Total pages in book: 62
Estimated words: 60378 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 302(@200wpm)___ 242(@250wpm)___ 201(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 60378 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 302(@200wpm)___ 242(@250wpm)___ 201(@300wpm)
Swallowing, Michael shook his head. “It’s not really your fault, any more than it was mine. I’m not angry anymore.”
Anthony smiled. “You’re too nice for your own good, you know,” he said, brushing his knuckles against Michael’s scent gland. “You’ve always been a bit too nice for an alpha. But I’m definitely not complaining.” He peered into Michael’s eyes. “You will not avoid me anymore.” It was a question, though it sounded more like a statement. A very presumptuous one. “We’ve been friends for years, Michael,” he said roughly. “I don’t want to lose you—your friendship. Tell me I won’t.”
It was a terrible idea. Friends didn’t do what they’d done a few minutes ago.
If he wanted people to believe that he was still an alpha, he couldn’t be around an alpha who made him wet just by looking at him. It was a recipe for disaster. His scent-blocker was good, but it wasn’t that good.
And yet.
He was weak for those blue eyes, for the way they looked at him intently, as though there was nothing else in the world. He’d missed him. Missed the way his presence filled his personal space, the way his gaze pinned him, as if nothing else existed for him, the way Anthony made him feel: safe and right, as though everything in the world was exactly where it should be.
Michael found himself nodding.
His eyes flashing with triumph, Anthony pulled him into a hug.
It was probably supposed to be a brief, manly hug, perfectly appropriate for friends, but the moment Anthony’s arms wrapped around him, Michael’s body went boneless. He buried his nose against Anthony’s throat, something like a whimper leaving his lips as he squirmed closer to his—to the alpha.
Anthony went still for a moment, before relaxing. “Of course,” he said breathlessly, stroking Michael’s hair. “You need to scent an alpha now. You need an alpha’s comfort.”
“I don’t,” Michael muttered, his face burning.
“Don’t be stupid, of course you do. It’s simple biology. All omegas need to scent and be scent-marked by their alpha—either their family alpha or their mate. You don’t have a family alpha—or a mate. You’re scent-starved, Mike.”
“Don’t call me Mike,” he said—more like slurred. He really did feel so much better now, the anxious, restless feeling in the pit of his stomach finally gone.
Anthony chuckled against his ear, sending goosebumps skittering across his skin. “I can help you with this,” he promised, his voice low and serious. His lips brushed against Michael’s earlobe. “I’m your best friend, aren’t I? I can take care of your needs. Let me take care of you.”
Michael’s stomach felt so very warm.
He knew this couldn’t end well.
But he was helpless against the need, the raw, gnawing yearning inside him. He’d never felt better than he did now, wrapped in Anthony’s arms, his lungs full of his calming scent. It felt achingly right, like the world finally made sense. Like he made sense. His head felt empty, free of any worries. It didn’t matter whether he was an alpha or an omega; nothing mattered anymore.
Nothing but him.
Chapter 24
Michael looked good with a baby in his arms.
Anthony wrenched his gaze away, disconcerted by how difficult it was.
He tried to focus on the other guests at the birthday party—mostly family and friends—but his gaze kept returning to Michael holding Jules’s youngest child in his arms as he talked to Liam.
Anthony couldn’t seem to look away from the way Michael’s strong, elegant hand was supporting the baby’s back, from the way the baby’s cheek was pressed against the crook of Michael’s neck. He looked so good like this.
The sight should have been adorable—and all right, it was. But it shouldn’t have given him ideas. It most definitely shouldn’t have made him think about breeding his friend, shouldn’t have made him imagine Michael full with his child.
Fuck, he’d never had thoughts like this. He’d always scoffed at the idea that all alphas were fixated on breeding omegas. It had never been something that aroused him.
But now he couldn’t stop looking, his insides warm with the idea of doing that to Michael.
Which was completely inane—and insane. He definitely wouldn’t be breeding Michael when as far as the rest of the world was concerned, Michael was an alpha.
“What’s with the long face, brother mine?” Jules said, pushing into his personal space and rubbing his cheek against Anthony’s scent gland affectionately. Anthony patted his head and gently pushed him away, suppressing a grimace at Devlin’s scent clinging to his brother. He liked his brother-in-law, but he wasn’t fond of his tendency to rub his scent all over Jules. Then again, Xeus alphas tended to be more territorial than most.
“It’s my resting face,” Anthony said. “Not all of us can be sunshines for no reason.”
Snorting, Jules pulled him toward Liam and Michael. “I’ve got the perfect cure for those grumps!” Approaching Michael, he took the baby from him and dumped her into Anthony’s arms. “Say hello to your Uncle Grumps, love!”