* * *
I brushed my fingers through Kiara’s long hair, working out some of the less difficult knots. Others I left behind, realizing I needed to purchase her a brush of her own. What style was best for thick, gorgeous hair like hers?
My calls hadn’t yielded results. Plenty of phone numbers for previous clients were now out of service, and those that still worked were answered by people who were utterly unwilling to chat. As expected. But the ones that were functional had been sent to Liberty, who wasn’t as good a hacker as Dash but could still find some details that weren’t public.
“What are you going to do if they try to kiss me?” Kiara murmured.
She drooped further against me, her back flush to my front. There had to be a heat coming, but I wasn’t sure if she was aware. Omegas were clingy beings at all times, but it was something that got worse the closer they got to the sex-crazed days of heat.
“I won’t let them,” I said.
“But we’re supposed to play the part. They’ll want to touch. Anyone that my father wants an alliance with won’t be…”
She trailed off.
They wouldn’t be scrupulous, and we knew it.
“We’ll be in public. That’s what my Mother said. It’s supposed to be public, to help my family’s reputation. Apparently having a dark bonded normal omega is less scandalous if you’re in a pack. In her head, at least.”
“Kisses can easily be done in public.”
“I promise they won’t.”
The thought of her being kissed by this pack of assholes made my entire body vibrate with rage. I’d had to acknowledge that my response was different with the Loranger pack. I’d been irritated at Dash touching her, sure. Same with when Ambrose had done it, but the anger wasn’t all consuming. It was only a little hint of possessiveness, the need to remind them that she was mine first and theirs second.
“And what if they try to kiss you?”
I cringed. “I’ll avoid it as best I can.”
“If they touch you, I’ll stab them.”
My hand trailed down to find her knife at her hip, palming the sheath. “Maybe I shouldn’t let you take your knife with you.”
Her hand smacked mine away from the weapon, a low whine rumbling her chest. “Nyla has to come.”
Despite how safe she felt around us—and I knew she did feel safe, because of the bond—she hadn’t let it go for even a second. This piece of metal and wood may be the only friend she’d ever had.
“Behave yourself, then. I’m not above using my command on you, dove. I’ve done it before, to stop you from stabbing me and Ambrose—though I don’t think that’s necessary anymore. You gave me the ability to do it by letting me dark bond you, and if it’s what I need to do to keep you safe, I’ll take advantage.”
The faint weight of the previous command dropped when I allowed it to. I had no reason to think she would stab either of us anymore. There was no need for distrust between us.
Kiara tilted her head to peer into my eyes, her tongue darting out to wet her lips. “Order me if you have to. If they kiss you, I’ll stab them.”
My fingers grabbed her chin, tilting it up until our lips were a hair’s breadth apart. Her pupils dilated with lust, the sweet aroma of coconut and chocolate becoming the only thing I could taste or smell. I brushed my lips to hers for a second that left her panting, straining to follow me for more.
“If you stab someone, you’ll be punished,” I murmured. “I don’t want to prevent you from defending yourself unless it becomes absolutely necessary, but we need to sell it, Kiara. Act like you don’t hate the fucking thought of joining their pack.”
“Punished how?”
“Ambrose’s job is punishing people. He’ll think of something.”
Fuck.
He shouldn’t be part of my punishment of my omega, but I couldn’t help it. I couldn’t get it out of my head, how he’d looked between her legs, his head clenched between her thighs. The two of us together would be able to dominate her so completely she’d forget her fucking name.
“His… job?” Kiara focused on that part instead, her nose crinkling.
“He works at a BDSM club called The Pointe Lounge. Do you know what that means, dove?”
