Slick (The Grayverse #1)

CHAPTER TWENTY

Every inch of my body feels like it’s been worked over with a fur-wrapped rolling pin.

It’s been another twenty-four hours of heat, and while the addition of Kane to the nest has definitely had an impact, Diana’s need for Dex and me hasn’t waned a bit. I can’t tell if Kane is in a rut or if he always leaks pheromones by the bucketload, but the whole suite is doused in a mind-scrambling blend of slick, cum, and alpha . It’s the first time I’ve been in close proximity to a sexually aroused alpha without a script, and the rawness of the whole experience is overwhelming. It would be easy to dismiss Kane as just another primal thug if it wasn’t for the devotion he’s shown Diana, not just in the nest, but in the quiet moments between her heat waves. And then, of course, there’s the fact that she’s wearing his ruined braid like a crown. I mean, what badass biker takes the time to master the art of a fucking fishtail?

He’s still an asshole, but I’m starting to realize he might be our asshole. At the very least, he’s Diana’s, since she’s now wearing his enormous bite with obvious pride. In one of her lucid moments, she had me fetch the hand mirror from the bathroom, and if she’s not stroking the bite, she’s studying it, drawing a rumble of satisfaction from Kane every time he catches her preening at her reflection. It’s a jolt to my cynical heart to realize they’re actually quite an adorable couple.

Stranger still is the fact that watching Kane knot and claim her wasn’t the disturbing experience I thought it would be. It was intense to be so close to it, but it was also hot as hell. If I’m honest, there’s a tiny pang of want in my chest every time I glance at Diana’s mating bite. Not for the alpha possessiveness – or the thought of his giant knot in my ass - but maybe for the bond that shines from her face every time she glances at her mate.

Diana’s scent finally softens late into the third day. It’s the official end of her heat, although there’s the possibility of short spikes as her hormones reset. I wait until she collapses in Dex’s arms, her alpha snoring loudly at her back, then crawl out of the ruined nest. Despite what I told Diana about the suites being built to handle a heat, we’re definitely going to be charged a deep cleaning fee at check-out. First heats are notoriously messy, and then add in a primal claiming, and those thousand-thread count sheets will probably never recover.

I can’t help but give a tired grin as I wash up, then head into the living room. Kennedy is fixing breakfast, one eye on the sizzling bacon while she video chats with her pack. I round the counter, grinning at Nina. My sister’s omega is in the late stages of pregnancy, their two-year-old son Danny bouncing restlessly on her lap. “Hi, Ro!” she exclaims, dimples popping as she looks me over. “Wow, good heat, I take it?”

“An intense one,” I reply, slipping onto a bar stool. “How are things, Nina?”

“Missing my girl.” She gives my sister goo-goo eyes. “Think you can spare her for a few hours sometime soon?”

“Of course.” I grin at the loaded plate Kennedy slides my way. “Especially if it means more bacon for me.”

Nina snorts. “God knows how you keep your rakish figure, you lucky shit.”

“A steady diet of topping,” I reply, then wag my brows at Danny. “How’s things, little man? You’re being an angel for your momma, right?”

“I wish,” Nina mutters, wincing as his little elbow bounces off her swollen belly. “I think we’ve officially entered the Terrible Twos era.”

Once she loses her smile, it’s easy to see the strain on Nina’s face and I have to force myself to swallow my next mouthful. Shit. I’ve been hogging more of my twin than usual, and her omega is clearly close to breaking point. “Well, it’s good that Kennedy is scheduled for a couple of days off,” I tell her. “She can head home straight after breakfast.”

There’s no denying the relief on Nina’s face, but Kennedy frowns at me. “Things still aren’t really settled, Ro…”

“And we’ll deal with them, but not right now. It’ll be a few hours before we can leave the suite, and if Diana’s not ready, I’ll just extend the booking for another night.”

Her frown deepens, since we both know it’s an expense I can’t really afford. But I’d prefer to eat away at my nest egg than put Diana through the trauma of finishing her heat in my trailer.

