Total pages in book: 62
Estimated words: 58808 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 294(@200wpm)___ 235(@250wpm)___ 196(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 58808 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 294(@200wpm)___ 235(@250wpm)___ 196(@300wpm)
Only as the door closed after them did Hugh realize that his hands were balled into fists and he was shaking with adrenaline.
Chapter 17
“Well, that was certainly interesting,” Greg said when they left the clinic.
Eric hummed noncommittally, looking out the helicopter window. He could barely focus on what Greg was saying, his heart still beating fast and hard from his unexpected confrontation with Hugh.
Gods, Hugh.
When Eric had entered the room, for a moment he’d thought he was seeing things. It wouldn’t be the first time. How many times had his heart skipped a beat when he saw a tall alpha with rich chestnut hair? Too damn many.
This time it had felt like a hallucination too—surely fate couldn’t be that cruel, right? But then Hugh’s scent had hit him, so familiar and yet so much stronger, like everything delicious and wonderful in the world, and Eric’s knees had turned to jelly, his neglected omega side awakening and needing. All things considered, he was very proud of himself for not giving away how much Hugh’s presence had affected him.
“Let’s just say that it was very uncomfortable being in that room while you and that hot doctor engaged in verbal foreplay.”
That snapped Eric out of his thoughts.
“What?” he stammered. “What are you talking about?”
Greg shot him a wry look. “Please. I wasn’t born yesterday, kiddo. Don’t look so embarrassed. I don’t blame you. That was one fine specimen of an alpha back there. Fantastic shoulders. And that jawline... He was damn fine. Reminded me a little of Simon in his prime. Not that Simon still isn’t fit, but you know what I mean.”
When Eric just continued looking at him in utter mortification, Greg sighed. “You have nothing to be ashamed of, Eric. You’re a young, healthy omega. It’s natural for you to have needs. It would be selfish of me to forbid you from having some fun when I’m getting laid regularly. Fuck the hot doctor if you want to. Just don’t get knocked up. I’m not raising another alpha’s bastard.”
Eric gave him an affronted look. “I have no intention of sleeping with him, so you have nothing to worry about.”
Greg had the gall to look at him skeptically before shrugging and turning his attention to his phone.
Eric fumed for the rest of the ride.
He wasn’t going to fuck Hugh. He wasn’t!
Hugh wasn’t interested in him anyway. Eric wouldn’t make the same mistake twice.
Having his heart broken once was more than enough.
***
Their next appointment with Hugh was three days later.
And as luck would have it, Greg had urgent business to take care of, so Eric had to go alone.
“Don’t forget to use protection,” Greg said absently, walking away.
Eric glowered at his husband’s back. “I’m not sleeping with him!”
Greg ignored his words, as usual. Eric was still scowling as he strode toward his helicopter.
The ride to the clinic seemed to last forever—and somehow was far too short too. By the time he arrived, Eric’s stomach was a tight knot of nerves. And disgustingly, eagerness.
Gods, he’d thought he’d eradicated this… this pathetic infatuation, but apparently more than three years apart and a marriage had changed nothing.
His annoyance with himself made Eric knock more sharply than he probably should have.
Nothing is going to happen, he told himself and pushed the door open.
Chapter 18
He closed the door and looked at Hugh.
His hands were trembling, Eric realized suddenly. He was trembling all over, in fact, and the issue became worse once their eyes locked.
Hugh got to his feet: tall, fit, and insanely attractive, and Eric inhaled shakily, which he immediately regretted. That scent was too damn intoxicating.
“Eri,” Hugh said, his voice low, husky, and so achingly familiar it went straight to his crotch. And his heart. His stupid, besotted heart.
“Don’t call me that,” Eric said, gripping the door handle behind him. “It’s Mr. Ascott now.” Married. He was married now. He’d better remember that.
His lips twisting, Hugh rounded the desk and approached him, moving with the grace of a big cat, his scent becoming stronger the closer he got. It was like letting a starved person smell the most delicious food in the world and telling him he couldn’t have it. It was plain cruel.
“Why do you reek so much?” Eric bit out, trying to hold his breath. What happened to Hugh’s suppressants?
“Why do you?” Hugh said, stopping in front of him, his nostrils flaring. “You don’t smell like a mated omega.” His gaze moved to Eric’s neck. “He hasn’t given you a mating bite.”
“It’s none of your business, but if you must know, Greg can’t do it for religious reasons.” Eric had thought it was a weird excuse, but that was the story they were sticking to in public. Greg had even gotten himself an overpriced altar to appear like a devoted follower of some obscure religion.
“The same religion that doesn’t allow him to knot you?” Hugh said with a sneer that managed to make even his ridiculously handsome face ugly.