Page 44 of Overeager
“I miss you,” Richard said, his voice suddenly soft and silky. His pheromones unfurled, slow but steady, revealing their rich, tobacco scent. Eli had once found the dark depths of them comforting. Safe.
Now they were only suffocating.
And he didn’t have to put up with them for another second.
He stood from his desk. “I have class.”
He started packing his belongings, aware of Richard watching him intently. Eli should have expected this, really. Of course his ex had sussed out somehow that Eli was happy, and he’d come to stick his nose in it. To fuck with it as much as possible, in whatever way he could.
Richard missed him? Richard hadn’t missed him when Eli had beenright fucking there, trying to make things work despite all his better instincts.
He slid past Richard to get to the door, and the alpha should have considered himself lucky that Eli didn’t shove him as hard as he might have liked. Lucky Eli was above such things. And also aware that it probably would have just hurt his own shoulder.
Richard’s deep voice rang out behind him as Eli stepped into the hallway. “I’ll be seeing you, Lijah.”
“Not if I see you first,” Eli muttered.
And okay, it wasn’t his best comeback. But at least he hadn’t cried or cowered. Sure, he was sort of running away, but whyshouldhe stick around to deal with Richard’s bullshit?
He was over all of it, had been for years at this point, never mind that the legal side of things had taken time to catch up to his heart.
Eli wasn’t the same omega Richard had married, and he never would be again.
Eli’s lecture went well.
And, okay, Eli had maybe been alittlejittery from the unexpected visit, but overall, it was nice to realize a Richard sighting wasn’t enough to throw him off his game anymore.
His ex didn’t have that power these days.
How fucking liberating.
Eli raced home afterward (or as fast as the speed limits allowed, because he wasnotgetting pulled over on date night). Noah was meeting him there, and Eli wanted to get to the house first.
He shucked off his work clothes as soon as he was inside, changing into cozier loungewear, and he was just coming out into the hallway when the side door opened.
Eli had given Noah the gate code a week ago.
Best decision ever.
He was stopped in his tracks for a moment by the sight of him—Noah looked sogood, his blond surfer curls just on this side of wild, a broad smile already on his lips, so happy just to be entering Eli’s home. He was broad-shouldered and strong, definitely alpha in stature, but he had that casual looseness to him that made it so he didn’t dominate a space in an oppressive way.
He had presence, but he wasn’t overpowering.
And he smelleddelicious.
Eli wanted him.
Right now.
Herewas the alpha with the power to twist Eli into knots, but somehow the awareness didn’t feel stifling. Mostly because Noah wouldn’t abuse that power over him, even if he was made aware of it. Eli knew that, deep down in his guts.
Which was kind of where he wanted Noah to be right now.
Eli launched himself at Noah, throwing himself into his arms, and Noah dropped his bag on the floor without hesitation, catching Eli under his ass and opening his mouth to Eli’s aggressive kisses.
He smelled salty and fresh and perfect. Not suffocating, but … uplifting. Even as his pheromones deepened and sharpened with want and lust and other delicious undercurrents.
Eli didn’t waste any time, darting his hand under the waistband of Noah’s joggers, moaning his appreciation at the hot, velvety length of him, already hardening from Eli’s attentions.
