Page 74 of Overeager
“Lijah,” he said smoothly, not an ounce of surprise in his voice. “I’ve been waiting for your call.”
Eli settled back against Noah’s chest, breathing in his alpha’s comforting pheromones to keep his voice cool and even. “I’m sure you have.”
There was a beat of silence, as if Richard hadn’t been expecting that response, but he smoothed it over quickly. “Are you all right? I’ve been very … concerned, Lijah.Veryconcerned.”
Eli’s eye roll was epic, even if Richard couldn’t actually see it. “I’m perfectly fine. Great, even.”
“And the alpha student who was lurking in your home during your heat?” Richard asked, his tone almost casual. “The one who resorted so quickly to violence?”
Noah’s arm tightened around Eli’s middle, and Eli patted at it soothingly. “He’s great too. He was invited, Richard. As I’m sure you could tell by the pheromones in my home. We’re … partners.”
Noah nuzzled the back of Eli’s neck silently, and Eli smiled in spite of himself. Yes, they were partners. And it felt fucking amazing to say it out loud.
Any lingering concern in Richard’s voice—fake as it had been to begin with—was replaced immediately by clipped anger. “I saw him in your classroom, Eli. A student? Really?” He let out a bitter, condescending laugh. “What on earth do you think you’re doing? Did the divorce mess with your head that badly?”
There were so many things Eli could say. About the hypocrisy, for example, of a man who’d slept with his own employee—cheating on his husband as he did it—lecturing Eli on ethics. But a long, drawn-out argument was exactly what Richard wanted. A chance to twist words and open old wounds. Eli wasn’t giving it to him. Not now. Not ever again.
He let out a breath, releasing everything that wasn’t worth mentioning with it. “This isn’t something I’m going to discuss with you, Richard. It’s not your business.”
“Well, perhaps it’s something you’ll discuss with the dean.”
Eli had been expecting this move, of course. It sucked majorly, but he wasn’t shocked. Perhaps a little disappointed. Had he really been married to a man this underhanded? And for an entire decade? “You’ve already told him, then?”
“As I said, I’ve been concerned.”
Eli barked out a laugh. “So concerned you went to my boss first thing.”
“I could have gone to the police. Yourstudent”—Richard placed deliberate emphasis on the word—“hit me. That’s assault.”
Noah stiffened underneath him, and Eli bristled. No way. This wasn’t happening. Richard could say what he wanted about torching Eli’s career, but he didn’t get to threaten Noah. Not under Eli’s watch.
He kept patting Noah’s arm, trying to let him know wordlessly that nothing bad would happen to him. That Eli wouldn’t let it. “You really want to get the law involved, Richard?” he hissed into the phone. “You were trying to come uninvited into an omega’s home while they were in heat.”
“You’re being irrational, Lijah.” Richard let out a disappointed sigh, like the weight of the world rested on his upstanding shoulders. “The timing was a mere coincidence.” His voice firmed. “I think this has all gone on long enough, don’t you? It’s time you came home. Letting you go was a mistake, and I freely admit it. I thought you might mature if left to your own devices, perhaps realize where your priorities should lie. But you’re clearly floundering.”
Well, then.
Faith had been right about Richard’s motives. The absurdity of it all was breathtaking, really. The delusion—the pompousness—required to think Eli would ever come back to him. That Eli would ever be the sort of husband Richard wanted.
And he didn’t even want Eli back. Not really. He was just pissed he’d lost a possession.
Eli clasped Noah’s arm firmly, anchoring himself to what mattered. “Iamhome, Richard. If you need to contact me again, it will be through my lawyer. The way you tried to enter my home when you did could earn you an assault charge of your own. Andif you try to take Noah down, I will drag you right the fuck down with us. Understand?”
He didn’t wait for confirmation as he hit the end-call button. He was done.
“Baby.” Noah’s hand landed on top of his, covering Eli’s knuckles. “You’re shaking.”
“I’mangry,” Eli told him, sharp as a curse, trying to keep himself from clenching his hands into useless fists. “Faith was right. He’s trying to creep back into my life, and he’s willing to threaten you to do it.”
“It’ll be okay,” Noah soothed, as if he hadn’t panicked at the mention of an assault charge. Eli could still smell the anxiety in his pheromones, acidic and unsettled.
Eli straightened, shifting to the side so he could meet Noah’s gaze squarely. “Of course it will,” he said firmly. Unlike Noah, it wasn’t fear of consequences pissing Eli off. It was the inanity of it all. The pointlessness. “I’m not going to let anything happen to you, Noah. It’s just so … idiotic. Nonsensical.” He shook his head. “I used to think he was intelligent.”
That earned him a small smile, but then Noah’s lips tipped back down into a frown. “The dean knows.”
“He does.” Eli cleared his throat, trying to suppress his own nerves, to be a calm, steady presence for Noah. “I’m going to email him about a meeting now, for as soon as he’s available. Andyou, meanwhile, need to catch up on your missed exams.”
“Eli …”
