Slick (The Grayverse #1)

CHAPTER TWENTY-FOUR

“I can see why you love this so much,” I tell Kane as I wrap my arms around his waist and nuzzle into the back of his leather jacket. He smells like night air, pine needles, and warm alpha, and I shiver as I draw his scent deep into my lungs.

He creaks as he glances back at me. “Oh, yeah? Which part do you like best?”

“All of it.” I squeeze him tighter, so happy I can barely put it into words. “The bike. The view. The moon. But mostly, you.”

“You can’t be saying sweet things like that and not get a reward, Omega.”

I shiver at the promise in his voice, my heart skipping as he eases me off his V-twin Softail. Turns out, it’s a motorbike, a black and chrome beast that gleams in the moonlight. I don’t know anything about its mechanics, but when Kane jerked his head for me to get on the back, I almost fell over my own feet in the rush to obey. From the moment we leaned into our first turn I was hooked, and now we’re parked on the top of the world, the mountains at our back and the whole city spread beneath us.

“You didn’t mind the vibration?”

Kane might seem oblivious to other people’s pain, but he’s just quiet about it. He warned me that the ride would shake me to my core, and he’s right, but it’s nothing like the suffocating grip of a slick suit. In fact, when he opened the throttle on the highway, I suddenly understood how it feels to be free. Every vibration from the bike seemed to wake up another part of me, and I can still feel it now, like electricity dancing in my blood.

“I loved it,” I tell him as he climbs off beside me, unzipping his jacket just enough for my hands to slip inside. It’s a warm night, and I melt against him, breathing in his delicious scent with a relieved sigh. Getting to wrap my arms around him for hours has been sweet torture, especially with the way my pulse is now humming between my legs. “Can we do it again tomorrow?”

He chuckles at my eagerness. “Far as I’m concerned, it’s the only way we travel.”

I shiver at the idea of getting this every day. It seems too good to be true, but I’m learning that Kane always says what he means. “And is that my reward for saying sweet things?”

He smirks, a dark light dancing in his eyes. “You know me better than that.”

I do, because my alpha has proven again and again that his heart is as big as it is fierce. And while I control my body and my slick, I love nothing more than to surrender to his touch, especially when he turns me against his bike and nudges my feet apart.

I’m wearing leather pants and a thin shirt that barely hides my lacy bra. Kane said it’s not usual riding attire, but my back is still too raw for a proper jacket. He now eases my shirt up, a satisfied hum in his throat as he feathers his thumbs over my lower back.

“How does it look?”

“Perfect,” he replies, bending to drop a kiss at the edge of the protective strip. “It’s got all our names right where they should be.”

I breathe another sigh of relief. Logically, I know Kane wouldn’t have left the tattoo place unless he was happy with the artist’s work, but the smug rumble in his voice settles my nerves. Ever since I found out that I’m wearing the Carrillos’ property stamp, I’ve felt like they still owned some small part of me. Maybe I could eventually put it out of my mind, but I knew that the guys would never forget, and I didn’t want that reminder to linger between us. Dex, in particular, still feels a lot of guilt over the slick factory, although I’ve told him repeatedly that I’d do it all again if it meant I got to keep him at the end. “And the flowers?”

The tattoo artist, Lori, is a pretty beta from the Jackals MC. She told me that while she couldn’t erase the property stamp altogether, she could turn it into something new. I chose a cluster of rambling roses, complete with twisting vines and sharp thorns. They have no connection to the slick factory, and as well as being beautiful, their resilience means they can grow where they want.

“My wild rose,” Kane rumbles now, his warm body pressed close to mine. “A long, dusty ride and you still smell as sweet as you look.”

I give him a playful smile and press my ass back into his hands. “Are you going to taste me, too?”

“You think I just brought you up here for the view?” I can hear the smile in his voice as he unsnaps my leather pants and eases them down my thighs. I’m wearing a lacy white thong, and his rough hands feel like heaven as they stroke my tender skin. When I squirm, his fingers dig into the flesh of my ass, and he leans forward and bites my nape. “You know how sweet you look right now?”

“I need you, Kane!” I shudder at his throaty chuckle, arching my back and pushing back against his greedy hands. He kneads me a little longer, then dips a finger into my folds, his leather jacket creaking as he bends for a closer look. “Such pretty petals, little rose. It’s almost a shame to ruin them with my fat knot.”

“Not a shame,” I gasp as his thick finger swirls inside me. “Exactly what I want, Alpha!”

“That’s good, because you’re a waking fucking dream, Omega. Spread across my bike with all this pretty slick running down your thighs. It looks like liquid silver in the moonlight.” He slowly pumps his finger inside me as his tongue chases my slick. His beard is rough on my exposed skin, and I moan, trying to push my aching pussy into his mouth. “Definitely better than chocolate cake,” he murmurs, adding another finger and stroking my walls. “I want you to come before I knot you, little rose. I want you all wet and quivering when I finally stuff you full.”