When we’ve said our goodbyes to Nina and Danny, Kennedy starts cleaning up the kitchen, but I snatch the dishcloth out of her hand. “Jeez, sis. What part of two days off don’t you get? I can wipe down a few benchtops, you know.”

“You’re sure?” She clicks her tongue when I demonstrate on the patch of gleaming counter in front of me. “Not cleanup. Security. Lewis is outside, but someone needs to be in here in case things go sideways.”

I look pointedly at the gun under her jacket. I vaguely remember Dex giving it back to her, but I was too fucked out at the time to care. “I think we’re past shooting Kane, unfortunately.”

“He’s pretty rough around the edges.” Her eyes narrow as she looks me over more closely. “Has he hurt you in any way?”

“No,” I admit, sensing how close she is to losing her legendary cool. She might be my level-headed sister, but she’s also an alpha, and having someone like Kane crash into the suite can’t have been easy. Combined with the tension at home, it wouldn’t surprise if she’s feeling a little trigger-happy. “He’s fine, actually. Hasn’t touched me or Dex, and Diana is floating high on a claiming cloud right now.”

“So they did it? I thought I heard…” She flushes, shaking her head at whatever she gleaned through the bedroom door. “That’s good, I guess. Diana’s devoted to you, which means he’ll protect you like his own. And as hard as it is to admit it, Kane is the best at what he does. Stick close to Diana, and he’ll keep you both safe.”

I nod, since I’m not ready to repeat the pack talk that went on in the nest. Until I know it’s more than just heat hormones at work, I’m keeping an open mind as to what happens next. “No sign of Governor Moore?” I ask, following Kennedy around the suite as she gathers up her things.

“Not since right after he left. Lewis said he spun out in the lobby bar for a while, but when the press approached him, he took off.”

I shake my head, marveling at the willpower it must have taken for Moore to leave a clingy omega in heat. Especially if she’s his scent match, like Kane obviously believes she is. “Sounds like he’s in denial.”

“And a bit of shock, probably.”

I shrug, but turn as Dex walks into the room, looking about as beat up as I feel. “So, you think he didn’t know about the slick trade?”

“I guess we have to wait and see.” Kennedy’s eyes meet mine. “He probably went straight to talk to Luscious.”

“But Diana’s his scent mate.” Dex falls onto a stool, and grabbing the coffee pot, almost inhales a cup. “He has to know that, right? All the criminal shit aside, going back to Lily Luscious must be like… deciding to drink decaf for the rest of your life.” I smile at the coffee analogy, but he’s frowning into his cup, clearly disturbed. “Even if he doesn’t officially mate her, he will always have a claim. And now that Kane’s bonded her, she’s legally theirs, right? I mean, they could take her from us and no court would stop them…”

“You lot gossip worse than a knitting circle,” Kane huffs, sauntering into the room like a sex-mellowed lion. He’s shirtless, all that ridiculous muscle on display, while his grimy jeans hang off an over-developed Adonis belt. If a producer could knock some of the road dust off him, he’d make a fortune in porn, not that I’ll ever admit it to his face. “I can see she’s into you,” he says, reaching over Dex to snag a fistful of bacon. “And I’m done having her choices taken away from her.”

Dex scowls at him over his cup. “And your buddy, the governor? Can you promise he’s not going to come after her?”

Kane scratches his chest as he munches away. “Like you said, Jake’s her scent match. He just needs a kick to the head to accept it and then he’ll do what’s right.”

I exchange a quick glance with Kennedy, who looks understandably concerned. Ambushing and threatening the governor is one thing, but causing him bodily harm would see us all tossed into a jail cell until the end of time. “So, what’s your plan?” she asks him, hands on hips. “Since you’ve claimed Diana, you’ve become responsible for these guys as well, and I’m not leaving them in your care until you prove you’re up to it.”

“Not that I’m looking for an alpha daddy,” I add quickly, just in case Kane gets any ideas.

