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“Aw, come on… I’m not like that!”
Slash was visibly flustered, his voice rose in pitch and Duff resisted the temptation to squeeze his reddening cheeks.
“No, seriously, I – ” He pursed his lips as the voice on the line cut him off.
Slash was sitting with his back against the headboard of the cushy hotel bed, wrapped up in a complimentary white terrycloth robe, with freshly-washed hair soaking his collar and the telephone receiver cradled at his shoulder. He was in the middle of an interview, and Duff, for his part, was being perfectly quiet as he waited on the couch for Slash to finish.
This was nothing new: even now that they could afford their own rooms, Duff still spent most of his time in Slash’s suite. And they’d learned long ago that it was best not to let on that there was anyone else in the room during interviews – it raised too many questions that they didn’t care to answer.
“No, people have this idea that – just because I’m in a band and I’m… you know, an alpha…” Slash always stumbled on his words when he was embarrassed, it frustrated him sometimes but Duff found it endearing. “But I’m really not one of those guys who’ll like, pick fights with other alphas and come on to every omega they meet. I just wasn’t raised that way, you know?”
Duff had heard this line of questioning a million times before. If only he had a nickel for every time Slash had tried to explain that just because he’s an alpha and a rockstar, that doesn’t mean he’s an asshole, he doesn’t throw his weight around and get whatever he wants, and he can’t just tell Axl what to do because he’s an omega, it doesn’t work that way!
But the press never listened. Honestly, Duff was glad he was just a common beta, if it meant he had to deal with a little less bullshit.
Really though, part of it was just Slash himself. Alpha or no, somehow he always managed to attract attention – much of it undesired. There was just something about his look, his riffs, his mystique. Reporters, managers, and omegas… everyone wanted a piece of Slash.
Duff was the one who got him, though.
—
“Jesus, that guy was like a fucking shark! You’d think he was scenting me through the phone line.” Slash dropped the receiver on its cradle with a forceful good riddance and an irritated pout.
“He sounded like a jerk,” Duff sympathized, climbing onto the bed to reclaim his spot straddling Slash’s thighs. “Beta?”
“I think so. Don’t be jealous?” He leaned up to peck Duff’s temple and gave him an imploring look, but the corner of his lips gave his teasing away.
“As if,” Duff scoffed. “…He should learn to mind his own business.” He parted the lapels of the robe and lay his hands on Slash’s warm chest as it rose and fell with his laughter.
“You gonna teach him a lesson, sweetheart?” he gently prodded, looking up at Duff with fond amusement, hooded eyes and curled lips. “Gonna defend your alpha’s honor?”
“I’d teach him a lesson with my fists if you’d let me…” Duff played along, half-serious.
“No one lays a hand on you, you know that.”
The words slipped out as a growl, and Duff tipped his head forward to chuckle breathlessly into Slash’s shoulder.
“Christ, Slash…”
“Aw, don’t make fun of me baby, you know I can’t control that sometimes,” he whined, tugging on a lock of wet hair and twisting it around his fingers. A drop of water landed on his collarbone.
“I wasn’t!” Duff giggled again, feeling uncharacteristically bashful. “It was sexy…”
He watched the droplet trace a path down Slash’s bare chest, avoiding his gaze to hide his warm cheeks. Slash had dated betas before, but Duff had never been with another alpha, and sometimes Slash’s idiosyncrasies still managed to fluster him.
“Oh?” Slash sounded pleased. That was more than enough encouragement for him, he didn’t hesitate to get to work on Duff’s shirt buttons. His calloused fingertips grazed Duff’s skin, and he squirmed on Slash’s lap. “I’m sorry for keeping you waiting so long, you’ve been so patient all afternoon while I’ve been stuck in interviews…”
“Typical selfish alpha behavior,” Duff sniped, but he was already unwinding the sash around Slash’s waist.
Slash rolled his eyes. “Not you too…” He buried his fingers in Duff’s hair and pulled him close for a kiss. “I’m sure there’s some way I can make it up to you…”