Chapter 41 Red
Chapter forty-one
Red
Zack’s hearing is tomorrow, but today I face an even bigger challenge, one that will test the limits of my acting skills.
Rickon slips a collared dress over my head and smooths it down, his green eyes serious as he gazes at me.
I reach out to sweep silver hair off his forehead.
My sweetheart’s been a little out of it since Zack’s outburst, walking into poles and dropping things.
I think it’ll go away once his pack alpha gets home, which, fingers crossed, happens tomorrow.
Truth be told, I’m a bit dazed, too. The bond we share pulled back the curtain on Zack’s past. I understand him now, why he twitched at every little noise, beat his head against walls, and attacked dogs out for walkies. Just like me, the madness almost swallowed him whole.
But it didn’t. Zack fought the inner war hard, bringing him all the way to us. And, according to an early-morning text from Callisto, he’s made it through his latest battle without breaking any bones.
Rickon smiles softly and cups my cheek. “Feeling okay, Biscuit?”
I lean into his touch, eyes fluttering closed. “Mm-hmm.”
“Big day, filming your first sex scene.”
“Yeah. Maybe we should get a little practice in.”
Rickon strokes my lips with his thumb. “Trust me on this—today will be the most exhausting day of acting you’ve ever done. Sex scenes are harder than they look.”
I kiss his thumb. “I believe you. Always.”
He melts, the focus in his eyes blurring as he leans in to kiss me properly.
When we break apart, he clears the emotion from his voice. “It may not be the perfect time, but I want to show you something on the way out.”
I cock my head. “What is it?”
“A surprise.” He grins, energy in his steps as he helps me into a jacket and heads downstairs. I trail after him, slipping into comfortable tennis shoes and grabbing my purse. “Come on,” Rickon calls, holding the front door open.
“Don’t want to be late,” I sing-song, copying his usual leaving-the-house mantra.
Rickon grins. “Exactly.”
“Bye-bye, house. Bye-bye, bench,” I say as I slide past him. “I’m off to film my first ever sex scene!” Excitement prickles in my belly as I stride for the elevator, swinging my arms.
Rickon runs up behind to grab my hand and he tugs me in the opposite direction we usually go, heading to a doorway at the back of the hall.
“Where are we going?” I ask.
“Wait and see,” he says, wriggling his brows.
“Oh, but what if you’re kidnapping me?” I ask, pressing one hand to my chest dramatically.
He chuckles and halts, wrapping one arm around my waist and tugging me roughly into his side. “So what if I am? Would you still come?”
“Faster than the speed of light,” I promise.
Rickon leans me backward and kisses me hard. We’re both giddy at the idea of finally bringing Zack home. When I deepen the kiss, Rickon growls softly and tugs away. “We’ll never leave the building at this rate.”
I chuckle and get my feet under me.
Rickon stops in front of another elevator that’s at least twice as big as the regular ones. “This is the service elevator,” he explains. “How they get furniture into the apartments and do repairs and whatnot.”
“Huh,” I muse as the doors close us in. “Funny. I never thought about it. But you wouldn’t want to cart a super king bed up all those flights of stairs.”
“True,” he says. When the bell dings and the doors slide open again, he spins around and walks out backward. “Now—” He trips on the metal strip in front of the doors, and I lunge forward to catch him, stopping his fall just before his ass hits the ground.
“Shit, Ricky! You scared me.”
He shoots me a blank look, his brain still catching up with his adrenaline. “Scared myself, too,” he mutters.
I laugh and haul him upright. “Where are we?” I ask, looking around.
“Right. We’re actually on the roof above the apartment.” He orders me to close my eyes, and then a heavy door squeaks open. A gust of wind blows over me and warm sunlight bathes my face. My alpha returns to grab my hands and lead me forward into what feels like a big open space.
“You’ve got me on pins and needles,” I say, nerves trickling through me. What if I don’t like his surprise?
He chuckles. “Now, I just want to say I’ve got absolutely no expectations for this. Calli and I already agreed that if you don’t like it, we’ll tear it down.” Ricky turns my body, dropping his hands on my shoulders. “Open up.”
I blink and discover the rooftop, exposed to the sky with a railing around the edge, city panoramic on all sides, and a glass and timber building in the middle of it all.
Ricky skips forward and opens the door. “It was Callisto’s idea, but I did most of the plans. I know you hate nests, but we thought something like this might be all right.”
A nest? My heart hammers under my ribs as I step forward.