“Me neither,” Dex grumbles, biting into a piece of toast. “I’m not into knots, in case it needs spelling out.”

“I’m crushed,” Kane deadpans, grabbing Dex’s coffee cup and draining it. He ignores the beta’s death glare as he refills it from the pot. “Your skinny little asses are safe from me, but I do have a hard-on for giving my mate whatever she wants. And if that includes you two, you’re gonna make this work, got it?”

I’m tempted to roll my eyes at his high-handed attitude, but at that moment Diana walks out of the bedroom, freshly showered and so beautiful I can feel my mouth water. Dex looks equally spellbound, while the barbarian in the room just strides right over to her and mauls her mouth. When Kane finally comes up for air, Diana’s cheeks are pink, and she looks adorably flustered as she peeks around him at my sister. “Hi, Kennedy. I just wanted to say thanks for looking after us all. And I’m sorry if we… made a mess.”

“You’re welcome,” my sister says easily, none of her earlier concerns showing on her face. “And congratulations. Your first mating is a big deal.”

Kane shoots her a cocked brow, but Diana is almost bouncing on her toes. “Thanks. I’m really happy to have everyone here.” Like always, she includes all of us in her sweeping smile, the epitome of the inclusive omega. She wouldn’t be the first omega to take off once she mated a powerful alpha, but I don’t think it’s ever even occurred to Diana. In fact, she’s more committed to forming a pack than any alpha I’ve ever met.

“Want some breakfast?” Kennedy asks, gesturing at the stove. “I can cook you whatever you want.”

“I’m happy with this if the guys don’t mind sharing,” she says, kissing my cheek before climbing onto Dex’s lap. As his arms wrap around her, it looks so natural, I can only assume that he’s shared more meals with her than anyone else in her life. “Feed me?” she asks, looking up at him through her lashes. “Just… no more of those nasty granola bars, okay?”

Dex grins at her gentle flirting, his whole demeanor changing as he feeds her some of his eggs. I leave them to their breakfast, nudging Kane’s arm as I follow Kennedy to the door. He gives me a slight sneer but doesn’t argue, and I wait until my sister has left before I turn to him and ask, “Do you think her heat is over, or do we need to book this place for another night?”

He plants his feet, head titled as he considers it. “She’s good to go. If she spikes, I’ve got a place we can bunker down.”

“Well, my trailer is off-limits for a while.” For obvious reasons , and when he gives a stiff nod, I ask the burning question that’s at the forefront of my mind. “And what about the governor? Do you really think he’s okay with this, or is he going to cause problems?”

He grimaces like he’s tasted something bad. “Well, he’s stubborn as fuck, I’ll admit that. He thinks he has to be loyal to your bitch of a boss, but I guarantee he knows he belongs here. It’s just...”

“He’s the governor and I’m a slick slave.”

We both turn to face Diana, who’s looking at us with sad eyes.

“Don’t call yourself that,” Dex says in a tight voice, coming up behind her to nuzzle her neck. “None of that’s your fault.”

“But it’s true, isn’t it?” She stares at Kane, her scent sour with rejection. “He left because he’s ashamed to be mine.”

Kane huffs out a breath. “Babe, he’s been mine since college and I’ve embarrassed the fuck out of him a hundred different ways, but he always stuck. He’s loyal, like I said, and once he gets his head straight, he’ll be back.”

“But if he’s loyal to you , why did he leave?”

“He probably feels like he owes Luscious a conversation,” I say carefully.

“ Owes her?” It’s fascinating watching Diana bristle all over, even the hair in her new fishtail seeming to stand on end. I guess this is what happens when an omega starts to feel territorial. “She’s a thief, and he doesn’t owe her a thing!”

She’s a magnificent sight as she tries to storm past us to the door, but Kane puts up an arm, amusement dancing around his mouth as he pulls her close. “Where are you storming off to, hellion?”

Diana casts one of her sweeping glances our way, green fire snapping in her eyes as she draws us into her web. “I’m not sure about the rest of you, but I’m not leaving my scent mate in that bitch’s hands a moment longer.”

