Page 38 of Overeager
His parents had tried their best to be there for mealtimes, but they’d both worked full-time in demanding jobs, and that had sometimes included overtime. Something they weren’t going to refuse with six kids to feed.
“Remind me again how many?”
“Six of us total. There’s Carter and me and Ash sort of close together, from our mom’s first marriage, and then a twelve-year gap before the twins and then Jess—the baby.”
Noah had already told Eli, that night in the hot tub, that he considered his stepdad his father—his birth father had passed early enough that Noah didn’t remember him—so Eli didn’t question Noah about that. But he did ask, “But Carter’s oldest, right? He didn’t help your parents out?”
Noah cracked the eggs into a bowl, whisking them with salt and pepper. “He didn’t have any interest in helping out. He was a model student, had a ton of extracurriculars. He was pretty much still in grade school when he decided he wanted to be a lawyer. I was just—” Noah shrugged, clearing his throat. “Well, it was easy for me to help out.”
There was silence, and Noah glanced over his shoulder to find Eli watching him carefully. “Your parents were lucky to have you.”
Noah gave an awkward laugh, turning back to the eggs. Eli was easy to talk to—he had a way of paying close attention without seeming at all judgmental—but it still made Noah uncomfortable, basically admitting he was nothing special. His other siblings had always had so much going on, but Noah … Well, he’d played soccer up until high school, but he hadn’t been amazing at it. It had been easy to put it aside so he could drive Ash to and from piano lessons once he had his license, or be home to pick up the twins and Jess from daycare.
“Tell me about this pool of yours,” he said, changing the subject. “How often do you use it?”
He knew he was being obvious, but Eli laughed anyway, letting him off the hook. “Not often enough.”
It was easy enough to keep Eli talking about the house after that, and it wasn’t long until the eggs were done. Noah butteredtoast for them both and plated it up. Then he picked Eli up off the stool and set him on the counter, stepping between his legs before the omega caught up to his own surprise.
Noah grinned at him. “Hello.”
Eli’s cheeks were a delightful pink. “Hi.”
Noah piled a bite of egg on a piece of toast, holding it to Eli’s mouth. Eli took a dainty bite, keeping eye contact with Noah as he chewed. Something deep and primal in Noah shifted, pleased at the sight.
“Hand-feeding?” Eli asked quietly after he’d swallowed.
It was Noah’s turn to flush. He hadn’t really been thinking, other than wanting to feed Eli the food he’d made. But it was mate behavior, what he was doing. Alphas in particular would hand-feed omegas during their heats, when the omegas were too worn out to manage on their own.
Still, he wasn’t embarrassed enough to stop. “We’re, um … wearedating now, right?”
Maybe that was a stupid fucking question to ask. Eli had been pretty clear earlier, that he was willing to start something. Unless he’d been talking about no-strings sex, but that didn’tseemlike what was happening, not with Noah all cozy in his kitchen, making him breakfast.
Eli didn’t tell him off for being presumptuous. Or even tease him for being forward. He just opened his mouth for another bite.
Noah had to hold in a satisfied rumble as he piled another bite of eggs on toast.
When he held the third bite up for Eli, the omega grabbed Noah’s wrist in a gentle hold, pushing his own hand toward him and shaking his head. “You too.”
So Noah took the bite for himself, holding the next one up for Eli again. They took turns until both plates were done, and Eli let out a satisfied sigh after the very last bite.
Noah wiped a crumb from the corner of Eli’s mouth. “Better?”
“Much.” Eli cocked his head with a shy smile. Noah wasn’t sure how he managed to pull off the sweet and demure vibe after having Noah’s tongue in his ass, but somehow he did. “You’re spoiling me, you know.”
Noah blinked at him in surprise. He hadn’t done anything special, had he? Was Eli talking about the coffee? Making him eggs? Wasn’t all that just … normal boyfriend behavior?
Noah suddenly had to ask again, “Wearedating now, right?”
“Is that what you’d like?”
“I’d like to be your boyfriend,” Noah told him immediately, keeping up his steady streak of having absolutely zero chill.
Eli shook his head, but even pressing his lips together firmly, he couldn’t quite hide his smile. “Let’s start with dating. You might get tired of the secrecy.” He grabbed at the tie to Noah’s robe, fiddling with it. “Itdoeshave to be secret,” he warned, catching Noah’s eye. “I’m getting tenure this year, but it’s not final yet. It won’t be until the spring. Something big—something like sleeping with a student—could jeopardize it.”
Maybe that was meant to scare Noah off, but all Noah could hear was that this whole situation was only a temporary problem. That he just had to be patient.
He could be patient. Especially if he got to have Eli in his arms in the meantime.
