He flung the basketball harder than he should, watching as it bounced off the rim, hitting the polished floor.
This morning, Spike had woken in Kai’s arms smelling like gardenia. Kai had felt as though he was losing Spike. But short of dropping his dreams and staying in Meadowfall, there was no way Kai could return anything Spike felt toward him.
Was this what Spike felt, when Kai refused to return his affections? That made Kai feel even more like shit.
Why did things have to be so complicated?
Voices burst from the far end of the court. A door swung open, and a handful of alphas from the basketball team spilled into the half-lit space. They spotted Kai and waved; Kai waved back.
“Practicing alone?” Alana asked, catching the basketball Kai had lost, and passing it back to him.
“Let’s do a quick game,” Clemens said, snapping his fingers. “We’re all warmed up. Are you ready, Kai?”
“Yeah, I am.” He’d been working on his daily routine, and he wasn’t even halfway done.
Except he didn’t want to practice alone, and let those voices take over his thoughts. He didn’t want to think about Spike, or Micah Davis.
Especially when Micah Davis had raked his gaze down Kai’s body, and Kai had grown hard for him.
He’d done no homework last night. He’d just sat and listened to Spike and Davis fucking, and his cock had almost speared through his pants. Then Davis had moaned, almost animal, and Kai had been on the verge of leaving the room. He’d needed to bury himself inside that omega.
He’s Spike’s. Not mine. I don’t need him, anyway.
“Yeah,” Kai found himself saying. “Let’s do a game.”
They started out hard and fast. Shoes squealing, quarterbacks darting, the basketball flying from one player to the next.
Kai loved his team. He respected Alana and Clemens and the rest. Even if they weren’t always the ones chosen to play in the important games, their camaraderie buoyed him. Made him wonder if it was like that in the big leagues, too.
Kai looked forward to being scouted out by the Highton basketball team, or maybe some other team across the country. Darting between players, making perfect shots during a game? Twisting himself out of a defender’s way, reading player moves before they happened?
Basketball was something he excelled at.
Kai leaped into the air to make a shot. Clemens crashed into his side, blocking him. It was a foul—they both knew it. But sometimes, they brought these into their games, to learn how to cope with them.
Clemens’ momentum threw Kai off balance; Kai twisted in mid-air, glimpsing Alana right next to him.
Two seconds before his elbow slammed into her face.
Kai twisted, throwing his leg out to catch himself. His foot landed wrong on the floor, a split second before pain exploded through his right leg. Something inside his ankle tore apart. His ears rang.
Kai swore, his leg buckling beneath him. Pain coursed through his nerves like a blaze. He wheezed, trying to breathe the agony out.
The game stopped. Clemens and Alana crowded close. “Sorry, man,” Clemens said with a grimace, offering a hand to pull Kai up. “You okay?”
Kai made to stand, but pain lanced through his entire calf. He couldn’t chance any pressure on his leg.
“Think I twisted something,” Kai muttered, clenching his jaw.
“Should we call an ambulance?” Alana asked, worry in her eyes.
Kai shook his head, getting to his feet. But he couldn’t take another step without pain sluicing through his body. He glowered at his leg. You aren’t supposed to fail me like that.
Alana caught him so he didn’t face-plant on the ground. Clemens grabbed his other arm.
“We’ll call an ambulance,” Clemens said, frowning deeply. “Anyone has a cell phone?”
Kai reached down, trying to seek out the spot that hurt most. But everywhere he touched burned.
This injury... it had happened outside a game, and outside the regular team training. There was a clause that said his scholarship would be revoked if he missed half the season’s matches because of an injury like this. And those matches were coming up next week.
Kai’s stomach twisted. Spike was depending on him for the scholarship. Room and board, and money. Fuck. How are we going to pay for all this?
“We’ll get you to the hospital in no time,” Alana said. “Hang in there, Kai.”
Yeah, Kai could hang in there. But if he lost the scholarship... he’d become a liability, too. Kai dreaded seeing Spike’s reaction to the news.
Worse, they had a baby to account for.
