Page 24 of Broken Ice
Pez interrupted any possible reply, though, making a fuss about the bus leaving.
Emilio shook his head, which was answer enough. Beau shrugged, stepping away.
He ignored the hollow pit of his stomach, trying to soothe the hurt of rejection.
Emilio wasn’thisAlpha. There was no reason to get despondent about the fact that even a heat couldn’t get Emilio’s sensitive nose to become accustomed to Beau.
To want his scent on Beau’s skin.
Beau didn’t need an Alpha, especially someone who didn’t feel the same way.
***
Beau was watching the TV in his hotel room when there was a knock on the door. He groaned at the prospect of getting up but heaved himself upright.
He blinked as he opened the door to reveal Emilio standing there stiffly. “Hey?”
“Hey.” Emilio glanced around as if he were worried someone would see him.
“You wanna come in?”
Emilio nodded, and Beau stepped away, letting the guy in.
“You good?”
Emilio nodded. “Yep. Just, you know. You offered to scent, so.”
“Oh.”The fuck?“I thought you said no.”
“No, I didn’t.”
“I mean, you shook your head,” Beau pointed out.
“That wasn’t at you.” Emilio’s eyebrows tilted to make a menacing ‘V.’ “If you don’t want to—”
“No, dude, it’s fine. Just a little confused, is all. I kinda guessed your instincts wouldn’t be happy if the pack scented me and you didn’t. I get that it’s just pheromones.”
Emilio stared at him. “Right. Pheromones.” The word came out thick with his accent.
“Well, have at it,” Beau encouraged.
They stood there for a few long, awkward seconds before Emilio took a step closer. His scent was filling the air between them like it already wanted to put a claim on Beau.
Beau fought not to sway. He was a strong, independent—
“Oh.” The sound was punched out of Beau as Emilio’s palm landed on the side of his throat, right where his scent gland was. He was trying to keep his eyes open and expression neutral, but he could feel his eyelashes fluttering as Emilio began to rub his thumb underneath Beau’s jaw.
Because Beau’s self-preservation skills fucked off every time Emilio was nearby, he tilted his head to expose more skin, an obscene show of submission and intimacy.
A growl rumbled suddenly, and then Emilio was right there, crowding Beau, making them stumble until Beau’s back hit a wall.
Beau moaned as Emilio stuffed his face into his neck, stubble scraping on Beau’s sensitive skin, lighting him up, a wildfire that was taking control. He clutched at Emilio’s shirt, pulling him in.
He wanted…God, he wanted—
Beau’s knees almost buckled as teeth scraped his scent gland, the one dangerously close to his mating one.
“Okay,” he said, voice wobbling. “I think we’re good.”
