Chapter 13 #2
He hadn’t heard from Anthony in six days.
Then again, he hadn’t really expected to hear from him.
Considering the fact that it had been the full moon, Anthony’s silence was hardly surprising.
He had likely been too busy rutting into some beautiful omega for days, stuffing his knot into their tight hole over and over and over—
“You’re holding me too tightly, my lord,” the omega said with a wince.
“My apologies,” Michael said belatedly. He forced himself not to look around. He wasn’t going to look for Anthony. The less they interacted, the better. He didn’t give a fuck whether Anthony was there or not.
Putting on a smile, he focused his gaze on the omega in his arms. “Have I told you how lovely you look tonight?”
The omega smiled, looking at him through his long eyelashes. “You haven’t, my lord. Thank you.”
They danced. Then they danced another set. Soon enough, the other guests started looking at them with speculation. Michael didn’t mind. Let them look. Let him—let them see what a lovely couple they made.
A shiver crawled up his spine, the hairs on the back of his neck standing on end.
He was close.
Michael wasn’t even surprised when he heard Anthony’s voice behind him.
“Good evening. Mind if I cut in?”
Michael came to a halt before turning his head.
Blue eyes met his in open challenge.
For a long, horrible moment, Michael thought Anthony wanted to dance with him, but then common sense prevailed.
“I do, actually,” he said. “I’d like to continue dancing with—” He flushed, realizing he had no idea what the omega’s name was. Gerald? James? “—with such a lovely omega myself,” he finished lamely.
Judging by the glimmer of amusement in Anthony’s eyes, he hadn’t fooled him.
“You’ve danced two sets with Lord Giles,” Anthony said. “Stop feeding gossip and monopolizing the man.”
Before Michael could respond, Anthony took the omega’s hand and stepped into his place. Giles didn’t protest, looking up at Anthony with wide eyes and a flattered smile.
They whirled away, leaving Michael standing there, fuming.
He didn’t think he’d ever been this angry. Grabbing a drink from a passing waiter, he took a big sip, trying to calm his pounding heart and the instinct to chase after the pair and forcibly wrench them apart.
He hated how good Anthony and the little omega looked together. A tall, dark-haired alpha and a petite, blond omega. They looked perfect. Michael was technically blond too, but his dark gold hair was a lot darker than Giles’s.
Don’t, he snapped to himself, hating the direction of his thoughts—but not as much as he hated the confident, proprietary way Anthony held the omega, his hand resting on Giles’s smaller back.
Giles was smiling, looking at Anthony like he wondered what it would feel like to kiss Anthony’s strong, stubbled jaw and bury his face in his throat. He was practically gagging for it.
Michael’s fingers tightened around the glass, his heart hammering in his ears. What did Anthony think he was doing? That was his omega, the one Michael had picked to court. Anthony had no fucking business butting into his courtship and trying to steal the omega away.
By the time the dance ended, Michael had worked himself into a near-frenzy, rage and righteous indignation making it hard to focus on anything but Anthony’s gorgeous, arrogant face.
“Thank you for the dance,” Anthony was saying, bowing over the omega’s hand.
Michael yanked him away before Anthony’s lips could touch the slim hand. “A word,” he ground out.
Anthony’s face was largely impassive, but his eyes were intent on him, glinting with an emotion Michael couldn’t read. He still stank of his rut—and the omega. “Sure. Lead the way.”
Trying to breathe as shallowly as possible, Michael turned away and strode toward the alcove hidden behind a large plant in the corner of the ballroom. The foliage provided enough cover that they could talk without being under the scrutiny of hundreds of eyes.
“What are you even doing here?” he said once they reached it. “You shouldn’t be going out so soon after the full moon. You reek.”
Anthony’s lips twisted. He took a step closer, his thick scent all Michael could breathe. It was fucking unbearable.
“Is that what you wanted to talk about?” he said mildly.
“You know it isn’t,” he bit out. “Why are you trying to steal the omega I’m courting?”
Anthony gave him an amused little smile. “You didn’t even know his name.”
Gods, he wanted to punch him so badly he was shaking with it.
“If you squeeze that poor glass any harder, it’ll break,” Anthony said, taking Michael’s drink away from him and bringing it to his own lips. He took a sip, looking Michael in the eyes. His muscular throat worked as he swallowed.
Michael felt hot and heavy between his legs.
“I knew his name,” Michael said belatedly. “I’ve danced with him twice.” That much he did know.
Anthony raised his eyebrows. “That’s practically a declaration of intent.”
Ugh, he couldn’t stand that mocking undertone, his fingers itching to punch him, to hurt him.
“I do,” he said tersely. “I do have serious intentions. I’m going to mate him.”
Anthony’s shoulders tensed up. Suddenly serious, he set the drink aside and took a step forward. “Are you?” he said, his breath brushing Michael’s face.
His heart was pounding so fast he felt almost dizzy. “Step away,” Michael bit out. “We’re in public.” The view might have been obstructed by the plant, but that didn’t mean they couldn’t be seen if someone cared enough to look.
