Chapter 2 #2
I hate how reliant I am on him. I know I’m a burden, but the reminder hurts.
And I will be reliant until the pharmaceutical companies get their shit together and come up with a suppressant that works as well for male omegas as the current suppressants that exist on the market for female omegas.
Because my designation seems to be a weird sort of mutation–one that’s only started appearing recently–no one knows what the hell to do with us.
Eli’s thumb brushes between my eyebrows, smoothing out the line that’s appeared there.
Something about his touch makes something stir in my lower stomach.
I’m so stupid.
I know I am.
But as my eyes flutter open, I take a step forward, closing the distance between us.
My hand rests on his chest, and a grunt leaves the back of his throat as he stares down at me intently.
He’s so tall I have to lift my head, but I lean up and gently press my lips against his.
Maybe I can blame this on the alcohol.
A growl vibrates through his chest as he melts into the kiss.
This isn’t the first time. Since Eli has helped me through my heats, we’ve done a lot more than kissing.
But there’s something different about this kiss.
It’s not during my heat.
Eli stiffens under my touch before taking a step back and breaking the kiss.
A noise that’s suspiciously close to a whimper leaves my throat before I can catch it and shove it back down into the dark cave where I try to keep my embarrassing omega reactions.
“Sorry—”
“Don’t say sorry,” Eli interrupts. “Just... not here.”
“Where else?” I ask, shoving my hands into my pockets.
Eli shrugs. “Definitely not here. What if someone sees us walking out together if someone needs to use this restroom and we look like we just fucked?”
My heart stutters in my chest.
Fuck.
I’m not a prude. I use the word all the time.
But there’s something filthy about it leaving his lips right now.
“Good point,” I say, stepping forward and straightening his suit where I’d clung to him earlier during our kiss.
My heart feels like it’s going to beat out of my chest.
Eli peeks out the door and offers me a single nod of reassurance before leading me out of the bathroom and down the hall.
I settle into following him along, far more comfortable in this position than leading the way like I was when we were leaving the main award ceremony earlier.
He holds open a thick metal door with a blazing neon EXIT sign above it.
“An alley? Classy,” I chuckle as the door shuts behind us. I take a breath of the crisp night air, trying to calm my racing heart.
Eli seems so calm and collected standing there, his hands shoved in his pockets as he stares at me intently. He’s always so put-together. I want to see some of that careful control he has unravel.
“If you don’t want to...” Eli starts slowly, but I interrupt by trying to shove him against the wall behind him.
He doesn’t move an inch.
“Come on,” I huff, rolling my eyes. “Play along.”
Eli’s lips quirk up into a smirk.
“We’re playing, are we? Okay, then. Take two.”
I take his cue and shove him again. He’s a good sport about it this time and steps back until he’s pressed against the concrete.
I don’t know whether it’s the alcohol or the adrenaline from winning a fucking Grammy tonight, but there’s something about the thrill of sneaking around like this that’s setting the blood in my veins on fire.
“You’re so cute pushing me around.”
My cheeks puff out as I blow a gust of air out.
“Uh huh. Cute. Exactly what a guy wants to be called.”
“But you are,” he shrugs, letting out a soft huff of laughter.
His hands are still in his pockets.
I don’t want them in his pockets. I want them on me.
“You won’t be laughing when I have my mouth wrapped around you,” I rasp out.
It takes all my courage to keep my eyes locked on his.
When his gaze darkens with intensity and his blood orange scent grows sweet in the air around us, I take that as permission enough and drop to my knees.
“Are you sure?” he murmurs. “It’s not... It’s not your heat.”
“Yes.” I grip his hips before pressing my cheek into the growing hardness in his slacks.
Fuck, he’s so massive.
I’m not necessarily small either, but Eli’s cock is a work of art, I swear.
“We’re supposed to be celebrating you right now,” Eli grunts, his hands clenching at his sides.
I reach up and guide one of his hands to rest on my head.
“This is my prize,” I say, unzipping his pants.
Right before I’m about to dip my hands into his boxers and tug his cock out, the door behind us slams open.
Oh no.
If the paparazzi catch wind of this, I’m fucked. Eli’s fucked. Leo’s probably fucked too. Same with Everett because my career might go up in fucking flames.
The homophobia that’s all too common these days will only be magnified by my stupid fucking designation.
And that doesn’t even take into consideration the more rabid portion of my fans that would riot if it came out I was fucking my very male, very alpha manager.
I don’t know why me being a dude means I can’t be with an alpha, especially when I biologically need one to help me through my heats, but that’s what the world is like right now.
I jolt, my head turning so fast the world spins a bit.
Holy shit, am I seeing things?
Not only am I looking at one of the most ethereal women I’ve ever seen, but she’s... bleeding?
Her chamomile scent, which I imagine would be calming in any other situation, is twisted with terror and bitter from her pain.
Blood drips down her chin onto the sparkling sequins of her beautiful gown.
Her jet-black hair is matted to the side of her face.
“Holy shit, are you okay? What happened to you?” I ask, scrambling to my feet.
“You should wrap that up if you don’t want the paps to see,” she croaks out. “I think we’ve got a minute before they find me.”
“Find you?” My mouth goes dry at the mention of paparazzi. “Have they been chasing you?”
She winces at my words, seemingly unable to meet my gaze as she sways on her feet.
“They have, haven’t they? Those fucking vultures have been hunting you instead of helping you.”
“Yeah,” she says, her voice small and shaky.
“You better not say jack shit,” Eli snarls, his blood orange scent swirling in the air with his agitation as he jerks up the fly of his slacks.
“Stop being a dick, Eli, look at her!” I say.
“Nothing to worry about here,” she croaks, holding up her hands in surrender. “Promise.”
Suddenly, the door is flung open behind her, and she’s sent stumbling forward.
Moving faster than I would’ve thought possible, I lunge forward and pull her into my chest.
Oh, no. Holy shit.
The moment I have her in my arms, I feel something squeeze in my chest.
Why... why does this feel so right?