Page 20 of Broken Ice
Emilio picked up one of the stray chocolate-covered peanuts, holding it out. Without thinking, Beau leaned forwards and licked it from his fingers with an appreciative hum.
It was only a second later that he realised Emilio had probably meant for Beau to take it from his hand like a normal person. He flushed, ready to say something snarky to save some face, but the expression on Emilio’s face arrested him. His eyes were dark, mouth slightly open, nostrils flaring as if he were sucking up the air in the room.
Slowly, carefully, Emilio picked up another M&M, placing it inches from Beau’s mouth. Beau blinked, heart a quickening drumbeat, lips brushing Emilio’s fingers as he took the treat.
Emilio’s scent filled the space, potent and pleased. Beau closed his eyes, swaying.
Emilio did it again, this time placing the treat against Beau’s lips. Beau didn’t even open his eyes, licking it into his mouth, mind going fuzzy.
He knew hand-feeding was common between heat-or-rut-sharing pairs. Normally, it was an intimate show of affection. Of trust and care.
Beau wasn’t sure whatthiswas, but it felt too good to turn down.
Emilio fed him bits of other snacks, Beau delighted by the surprise of each flavour. He read Beau perfectly, intuiting if Beau liked something or not, and never giving him more of the things he disliked. It made Beau’s scent bloom with satisfaction at what a good Alpha he’d managed to get.
Beau opened his eyes when he got full. “Drink?”
Emilio passed it over immediately. Beau almost laughed—more in joy than in amusement, although it was funny to think of Emilio ever being happy to please Beau in any other type of context. His Alpha instincts were probably overriding his dislike for Beau.
Beau yawned. “We should get some sleep. There’s a game tomorrow.”
“Okay.”
“You should eat too.”
“I’ve been eating the stuff I gave you,” Emilio explained.
“Oh, good. Let’s brush our teeth.”
Beau toddled over to the bathroom, spreading some toothpaste on Emilio’s finger and using his toothbrush on his own. Sure, Beau had put Emilio’s dick in his mouth, but he still had standards.
They settled on the bed after they were done, Beau belatedly realising that Emilio might want to go to his room. The idea made his gut squeeze, but he wouldn’t keep the guy hostage.
“Uh…if you wanna leave, I totally get it.”
“No,” Emilio said quickly. “I mean—leaving someone after a heat is…”
Beau nodded. It wasn’tBeauthat he was staying for; it was just what the situation called for.
They turned off the lights, and Beau tried to give Emilio space, but as soon as he started dozing, the Alpha’s scent became too much. Beau turned, cuddling up close, wrapping Emilio up like an octopus.
Whatever. He’d already lost his dignity. What was a little more embarrassment?
It helped that Emilio didn’t seem disturbed, winding an arm around Beau and pulling until they were squished together.
Beau let out a sigh of contentment. He knew this was a one-time thing, but he could only imagine what his life would be like if all his heats were like this.
With that shining image in mind, Beau drifted away.
***
Beau woke up with his face stuck to something. “Guh?”
“Do you always wake up like that?”
Beau jolted.What the—
Oh, right. Emilio. The person who Beau had been drooling on.
