“That’s one of the side-effects of being beautiful,” Rowan tells me, his finger curling around a lock of my hair. “Some omegas make it their life’s work to be a pretty distraction for other alphas.”
I screw up my nose at him. “I think I prefer Dex’s idea.” When they all look curiously at me, I blush, but Dex gives me an encouraging nod. “He thought I might be able to help the other omegas from the slick factory. Maybe join them for their group sessions.”
“That’s perfect, sweetheart,” Rowan murmurs, his eyes soft as he braces an arm on the wall and nuzzles my cheek. “You couldspeak to the therapists as well. Give them some insights into the things you experienced, so they can improve their treatment plans.”
I gape at him, barely able to imagine such a thing. The counselors at the slick factory never once asked my opinion on anything. “You think they would listen?”
Kane grunts from where he’s leaning against the opposite wall. “If you can get the governor’s head out of his ass long enough to hear you, a bunch of quacks will be a breeze.”
Jake rolls his eyes, but the others chuckle as we leave the elevator. I stick close to Rowan, my head on his shoulder as he threads our fingers together. “And what about you? What’s life after Sultry Studios look like?” He’s already sold his trailer and moved his furniture into the mansion, but we haven’t talked about the kind of work he wants to do now he’s free of Lily’s toxic hold.
“I thought I’d try my hand behind the camera.” A light blush stains his cheeks, and I can smell a hint of anxiety in his scent. “I took a film-making course a few years back, but there’s never been much opportunity to use it. Porn isn’t exactly known for its cutting-edge direction.”
“But you know the business.” Since Lily’s imprisonment, the other employees of Sultry Studios have been quick to seek out Rowan, and I’ve heard plenty of film talk during their calls. “Plus, you have a lot of people who want to work with you again.”
‘That’s true,” he says quietly. “I guess I just need to decide if I want to work withthem.”
I know he means the co-workers who looked the other way during his years of torment. I squeeze his hand, making a mental note to take Kennedy for coffee so I know exactly who will never get within a mile of him ever again.
“Anyway,” he grins at me, “I think I’m about to get some on-the-job experience.”
I look at him curiously, because instead of our bedroom, Kane has led us into the media room. He still has a hand on Dex’s shoulder, and I catch a wide-eyed look from him as our alpha steers him over to the sectional. It’s one of those big U-shaped sofas that can be moved into different arrangements, and right now it’s set up as an enormous day bed. There are candles on the coffee table, along with a bucket of champagne and chocolate-coated strawberries. I look around at my mates, not sure who to thank for the seductive scene. “How did this happen?”
“Rowan did the staging,” Jake replies, then nods in the direction of a camera on a tripod. “He’s also worked out the best angles.”
“For what?” Dex croaks and I hurry to his side, breathing in his scent to make sure he’s not as freaked-out as he looks.
“Our commemorative claiming video,” Rowan replies with a saucy wink in Dex’s direction. “Also known as our pack’s first sex tape.”
CHAPTER TWENTY-FIVE
Holy shit.
I’ve been hard as a rock ever since Kane clamped a big mitt on my shoulder down on the dance floor, but that was mostly a fear-induced erection. Now I’m staring at a set-up straight out of one of Rowan’s porn movies. My heart is hammering in my chest, and my cock is trying to rip through my trousers so it can tackle Diana onto the oversized bed.
“Seriously?”
I’ve been reduced to a pathetic croaking sound, and Diana shoots me a worried look. Not exactly the mood I’m going for, and I give her a weak smile. “I mean, I’m down for that. I just think you should know I’m a sure thing.” Kane leers in my direction and I hurry to add, “For a bond, I mean. Sitting on your knot will require a lot more than a few candles and a bottle of fizz.”
I mean it as a joke, but of course, Kane has to take everything literally. “Let’s see how you go with my teeth in your neck before you start talking about my dick in your ass.”
I groan, but Diana is staring between us like she’s about tograb the popcorn and settle in for a show.
“Ah, about the claiming bite,” I mutter in the hope of getting back on track. “How does that work exactly?”
I’ve thrown the question in Kane’s general direction, but Jake saunters over to us. He’s already taken off his jacket and removed his cufflinks, his muscles flexing under his white shirt as he rolls back his sleeves. He looks like he’s about to get down to some very serious business, and Diana’s almost drooling at the sight of his leather suspenders. I’m pretty sure he left his tuxedo hanging in his closet just so he could get this exact reaction from her.
“You still happy to use the knot Rowan gave you?”
I blink at the question, trying to rearrange the hot-as-hell images in my head. “Ah, the silicone one? Yeah. I don’t have it on me, though.”
I blush at the stupidly obvious statement, but Jake just smiles. “Don’t worry. Rowan is also in charge of props.”
I gulp, because he’s drawn my attention to the box of sex toys sitting on a table at the end of the bed. “Ah, that’s great. But I’m not sure how that fits with Kane giving me a claiming bite.”
Kane has slipped out of his tuxedo jacket and is already working on his zipper, but he pauses to shoot me a wolfish grin. “Because you’re gonna need a little pleasure to go with your pain.”
Holy shit times two.
