Page 20 of Forbidden Taste
I can’t get out of there fast enough, heading into the hall as I pull out my phone to text Riley. I’m not even sure what I want to say, if I want to tell him that I’ll be going back to my dorm tonight or that I need him or that…
Professor Jameson slips out, my immediate reaction to step up into her face and demand to know why she’d lie about me. Her lies could cost me everything but confronting her could be just as bad. She doesn’t give me the chance to decide what I’ll do, though, as she speaks first.
“There’s no reason why Mr. Hart would choose another Omega over the future he’s been given,” she spits, her arms crossed as she steps closer. “He told me the other day that he’s not taking the opportunity to graduate a year earlier. I won’t watch him throw away his entire future for you.” Her eyes narrow, pinning me in place, the weight of her judgment suffocating.
“He’s not throwing away his future. He’s choosing what he wants to do. And your choice was to then accuse me of assault?” My hands clench at my sides and I take a step forward, unable to stop the edge creeping into my tone.
“I always heard you were large but soft-spoken,” she muses, her lips curling into a sneer. “It seems you’ve gained some confidence, thinking Mr. Hart is actually going to end up with you. He won’t.”
“Even if that’s the case, accusing me of something I didn’t do is going to ruin my future.” I understand how precious Riley is to this academy. It’s all anyone talks about.
“Then maybe you should’ve thought about that before stuffing yourself where you don’t belong,” she chuckles, a dark, harsh sound that has a chill running down my spine. “Yes, we can all smell it, Mr. Hayes. It’s very obvious you two have been together, but as of right now, the Dean and the rest of the school board don’t believe it’s consensual. Oh, and we all know about the way you attacked Mr. Hart’s mate. That can’t happen here. Not again. It shouldn’t have happened in the first place. Sometimes Omegas don’t get what they want.” Her eyes bore into me, that fierce look threatening to undo me. “Stay away from him before you ruin everything he’s worked for.”
She heads down the hall, leaving me in a soul-crushing silence. I’m conflicted on what I’m supposed to do. Walking away from Riley on Friday would have been so much easier. But now? I can’t even fathom it. Riley didn’t explicitly say I wasn’t ruining his future but he would have mentioned something, right?
I swallow, going through my options as I head back into the courtyard, unsure of where to go at this point. Riley takes that decision out of my hands, though, his name scrolling across my phone screen. I pick up, my voice barely a whisper. “Hey.”
“I can feel you,” he whispers, something urgent in his tone. “Something’s wrong. Where are you? I’m coming to you.” His words are quick, laced with that pre-heat edge, the sound of him moving, already on his feet meeting my ears.
“Angel, you’re too close to your heat. No, you’re not coming to get me.” I lean back against the wall of one of the buildings, letting out a heavy sigh as I try to calm the chaos in my head. It’s not working.
“Then come here,” he pleads, softer now, but insistent. “I don’t care what they said. Come here and we can figure it out.Please.” Hisvoice breaks on that last word, a sob following and that’s all it takes to cut through my indecision.
Jameson’s warning rings through my ears but I push it away. “Yeah, okay. I’m coming.”
I hesitate, my thumb tracing the edge of my phone, Jameson’s warning ringing in my ears—*stay away, ruin everything*—but Riley’s voice drowns it out, warm and real. “Okay,” I say softly, my throat tight, a quiet agreement that feels like surrender and defiance all at once. “I’m coming.”
He hums a soft sound, staying on the phone as I work my way through the courtyard and up to his apartment. He’s right there as I step inside, guiding me to his nest. He strips me bare to my boxers all over again and then stuffs me in the middle of his pillows, tucking himself into my chest.
“Okay, now you can tell me what happened.” he murmurs, his breath fanning across my chest. He throws an arm around my waist, trying to pull himself closer.
“Several professors have everything twisted. I’ve been a little on edge but they’re saying I’ve been deliberately aggressive and they think I’m forcing you.” The words taste bitter on my tongue.
A soft growl rumbles through his chest, cut off by a sudden moan, his scent thickening in the air—sweet, musky, overwhelming. He shifts, his body trembling against mine, and mutters, “This is the worst time for this. I’m trying to have a conversation.” His brown eyes lift to mine, fingers digging into my hip, his bottom lip tugged between his teeth. “I’ll clear it up,” he forces out around another moan, a flush creeping up his neck. “Because that’s all bullshit. None of it’s true.”
“Benjamin went to Professor Jameson about what happened in that classroom. Told her I attacked him. He didn’t say whyor anything, but it looks bad, Riley. I…” My throat tightens, the fear spilling out—probation, expulsion, losing him—and I can’t finish my thought.
Riley’s face scrunches up, his hands cupping my face now, his thumbs brushing my cheeks. “Trust that I’ll take care of you, okay?” he whispers, his voice trembling as his scent spikes again. He winces, his whole body tensing, before he relaxes again, the full scent of his arousal filling the air. “It’s starting. Fuck, I wanted more time.” His eyes search mine, a hint of fear lurking on that gorgeous face. “Leo, if this is too much for you, I understand…”
“Absolutely not. I’m not leaving you here to suffer. What do you need from me?” I’m ready to give him everything even if I’m new to all of this.
Silence stretches between us, his breath ragged against my skin. Then he whispers, so soft I barely hear it, “Knot. I need your knot.”
I move without thinking, following my instincts, my hands sliding to the waistband of his boxers. They’re damp, clinging to his thighs, and I ease them down, my fingers brushing his heated skin as he trembles beneath me.
He’s frantic then, clawing at my pants with shaking hands, his breath coming in short, needy gasps. I help him, shoving the fabric down, and he hooks a leg over my waist, pulling me close. This isn’t going to be pretty or slow or loving but I don’t really care, rolling onto my back as he lines himself up and slides down onto my cock.
He falls forward, his forehead against my chest, his entire body quaking as a soft, broken sound escapes him. I softly grasp his waist, Riley swiveling his hips, taking me in deeper as my knot flutters against his ass.
“Harder,” he gasps, his voice cracking. “Fuck, I need it.” His nails scrape my shoulders, the urgency in him building, his pheromones dragging me into the same haze.
I flip us over, his back hitting the nest, blankets bunching beneath him as I brace my hands on either side of him to give him what he needs—wild, unrestrained, my hips driving into his with a rhythm that’s all instinct and want. His scent floods the room, roses and honey gone thick with desire, and my knot swells, pushing inside him just like before. Riley sags with relief but it’s a fleeting thing as I feel my knot stall, not swelling fully, not locking us together. When I come, it’s messy, spilling between us, pooling on the pillows below.
Riley tugs at my shoulders, no doubt trying to pull me in deeper, his ass trying to strangle the knot that just isn’t there. “Sweetie?”
I always knew it was too good to be true—the ability to please my Omega so that we wouldn’t need anyone else. But it’s even worse than that as I pull out from Riley, a whine at the edge of my throat as slick gathers around my own hole and starts to slip down my thighs. The need hits me hard, a deep, aching pull to be filled, and I groan, my head dropping. “We need an Alpha. My knot… it won’t.” It’s the last thing I want—to invite someone else in here to do what I can’t but I won’t let Riley suffer and if I push myself too hard, it feels like Riley won’t be the only one in need. “Who do I call?”
Riley struggles to stay present, his hand going to encircle his cock as he gives himself lazy strokes. It’s leaking steadily now, another moan falling from his lips as he looks up at me, eyes glassy with need. “Will you be okay with an Alpha in here?” he asks, his voice trembling, breaking on the words as another shudder racks his body.
