Page 2 of Overeager
Overall, it was super cute and would be cozy as hell once it warmed up.
Maybe Eli would come here for his next heat.
Then again, maybe not. When he climbed the ladder to peek into the loft, the bed was big enough, but the ceilings were low, probably too low for an alpha to sit up straight. Some omegas liked cramped spaces like that during their heat, but Eli could see it getting a little claustrophobic.
But thenagain, if it was just Eli, what did it matter? It wasn’t like there was going to be some hunky alpha contorting himself into a pretzel to “dick Eli down” as his sister had so horribly put it.
Eli’s cheeks warmed. Damn Faith for putting dirty thoughts into his head. She was a menace.
He climbed back down the ladder, taking out the mini bottle of champagne he’d brought and placing it in the mini fridge. Because this wasnota trip for moping, no matter what his brain thought. Eli was still a relatively young, newly single omega inthe prime of his life. His career was on track, and his tenure proposal should be going through by the end of the year.
What else did he really need?
It was approaching sunset by the time the jacuzzi was hot enough to be tempting. Luckily the cabin had also warmed up to the point that Eli could strip down to his swim trunks without shivering.
Swim trunks that had been purchased by Richard and were way too short for decency.
But it wasn’t like anyone else was around to see.
Eli popped his champagne and poured a glass into one of the plastic cups provided. No glass in the hot tub—it was in the rules listed on the website.
He resisted stopping in the bathroom to peek at his reflection on the way out. He already knew what he was going to see, and it wasn’t anything showstopping. Maybe he should do some sort of midlife-crisis makeover to mark the occasion. He could bleach his brown hair blond or switch out his contacts for those fancy ones that made a person’s eyes look like a cat’s.
Or maybe he’d just drink his sad champagne in the hot tub and go straight to bed.
Eli went out to the deck, wincing at the knifelike feel of snow on his bare feet, wishing he’d brought shower sandals with him. He laid his towel out on a relatively snow-free part of the small patio table, set his cup of champagne on the side of the hot tub, and climbed in, groaning as his skin prickled with the welcome heat.
He’d only been in there a minute when a voice called out from below. “Hey! Nice night, huh?”
Eli scooted to the edge of the hot tub and peered out over the deck.
There was someone in the jacuzzi below him, on the deck of the other occupied cabin. Someone with a head of loose blondcurls and a silver chain around his neck, one tanned arm slung back around the edge of the hot tub, a beer in hand. He looked so friendly—and so young—that Eli couldn’t even be annoyed at his silence being interrupted.
“Hello!” he called back. “Itisa nice night!”
The guy raised his beer in salute. “You just get in?”
“A few hours ago.”
“Cool. I’ve been here a night already. Heading out tomorrow.”
Eli nodded, not sure what else to say. Small talk with strangers wasn’t exactly his forte lately.
“You want some company?” At Eli’s clear surprise, the guy gave a sheepish grin. “A buddy was supposed to come with me, but he had to bail. I guess I’m not good at flying solo. Feel free to say no though.” He smiled wide, as if to convey his sincerity.
Eli could tell, somehow, that hewasfree to say no. Even from another building, this guy exuded a certain warmth and carefree vibe, like someone’s friendly neighborhood surfer, if that was a thing. He didn’t seem the type to hold a grudge.
Maybe Eli still would have said no anyway. But that smile got him. Because the guy was good-looking enough from the get-go—even at a distance—but with that smile? It was outrageous. He had a wide, generous mouth, and his grin transformed his whole face into some sort of ray of literal sunshine.
Eli was just shallow enough to be swayed by it.
Plus, how often did he have a chance to share a hot tub with a hot … beta? Alpha? Eli wasn’t sure, but most likely the guy wasn’t an omega. He looked … tall. Broad.
It didn’t really matter either way. Eli wasn’t going todoanything. But a friendly chat with a cute neighbor wouldn’t be the worst thing in the world, right?
Richard wouldn’t hesitate, he reminded himself.He’d probably already have the condoms out.
“Sure,” he said magnanimously, taking a big gulp of champagne. “Come on up.”
