Dash spun to face him, anger alight in his eyes. “You can’t hold me here against my will.”
“I’m not. I’m making sure you’ll be safe to leave.”
“My heatsneverlast long,” Dash said. “I know myself better than you do.”
“We should wait a while—just in case,” Emerson argued.
Panic shone in Dash’s eyes.“Can you not see that I want the fuck out of here?”
Emerson held Dash’s gaze, silent. Pain lanced his chest. What had he done wrong? “I know I lack the experience of a proper alpha and have never handled a heat, but I thought I did well enough.”
Dash sighed, the fight leaving him. “Of course you did…well enough.”
“Then why are you climbing the walls trying to escape me?”
“It’s notyouI’m trying to escape,” Dash said as he stared at the floor, his voice barely above a whisper.
“It’s what I witnessed,” Emerson said, suddenly understanding.
Dash winced, closing his eyes.
“I hate being so out of control,” Dash whispered, reopening his eyes.
“Running from it changes nothing,” Emerson said.
“I just want to forget,” Dash said, hardening his stare.
“No,” Emerson said, his voice raw. Anger coiled through him. They’d just shared something monumental and he wouldn’t allow Dash to pretend it hadn’t happened. He yanked Dash against his chest before pinning him to the bathroom counter, growling his disapproval. “I won’t let you run from this.”
Dash staredinto his alpha’s handsome,determinedface, lifting his chin with arrogance. He wouldn’t be ordered about, nor would he stay there another second longer than he wanted to. Emerson had seen him at his weakest, most vulnerable moment. Now that good sense had returned, he needed space to process their night together and figure out how they proceeded from there. No way was he going to be forced into the role of obedient, submissive omega.
He’d rather die first.
Yet the timbre of Emerson’s growl had sent a wave of pleasure coursing through Dash’s body. Emerson was his dominant, the one who held all the control. Dash shivered with need, shame rising in his chest at the same time. When Emerson trailed a fingertip up one of his arms from wrist to elbow, he shivered again.
Slick eased from his hole. He did everything in his power not to writhe against the big, strong man pinning him to the counter, but it grew more difficult by the second.
Gods, just fuck me already… deep and hard…
Dash turned his head, trying to hide his widening eyes—and his shock at his body’s betrayal. Another wave? He’d been sure his heat was over. They never lasted more than a few hours.
Emerson’s strong hand gently tugged on his cheek, turning his head back. He pressed himself against Dash, angling his head down. His lips were inches from Dash’s but too damned far away. Dash stared at them, melting into Emerson as the seconds ticked by. Emerson licked the seam of his lips before capturing them fully. Within seconds, Dash was writhing against Emerson, once again a ball of raw need.
His alpha reared back, searching his face.
“You look near feral,” Emerson whispered roughly, his voice hoarse. “Pupils fully dilated. Body feverish with need. Do you really think it’s safe for you to leave?”
Dash clenched his jaw, ignoring the thick imprint of Emerson’s hardening cock against his belly.
“It is,” Dash lied. “Can we go now?”
“Maybe you should turn around and see what I see.”
Dash rolled his eyes. “I’ve seen myself plenty.”
Emerson grasped his shoulders and spun him around. He lifted a hand to Dash’s chin and forced it up.“Look now, mate.”
Dash met his own stare, shocked at what he witnessed in the mirror. His eyes were large and glassy. His face was ruddy, except from the dark circles of exhaustion under his eyes. His cock was rock hard and leaking onto the bathroom counter. Emerson’s arm looked so massive snaked around his midsection, holding him in place.
