Page 67 of Undone
“You love me?” Anthony said in a strange tone of voice.
Michael squeezed his eyes shut. He hadn’t intended to say it, not like this. He already felt vulnerable enough. Confessing feelings first was daunting when he wasn’t even sure what Anthony felt for him. It made him feel naked while Anthony was still fully clothed. It wasn’t a bad feeling, per se. Just...
“Never mind,” he said dismissively. “I haven’t had the chance to talk to your brothers—”
“No, say it again,” Anthony asked—demanded.
Michael licked his lips. “Why?”
Anthony didn’t answer immediately.
“I want you to.”
“You want me to say it?”
“I want you to love me.” Anthony’s voice was a little stiff and slow, as if he was realizing it just then.
Michael’s heart started pounding. “Why?”
Anthony went quiet again.
“You know I’m not good at saying things,” he said at last. “Jules calls me an emotionally-stunted jerk for a reason.”
Michael frowned. He wouldn’t have phrased it that way, but there was some truth in it. Anthony wasn’t good at opening up. Some people called him cold and emotionally unavailable, and Michael had always thought it was bullshit. It was understandable that Ant was somewhat guarded, after leaving home as a teenager, spending his formative years in the army, and only reconnecting with his family much later.
“Don’t say that,” he chided.
Anthony sighed. “It’s not untrue. You know I don’t make friends easily. I’ve always been aloof. Jon was my only friend for a long time, and he became that largely because our survival depended on us trusting each other in enemy territory. We became friends because we had to make it work. But you—you’ve always been different. I’ve never connected to another person so fast, and you were an alpha, which should have made me dislike being around you, but it wasn’t the case.”
“Yeah?” Michael encouraged him softly. He’d never known this. He’d obviously noticed that Anthony was nowhere near as aloof with him as he was with other alphas, and he had been surprised when Anthony kept seeking him out, instead of just maintaining the distant, cordial relationship that passed for friendship among society’s alphas.
“You’ve always been... so warm.” Anthony’s voice was low, like a caress. “Light. Genuinely good and kind. While you were courting Li, I liked the thought of having you in the family, and I never just like people. When Li dropped you for Jon, I thought of you immediately. I thought you didn’t deserve the publichumiliation. I wanted—I guess I wanted you to be okay.” He gave a harsh chuckle. “It definitely isn’t normal for me, especially when it comes to other alphas.”
Michael moistened his dry lips with his tongue. “Are you saying you had, like, feelings for me before Belith?” It sounded too good to be true.
“No—I don’t know.” Anthony cleared his throat a little. “I’m saying there always was something there. I’ve always been... drawn to you in a way I wasn’t to anyone else. I wanted to be around you, but your alpha pheromones rubbed me the wrong way, preventing it from becoming anything. But now the conflict is gone.”
“And?” Michael encouraged him softly.
“I know I want you to be mine,” Anthony said, his voice clipped. “I want you to be mine always. I want you to look at me the way my brothers look at their mates. I want you to be all soft with me and shit.” Anthony laughed self-deprecatingly. “Apparently I need you to tell me how much you love me, too.”
Michael found himself grinning helplessly. It might not be the love confession he’d wanted, but in a way, it was even better. Anthony was making himself vulnerable too. Confessing feelings first had been terrifying, but by admitting that he needed his love, Anthony had placed the power back in his hands. It made him feel powerful and needed. Not just wanted. Needed.
“I love you,” Michael said.
Anthony’s breath hitched audibly.
Michael smiled wider. “I love you, Ant,” he said in a low, intimate voice.
Anthony groaned. “Shut up, don’t do this to me when I can’t even kiss you.”
Laughing, Michael murmured, “I love you, baby.” When Anthony didn’t say anything, Michael grinned. “Too much?”
“No, actually,” Anthony said hoarsely.
Michael couldn’t stop smiling. “Aww, who would have thought Anthony Blake actually had a thing for endearments?”
“We’re getting married next week,” Anthony said. “I refuse to wait any longer.” He hung up.
