Ulric choked on his spit. “Um. I, uh. I spilled something on it.”
Ah. Gage bit down his smile. “You were getting really worked up, huh?”
“I—” Ulric looked like he might burst. “Yeah.”
Before this, if anyone had told Gage that an alpha would jerk off onto his shirt, he would’ve been really weirded-out. But now that he’d gotten used to the idea of giving Ulric sexual favors, now that he’d come just from Ulric grinding against his ass... He rather liked the thought of Ulric being intimate with his shirts.
It was a bro thing, right? Giving your best friend a shirt to help him work off some steam?
Gage decided that he could contribute to Ulric’s cause. “Here, I’ll give you this one in exchange.”
He stripped off the new, clean shirt he’d just pulled on after his shower. It smelled like pork and spices. Better than old sweat.
Ulric groaned. “No, put that back on.”
“Why?” Gage scrunched it up, sniffing at it. “Doesn’t smell as bad as that old one.”
“You need to wear a shirt.” Ulric looked around the room, as though he was trying his best not to stare at Gage.
So he liked how Gage’s chest looked, too? Gage fought down his smile, deciding to go easy on him. They still had to decide on the results of the cook-off, after all. And after that, the house visit that Ulric didn’t sound so certain about.
Gage had found that strange. Ulric seemed to come from a wealthy family. Why would visiting some neighbors make him uneasy?
13
The Better-Than-Sex Cook-off, Part 2
Ulric waited until Gage had stepped outside and shut the bedroom door. Then he pulled a pillow over his face, groaning into it. I went and rutted against him. I came all over his ass.
That had been one of the most glorious moments of his life. Having the freedom to do whatever he wanted to Gage. Ulric had barely stopped himself from burying his face in Gage’s ass, he’d told himself he wouldn’t kiss Gage there, because it was far too intimate.
But he’d humped Gage’s crack, he’d pushed his cock against Gage’s hole, and even now, the memory still gave him a giddy rush.
How many alphas got to say, I let Gage Frost feel my cock?
Except Gage also knew just how twisted Ulric was now. Ulric tried not to think about that. He tried not to remember his mom snapping, It’s just a phase. You’ll grow out of it.
Maybe Gage would just assume that Ulric hadn’t had an omega in too long. Maybe he wouldn’t think Ulric was a freak.
Ulric rubbed his face, his heart pattering nervously. Just pretend nothing’s wrong. Fake it ‘til you make it.
Suddenly filled with the urge to eat something just to escape his anxiety, Ulric bit his lip. He didn’t want Gage to see him stuffing his face. But he also didn’t want to feel this uncomfortable in his own skin.
Ulric pulled on a dress shirt to hide his body better. He styled his hair, too. And shaved. In fact, he made sure he looked good enough to attend a formal event. And now, at least, he appeared to be in control.
Then he crept down the stairs, trying to listen out for Gage.
How was he supposed to act around Gage now? When Gage knew that Ulric had been using his shirt to jerk off? His face burning, Ulric stepped into the silent kitchen.
Gage was tucked into the corner, the one spot Ulric couldn’t see from the doorway. Ulric froze. Gage glanced up from his phone—his gaze coasted appreciatively down Ulric’s body. Ulric’s heart felt like it might burst.
Gage smiled. “Hey. Ready for the taste test?”
Ulric fumbled for a reply. Why did Gage have to be so damn beautiful all the time? He composed himself, checking his own ribs. “I guess. Mine won’t be ready for another couple hours, though.”
“That’s okay. We’ll taste yours when it’s done.”
“But that isn’t fair, is it? If we don’t do a side-by-side comparison?”
Gage winked. “You’ll get extra points for that.”
Judging by the way Gage’s ribs smelled, Ulric would need every extra point he could get. He watched as Gage brought his skillet to the island counter.
In addition to being simmered in broth, Gage’s ribs looked like they’d been further stewed in a thick red sauce. When Gage began slicing them up, the meat yielded easily beneath his steak knife, falling off the bone. Ulric’s mouth watered. “That looks amazing.”
Gage grinned. “Doesn’t it?”
He laid the ribs carefully on a pair of white plates. Then he slid one across the counter to Ulric. And he waited.
Ulric frowned. “Aren’t you going to taste it?”
“I already know what it’s like.” Gage looked expectant. “Ty it and tell me what you think.”
Ulric picked up a rib—it was piping hot. He couldn’t resist sinking his teeth into the tender meat. Flavors exploded across his tongue. Beneath the notes of oregano and thyme, he tasted peppers and a hint of garlic.
None of the spices overpowered each other—instead, they’d melded together like an orchestra in his mouth, and the juicy pork fell apart between his teeth in the very best of ways.
Where had Gage—Gage and his ribs—been all his life?
Ulric groaned, his eyes rolling back. He inhaled the rest of the meat and went on to attack the next rib. He licked his fingers and sucked lightly on the ends of the bones, chasing every drop of that glorious, meaty flavor.
Then he looked at Gage’s plate, feeling guilty for wanting that, too.
Gage smiled, nudging it over. Ulric stared. “But that’s yours.”
Gage nodded at the skillet. “Still plenty left.”
Ulric bit off his moan, carefully picking up a third piece. He knew he should stop. But the moment he sank his teeth into that perfectly-cooked meat, Ulric knew he’d only leave the kitchen when Gage took the ribs away.
He didn’t want Gage to taste the ribs that were still