12
Spike
Spike pulled the car into the hospital’s pickup area, his heart thudding. He’d been working at the bakery downtown, and he hadn’t seen Kai’s message until after his shift ended.
Kai had been waiting for him for three whole hours.
Fuck, I’m sorry.
Spike winced when Kai stood from his seat, hobbling over in crutches. His ankle was all bandaged up, and he was scowling. Spike barreled out of the car, loping toward Kai.
“C’mon, lemme help,” he said, pulling the passenger door open for his brother. “Sorry I got here so late.”
“It’s fine.” Kai winced, climbing slowly into the car. His skin was cold—he had a thin jacket on, but the weather had gotten chilly now that it was evening.
“Does it hurt?”
“Like sunshine and rainbows.” Kai rolled his eyes. “You think?”
Spike grimaced. “Sorry.”
He made sure Kai was all tucked into the seat, then shut the door, storing Kai’s crutches in the backseat. Spike returned to the driver’s side, turning up the heat.
It was only when he’d shut the door and pulled the car out of the hospital parking lot, that Kai breathed out, leaning back. “You want the good news or bad news first?”
Spike hesitated. This wasn’t enough bad news?
In his rush to get to the hospital, he’d forgotten to think about everything else. Only now did he consider Kai’s ankle sprain—Kai needed his mobility. He needed it to play in the matches next week. And the weeks after that.
The moment Spike remembered that, his stomach clenched.
“The scholarship?” he asked in a small voice.
Kai sighed, glancing sidelong at him. He’d clenched his fists—he was worried. “The funding’s gonna be reduced, yeah. I talked with Coach. He can’t do anything about it. It’s all Hastings’ rules.”
Meadowfall College funded its own basketball scholarships—students who received the scholarship had to abide by whatever the president decided. And Bernard Hastings wasn’t known for charity.
Spike’s senses jangled with alarm. “What’s the worst part?”
“I’m losing half the scholarship for a year.” Kai pressed his lips into a thin line. “We have until tomorrow to decide if we’re forgoing the dorm room and all the extras, or the tuition.”
“For a year?” Spike’s chest tightened. The tuition was worth more, hands down. But that meant they’d be giving up the roof over their heads. And money was tight enough as it was. Panic slid through Spike’s veins. “That’s not fair. You only just got injured. And—and you’ll recover soon, right?”
“It’ll take six weeks at the minimum.” Kai scowled. “More before I can get back up to game speed.”
“How did it even happen?”
“Pre-training game with Alana and the rest. I landed on the wrong foot. Tore my ligaments.”
Spike winced. It hadn’t even been Kai’s fault. “So... we’re choosing the tuition, right? Forgoing the room and extras.”
It wasn’t the end of the world. But Spike and his mom had been kicked onto the streets, back when he was eight.
He remembered spending nights in Mom’s car, eating dinners on their laps, sneaking into store restrooms for a quick towel-down. Spike had felt like a criminal, constantly watching out for store employees, having others look ask
ance at him when his clothes got too dirty.
So this... it triggered an old, instinctual fear in his chest.
“Too late to change anything now.” Kai rubbed his temples. “I looked at the housing options around here. Most places cost more than the dorm. Or they don’t have much privacy.”
“So... what’re we gonna do?” Spike asked, making a left back to the college. The car swerved a little; Kai looked sharply at him. “Do we take out a loan?”
Neither he nor Kai had any decent credit—any interest on their loans would be so high.
Kai gritted his teeth. “I’ll find more work.”
“You’re injured!”
“Yeah, that doesn’t mean I want to sit around waiting for it to heal.”
Fat raindrops began to patter on the windshield. Spike pulled into the dorm parking lot and cut the engine. Clicked off his seatbelt, twisting around to face Kai. “You need to let your ankle rest, Kai. You know that.”
Kai growled, his eyes flashing. “Yeah, I know. But I’m not gonna twiddle my thumbs, hoping money falls from the sky.”
Spike wanted to do something, anything, aside from sitting in the car, feeling helpless. I don’t want to be homeless again. I promised Micah I’d be accountable. I can’t break my promise like this.
