Page 51 of Bully for Sale

Ezer frowned. “How?”

Ned shrugged. “I don’t know yet.”

That made Ezer tense up. He pushed against Ned’s chest. “Please get off me. I can’t breathe.”

Ned rolled to the side and Ezer pulled away so that they weren’t touching any more. “What did I say wrong? Tell me, so I can apologize and take it back.”

Ezer huffed a small laugh. “If Braden and Finch saw you being so nice to me, what would they think?”

“Theywillsee me be nice to you and more. I’m your alpha now. I have to protect you and our child from assholes like them, no matter what my dad thinks.” Ned smiled, realizing this arrangement relieved them of the financial obligation to be kind to Braden and Finch anyway. They didn’t need their fathers’ contracts or approval now, not with Fersee money backing them. He dreaded telling Ezer that, but he supposed he should know.

“My father’s very controlling,” Ezer murmured. “I don’t do well with being controlled.”

“No?”

“No. I tend to rebel.” It sounded like a warning to Ned’s ears, and maybe it was. “I wasn’t supposed to visit my da after he was kicked out. But I did. Father didn’t want me leaving St. Hausers. But I did.”

Ned got more comfortable on his elbow so that he could gaze up at Ezer as he lay naked, letting the breeze from the open door waft over his skin. Ned decided he’d open all the windows later, air the place out, and really cool them down.

“He wanted me to work out with my brothers, get bigger and stronger, so that I could be a tool for him. He doesn’t see us as real people—just tools. We’re only omegas to sell off for his own purposes. So I didn’t eat much. Stayed small. Useless.”

Ned sat, adjusting the sheet over his cock, and sitting cross-legged. “Omegas are more than tools.”

“Yes,” Ezer shot Ned a sharp look. “Braden and Finch think we’re also cocksleeves.”

“They don’t. Not really.”

“Oh, yes, they do.”

“Maybe. But they have omega brothers. They don’t seethemlike that.”

“Yeah, well… they’re like my father. They probably see their brothers as tools, too.”

“How so?”

“My father thinks omegas exist to make his life better. His new omega Pete does—he’s sweet and eager. My father takes a lot of pleasure in him physically. Pete’s pregnant and so they’re often together, fulfilling those needs, which I think my father enjoys. And my brothers make his life better because they’re smart, handsome, and are going to bring in nice prices for their heats and marriages. But I make his life worse.”

Ned shook his head. “How?”

“I’m the reason his life fell apart. I’m the reason he’s so bitter.” Ezer stood, his skinny frame glinting with sweat in the lowering sun. “I want a shower. I feel gross.”

Ned blinked. He’d thought another wave would be coming soon, but it seemed that maybe the heat had well and truly passed. Ezer seemed more and more clear as the seconds ticked by, and a desire to wash and get out of bed were two signals for the end of heat. Or so his father had said. He truly wished he’d had more preparation for this entire event. At least Ezer didn’t seem dissatisfied with his performance.

“Let me help you.”

Ezer turned to him then, his blue eyes striking at Ned’s heart. “I can manage.”

“You’re tired. What if you fall?”

“If I get dizzy, I’ll sit down. I want to be alone.”

Ned nodded, his throat closing up with hurt, but he let Ezer go into the bathroom and shut the door. He waited on the bed until he heard the water start up, and then he rose, taking in the wrecked sheets and the dishes in the sink.

Then he got busy cleaning up for his omega.

Chapter Eighteen

The cabin wasclean when Ezer finally came out of the shower after using every drop of hot water. He’d wrapped a towel around his waist, and the mirror across the room showed his hair curling with dampness.