Doc inhaled sharply. “You don’t want to.”
“I do. You’re the first good alpha I know.”
“What about your brothers?”
Ottis rolled his eyes. “You know what I mean. I don’t want my brothers to be my alpha.”
“But you want me...?” Doc grew so still, he wasn’t even breathing.
“I do.” Ever so slowly, Ottis touched his fingertips to Doc’s mask. Doc didn’t move away. With a feather-light pressure, Ottis brushed a line down Doc’s jaw, then up his cheek. He couldn’tfeel much through two layers of masks, but that was okay. Doc was letting him touch his face.
He dropped his hand to give Doc time to process that touch.
“That’s it?” Doc asked.
“More tomorrow,” Ottis said.
Doc was quiet for a while. Then he pulled Ottis closer, hugging him tightly.
“Thank you,” Doc murmured.
Ottis grinned. It was progress.
14
OTTIS GOES INTO HEAT
Ottis couldn’t tellwhen the strange feelings started.
He had been sniffing at Doc all day, discreetly, trying not to bury his nose in Doc’s armpits. Every time Doc moved his arms, puffs of scent escaped from his shirt and wafted into Ottis’ nose—pheromones, deep and rich, the sort that purredI’m a fertile alpha.
Mixed with fresh sweat and Doc’s smoky scent, the cocktail was irresistible. It made Ottis grow warm all over; it tempted him to get closer and shove his nose under Doc’s arms.
But there was an even better option: rubbing his face all over Doc’s bare armpit, to get that concentrated scent on his skin.
“Stop thinking about it,” Ottis hissed at himself.
“Stop thinking about what?” Doc asked, crinkling his eyes. He had been watching Ottis and Marcie from his spot next to the door, strong arms folded across his muscular chest.
“Um. Smell,” Ottis said. “Pit smells. They suck you in like quicksand and eat you out.”
“Eat me out?” Doc’s eyes grew crinklier.
Ottis cringed. “No! That—That wasn’t what I was thinking about.”
“Whatwereyou thinking about, then?” Doc asked, his voice dipping lower.
“I’m not thinking about anything!” Ottis squeaked. Even though his heartbeat declared him a liar. He tried to hide his face in his hands, but they still smelled like Doc.
Gods, if he thought about Doc any more, he was going to end up climbing that alpha like a tree. It would be humiliating.
Instead, Ottis distracted himself with Marcie, tickling her with his nose until she giggled infectiously.
The whole time, Doc watched them like a sexy bodyguard, his soft clothes clinging to his body.
It was dangerous, justlookingat him.
Doc’s shirt was clinging so snugly to his chest that Ottis could see the way it hugged his pecs, the way his nipples pushed against it.
