The two of them seemed to have some unspoken agreement over the next few weeks not to mention the kiss. Logan showed up every day and did the stuff that Gabe asked, cleaning and fixing and hauling. Gabe would teach his classes, do his personal training sessions, and sit tapping away at his computer in between. At the end of each day, Logan would ask, "Is there anything else you need?"

And Gabe would smile and say "No, I'll see you tomorrow."

It was maddening.

He felt like this was some sort of strange inside joke between them, pretending like the kiss had never happened. Maybe Gabe hadn't felt what Logan had. But no, there was no faking the hunger that had been in his kiss. So then why were they playing this game? 

Not that he could have a relationship anyway, he reminded himself. His first job was to raise his brother. When Holt was out of the house, well, he'd see. 

So he didn't think much of it when, at the end of a long Friday, he asked if there was anything else. And Gabe responded: "Yeah, want to go for a run on the beach with me?"

A casual workout with a coworker was nothing, right? So Logan had agreed. It was a pretty day: the air was warm, the sky was full of puffy clouds, and the cool breeze blowing off the ocean would be perfect. He called Holt to let him know that he would be coming home late, but his brother said he was over at a friend's and asked if he could spend the night. Logan said that was fine, looking forward to having the house to himself that night. He would have a cheat night, order a pizza with everything on it, play some Xbox, and unwind.

"Ready?" Gabe asked.

Logan finished lacing up his running shoes. "Yup. Let's do this."

Since the Omega had shorter legs, Logan let him set the pace. But Gabe was faster than he'd expected, and he soon found himself jogging at his regular speed to keep up. The uneven surface of the sand made it that much more of a workout, and soon they were both breathing hard, making conversation impossible. That suited Logan just fine. He didn't trust himself not to blurt out something stupid.

The wind picked up, whipping the sand so that it stung Logan's shins. Gabe didn't seem to mind it. He was graceful as a gazelle, with long legs despite his short overall height. "How'd you get to be so quick?" Logan called, to be heard over the wind.

Gabe turned to look back at him, grinning. "Lower to the ground means better maneuverability," he said. "I'm like a - fuck!"

The sand shifted under the Omega, making him lose his balance. If Logan had reacted one second faster, he could have caught him, but Gabe was just a little too far ahead. The Omega landed badly trying to catch himself and ended up sprawled on the sand. 

Logan was beside him in an instant. "Shit, man. Are you hurt?"

Gabe hissed in pain as he prodded his ankle. "I rolled it when I fell. I don't think it's broken... didn't hear a snap. Hurts like a bitch though," he said, through gritted teeth.

Logan looked down the beach. They were probably a quarter mile from the gym. "Can you stand? Here, let me help you." He held out a hand, and Gabe took it. "One, two, three, up!"

The Omega immediately yelped and let go. "I can't. It hurts too much. Can you go back to the gym and call someone?"

"I don't want to leave you," Logan said. The Omega, normally so strong, seemed so vulnerable lying there, his hazel eyes bright with pain. "I got a better idea. Come on, up you get." 

Without waiting for an answer, he bent down, slid one hand under Gabe's knees and the other around his back and scooped the Omega into his arms. Gabe yelped in surprise as Logan lifted him into the air. "Hey!" he protested. "You don't have to... let me try to walk at least." He sounded flustered. 

"And make your injury worse? Not a chance," Logan said, grinning cheerfully. He set off down the beach, careful not to jostle Gabe too much. 

The Omega sighed, looking resigned. To Logan's surprise, he wrapped his arms gently around the Alpha's shoulders, making him a little easier to carry. Not that it was difficult to begin with: the Omega was tiny, but taut with muscle. Logan felt his heart rate start to climb, remembering the last time they had been this close. He forced himself to think very hard about baseball.

"This is so cliche," Gabe said grumpily. "Next time I get to carry you home, just to keep things fair."

Logan laughed. "Deal. But it's not the end of the world to let people help you sometimes."

"Maybe not for you," Gabe shot back. "But if I accept help people think I can't do anything for myself because I'm an Omega." He looked moodily down the beach, his eyebrows furrowing.

Logan hadn't thought of that. "Well, if it makes you feel any better, If I screw up it's because I'm a bad Alpha," he countered. "People expect us to be all-powerful and always know what to do and say." The gym was in sight now, not much further to go.

"Sounds like we both have problems," Gabe said, although his tone was teasing. "But I still win because of my horrible injury."

Logan glanced down at Gabe's ankle. No swelling or bruising that he could see, which was a good sign. "You've got a first aid kit at the gym, right?"

Gabe suddenly looked embarrassed. "I knew there was something I forgot," he mumbled, his cheeks reddening. “Don’t tell the health inspector, ok?”

"Well, I'd be happy to drive you to the clinic. It's not far."

The Omega shook his head. "I think it's just a sprain like you said, and I'd rather not pay a doctor to tell me what I already know. If you run me by the pharmacy I'll pick up an ice pack and a compression bandage."

"If you'd rather, I can take you by my place. I've got a kit there, save you a few bucks." Logan tried to keep his tone casual, but the thought of having Gabe at his house sent a tingle of anticipation through him.

Gabe looked up at him, his eyebrows raised slightly in surprise. "Are you sure? I don't want to be any trouble," he said.

"Nah. My brother's out for the night. We'll get you fixed up in no time." 

