Total pages in book: 57
Estimated words: 54960 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 275(@200wpm)___ 220(@250wpm)___ 183(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 54960 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 275(@200wpm)___ 220(@250wpm)___ 183(@300wpm)
So he didn’t say those things. But those thoughts, those instincts still influenced him, drowning out his common sense and making his words more cutting than he would have liked.
“But you’re thirty years old, Haydn. Don’t you think it’s well past time to stop letting that asshole dictate your life and choose what you should be?”
Haydn laughed, the sound sharp and rough as broken glass. “That’s fucking rich, coming from you.”
Royce stiffened. “What is that supposed to mean?”
Haydn stalked over and glowered at him, something hard flickering in his eyes. “I can smell it on you, you know. The want.” He smiled. It wasn’t his usual lovely smile. There was an unfamiliar edge to it as his hand stroked Royce’s tie—Royce’s chest. “You want me, but you don’t want to want me, do you? I’m not omega enough for your tastes.” He chuckled. “Just like I’m not alpha enough for my father. So really, there’s no fucking difference between you and my father: you both find me lacking, just in different ways. Not good enough.”
“I’ve never said that,” Royce said tersely. “I’ve never said I wanted you to be an omega.”
Haydn laughed again. “You don’t need to say it, Royce. Your actions—the way you keep distance between us even though you pretty much piss all over me—your actions speak louder than any words.” He cocked his head to the side, his blue eyes glinting. “We would be fucking all the time if I were an omega. Admit it.”
Royce wanted to deny it. But he couldn’t. If Haydn were an omega, they probably would be fucking all the time. Hell, there was no “probably” about it: he wouldn’t pull his knot out of him for days. Haydn being an omega really would have made things easier. But there was a difference between that and actively wanting Haydn to be an omega; he didn’t.
Haydn nodded, his lips curling into a bitter smile. “Get out,” he said quietly. “I need to finish packing.”
“No.”
“Excuse me?”
“I said no.” Royce laid his hands on Haydn’s hips. “You aren’t leaving.”
Haydn’s nostrils flared. “Don’t pull that alpha bullshit on me. You aren’t the boss of me.”
“No,” Royce said, looking him in the eyes. “I’m your husband.”
Haydn’s tongue flicked out to moisten his lips. “Fake husband.”
“Fake? Our marriage is very real in both countries, Haydn Schaefer Cleghorn.”
Haydn glared at him, something uncertain about his expression. “You know what I mean. And stop it. I know you’re trying to preserve the peace, but—”
“It has nothing to do with the goddamn peace,” Royce snapped, stepping closer so they were nose to nose. “You’re mine. Mine. It’s as simple as that.”
He heard more than saw Haydn swallow. Haydn dropped his gaze. “Not your omega though.”
“I don’t want you to be an omega!” Royce growled. He grabbed Haydn’s face, forcing him to meet his eyes. “Yes, I want you. But you know why I haven’t been mating you every day like I want to? Because handjobs and blowjobs aren’t enough for me, Haydn. I want to have you.”
Haydn went very still.
“I didn’t want to freak you out,” Royce said. “I didn’t want to pressure you into doing something alphas find repulsive. It wouldn’t be fair. That’s why I wasn’t allowing myself to bed you. It has nothing to do with you not being an omega or good enough, I promise. You are good enough. You’re fucking perfect as far as I’m concerned.” He clenched his jaw. “But every time I touch you, the things I want… they would offend any alpha.” Looking Haydn in the eyes, he said in a hoarse whisper, “I want to fuck you. I want to put my cock into you, stuff you full of my knot and fill you up until you’re leaking my come all the time.”
Haydn stared at him. Just stared, his blue eyes wide and so very pretty, his cheeks a lovely shade of pink. He swallowed, the muscles of his throat working. His scent spiked, but he didn’t look like he wanted to punch Royce and he didn’t smell repulsed. He smelled… he smelled aroused.
Royce’s heart started pounding.
“You’ll let me?” he heard himself say. His voice seemed to be coming from afar.
Haydn wet his lips. His grip on Royce’s tie tightening, he jerked him toward the bed and shoved him onto it.
As Royce’s back hit the mattress, he looked up at Haydn, his cock straining against the zipper of his pants. Fuck, he didn’t know why Haydn’s strength was turning him on, but it did. Every hair on his body was standing on end and he could feel his pulse beating in his dick as he watched his husband—his very alpha husband—undress for him.
Finally, Haydn was naked.
He was gorgeous, all muscle and power and golden skin, but there was also a grace to his step as he prowled over and straddled Royce’s clothed thighs.