He did, actually. Shame instantly made Ash’s overheated body burn even hotter. He swallowed down something that felt suspiciously like a sob. “I’m sorry. I just—I don’t feel good.”
“I know, bright eyes.”
And they both knew Ash would probably feel better if he was in Ryder’s lap, like Ryder had suggested as soon as they got in the door. But Ash couldn’t make himself sit down. Sit still. Couldn’t make himself do anything but pace and bitch and whine.
His eyes burned. His throat went tight. Fuck. Was he going tocry?
His voice was thicker than it should have been when he spoke. “Iknowit’s going to be okay. I know you’ll take care of me. I know it’ll even feel, like, really good probably. But?—”
“You’re scared,” Ryder finished for him after he broke off.
Ash scowled. “Nervous,” he corrected.
Ryder leaned forward, clasping his hands between his muscled thighs. “I am too.”
Ash let out a stuttered breath. That helped a little, actually. Hearing Ryder say it out loud. There was nothing worse than someone pretending to be competent when they were anything but.
So they were both bumbling through? That sucked, yeah. But they loved each other, and they trusted each other, and they were going to do their best.
And if it still felt like they were missing something—something big—then that was probably only Ash’s crazy hormones talking nonsense.
There was a knock on their apartment door, and Ash jumped about a foot in the air. If it was that goddamn burned rubber bastard driver again?—
He and Ryder exchanged a glance. They both stayed quiet. Whoever it was, they would leave if no one answered.
There was another knock. And then a familiar voice. “Aaaash! Ryyyyder!” it singsonged. “I’ve come to collect Noah’s keeeeeys.”
Spencer. Spencer fucking Phillips was at the door. Now. During Ash’s first heat.
Ash’s belly cramped again, and he hunched over as quietly as he could, although he couldn’t completely stop the groan from escaping. Fuck. They couldn’t open the door, right? Right. Because Ash was naked. And an omega. And … other reasons.
“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.”
Ash didn’t even know where his fucking phone was.
And then Ryder was at his side, a strong hand on Ash’s shoulder. “I’ll handle it,” he rumbled, too quietly to be heard through the door.
Ash nodded, resisting the overwhelming urge to immediately snuggle into Ryder’s chest and huff his scent like a drug. Ash had already had his snuggle opportunity, and he’d wasted it pacing like a lunatic.
Ryder went to the door, opening it only the barest of cracks. Ash should probably flee to the bedroom or something, but he was rooted to the spot.
“Ryder!”
Ash couldn’t see Spencer from this angle, but the alpha sounded pleased as punch.
“Fancy seeing you?—”
“Listen, asshole,” Ryder growled, still not opening the door any wider than a hair. “You can’t be here right now.”
Spencer laughed. “Why, you got a—” He paused. Ash wondered what he was doing. And then a new note entered Spencer’s voice. Whatever it was, he didn’t sound pleased as punch anymore. “Holy shit, youdohave an omega in there. Does Ash know?”
“I’m telling you?—”
Ash didn’t bother listening to the rest. He crept closer to the door, ignoring their bickering.
Because holy shit, something smelled amazing. Like chai tea, or one of those lattes they made out of it, where it was all spicy but also sweet. The scent was mixing with Ryder’s pheromones to make Ash feel like he was on the porch of some woodsy mountain cabin, sipping a hot cup of something delicious on a cool morning. All peaceful and shit.
But also like he kind of wanted to fuck the porch. And the tea.
