Total pages in book: 62
Estimated words: 60378 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 302(@200wpm)___ 242(@250wpm)___ 201(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 60378 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 302(@200wpm)___ 242(@250wpm)___ 201(@300wpm)
Anthony chuckled, nuzzling his cheek. “If you get knocked up before the wedding, I’ll tell your mother it was your fault.”
“Uh-huh,” Michael mumbled, unconcerned. “Love you.”
Anthony paused before suddenly kissing him hard, the kiss infinitely hungry, as if they hadn’t just had mind-blowing sex. “Say it again,” he demanded, sucking on his bottom lip.
“Love you,” Michael said, his eyes already closing.
The last thing he felt as he drifted off was Anthony’s mouth kissing him all over his face softly. Reverently.
Chapter 29
“You and Michael?” Jules said, his voice lifting over the background chatter of the ballroom.
“Keep your voice down,” Anthony said, glancing at his watch. Michael was supposed to arrive soon. His stomach tightened, a restless mix of impatience and excitement humming under his skin. Tonight he would make it clear to everyone that he was courting Michael. That Michael was his.
Four months.
He couldn’t believe he’d agreed to wait four months.
But it would be worth it. He wouldn’t let anyone so much as glance sideways at his mate.
“But you and Michael?” Jules said, still looking dumbfounded.
“I’m not surprised,” Liam cut in.
“Neither am I,” Jon said, nuzzling Liam’s temple.
Anthony used to scoff at such needless, public displays of affection. But considering the fact that these days he wanted to touch Michael all the time and had to actively suppress the urge in public, he could definitely relate now.
Where was Michael?
“You’re both full of shit,” Jules said. “There’s no way you noticed something when I didn’t!”
Liam laughed. “We may not be as nosy as you, but we’re not blind. And unlike you, we aren’t busy with countless royal duties. Where’s your main royal duty, Your Highness?”
“Devlin is speaking to some Calluvian diplomat over there,” Jules said, shooting his mate a longing look before turning back to Anthony. “So, Michael. How did it happen?”
“How do such things happen, kid?” Jon said wryly, and Liam laughed.
“Stop calling me a kid, brother dearest,” Jules said snidely. “I do have kids of my own these days, if you recall.”
“All the more reason you should know exactly how these things come about.”
Anthony tuned them out. Michael was finally here.
“Holy shit,” Jules said.
“Yeah,” Li said. “Look at the way Ant is looking at him.”
“Like he wants to lick him from head to toe?” Jules said.
“Basically,” Liam said with a laugh.
“Oh my fucking gods, Ant, quit being so obvious.” Jules waved his hand before his face. “This is a public place.”
“I’m supposed to start courting him today,” Ant said, without looking away from Michael. “I can look at him all I want.”
“I hate to break it to you,” Jon said wryly, “but that’s not how alphas court omegas in polite society.”
“Exactly,” Liam said, sounding a little embarrassed. “Please stop looking at him like you’re...”
“...imagining him naked and under you,” Jon finished for his mate.
“Gross. You’re actually at the finishing-each-other’s-sentences stage,” Jules said. “How adorable. But I agree—Ant, you don’t look at an omega you intend to court like that.”
Anthony let out an impatient breath. “And how am I suppose to look at him? If you’re such experts?”
Liam at least had the grace to exchange an embarrassed look with Jon. “All right, to be fair, we didn’t exactly have a traditional courting, either.”
Jules snorted at that. “That’s the understatement of the century, considering that you two were sleeping together while you thought you were brothers.”
Blushing, Liam glared at him. “At least I didn’t steal my brother’s fiancé.”
Jules flushed. “Devlin wasn’t your fiancé yet,” he said defensively. “He was actually my mate already! He just didn’t remember it!”
“Neither of you has any right to lecture me on traditional courting,” Anthony said dryly. “So zip it. I’ll court Michael however I want.”
“Have you at least told him you love him?” Jules said. “That’s the most important part.” Liam was nodding in agreement.
Anthony opened his mouth and cleared his throat. “It’s none of your business.”
“That means no,” Jon said with a smirk.
Anthony shot him a hard look. “Don’t you start, you fucking hypocrite.”
“To be fair, I couldn’t tell Liam that I loved him because I was heavily injured,” Jon said. “What’s your excuse?”
Anthony scowled. “How would I know if what I feel is—that?”
His brothers fell silent.
Anthony couldn’t look at them. He kept his gaze on his friend.
There was understanding in Jon’s blue eyes but thankfully no pity. “You’d know,” Jon said quietly, taking Liam’s hand into his own and entwining their fingers. “Deep down, you know. All of us do. If he’s yours, you feel it in your heart when you look at him. Someone who belongs there.”
Liam brushed his lips against Jon’s cheek, his eyes warm. “Yeah,” he said softly.
Glancing toward his mate, Jules nodded, a smile on his lips. “I bow to the wisdom of the superior Anthony,” he said with a cheeky bow to Jon, who laughed.
Anthony scoffed, but he was still thinking about Jon’s words as he headed toward Michael.