I moan again, twice as loud, and bite down on the leather seat. My head is spinning, and I wonder if you can pass out from too much pleasure.

“You keep moaning like that, and those people in their houses down there are gonna come outside for a look.” Kane doesn’t give me time to catch my breath, the thick head of his cock pushing between my trembling folds. It’s the most perfect kind of ache, because even with all my slick, he stretches me to my limit.

“You like that?” He grips my hips tighter and grunts as he slides all the way in. I’m so full I’m clawing at the seat, but I still want more. I ache to feel him in every part of me, and he groans as I thrust back against him. “What do you think the neighbors are gonna say when they see a sweet omega like you taking a dirty big cock like mine?”

I gasp as he finds my nub and pinches it between his fingers. It sends a bolt of pure ecstasy down my spine, and I arch my back, quivering from head to toe. “They’re going to think I’m the luckiest omega alive!”

He chuckles as he rubs my nub harder, his hips slapping against my ass. Every thrust shoves me into the leather seat and I try to widen my feet, desperate for more. I know I must look like a wanton mess, but Kane just groans and grinds his cock deeper. “Pretty sure I’m the lucky fucker in this scenario.”

“I love you, Alpha!” The words pour out of me, as potent as my slick. I can’t see Kane’s face, but I can feel him through our bond. Raw, unfiltered adoration pours out of him as his knot lodges deep inside me.

“You’re everything to me, Omega,” he purrs, his arms gentle as he lifts me against his chest. “Never thought I’d love someone the way I love you.”

“Never stop, Kane!” I beg him. “I want everything you can give me. Every day for the rest of our lives.”

His chuckle lights up my chest, our bond as bright as any star. “This is the raw ride, little rose. A full moon, an open road, and my knot so deep you’ll feel it all the way home.”

“How does it feel to have every eye in this ballroom on you?”

I blink past my memories of last night’s ride with Kane and wrinkle my nose at Dex. He’s currently spinning me across the dance floor at the Governor’s Gala, his blue-gray suit accentuating the green in his eyes. I color-coordinated my dress to match, and every time I catch a glimpse of my twirling skirts, I have to pinch myself to make sure this isn’t just a dream. I’ve given myself a bruised wrist in the process, but I’m still dancing in the arms of the mate I love with all my heart. “The only eyes I care about are yours”, I tell him. “Well, and theirs .”

I gesture towards the rest of our pack, who are sitting at a nearby table and watching us like hungry lions eyeing the last steak on the savannah.

Jake, of course, has to take a lap around the ballroom every now and then, since he’s the official host of the gala. I didn’t even know there was a ballroom in his mansion until his chief of staff asked me if I approved of the table centerpieces. Since Jake decided that the flower arrangements were my remit, the planned lilies were swiftly replaced with rambling roses, and not just on the tables, but all the way up the trellised walls. I’m not sure what the city’s elite think of the display, but every time I breathe in their perfume, I think of the tattoo I plan to unveil to the rest of my pack.

But until then, I’m going to enjoy these moments in Dex’s arms. “Are you excited about starting back at the hospital?”

He twirls me in a circle and gives a shy grin. “Actually, there’s been a change of plans. I’ve accepted a job with the rehabilitation team working with the rescued omegas.”

I look at him in surprise and not a small amount of sympathy. Most people tend to avoid dwelling on their darker days, but Dex is a healer to his core, and he still believes he has debts to pay for his part in the slick factory. All I know is that he kept me both sane and healthy while many other omegas fell apart. “Really? But what about St. Luke’s?”

“It will always be there. But I want to do what I should’ve done a year ago and give back a little of what was taken from the other omegas.”

I reach up and feather my fingers over the small scar on his hairline. He’d put himself in the way of Watt’s gun to save me, and my heart clenches to think how close I’d come to losing him. “Do you think I could help out, too? I mean, I’m not trained or anything…”

His beautiful eyes light up, the green as dazzling as emeralds. “Sweetheart, you’d be amazing. One of the hardest parts of treating trauma is finding a connection with the patient’s experience.”

I nod, because I’ve found exactly that with Sara, my current therapist. She’s an omega who grew up in an alpha cult, and she knows exactly what it’s like to have your worth defined by people who consider you property and nothing more. “You could start with group sessions and then shadow some therapists. And if you wanted to make it more formal, I could help you apply for a college course.”

I blink at him, my head swimming with more than just his perfectly executed spins. “ College? You really think I could do that?”

“I think you could do anything you put your incredible mind to.”

It’s on the tip of my tongue to reject the idea, to worry about the cost of classes, or if they’d let me in since I never finished high school. But one thing I’ve learned over the last few months is that most obstacles can be overcome with the support of my pack. Not to mention my connection with Governor Jacob Moore, who is currently staring at me like my ballgown has been sculpted from his favourite kind of frosting.

