Green-eyed monster

      What the hell, Jean thinks as a waitress flirts with Jeremy right in front of everyone. To the omega's credit, she does the act of 'I'm a cute and helpless omega' pretty well with all the blushing and bashful smiles – some people eat it right up, to Jean's disgust.       He eyes Jeremy to check if the farce is working on him, a pit in his stomach growing as he sees Jeremy smiling at the bumbling waitress. A deep breath gets him a whiff of Jeremy's scent – amber with delicate jasmine, something strong and soothing. Unfortunately, it doesn't help when he smells the omega, too– cloying vanilla with maple syrup that nearly makes Jean gag.       Something nudges his knee under the table, so he shifts his attention to Cat sitting next to him. Her eyes are sparkling like she is amused. Jean doesn't share the sentiment.       "Stop scowling or your face will stay like that," she whispers.       Jean tries to relax his features, but it is impossible when some girl thinks she can flirt with his omega. His hands tingle with the urge to throttle her, so that he doesn't have to see her stupid smile anymore.       "I'll be back in a few," the waitress says in a sweet tone, collecting their menus.       "Thank you," Jeremy beams, apparently oblivious to Jean's murderous intent.       When the omega walks away, her blonde ponytail swinging behind her, Cat loops her arm around Jean. "Ease up, big boy," she says cheerfully.       It's then that Jeremy finally looks at them and his nose twitches as if he smelled something unpleasant. His gaze settles on Jean. "What's wrong?" he asks.       "Nothing," says Jean, but his scent probably tells a different story. He squashes the butterflies in his stomach that stir whenever the brown eyes look at him, full of concern. At the opposite side of the table, Laila tries to hide a smile behind her hand, and Jean can feel Cat stifling her laugh.       "What," Jeremy says, still puzzled about the situation.       "Someone's jealous," Laila says in a sing-song voice.       Jean can feel his cheeks getting hot and his mouth dry. He isn't jealous, that's absurd! There is no reason to be. Though they haven't given each others marks yet, Jeremy is his boyfriend and so far, he has been nothing but wonderful to Jean. Why would he get jealous?       On the other hand, he can't deny that he nearly hisses when the waitress comes back and smiles towards Jeremy, ignoring the rest of them. His instincts scream at him to take Jeremy to home and scent him so thoroughly that nobody will even think of making a move ever again. Jean really likes the idea.       The waitress tucks her hair behind her ear, eyes locked on Jeremy. "I'd love to talk to you more if you have time some day," she says, her high voice grating on Jean's nerves.       Anger boils within him, nearly tipping over the edge, and Cat must sense it because she tightens her side-hug in warning. He tries to stifle the fire by taking long breaths, not wanting to cause a scene.       Jeremy looks puzzled at the waitress at first, but then something seems to click inside his head. "Oh sorry," he says, "I have a boyfriend." He looks at Jean with the typical softness in his eyes, a small smile on his face.       Jean will deny to the end of his days that the acknowledgment nearly makes him purr in delight.       The waitress sighs. "I should have figured that an alpha like you would be taken." They all stiffen at her words, but she continues, oblivious to the change in mood. "Please, enjoy your lunch." This time, she smiles at everyone and walks away before they say anything.       Jeremy's features have tightened, the smile looking dull now. "Let's eat," he says, and the fake cheerfulness makes Jean's skin crawl.       He will kill the waitress, that is decided.       "Switch with me," he says to Laila who has gone unnaturally silent. The need to be close to Jeremy, to comfort him, is too strong for Jean to ignore.       "I'm okay, really," Jeremy says as Jean scoots closer to him, their thighs touching.       Jean doesn't believe him for a second.       It happens sometimes – Jeremy being mistaken for an alpha. Why? Jean has no clue. For one, his scent is more alpha-like, thanks to the hormones, and his behavior nothing like a stereotypical alpha. Still, some people are just plain stupid, it seems.       Jean takes another deep breath and tries to calm himself down. His scent wraps around him and Jeremy like a blanket, meant to comfort the dejected omega. The effort earns him a quiet 'Thank you', the words making Jean preen. He would love to take Jeremy to his nest right now, to protect him and scent his skin thoroughly to show his claim. Fortunately, he doesn't have to wait long for it.       As soon as the group enters their home, Jean drags Jeremy towards their room, accompanied by whistles from Laila. Jean doesn't pay her any mind, focused on his need to get Jeremy alone. The man in question makes a dispassionate attempt at resisting, but in the end, he allows himself to be pulled by his wrist to whenever Jean wishes for him to go. It pleases Jean immensely.       The door bang closed behind them, and soon Jeremy lies on the bed, surrounded by multiple pillows and blankets Jean prefers using to build his nest.       Yes, give him the softest pillows,Jean's mind whispers. Normally, he would scowl at the thought but today is not that day. His instincts urge him to do more, and that is how one of his T-shirts ends up on Jeremy, engulfing him in the smell of cinnamon and wine.       When Jean leans over Jeremy, the man smiles up at him. "Hi," he says, barely above a whisper, as if afraid to disturb the peace and quiet in their room.       Jean doesn't say anything but instead, he dives for Jeremy's neck, biting at the scent gland gently. The omega buckles underneath him, but with Jean's weight over him, he has nowhere to go. Jean purrs at having the man all to himself and nuzzles his neck, making sure to cover it with his scent thoroughly. Jeremy's own has lost most of the sour tone it had at the diner, now being the strong amber and jasmine Jean loves so much. Jeremy shakes under him, the omega laughing as Jean's hair tickle his sensitive skin. Jean will never tire of hearing it.       "I'm sorry."       Jeremy's words jerk Jean's head up, the taller omega looking at him in disbelief. Why is he apologizing?       "I didn't know she was flirting," Jeremy explains, avoiding eye contact.       "I'm not angry at you," Jean says, still puzzled about the apology.       "You looked mad earlier." Jeremy shrugs, and something twists in Jean's heart at making the omega sad.       His hand cups Jeremy's cheek, and the man finally looks at him, apprehensive. "Not at you," he says heartily, "but at the dumb waitress."       His clear disdain makes Jeremy chuckle. "My knight in shining armor." The tease doesn't fail to make Jean's cheeks heat up.       "Shut up," Jean says and steals a kiss that leaves both of them breathless, Jeremy's scent blooming with happiness – if he could, Jean would totally get drunk on it.       The suggestive winks and teasing remarks that they get the next day from Cat and Laila are worth it, in Jean's opinion, just because of Jeremy's radiant smile.