Page 16 of Overeager (Extra Credit #1)

Eli

T here was a drumming ache behind Eli’s eyelids, persistent and terrible.

A headache. Right. Because he was hungover. Because he’d gotten … Ohhh, he’d gotten very, very drunk, hadn’t he? Sitting at the bar and downing gin and tonics while Noah had been working.

And Noah had … taken him home?

Eli bolted upright in bed, wincing as the sudden movement sent a stabbing pain through his head. The memories came flooding back.

Oh god. He’d been a slutty, handsy drunk, hadn’t he? Poor Noah had been forced to tuck him into bed like a wayward child. He’d probably run for the hills, no matter that Eli had made him promise to stay.

Except no, outside of the pounding in Eli’s head, there were the telltale sounds of someone in Eli’s kitchen. And Eli doubted Faith would have come over to torment him so early in the morning. Or at least, he thought it was early, judging by the soft light hitting his bedroom.

So Noah was still here. In Eli’s home. After Eli had not so subtly tried to grab at his dick the night before.

Should Eli pretend to be asleep? Maybe if he kept his eyes closed the entire day, Noah would give up eventually.

Cowardly and rude, what a combo.

He grimaced at himself and picked up his phone, a text from Faith staring up at him.

Faith: I call bullshit on our previous convo. That boy is INTO you. Don’t fuck it up.

Of course she’d realized immediately that Noah had been the alpha from the cabin. Not that it had been that hard to guess. How many cute alphas did Eli really know, especially after Noah had told her they’d met in Sedona? And then she’d abandoned Eli at the bar, the meddling hussy.

Eli could text her right now, tell her, He’s my STUDENT , and see if she changed her tune.

But he didn’t have the nerve. He didn’t want to know what it would feel like when Faith was truly disappointed in him. And she’d have to be, wouldn’t she? It was unethical and sleazy and … bad.

He put his phone down. He wasn’t going to send that text. And that more than anything told Eli his next move. The very, very bad decision he was about to make.

He’d probably known last night at the bar, when that beta had tried to give Noah her number. Something deep and primal in Eli had growled out, No. Mine. My alpha.

He hadn’t said the actual words, thank God. But he was pretty sure Noah had noticed the growl.

It was foolish and old-fashioned to say the very least, to rely on some idea of omega instincts to guide him. But Eli had been running on reason for so long … what would it be like to trust his gut for once?

He threw the covers back and shuffled to the bathroom before brushing his teeth thoroughly and splashing cold water on his face until he felt semihuman.

His dark hair was a mess of cowlicks and tangled waves, but oh well.

Noah had put up with him as a drunk mess; surely he’d put up with him as a hungover one.

He downed a few painkillers dry, tugged on a shirt and some sweatpants over his boxer briefs, and headed to the kitchen.

He was distracted on the way by the fact that his house smelled like Noah now. He’d have thought it might feel a bit invasive, to have his house smell like a new alpha after so long of it being just him or Faith.

But it was just … nice, Noah’s fresh, salty scent clearing the fog in Eli’s brain.

He found Noah in the kitchen, his broad back turned to Eli, fiddling with Eli’s coffee maker. Deadly was on the counter—where she was not allowed—blinking slowly at Noah as he worked.

Of course she liked Noah already. He was absurdly likable. Even Faith had been charmed by his boldness the night before.

Eli cleared his throat, and Noah turned with a start. He was still in the clothes from the night before, but he was managing to look unfairly fresh despite that. He probably still smelled amazing, too, the charming bastard.

“Eli! You’re up!” He gave Eli a strangely nervous glance, rubbing a hand against the back of his neck. “I, um, made some coffee. I hope that’s okay? I thought you might want some when you woke up.”

This was what was so endearing about him. That Noah could go from insisting on spending time with Eli, insisting on taking him home, insisting they could have a discreet affair … to embarrassment that he’d been rummaging in Eli’s kitchen without permission.

He was bold but not arrogant. Confident but still eager to please. It was an irresistible combination, and Eli was just … done even trying to resist it.

Eli realized he’d been staring, and his cheeks heated. “Thank you. Caffeine is … very necessary.”

Noah let out a relieved sigh, grabbing what happened to be Eli’s favorite mug and pouring him a cup. “How do you take it?”

“Creamer, please. Lots of it. It’s in the fridge.”

Eli should be taking over right about now, not letting Noah serve him up coffee like some long-term boyfriend, but there was something too alluring about Noah preparing him a cup.

How long had it been since someone had made Eli coffee in the morning? Richard never had, not since the early days. He’d preferred to stop and get a latte on the way to work, leaving Eli to make his own.

