Page 20 of Overeager (Extra Credit #1)

Eli

E li walked into his office practically buzzing. He was feeling giddy in that kind of ridiculous way that put a literal bounce in his step.

One that had been there for the past three weeks.

He supposed regular sex and companionship did that to a person.

Probably? Maybe? Eli couldn’t remember those things ever feeling exactly like this, even when he’d been newly in love in his twenties, but maybe he’d let all the negativity that had happened later color his memories of his early times with Richard.

Or maybe this was just different.

Because it felt so good with Noah. Unbelievably good. The past few weeks, getting as much time together as they could—which wasn’t nearly enough, given their different schedules and the need for secrecy—had made Eli happy in a way he hadn’t felt in a long, long time.

It was just … easy, in a weird sense. Exciting and nerve-racking in the way all new relationships were, but also …

easy. It shouldn’t have been, with their circumstances and the age gap.

But Noah made it easy. He was always so happy to see Eli whenever he could, so eager to pull him into his arms and catch up on every moment they’d missed with each other.

He’d come over for takeout or clumsy attempts at cooking, and they’d fall into easy domesticity together.

Or, on the few nights his roommate wasn’t bartending with him, he’d invite Eli out to his work, to sit at the bar and be flirted with shamelessly and glare at any hussies who dared hit on Noah.

(Okay, they weren’t hussies. They were just regular, interested patrons. But Eli was allowed to be catty once in a blue moon.)

And the sex. The sex .

El had never realized how hot it could be to take so many of someone’s firsts.

The way Noah acted like every blow job was a gift from heaven above was incredibly gratifying, to say the least. Or the way he explored Eli’s body like it was the most beautiful, fascinating thing he’d ever seen. Or touched. Or licked.

Anyway.

Eli shifted in his chair as he took out his laptop.

He really needed to learn his lesson about thinking of these types of things at the workplace.

He had a class to teach after this—he couldn’t go in smelling like shameless arousal.

Maybe he needed to get on one of those birth controls that blocked pheromones?

But he didn’t love the side effects he’d heard about, and Noah liked the way Eli smelled.

Eli didn’t want to take that away from either of them.

He was distracted enough, between thinking about Noah and going over his lecture notes, that he was only half aware of telling whoever was knocking on his office door to come in.

It wasn’t like he was expecting anyone exciting—Noah was under strict instructions not to come to Eli’s office during working hours.

So Eli wasn’t at all prepared for the alpha who entered at his welcome, striding in like it was the most natural thing in the world and shutting the door firmly behind him.

All the air left Eli’s lungs, but he somehow managed to gasp, somewhere between a greeting and an accusation, “Richard.”

The bastard looked good. But then again, he always did. Eli’s ex was classically handsome in that Old Hollywood way, with a strong jaw, thick dark hair, and immaculate grooming. But he also had a nice, tanned glow going on today—he’d probably just come back from a weekend in Italy or something.

Objective appeal aside, though, with memories of Noah fresh in Eli’s mind, the sight of Richard left him …

cold. Unaffected. Richard had his good looks, yes.

He always had. But they were surface deep, and they came tied up with a massive ego.

Richard just didn’t have the warmth Noah had. The magnetism. The sweetness and care.

Eli had learned that last part the hard way.

Some of Eli’s feelings must have been showing on his face, because Richard’s greeting sounded almost like a chastisement. “Lijah.”

Eli frowned at the old nickname. He’d always preferred Eli to Elijah or Lijah, but Richard had liked to tease him with the alternative. It had seemed charming at first, but now it had the feel of an attempt to take control in any way he could, including twisting Eli’s own name.

But Eli didn’t have to put up with that anymore, did he?

“Eli, please,” he corrected mildly, proud of himself for not sounding nearly as acerbic as he felt. “What are you doing here, Richard?”

He had a weird moment of panic after he asked the question. The papers were finalized, weren’t they? There wasn’t some terrible surprise waiting in the wings? But no. Eli knew for a fact they were.

Richard smiled easily, like Eli was asking out of curiosity and not because his visit was both unexpected and unwelcome. “Lunch with the dean.”

Of course. Business. Never mind that he’d met the dean through Eli and had somehow finagled his way into managing the man’s investment portfolio. He’d never thanked Eli for it, never counted it as a mark in his favor when he’d been trying to talk Eli into taking on fewer classes.

