“No, but it doesn’t take a genius to see you’re strung tighter than the boss’s G-string.”
“The boss doesn’t wear G-strings.”
“Doesn’t he? Because his expression makes him look like he’s got a permanent wedgie.”
“That’s just his face, Oliver.”
Oliver waved the comment away. “Whatever. Has something happened between you two?”
Blake sniffed. “No.”
“Because I’m fairly certain it goes without saying that just because he’s in heat doesn’t give you the right to go all possessive alpha-hole on him.”
Blake gritted his teeth. “I can assure you, I’m not.”
Oliver nodded, but the way his nostrils flared implied he wasn’t done. “Good, because if you hurt him, I’ll break your fucking legs.”
Blake slammed his cup down on the bench. When he looked up and saw that Oliver was serious, his frown turned to a outright snarl. “Hurt him? Hurthim? I would never fucking hurt him.”
Oliver’s top lip peeled back over his fangs, and he spoke through clenched teeth. “I’m just saying, he’s been through enough.”
Blake returned the hostile expression. “Iknow.”
Then they were both standing, and although Oliver was a good head shorter, he still managed to fill the space. “So what’s your fucking problem, Blake? Are you pissed that he didn’t want you to help with his heat? I never took you for an entitled prick, but?—”
“Fuck off, Ollie. Just fuck off. I’m pissed because… no, I’m fuckinglividthat I’m here, and he’s there. Alone, andvulnerable.Has he told you about his mum? She sent someone to his house, fucked with his medication, she even reported himto Professional Standards. He’s scared, and he tries to be strong but I?—”
Blake crumpled on the bench, gripping the front of his shirt.
“I don’t know what the fuck’s wrong with me, Ollie. This is… I’ve never… This feeling in my fucking chest, I… I feel like?—”
Then his chest wasreallyhurting, his throat growing tight as his face tingled. The muscles in his jaw turned numb, and everything… everything was?—
“Blake?” Oliver said, suddenly turning pale. “Blake, what’s wrong?”
“Nothing,” he growled. “Nothing. I’ll be alright in a minute.”
“I-is it the heart thing, because I can get?—”
“Oliver, just shut up, would you? I’ll be fine.”
He tipped his head back against the wall, closing his eyes. Silence fell between them, and when he finally opened them again, Oliver was staring at him.
“See?” Blake said, running a hand through his hair. “I’m fine.”
Oliver collapsed onto the bench, groaning as he held his head in his hands. “Jesus, dude. Don’t do that to me.”
Blake frowned. “Don’t start pointless fights with me then.”
“Sorry, I… Fuck, I’m sorry. I’m just so tired, Alfie’s barely sleeping and—” He let out a heavy sigh. “Lucas and I are running on fumes.”
Blake let out a breath. “That bad?”
“Yeah. Parenting is… Well, I can safely say that parenting is the hardest job in the fucking world.”
Blake chuckled. “You don’t exactly do things by half, do you? Marriage, kids, promotion, house move. All in, what, a year?”
“Oi, don’t forget dismantling an international sex trafficking ring.”
