Author's Note:

Thanks to johnsarmylady for the beta, the Britpick AND the great suggestions!


CHAPTER 4: BITE ME

John stared from the phone to Sherlock and back to the phone again. "Tell me what this is about," he demanded. "In her letter your mum said only that you were being harassed at school, but she didn't go into any detail."

Sherlock explained about Moriarty's intimidating behaviour, including that one last, underhanded attempt to mark him.

"That fucking dickhead!" John exclaimed, throttling down his fury with great difficulty. "He should be banished from school. Why didn't you report him?"

Sherlock said, "If I reported him, he'd say he was only kidding around. And then he'd know I was afraid."

"You have every reason to be afraid, Sherlock! He as good as told you he was going to take you during your first heat whether you like it or not."

"Well, I'm not afraid anymore. Now that I have had even this small taste of what we will be to each other after we bond, I know that there's nothing Moriarty can do to break the connection we already have. No one will ever be able to…John, what?"

Mid-sentence, John pulled the younger boy into his arms and tightened them around him protectively. "I don't want to risk him doing anything that will cause you pain to undo. Breaking any bond will be distressful to an Omega, even a bond forced on the Omega against their will."

Sherlock had to admit that he wasn't totally convinced a pre-bond arrangement would deter Moriarty. "But maybe if we scent mark each other as well? Even if I haven't presented yet, I know my Omega fragrance is emerging." Against his cheek he felt John nodding emphatically. "So if you imprint your Alpha scent on my scent glands, it will be clear to him that someone else has an irrefutable prior claim on me."

John thought about that for a moment and then frowned. "But even if we strengthen the scent every day from now until we both go back to school, the smell will fade long before end of term. So we'll have to work out a way to meet up on weekends somehow to reinforce the scent marking, at least until we can be together again the whole time over the summer holidays."

"Only meet on weekends until summer?" Sherlock was appalled and pulled back out of John's arms. He'd known John less than two hours and already could not imagine being apart from him, not ever. "No!" he protested. "That is totally unacceptable!" He stamped a foot.

John felt exactly the same way, except without the stroppiness. "Sherlock, believe me, if there was anything I could do about this, I would. I just don't…"

"Bite me."

"What?" John wasn't sure he heard properly.

"Bite me!" Sherlock was so excited that he was vibrating. "Surely I'm close enough to presenting that if you bite me, it will bring on my first heat. Instead of a pre-bond, we can bond."

"But you got away from school so you wouldn't be forced into your first heat."

"There's no comparison between this and what Moriarty wants to do. You would simply be inducing my first heat, not forcing it."

"Sherlock, first heats are supposed to be very uncomfortable, and artificially induced first heats even more so."

"I'm not worried. You'll be right there to take care of me," Sherlock said confidently.

"But afterwards…I'll be in sixth form for another year. And then I'm going to uni to study medicine. Even if I got a job on nights and weekends, I'd never be able to make enough for both of us to live on. I can't possibly support a mate, and it would be completely irresponsible of me to bond until I can."

"You won't have to worry about that," Sherlock said triumphantly. "My grandparents on my mother's side were very old world, and they left an extremely generous trust fund for me upon my bonding, which is to go directly to my Alpha."

John sighed. "Yes, that's old world all right. And I wish you hadn't told me about it."

"Why? I thought you'd be pleased! It solves all of our potential financial problems."

"But now I can't say we decided to bond before I knew."

"Of course we did; we decided the minute we met…we just hadn't discussed it yet."

John stroked Sherlock's cheek tenderly. "We still haven't discussed it, not really. What you want me to do will set something in motion that is going to end with my owning you legally. Can you honestly say that doesn't bother you even a bit?"

"It's not a problem, John. You know I deduced just from your picture that you would never treat me as though you owned me." He hesitated, then went on a bit sheepishly, "But if I am being totally honest, all those deductions I told you about came only after I looked into your eyes in that picture. Right then I knew that you were my Alpha. The deductions that followed were almost beside the point. And now I am looking forward to whatever happens next, as long as it involves the two of us." A thoughtful pause. "And lots of sex."

