Page 21 of Labor of Love

This time, Zenith wore tight jeans and a button-down shirt, with his sleeves rolled up past his elbows. He carried a few stacked boxes and plates, and he was even more handsome somehow.

Zenith’s entire body tensed, then relaxed. It was only when Emre met Zenith’s eyes, that he realized Zenith was raking his gaze up and down Emre’s body.

“This is some welcome,” Zenith said, his voice rough.

Emre looked down at himself and yelped, shoving his hands over his important bits. “Oh, gods! I, um, I forgot. I was not trying to seduce you at my door, I promise.”

Zenith chuckled. “Yeah? You’d have succeeded, too.”

He prowled closer, and Emre’s entire body grew hot. How could someone perfect like Zenith be attracted to him?

He backed away and turned around, trying to remember where he’d stuffed his clothes.

“Mmm,” Zenith growled.

Emre peeked over his shoulder, only to realize that Zenith was checking out his ass. Emre squawked.

“Hey, don’t worry about it,” Zenith murmured. “If you need a shirt, I’ve got one.”

Emre grabbed the nearest piece of fabric, but it was one of Abbie’s too-tiny towels.

“Here,” Zenith said.

Emre turned back, only to realize that Zenith had pulled offhis own shirt,and was holding it out.

“T-thanks,” Emre stuttered, wrapping the thin shirt around himself. It wasn’t overly warm, but it carried with it Zenith’s masculine scent. Emre wanted to press his face into it and breathe it in.

Maybe when he found a moment to himself.

Zenith watched brazenly as Emre buttoned it up. The shirt was huge on him, falling to mid-thigh.

“Would you mind if I had dinner with you?” Zenith asked, gesturing at the boxes he’d set on the tiny kitchen counter.

“Um, sure? I mean, I don’t have any fancy tables and chairs,” Emre said awkwardly. His spindly chairs would probably collapse like toothpicks under Zenith’s weight.

“I can sit on the floor,” Zenith said.

“You can sit on my bed.” Emre froze the moment the words were out of his mouth.

The alpha’s lips pulled into a slow smile. “Are you sure?”

Emre gulped. “Yes.”

“Let me dish out some food.” Zenith turned back to the counter and slid a large, glistening steak onto a plate. The mashed potatoes smelled creamy, savory, and buttery, and Emre was moaning even before he’d tasted it.

Zenith sucked in a slow breath. “You really like my food.”

“I, uh. Yes.” Emre blushed so hard that it went down to his chest. He found a pair of pants and stepped into them, just so he wouldn’t feel quite so naked around Zenith.

Was it Emre, or did Zenith’s bulge look bigger when he turned around?

“Don’t your pants crush your balls?” Emre blurted.

Zenith huffed. “There’s enough space in there.”

Emre wasnotgoing to suggest freeing them. And he certainly wasn’t going to ask if Zenith was wearing any underwear.

When the food was plated, Zenith came over, sitting on the other end of the mattress from where Abbie was. The pup turned and looked at him curiously, then scampered over and began sniffing his knee.

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