“So what?” Anthony said with an infuriating little smirk. “There’s nothing wrong with two alphas leaning in close to be heard over the loud music, is there?”
Michael wet his lips with his tongue.
Anthony’s gaze fell to his mouth and darkened. “They don’t know,” he murmured, his voice very low. “They have no idea I had my cock in your mouth a few days ago—and that you liked it.”
Michael’s face was aflame. “Shut up.”
Anthony’s intent, observant eyes swept over him, lingering on his crotch, even though it was covered by Michael’s jacket.
“Tell me,” he said, leaning against the wall with one shoulder and turning his back to the ballroom, shielding Michael completely from view.
“If I put my hand on your cock now, will it be hard?”
Michael glared. “Shut up,” he repeated, but his voice came out weak and breathless.
Anthony smiled, something sharp and predatory in his expression. Slowly, he unbuttoned the bottom button on Michael’s suit jacket and slipped his hand under it.
Michael didn’t stop him for some reason. He bit his lip hard to keep himself from moaning as the other alpha’s large hand cupped his erection. “Don’t,” he managed, but his voice was unconvincing even to his own ears. “What are you doing?”
Anthony hummed, stroking his cock idly. “You have a nice cock,” he said, his tone very casual.
“A nice alpha cock. Good for fucking omegas.” There was a sharp, intense glint in Anthony’s eyes as he met Michael’s gaze and stroked, and stroked, and stroked.
“But that’s not what you want, is it? It’s useless. ”
A moan slipped out of Michael’s mouth, his eyes becoming unfocused.
“Tell me,” Anthony said quietly against his ear, massaging his cock. “Have you used that dildo of yours today?”
The obscenity of the question coupled with the completely inappropriate public setting—and the completely inappropriate public groping—nearly made Michael come in his pants.
“You have,” Anthony stated, his tone strange. There was something both pleased and displeased about it. His teeth scraped Michael’s earlobe as he whispered hoarsely, “Did you imagine it was me fucking you?”
“Fuck off,” Michael managed, but his hips were jerking forward into Anthony’s hand, seeking friction, needing more. “I’m not like that. I’m going to court—Giles.”
Anthony huffed a laugh. “What would dear Giles say if he could see you now? If he could see you grinding against my hand like a bitch in heat? In public, no less.”
“Fuck you,” Michael moaned, unable to still his hips.
“Then again, he’d probably understand,” Anthony said, biting his earlobe again. “Wanna bet he’d be wailing on my knot within the hour if I put my mind to it?”
Michael went rigid, every muscle in his body locking up. His vision went red around the edges, his heart pounding with a combination of rage, toxic jealousy, and arousal. “Don’t you dare talk like that about the omega I intend to court.”
Anthony chuckled, the sound harsh and mean. “Let’s not pretend you’re jealous over him.” He squeezed Michael’s cock hard, and Michael went nearly cross-eyed with pleasure.
“Why are you doing this?”
“Doing what?” Anthony said in a low voice, his lips almost brushing Michael’s earlobe again. “Making you feel good?”
Michael glared at him. “Trying to make me jealous. Distracting me from my courtship. Feeling me up at a bloody ball—against my will.”
“Against your will?” Anthony said in a sardonic undertone, and stopped touching him.
Michael whined. He fucking whined. It was beyond mortifying.
And gods, he wanted to wipe that arrogant smile away with his fist—or with his mouth.
“There’s no need to look so murderous,” Anthony said, putting his hand back on Michael’s cock.
“Fuck off,” Michael said, hating how weak it sounded, hating the way his hips immediately started moving again, seeking friction.
“Why are you wearing a cravat?” Anthony said, his gaze falling to Michael’s neck. “You don’t wear cravats.”
“Why do you think?” Michael bit off.
Anthony’s expression became strange. “The bite hasn’t healed yet?”
Michael just shook his head. He had no capacity for conversation when all he could focus on was his aching, throbbing cock and Anthony’s strong, capable hand. The noise of the ballroom seemed to be coming from very far away, as if they were in their own little world.
“Show me,” Anthony commanded, and Michael’s hand was already moving before he made a conscious decision. He wasn’t even sure if Anthony had used his Voice—either option was damning.
Anthony inhaled sharply when Michael loosened his cravat to reveal the bite mark.
“It should have healed,” he said, his expression fixated.
Michael nodded, grinding against his hand mindlessly, chasing his orgasm.
“You don’t smell as revolting as you used to,” Anthony said, and before Michael could even process his words, he shoved his face against his neck and sank his teeth into the gland again.
Michael’s body jerked, pleasure and pain flaring through his body and pushing him over the edge.
He cried out weakly, coming into his pants and riding Anthony’s hand as the aftershocks wracked his body.
Oh gods.
Gods.
By the time his dazed mind began to clear after his orgasm, Michael found himself alone in the alcove, his pants wet and his neck fucking throbbing.
Fuck.