John smiled at Sherlock and unable to help himself, reached out and mussed Sherlock's curls. "As your Alpha, I can absolutely guarantee you that from now on, sex will be involved more often than not."

"Excellent," Sherlock said, sounding extremely pleased with life. Then he looked around the bedroom helplessly. "I suppose it's good that you have had some prior sexual experience, John, because you're going to have to tell me what to do next."

John grinned. "Well first, let's get into bed or you're going to start thinking that sex only ever happens standing up."

They undressed, got into bed, and turned to face each other. John put his hands on Sherlock's hips and pulled them together so that their cocks touched and they moaned together quietly.

Sherlock sighed and squirmed even closer. "I must admit to being worried about comparisons, though. What if I'm not as good as anyone you have had before? I wish I could have been your first."

"Sherlock. The best sex I ever had was when you came in your pants."

Sherlock looked highly skeptical.

"No, it's true," John insisted. "You have no idea how unbelievably erotic that was. And remember, I've never been with a man before you. You were my first."

Sherlock puffed up with pride that his Alpha had referred to him as a man, and pleasure that he was John's first of something. And he waited expectantly for John to tell him what to do.

"Probably the best way for us to handle this is to mimic bonding sex as closely we can without actual penetration," John decided. "You turn around so that I'll be behind you. I'll have sex between your thighs and bite down on you when we both come."

"Ah, yes," said Sherlock, looking wise. "Intercrural intercourse."

John stared. "That thigh thing has a name? No way."

"Everything has a name, John. One just has to learn the word. Now, let's get started," Sherlock said and turned eagerly to his other side so that John was behind him. John slipped his already-hard cock between Sherlock's thighs, using his own pre-come as lubricant since Sherlock had no pot of lube conveniently stashed in his nightstand. (A problem that John intended to rectify as soon as possible.)

Though uncoordinated at first, all uncertainty vanished as they moved against each other. John slid his shaft in and out between Sherlock's lean thighs and simultaneously snaked his hand around to grasp Sherlock's cock. Sherlock moaned loudly. Encouraged, John used some of Sherlock's pre-come for extra lubrication and moved even more purposefully.

"That's it, Sherlock, that's it," John crooned. "Now, squeeze your thighs together more tightly around me, yes, just like that. Oh God, yes!"

Suddenly Sherlock begged, "I want you in me, John, please!"

There was no way John could put his young Omega through that yet. Trying to keep his voice steady, John said, "No, we can't. Just a couple more hours—then whatever you want."

"No, now!" Sherlock insisted frantically. "I'm so empty. Fill me, John. Fill me with your cock. Fill me with pups. Don't wanna wait."

Oh no! This was more than a bit not good. Sherlock was freely offering him everything an Alpha might want. John had to stop this before it went too far.

"Sherlock, calm down." John used the Alpha tone of voice which worked without exception on Omegas, hoping it would have that effect on Sherlock even though he hadn't presented yet. John actually felt it was a totally unfair way to treat anyone, and he apologised as soon as Sherlock quieted down and his movements became less agitated.

"I'm sorry; I'm so sorry, sweetheart," he said. "But I had to slow you down. I promise you, when you go into heat in just a few hours, we can have sex swinging from the chandeliers if that's what you want. But this time, just this time, it wouldn't be right."

Suddenly Sherlock asked, "Chandeliers? What…wait a minute." He twisted his head around to try to look at John. "Did I just beg you to fill me with pups?" he asked, looking stunned.

John sighed in relief. Sherlock was back in control of himself. "You did. And you tempted me with that tight, sweet, virginal arse. A gift which I will gladly accept when we bond. But now that you're back in your right mind…" He moved his hand faster on Sherlock's gently weeping cock. The sooner this phase of the plan was over, the better. John only had so much strength to resist temptation. Seriously, there were times it was no fun having to be the level-headed one in the relationship!

