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)
Hugh stared at him searchingly.
“Go,” Eric bit out, blinking. He wouldn’t cry, damn it. He wouldn’t feel sorry for himself. He was happy that Hugh was free from his unwanted bond—free to meet an omega, fall in love, and get mated of his own free will. He did want Hugh to be happy, even if it was with someone else. At least one of them would be.
And it didn’t matter how badly he wanted to fall against Hugh’s chest and beg him not to go. It didn’t matter that he felt like bursting into tears and begging him to take him with him, his pride and the scandal be damned.
“Go,” Eric repeated harshly. “That omega must be waiting for you at the hotel.”
Hugh’s jaw worked.
At long last, he opened his mouth and said a single word that turned Eric’s world upside down.
“No.”
Chapter 21
Hugh had almost said yes.
But something stopped him.
Although the expression on Eric’s face was blank and guarded, there was something in his eyes… something fragile. It reminded Hugh of the look Eric had given him when they had parted years ago: his eyes seemed to plead with him to stay even as he told him to leave him alone. Last time he’d ignored that look, ignored his instincts, told himself he was just seeing what he wanted to see. Last time he had respected Eric’s wishes and walked away, his rationality having won over his emotions—and Eric had ended up miserable in a marriage to a man three times his age. Don’t leave me, those eyes seemed to be silently asking, no matter what their owner said aloud.
Maybe Hugh really was just seeing what he wanted to see, but he’d be damned if he let Eric down twice. He still remembered what Eric had told him when they parted years ago, his voice bitter and hollow. And gods forbid I have something I want rather than something I need. Eric might not need him anymore. But it didn’t mean he didn’t want him.
“No,” Hugh said. “I’m not going anywhere.”
Eric’s eyes widened almost comically, his lips parting. “What?” he whispered, his gaze searching, as if he couldn’t quite believe what he was hearing.
“What is that supposed to mean?” Westcliff said, his voice cold.
Hugh didn’t even glance at him. He knew the man was the future king of this country who already wielded a lot of power, but Hugh wasn’t his subject. He didn’t owe him any explanation. The only person he owed anything to was Eric; no one else. It irked him that the others were watching and listening to their conversation, but Hugh could hardly send them away, considering he was the unwanted guest there.
“It means what I said,” Hugh said. “I’m not staying away from you, love.”
Someone behind him made a choking noise.
Eric’s throat moved as he swallowed. “I don’t understand,” he said in a small voice that about broke Hugh’s heart.
He took Eric’s fingers into his own and squeezed them, holding Eric’s gaze. “I want you to be happy.” No, that wasn’t correct. Hugh made a face, smiling self-deprecatingly. “I wish I were as unselfish as you, but I don’t want another alpha to make you happy. I want to be the one to do it. No one will make you happier than me.”
“Wow, he’s lucky he’s so hot, because that’s some arrogance,” one of Eric’s brothers muttered behind him.
Hugh ignored him, his eyes only on Eric. “Maybe it is arrogant of me to think so. But no one will cherish you more than me, Eri.”
Eric’s expression crumpled, his eyes suspiciously shiny. “You’re only saying this out of a misguided sense of protectiveness,” he said, his voice not quite steady. “You don’t actually want me that way.”
Hugh gave him an incredulous look and laughed. “If I didn’t want you, we wouldn’t be in this situation, love.”
Flushing, Eric glared at him. “You know what I mean. Obviously not that kind of want. Not that it isn’t important too, but…”
Hugh stared at that blushing, flustered face and felt a rush of overwhelming affection. Fuck, he loved this ridiculous mess of a boy.
The thought made Hugh’s heart skip a beat, his smile fading.
He examined it carefully, but it still felt… right. He loved Eri. He fucking adored him, more than anything. This ridiculous, awkward young man felt like the missing piece in his life—the missing piece in his heart. This was what he’d been missing all these years. He would be damned if he lost him again.
“You once told me I didn’t care about your wants, only your needs,” Hugh said, keeping his voice very low. “You were wrong. I did care, even back then. I just didn’t realize how much. I think deep down I might have been scared to get too close to you, because I knew I couldn’t give you what you really wanted while I was still mated to Nadine. That’s why I pushed you away with one hand and selfishly pulled you close with the other. Even my mating bond to her couldn’t stop me from being drawn to you. Looking back, I’m pretty sure I was already besotted with you and was just deep in denial.”