slashyrogue:

Spacedogs AU: Rules to Break When Romancing A Rake 

Adam Raki is never going to get married.

He comes to this conclusion even before the end of his season when the lack of alpha attentions was already overwhelmingly obvious. His father has chalked it up to each alpha not being “his one” and he agrees for most did not seem to be able to stomach him for more than a dance.

At least not after he’d told them the rules of courting him.

Rule #1: No kissing.

Any proper omega worth their salt knew you should not put the cart before the horse and his own father had made these rules so he trusted him to be truthful. So what if he’d seen Bethany in the bushes with nearly every omegan who batted their eyelashes at her? Who cared if he knew Will Graham had already impregnated his omega fiance the day after they met?

Things such as a kiss before a marriage bond were reckless and just something he would never do.

Rule #2: No unsupervised rendezvous.

He knew most omegas once they’d found their someone were more than happy to go gallivanting around in the dark to be near them but that was how unwed and unbonded omegas were made. He would not go out without a proper chaperone. No matter how handsome or beautiful an alpha was.

Rule #3: No ingestion of liquors or tobacco products.

Adam’s father smokes a pipe and he does not enjoy the scent, not at all, which means he rides  in a separate carriage to every ball. He knows pipes are all the rage though he does not understand the appeal. He will not have a husband who ingests those things nor will he ever do it himself.

Rule #4: No more than one dance.

This rule he often wishes he felt differently on, though he had yet to have an alpha who asked for more than one all season long. He longs at times to get properly danced with, the perfect alpha hold as they move and sway along. That doesn’t seem to be occuring in the near future and he thinks perhaps he should worry about this.

Rule #5: No unseemly conversation

Adam hears omegas whisper about such talk at balls, giggling behind their hands at alpha’s posturing talk of ‘filling’ and ‘tasting’ that he just will not be a part of. He does not understand that type of talk being anything but inappropriate and disgusting.

He has spent the last few months since he came of age somehow turning most alphas away because of his regimented rules but his father says “those are not your person” which helps his anxious feelings on the subject.

The idea that he may spend the rest of his life dealing with heats alone is not the worst thing as he is not entirely comfortable with strangers.

Also he feels no excitement about going to balls.

Adam more and more is thrilled not to be paid much mind.  The events his father brings him to he starts to wander around in more than stay in view of the ballroom.

He spends time in the libraries, the porches or, more often than not, the garden.

It’s there, sitting on a bench in the garden of Lord Renoir’s estate, that he first sees The Man in Black.

The man is climbing out of the second story window carrying a rucksack. His face is entirely covered by a mask that also blocks view of his hair. Adam stands  and walks forward just as he jumps down to the grass.

“Are you a thief?”

The man turns and his smile makes  Adam’s stomach feel odd. “Of course not, Darling,” he says, “I am merely here for the costume ball.”

Adam steps back as the man, whose scent identifies him as Alpha with a sudden rush to Adam’s senses, moves forward.

“This is not a costume ball. I need to—“

The Alpha reaches out and Adam shivers in anticipation of a touch. The stranger’s hand stops just short of his cheek.

“May I touch you, Darling?”

“No,” Adam says, “It’s improper.”

A hearty laugh makes Adam warmer than before and he feels slick slide down his thighs.

“I’m anything but proper, Gorgeous. But I do respect a proper omega. Especially one who smells as good as you do. Can I have your name?”

“No,” Adam whispers, “I don’t give my name to thieves.”

The Man in Black steps back and bows. “Of course you don’t. Apologies. Would you give me a moment to get away before you alert them?”

“I—“

He takes off into the trees before Adam can even finish his thought. Adam feels weak in the knees and has to right himself a moment.

No alpha before has made him feel such things or smelled so very enticing.

Who was that masked man?