He kept his mouth hovering around Sherlock's neck and shoulders where the bite was going to go, nibbling and mouthing at the area. The tip of his tongue ran along Sherlock's neck and shoulders, but Sherlock would have sworn he felt it travel down his spine and into his cock, where his orgasm begin to spread out in ever-increasing waves until he couldn't have stopped it even if he wanted to. Which he most emphatically did not.

When he felt Sherlock's balls contract, John thrust forward desperately between his thighs. They were both coming now. John held on to a tiny bit of reason long enough to bite down on Sherlock's neck just hard enough to break the skin, and it was done. They were as close to bonded as they were going to get until Sherlock went into heat—which assuming all went well, would be in just a couple of hours.

But for now, John held them both in place, licking and sucking gently at the bite, introducing enzymes to Sherlock's system which would kickstart the Omega's heat while his body prepared to bond with John, and John alone.

Sherlock lay contentedly, almost in a trance, reliving the memory of John's mouth on the nape of his neck, of being held firmly against the Alpha's compact body as he bit down; but it wasn't long before he stirred uncomfortably, saying, "Sex may not be tedious but it is certainly messy, John. I'm lying in a puddle of both your ejaculate and mine."

John pulled Sherlock out of the wet spot and rolled him over so that they were face to face again. "Hey there," John whispered, sliding his fingers through Sherlock's curls while caressing Sherlock's lips with his own. The sensuality of the simple touch of John's lips left Sherlock almost gasping for breath.

"They won't separate us now," Sherlock murmured, pressing his face against John's neck. "They will have to come up with some way to keep us together."

"I assume you already have some ideas?"

"Quite a few. All entirely feasible."

"Care to share?"

Sherlock ticked off each point on his fingers as he elucidated. "Effective immediately, you will transfer to my school or I will transfer to yours, the latter of which is not ideal for me, but I would do it to be with you if necessary. Then we spend your second year in 6th form at whichever school we choose to attend while I take my own Year 11 classes and simultaneously study to take tests for early uni acceptance so that we can go to uni together. At uni, we can either live in the special housing for bonded students, or lease our own flat somewhere. In the unlikely event that I do not qualify for early acceptance, I can do my sixth form as a day student at a school near your university."

John blinked. Sherlock was just amazing. He had already come up with all that? John's mind was still somewhat clouded from the orgasm. "God, you're a wonder," he breathed into Sherlock's hair. Sherlock preened under the praise.

"All right, then, Sherlock, let's get up and handle this the way we will handle everything from now on — together." John slid over to the edge of the bed and sat up, but turned back when he heard a deep rumble of laughter behind him.

"Oh, Mycroft is going to be so mad that I get to bond first," Sherlock all but crowed.

John smiled affectionately. He was finding it incredibly endearing the way Sherlock shifted from a highly articulate young man to a bratty teenager in the blink of his silver-blue eyes.

ooOOoo

When the boys left to go to Sherlock's room, Mummy Holmes had stared after them in amazement. "Did you see that energy transfer between them? It's like in the stories. They were meant for each other," she said to no one in particular.

Mycroft snorted, and both Mummy and Father frowned at him.

Jennifer Watson and her daughter just stood there feeling uneasy and out of place in this beautiful house with these posh people—and especially with that tall, auburn-haired guy scowling at them as if they had done something wrong.

Mummy Holmes noticed their discomfort. "Where are my manners?" she asked rhetorically and invited the Watson women into a large sitting room. "The boys may be a while," she said, gesturing for the Watsons to take a seat. "I'll go make tea, shall I?"

The time that followed was uncomfortable in the extreme. Everyone was wondering what might be going on with John and Sherlock, while at the same time pretending it was the last thing on their minds. Mummy made gracious small talk about the weather and Downton Abbey and even the upcoming elections, but only Father answered in much more than a monosyllable.

