Page 3 of Overeager (Extra Credit #1)

Noah

N oah kept eye contact with his new omega friend—because Eli was an omega, Noah was sure of it—knowing he was toeing the line a little, calling it out so blatantly.

Was it the best idea to ask the secondary gender of a man he’d just met? Probably not. Maybe if they’d met at a frat party, it would have been cool, but it wasn’t exactly how polite adults behaved.

But it was true—Eli smelled good. Like, really good.

If he was on birth control, it definitely wasn’t the kind that blocked pheromones.

(And no, Noah wasn’t going to ask Eli what kind of birth control he was on.

He wasn’t a complete idiot). Eli’s scent wafted through the chlorine fumes every now and then, a clean, citrusy perfume with only a hint of an omega’s usual sweetness.

Noah would probably have guessed Eli was an omega anyway, even without the scent.

He had the classic look: all fine-boned, with features that tended toward the delicate.

Warm honey-brown eyes, a snub nose, and a slightly pointed chin, with no facial hair that Noah could see.

His top lip was slightly fuller than his bottom lip, and something about that was driving Noah a little crazy.

He was cute. Really cute. Not just his looks, although Noah appreciated the way Eli’s chestnut locks were taking on a slight wave from the steam of the hot tub, and that same heat was putting a pretty pink flush on his cheeks.

Or maybe the blush was a reaction to Noah.

Fuck, that would be nice, if Eli was feeling it the way Noah was.

But Eli’s cuteness was also just … him. He’d been so adorable telling the story of his drive up here, exaggerating the way he’d feared for his life because of a little dusting of snow, or telling Noah about his beloved cat, who he’d named World’s Deadliest Assassin.

And now Noah was realizing how long the silence had been going on. It was his turn to flush. “Sorry,” he said with a sheepish grin. “You don’t have to answer that.”

“No.” Eli cleared his throat. “It’s fine. I’m an omega, yes. And you …” The pink in his cheeks deepened in color. “You’re an alpha?”

“Yeah.” Noah grinned for real now, loving the way Eli’s gaze dipped down to his mouth when he smiled. He knew his smile was one of his best assets, and he wasn’t afraid to flaunt it when needed. “I’m an alpha. How could you tell?”

Noah was almost positive Eli couldn’t smell his scent through the chlorine. Most people weren’t as sensitive as Noah was, and he was keeping a tight rein on his pheromones. Otherwise, he’d have been broadcasting “HORNY” all over the deck.

“Your, um … body? I mean—Jesus—” Eli gave an awkward laugh, clearly flustered.

“I mean … Shoulders?” He did a weird gesture, as if encompassing the width of Noah’s shoulders.

“No, um … build!” he cried out, like he’d just remembered.

“That’s the word. Your build.” He tried to take a gulp of his champagne, even though his cup was empty, his face red as a tomato now.

God, he was cute as hell. He’d said he was thirty-four, but he barely looked it. Maybe he was hiding some grays in that dark hair, but Noah couldn’t make any out.

Would he let Noah close enough to look?

He’d seen the way Eli had eyed him as he stepped into the tub, so it wasn’t like the omega was completely immune to him. Fingers fucking crossed.

“You like my shoulders?” Noah asked with a teasing lilt.

He was a virgin, but that didn’t mean he wasn’t a flirt.

He’d just never had enough genuine interest to seal the deal with anyone.

There was always something off about any interested partners …

something that inner, instinctual part of him didn’t take to.

His inner alpha, if he wanted to get all macho and claim it.

Eli narrowed his eyes at him, managing to look stern despite his ridiculous blush. “I’m just saying you’ve got the classic alpha’s build, okay?”

“Sorry.” Noah raised his hands in surrender. “I’m teasing. You’re cute when you blush, is all.”

“Don’t even,” Eli said with a laugh. “I hate how red my face gets.” He gave Noah an appraising glance. “For an alleged virgin, you’re kind of shameless, did you know that?”

“Is that your type?” Noah asked, not afraid to press his advantage. “Shameless?”

Eli stared at him for a moment, then laughed again, as if Noah were joking. “Oh, the confidence of youth.”

“I’m not that young.”

“Young enough.”

It was Noah’s turn to narrow his eyes as he sipped at the last of his beer. He was twenty-one. He could drink. He could vote. He could even register a mating bite.

Eli didn’t have one, Noah had already noted. His slender little neck was unblemished. Whoever had married him hadn’t taken that step.

Dumb bastard.

And that dumb bastard’s loss was Noah’s gain. Because Noah may have been picky, but he wasn’t afraid to go after what he wanted when he found it.

Eli was cute, and fun to talk to, and he smelled fucking amazing, even mixed up with the harsh scent of chlorine. He was apparently rocking it in his career and was bold enough to let a strange alpha into his hot tub.

