“We should stop,” Hugh said between drugging kisses.
“We should,” Eric agreed breathlessly, before pulling him into another greedy kiss.
They ended up fucking again, this time on Hugh’s desk, with Eric’s legs thrown over Hugh’s wide shoulders, Hugh’s hand gripping Eric’s hip in a bruising grip. It was raw and desperate, pure animal need. Eric tried to muffle his moans with his own arm, but it was fruitless. He couldn’t do it; it felt too good. Hugh was grunting into his neck, his noises turning into guttural groans as the pace of their fucking increased. That room had better be soundproofed or everyone in the vicinity was likely aware of what Hugh was doing with a patient in his office. Not that either of them were capable of giving a damn about it right now.
It was over even faster this time, with Eric coming first and Hugh following him over the edge a few moments later, pulling out before he could knot him and going still on top of him. Eric swallowed a whine of disappointment, knowing that it was the smart thing to do—knotting would take time they didn’t have.
He should get up, fix his clothes, and leave. But he couldn’t seem to pull away. He couldn’t stop clinging to Hugh, couldn’t stop breathing in his scent greedily, like an addict aware that his drug was about to be taken away. He’d never thought it was possible to feel this right, this perfect, and so shitty at the same time. It was like a twisted joke of fate at his expense. The damn thing was showing him a tantalizing glimpse of what could have been—in another life.
The intercom chimed. “Your next patient is already here, doctor.”
Hugh swore. Slowly, he straightened up and took a deep breath, raking a hand through his gorgeous hair. Pressing a button on the intercom, he said, “Tell them to wait. I’ll be available soon.”
Neither of them said a word as they fixed their clothes.
Their eyes kept meeting and then looking away.
Eric felt so torn, indecision and uncertainty making his stomach tighten into a knot. What now? What did this mean, if it meant anything?
“Right, then,” Eric said, clearing his throat. “I’ll go.”
He moved toward the door when Hugh’s hand on his wrist stopped him.
Swallowing, Eric turned his head. “What?”
“You lied, right?” Hugh said, his voice rough.
Eric blinked. It took him a moment to remember what they had been talking about before round two, and when he did, he frowned in confusion and looked at Hugh searchingly. “Why does it matter to you?”
Hugh said nothing, running a hand over his stubbled jaw.
His mouth falling slack, Eric stared at him in astonishment. “I was right.” He’d said those things to get under Hugh’s skin, not because he’d actually thought that Hugh had had some kind of feelings for him back then. But now… “You liked that I was besotted with you.”
Hugh’s expression became tight, almost pained. He remained quiet, but it was a loaded silence. It wasn’t a no.
Eric wet his lips with his tongue, his heart pounding. He didn’t know what to think. How to feel. So he asked about the other thing that was bothering him. “What happened to your suppressants? Why do you smell like an unbonded alpha?”
Sighing, Hugh opened his mouth but closed it, glancing at the clock on the wall. “I’m already making my next patient wait. We can meet up and talk after work.”
Eric hesitated, torn between yes, please and stay the hell away from him. “I’m not sure…”
“Just talk,” Hugh said, without looking at him. “I’ll text you when I get off work. You can choose the venue and time.”
“Okay,” Eric said softly, his gaze falling to Hugh’s lips. He kind of wanted a goodbye kiss. Or two. Or three. He didn’t want to leave at all.
Fuck, pull yourself together. You’re married. Not to this man.
The thought was enough of a cold shower to make Eric turn away and stride out of the room. He had to leave before he did something stupid.
More stupid than what he’d already done.
Chapter 19
You liked that I was besotted with you.
There were times Hugh despised being an alpha and this was one of them.
Eilan alphas originated from ancient lupine pack leaders, predators that kept their packs under tight control. Those predators were extremely territorial and domineering, pissing all over their territory and their omegas. What they wanted, they took.
Those base instincts still existed in the modern iteration of alphas, but Hugh normally had very tight control over them.
But with Eric that control seemed to be faltering.
You liked that I was besotted with you.
He wanted to say that it wasn’t true, but… Truth be told, he wasn’t sure. Examining his past actions, Hugh could see the questionable choices he’d made and his very suspect behavior with Eric.