The Omega looked up at him, and Logan felt a surge of heat flicker through him. His Alpha instincts were driving him crazy, being so close to such a gorgeous Omega. But he had lived this long without doing anything stupid. What was one more night?

"Ok," Gabe said finally, and Logan tried very hard to ignore the little feeling of triumph. "I'll have you lock up the studio, and then you can take me to your place."

* * *

"How's the leg?"

Gabe flexed his ankle gingerly. "Oh, better already. I think I'll still take you up on that ice pack offer, but I don't think it's really sprained. I just scared myself when I fell and tensed up."

They pulled into the driveway, and Logan insisted on unlocking the front door and then carrying Gabe into the house. "Just to be sure." 

He set the Omega carefully down on the couch, then retrieved the ice pack from the freezer and wrapped it in a clean kitchen towel. He saw Gabe looking around, taking it all in. The Alpha followed his gaze, wondering what he saw.

The couch and chair in the living room were comfy, but the cushions were sagging with age and they were at least twenty years out of style. The walls were a pale blue, and beach-themed decor was everywhere: ocean scenes, mermaids, and sea shells decorated the walls and shelves. Lacy old-fashioned curtains hung at the windows. 

It was definitely not his style, but it never really felt like his space either. To Logan, it would always be his grandparent's house. He'd never thought about changing it up, making it more modern. What was the point? If everything went well, he'd be out of this town as soon as Holt was done with school. Logan wasn't much of a decorator, anyway. His own room was pure utilitarian: bare walls, a bed, a bookshelf crammed with training theory books, and one lamp.

He handed the ice pack to Gabe, who pressed it to his ankle with a grateful sigh. "Oh, that feels better already. Thank you." The Omega smiled over at him. Logan took a seat on the couch, careful to leave some distance between him and Gabe. "I like the place," Gabe said, still gazing around. "It feels like a real home."

Logan chuckled. "Grandma did all of the decorating. It feels wrong to change it, especially since I'll be leaving."

The Omega looked startled. "Leaving? Why?"

"Holt begged me to stay until he could finish school, since he didn't want to transfer in the middle of it. But once he graduates and figures out what he wants to do, then I'll be free to go somewhere else."

“What's wrong with Bright Beach?" Gabe asked, shifting the ice pack on his ankle.

Logan snorted. "Would you want to stay in some little town where everyone from the mailman to the little old lady who runs the diner thinks you're a dangerous Alpha? They stuck up for me to get custody of Holt, but that's only because people around here value family. Probably too much." He knew he sounded bitter, but he couldn't help himself.

“What if Holt decided to stay here?” Gabe asked.

Shit. Logan hadn’t thought of that. "Why would he? There's nothing for an Omega here." As soon as he said it, he caught Gabe grinning at him. "I didn't mean it like that," he said, trying to backpedal.

"Well, there's a fancy new gym for Omegas here, owned by a very handsome guy. Maybe you've heard of him?" Gabe said.

Logan had to laugh. "I did hear he's easy on the eyes," the Alpha drawled, enjoying the slight blush that suddenly appeared on the Omega's cheeks. "But is that all that Bright Beach has to offer?”

"Hm, let me think. Oh! There's a really pretty beach," Gabe said. "It's good for walking on and not so great for running on if you like your ankles intact."

"Ankle-murdering beach, check," Logan said. "Anything else?"

Gabe looked down, those long eyelashes veiling his eyes. "There's this one Alpha who lives here that seems pretty cool," Gabe said. "He's funny and kind and loyal and he works really hard. He's also pretty damn hot," the Omega added, glancing over at Logan.

"Man, you should introduce me to this guy," Logan said. "Maybe we can hook up."

"No way," Gabe countered. "If anyone's hooking up with him, it's going to be me."

Logan suddenly found it hard to breathe. His Alpha instincts roared to life, every nerve on high alert. Did Gabe just say what he thought he said? He watched as the Omega set the ice pack down on the coffee table and flexed his ankle gently. "Oh, way better. I don't even think I sprained it. I'll take some Advil when I get home."

Logan had a better idea. "Let me take a look at it, just to be sure," he said.

Gabe arched an eyebrow but gestured at his ankle. "Go ahead."

The Alpha slipped off the couch and knelt in front of Gabe. He gently ran his hands down the Omega's calf and cupped the ankle. Gabe shivered slightly, and Logan could feel goosebumps rising from where his fingers had brushed the skin.

Gabe's ankle was cold to the touch from the ice pack. "Tell me if it hurts or if you want me to stop," he said quietly.

The Omega's eyebrows raised again, but he nodded.

Logan had learned the basics of first aid long ago, and it was coming back to him now. He was relieved to see that there was still no sign of bruising or swelling. No strange bumps anywhere to indicate a broken bone. The Omega's skin was silky soft, and it warmed under his hands.

Gabe exhaled slowly, watching him. "What do you think, doc? Will I need an amputation?" The Omega's voice was teasing, but his tone was lower and breathier than Logan was used to.

"There's only one way to know for sure." Logan bent down and brushed his lips just above Gabe's ankle bone. The Omega drew in a breath sharply, but Logan didn't want to look up. Slowly, teasingly, he kissed up the Omega's calf. Gabe's toes curled as he moved upward, brushing his lips lightly past the inside of the Omega's knee. 

Logan's cock was straining painfully against his constricting boxer-briefs, and he could see Gabe's own erection tenting the shorts he wore. The Alpha arched up, careful of Gabe's ankle, put his hands on the Omega's shoulders, and pulled him into a hard kiss.