A/N: Hello, my lovelies *waves* Been a while, huh? Yeah, I know. Truly am sorry for disappearing like that *bows deeply* I can't say it was unexpected, because I did anticipate that with all the changes at work (which I had no power over whatsoever) my leisure time would considerably decrease, same as my energy and overall motivation to do anything other than lie on the couch reading or sleeping and being a totally useless good-for-nothing. So…yeah. Basically, that's what happened. I was exhausted and thus completely demotivated and sometimes slightly depressed. And even though this chapter had been mostly ready for quite some time, I simply couldn't muster enough energy and motivation to finish and check and edit it.

But now it's vacation time (oh, thank God), so I finally got around to doing some writing. I'll tell you in advance not to get too excited, though, because the holidays will end soon in my country, and I highly doubt that I'll manage to get anything updated before then. And probably for some time after that, too. Sorry in advance *bows again*

Anyway. Here is the new chapter. Disclaimer, warnings and so on still stand. All mistakes are mine.

Thank you guys for the favs, alerts and most of all, for your wonderful reviews! They are an absolute delight *^^*

Also, quite belatedly, but Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!

And now…please enjoy! :D

Chapter 11: Anticipation

"My heat is approaching," Zero uttered quietly in between kisses, pausing briefly to peer into Kaname's eyes before leaning down for another slow brush of lips. "I can feel it."

Kaname hummed softly with a small nod. "So can I." It was in his mate's scent, in its heightened sweetness and potency — a relatively subtle shift, yet, but still there.

Zero made a sound that was half-snort and half-chuckle, most likely leaning more toward the former rather than the latter, Kaname was sure.

"That's why you've been acting like a creepy stalker?" Zero asked.

Kaname's face assumed an offended frown. "I have not," he denied.

"Oh, I'm sorry," Zero mock-apologized before leaning down to touch his smiling lips to Kaname's frowning — and steadily getting close to pouting — ones in a soft peck. "I meant like Aidou."

Kaname groaned, grimacing. Zero chuckled, his smile only widening and unconcealed amusement increasing further.

"That's even worse," Kaname complained. "Do you enjoy being mean to me?"

Zero nodded, humming softly. "Yes, very much so."

"You're terrible," Kaname accused, feigning hurt. "A bully. A menace."

"I am," Zero easily admitted. His head tilted to the side and smile morphed into a small smirk. "And you love it."

Kaname sighed, still fighting to seem disgruntled.

Zero gave a quiet snort, then gently cupped his lover's face in both palms and brushed their lips together in another series of lingering, close-mouthed kisses, slyly appeasing. "Don't you?" he asked, already knowing the answer — they both did, of course. The question didn't need to be asked.

Kaname gave another sigh, this one of resignation. "You know I do," he replied, however unnecessarily, as he peered into the other's quietly affectionate lavender eyes.

"Mm," Zero nodded, then leaned in and pressed their foreheads together, his eyes sliding shut and his arms around Kaname's neck tightening their embrace a little more. He took a deep breath and released it in a slow sigh, perfectly content where he was.

So was Kaname, save for one thing.

"…I'm still not Aidou, though," he couldn't help saying after a short while of peaceful silence.

Zero chuckled, shaking his head and pulling away a little to take in his mate's face. "Creepy stalker, then?" he suggested.

Kaname's brows furrowed in silent disagreement.

Zero huffed an amused breath. "You're so hard to please," he chided good-naturedly. "So demanding and spoiled."

Kaname's frown deepened. "I am not," he denied. "And I certainly am not a 'creepy stalker'."

"You've been behaving like one," Zero shot back, quickly adding when Kaname opened his mouth to voice what he knew would be another protest, "And don't you even try denying it. You've been impossible these last few nights. And days. And you damn well know it."

Kaname averted his gaze and hid his face in Zero's neck. "It's all these troublesome instincts," he mumbled, hugging the hunter's waist a little tighter. "Not me."

Zero chuckled, shaking his head indulgently, and lifted his hand to pet the soft chocolate locks of Kaname's hair.

"Surely you have been around an omega in pre-heat before?"

A look of distaste flickered across Kaname's face. "Of course I have," he replied. "But it never made me act like…like that."

"Like what?"

It took Kaname a moment to find the right words that weren't the 'creepy stalker'. "Like a mindless alpha."

Zero blinked down at the pureblood, his head tilted to the side as he took in and processed the information.

"…You've never been with one, have you?" Zero asked after a long moment of silence, his eyes a fraction wider in his astonishment.

Kaname lifted his head to meet his lover's gaze.

"An omega," Zero elaborated. "In heat."

There was a stretch of silence. Then…

"No."

Zero's breath caught in his throat before escaping him in a shaky exhale, a full-body shiver running through him, and he pulled Kaname closer. "Good," he praised hotly against his alpha's lips in a sudden surge of delighted possessiveness that surprised him, and the next second the distance between them became non-existent as their mouths connected in a ravenous kiss.

"…It won't be long now," Zero whispered, panting, after the need to breathe had forced them to separate.

Kaname blinked at the expression on his mate's face, a small frown crossing his brow for a brief moment of curious confusion. "Do you not want it to come?"

The fingers in Kaname's hair involuntarily tightened, turning the grip almost painful for a second, before Zero forced himself to relax. He sighed, lowering his gaze and leaning forward to align their foreheads together once more. "I haven't had one in a while." His lips curved into a dry smile and he looked up to meet the pureblood's burgundy eyes. "In a very long while, in fact."

Kaname absently hummed his acknowledgement, quietly enjoying the feeling of Zero in his arms, their skin touching, their body heats mingling. "How long?"

Zero took a moment to consider. "A few years," was his answer.

The admission made Kaname's eyes widen and flash with surprised, disbelieving wonder. "Years?" he echoed for the sake of confirmation.

Zero nodded, unfazed by the reaction.

Kaname blinked. "But…how?"

Zero's shoulders rose in a light shrug. "Suppressants. All kinds. A lot of them."

Kaname's lips parted to voice his next question of 'Why?', but he was quick to stop it from escaping. He knew the reason. He didn't need to ask — or hear his assumption confirmed, for that matter.

Zero must have realized what he was thinking, because his expression shifted to one of soft appreciation, and he leaned down to express his gratitude with a sweet, tender yet unchangingly scorching kiss. One Kaname was all too happy to accept and deepen.

"Are you worried? Afraid?" Kaname asked — breathed, really — raggedly a short while after parting from their passionate dance of lips and tongues. Panting, Zero licked his now swollen lips, unconsciously chasing his lover's pleasantly familiar taste. Kaname's eyes inadvertently followed the quick movement, narrowing, growing darker with slowly yet steadily deepening desire.

"Nervous," Zero corrected, having caught his breath somewhat. "And…anticipatory." Which was certainly a first for him. Because heats had always been something he had dreaded and prayed would never come.

They both felt tremors rake through their entwined bodies at the confession.

"It's going to be alright. I've got you," Kaname promised.

Zero couldn't help smiling warmly, adoringly, at that. "I know," he replied, cupping the side of Kaname's face. "I know you do." And he once again shortened the small distance between them to seal their promise with another kiss.

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-to be continued-

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