Basically, he was a total fucking catch.

Noah had never considered his virginity something precious, but even if he had, this felt right . There was nothing about Eli that Noah’s instincts didn’t like.

His instincts liked Eli a whole lot, actually.

Noah’s parents had rented the cabin for a getaway, and then something had come up at his mom’s work, and they’d been unable to go.

They’d offered it to Noah, and he’d jumped at the chance to escape the family home for the last bit of winter break.

He loved his siblings, sure, but he’d gotten used to a certain amount of privacy at school.

When his buddy Spencer had bailed, Noah had almost backed out too.

He was so fucking glad he hadn’t. There was something surreal about this moment. He was away from his family, his school, his friends. It was just him and this very cute omega, who Noah was quickly realizing he wanted to get to know much, much better.

He was honestly finding it hard to resist scenting Eli right there in the hot tub. Which would have been about ten steps beyond toeing the line, seeing as how he didn’t have Eli’s permission.

Oblivious to Noah’s struggle to control himself, Eli leaned into him. “Another truth for a truth?” At Noah’s nod, he smiled shyly. “I’m not used to being flirted with like this.”

Noah’s stomach dropped. Oh fuck. Was he being one of those horribly pushy alpha creeps, unable to take no for an answer?

“Is it okay?” he asked. “I can tone it down. Hell, I can stop completely,” he offered, starting to move away. “Leave you alone to celebrate.”

“No,” Eli said quickly, grabbing onto Noah’s arm. “Stay.” He gave Noah another shy smile. “It’s kind of nice.”

“Yeah?” Noah let the relief flood through him, relaxing his muscles and setting one arm on the back of the hot tub so he was facing Eli more fully. “Then can I ask you something completely inappropriate?”

Eli grinned at him, mischief in his brown eyes. “Why the hell not?”

“You ever taken someone’s virginity?” Noah asked, before he could think better of it.

Fortune favored the bold, right?

Eli nibbled on his bottom lip for a moment before answering. “No. I’ve only been with my ex, and he wasn’t a virgin.”

“Mm. I bet you’d be a good teacher though.”

Noah had expected another shocked blush but not the totally endearing giggle Eli let out.

He cocked his head, unable to help his grin. “What’s so funny?”

“Oh, just …” Eli giggled again. “I am a teacher.”

Fuck. Of course he was. He was probably patient and kind with his students, just the way he’d been patient and kind when Noah had come to crash his solo celebration.

“I can see that.” Noah pressed a finger lightly between Eli’s brows. “Just toss a pair of glasses on you. Maybe a tweed suit.”

Eli gave him a mock offended look, but he didn’t move back from Noah’s touch. “I wear contacts, thank you very much. And no tweed suits. I don’t teach at a British boarding school in the fifties.”

“I’ll just keep that to my fantasies, then.” Noah dropped his hand but scooted closer, until their legs were brushing under the water.

Eli bit at his lower lip again, but still, he didn’t move away. He cast a sidelong glance at Noah. “You shouldn’t be looking for a teacher at all. You should lose it to someone your own age.”

“Oh yeah?” Noah pressed his calf more firmly against Eli’s. “Why’s that?”

“I don’t know.” Eli shrugged, his leg sliding against Noah’s. “Just … first times should be fun and silly, I think.”

“Not romantic? Candlelight and whispered ‘I love yous’?”

Eli shook his head. “Mine was kind of like that, and look how it turned out. I think I could have used more silliness. More fun.”

“You don’t think you and I could have fun?” Noah asked, surprised at the huskiness in his own voice.

This honestly hadn’t been Noah’s intention coming over. He’d just seen a cute neighbor and wanted to be friendly. But sitting here, with Eli’s scent drifting through the steam, it was like a buzzing under Noah’s skin. He couldn’t let it go. He wanted more than friendly.

He wanted Eli in his bed.

Eli’s eyes were heavy-lidded now, golden and dreamy-looking. “I think it’d be … intense,” he told Noah.

“Yeah?”

“Yeah.”

“Hey, Eli?” Noah asked, setting his now empty beer on the edge of the hot tub and sliding his arm behind Eli’s upper back.

“Yes?”

“I think you should invite me inside.”

“We haven’t even kissed,” Eli told him, even as he let Noah pluck his empty cup from his hands. “Maybe we’re not compatible.”

They were compatible. They were compatible as fuck. Noah knew it as sure as anything.

But if Eli wanted a kiss to seal the deal?

Noah may have been a virgin, but he wasn’t completely inexperienced. He could handle an audition like that no problem. He grasped Eli’s chin, moving in slowly, giving the omega a chance to back away.

But it was Eli who surged up and closed the distance.