Maxy, of course I like it. I like knowing that you wanted to make a nest for me. That’s a good thing. It means you like like me. A lot. And that you want to build a comfortable home with me. Did you black out at all during it?" Andrew asked and Maxwell shook his head.

"I was, sadly, very conscious the whole time I did it." Maxwell told him. "I...organised by colour." He told him, a little bit of pride in his voice. Andrew thought his heart was going to explode in his chest.

"Yeah? Do you want to show me?" Andrew asked, waiting. Eventually, Maxwell nodded and Andrew felt his whole body shiver. This was too damn much for his heart. He carefully placed the smaller man on his own feet, letting him take his hand and Maxwell explained his reasoning to how he built his nest with Andrew’s clothing with the expertise of a master businessman. Even as his cheeks were pink, his eyes slightly glazed from the liquor.

Andrew couldn’t find a more perfect person if he tried.