Page 235 of Labor of Love

“What’s going on here, gentlemen?” The voice was deep and damn-it-all sexy. Lothian’s knees actually buckled. He caught himself on the door handle. Who was this new arrival? Dante seemed to know.

“Oh, Sir Ryland! Thank goodness! Perhaps you can be of some service? My friend has taken ill. I was just going to alertPrince Richard. If you would be so kind as to guard the door so no one bothers him?”

The first two alphas grumbled at this.

Sir Ryland was silent for a moment.

Lothian wondered what he looked like. Not that it mattered, but he was curious if Sir Ryland would match his voice.

“Of course.” Sir Ryland’s voice was an even deeper rumble which caused Lothian to shiver. “Gentlemen, you should be on your way.”

“See here, Ryland. We were here first.”

“I’m quite aware and shall be letting Prince Richard know as well.”

“Hey now, are you accusing us of something?”

“Yeah, we didn’t do nothing.”

Ryland chuckled this time and the sound didthingsto Lothian. He pressed his hot body against the cool door. This was only the beginning of his heat and he already felt on fire. He’d never been so affected by a male who wasn’t even in the room with him. This was going to be bad.

He whimpered then, and everyone went quiet.

They’d heard him.

“Get. Out.” That was Ryland, his voice a growl.

Lothian found himself turning the door handle and forced himself to stop. He couldn’t go out there like this. Not with three alphas present.

There was some more complaining, but the first two alphas seemed to be obeying Ryland. Their voices faded, then were gone.

Dante sighed a breath of relief. “Thank you, Sir Ryland.”

“Think nothing of it, but your friend shouldn’t be here.”

“His heat came early.”

Lothian was shocked to hear Dante talk so openly with an alpha about it. “Dante!”

But his friend didn’t heed him. “If you could alert the prince, I would be most appreciative.” Was he flirting with Ryland? Lothian’s blood boiled.

“No offense meant, Dante, but I think I should stay and guard the door, as you suggested. Once the alphas in the ballroom hear what’s going on, you’re going to have a situation on your hands. I will be able to keep them out.”

Dante sighed. “I know. But . . . .”

“I will be able to control myself.”

“Of course you will. I have faith in you.”

Lothian couldn’t remain quiet. He threw the door to the bathing room open and stomped into the bedchamber.

Dante spun away from the door, mouth open. “Lothian!”

On the other side of the threshold was a tall, dark haired alpha with sculpted features. His thick eyebrows arched above golden eyes and his mouth looked devastating. Lothian took a trembling step forward but caught himself.

He didn’t know anything about this male. This was exactly the kind of decision he hadn’t wanted to make. He glared at Dante. “Will you please go ask the prince for a beta to guard the door?”

Golden eyes seemed to devour him from across the room. Ryland bowed. “I’d be happy to guard the door for you.”

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