That part was confusing.
Ash was speaking before he knew it. “Ryder.”
He spoke quietly, but Ryder immediately stopped bitching at Spencer and turned to face him. He was guarding the door like his life depended on it, all dark scowls and big muscles, and Ash loved him so, so much.
Ash breathed in again. Swallowed. Another cramp hit him, but he hardly felt the ache because things were finally clicking into place.
And for the first time since he’d felt slick dripping down his thighs in the campus classroom, Ash was grateful. Grateful he wasn’t too far gone to say what he needed to say.
“Ryder, he smells really good.”
5
SPENCER
Spencer whistled as he loped down the apartment hallway.
He was having agreatfirst day of the semester. He’d had breakfast with his besties—amazing, as per usual—and then his first class had been a late start, so he’d had time to hit the gym before. There’d been that minor altercation at the lecture hall steps, but whatever, and he only had one class on Mondays, so now he was free as a bird.
And that freedom meant he was the one snagging Noah’s keys from the two little shits who’d been hoarding them for two whole weeks. The same two little shits who weren’t answering their phones for anyone.
But Noah’s car was in their parking garage, and Spencer had seen it on campus earlier—as well as Ash and Ryder in the flesh—so that meant they must have come back with it.
Look at that. Sherlock fucking Holmes over here.
Spencer had never actually been to Ash and Ryder’s apartment before. Maybe they’d let him take a little peek. Didthey have one bedroom? Two? And the bigger question—how many beds?
Spencer knocked on the apartment door. There was no answer, but the lights were definitely on inside. He could see them under the door. He knocked again.
“Aaaash! Ryyyyder!” he called. “I’ve come to collect Noah’s keeeeeys.”
There was still no answer. Were they in the shower? Maybe both of them together? Hot thought, but no, Spencer would swear he could sense them hovering.
“Yo, I know you’re in there! Whatever shady shit you’re up to, I won’t tell. Just gimme the keys. And check your phones every couple years. Goddamn.”
After a moment, the door finally opened but only, like, a tiny sliver, Ryder’s glaring face barely peeking through. “Listen, asshole, you can’t be here right now.”
And here Spencer had thought Ryder was warming up to him. Or maybe this was how he greeted all his guests. Spencer laughed. “Why, you got a?—”
He’d been about to joke about Ryder stashing an omega away, but then the smell hit him. Burned sugar. Kinda caramelly. Like a marshmallow that had caught fire. Fucking sweet and delicious. An omega for sure. And a horny one, from the scent of it, although the char had a sharp edge, like maybe they were stressed.
Well, damn. This was actually kind of disappointing. Maybe Ryder and Ash had an agreement, but it still seemed kind of shitty of Ryder to bring an omega home to the apartment they shared. Although, Ash couldn’t smell the pheromones, so maybe it wasn’t as big of a deal?
None of Spencer’s business for sure, but he wasn’t in the best control of his mouth even on a good day. “Holy shit, youdohave an omega in there. Does Ash know?”
“I’m telling you, you can’t fuckingbehere. Fuck. Off.”
The disappointment grew, and Spencer’s grin dropped. Ryder was acting shady, and acting shady meant he wasdoingsomething shady. Maybe he and Ash didn’t have an agreement at all.
Spencer met the other alpha glare for glare. “You think I’m going to go tattling to Ash? Well, you’re fucking right. Where is he anyway? Did you strand him back on campus just to come get your knot wet?”
“If you don’t?—”
And then a voice came from inside the apartment. “Ryder.”
That was Ash, wasn’t it? Although, he didn’t sound quite like himself.
So, not stranded. Holy shit, were they having a three-way in there? Like, the two of them and some hot, random omega?