He clenched his fists, looking around them. Wondered how much of their stuff they could fit into the car. Would they have to move back home? But they couldn’t—not with the relationship he had with Kai.
Spike’s heart pounded. Fear crawled beneath his skin. “Damn it, damn it.”
“Hey, you’re freaking out,” Kai said. He unbuckled his seatbelt. “Spike.”
“Mom and I have been homeless before,” Spike snapped. “I can’t help it, okay?”
“I remember.” Kai grimaced. Then he reached over and yanked Spike against himself, curling his fingers into Spike’s hair. Kai shoved Spike’s face against his shoulder. “Things will work out. I’ll make sure they do.”
“You can’t be sure of that.” Spike’s voice muffled against Kai’s shirt. He wanted to punch something, kick something, so he could vent the tightness in his ribs. “I need to—I need—”
He hauled his head back up, glaring at Kai. Didn’t need to be hugged right now. He wanted...
“What do you need?” Kai growled, his eyes dark in the shadows of the car, his bottom lip gleaming.
Spike didn’t think about it. He grabbed Kai’s face and mashed their lips together, biting down hard on Kai’s lower lip. Kai snarled, biting back, his teeth sharp points on Spike’s skin.
Someone’s skin broke. Spike tasted blood. He grabbed Kai’s hair and kissed him, shoving his tongue into Kai’s mouth.
This was something he could control. This was something he had power over. Kai shoved at Spike with his tongue, and Spike fought with him for dominance. He needed this. Just to feel like he had something, he wasn’t losing everything.
Kai twisted his fingers into Spike’s hair and pinned him back against the driver’s seat, shoving his tongue into Spike’s mouth. “I’m here,” Kai growled, dragging his teeth across Spike’s bottom lip, the pain grounding Spike. “You’re not doing this alone.”
Those words cracked open Spike’s chest, and the tension inside him seeped out.
Spike panted against Kai’s lips, just staring at his brother. “Yeah? You’ll stay with me?” Spike whispered.
“Yeah,” Kai answered, never once looking away.
“Prove it.”
Kai hesitated, as though he was confused, or something. Then he shoved Spike against the seat, bit on Spike’s lower lip, and the next kiss was just as furious.
I thought you wouldn’t kiss me unless it’s for sex.
But Kai’s mouth was hot on Spike’s, his teeth tugging roughly on Spike’s lips, and Spike’s breath hissed out of him. Kai’s kissing me. He kissed back, curling his fingers into Kai’s hair. Just savored Kai’s weight pressing him down.
Kai had never initiated a kiss because Spike was sad. Do you... want me?
As soon as he thought that, Kai broke the kiss. He was about to lean away, his eyes inscrutable, except Spike hauled him back.
He sagged against Kai, pressing their faces together. Just breathed in that elm scent, Kai’s warmth lingering on his skin.
Whatever had caused Kai to kiss him... Spike wouldn’t question it right now. Kai kissed me. A smile tugged on his lips. Kai had promised that Spike wouldn’t be alone.
Slowly, his heartbeat calmed. Kai released him.
Spike licked his lip. It was kiss-swollen, but it didn’t feel broken. So... that blood was Kai’s. He glanced over, where Kai was licking the tear in his lip. Spike had left a mark on him. That felt good, too.
He sucked in a lungful of air, held it, and then breathed out.
“Feel better?” Kai asked.
“A little, yeah. Thanks.”
Kai blew out a breath. “I thought of another option. York and his dad might have a spare room. You could stay there. Pretty sure Davis wouldn’t mind.”
Spike narrowed his eyes. “What about you? Wouldn’t you stay with me?”
Kai hesitated.
Spike felt like cuffing him. “You just said we’re in this together!”
“You’d be happier with Davis,” Kai eventually said.
Spike glowered. “No. I’m not leaving you behind.”
Something flickered in Kai’s gaze, and the ghost of a smile curved his lips. “Yeah?”
“I’m never leaving you behind, Kai,” Spike growled. “Ever.”
Kai smiled a little wider. His gaze dropped to Spike’s mouth, then flickered back to his eyes. And Spike had the crazy thought that Kai... might have wanted to kiss him. Again.