Despite the rising instinctual fear, curiosity tugs me inside. My breath catches as I stand under an expansive glass roof.
This is no nest. It’s a greenhouse, glass on all sides and above, with beautiful, exposed timber framing and a kitchenette to one side.
Shutters, which seem to be inside the glass, filter some of the bright sun.
Ahead of me rises a platform with a couple of big posts and half-height railings, like a gazebo.
A vision of this place explodes in my mind: fully outfitted, warm and a little steamy, swimming with potted plants and comfortable lounge chairs in the open space at the back.
The solar string lights from the tent draped along the exposed rafters.
My heart squeezes. For the first time, I want to have a heat.
Rickon watches me closely. “The toilet goes on the left, and the space here in the corner is for a Jacuzzi. If you like it.” Vulnerability throttles his voice, making him sound small and unsure.
Fuck, I love my alphas so much it hurts.
I swing around, backing my lover into the glass wall. “Your idea?”
“Callisto’s idea. He paid for the roof space.”
“But you designed it?”
He nods, eyes big and glistening. “You hate it, don’t you? I tried to make it bright and airy, but—”
“I fucking love it, alpha.”
He swallows hard, Adam’s apple bobbing. “You do?”
“Just like I fucking love you so much I might burst.” I grab his cheeks and squeeze them before sealing my lips to his.
I’m a bit na?ve about the world, but even I know it’s no joke to design an entire building and get it built in secret.
And we’ve had so much shit going on, when did he even get the time?
He must have pushed himself so much, all because he wants me to be comfortable.
Rickon sags in my grip, sighing with relief. “You really like it?”
“I love it!” I clap his cheeks lightly and laugh.
“And I can’t believe you did all this!” I run into the space and twirl with my arms out, feeling the warm sunshine on my face.
One could swing a cat in here and not bump into anything.
It’s not a huge building, but it’s big enough to feel spacious.
And all the natural light makes the brown timber glow.
“This is my hot house,” I declare. “I’m going to fill it with orchids and tropical greenery, and who knows, maybe I’ll even get twenty pillows.”
Rickon comes up behind me and slips his arms around my waist. “Maybe a hundred pillows,” he says near my ear. “Hot House is the perfect name.”
I chuckle. “Right? We’re going to get so filthy hot in here.”
“Are we?” He nuzzles my neck. “Honestly, I thought you might hate it.”
I slide around until we face each other. “I’m not gonna lie and say everything’s hunky-dory. But after all we’ve been through, my heat doesn’t seem so scary. I’ll have my alphas, and Zack understands my wildness perfectly. If anyone knows how to keep the horrors at bay, it’s him.”
Rickon nods thoughtfully. “Yeah. It shocked me to feel what he’s been through.” He glances at his watch and then stiffens. “Biscuit, as much as I want to linger here, we’ve gotta run.”
“Okay, okay.” I let him lead me out of the beautiful space, twisting to look over my shoulder. “But when are we going shopping?”
Rickon chuckles as he heaves the doors closed and tugs me back to the elevator. “Assuming the appeal goes through, how about whenever Zack lets us out of bed?”
I snicker, knowing he’s right. “Sounds good.” We’re all going to be so damn thirsty as soon as we get our hands on each other. “You said something about a Jacuzzi, right? Or was that my ears ringing?”
Rickon holds the car door open for me in the garage. “I did. We’ll pick one out and get it installed, too.”
“So we’ll need towels and bubbles and chlorine too. Wait, can we even put bubbles in a Jacuzzi?”
My lovely alpha laughs. “No idea. Let’s learn about it on the drive.”
All the way to the studio, we talk about the things I want to put in my hothouse, including asking Omoogle how to look after our future hot tub. It’s a dream I never thought I’d have to anticipate my heat like this without dread. But as we pull into the parking lot, Rickon grows serious.
“Don’t do anything today you’re not comfortable with, Red. Even if Callisto’s your co-actor, if it feels wrong, just cut the scene.”
I nod. “You’ll know if I’m uncomfortable,” I say, splaying a hand across my belly.
“Right.” He switches off the engine and slumps over the steering wheel. “Bloody hell. I think I’m more nervous than you are.”
I pat his back. “Maybe you are. Your little actress is all grown up and ready to do the dirty on screen.”
He flips his head over, lips pouting out. “That doesn’t help.”
“Well, remember you’re the first person I fucked in public. Nothing changes that.”