It had never bothered Eli, but now he accepted the coffee with a grateful smile, pleased when Noah leaned against the counter next to him, quietly watching him drink it.

He’d gotten through half the cup before Noah spoke. “Why is your cat named World’s Deadliest Assassin?”

“Um, it’s a bit tongue-in-cheek,” Eli hedged. “She was a failed barn cat. She wouldn’t catch any mice, so they were giving her away.” He raised his chin stubbornly. “I’m not making fun of her though. It’s more of an … inside joke.”

“Between you and your ex?” Noah asked, his scent sharpening despite his even tone.

Eli shook his head. Richard hadn’t even wanted a cat to begin with. He’d rather have had a baby. “Between me and Deadly.” Eli’s ears heated as he admitted to having an inside joke with his own cat. “That’s what I call her. World’s Deadliest Assassin doesn’t exactly roll off the tongue.”

“I think it’s a great name.”

Eli grinned shyly, and Noah’s pheromones mellowed again as he continued to watch Eli sip his coffee with intense focus.

Eli cleared his throat. “This is really good. Thank you.”

“How are you feeling?”

It was a good question, given Eli’s state the night before.

He could answer in a number of ways. He could say that his headache had already receded, thanks to Noah’s refreshing ocean scent and the coffee he’d made.

He could mention that he’d be hungry eventually but wasn’t quite ready to risk food.

He could admit he was still feeling slightly embarrassed and yet at the same time grateful Noah hadn’t left.

Or he could be bold.

And for once, Eli was feeling bold.

He set his mostly empty cup down on the counter and pressed himself into Noah, giving in to the impulse he’d had all morning and rubbing his nose into the alpha’s T-shirt. Noah had clearly worn it all night, and it was drenched in his scent.

Eli sighed happily when Noah tentatively wrapped his arms around him. “Thank you for getting me home. Sorry if I ruined your night.”

“You didn’t,” Noah told him, his voice hoarse.

“And sorry if I got … handsy.”

Noah let out a husky chuckle. “Believe me, I didn’t mind. I just didn’t want to, you know, take advantage.”

He hadn’t, of course. Eli remembered that he’d been a perfect gentleman. Which was all well and good, but until now, Noah had been making all the moves. Inviting himself into Eli’s hot tub, suggesting Eli take his virginity, approaching him in class and asking to talk at the bar.

If Eli really wanted this, it was his turn to show it. It was madness, sure, and it might blow up his life in a horrible, horrible way. He might even regret every minute of it.

But he’d regret it even more if he never tried.

“And did you mean what you said last night?” he asked, his voice muffled by the cloth of Noah’s shirt.

“Can you, uh, be more specific?”

“That you want this,” Eli clarified. “That you wouldn’t mind keeping it hidden.”

“Yes.” Noah’s arms tightened around him. “Yes, I want it.”

Eli tilted his head back to peer up at him. “And what about the part about doing whatever I wanted this morning?”

Noah’s pheromones swelled richly. “Fuck, yes.”

“Hey, Noah?”

“Yes?” Noah was holding himself so incredibly still. Like he didn’t dare move, didn’t dare break whatever spell had been forming between them.

That was okay. Eli would do it.

He batted his lashes, feeling a little ridiculous but figuring he might as well go all out. “I’m going to take a shower—I’m pretty sure I’m giving off toxic gin fumes at this point. Would you like to join me?”

Eli would have loved to be able to take a photo of Noah’s expression at this moment and keep it in his pocket for the rest of forever. The mix of surprise and hope and desire was really something else.

“Fuck, yes, I would.”

Eli smiled up at him. “Good.”

Eli’s boldness lasted until they were actually in the bathroom, and then his nerves decided to make themselves known. A fluttering started in his belly, half anxiety and half arousal.

Noah wasn’t helping, uncharacteristically quiet again as he watched Eli turn the taps in the shower with the same intensity he’d watched him drink the coffee he’d made.

“Well?” Eli whirled to face him, cocking a brow with false bravado.

Noah’s wide mouth curled up on one side. “Well, what?”

Eli let out a frustrated breath, then gestured to Noah’s clothes. “You’re going to shower fully clothed?”

Noah cocked his head, his gaze running over Eli’s dressed form. “Are you ?”

Eli placed his hands on his hips, aware he was probably blushing horribly. “Maybe.”

Noah smirked at him, reaching up to toy with the hem of his shirt, revealing a tantalizing strip of bare, tanned skin that Eli did his best not to stare at. “On the count of three?”

It was ridiculous. They’d both seen each other naked already. Noah had been inside Eli, for heaven’s sake.