That’s not possible. Kai never kisses me for no reason.
His heart thumped, though. He wanted random kisses from Kai. He wanted Kai to love him like... like a bondmate. That was too much to hope for, so Spike swallowed that thought.
“When are we being kicked out?” he asked instead. At least he could talk about that now, without shaking all over.
“Couple weeks from now.” Kai winced, his smile fading. “Coach said he has no choice—he has to report injuries to his higher-ups. I’ll get the official word about the scholarship tomorrow.”
Spike sighed. “At least we don’t have much to move, I guess.”
“We have the bed,” Kai said dryly. “I can’t help much with that. Sprained ankle.”
“Oh, gods.”
That bed smelled like both of them. They’d splurged on just that one thing, moving into the dorm. Back then, they’d been young and stupid, thinking they’d be living in their room the full four years.
“I don’t want to ask anyone from the dorm to help move that,” Spike said, imagining the sideways glances and the whispers. That made his heart sore.
“Guess there’s always York.” Kai grimaced. “But he’ll smell us on the bed.”
Spike groaned. “It has his dad’s scent, too. There’s no way I’m asking York to help move it.”
“We can nuke it with suppressants,” Kai said.
“No!” Spike gaped at him, horrified. “We’ll wrap it up with plastic first. And then we’ll spray it down. And... And I guess I could move it myself, if we really needed.”
Kai snorted. “I’m glad to see you’re freaking out about the bed instead of the room.”
Well, Spike couldn’t do anything about the room right now. “The bed has your scent all over it. It’s my favorite thing out of everything we have.”
He glanced at the pouring rain, his face heating up. He shouldn’t have mentioned his feelings. Bad enough that Kai knew Spike wanted to marry him. Kai probably thought Spike was an idiot.
“I can leave my scent on it again. It’s not the end of the world.”
“It won’t be the same.” Spike leaned against the window, watching the lamplight glimmering off the puddles. That bed was important. It was his and Kai’s. It was the one possession
that made Spike think Home. And with Micah’s scent on it... it was even better.
When he looked back, Kai was watching him with an inscrutable expression.
“You never told me why you blushed,” Spike blurted. “Yesterday. At the restaurant when I kissed Micah. Were you turned on?”
Kai scowled, looking away. “No.”
That was puzzling. “Were you jealous?”
“Doubtful.” Kai clicked his tongue, fidgeting. He was getting flustered, and he was adorable. “Are we heading upstairs?” Kai muttered.
“Did you want to kiss Micah, too?”
“No.”
One of these possibilities was getting to Kai, but Spike didn’t know which. “Did you—” his breath hitched “—want to kiss me?”
“No!” Kai opened the door then, fumbling with his foot. Outside, rain pattered. “I’m going upstairs.”
Spike grabbed Kai’s arm and yanked him back. “Hang on, lemme get you an umbrella. I don’t want your foot getting wet.”
Kai grumbled, pausing.
“You kissed me twice just now,” Spike said.
Kai narrowed his eyes. “You were sad.”
“But you never kiss me all the other times I’m sad.”
Kai’s lips thinned; he wasn’t explaining himself. His face darkened, though. Was he... blushing?
Spike’s phone began to ring then, a piercing melody that had him wincing. “Ugh, damn it, York. Why do you have to call now?”
Kai glanced at Spike, then shut the door, silencing the patter of rain.
Spike answered the call. “York?”
“Hey,” York said. “What’s up?”
Spike looked at Kai’s bandaged ankle. Did Kai kiss me because he wanted me? “Nothing much. Why?”
“My dad said Kai missed his consultation slot this afternoon. He waited for a whole half-hour, but Kai was a no-show. It isn’t like Kai to miss anything.”
“Oh.” Spike winced. “He was at the hospital. I just picked him up.”
“Hospital?” York sounded concerned.
In the background, something clattered. Then came Micah’s voice, faintly. “What?” Micah asked. “Who’s in the hospital?”
Gods, Micah was adorable. Spike bit down a smile.
His Two Alphas Page 11
