CHAPTER 29: IT STILL DOESN’T MAKE ANY SENSE.

The fresh smell of Zander’s laundry detergent surrounds Ethan, the alpha’s weight settling over him. His warm lips presses against him, and Ethan holds his breath, his brown eyes widening. He doesn’t move at first, noticing that Zander’s lips are soft.

The alpha presses his thighs against Ethan’s hips, and the movement jolts him. Ethan presses his palms against Zander’s chest, his pecks firm beneath his shirt. There’s no way a beta can compete against an alpha in strength, so it’s a relief when Zander allows him to put distance between them.

He blinks down at the beta, his green eyes hooded. He licks his bottom lip, the wetness glistening in the artificial light of the room.

"What are you doing?" Ethan barely gets the words out in a low whisper. It’s not like he’s never been kissed before, he has. He and Leo once kissed when they were kids, pretending to be married to each other. And then he was kissed a second time in high school by his boyfriend, who broke up with him after he wouldn’t put out. So, he knows exactly what Zander is doing, he just can’t wrap his head around why he’s doing it.

"Making myself clear." Zander chuckles. He still stradles Ethan’s lower body and when he shifts, the beta grabs him by the waist to stop him from pressing against his lower region.

It would be embarrassing if the alpha noticed the half chub in his sweatpants.

"You thought I was bothering you to get close to your friend." Zander smiles down at him, "But your friend is the last thing on my mind."

Ethan stares up at him, "You want. . . Me?" No way, that just doesn’t make sense. Alphas are attracted to omegas and vise versa. What would a dominant alpha do with a beta? Ethan doesn’t have any pheromones to attract him or Mark him with, not like an omega does.

"Wow, you really didn’t know." Zander laughs and pushes off of him. He puts a distance between himself and the bed, his green eyes lingering on the sliver of skin that shows after Ethan’s shirt bunched up. He has to forcefully look at something else, and clears his throat. He fusses with his black hair and then drops his hand. "Well, I’ll let you think it over." He takes a step towards the bedroom door and glances over his shoulder. "Have a good night, Ethan."

Ethan doesn’t move even after Zander is gone, his attention still on the door. Zander kissed him. He presses his fingers against his lips and blinks.

How could someone as pretty as Zander be attracted to him? It still doesn’t make any sense.

***

"I didn’t order this." The old man at the table eyes the plate of food in front of him with distaste and then glares up at Ethan. The beta blinks, glances down at the table and frowns. He’s right, he didn’t order this. Ethan’s frown deepens, then who ordered this?

"You’re right, I’m so sorry." He reaches down to pick up the tray of food and scans the lobby. "I’ll be back with the correct order." He gives a sheepish smile, hoping he’s not too upset. If he gets scolded, he’d be even more embarrassed. Ethan turns and takes the plate to the person who ordered it. From the front counter, Leo watches him with a frown.

"Dude, what’s up with you today?" He nudges Ethan in the shoulder. "You keep messing up."

Ethan bites his lip and glances at Leo. Should he tell him about what happened? He did tell Ethan that Zander was into him, the beta just refused to entertain the idea. "Zander kissed me last night."

"No way!" Leo shouts. He slaps his hand over his mouth and glances around. He grabs Ethan’s hand and tugs him away from the counter so they’re not over heard. "I told you so! He’s so into you." The omega wiggles where he stands with a huge smile on his face.

"I don’t know." Ethan rubs the back his neck and sighs. "It’s weird."

Leo frowns and crosses his arms over his chest, "Why would it be weird?"

"Because he’s an a-"

"Do not finish that sentence." Leo glares at him. "You’re so prejudice, you know? It’s not like he has to like only omegas. That’s like saying only guys can be with girls."

Ethan wrinkles his nose.

"Yeah, see! It’s dumb, right?" Leo sighs and puts his hands on his friends shoulders. "You need to have more confidence in yourself. How about you go take a ten minute break. I’ll let your mom know."

Ethan purses his lips and nods. He unties his apron, hangs it up on a hook, and goes to the convenience store next door. After grabbing a drink and a bag of potato chips, he walks to the front counter.

"Oh, are you a beta?" The man behind the register smiles at him, his ruffled brown hair is spit down the middle in an attempt of style.

Ethan raises an eyebrow, not recognizing him as the regular guy who worked here.

"I hope I wasn’t rude, I’m also a beta." He chuckles nervously and scans the barcode of Ethan’s items.

"I’ve never seen you here before." Ethan doesn’t bother to answer his question. "Are you new?"

"Ah, yes!" He holds up a bag but Ethan shakes his head. It’s be a waste when he’s just going next door. "My uncle owns the store."

"Ah," Ethan’s eyebrows raise in surprise, "You’re Mr. Moses nephew? I didn’t know he had one." He picks up his drink and snack and takes a step back. He glances at the name tag on his left breast, Beck. "My mom ownes the restaurant next door." He nods his head in the direction of where it’s at. "Come by after you close and introduce yourself. We’ll make you something delicious." Before he reaches the door, he glances over his shoulder.

"Ah, right. I am a beta." The. He turns and walks out.