Kane makes a call to the governor’s security – a guy he addresses, strangely, as Plan B – his face twitching with disgust as he hangs up. “He’s at the studio.” He turns to look at me. “Can you get us onto the lot?”

“Sure, but they’ll alert Luscious the second we arrive.”

He grunts, pulling on his dusty boots and reaching for his leather coat. “I don’t give a fuck about that. I just want to make sure she doesn’t suck Moore any deeper into her diseased pussy.”

I splutter a laugh, even though the visual is ew .

Lewis checks us out of the suite while the rest of us head down to his car. While he drives us to the studio, I update Kennedy on our movements by text. She immediately replies that she’ll come join us, but I tell her to stay with Nina, since it’s not like we’re unprotected with both Lewis and Kane watching our every move.

When we arrive at Sultry Studios twenty minutes later, the gate is suspiciously quiet. We drive through without being checked, and the governor’s security guy meets us outside reception, a river of sweat clinging to his hairline. I immediately recognize him as one of the bodyguards Kennedy put on his knees when we confronted his boss at breakfast.

“The governor got called to an emergency not long ago,” he informs us, his nose twitching as he looks Diana’s way. “He said to meet him at the mansion.”

“Eyes on me,” Kane growls, and anger flares in the other alpha’s gaze. But he quickly nods in the direction of an SUV with tinted windows, like he wants to hustle us away. My radar is going off at his strange behavior, and I’m not surprised when Kane grabs his collar and hauls him into the studio. There’s no one at the reception desk, but Kane doesn’t hesitate as he strides down the hall and shoves the security guy into an empty room. It’s a box without furniture; one of the many ‘sets’ Luscious uses to shoot clips for her social media accounts. Kane pushes the security guy into a chair and points his finger in Lewis’ face. “Anyone so much as breathes on my mates, you shoot ‘em, got it?”

Lewis nods and once Kane has dropped a kiss on Diana’s mouth, he grabs my arm and hustles me down the hall. “You know where the bitch would be this time of day?”

“She’s probably holding court in her throne room.”

Kane grunts, but he must have been here before, because he doesn’t miss a beat as he takes the next left and almost kicks a hole in the door. It flies open, and I brace myself for whatever depravity Luscious has in store for us. What I’m not expecting is an empty room. No matter the time of day, there’s always someone hanging out here, and I look around in confusion. Her throne is still here, and the walls are lined with rows of unlit candles, but the gaudy statues and frilly cushions are all gone.

“Maybe she’s in her office.” We head down the back corridor, my stomach clenching at the loud moans and deep cries floating towards us. Ew. “Uh, it sounds like she’s busy.”

“Yeah.” The alpha’s scowl is a terrifying sight. “With my bone-headed best friend, no doubt.”

He stalks towards the office, and as much as seeing Luscious in all her naked glory will scar me, I follow on his heels as he shoves open the door. The bitter laugh that bursts out of him makes me peer around his shoulder. “What is it?”

“Just a fucking sex tape.”

“Well, Luscious has plenty of those…”

My next words are smothered by a whoosh of hot air that plasters my hair to my skull and knocks me off my feet. Worse still is having the roof fall in on me. Or at least that’s what it feels like when Kane throws himself across me, pinning me to the floor. The earth shakes and my ears pop, and I cough out a groan. “What the fuck was that?”

“Boobytrap.” Kane peels himself off me, then sticks out a hand, pulling me to my feet. “You alright?”

Other than being crushed by two-hundred-pounds of alpha? “I’m fine. Thanks.” I peer past him at the door, but all I can see is smoke. “You’re serious? It’s not a gas leak?”

He gives me a sneer that borders on a snarl. “You believe in cock-sucking fairies, too?”

I blink at him, but he suddenly stiffens, his head snapping towards the corridor. “Diana…”

He surges forward, but we only get a couple of steps past the door before we realize the corridor back towards reception is a fireball. Kane now snarls for real, grabbing my arm and dragging me in the opposite direction. “Exit?” he snaps, hauling me along.

