Page 30 of Overeager (Extra Credit #1)

Eli whined in distress.

“Baby?” Noah’s big hand cupped Eli’s chin. “Tell me what’s wrong. We’ll fix it.”

“Nest,” Eli mumbled, biting worriedly at his lip.

Noah tugged Eli’s lip out from between his teeth with his thumb. “You’re worried about your nest?”

“I haven’t— There isn’t—”

“It’s not ready yet? That’s fine,” Noah soothed. He pressed a kiss to Eli’s forehead. “That’s easy. And my fault, anyway. I should have brought this stuff over sooner.”

Clad only in his underwear now, Noah bent low—his movements slow, like he was worried about spooking Eli—and opened the giant duffel bag.

Oh, that smelled good . Like delicious, salty Noah.

Eli crouched, inching closer as Noah pulled out a fleece blanket that smelled fucking amazing. “I’ve been sleeping with this the past few weeks, whenever I’ve been at my apartment. Haven’t washed it.”

Eli snatched it, adding it the shirt and joggers he’d already stripped from Noah. “What else?” he asked, trying to peer inside the duffel.

Noah laughed, pulling out more perfect-smelling items. “Some, um … gym clothes. Unwashed.” He raised his brows, looking sheepish. “Too much?”

Eli snatched those too.

“One of the pillows from my bed.”

Eli grabbed the pillow and straightened, holding his new treasures to his chest. He headed in the direction of the bedroom, pausing when Noah stopped at Eli’s thermostat instead of following him.

“I’m turning up the air,” Noah told him. “You’re sweating, baby.”

Cool air would be good, yes. Good thinking. Good alpha.

Eli hurried on to the bedroom. Some omegas had separate rooms for their nests, some used their own beds, but Eli had a particular favorite spot, a large space between his bed and the wall. It was far from the door and the room’s lamp, making it feel secluded and cave-like when tended to properly.

He dropped his armful and pulled the comforter off his bed, using it as a base, then got to work. He weaved in the offerings Noah had brought with his own favorite items he dug out from under his bed—soft, worn blankets he saved for heats, a few choice pillows he lined up against any hard barriers.

Noah had arrived at some point, and he stood at a respectable distance, handing Eli things when he asked. Good alpha.

When it felt right—when it smelled right—Eli perched in the middle. He’d lost his robe at some point, having added it to the nest—and now he knelt naked, cocking his head and peering up at Noah through his lashes coyly.

Noah’s smile was the widest Eli had seen it. “All done, baby?” At Eli’s small nod, he praised, “It looks perfect. So cozy.”

Eli preened. He was out of practice—he barely nested when he used suppressants and toys to get through a heat—but the body remembered. Of course it did.

“Can I—can I come in?” Noah asked, hesitant and almost shy.

Eli nodded again. He was ready to drag his alpha in if necessary, but it was good Noah was coming willingly. Less hassle.

Noah stepped into the nest, and Eli couldn’t help it—he leaned forward, wrapping his arms around Noah’s legs and drinking in his scent from where it was the strongest—the sizable bulge in Noah’s underwear. Eli rubbed his face against the length of it, moaning.

Noah made a choked sound. “Oh fuck.”

Eli ignored him, pulling Noah’s underwear down, pleased when Noah’s thick, hard cock bobbed out, already leaking precum for Eli to taste. That was good. That was perfect. Eli licked at the tip, moaning again, and then he sucked Noah down.

Yes, good and perfect. Noah’s cock was fat and heavy on Eli’s tongue, and his taste soothed some of the frayed edges in Eli’s mind.

Except …

Eli whined as another cramp hit him, sneaky and awful. It wasn’t enough right now, was it? He needed Noah’s cock elsewhere. But he didn’t want to let it out of his mouth either. Noah tasted so good. Smelled so good. Eli didn’t want to lose it.

Noah’s strong fingers cupped Eli’s jaw once more. “What’s wrong, baby?”

Eli whimpered around the cock in his mouth.

“You need more?” Noah stroked his jaw tenderly. “I can give you more.”

Eli nodded as best he could while still sucking.

Noah bit back a groan, tapping Eli’s cheek. “You gotta—gotta let me go first, baby.”

Eli’s brow furrowed, sucking even harder. He didn’t want to let go.

“Don’t worry,” Noah soothed, although his voice sounded a little strained. “I’m going to fill you right back up. Take care of that needy hole, okay? I promise.”

That sounded … good. Sounded right. And Noah had been a very good alpha so far—Eli could trust him with this.

After a last, lingering lick, Eli let Noah’s cock fall from his mouth.

He moaned at the loss and turned hurriedly onto his knees, placing his chest on the floor and lifting his ass in the air. Presenting for his alpha.

There was another choked sound, and Eli looked back over his shoulder at Noah.

His alpha had a hand around the base of his big cock, gripping hard, like he was fighting not to come too soon. A smug purr escaped Eli at the sight.

Noah groaned again. “You look so fucking—”

Eli’s doorbell rang.

“Ignore it,” Eli pleaded. He raised his hips invitingly. “Need you, Alpha.”

Noah cursed, stepping toward Eli.

But the doorbell rang again. And again.

“What the fuck? Can’t they scent the heat pheromones?” Noah grabbed the spare robe from the back of Eli’s bedroom door, throwing it on with jagged movements. “I’m so sorry, baby. I’ll get rid of them so fast. I’ll be right fucking back. Don’t—” He waved his hands. “Just stay right like that.”

Eli whimpered in protest, but he wasn’t so far gone that he didn’t know this had to be dealt with; otherwise, it would be a distraction he wouldn’t be able to tolerate.

Things were supposed to be calm and peaceful and quiet in his nest. He even had a “Do not disturb” sign for these occasions, but he’d forgotten to put it up.

As Noah left the room, Eli rested his head on his forearms with a whimper, his ass in the air and slick coating his thighs, waiting for his alpha to return.