Well, whatever. Good for him. Really.

“And you decided to stop by for old time’s sake?” Eli asked, arching a skeptical brow.

“I wanted to see how you’re doing.” Richard tucked his hands into his suit pants pockets, rocking on his feet in a way Eli knew was more practiced than casual. “How you’re … holding up.”

There it was. The faux concern masking blatant condescension.

Eli straightened his spine and gave him a bright, fake smile. “Really well, actually.”

Richard looked him over, most likely searching for the lie. But there was no lie. Eli was doing really well. He was sleeping great, eating well, and having perfect, round-the-clock, toe-curling sex.

Eli might not have had an Italy tan, but he was pretty sure he was glowing in his own way.

And apparently he was right, because Richard’s lips turned down into a there-and-gone frown. Ooh, he didn’t like that, did he? Had he really expected to find Eli lost and miserable and missing him? Bags under his eyes, his pheromones emitting pure, bitter misery?

Probably. Richard was definitely arrogant enough to assume Eli was still falling apart without him.

Richard sniffed the air, not quite subtle about it, not in the way he usually was. “Is that …?”

Eli stiffened. He shouldn’t smell like Noah right now. He hadn’t spent the night last night, and Eli’s clothes were fresh. But the alpha had been over often enough that Eli’s belongings could still be carrying his scent lightly enough that Eli hadn’t noticed.

Richard’s brow furrowed, and he inhaled again. His gaze homed in on Eli sharply. “Are you seeing someone?”

Eli didn’t flinch. He made sure he didn’t flinch. “And how would that be any of your business?”

Richard stepped closer to his desk. “Just because the divorce is finalized doesn’t mean I can’t concern myself with—”

“That’s exactly what it means, actually,” Eli told him, maintaining the most even tone in the history of the universe.

“Are we really going to do the whole hostile exes thing?” Richard asked with a sigh, like Eli was being difficult instead of perfectly pleasant.

But Eli was done folding when it came to his ex. If Richard didn’t like him acting agreeable, then Eli would pull out the big guns. “You cheated, Richard,” he said, although he kept the even tone. “Many times.”

“I think we both know it was more complicated than that.”

Right. Because somehow it had been Eli’s fault, the cheating. Because he’d wanted to work, because he hadn’t wanted the baby they’d both agreed early on that they weren’t going to have. Because he hadn’t fallen on his knees and worshipped at the altar of Richard’s perfection.

“I miss you,” Richard said, his voice suddenly soft and silky. His pheromones unfurled, slow but steady, revealing their rich, tobacco scent. Eli had once found the dark depths of them comforting. Safe.

Now they were only suffocating.

And he didn’t have to put up with them for another second.

He stood from his desk. “I have class.”

He started packing his belongings, aware of Richard watching him intently. Eli should have expected this, really. Of course his ex had sussed out somehow that Eli was happy, and he’d come to stick his nose in it. To fuck with it as much as possible, in whatever way he could.

Richard missed him? Richard hadn’t missed him when Eli had been right fucking there , trying to make things work despite all his better instincts.

He slid past Richard to get to the door, and the alpha should have considered himself lucky that Eli didn’t shove him as hard as he might have liked. Lucky Eli was above such things. And also aware that it probably would have just hurt his own shoulder.

Richard’s deep voice rang out behind him as Eli stepped into the hallway. “I’ll be seeing you, Lijah.”

“Not if I see you first,” Eli muttered.

And okay, it wasn’t his best comeback. But at least he hadn’t cried or cowered. Sure, he was sort of running away, but why should he stick around to deal with Richard’s bullshit?

He was over all of it, had been for years at this point, never mind that the legal side of things had taken time to catch up to his heart.

Eli wasn’t the same omega Richard had married, and he never would be again.

Eli’s lecture went well.

And, okay, Eli had maybe been a little jittery from the unexpected visit, but overall, it was nice to realize a Richard sighting wasn’t enough to throw him off his game anymore.

His ex didn’t have that power these days.

How fucking liberating.

Eli raced home afterward (or as fast as the speed limits allowed, because he was not getting pulled over on date night). Noah was meeting him there, and Eli wanted to get to the house first.

He shucked off his work clothes as soon as he was inside, changing into cozier loungewear, and he was just coming out into the hallway when the side door opened.

Eli had given Noah the gate code a week ago.

Best decision ever.