It wasn’t like he didn’t know that. He knew he’d screwed it up. He had just been… distracted. It was all Hayce’s fault. Ehlian had grown too relaxed and laid-back recently, letting himself believe he was safe at Hayce’s side. Which was ridiculous. And dangerously naive.
“I’m fine,” Ehlian grunted. “Ask the guards to prepare me a separate cell and make sure no alphas wander nearby.”
“Most of the guards are alphas too.” Hayce reminded him, a disapproving edge in his voice.
“I can’t be the first omega this has happened to,” Ehlian said. “There has to be protocols, safety measures… I know thereare.”
“Not safe enough,” Hayce practically growled.
“Then,” Ehlian cleared his throat, “what do you suggest?”
Hayce said nothing, jaw clenched tight, frustration radiating from him.
“I mean,” Ehlian pressed, still avoiding his gaze. “We could… you could stay with me…” He shifted closer. “If aBlock Sealis already too late.”
Hayce’s fingers dug sharply into his waist, an unmistakable warning. “That’s a step too far, Ehlian.”
Ehlian froze, mouth falling open in stunned disbelief. A step too far? That was rich, coming from the same alpha who had made it clear from the very first moment that he wanted Ehlian as his fuck toy. Now Hayce was saying no? Now he didn’t want him anymore?
Not that Ehlian minded. Really, it was fine. Perfectly fine. He didn’t actually want to spend his heat with him either. Not now. Not ever.
But the stupid, instinct-driven omega in him felt crushed. The sweet, hypnotic waves of his heat radiating from his core had turned sour, leaving him cold. His—analpha didn’t want him.
“Damn you,” Hayce cursed. His grip eased on Ehlian’s waist, one hand sliding up the length of his spine, fingers threading through his hair. He pulled Ehlian closer, pressing his face into the curve of his neck in a soothing, almost chiding gesture. Then gentle waves wrapped around Ehlian’s body, enchanting, charming him. A warm telepathic pull. A pulse of safety.
Hayce’s alpha allure.
Ehlian sighed as the omega in him began to bloom again, the sourness draining away.
Gods, Hayce’s allure was addictive as it pulsed through his body, a spark sinking deep into his core, so intimate it was almost frightening.
“Stop doing that,” Ehlian mumbled against Hayce’s neck.
Hayce grew stiff and cursed under his breath. His allure started fading suddenly, closing behind a thick mental shield once again. Gone. It was primal instinct, nothing more. Most likely, Hayce hadn’t even been aware he was doing it.
The silence stretched between them, Hayce’s other hand coming to rest at Ehlian’s nape. “You’re burning up,” he said, reaching behind himself to turn off the hot water. It helped, but only a little. The steam in the room still made Ehlian feel suffocated. Yet nothing was more suffocating than being pressed against an alpha at the start of his heat, especially an alpha he was sinfully attracted to. He nuzzled deeper into Hayce’s neck, breathing in his scent—soap and something so intensely masculine.
Hayce’s palms slid down Ehlian’s back, grabbing his ass cheeks, fingertips digging deep. Ehlian welcomed it with a gasp, pushing into the touch. His core emitted the softest, sweetest waves of allure, designed to enchant any alpha… but he only wanted to enchant one.
“Damn you,” Hayce growled again. Two of his fingers found Ehlian’s wet entrance with near urgency, pushing inside. The stretch was familiar now—no ache, just blissful pleasure. Ehliancanted his hips, gasping at the way Hayce’s hard cock aligned with his, brushing, stroking it. He wanted it inside him so badly.
A third finger entered him, sliding in and out, opening him with long strokes. He bit down on Hayce’s shoulder as the pace increased, heat sparking at the small of his back and spreading everywhere.
“Enough?” Hayce asked, as though his only purpose was to take the edge off Ehlian’s heat.
“No,” Ehlian replied breathlessly against Hayce’s shoulder. “Not enough.”
The world spun suddenly, and Ehlian found himself pushed against the cold tiles of the shower. Hayce’s palms stroked the curve of his arched back, like he was addicted to the soft, trembling skin beneath his hands.
“I wasn’t…” Ehlian began, voice shaky, relishing the possessive caresses. “I didn’t try to trick you,” he said, as if the lack of aBlock Sealneeded explanation after months of resisting Hayce. “I wasn’t doing it because—”
“I know,” Hayce cut him off. “Still, Ehlian, do you expect me to leave you unguarded in some cell while you’re high on your heat? Or worse,guarded? I’m not a monster.”
“I didn’t want this,” Ehlian tried, desperate to convince himself it was true. “You don’t—why don’t you want it?”
Hayce didn’t respond. His hands spread Ehlian’s cheeks apart, the head of his cock pressing against his hole.
When Hayce sank into him with a slow, measured push, Ehlian’s legs nearly gave out. The sensitive nerves inside his channel flared to life, sending another wave of sparks across his spine and down to his cock. His palm slipped helplessly against the tiles as Hayce began a relentless, crazed pace. The water droplets on Ehlian’s skin felt like they were boiling, evaporating into the steamy air. Sobs and moans spilled from his mouth, only to be abruptly cut off when Hayce wrapped a hand around his chest and pulled him flush against himself. Hayce sucked on his bond point, rough and possessive and claiming. Ehlian’s eyes rolled back from the way it tugged perfectly at the strings of his telepathic core.
