Page 68 of Undone
Michael fell asleep still grinning.
Chapter 28
“Absolutely not,” Michael’s mother said, glaring at them.
“Next week,” Anthony said, his face carved into intimidating lines, his expression stony and unyielding.
If Anthony’s fingers hadn’t been gently stroking his own under the table, Michael might have felt intimidated too, not giddy. It felt so good to know Anthony was that impatient to mate him. Michael couldn’t help himself: he leaned in and kissed Ant on his stubbled cheek.
“Michael!” his mother said, sounding extremely unimpressed. “We’re having a serious conversation here. You should be—”
Anthony turned his head and captured Michael’s lips with his, the kiss quickly turning deep and needy. Gods, he’d never get enough of him.
“For crying out loud!” his mother said. “Boys!”
It took every ounce of willpower he had to pull away and turn to her. His face became warm when he met his mother’s gaze. He gave her a sheepish smile.
Her expression softened. “I understand that a few months seems like an eternity when you’re young and in love.”
Michael’s stomach clenched. He shot Anthony a quick look, but Anthony didn’t contradict her. In fact, Anthony wasn’t even looking at her, his intense gaze still on Michael.
It only made Michael smile wider.
Anthony’s expression became almost…enamored? He was looking at Michael like he was starving, like he wanted to lick him all over, like he wanted to devour him.
Truly, confessing his feelings had turned out to be the best idea ever. Anthony had never been this obvious before. He’d always been rather guarded, but now he actually let his emotions show on his face, and Michael absolutely couldn’t get enough of it.
He squeezed Anthony’s hand and returned his attention to his mother, who had stopped speaking and was just looking at them with exasperation.
“Are you even listening to me?”
“Yes,” Michael said.
“No,” Anthony said at the same time, finally turning to her. He didn’t even look ashamed. “I’m sorry, Amanda, but this is exactly why we can’t wait. If you insist on a long courtship and engagement, we’ll just be fueling an even bigger scandal.”
Her expression became pinched, but for the first time, she actually seemed to be considering it. “Two months,” she said, her tone final. “It would still be a scandalously short engagement, but anything shorter is simply not possible.”
“But—”
Glaring at Anthony, she cut him off, “A short engagement might not hurt you, because alphas are rarely hurt by scandals,but itwouldhurt my son. He’s not an alpha anymore. Not only is he an omega now, he’s also an omega who used to be an alpha, so he’s twice as vulnerable to gossip. The vultures will eat him alive if you get married in less than two months. Do you want your mate humiliated, Lord Blake?”
Anthony went very quiet, and then he said, “Four months, then.”
“What?!” Michael said.
But his mother smiled, looking at Anthony warmly. “My son made a good choice.”
“Four months?” Michael said, very much not whining.Four?It had been just two initially.
“Stop pouting, darling,” his mother said. “Your alpha is right.”
Michael shot Anthony a sullen look, but he couldn’t deny he felt a thrill at someone calling Anthony his alpha.
Judging by Anthony’s darkened gaze, Michael wasn’t the only one who liked it.
Ugh, four months was going to seem like forever.
Anthony stroked his fingers, and leaning in, murmured into his ear, “I know, sweetheart, but I’ll still have you every night until the wedding. Nothing can keep me away from you.”
