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Steve nuzzled closer to the warm body holding him. The sea salt and sandalwood scent tickled his nose as he breathed in the mysterious alpha. Warm lips slid along his own, soft and sweet.
“Please,” Steve whispered. The man growled, burying his face in Steve’s neck.
“You’re beautiful,” a deep voice rasped. “Prettiest alpha I’ve ever seen.”
Steve whined, accepting the other man’s tongue into his mouth. He licked against Steve’s palette, practically devouring him whole.
Steve had never been kissed like this in his life. Birds sang, wedding bells chimed as Steve melted in the alpha’s embrace.
The bells got louder and shriller the longer they stayed pressed together. Steve furrowed his brows, suddenly annoyed the sound.
Why won’t it stop?
Jolting upright, Steve gasps for air. Looking around in shock, he finds himself in his bedroom. Alone. The alarm clock blares, the same screaming from his dream.
It’s been the same dream for weeks now. The same alpha, the same ocean scent. It’s driving him nuts.
Grumbling to himself, Steve turns off his alarm and throws himself out of bed. He shuffles to the closet, as a stretch overtakes his body.
Normally, Steve wouldn’t think too hard about what to wear. The bakery he works at is pretty lax with dress code; and since he opens, he’s only in front of customers for two or three hours.
But as he pulls out his go to joggers and t-shirt, the strange alpha from his dream fills his head. Long curly brown hair, teasing smirk, lithe frame with hidden muscle…a shiver runs down Steve’s spine.
It’s odd. Steve knows he’s never seen the man before; but at the same time, he seems so familiar. The way they kissed… Steve lightly touches his lips.
He’s been with omegas, alphas, and betas alike; no one has ever kissed him like the alpha from his dream. Of course you haven’t, it’s a figment of your imagination!
Shaking his head at himself, Steve grabs his date night jeans. A size too small, they leave little to the imagination. He doesn’t want to get coffee on his nicer shirts, so he yanks on a light blue polo.
Checking his reflection, Steve admires himself. There’s a tasteful amount of chest hair peeking above his collar and his biceps bulge just a little.
I’m losing my mind, he thinks as he heads out the door.
By the time the shop opens, Steve really regrets his date night jeans. As hot as they make him look, they are not conducive for the range of motion he needs.
Luckily, his replacement should be here in an hour. Then, he can go home and get comfortable. Maybe burn these jeans.
Just as he’s taking a tray of hot rolls from the oven, the bell above the door rings.
“Welcome to Benny's Hot Buns,” Steve shouts the greeting over his shoulder.
“Benny's hot buns huh? Are you Benny?” A man says.
That voice. Steve turns around so fast the rolls spill all over the floor; but he doesn't even notice.
“It’s you,” He whispers. Because the man standing in the lobby is the one from his dreams. Blinking rapidly, Steve's eyes dart all over the man's features. The same long curly hair, the same thin frame. The same sandalwood and sea salt scent.
The only difference between the two is the real life alpha’s mouth is down turned in a concerned frown. The empty tray slips from Steve's hands, bouncing off his arm, before it crashes loudly to the floor.
Steve hisses, his ginger scent sharpens as the burning sensation breaks through his stupor. With no hesitation, the alpha vaults over the counter and grabs his wrist, inspecting his forearm.
“It doesn’t look too bad,” the man says with pursed lips. “Do you have any burn cream?”
“In the back,” Steve points behind the swinging door that leads to the kitchen. “I can get it,” he tries to insist.
“I’ll find it. You need to run your arm under cool water. Cool, not cold,” the man shakes his finger like a school teacher.
Endeared, Steve does as he’s told and runs the burn under the faucet. It feels amazing, he has to admit.
“Found it!” The alpha shouts as he returns with the first aid kit.
“What’s your name? I can’t keep thinking of you as ‘the alpha,’” Steve sighs. The man snorts.
“Eddie Munson, at your service,” he bows.
“Steve Harrington, at yours,” he replies. It’s a weird call and response he heard in one of Dustin’s movies, but it makes Eddie’s eyes sparkle with mirth.
“Nice to meet you, Stevie. Now, can I take a look at your arm?” Eddie asks. Steve nods, holding it out for Eddie. With gentle touches, Eddie pats the burn dry and dabs on the cream. He releases a calming scent, the sandalwood/sea salt combo reminds Steve of the ocean. His favorite place.
Once he’s done with the cream, Eddie lightly wraps his arm with gauze.
“That should do it,” he whispers, glancing up. They’re close. Much closer than Steve anticipated. Eddie’s nose nearly brushes his as he pulls away, clearing his throat.
“Thanks,” Steve says.
“No, problem.”
The lingering silence is awkward.
“So, I’m assuming you didn’t come to the bakery to take care of a surface burn. What can I get you?” Steve asks, breaking the tension.
“Oh, right!” Eddie laughs, going back to the customer side of the counter. “I’m picking up a catering order. Should be under Wayne.”
With a nod, Steve head to the back, locating the boxes with ease.
“Six croissants, two loaves of bread, and a dozen bagels,” Steve rattles off. “I threw in a few apple fritters, too. On the house, for your help earlier.”
“That’s sweet of you, thanks sweetheart,” Eddie grins, taking the packages.
Eddie’s almost at the front door when he stops. He puts everything down on a nearby table and turns back to face Steve. There’s a calculating look in his eyes.
“Earlier you said, ‘it’s you’. What did you mean?” Eddie asks, voice soft and almost shy. Oh, that. Steve winces.
“You’re the alpha in my dreams,” Steve whispers, cringing at the way that sounds. “That’s not a line I swear! I just…” he sighs, crossing his arms over his chest and averting his gaze. “I’ve been having the same dream for weeks. I can never see the alpha’s face, but he has hair just like yours and you smell exactly the same. That’s crazy, right?”
He expects Eddie to run from the shop as fast as he can, calling him every version of insane in the book. Instead, his ringed fingers land on his wrists again. He’d been too distracted to notice them before, but they suit the man’s hands.
“It’s not crazy,” Eddie whispers. He grips Steve’s chin, tilting his head until they make eye contact. “You’re the alpha in my dreams, too.”
“Really?” Steve gasps, searching his face for any sign of deception; but finding none.
“Can I kiss you, baby?” Eddie leans closer, a hair’s breath away. Steve nods and lets his eyes slip shut.
Just like his dream, Eddie’s warm lips press against his softly. Steve sighs, melting into the arms circling his waist. He wraps his own around Eddie’s neck, pulling him in.
They kiss and kiss and kiss until Steve breaks away, gasping for air.
“Holy shit,” he whispers. He was right, no one has ever kissed him like that.
“Where have you been all my life?” Eddie grins.
“In your dreams,” Steve grins mischievously.
“That was terrible,” Eddie snorts, shaking his head fondly before kissing Steve some more.