“There!” I leap towards a side door, but he jerks me back, plastering me against the wall as he runs his hands over the frame. I gulp as I realize he’s looking for another trap, but then he grunts and thrusts it open. Twilight has settled in, and I stumble out into the half-light, my head ringing and my eyes burning. Smoke is wafting into the sky, but instead of getting the hell out of there, Kane turns and runs towards the source. I stagger after him, my heart dropping into my shoes as I remember the room we left Diana and Dex in. Was there a window? Any way to get out other than the inferno in reception?

Please, please, please let them be okay…

“Wait!” I scream as Kane yanks on the front door, flames licking ominously against the glass. “You can’t go in there!”

“Diana!” He yanks it again and I leap at him, but he shakes me off. “She’s dying! I can smell her!”

“She’s not!” I don’t know if it’s false hope, but him rushing in there will just mean another grisly death. And while he might not be my alpha, he’s pack, or as close to it as I’ve ever known. “Fuck, Kane, it’s not her. It’s just Luscious’ scent candles. The greedy bitch has them all over the place. They must have ignited in the fire.”

“Rowan?”

I’m still clutching Kane’s arm as I spin around and find Dex stumbling up to us. There’s a thick gash on his head and his hands are caked in blood. A whimper rises to my lips as he starts gasping, “I’m s-sorry. I couldn’t… I couldn’t stop the bleeding…”

Kane slams past me like a battering ram, grabbing Dex’s collar and almost yanking him off his feet. “Where the fuck is Diana?”

“They took her.” Dex stares helplessly into his furious face. “Right after you left us. Plan B, or whatever his name is, hit me on the head and shot Lewis.” He waves behind him at a crumpled figure. Oh, fuck. I’m already fumbling for my phone to call Kennedy when he says, “Another guy drove up, and they put Diana in the back of a van. There was a woman in the front seat…”

“Fucking bitch!” Kane roars, dropping Dex and striding over to Lewis. He rolls the man’s limp body, grabbing his keys and gun. “I’m going to rip her fucking head for touching our mate.”

“I’m sorry,” Dex croaks, tears rolling down his bloody face. His whole body is trembling as I grab him, pulling him close. “I should’ve done more. I should’ve stopped them.”

“This was an ambush,” I tell him, fighting to keep my voice steady. “It’s a miracle any of us are alive.”

As I stare past him at the wreckage of the studio, the scale of Luscious’ villainy hits me like a blow. But am I really surprised? The woman is a narcissistic psychopath who’s tormented me for years. The only thing that works in our favor is that her vanity ranks a close second to her immorality.

“She won’t hurt her,” I tell Kane as he strides back towards Lewis’ car. I take one last glance at the burning studio before rushing after him, Dex right at my side. “Luscious isn’t stupid. She’d only burn her supply if she has control of the source. Diana is no use to her dead.”

Kane pops the doors, and we clamber in, Dex collapsing on the back seat. For a long, tense moment, the alpha glares through the windshield at the growing inferno. “You’re right. She’s taking her back to the slick factory. It’s her only move.”

I nod, because that’s my guess, too.

Kane snarls as he props the gun on the dash and reverses out of the parking lot. Grabbing his phone from his jacket, he tosses it my way. “Call the governor.”

“And say what?” I ask as I scroll through his directory for Moore’s number. “Luscious just blew up her studio and kidnapped your scent mate?”

“Something like that,” he growls, squeezing the wheel hard enough to make his knuckles pop. “But stop with the Luscious bullshit, will you? Every time you say the bitch’s name, it tastes like a fart in my mouth.”

I snort, because ew . “Sure. In my head she’s ‘stinking nasty shitbag’, if that helps.”

“Right.” He gives me a glimmer of a smile. “I just call her Bitch.”

I hum as the line to the governor connects. “Yeah, that works too.”