Page 31 of Bully for Sale
Bright’s powder was the only answer. Ned was a disgusting alpha bully who snorted it and used omegas. Everyone knew that.
And yet Ezer couldn’t help but feel a hint of gratitude for the kindness he’d shown them last night. Though he was sure Ned would never have grabbed Ezer, hugged him with relief, and made those magnanimous offers if his wretched alpha friends Finch and Braden had been there with him, Ezer was strangely affected by Ned’s display of humanity.
Even stranger, Ezer could still feel where Ned had touched him, as if the apartment building’s flames had heated Ned’s hands and left Ezer burned all the way through his clothes.
Speaking of…they had no clean clothes. Just the smoky, ruined ones they’d had on. What were they going to do? Where would they go?
Ezer flipped onto his side and stared at the window. Decisions needed to be made, and they needed to be made soon. There was no way around it.
In the pre-dawn darkness, he rose, washed his face in the bathroom, put on the sooty clothes from the day before and shut the door without waking his da. He left behind a note telling Amos not to worry, Ezer would make sure he had a place to go and a roof over his head.
Then he set out to keep that promise.
Chapter Eleven
“Just put iton my bill. Yes, I’m sure,” Ned said into the phone, as he stared out at the view of the ocean crashing against the shore. He paced the railing at the edge of the pool deck as he listened to the hotel clerk’s next question. “Yes, and anything they order from the kiosks, gift shop, restaurant, or room service as well. No limits. Thank you.”
Earl exited the house wearing his normal servant attire but looking less put together than usual. He rushed toward Ned and motioned for him to end his call.
“What’s the problem?” Ned asked, disconnecting with the hotel where he’d been proud to put up Ezer and Amos the night before.
“Your uncle is in town and wants you to meet him for lunch.”
“Uncle Heath?”
Earl nodded vigorously.
Ned understood his servant’s excitement now. “I’m surprised he left Adrien. Aren’t they’re expecting the new baby soon? Won’t Adrien need him during this time?”
“Simon said there was an important meeting here in Wellport Heath couldn’t escape attending, though, yes, Adrien is pining for him already. Still, it’s only supposed to be a day they’ll be apart. It should be all right.”
“But at this stage of the pregnancy, isn’t that hard?”
There were a lot of things Ned had learned as an alpha in his sexual and reproductive health classes at school, but one of the most important was the need omegas had for their alphas duringallthe stages of pregnancy, but especially the final ones. The alpha’s pheromones and necessary compounds in the alpha’s semen helped ease their omega’s anxieties, relaxed their bodies, and even aided in the softening of the womb so the babe could release more easily.
“I’m certain Heath can handle the intensity of their reunion. He’s a strong, virile man. But, given how much he hates being away from Adrien at all, and with Adrien being so heavily pregnant, I don’t anticipate he’ll be in a good mood when you meet him, but he wants to see you all the same.”
Ned nodded and followed Earl inside. He dressed in a suit and tie, because Heath wanted to meet for brunch at Estrange, a boutique restaurant by the park.
When Ned arrived, a little later than he’d have liked due to traffic and his driver’s distraction at a crowded intersection that caused them to miss their turn, Heath was already sipping champagne with an impatient air.
Ned had to admit his uncle was an uncommonly handsome man, with a dark beard, fierce eyes, and a jawline that spoke of stubborn determination. In contrast, Heath’s husband Adrien, who was home, of course, where a pregnant omega belonged, was a beautiful, pretty thing, and soft-natured as well. It was too bad he wasn’t here to smooth over whatever had Heath bristling with irritation, but pregnant omegas were never seen in public.
There were physical reasons for that—the sensitivity of their skin during pregnancy and their usual preference for nakedness to endure it being one of them—and cultural ones, too—alphas didn’t enjoy seeing their pregnant, naked, often horny-as-hell omegas anywhere near other alphas. It was brutish, perhaps, but no one ever tried to fight an alpha’s intrinsic nature on this, even if, maybe, they could or even should.
“Hello, sir,” Ned said, taking the seat opposite Heath when his uncle gestured to it with his champagne glass. “How’s Adrien? I spoke with him on videophone last week. He said he’s feeling healthy, and the baby’s growing well.”
Heath’s smile at the mention of his beloved omega was exactly the reason Ned had brought him up first thing. Heath could be a harsh man, but he was soft as a cloud for Adrien. “He’s very healthy, yes, and the new one is due very soon. Little Michael is taxing Adrien some, but the boy’s otherwise a little cherub, so we can’t complain too much.”
Ah, Michael. The alpha baby who’d taken Ned’s inheritance. It was a good thing the kid was so cute and charming, or Ned might hate him.
Heath went on, “Unfortunately, certain business will wait for no man, and I must handle this particular problem before I can get back to Adrien.” His eyes clouded. “Time is of the essence. He’ll be needing me.”
“He will,” Ned agreed. “But what’s so urgent that it brings you all the way to Wellport when he’s at such a delicate stage?”
Heath’s expression darkened considerably, and Ned thought he shouldn’t have used the word ‘delicate.’ Heath shook it off. “My business partner, Felix, is trying to arrange a contract and breeding for himself, and it’s going badly,” Heath said, his brows lowering dangerously. “He’s asked for my help in negotiations.”
“What’s the problem?”
