Subordi-Mate

shirt on,” he said. “So your other employees won’t start talking. I’ll return this to you tomorrow?”
“Sure.” Heath’s gaze coasted down Daniel’s body, appreciative. Daniel shivered.
This wasn’t going to lead anywhere, with Daniel so much older than Heath. He nodded his goodbye, then turned and hurried to the elevator, ducking inside when the doors finally opened.
Heath’s gaze stayed on him the whole time.

4
Heath
In the days after, Heath paid close attention to Daniel.
He hadn’t expected that omega to be working for him. He hadn’t expected the pregnancy, either. But the more he thought about that baby, and the more he thought about Daniel bearing something of Heath’s in his own body, the more the idea grew on him.
Daniel never once smelled like another alpha. Sometimes, Heath slipped down to the marketing department, just passing by Daniel’s cubicle, surreptitiously sniffing at him.
All Heath smelled was amaranth and honey.
And he began to wonder what kind of person Daniel was, not going to another alpha for sex or anything.
Daniel certainly wasn’t like Cody, who always had a cocktail of scents all over him—floral, woodsy, perfumes—so much so that Heath couldn’t tell what he’d been doing with whom. When Heath had asked about the woodsy scents, Cody had lied. All the way until Heath had caught Cody with another alpha right in Heath’s own mansion, tangled together, Cody’s moans ringing down the bedroom hallway.
It still made Heath’s mouth sour, thinking about it.
But with Daniel... It was just the same scents every day.
In the mornings, Daniel smelled like tuna sandwich and a hint of tea. In the afternoons, some roast chicken, or maybe fries. And in the evening, he smelled like old sweat and more amaranth.
Daniel was... predictable. Readable. Heath found comfort in that.
He should already have known it, though, when Daniel had never once missed the Phantom Growls’ gigs ever since he showed up at the Wine Shack.
Heath caught himself wondering how it would feel, smelling his own yew scent on Daniel.
So he slipped a bar of milk chocolate onto Daniel’s desk Friday morning, just before Daniel showed up for work.
Then he slunk to the back of the office, messing around with a file cabinet. Minutes later, when Daniel appeared, Heath watched as surprise flitted through Daniel’s face. Daniel frowned at the chocolate, picking it up. He glanced around—Heath looked away—and then he brought the bar to his nose, sniffing at it.
There wasn’t any note on the chocolate—just a hint of yew. When Daniel smelled it, a tiny, pleased smile tugged at his lips. And he blushed.
Somehow, Heath’s heart quickened for him.
The following Monday, Heath left a jar of almonds on Daniel’s desk. He’d included a note: I’m not nuts about nuts. Wish I were better at puns. You’ll nail the presentation today.
The worry in Daniel’s eyes faded away when he read that. He looked up, meeting Heath’s gaze. Then he blushed harder than he had last week.
Heath shrugged and smiled, heading for the elevator. He’d just done that to cheer Daniel up.
But Daniel’s reaction—the happiness, the blushing... Those had been tiny gifts. And Daniel had reacted like Heath had made his day, just by leaving those things on his desk.
It felt good, knowing he could please an omega.
Knowing that Daniel would still continue to smell like amaranth and honey, and not another alpha.
At the presentation, Daniel stood tall. He met Heath’s eyes and smiled, more confident this time. And the way he delivered his speech—it was obvious that Daniel had practiced it multiple times.
He met the eyes of every person at the conference table, talking about statistics and things he’d found about the competitors without even needing to look at his presentation slides. He fielded questions with ease, he was comfortable in his own skin, and it seemed that he’d finally gotten over the surprise of Heath being his boss.
Whoever Daniel’s previous boss had been... That alpha had been an absolute bastard. Heath was angry on Daniel’s behalf.
But at the same time, he was secretly kind of glad. Because Daniel was unbonded, unclaimed, and Heath... had been wanting his own scent on Daniel. He’d been thinking about Daniel’s lips, he’d been thinking about having Daniel beneath him again. Having Daniel give up his control, seeing him needy, begging for Heath.
As capable as Daniel was, who didn’t want him?
At the end of the presentation, Heath applauded. The rest of the table followed suit, and Daniel blushed the brightest red Heath had seen him blush.
When the rest of the room had vacated, leaving Daniel shutting down his computer alone, Heath strode over.
Daniel paused, looking up, a hint of a blush still on his cheeks.
“You did great back there,” Heath murmured, touching his waist.
“You really think so,” Daniel said, ducking his head. But he was smiling, and his hands shook a little.
Heath closed his fingers around Daniel’s cold hands. “Nervous?”
“Still a little, yes.”
“Why?”
“I don’t know. Everything. I’m still... half-afraid you’ll fire me. And I get nervous during presentations. Part of it is the adrenaline.”
“You were awesome,” Heath whispered. Then he leaned in, burying his nose in Daniel’s hair, just breathing in that amaranth scent. “You can talk at me like that any day you want.”
Daniel blushed harder, his smile growing.
Heath wanted to kiss him, suddenly. Just to taste him again, feel Daniel smile.
Daniel glanced up, his eyes growing wide. “Why—Why’re you looking at me like that?”
“Because.” Heath leaned in, brushing his nose against Daniel’s soft cheek. “Have you thought about whether you’re keeping the baby?”
“I’ve thought about it,” Daniel said quietly. “I’m keeping it.”
Heath’s heart leaped. “Why?”
“It’s yours.” Daniel gave a crooked smile. “I mean, I’m not intending to ask you for child support or anything. Just in case you misunderstand.”
“Will I get to see the baby?” Heath asked.
“You want to?” Daniel looked surprised.
Heath frowned. “What, you think I don’t want to?”
“You just... seem young, is all.” Daniel squirmed. “Most alphas your age don’t want to settle down.”
“I’m not most alphas.”
Daniel chuckled at that. “I guess you’re not. Most alphas aren’t a millionaire at twenty-two.”
Heath rolled