Page 44 of Broken Ice
Beau lowered his arm, peeking at Emilio, at his perfect hair hanging over his forehead, at the concerned tilt of his mouth.
“What’s going on?”
Beau sighed. He really, truly, did not know how to put it into words. “I really don’t know.”
Slowly, telegraphing his movement, Emilio lifted his hand and placed it on Beau’s shoulder. Beau could feel the warmth of it on his neck. A couple of inches more and Emilio would be touching him, leaving a trace of his scent there.
The longing to turn his face and press his cheek against that hand hit him with a force that left him aching. Emilio being so tender with him outside of a heat was almost too much to take.
Beau gave him a wobbly smile.
God, the Omega that ended up with Emilio was going to be so, so lucky.
“Sammy was asking about you the other day,” Beau said just to change the subject.
Emilio’s eyebrows twitched. “Oh, yeah?” he asked, letting Beau get away with not talking about what was bothering him.
Beau appreciated it.
He felt raw whenever his scent was brought up, and Emilio was the last person he wanted to discuss it with. Beau was too scared of what the truth of Emilio’s opinion was on it—if he still found it too potent and overwhelming. If he would ever agree that Beau smelt even half as good as the guys inside the club said.
“Yeah.” Beau nodded, and Emilio’s hand left his shoulder. He missed it immediately. “I think he has a poster of you on the wall.”
Emilio huffed in amusement. “I’m sure your brother loves that.”
“Oh, Noah hates you. He getssoannoyed if Sammy talks about you, it’s hilarious.”
“Are they…?” Sammy was an Omega, so it wasn’t a strange assumption, but Noah was so fucking adamant that nothing would ever happen.
“Nah. They’re both fucking oblivious, so. Have you and Sammy ever…” Beau’s gut clenched. It wasn’t any of his business, but he suddenly needed to know.
Emilio scrunched up his face. “No—he’s like a little brother. He was sixteen when I met him and honestly, I was like…there’s no way this tiny guy makes it to the NHL.”
Beau barked out a laugh. “Oh, my God…are you telling me you didn’t believe in Sammy? That’s harsh, dude.”
“He had a growth spurt,” Emilio defended. “I’m not saying he isn’t talented. I always admired him, actually. He’s, you know, with his stature and the fact that he’s an Omega—he had a lot of stigma against him.”
Beau hummed in understanding. “How’s it like in Sweden for Omegas?”
“It’s not as bad as here. Sammy wasn’t teased or anything—not about that, anyway.”
Beau smirked at the wording. “What did he get teased about?”
Emilio considered the question, the corners of his lips turning up. “Sammy isn’t, like…annoying. But he’s. He can be a little demanding.”
Beau cackled. “He’s a total princess, you can say it. He has every Alpha on that team wrapped around his little finger. My brother iswhipped.”
“Yeah, Sammy’s…he’s not shy.”
Sammy was the kind of person—the kind of Omega—that loved their own heat. That was unselfconscious about the things that set him apart.
Beau very much envied that ability. He put on a confident front, but, well…lately, that illusion was getting harder to uphold.
“Pretty sure my brother’s going to Sweden next summer. He’s been wanting to for a while.”
Emilio raised his eyebrows. “You should come too. I’ll show you the town.”
Beau opened his mouth, but his tongue wouldn’t quite work.