His cheeks turn a pretty pink. “Red!” he scolds, sitting up.
I laugh and throw my door open.
Inside the studio, Ashana’s house is ready to go. The front door, stairs, and bedroom are all carefully styled and set with cameras on stands. A minimal crew makes the set feel bigger than it really is, and everyone keeps their voices hushed.
The intimacy coordinator checks in with me and gives me a brand new Shibue to wear.
We go to the side room for costuming, and I lie on my back while she and Ricky check the scrap fits securely in place.
Then the team gets bandages on me, followed by white, high-cut briefs with a band of lace, a white bra, and the loose clothes the jockey wears on her way home from the hospital.
I check my appearance in the mirror. Although I look kind of frumpy with hair spilling out of a messy bun, underneath I feel sexy as fuck. Maybe because I know the Shibue will soon be the only thing I’m wearing.
“Director’s asking if you’re ready,” Rickon calls.
Instead of answering, I step out.
“You look great,” he says, scanning me with an experienced eye. The costume coordinator appears next to him and compares my appearance to a printout of how Ashana looked when she left the hospital. Once I get her approval, I walk over to the house set.
The other changing room opens, and an alpha walks out.
He wears a button-up shirt and slacks, fiddling with his top button as he looks around.
I feel my eyes bug out as his familiar cherry wood scent hits me.
It’s Callisto, but different. He’s dyed his hair a sun-streaked brown, and he strains the shirt more than I’m used to.
This man’s a dashing concoction of my alpha and Ashana’s James.
He turns, looking for me, and our eyes meet.
The smile he flashes is all Callisto’s, and my belly flutters.
Especially when I think about the surprise Rickon showed me this morning.
This hot-as-sin lawyer’s been looking out for me in his own diligent way since the day we met; even if he didn’t have time for an omega, he still connected me with Rickon.
Despite Zack kicking him out of his own house, he arranged the rooftop space to make me a nest I’d be comfortable in.
My inner omega sighs. It’s all rather romantic. Clumsily executed, but romantic.
“Um, hi?” Calli says as he stops in front of me.
“Hello,” I murmur, hesitant with all the thoughts in my head.
“Do I look okay?”
I chuckle and brush his cheek. “Better than okay.” Now that we stand close together, the unfamiliarity drops away. This is the Calli I know, the one who helped me every time I thought I couldn’t go on. Calli, but a little more buff.
“That gym program’s really working for you,” I say, eyeing the way his shirt stretches across his chest.
He laughs. “It’d better be worth it. Especially since I haven’t eaten properly in three days.”
I wince. “That bad? You didn’t exactly sign up for this.”
He shakes his head. “It’s fine.” He reaches out and trails his fingers over mine. “Anything for you is fine.”
“Thank you.” I drop my gaze, my heart thumping heavily in my chest. “Hey, um, so I was thinking.” I stare at our fingers. “Will this hurt your career at all? Maybe I didn’t really think it through enough when I asked you.”
Callisto pops his hand under my chin and lifts. “Red, I could’ve said no, remember? Don’t worry about that. We have a legal code of conduct, but it says nothing specifically about acting.”
“You checked?” I ask, gazing into his big dark eyes.
“Yeah, and I don’t think it’ll matter much, anyway. Remember, I’m only supposed to look like James. Who’s gonna even notice my name in the credits?”
I chuckle. “Word will spread faster than you think.”
He shrugs and drops his hand. “Let it.” He huffs in a deep breath and squares his shoulders. “Are we ready to do this, Ashana?”
“I’m ready, but no one’s put your colored contact lenses in yet.” I’m drowning in the deep black depths of his eyes.
“Damn,” he mutters, spinning to find his costumer. The frazzled man hurries over, already noticing his mistake.
“This might be the worst part of the gig,” Callisto says, blinking the lenses into place. His dark irises disappear, replaced with James’ lighter eyes. It softens him a little.
“Hey, Calli?” I say, reaching for his hand.
“Hmm?”
“Rickon showed me the roof this morning. I’m stunned, truly. It’s amazing.”
He smiles, melting my heart. “Glad to hear you like it. You’re welcome, gorgeous.”
It’s kinda funny how he calls me gorgeous, when he’s seen everything about my past and the dark, stinking hole I crawled out of. It’s like my filth never fazed him, only made him angry I had to endure it.
I squeeze his fingers. “I just want to let you know, I’m okay with whatever happens during the scene. Anything at all.”
His eyes widen.