But right now, there’s a question that’s been burning in the back of my brain. “Dex, you’ve always taken such good care of me, but I was hoping you’d think about giving me one last special thing.”

“Anything, sweetheart.”

His answer is so quick and easy I can feel my heart flutter under my scent gland. “You know how much I love my bonds with our alphas. How they make me feel close to them, even if Jake is on a business trip, or Kane is away visiting the Jackals…” He grins, because they’re often the nights when he and Rowan break out the toy box and we relive some of the hottest moments of my heat. “Well, I was hoping you might think about bonding them, too. Or just one of them,” I add hurriedly. “Whatever you’re comfortable with, I mean.”

He jerks to a halt, his arms tightening protectively around me as the other dancers spin past. “Really? You want that?”

“So much, but you don’t have to decide now. I was just thinking about you going back to work, and how we’ll be apart for the first time in months.”

I clutch him tighter, my heart pinching in my chest as I try to picture Dex anywhere but at my side. The first doctor I spoke to said it’s unhealthy to be so codependent, but all I felt was relief when Dex told him to leave before he punched him in the face.

“I’m in.” I blink at his quick response, and another shy smile stretches across his face. “I mean, I respect Rowan’s right to keep things separate within the pack, but I’d fucking love to take it further. No knots,” he says hurriedly, “but I’m definitely up for the bite and the bond.” He pulls me closer, his mouth brushing over the mating marks on my throat. They’re still so sensitive that the slightest touch sends a delicious shiver down my spine. “Especially if it means I get to keep another part of you in my heart.”

Joy bubbles in my chest, right at the same moment that my perfume spills into the air. Dex grunts, clearly sensing my arousal, and glances around for the quickest way off the dance floor. But we don’t have to look too far, because the biggest alpha in the room is already stalking towards us, dancing couples scattering out of his way like leaves before a hurricane.

I hear Dex gulp behind me as Kane bears down on us in his black tuxedo. I had the same reaction when he first emerged from the closet, especially because his lapels are black leather and smell like my hottest fantasy. He smirks as he takes in our flushed faces. “Did this little shit step on your toes, Omega?”

I shake my head numbly until I can find my tongue. Although, locating my tongue isn’t the problem around Kane; it’s that I want to drag it across an intimate part of his body in full view of the other guests. “No, but he’s agreed to take your bite.”

“No knots!” Dex repeats quickly, but I can smell his excitement in the air, as enticing as any aphrodisiac. “But I want your bond, if you’ll give it to me.”

Kane’s gaze sharpens; so close to a predator scenting prey that I hear Dex gulp again. “An extra claiming bite might stop some of these fuckers from ogling the pair of you.”

I snort and wave my hand at a group of omegas who are blatantly fluttering their lashes in his direction. “You’ve got a bit of a fan club of your own.”

He doesn’t even bother glancing their way, his teeth gleaming as he wraps his hand around Dex’s throat. “Yeah, but they don’t know my bark is as nasty as my bite.”

It really isn’t, but I’m enjoying the tension between my two mates too much to argue. Instead, I look around for Jake and Rowan, who are watching us over the heads of their own gaggle of admirers. As soon as I catch their attention, we move towards each other, Kane drawing Dex along like a puppy that’s slipped his leash. I can see the moment Jake realizes what’s happening, and his eyes blow a delicious shade of midnight blue. “Kennedy, will you tell my chief of staff to wrap things up here for me? I have a pack emergency I need to attend to.”

Kennedy joined Jake’s staff a couple of days after we officially moved into the mansion. She’s still Rowan’s bodyguard, but she also works closely with Lukas, sharing the responsibility for tonight’s security arrangements. Kane is still technically their boss, but he’s been working closely with the task force to dismantle the rest of the Carrillos’ organization, as well as settling into our new pack life.

“Anything you need help with?” Kennedy asks, her hand already touching her earpiece.

“We've got it covered,” Kane assures her, and she gives him a little salute before heading off to find Nathan. It still takes us a good five minutes to leave the ballroom, but eventually we’re in the private elevator, heading up to our pack residence. The first floor is all offices, meeting rooms, and reception areas, but the rest of the building is ours, and I sink into Jake’s side once we’re alone. It was fun to dress up and dance with my mates, but being under the scrutiny of so many strangers is exhausting.

“I’m so proud of you,” Jake murmurs in my ear, and I tilt my head so he can trace his finger over his mating bite. “I’ve never had so many of my political rivals insist we catch up for dinner.”

I give him a sideways glance. “I hope you told them I’ve only had a couple of cooking lessons.”

He chuckles and cups my face, his pillow-soft lips skimming mine. “It’s not the food they’d be coming for, Omega.”

“Oh. You mean me?” I can’t see why they’d bother, given I’m very clearly already taken, but if it makes Jake’s job easier, I’m happy to feed them chocolate cake.

“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 could speak 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 with them .”

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.”