Page 36 of Broken Ice
“I mean, you did leave last time,” Beau huffed. Also, his last Alpha had left him during his heat, but Beau didn’t think it was a good time to bring that up.
“That was—you needed food! And it wasn’t during your heat. And I apologised. I’m really sorry—”
“Okay, okay.” Beau made grabby hands. “Shirt.”
Emilio pulled his shirt off by the nape of his neck, which was very hot of him, and handed it over.
Beau stared at Emilio’s chest. “Where are you going, again?”
“I just need to—I’ll be back in like thirty seconds. Promise.”
“Okay,” Beau agreed, watching those muscley, broad shoulders go.
He lay down, shirt covering his face. It just wasn’t the same now that he’d had a shot of the good stuff straight from the source, but it kept the worst of the cramps away.
Emilio did return quickly, carrying his gym bag. Beau watched curiously as he set it by the bed and then pulled a large, fluffy blanket out.
“I thought you might like this,” Emilio said.
Beau reached out for it and gasped as his fingers made contact.
It wassoft.Like, maybe the softest thing he’d ever touched.
And it smelt like Emilio.
“Oh my God,” Beau said, rubbing it all over his face and neck.
He stopped suddenly. Emilio was here, and Beau hadn’t even built his nest.
Beau looked at Emilio only to find him holding two pillows and more bedding. “Okay,” he said decisively, getting off the bed.
“What—” Emilio started, but Beau cut him off, pushing him onto the mattress.
“Stay.”
Beau took the nesting material from Emilio’s hands, setting it aside and pulling his own stuff from the insulated bag under the bed.
He arranged the pillows in a circle first. That was key. It was the spine of the nest—what gave it integrity.
The scent pockets next. Beau stuffed Emilio’s shirt in one place, his pants in another, and his underwear, after wrestling them off the Alpha, in another. His socks went in there too.
The blankets came last. They were all selected for their size, thickness, and softness. The base of the nest—Emilio rolling over awkwardly to make way for it—was the blue blanket. Emilio’s magic one went over the pillows that made the top of the nest. Beau arranged the rest of them to make a sturdy circumference, a naked Emilio lying in the middle.
Beau stepped away, making a grand gesture that asked,Well? What do you think?
Emilio sat up. He inspected the structure carefully, then locked eyes with Beau.
“This is really amazing, Beau. Seriously, it’s…the best nest I’ve ever seen.”
Beau positivelyglowed.He shucked his clothes and joined Emilio, straddling him. “Yeah?”
“Yeah, babe. Fucking perfect.”
Beau wiggled happily, leaning close to kiss Emilio.
Emilio reciprocated at once, wrapping Beau up in his arms, one hand in his hair, the other on his hip.
A sudden thought hit Beau. Emilio probably wanted to have sex, but…