At one point Mycroft stood, excusing himself 'to use the facilities', as he phrased it, but he had only taken two steps in the direction of his bedroom when his father said firmly "Use the guest bathroom, My; you might be interrupting if you use the one you share with Sherlock."

Mycroft got the message loud and clear: stay away from John and Sherlock. Was it possible his parents truly wanted to encourage Sherlock to bond with this seemingly unremarkable young man at some point? It was exceedingly odd—his Omega father was getting very Alpha-like over the situation. And his Alpha mother was clearly encouraging it as well. He wondered if they were starting to go senile. Not only was Sherlock too young, but this John person was…nobody.

When the boys had not returned after an hour, Mummy Holmes whipped up a very nice, impromptu lunch. As everyone tucked in hungrily, Mummy said, "Jennifer, Harriet, let me tell you about Sherlock. As I said in my letter, he is a gifted violinist. And like his brother here," she nodded her head at Mycroft, "his IQ is off the charts."

"As is yours, my dear," said Crispin fondly. "Don't be modest."

Mummy Holmes shrugged and continued, "But where Mycroft was always able to fit in smoothly, Sherlock has never been able to do so, academically or socially. In fact, this new school, Greencoat's—he's only been there one year, but he has settled in beautifully and it was painful to think of taking him out and having him start all over again elsewhere. Thanks to your John, he will be able to stay now."

"Assuming John goes along with this pre-bond idea," Jennifer Watson pointed out. She was still trying to come to grips with the fact that her son had not immediately rejected the idea of potentially forming a bond with a male.

Harry rolled her eyes. "He was never going to say no, mum; not with the way he was mooning over that picture."

Mummy looked pleased at Harry's words. "Surely the fact that the boys have not come out yet means they are getting along well," she said with satisfaction.

Mycroft gave a grunt of disgust. "Getting along well? They've been back there almost two hours now. I can't believe you allowed them to go to Sherlock's room unchaperoned."

"Unchaperoned?" Jennifer Watson felt as if she had fallen down the rabbit hole. "Are you for real?"

Almost at the same time Harry laughed coarsely. "What's got your knickers in a twist, Mr. Snottypants?" she demanded.

"Mycroft, you will behave yourself or you can just go back to work," Mummy scolded. She turned to Jennifer and Harry. "Please forgive my eldest. The age difference between the two boys is great, and there are times when Mycroft appears to labour under the delusion that he is Sherlock's father."

An awkward silence descended following Mummy's apology. It was so quiet that everyone clearly heard two sets of footsteps coming down the hallway.

When John and Sherlock walked into the sitting room, it was obvious to everyone that something significant had happened between them. Although Sherlock was two years younger than John, they were currently both the same height and made a handsome pair, one head dark and one blond. They stood with their arms wrapped around each other's waists, pressed together shoulder to hip. No one needed Sherlock's or Mycroft's powers of observation to know that they had not just been talking for the past two hours.

Mycroft looked down his nose in disgust at John. "You do realise Sherlock is not of age. We could have you…"

"Be quiet, Mycroft!" Crispin Holmes snapped. "This may be the only time in your adult life you will ever hear these words, but you do not have a clue what you are talking about. I can only pray you find your true bond-mate soon, before your head becomes permanently lodged up your arse!"

Mycroft stared at his father in astonishment, while Sherlock looked absolutely delighted at his brother's public dressing down.

"Well, there's that taken care of," Mummy said, pointedly turning away from Mycroft, "and now it looks as though it's time for John and Sherlock to sign the pre-bond agreement."

John shook his head 'no' and looked at Sherlock, who said, "John and I talked about it," (there was a snigger from Harry, which was ignored) "and we have decided we don't want to form a pre-bond."

"What!? But…" Mummy gestured vaguely at the two of them, joined at the hip.

"We have decided we want to bond right now, today."

Pandemonium.