“Damn,” Torrence says. “Go take care of your guy. I’ll mark you down for Heat leave.”
“Thanks. Appreciated.” It’s true enough, just the wrong partner.
I race to my truck and hop in. My hands tremble the closer I get to the library. Maybe Abel’s sick? Once I park, I grab one of the dozens of reusable bags from the back seat. If Abelissick, at least I have a barf bag for him.
People pour from the library, and I race towards the entrance. My heart pounds as if it’s going to beat right the fuck out of my chest. Something is wrong. Abel’s in trouble. Why can’t I tell?
“Where is he?” I practically bellow as soon as I enter the library.
Riley rushes over and waves me to follow. “He locked himself in the utility closet. Obviously, I have a key, but it felt wrong to intrude. All I could think of was to get you or Perry here. But I think Perry might be the problem.”
I grab Riley by the collar and slam him against the wall. “What do you mean?”
“He’s panicking because he can feel Perry’s Heat and his emotions.”
“What? Why can’t I?” Why can’t I feel Perry?
“Haven’t you noticed how sensitive Abel is to you and Perry? He practically latched on to both of you as soon as the three of you discovered you were Fated.” Riley gives me a look and I drop him from my grip.
I throw my head back. “Of course I noticed, but I just thought it was Abel being Abel.”
“Come on,” Riley says. I finally notice crying down the hall. “He’s so upset he won’t let me help.” He waves to the closet door before leaving me.
This close, I can finally feel Abel’s emotions as if they’re my own. If this is how deeply he feels everything, I understand why he gets so upset when he does. I thought we’d been helping.
I knock. “Abel?”
There’s a sniffle sob on the other side and some shuffling before he peeks his head through the door. Tear streaks mar his face. His eyes are puffy and red. He wipes his nose with the back of one hand. “Buckle.” Abel launches himself at me. “I’m sorry. So sorry.” He blinks tears from his eyes. This close, I can feel his erection pressing into me and my brain is confused.
“It’s okay, Abel.” I wipe his tears with the pads of my thumbs. “What’s wrong?”
“Perry,” he moans the name. “I can feel him. He’s not doing good.”
“He doesn’t want us to help.”
“Wehaveto,” Abel whines. “It’s like I can feel his body and it makes me hard.” He presses his hands to the front of his pants. “I don’t understand. I’m just a Beta. I shouldn’t feel him like this, right?”
I hold his face in my hands. “You’re not just a Beta.”
Abel rubs his face against my hands. “I don’t understand what’s happening.” He blinks and tears fall down his cheeks. “This has never happened before. I don’t get turned on in public.” He squirms on his feet. His face is so pink and splotchy, no doubt from embarrassment.
“Babe, let’s get you home. Maybe a warm bath will help?”
“I don’t have a tub.”
“Well,Ido. You’ll take a nice warm bath, then we’ll watch something mindless.”
“Okay.” Abel nods and wraps his arms around me. “I’m so embarrassed.”
“Don’t be.” I kiss the top of his head and scoop him into my arms, making him yelp.
“You can’t carry me out.”
“I think it’ll be for the best if you don’t want your dick leading.”
He curls in my arms and buries his head in my throat. “Sorry.”
“Nothing to be sorry about.” He’s so light in my arms.
